Argentina

• Saturday, May 18th 2013 - 06:29 UTC

  Economic activity in Argentina expanded 2.6% during March, says Indec

  

  Argentina's economic activity expanded 2.6% in March from a year earlier and 0.7% over February, the national statistics institute Indec said on Friday. Accumulated growth in the 12 months through March was 1.3%, down from 1.9% in full-year 2012.

• Saturday, May 18th 2013 - 06:21 UTC

  Argentine Antarctic campaigns disarray and corruption claims turn off recruiting

  

  Argentina’s Antarctica campaigns are losing their flair and the country is having difficulties to fill vacancies for the 2013/14 season. This follows repeated claims of alleged corruption and delays in supplying the bases and stations plus an overall lack of support from the Defence ministry.

• Saturday, May 18th 2013 - 03:35 UTC

  “Blue” dollar in Argentina picks up in last day of trading and reaches 8.95 Pesos

  

  In the last business day of the week in Buenos Aires, the parallel market or ‘blue’ dollar rose to 8.95 Pesos (selling price) after its declining tendency during the week, while the official rate ended steady at exchange houses at 5.245 Pesos (selling price). The gap between the two markets stands at over 70%.

• Saturday, May 18th 2013 - 03:30 UTC

  Argentina forces cancellation of all Lan flights by suspending ground services

  

  LAN Chile halted on Friday all its flights in Argentina until Saturday morning after the state company Intercargo which provides ground support for the airline, unilaterally decided to cancel the service despite court orders to the contrary.

• Friday, May 17th 2013 - 17:58 UTC

  Argentine ex-military dictator sentenced to life, Jorge Videla dies in jail cell

  

  Jorge Rafael Videla, a former army commander who led Argentina during the bloodiest period of a “dirty war” dictatorship and was unrepentant about kidnappings and murders ordered by the state, died on Friday at age 87.

• Friday, May 17th 2013 - 06:51 UTC

  Argentina’s ‘autarkic project’ worsens bilateral relations and multiplies problems

  

  In an interview with the Spanish government news agency EFE, Uruguayan President José “Pepe” Mujica said Argentina’s economic “autarkic project” “worsens” bilateral ties and “multiplies” trade troubles. Still, he ruled out pressures on Buenos Aires; “they won’t work,” he insisted.

• Friday, May 17th 2013 - 06:46 UTC

  Argentine whitewash bill turning into ugly electoral debate

  

  Argentina’s whitewashing bill or more modestly ‘tax amnesty’ has joined the political debate of the coming October mid-term elections. The tax revenue bureau or AFIP confirmed taxpayers’ “legitimate externalization right” “will not be affected” even in the “hypothetical case that the opposition manages to rally a majority parliamentary stance” after October’s legislative elections.

• Thursday, May 16th 2013 - 19:39 UTC

  Falklands’ lawmakers meet Chaco human rights group following formal Argentine request

  

  On request from a group of human rights representatives from Chaco, Argentina, Falkland Islands lawmakers met and listened to their views on a number of issues resulting from the 1982 war. The meeting followed a formal request from the group directly to the Falklands elected Legislative Assembly.

• Thursday, May 16th 2013 - 07:13 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez will veto constitutional reform even from her militant lawmakers

  

  Argentine President Cristina Fernández is not turning back on her word and even if Kirchnerite lawmakers propose and agree on a constitutional reform, she would certainly veto it, said Senator Aníbal Fernández.

• Thursday, May 16th 2013 - 07:10 UTC

  Argentina challenges EU bio-diesel import restriction rules before WTO

  

  Argentina has launched a challenge at the World Trade Organization against European Union rules for importing and marketing bio-diesel, the WTO said.