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"I'm not worried that Argentina is second in the mortality rankings because it's the only (country) that really counts its figures (correctly)."And y'know what? After living in the country for several years, I can assure you that the BS coming from her mouth will be believed by the majority of Argentines. Not because they trust her over the World Health Organization, or Chile's health service or that of the UK, or France or whatever else. The reason is that the average Argentine has absolutely no idea about what goes on outside their own country apart from the European soccer leagues or the odd 'bleeds-it-leads' accident that gets picked up from CNN. She tells her descamisados that Colombians paint themselves blue for a couple of months every year and it'd get debated in Porteño coffee houses the next morning.
Boudouuuuu!
What's up Nestor, are you nervous?
Nestor Kirchner conceded defeat last night with 87% or so of ballots counted. "We lost by very little", he said. That might be so, but the defeat was a shock and marks the end of the Kirchner's governmental rule in Argentina.
"This Sunday we cannot make a mistake. Our future and the future of our children depends on what happens over the next few days in the country, but also the direction that Latin America will take depends on it."This is the typical Argentine bullshit, of course. It's very tough to make them believe that they don't matter in the great scheme of things, so rather than report all the claptrap these last weeks (the above is pretty typical, by the way) I've just ignored it. Let 'em vote, get it done, goodbye.
In a relaxed atmosphere, Chávez joked with Lula by saying that Venezuela was going through a phase of "nationalizations, except for Brazilian companies (in Venezuela)" which caused generalized laughter at the meeting.
Chávez slips the bellboy a tenspot andSANTIAGO, April 29 (Reuters) - Chilean tax authorities reached a deal late Tuesday with their counterparts in Argentina over tax issues related to Barrick Gold's (ABX.TO) Pascua Lama gold project, but said some minor issues remain to be resolved.
Pascua Lama, one of the world's last known mega-gold finds, is located about 5,500 meters (18,000 feet) above sea level and holds a treasure trove of some 18 million ounces of gold. It is also one of the world's largest silver deposits.
Chile's tax authority said the tax issues were agreed upon at a meeting in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
"During the meeting, a deal was reached to resolve tax issues related to transborder services and some others that remained outstanding," Chile's tax authority said in a statement.
The comedy never stops
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Just for fun, today's wonderful front cover of BarcelonaBUENOS AIRES (Dow Jones)--Industrial production in Argentina declined far more in February than the government previously reported through the national statistics institute, Indec, according to a new report published by a manufacturers group.
Indec reported last month that industrial output fell 1.1% in February versus the same month a year earlier.
But February's output actually fell by 12.2%, according to the Argentine Industrial Union, a group that represents the country's leading manufacturers.
Dow Jones Newswires obtained a copy of the report Wednesday.
The UIA's report is considered authoritative because it gets its production data from its own member companies, which in many cases are the same companies consulted by Indec. In theory, economists say, Indec's data shouldn't differ substantially from that compiled by the UIA itself.
In reality, the gap between Indec data and private-sector industrial estimates has widened in recent months.
Production Minister Debora Giorgi dismissed the report, however, saying it doesn't reflect reality.
"If the decline were of that magnitude, we would be seeing job losses that, thank God, we're not seeing," Giorgi said. "This isn't Argentina's reality. All you have to do is walk around and look at factories in the country."
Even so, virtually all private-sector economists now believe Indec data don't accurately reflect inflation, poverty, economic growth or industrial production.
The UIA's report indicates industrial production is down for the fourth consecutive month since November. Before that, production had risen uninterrupted for 72 months.
A UIA official familiar with Indec's report says the government institute gets its data directly from companies and not from the UIA itself. But the official didn't know how many of these companies Indec surveys.
Indec officials repeatedly decline to comment on differences between their reports and private estimates.
One example of diverging data comes from the estimate for food and drink output. Indec reported that February food and drink production rose 13.3% from a year earlier while the UIA said it declined 5.6%.
Chemical and petrochemical output rose 11.6% according to Indec, but declined 11% according to the UIA.
-By Taos Turner, Dow Jones Newswires; 5411-4590-2421; taos.turner@dowjones.com
'Revista Barcelona' is the Argentine version of maybe The Onion in the States or maybe Private Eye for you UK viewers. But it's different to both, too. What it does have in common is sharp satirical humour aimed at its local politicos. This is the cover of this week's issue that hits the Argentine newsstands tomorrow and features the leaders of the farmers associations mashed with local youth culture fashion. As long as you know what you're looking at, it's hilarious.
Again Spanish is needed, but this time the picture speaks for itself. This one is of 'Patota' Moreno, loyal Kirchnerite and head of the ridiculed Argentine Stats office INDEC that insists Argentina's GDP is growing and there's no inflation.
Not much to add, really. She's still the second most unpopular regional president, vox populi dixit. At least her positive column isn't getting any worse, I suppose, but these numbers are down from the 45% to 50% bracket she held when voted into the presidency. Doesn't bode well for her supporters in the congressional elections late this year.
Just in case you don't know what world class silo areas look like these days. Forget those Argentina’s government is considering the nationalization of its grain commerce, La Nacion reported Feb. 27. Federal Administration of Public Income (AFIP) chief Ricardo Echegaray said the government agency would purchase all of Argentina’s grain, flour, and oil production and ensure that domestic demand is met before exporting the remaining quantities. The National Office of Agriculture Commerce Control currently administers grain exports.
Eduardo Duhalde (for it is he)
Oooh, I love a parade. Click on the photo for 