Politics

• Friday, April 27th 2012 - 11:30 UTC

  Timerman replies to De Gucht rejecting “unacceptable” arguments and “tone”

  

  Argentine Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman said the recent criticism from the European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht regarding the YPF expropriation is “unacceptable,” and assured that it “surprised him due to his tone and approach”.

• Friday, April 27th 2012 - 11:24 UTC

  Piñera announces tax reform to fund an education overhaul that threatens his government

  

  Chile's government on Thursday proposed a sweeping tax reform that raises levies on companies to help fund an education overhaul, as it seeks to quell social protests ahead of local elections seen as a litmus test for the 2013 presidential race.

• Friday, April 27th 2012 - 09:33 UTC

  Argentine Securities Commission puts more pressure on Falklands’ oil industry

  

  Argentina’s National Securities Commission, CNV, announced on Thursday that it will inform UK regulatory authorities on the legal actions to be undertaken by the Argentine state against oil companies “illegally operating in the Malvinas Islands”.

• Friday, April 27th 2012 - 09:24 UTC

  Government organizing massive display in support of President Cristina Fernandez

  

  Argentine president Cristina Fernandez will be leading on Friday a massive demonstration of support in a Buenos Aires stadium in the midst of an international controversy over the seizure of 51% of YPF from Spain’s oil conglomerate Repsol.

• Friday, April 27th 2012 - 02:40 UTC

  Argentina appeals to 5.7bn dollars Central bank reserves to pay sovereign debt

  

  As was anticipated in the Argentine 2012 Budget the government is appealing to Central Bank reserves to pay sovereign debts. According to a resolution published in the Official Gazette, a Treasury bill equivalent to 5.674 billion dollars will be repaid to the bank in several instalments during ten years.

• Friday, April 27th 2012 - 02:37 UTC

  US admits relations with Argentina are “difficult” and calls for positive attitude

  

  US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson asked Argentina to go back to having a “positive” relationship with the international financial community and its creditors.

• Friday, April 27th 2012 - 00:36 UTC

  Foreign Minister Maduro could replace Chavez given his growing fragile health

  

  Venezuelan journalist Nelson Bocaranda said that for the first time President Hugo Chavez is thinking of naming his faithful Foreign Affairs minister Nicolas Maduro as his successor, given the seriousness of the cancer the leader is suffering.

• Thursday, April 26th 2012 - 21:51 UTC

  YPF seizure has sent “shockwaves” globally; Argentina will “suffer consequences”

  

  European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said Argentina is in for long term consequences after sending “shockwaves” internationally with the announced plans to expropriate 51% of YPF shares owned by Spain-based Repsol oil and gas company.

• Thursday, April 26th 2012 - 21:44 UTC

  Marine Le Pen waiting for the phone call from Sarkozy to discuss endorsement

  

  Far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who has emerged as a kingmaker in France's presidential race, sought to wrest concessions from President Nicolas Sarkozy by challenging him not to bar her party's way in parliamentary elections.

• Thursday, April 26th 2012 - 21:33 UTC

  Argentine Lower House discusses YPF bill; CFK should stamp it into law next week

  

  Committees of Argentina’s Lower House of Congress began a plenary session on Thursday in order to clear the YPF expropriation bill for debate, which was approved early morning by the Senate.