Top Story – Argentine leaders lashed out at foreign lenders on Wednesday after a pair of full-page ads ran in two of the country’s leading newspapers. The ads, paid for by an association of bondholders, quoted Germany’s finance minister, who called Argentine policymaking “an example of a lack of strength,” Reuters reported.
In response, Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez accused the creditors of practicing “economic and financial terrorism” in her speech to the U.N. General Assembly later on Wednesday.
Fernandez criticized the so-called “vulture funds,” named for their practice of buying debt at low prices and demanding it be paid back in full, for taking advantage of the country’s vulnerable economy.
Earlier that day, her cabinet chief Jorge Capitanich accused Germany of maintaining a “hostile attitude” with regards to Argentina’s efforts to restructure their debt.
The harsh tone of the debate over Argentina’s debt highlights the sporadic chaos that has dogged the country’s economy since it weathered a major crisis in 2001.
Argentina failed to make a foreign bond payment for the second time in 13 years this July, kicking off a new phase of turmoil. In August, the trade surplus more than doubled due to collapsing imports, a consequence of recession and foreign currency shortages.
The World Bank warned these economic woes could contribute to a quadrupling of Argentina’s poverty levels in the coming years.
To weather this crisis some Argentines have banded together resourcefully, forming cooperatives to reopen over 300 previously closed businesses.
Meanwhile, some in Argentina’s government are attempting to bolster the economy with aggressive measures of their own. On Sept. 18 the country’s lower house voted on a new law to limit prices of consumer goods and control profits. While supporters of the “supply law” hope it will protect consumers, some economists fear the measures will only exacerbate shortages and inflation.
Argentina has been asked to make a case before U.S. judge next week to argue against being held in contempt and fined for its July failure to pay bondholders as outlined in a court-ordered debt restructuring deal.
Headlines from the Western Hemisphere
North America
- Mexico’s governemnt is preparing a series of meetings to encourage bidding on its oil sector, recently opened to private investment.
- Mexico has also pledged to participate in a U.N. peacekeeping mission for the first time in the country’s history.
Caribbean
- As a legal battle looms with Puerto Rico over a $230 million tax refund, the Doral Financial bank is seeking the aid of top Washington, D.C. public relations, lobbying and crisis management firms.
- The International Monetary Fund has approved a $68.8 million payment to Jamaica.
Central America
- Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador are drawing up plans for large regional infrastructure and energy projects in an effort to spur economic growth and discourage illegal immigration.
- Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez railed against the international drug war at the U.N., blaming it for high crime rates and the subsequent flood of northward-bound unaccompanied minors.
- A study is underway to test the effectiveness of a dengue fever vaccine developed in Costa Rica.
Andes
- The government of Colombia and FARC rebels, currently engaged in peace negotiations, released a partial draft of an agreement in a response to claims that the talks lack transparency.
- In other news from Colombia, President Juan Manuel Santos has issued a decree seeking to lower the country’s pharmaceutical drug prices, which are some of the highest in the world.
- Three people were convicted of murdering former Miss Venezuela Monica Spear and her husband Thomas Berry.
Southern Cone
- Tycoon Eike Batista, once Brazil’s wealthiest man, is facing financial crimes charges for the third time in recent weeks.
- In an attempt to fight dengue fever in Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian researchers have released thousands of mosquitoes, who carry the virus, infected with a bacteria that suppresses it.
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