Argentina

• Tuesday, May 27th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina's trade surplus positive but down 30% in April

  Argentina's trade surplus narrowed 30% in April from a year earlier to a lower-than-expected 864 million US dollars as surging imports offset high commodities export prices, according to official data from the Argentine government.

• Monday, May 26th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina: Fish exports continue to notably decline

  

  Argetnine exported 132.847 tons of fish and shellfish worth 261 million US dollars during the first four months of the year, according to statistics released by the National Food Safety and Quality Service (SENASA). These figures represent a 19.7%drop in volume and a 15.6% drop in value compared to the same four-month period in 2007, when 165.441 tons, worth 309 million US dollars were exported.

• Sunday, May 25th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentine farmers and government dig into their positions

  

  Argentine farmers and the government held huge separate rallies in shows of strength ahead of talks scheduled for Monday aimed at resolving a two month and a half conflict over export levies on grains and oilseeds which has expanded to demand a new farm policy.

• Saturday, May 24th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentine officials attitude “boosting” farmers Sunday's rally

  

  The Argentine government attitude towards camp has given farmers scheduled Sunday rally in the city of Rosario “its greatest boost” and “they will have to expand the city to get all the people in” said farmers'leaders.

• Friday, May 23rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Cristina Kirchner's support plummets 30 points since January

  

  The protracted conflict with the farmers and growing inflation demolished in two months the support for Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner according to the latest public opinion poll from the consultants Poliarquía released on Thursday.

• Friday, May 23rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Frustrated Argentine farmers promise great Sunday rally

  While Argentine government officials expressed “optimism”, following the Thursday meeting with camp representatives to discuss tax policies, farmers said they were “let down” and “feel frustrated” by the government's attitude of delaying proposals and discussions.

• Thursday, May 22nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentine farmers flexible but hope for “national celebration”

  Argentine farmers said on Wednesday they are willing to discuss the controversial sliding levies on grains and oil seed exports but also cautioned they were looking forward to a grand national celebration in the scheduled Sunday rally at Rosario, and not another occasion of “protest and claims”.

• Wednesday, May 21st 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Farmers' conflict: all seems ready for talks to begin Thursday

  Argentine farmers and government will most probably resume negotiations on Thursday while tomorrow details of the meeting will be jointly agreed according to sources from the Ministry of Economy and published in the Buenos Aires press.

• Wednesday, May 21st 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Catholic Church “perceives” growing poverty in Argentina

  Bishop Jorge Casaretto, head of the Argentine Catholic Church Social Pastoral Committee said that perception at the moment ”is that poverty (in Argentina) is increasing”. The statement contradicts a recent Argentine government report indicating that poverty had fallen to 20.7% in the second half of 2007 compared to the previous 23.4%.

• Tuesday, May 20th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Climatic emergency in Comodoro Rivadavia hit by snow storm

  A “climatic emergency” was declared Monday in Comodoro Rivadavia following strong winds, rain and snow storms which covered most of the Argentine Patagonian province of Chubut with several feet of snow.