Argentina

• Tuesday, October 3rd 2023 - 09:23 UTC

  Brazil speaking for Mercosur supports Argentina's Falklands sovereignty claims at UN debate

  

  The United Nations Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) began its general debate on decolonization and related items on Monday, with many speakers emphasizing the need to resolve the questions of the 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories, more than six decades after the General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. The Falklands/Malvinas case was speared by Brazil in representation of Mercosur, while as usual the Spanish representative criticized the Gibraltar situation.

• Monday, October 2nd 2023 - 10:49 UTC

  No clear winners after first presidential debate in Argentina

  

  The first presidential debate between the five contenders for the Argentine presidency was held on Sunday in Santiago del Estero, without any of the candidates outperforming the others. However, Patricia Bullrich of the opposition coalition Juntos por el Cambio (JxC) was criticized for her stiffness on stage and for failing to explain how she would bring about the changes the country so desperately needs.

• Sunday, October 1st 2023 - 10:25 UTC

  Argentine presidential candidate Milei: “Should we dollarize?” or rather “Why should we keep the peso?”

  

  Next 22 October a presidential election will take place in Argentina, South America's second-largest economy and three candidates are competing for the job, Sergio Massa, the incumbent, Patricia Bullrich, from the traditional opposition when two coalitions prevailed in the Argentine political system, and Javier Milei, a declared libertarian, economist, and if published Argentine opinion polls can be trusted, the front runner.

• Saturday, September 30th 2023 - 09:05 UTC

  Newest Buquebús unit to be named after actress China Zorrilla

  

  Buquebús, the only company offering passenger services linking Montevideo and Buenos Aires daily across the River Plate in addition to the route between Colonia and the Argentine capital, announced Friday that its newest unit already under construction and slated to be delivered in 2025 would be named after Uruguayan actress China Zorrilla.

• Saturday, September 30th 2023 - 08:53 UTC

  Uruguay to be miked for security reasons

  

  Uruguay's Ministry of the Interior will deploy microphones in public places to capture loud sounds such as gunshots to help geolocate incidents, it was reported Friday in Montevideo. The agency has already launched a purchase process from the company Sound Thinking.

• Friday, September 29th 2023 - 10:29 UTC

  Argentine Senate greenlights Income Tax reform

  

  The Argentine Senate Thursday passed a bill by 38 votes to 27 to up the barrier indicating who must pay the Income (Earnings) Tax. Despite opposition from Juntos por el Cambio (JxC) citing “electioneering” intentions, the measure proposed by Economy Minister and presidential candidate Sergio Massa was approved last week by the Lower House.

• Friday, September 29th 2023 - 09:21 UTC

  Is Milei fit for the presidential debates?

  

  According to uncorroborated rumors circulating in Buenos Aires Thursday, Congressman Javier Milei, the presidential candidate from La Libertad Avanza (LLA) was suffering from some sort of mental breakdown, which raised the possibility that he might not be fit for the mandatory debates with the other four contenders who made it through the Aug. 13 Mandatory, Open, and Simultaneous Primary (PASO) elections.

• Friday, September 29th 2023 - 08:50 UTC

  Argentina: “Blue” dollar back on the rise

  

  The so-called “blue” (a euphemism for “black market”) US dollar climbed sharply against the Argentine peso on Thursday, reaching a rate of US$ 1 = AR$ 790, it was reported in Buenos Aires. This was the highest rate since August 16, when it reached AR$ 795, and represented an increase of AR$ 43 in three days and AR$ 15 in just one day.

• Thursday, September 28th 2023 - 09:37 UTC

  Cafiero: “No hypothesis of conflict” between Argentina and Paraguay

  

  Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero Wednesday denied his country had any “hypothesis of conflict” with Paraguay despite recent controversies over tolls collected from barges sailing along the Paraná River Waterway and Asunción canceling all electricity supply from the Yacyretá hydroelectric power plant.

• Thursday, September 28th 2023 - 08:59 UTC

  Argentina: Former minister and tax bureau chief both acquitted in money smuggling case

  

  A court in Buenos Aires Wednesday acquitted former Planning Minister Julio De Vido and AFIP tax bureau Chief Ricardo Echegaray for the 2007 attempted smuggling of a suitcase containing nearly US$ 800,000 which was being brought into the country by Guido Antonini Wilson, who was believed to be an envoy of then-Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.