Thursday, September 15, 2016 Let history not repeat itselfBy Estela CarlottoI can still remember the daily visits that the Mothers and Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo made to the Buenos Aires Herald at the height of the civilian-military dictatorship, to reveal what was happening to our families and, above all, the Argentine people. Through the collective struggle and with international aid we managed to explain the real dimension of the crimes that had occurred. State policies map out a direction for a country, those policies can either guarantee or block democratic processes, of justice and increased rights. There can be no talk of new human rights as if the aftermath of State terrorism was still not something that is present. In that sense, our organization is concerned that history should not repeat itself and the task of journalists and the press is not a light one in sustaining democracy.

Thursday, September 15, 2016 Knowing the truth sets us freeBy María Eugenia VidalI want to celebrate the commitment to truth that has set apart the Buenos Aires Herald throughout its 140-year history. When we began our administration, we knew fairly well that the Buenos Aires Province was stuck. This is why we have embarked on a historic claim, along with all the sectors, for the Greater Buenos Aires Reparation Fund. Knowing the history of the Buenos Aires Herald is an inspiration for us as well. María Eugenia Vidal is the governor of Buenos Aires Province.

Thursday, September 15, 2016 A crossroads lies aheadWith all the technological changes and the crisis in the industry, some might venture to say that, as with the traditional media, journalists are an endangered species. It is no accident that in many countries this crisis overlaps with the role of the media coming into question. The populist or leftist governments, emerging from political débacles, have tended to identify the traditional media as their main adversary. The corporations are not only regaining ground but see unlimited horizons stretching out ahead of them. A crossroad lies ahead.

“Venezuela, fully exercising the pro tempore chair of the Mercosur and protecting its treaties rejects the Triple Alliance declaration” wrote Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez in her Twitter account. Caracas refers to Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay as the Triple Alliance as part of what it considers a concerted effort against its interests. The term is loaded as it refers to the nineteenth-century war in which Paraguay faced off against Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, the bloodiest military conflict in Latin American history. Caracas has been given until December 1, 2016 to incorporate a host of international treaties, Mercosur guidelines and recommendations, with suspension from the regional bloc threatened if fails to meet the demands. Given the evident animosity on display and the shrinking middle ground within the Mercosur, it remains to be seen what paths exist for Caracas to avoid suspension as a full member.

Thursday, September 15, 2016 US, Israel sign massive US$38-billion, 10-year military aid dealUS Undersecretary of State Tom Shannon (right) and Israeli Acting National Security Advisor Jacob Nagel (left) participate in a signing ceremony at the State Department in Washington, yesterday. Largest such agreement Washington has ever had with any countryWASHINGTON — The United States yesterday signed an unprecedented new security agreement with Israel that will give the Israeli military US$38 billion over 10 years. “Israel has no better friend, no more reliable strategic ally, no more important partner than the United States of America,” he said. The agreement concludes many months of negotiations that involved a delicate calculation by Israel about whether to strike a deal with the outgoing US president. In February, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quietly floated the prospect of waiting for Obama’s successor in hopes of securing a better deal.

A new monthly direct flight between mainland Argentina and The Falkland/Malvinas Islands will be introduced as part of a new deal on ‘mutual cooperation’ with the UK. The measure was highlighted in a joint communique that called for increased cooperation in a number of areas, including trade, defense, and development of the South Atlantic islands. Sidelining SovereigntyThe call for mutual cooperation will not impact either country’s territorial claim over the islands. “The South Atlantic Dialogue will seek to build cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Of course this will not include the issue of sovereignty,” said Duncan.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016 Mexico puts federal police under spotlight over 43 student deathsAlfredo Higuera Bernal, new special prosecutor to the Ayotzinapa 43 missing students from the Raúl Isidro Burgos College, during an interview at the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) in Mexico City, last week. Much-criticized probe widened after pressure piled on Peña Nieto to actMEXICO CITY — Mexico has widened its investigation into the abduction and apparent massacre of 43 trainee teachers in the southwestern city of Iguala in 2014 to examine the role of federal and state police, a federal prosecutor said. The disappearance of the 43, on September 26, 2014, sparked international outcry, battering Mexico’s reputation and plunging President Enrique Peña Nieto’s administration into crisis. Alfredo Higuera, the special federal prosecutor assigned to the case, said in an interview that the probe had now gathered about 100 additional declarations in recent weeks from 19 federal police and 39 from the state of Guerrero. “This is an investigation that goes beyond any situation, both in the number of victims and the number of participants,” Higuera said.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016 Pope endorses softer approach to divorceesPope Francis waves to faithful at the end of the Angelus noon prayer he delivered from his studio window overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016. Francis was Archbishop of Buenos Aires immediately prior to elected as pope. The keenest anticipation centred on what he would say about the full re-integration into the Church of Catholics who divorce and remarry in civil ceremonies. The number of divorces has risen markedly in recent decades in most of the leading economies grouped in the OECD. Here I am not speaking only of the divorced and remarried, but of everyone, in whatever situation they find themselves,” the pope said in July.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016 Aranguren bends to pressure and finally sells his shares in ShellAfter weeks of mounting speculation and criticism, Energy Minister Juan José Aranguren sold approximately 16 million pesos (US$1million) worth of shares in Royal Dutch Shell Plc yesterday following overwhelming pressure from the opposition, the Anti-Corruption Office (OA) and even government allies to halt a potential conflict of interests. The decision was announced simultaneously by Aranguren and the government. “Aranguren has sold his shares in Shell. Prior to accepting his position in the Cabinet as Energy minister, Aranguren was CEO of Shell Argentina for twelve years,from 2003 to 2015, a nominally separate entity from the energy giant’s parent company which is based in the Netherlands and UK. Aranguren “has recused himself from having anything to do with Shell precisely in order to avoid further speculation,” Peña said during an interview with Radio Continental.

Hypothesis on the SpillJudge Pablo Oritja closed his investigation this year when he prosecuted nine Barrick Gold employees and presented his interpretation of the facts. “[These included] the CEO of Barrick Gold, Guillermo Caló, who was accused. Can you believe Barrick Gold has been exploiting this mine for ten whole years without a pressure gauge? “What little we have left is with Cassanello: we already know about the justice here (in San Juan),” says Seguí. We also know that the government’s neglect of the Jáchal area since the day of the spill is shocking.”Translated by Katie McGhee.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016 Weather set to give CEOs a windy welcome. While the government is pulling out all the stops for the business community, who arrive in town today for the Argentina Business and Investment Forum, it seems the weather has decided to not to play ball. After yesterday’s downpour and gusty winds — the National Weather Service even issued a warning for hail, strong winds and storms — it seems today will be a drier but perhaps even slightly more blustery. Temperatures in the capital are expected to hover at around 14 degrees Celsius all day, but winds will reach up to 47 kilometres/hour — even stronger than yesterday.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016 UK government minister arrivesUK Foreign Office Minister Alan Duncan (right) meets with provisional Senate leader Federico Pinedo at Congress in a photo Duncan posted on Twitter yesterday. First visit from foreign office representative in seven yearsUnderlining the changing relationship between Argentina and Great Britain, Sir Alan Duncan arrived in Buenos Aires yesterday, becoming the first British foreign office minister to visit the country in seven years. The minister, an MP for the ruling Conservative Party, seemed happy to be in Argentina , tweeting about his meetings with Cabinet Chief Marcos Peña, PRO lawmaker and Senate leader Federico Pinedo at Congress and Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Foradori — though he was less pleased about the weather on his arrival. The British Foreign Office said in a briefing that “there are significant opportunities for British business ­ including in infrastructure, natural resources, agri-business, manufacturing, and financial services.”Duncan said that the visit was mainly to explore commercial ties. We will continue to support them as they look to develop their economy.”The last foreign office minister to visit Argentina was Lord Malloch Brown in 2009.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016 argentina in numbers. GDP growth: +2.1 percent in 2015, -0.7 percent in first quarter of 2016 (INDEC statistics bureau)12-month inflation rate: 39.9 percent (Elypsis consultancy agency)Investment-to-GDP ratio: 18 percent (Ferreres consultancy agency)Unemployment rate: 9.3 percent (INDEC statistics bureau)Poverty: 34.5 percent (UCA Argentine Catholic University)

tax incentives for companies suggested Tuesday, September 13, 2016 Macri launches ‘patronage bill’ to privately fund cultural projectsPresident Mauricio Macri and Culture Minister Pablo Avelluto announced yesterday that the government had sent a new “Federal Commitment to Culture” bill to Congress for approval that will offer tax incentives to private companies that invest in cultural and artistic projects in Argentina“Imagine entrepreneurs that have incentives such as a reduction in tax expenses to finance projects. So the role of the state will be to tell employers that they can directly transfer the money to those who create these projects, without needing to go through the state itself,” Avelluto said, unveiling the details of the so-called “Patronage Bill”. He was speaking at the Usina Del Arte centre in La Boca, Buenos Aires City, yesterday. The bill promotes a “direct and transparent way of financing cultural projects of social interest through contributions from private companies,” the government said in a statement, with proposed tax incentives for participating companies. Macri meanwhile claimed that the bill would also help his much-criticized a central promise from his successful presidential campaign last year — deliver “Zero Poverty”.

As peace accord with gov’t approaches Tuesday, September 13, 2016 Colombia’s FARC apologizes for kidnapping during warBOGOTA — Colombia’s Marxist FARC rebels apologized for the “great pain” they caused by kidnapping thousands of people to fund half a century of conflict as the insurgent group prepared to sign a peace accord with the government. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) said in a video recording late on Sunday that it had taken captives over the years but would not do so again. The rebels and government are gearing up to sign the accord after reaching agreement on August 24 to end a war that has killed more than 220,000 people and displaced millions. Some 7,000 FARC fighters will be incorporated into society and permitted to form a political party. Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos said in an interview last week that the deal has to pass the plebiscite otherwise, he said, “more war would be a disaster.”Herald with Reuters