Argentina and Chile are holding their annual joint naval exercise in the Beagle channel, in the framework of the 1984 Friendship Treaty, to test their combined sea an air capabilities in the region. This includes emergency and humanitarian situations; maritime traffic control as well as search and rescue operations, operating from Puerto Williams in Chile.
Last week the Argentine Air Force formally bid farewell to the remaining French built Mirage jet fighters, which saw combat during the Falkland Islands conflict in 1982, since in three months time they will be decommissioned after four decades service. The occasion was the 103 anniversary of the Air Force (10th August but celebrated on the 13th).
Difficult times for the Argentine Air Force, not only was the Minister of Defense Agustín Rossi caught asleep during the celebration of the service's anniversary, but also as of next Tuesday administrative staff at the headquarters Edificio Condor will be working a shorter shift, from 08:00 in the morning to 13:00 hours with the purpose of savings in power and other supplies as well as rationing catering.
Argentina's foreign exchange market was quite active on Friday and the so called 'blue' or 'parallel' dollar hit the highest mark in the year at 15.10 Pesos. Meanwhile the official US dollar ended half a cent higher at 9.255 Pesos in banks and foreign exchange agencies.
Argentina's July inflation for the private financial consultants climbed 1.92% and in the last twelve months reached 27.15%, according to the report released in Congress by opposition lawmakers. The so called 'congress index' is an average of the different private consultants which is released monthly by lawmakers to avoid fines and reprisals from government.
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) chief Saeb Erekat praised Argentine President Cristina Fernandez for her support and recognition of the Palestinian state as he paid tribute to the backing of the region’s leaders.
Over 20.000 people are estimated to have been evacuated or suffering flooding because of continued rains in Buenos Aires province where a wind alert for the River Plate area and coastal zones is hampering draining possibilities, a situation which started last week and is expected to last until Sunday.
Maria Delfina Rossi, the daughter of Argentina's Defense Minister Agustin Rossi, has been appointed to head the Banco Nacion following a resolution signed by President Cristina Fernandez.
New York district judge Thomas Griesa has said he will consider all Argentine government assets in the United States, except for diplomatic and military ones, as commercial assets which hedge fund NML Capital could try to seize.
Daniel Filmus, head of the Malvinas Affairs Desk in the Argentine ministry of foreign affairs can expect to become a member of Mercosur Parliament, or Parlasur, in the coming October general election, following on a repeat of the Argentine primaries' results of last Sunday.