Argentine Voters to Select Parlasur Representatives

In the upcoming October 25 general elections, for the first time ever, Argentine voters will directly elect 43 representatives to the Parlasur, the Mercosur parliament. Its members were previously selected by the country's legislators. The Mercosur is a regional trade and integration body comprised of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Paraguay. The direct election will bring the issue of regional integration directly before the voters. 

Laureano Ponce reports from Buenos Aires

Argentine Legislators Express Solidarity with Ecuador

Members of the Argentine congress formed a parliamentary friendship group with Ecuador on Thursday and expressed their support for President Rafael Correa's government. The legislators will be presenting a motion to be voted on in congress in solidarity with Ecuadorean democracy. Social organizations, intellectuals and political activists will also be mobilizing in support of the Citizens' Revolution. 

Laureano Ponce reports from Buenos Aires.

Argentina Investigating HSBC for Economic Offenses

Argentina Federal Tax Agency authorities and legislators flew over to Paris to meet with former HSBC employees as part of their investigations into allegations that international banks committed economic felonies. The HSBC is accused of capital flight, tax evasion, and money laundering. Following the visit, authorities will seek to bring those guilty to justice and prepare new financial regulations to avoid such fraudulent banking practices in the future. 

Laureano Ponce reports from Buenos Aires.

Argentina: First Space Engineering Degree in Latin America

The first academic degree in Space Engineering has been created at the University of San Martin in Latin America. According to the university’s School of Science and Technology, the goal is to generate the necessary knowledge to support the country’s growing space research industry. The move comes less than a year after the first Argentine satellite was launched into orbit. Two more are planned for the coming year, indicating a promising future for Argentina in space technology. 

Laureano Ponce reports from Buenos Aires for teleSUR. 

Argentina to Boost Social Welfare Allowances

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez announced on Monday that she would be sending a bill to Congress to increase social welfare payments. The bill would mandate two mandatory increases per year in the country's two most important social welfare programs, the universal child allowance and the universal pregnancy allowance, and in other similar plans. Current funding for these programs will be immediately increased by 30%. The bill is expected to be supported by both the ruling party and the opposition. 

Laureano Ponce reports from Buenos Aires.

Malvinas Dispute Still An Open Wound in Argentine Society

Argentina's claim to the Malvinas Islands remains an ongoing issue in the South American country. An event was held at the Malvinas Museum on Wednesday to mark the day of reaffirmation of Argentina's sovereign rights to the Malvinas Islands. The day of affirmation coincides with the anniversary of when Argentina first settled the archipelago in 1829. The issue has received renewed attention as veterans of the 1982 war with Great Britain have received recognition and financial compensation for their service. Despite London's refusal to negotiate a settlement to the dispute over what Britain calls the Falkland Islands, the issue remains high on Argentina's diplomatic agenda. Argentina has received in its claim from the rest of Latin America. 

Laureano Ponce reports from Buenos Aires.

FAO Lauds Argentine Efforts to Eradicate Hunger

Argentina was recognized by the UN's Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) for its efforts to eradicate hunger. At the FAO's 39th biannual meeting held in Rome, President Cristina Fernandez said the achievements were possible due to the country's improved distribution of wealth, which has also led to advances in health and educational levels. The FAO's representative in Argentina, Valdir Welte, stressed the role of small farmers in feeding the country, as agribusiness has largely focused its efforts on exports. Welte praised Argentine government agricultural programs that train the urban and rural population on how best to make use of limited available land, offer financial support to family farms, legalize property ownership, and provide infrastructure for growers to market their crops. 

Laureano Ponce reports from Buenos Aires.

Argentina: President Fernandez to visit Pope Francis on Sunday

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez will visit Pope Francis this Sunday in what will be mostly a ceremonial meeting. This will be the fifth time the two heads of state have met since Pope Francis took office in 2013. The meeting was requested by the Argentine government and is seen as a prelude to the Pope’s visit to the country in July. It is also widely interpreted as support for the efforts of the Fernandez government to reduce poverty and implement changes for the benefit of the country. Although many Argentine politicians have requested meetings with Pope Francis, Fernandez is the only official who has been welcomed at the Vatican.

Laureano Ponce reports from Buenos Aires for teleSUR.

Argentine Protests Target Gender Violence Against Women

Every 30 hours a woman is killed in Argentina. Yesterday, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators participated in rallies in Buenos Aires and other cities against femicides and other manifestations of machismo, such as in the workplace and the media. The protests were called by journalist and feminist organizations and organized through the social media. Activists say that while the legislation adopted in recent years is progressive, effective policies must be developed by all branches of government to address gender violence against women and other forms of sexism and attend to victims of such practices. Yesterday's massive rallies reflect the struggle underway in Argentine society against machismo. 

Laureano Ponce reports from Buenos Aires.

Argentina: HSBC Investigation Extended Due to Allegations of New Crime

The local branch of the HSBC bank is accused of tax evasion and money laundering operations. The Financial Information Unit of Argentina’s anti-money-laundering office accused HSBC of hiding documents that prove its deliberate participation in money-laundering maneuvers for over US$6billion, thereby harming the Argentine economy. The FIU is anxious to avoid more cases of capital flight and tax evasion, which have been taking place in Argentina for years. Its spokesperson says this is not the first time HSBC has engaged in such processes and that it has also been accused of similar offenses in other countries in conjunction with criminal organizations. In Mexico, for example, HSBC was fined US$1.9 billion for laundering approximately US$7billion for the Sinaloa cartel. And the Treasurer at the time is the current manager of the Argentine branch. This kind of conduct speaks volumes about multi-national financial powers who have no problem violating local legislation and sovereignty as long as they can pursue maximum profits. 

Laureano Ponce reports from Buenos Aires for teleSUR.