Argentina

• Saturday, August 13th 2016 - 08:12 UTC

  Catholic Church criticizes Macri's policies and says 1.4 million more have fallen into poverty

  

  A new report released by the Argentine Catholic University (UCA) points to a somewhat bleak outlook on Argentina’s current socioeconomic situation, with the revelation that 1.4 million people fell into poverty between December 2015 and April 2016. The report also provides a qualitative commentary criticizing President Mauricio Macri’s social policies.

• Thursday, August 11th 2016 - 17:53 UTC

  Falklands discards air links with Argentina and iterates London pledge to support hydrocarbons development

  

  The Falkland Islands government has made a public statement pointing out that the UK Government has been open and transparent with FIG about how it would like to improve the bilateral relationship with Argentina but ”has made it clear that this will not include negotiations on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.”

• Thursday, August 11th 2016 - 16:40 UTC

  “Moment of truth” for Venezuela's standing in Mercosur

  

  Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay are waiting to see what happens on Friday, 12 August, when Venezuela has to prove that it has complied with all the pending requirements to confirm its Mercosur full membership condition dating back to 2012.

• Thursday, August 11th 2016 - 16:35 UTC

  Venezuela's attitude not helping to resolve the Mercosur situation, claims Uruguay

  

  “Venezuela is not helping much to resolve” the unprecedented situation of Mercosur, said Uruguay's foreign minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa in reference to Venezuela's self proclaimed presidency of the group and which is rejected point blank by Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay who consider the post vacant.

• Thursday, August 11th 2016 - 06:52 UTC

  US to provide Argentina with 24 state of the art T6-C Texan II training aircraft

  

  Argentina is in the process of purchasing 24 T6-C Texan II training aircraft from the United States, which will also be employed in border control and combating drugs. Apparently the operation has been approved by the US Defense Department and was one of several good news Secretary of State brought last week when he visited Buenos Aires.

• Thursday, August 11th 2016 - 06:39 UTC

  After nine years “Almirante Irizar” is ready for sea tests but faces a “muddy” problem

  

  Argentina's Antarctic exploration flagship icebreaker “Almirante Irizar” is ready for the sea tests after nine years under repairs in the government's defense shipyard and hundreds of millions of dollars, but an unexpected last minute “muddy” impediment has surfaced.

• Thursday, August 11th 2016 - 04:52 UTC

  Falklands air links and oil talks between UK and Argentina confirmed by Malcorra

  

  Foreign minister Susana Malcorra confirmed on Wednesday that Argentina and the United Kingdom are holding talks, “moving to a more productive phase” which includes making progress towards new “air links between the Falkland Islands and third countries” plus the removal of “restrictive hydrocarbons measures”.

• Wednesday, August 10th 2016 - 05:24 UTC

  Venezuela as Mercosur full member faces deadline: Friday 12 August

  

  Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina are waiting for a report on Venezuela´s compliance with the accords agreed in 2012, which has to delivered next Friday 12 August, and could lead the group of three counties deciding the suspension of Caracas as full member of Mercosur. A week and a half later, 23 August, representatives of these countries will be meeting to address the issue.

• Tuesday, August 9th 2016 - 09:11 UTC

  Pope Francis blesses massive dignity march in Buenos Aires against unemployment and recession

  

  Argentines with the support of the Catholic Church and a message from Pope Francis, on Sunday turned an annual religious celebration into a massive rally to protest growing unrest over unemployment, recession, inflation and a promised second half of the year rebound which remains absent.

• Tuesday, August 9th 2016 - 08:24 UTC

  Ban Ki-moon praises Argentina's commitment with the UN and cooperation with other countries

  

  United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon applauded on Monday Argentina's commitment and strong partnership with the UN and its cooperation with other countries. Ban Ki-moon arrived in Buenos Aires from Paraguay and previously from Brazil where he was part of the inauguration of the Rio Olympic Games.