
Amidst the cross-fire between the Argentine government and Repsol-YPF oil giant, Spain’s Industry, Energy and Tourism Minister José Manuel Soria, warned on Thursday that “any sign of hostility” against Spanish companies “will be considered as a hostile sign against Spain and its government, and will bring consequences.”

Argentines give more importance than the British to the Falklands/Malvinas sovereignty issue, according to the first public opinion on the matter done simultaneously in both countries involved.

Jim Yong Kim, the US nominee to head the World Bank, told the bank's board of directors that he would not hesitate to question the status quo and do his best to help the world poorest.

The International Monetary Fund will make a compulsory review of Argentina’s economy because of the country’s refusal to allow the multilateral organization to examine its finances since 2006, the Buenos Aires media reported on Wednesday quoting IMF sources.

In the first quarter of this year, 1.2 million foreign tourists arrived in Chile, which represents a 14% increase over the same period a year ago, reported the Under Secretary of Tourism Jacqueline Plass.

The UK is seeking repayment of a loan granted to Argentina in 1979 which was invested in military procurement some of which was used during the Falkland Islands conflict.

Housing busts and recessions are more severe and last for at least five years when they follow a big run-up in household debt, according to a study released by the International Monetary Fund. For that matter, the IMF has urged governments to consider “bold” interventions to reduce household debt levels and stimulate growth.

The Argentine government said that the Malvinas Islands sovereignty claim is “not political opportunism” or geared “to remove other issues from the country’s political agenda” and is coherent with the political and ideological thinking of both Presidents Cristina Fernandez and her late husband and former president Nestor Kirchner.

Argentine president Cristina Fernandez will be attending on Saturday the VI Americas summit to be held in Colombia, which is already involved in a strong controversy because of the non invitation to Cuba.

Repsol's chairman Antonio Brufau has asked for a meeting with officials from the Argentine government, which investors fear could seize control of the Spanish oil major's unit in Argentina, YPF.