With Westminster in recess two delegations of MPs visited the Falkland Islands last week. One of them, was invited by the members of the Falklands elected Legislative Assembly and was made up of Richard Baker MP (Labour, Glenrothes and Mid Fife); Seamus Logan MP (SNP, Aberdeenshire North and Moray East); Jamie Stone MP (Liberal Democrat, Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross); and Andrew Mitchell MP (Conservative, Sutton Coldfield).
Argentina's State Workers Association (ATE) labor union announced a strike for Thursday with surprise mobilizations to oppose President Javier Milei's chainsaw policies resulting in job cuts and wage freezes. The protests will take place at various locations, including the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) and the Ministries of y of Deregulation and Transformation, and Health. A major rally is to be staged at Buenos Aires' iconic Plaza de Mayo.
Argentine Federal Judge Alejo Ramos Padilla issued an injunction against President Javier Milei's decree paving the way for the conversion of the state-owned Banco de la Nación Argentina (BNA or just Banco Nación) into a joint stock company because such a measure needed Congressional approval given that the bank's creation and structure fall under legislative authority.
Argentine President Javier Milei took heavy flak from friends and foes alike after his country abstained at the United Nations from urging Russia to withdraw from Ukraine, thus making a notorious U-turn from the support he showed his colleague Volodymyr Zelensky during his Dec. 10, 2023, inauguration in Buenos Aires and last month at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos (Switzerland).
Argentine President Javier Milei decided Tuesday to appoint Ariel Lijo and Manuel García-Mansilla to the Supreme Court (CSJN) by decree in a move that further dented his image following his U-turn in foreign policy regarding Ukraine and the $LIBRA cryptocurrency scandal, among other events that challenge La Libertad Avanza's (LLA) chances for this year's mid-term elections. The magistrate's appointment will be effective until the end of the next legislative term, as provided for in the Constitution in case of vacancies.
Israel and the terrorist group Hamas Tuesday agreed in principle to further exchange Palestinian prison inmates for the bodies of four Israeli hostages as part of the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire, mediated by Egypt. The deal follows tensions over delayed releases and Hamas’s public handling of hostage handovers, which Israel dubbed as humiliating, particularly in the case of a body mistakenly passed on as that of dual Argentine national Shiri Bibas, who was murdered alongside her two children Ariel and Kfir.
Guatemala and the United States have announced a US$ 125 million initiative to expand Puerto Quetzal, the largest Pacific port in the Central American country, in a move to counterbalance China's presence in the region through its current prevalence in the Panama Canal in addition to the projected Nicaragua interoceanic crossing already under construction.
A Brazilian Federal Court has ruled that the export of live animals for slaughter does not violate Brazilian law. The unanimous decision of the Federal Court overturned a lower court ruling that had suspended the activity at all Brazilian ports.
A team of veterans have completed an expedition to commemorate fallen comrades of the Falklands War. Former Royal Marine Tom Rendell, from Bristol, has led 11 men as they follow different actions the 3 Commando Brigade made during 1982 - from landing to freeing the capital Stanley.
The so-called 25th F-16 unit of a batch of 24 second-hand US-built fighter jets purchased from Denmark was unveiled this week at the Tail Argentine Air Force Base. This particular F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft is not airworthy and will only serve training purposes at the Ground Instruction Center, it was explained during the ceremony presided over by Defense Minister Luis Petri, who insisted that this acquisition represented sovereignty and peace.