Government orders shutdown of British radar in Tierra del Fuego
The Defense Ministry has issued a technical report and decided to shut down the operations of a radar in Tierra del Fuego province owned by the U.S. and British company LeoLabs. The radar is referred to by LeoLabs as the Argentina Space Radar, or AGSR. Alongside International Affairs secretary Francisco Cafiero, Taiana had found evidence that the LeoLabs company was of British origin. “I fully share Minister Jorge Taiana’s decision to definitively cancel it,” said Pablo Blanco, a senator for Tierra del Fuego with opposition coalition Juntos por el Cambio. “The Tierra del Fuego government owes the country an explanation.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
August 03, 2023 19:33 UTC
Lula says he prays Argentina elects president who defends social inclusion
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he prays that in the upcoming elections Argentina elects a president that will “defend social inclusion and development.”He added that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) needs to have “patience” in its renegotiations with the country regarding the US$44 billion debt former President Mauricio Macri acquired in 2018. That [they] elect a candidate that favors social inclusion and development, and not someone who believes that all public policies are useless spending, or that Argentina’s problems can be solved through privatization,” Lula said during a breakfast with foreign correspondents in the Presidential Palace in Brasilia. Regarding the IMF, Lula da Silva said that it needs to be reformed, proposing the aim should be to create institutions that are more “flexible and generous” with countries that receive loans. The IMF should be patient,” Lula said, adding that the drought has impeded the country from obtaining the foreign currency it usually obtains from agricultural exports. He even mentioned that he has discussed the matter with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
August 03, 2023 18:56 UTC
Néstor Kirchner gas pipeline filling completed, is now operational
The Néstor Kirchner gas pipeline successfully completed its filling and trial period and is now fully operational and ready to transport gas from Vaca Muerta to Buenos Aires city. The 573 kilometer-long pipeline is full with 25 million cubic meters of gas from Vaca Muerta. History of the Néstor Kirchner gas pipelineThe NK gas pipeline was launched July 9 in an event with President Alberto Fernández, Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and Economy Minister Sergio Massa. The pipeline’s path starts at the gas treatment plant in Tratayén, Neuquén, which is located at the heart of the Vaca Muerta shale oil and shale gas deposit. The government is also preparing to work on the reversal of the gas flow of a tranche of the North Gas Pipeline.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
August 03, 2023 02:15 UTC
FIFA Women’s World Cup: Argentina knocked out by Sweden
Argentina’s dream of making into the second round of the FIFA Women’s World Cup was cut short Wednesday with its 2-0 loss to Sweden, spelling the end of the tournament for the team. They’ve sacrificed so much, qualifying twice to a World Cup and having a great Copa América. If Portanova’s squad could manage a win in the second half and the other game remained a draw, Argentina would be on to the knockout round. However, Sweden showed its superiority after halftime, and scored twice in the second half to finish the first round unbeaten and as group winner. The Albiceleste will now probably undergo a transition period as one of its stars, Estefanía Banini, had already announced that this World Cup would be her last participation in international football.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
August 02, 2023 21:21 UTC
‘Blue’ informal dollar jumps 10 pesos, reaches record-high AR$560
The informal exchange rate, popularly known as the “blue dollar,” jumped by AR$10 on Tuesday and reached a record high value of AR$560 to the dollar. Agricultural exporters liquidated US$144 million with the new AR$340 preferential exchange rate, the “agricultural dollar” implemented by the government. Low international reserves and IMF tensionsLast Monday, amid tough negotiations with the IMF and a sharp drop in international reserves, the Argentine government implemented new taxes for imports of goods and services. The administration also granted a higher exchange rate — AR$340, against the AR$276.1 official “A3500” exchange rate — for some agricultural exports. After the payment, net international reserves are calculated at negative US$10 billion.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
August 01, 2023 23:21 UTC
Four Nigerians, rescued in Brazil, survived 14 days on a ship's rudder
They survived another four days, according to their account, by drinking the sea water crashing just meters below them, before being rescued by Brazilian federal police in the southeastern port of Vitoria. “It was a terrible experience for me,” said 38-year-old Thankgod Opemipo Matthew Yeye, one of the four Nigerians, in an interview at a Sao Paulo church shelter. The four men said they had hoped to reach Europe and were shocked to learn they had in fact landed on the other side of the Atlantic, in Brazil. Both men said economic hardship, political instability and crime had left them with little option but to abandon their native Nigeria. “So we taught ourselves never to make a noise.”Spending two weeks within spitting distance of the Atlantic Ocean was perilous.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
August 01, 2023 13:21 UTC
Argentina to pay IMF with China swap extension, CAF loan
Economy minister Sergio Massa announced Monday morning that Argentina will meet its July dues to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) by extending its currency swap with China and using a loan from the Development Bank of Latin America. Earlier on Friday, the IMF and Argentina reached a staff-level agreement granting the country access to a US$7.5 billion disbursement in the second half of August. The country has to pay the IMF US$2.7 billion after postponing all three of its July payments to the last day of the month. “The loan from the IMF is probably the worst inheritance from the previous government. According to the minister, that loan “ended up being a program that just financed capital flight in 2018, but Argentina must pay it to be a sovereign country again.”
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
August 01, 2023 02:49 UTC
Argentina to take US$1 billion loan to pay the IMF
The Development Bank of Latin America (CAF, its Spanish acronym) approved a short-term US$1 billion loan for Argentina Friday night, which the country will use to pay part of its upcoming maturities with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Earlier that day, the IMF and Argentina reached a staff-level agreement granting the country access to a US$7.5 billion disbursement in the second half of August. Consulting firms chime in on the IMF-Argentina dealOn Friday, the IMF announced that the fifth and the sixth reviews of the program implementation were approved simultaneously. According to consulting firms in Argentina, the approval means that the IMF supported some of the policies implemented by the country. The blue-chip swap rate is the implicit exchange rate obtained by investors who buy shares or bonds in pesos and sell them in dollars on the international market.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
July 30, 2023 01:45 UTC
Colombia President Petro's son arrested in money laundering probe
Nicolas Petro, son of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, has been arrested as part of an investigation into money laundering and illicit enrichment, the attorney general’s office said early on Saturday. Also arrested on money laundering and personal data violation accusations was Nicolas’ ex-wife Daysuris del Carmen Vasquez, who earlier this year told local media two people accused of involvement with drug trafficking had given Nicolas money for his father’s campaign. May these occurrences forge his character and may he reflect about his own errors,” the president said. The attorney general’s office will request a judge that the younger Petro and Vasquez be held on the charges, it said. “Charges will be formulated for the aforementioned crimes and liberty restriction measures will be requested,” the attorney general’s office said in a statement, adding the arrests took place at 6 a.m. local time (1100 GMT).
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
July 29, 2023 14:18 UTC
Argentina signs NASA’s Artemis Accords
Argentina signed the Artemis Accords on Thursday evening following a meeting between President Alberto Fernández and Administrator Bill Nelson from the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) at the Casa Rosada. NASA has collaborated with Argentina on previous projects, including a satellite project to study how ocean water with more salt sinks and creates currents. “Argentina certainly has the technological base and scientific know-how for this to be a cooperative adventure in the future,” Nelson said. I’m not going to say.”He is on a trip to Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia to meet with the countries’ presidents. The trip also seeks to further NASA’s satellite projects aimed at tackling climate change and the challenges it causes.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
July 28, 2023 09:59 UTC
Subway lines to be on a three-hour strike starting at 1 p.m.
The Subway and Premetro Workers Union Association (AGTSyP-Metrodelegadxs) will hold a three-hour strike this Wednesday across all subway lines and the Premetro, from 1 to 4 p.m., demanding a reduction in working hours to reduce exposure to asbestos, a carcinogenic mineral present in subway cars. The union is demanding its work day be reduced from 36 to 30 hours a week to reduce asbestos exposure. According to AGTSyP, asbestos exposure has already caused the death of 3 subway workers, while 6 others have developed cancer and 87 others have suffered health issues in the past years. Emova, the company that runs the subway service, has admitted the presence of asbestos, but said “conditions were adequate” to work. “Emova continues to signal its openness to talks, but reducing the work week from 36 to 30 hours is unfeasible without affecting subway operability,” they said.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
July 26, 2023 19:07 UTC
Businesses to request exemptions from new import taxes
Ámbito was able to learn that these associations will ask Economy Minister Sergio Massa “reevaluate” so that more sectors are exempted. “The consequences [of these measures] in some activities needs to be reevaluated,” they said in a press release. Business associations say there is “total uncertainty” regarding the list of sectors that will be exempted from the tax. The Domestic and Foreign Commerce Secretariat, led by Matías Tombolini, will be in charge of the fine print of the measure. Sources from Cadiem, a business chamber that imports medical equipment (Cadiem) sent a letter to the Economy Ministry asking for clarifications.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
July 26, 2023 15:21 UTC
IMF predicts 2.5% GDP drop and 120% inflation for Argentina
According to a report released on Tuesday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) revised Argentina’s growth projection for 2023 — which it calculated to be 0.2% in April — to negative 2.5%. “That was a fairly significant downward revision,” Petya Koeva Brooks, Deputy Director of IMF’s Research Department, said in a press conference. The IMF report placed Argentina’s economic growth at 2.8% next year. The Fund also revised the country’s projected inflation for the entire year to 120% — from 88% in April. On Sunday midday, the IMF announced that it agreed on primary objectives for a new staff-level agreement with Argentina.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
July 25, 2023 22:09 UTC
Only half of companies use the official exchange rate to set costs
The government is betting that the import taxes and preferential exchange rate brought in on Monday will have a low impact on inflation. This was reflected in the wholesale prices of imported goods, which rose by 55 points above the official exchange rate over the past year. Sources from several business chambers confirmed that the official dollar rate is losing its status as a point of reference for transactions and restocking merchandise. Only half (52%) answered that they use the official exchange rate, while almost one in three revealed that they use a different rate: 17% the blue dollar, 8% “an intermediate dollar according to my own criteria” and 3% use the MEP or the CCL dollars. They cited the imported wholesale price index, which in the last year rose 158%, against a 103% increase in the official exchange rate — a difference of 55 points.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
July 25, 2023 13:57 UTC
Peruvian court opens door to legally recognize same-sex couples
A Peruvian high court has ordered same-sex unions to be legally registered in public records, marking a victory for the LGBTQ community in a country that has been reluctant to recognize gay couples. Peru is one of the few countries in Latin America that has not recognized same-sex marriage, though it is not illegal to be gay. A 2021 survey by Ipsos found that 68% of people in Peru were in favor of same-sex marriage or other legal recognition. The Lima court ordered the records office to “proceed with the registration” of the woman’s marriage, the Superior Court of Justice of Lima said on Twitter. Other countries in South America, including Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Colombia, have legalized gay marriage in recent years.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
July 23, 2023 02:13 UTC