Argentina

• Thursday, December 10th 2015 - 07:56 UTC

  At Wednesday midnight Cristina Fernandez 'turned into a pumpkin', after eight years in office

  

  Tens of thousands of supporters packed Argentina's most famous square, Plaza de Mayo on Wednesday night to say goodbye to President Cristina Fernandez, who lauded her government's achievements while blasting the incoming administration in the same tones she aimed at opponents throughout her eight years in office.

• Wednesday, December 9th 2015 - 21:17 UTC

  Argentina with an acting president for 12 hours until Macri takes the oath

  

  An Argentine federal judge ruled Wednesday that the mandate of President-elect Mauricio Macri is to begin at midnight, though he will not officially be head of state until he takes the oath of office 12 hours later.

• Wednesday, December 9th 2015 - 08:42 UTC

  Renowned conservationist Doug Tompkins dies during kayak accident in Chilean Patagonia

  

  Douglas Tompkins, 72, the renowned conservationist and co-founder of The North Face, died on Tuesday in a kayaking accident in Lake General Carrera, on the Chilean side of Patagonia. He reportedly capsized in the water and suffered severe hypothermia. A source from Conservacion Patagonica, the non-profit founded in 2000 by his wife Kristine McDivitt Tompkins, confirmed his death.

• Wednesday, December 9th 2015 - 08:17 UTC

  Malcorra does not discard a trade agreement with US; Obama could visit Argentina next year

  

  Argentina's foreign minister-designate Susana Malcorra said the FTAA (Free Trade Area Of the Americas) is not a bad word suggesting the country could eventually sign a free trade deal with the United States in the future. She also referred to the Falklands/Malvinas dispute, “an urgent claim” but focusing on things in common and “not differences”.

• Wednesday, December 9th 2015 - 04:34 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez will not attend Macri's swear-in ceremony on Thursday

  

  Argentine president Cristina Fernandez will not be attending the swear-in ceremony in Congress on Thursday when president elect Mauricio Macri is set to take office, according to Oscar Parrilli, head of intelligence and one of the closest aides of the Kirchners, “conditions are not given”.

• Tuesday, December 8th 2015 - 08:40 UTC

  “Relations with Britain can't be limited to the Malvinas issue”, says Malcorra

  

  Argentina's next foreign minister Susana Malcorra, who will have the task of reestablishing relations with 'all countries', including those with which there are pending or difficult situations, made it a point to underline British Prime Minister David Cameron's gesture of phoning president elect Mauricio Macri to congratulate him on his victory.

• Monday, December 7th 2015 - 08:44 UTC

  Argentina talks to US Treasury Secretary; lifting dollar clamp depends on level of reserves

  

  Argentina's incoming Finance minister Alfonso Prat-Gay spoke with the United States Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to discuss economic plans to achieve sustained economic growth. The minister also announced in a long interview with Buenos Aires main dailies that lifting the dollar 'clamp' as promised by president-elect Mauricio Macri, will much depend on the level of international reserves Argentina can count with.

• Monday, December 7th 2015 - 07:03 UTC

  'A great number of US corporations will be reinvesting in Argentina', forecasts ambassador Mamet

  

  United States ambassador to Argentina, Noah Mamet, in a lengthy interview with the La Nacion daily, praised the election of Mauricio Macri and figures of his cabinet and stressed that the US government was anxious to begin working together.

• Monday, December 7th 2015 - 06:45 UTC

  Russian sloops with Falklands/Malvinas names incorporated to Argentine Navy

  

  Four Russian built sloops with polar capacity were delivered in Buenos Aires this weekend and incorporated to the Argentine Navy, all of them with names related to the Falklands/Malvinas Islands. The vessels were formally received during a ceremony headed by Defense minister Agustín Rossi and the navy chief Admiral Gastón Fernando Erice.

• Saturday, December 5th 2015 - 07:58 UTC

  Argentina's presidential baton, sash, Zamba and a last minute protocol soap opera

  

  A growing spat between Argentina's outgoing president and president elect over inauguration day logistics took a strange turn Friday, with the silversmith responsible for crafting a ceremonial baton saying an assistant was threatened by possible police action, and fears the whole transfer ceremony could turn into a shouting contest between supporters from the two groupings.