Latest news of Buenos Aires Times

Creator and destroyer

Yesterday 06:30 Many involved in AI say they want to press the pause button to give governments more time in which to come up with regulations. They must know that nothing like this is going to happen.

by James Neilson

EDITORIAL

Innocence and banks

Yesterday 06:10 Which comes first, the internal or the external debt?

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

Multiplying options

Yesterday 06:08 Polarisation is far from inevitable when at least half of the 60-plus percent discontented with the current course of events are equally averse to a return to Kirchnerism.

Tech & media

Why Perfil is fighting OpenAI and Microsoft over theft of journalistic content to feed their AI

Yesterday 06:04 Most of the major AI models have been built on an explicit thief and its perpetuation further weakens one of the beleaguered pillars of democracy: journalism.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

Bancos internacionales financiarán con USD 900 millones el gasoducto San Matías.

OIL & GAS

Vaca Muerta LNG project secures US$900-million international loan

Yesterday 05:30 Consortium involving Pan American Energy (PAE), YPF and Pampa Energía, along with international partners, closes a key project finance deal; Funding unlocked to build the pipeline that will carry Vaca Muerta gas to export terminals on the Atlantic coast.

by Eugenia Muzio

National Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva.

DRUG-TRAFFICKING

Football hooligan gang chief arrested over ecstasy ring from Spain

28-08-2026 23:14 Pablo 'Bebote' Álvarez, leader of Independiente's 'barra brava' hooligan gang, was detained in Buenos Aires on Friday as part of a probe into an international gang accused of smuggling ecstasy into Argentina from Spain.

MASSIVE OIL DEAL

Trump announces deal for huge US stake in Venezuelan oil reserves

28-08-2026 21:57 Venezuela agrees major oil deal with the United States, giving Washington majority control of 65 billion barrels of proven petroleum reserves; Trump and Rodríguez hail "historic" agreement, saying it will benefit both nations.

Tierra del Fuego Province Government complained about the riival of the VS Promise tanker in Ushuaia.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Stories that caught our eye: August 21 to 28

28-08-2026 18:38 A selection of stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina.

Peter Thiel, president and founder of Clarium Capital Management LLC, during the Allen & Co. Media and Technology Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, US, on Friday, July 10, 2026. The event brings together many of the biggest names in AI, media and technology.

IN FOCUS

Peter Thiel becomes anti-Milei rallying cry for Argentina’s left

28-08-2026 15:11 In Argentina, Peter Thiel has become an avatar for the left’s charge that President Javier Milei is putting the country up for sale.

Tango BA Festival y Mundial 2026 (Buenos Aires Tango Festival and World Cup).

Tango BA Festival & Mundial

How Tango’s Mundial went global – without leaving Buenos Aires

28-08-2026 11:54 More than 800 couples from over 50 countries and thousands of enthusiasts are descending on Buenos Aires to compete and enjoy the Tango Mundial. As the city’s annual championship becomes an increasingly global cultural phenomenon, longtime competition and festival producer Martín Frosio faces a defining challenge: making the event bigger without losing its local identity and style.

Football in Argentina

Vélez Sarsfield’s factory churns out another batch of fresh talent

28-08-2026 10:43 El Fortín are out to show that the kids are alright after a positive start to the Clausura. But unfortunately, the team’s new stars are unlikely to hang around.

by Dan Edwards

Cerimedo's connections with SIDE and beyond.

CERIMEDO CASE

Cerimedo’s corporate ties to inner circle of SIDE spy agency

28-08-2026 07:42 Shared addresses and interlocking companies. Corporate records reveal a web of businesses linking Fernando Cerimedo, President Milei’s former adviser, to figures historically associated with Argentina’s intelligence agency, as well as a host of businessmen.

POLITICS & ECONOMY

Free-market Milei to seek unions’ help for one-million-peso wage floor?

27-08-2026 21:49 Proposal is part of President Javier Milei government’s increasingly creative approach to boosting wages...

Javier Milei during a swearing in ceremony at the National Congress in Buenos Aires on December 3, 2025

POLITICS & CONGRESS

Judicial joy for Milei, Mercosur-EFTA deal wins backing

27-08-2026 21:45 Upper chamber backs naming of Pablo Bertuzzi and Pablo Yadarola to key strategic benches, along with 67 judicial appointments in total.

Fernando Cerimedo speaks during the Hispanic Prosperity Gala at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on February 10, 2026.

POLITICS

Ravier: Fernando Cerimedo ‘has no relationship with Milei’ – apart from Casa Rosada visits

27-08-2026 19:12 Presidential Spokesperson Adrián Ravier says political adviser Fernando Cerimedo is not linked to President Milei, despite their past links.

FIFAGATE

Argentine pair in FIFA corruption scandal admit paying bribes

27-08-2026 17:57 Hugo Jinkis and Mariano Jinkis were initially charged after a sprawling 2015 probe that rocked governing body FIFA and continental confederations for South and North America.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 15: Emiliano Martínez of Argentina prepares for warm ups during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium on July 15, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.

FOOTBALL TRANSFERS

Emi 'Dibu' Martínez to join Chelsea from Aston Villa in £7.5-million deal

27-08-2026 17:51 Thirty-three-year-old is set to sign a two-year contract with Chelsea, with an option to extend his stay for a further year.

A woman walks next to a mural depicting Argentina's late football legend Diego Maradona, outside of the field "El Potrero de D10S" in Villa Fiorito, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, on June 13, 2026, where Maradona took his first steps playing soccer at his childhood club, Estrella Roja, near his childhood home.

death of diego maradona

Maradona trial: Expert stands by conclusions despite medical test confusion

27-08-2026 17:30 Expert tells trial that a mix-up between Diego Maradona’s medical tests and those of his father did not alter his diagnosis of chronic kidney disease.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Coudet exits River Plate after less than seven months in charge

27-08-2026 16:24 Head coach offers resignation in wake of Copa Sudamericana exit; Departure agreed by mutual consent, leaving Millo looking for their third permanent head coach this year.

Alpine's Argentine driver Franco Colapinto drives during the sprint qualifying session of the Formula One Dutch Grand Prix at The Circuit Zandvoort, western Netherlands, on August 21, 2026.

FORMULA 1

'Mature' Colapinto extends contact with Alpine through 2027

27-08-2026 11:25 Argentina driver, first national to race in Formula One since Gaston Mazzacane at the 2001 San Marino Grand Prix, says he feels "very happy and very settled" at Alpine.

Atlético Madrid's Argentine forward Julián Álvarez is pictured amid boos from home supporters during the Spanish league football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Villarreal CF at Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on August 23, 2026. FC Barcelona are still looking for a striker after Atletico Madrid rejected their bid to sign Julian Alvarez, AFP reports.

FOOTBALL TRANSFERS

Atlético Madrid rule out any talks with Barcelona over Julián Álvarez

27-08-2026 11:20 Atléti says it hopes Argentine striker "will understand the decision, focusing on working in the best possible way to help the club achieve its objectives."

Cerimedo scandal

Two new probes opened into political adviser detained in Bolivia

27-08-2026 00:48 Bolivian President Paz distances himself from Fernando Cerimedo, his former adviser facing multiple accusations, including attempted femicide, money-laundering and drug-trafficking.

world

Plans for Pope Leo's visit to Argentina ramp up

27-08-2026 00:10 Vatican confirmed earlier this month that the Catholic leader would travel to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru for a tour lasting November 6 to 17.

POLITICS & CONGRESS

Deputies back Milei’s push to reform Central Bank charter

26-08-2026 23:03 Louse house lawmakers back Milei's bid to bar the Central Bank from printing money to fund the Treasury, bill now moves to Senate; Opposition deputies brand reform a "scam" designed to entrench Governor Santiago Bausili.

Images from last year's edition of arteBA.

ART & CULTURE

arteba contemporary art fair returns to La Rural with international eye

26-08-2026 16:41 From November 4 to 8, the arteba contemporary art fair will take over La Rural's Pabellón Amarillo; This year’s event, marking foundation’s 35th anniversary, showcases 70 galleries from 11 countries, includes new areas, international guests and a sweeping exhibition space.

by Rosario Bernasconi

Javier Milei speaks during a Council of the Americas conference in Buenos Aires, on August 20.

ANALYSIS – SHOCK THERAPY

Milei’s magic fades on Argentina’s slowing economic recovery

26-08-2026 13:07 President Javier Milei’s Economists and analysts say economic revival is sputtering, with the recovery not only fading but becoming increasingly uneven.

Roberto Baratta, pictured in a file photo.

COURTS

‘Cuadernos’ case: Former Techint director confirms near US$1m payment to Baratta

25-08-2026 21:11 Former Techint executive Héctor Zabaleta, speaking under oath, confirms money deliveries matched those registered by Oscar Centeno, the driver who kept records on which graft case is based.

ANALYSIS

Argentina’s ‘lost decade’ – formal private employment still at 2016 levels

25-08-2026 18:15 Companies have cut back on their hiring and the search for staff has fallen to its lowest levels in the past year; Surveys warn about an advance of jobs with less labour law protections.

by Gabriel Zorrilla

Bilateral spat

Chile angered by Argentine Air Force chief's Magellan remarks

25-08-2026 13:00 Santiago says it will lodge a formal complaint after Brigadier General Gustavo Javier Valverde called the Strait of Magellan and the Drake Passage a matter of “Argentine sovereignty”; Foreign Minister in Buenos Aires forced distanced itself from the remarks, acknowledging 1881 and 1984 treaties that define their southern borders.

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

Argentina's exports set to top US$100 billion this year, LCG says

25-08-2026 12:33 Argentina’s exports could clear the US$100-billion mark this year; Trade surplus, LCG says, will top US$20 billion – almost double last year's total.

Brazil election 2026

Lula’s poll lead over Bolsonaro shrinks as Brazil campaign opens

25-08-2026 09:35 President Lula’s advantage over Flávio Bolsonaro narrows to one point in key poll as official campaigning begins.

Storage tanks aboard the liquified natural gas (LNG) tanker LNG River Niger at the port of Barcelona, Spain, on Thursday, April 30, 2026.

ENERGY & GAS

JPMorgan, Santander lead financing of up to US$15 billion for LNG Project

25-08-2026 08:55 JPMorgan Chase and Banco Santander are leading financing talks for Argentina LNG; Unprecedented project to liquefy and export shale gas reserves would create one of the biggest floating facilities in the world.

A mam walks past a mural depicting late Argentine football legend Diego Maradona in La Boca neighbourhood of Buenos Aires on June 19, 2026, during the FIFA World Cup 2026.

MARADONA DEATH TRIAL

Health company admits Maradona test mix-up in trial

24-08-2026 20:36 Swiss Medical admits tests released to a medical commission investigating Maradona's death "remained mistakenly filed under the name Diego Armando Maradona," when in fact they belonged to his late father, Diego Salustiano Maradona.

The logos of Editorial Perfil, OpenAI and Microsoft.

MEDIA BATTLE

Perfil sues OpenAI, Microsoft over unauthorised use of journalism

24-08-2026 19:23 Argentine publisher sues OpenAI and Microsoft over use of news content; Media company accuses tech firms of intellectual property appropriation and unfair competition.

The new National Library of El Salvador (BINAES) in San Salvador was built with the support of donations from China.

economy

Trump fails to loosen China’s economic grip on Latin America

24-08-2026 14:40 For all Washington's political pressure, the economic dimension of Trump’s so-called Donroe Doctrine remains unfulfilled. Economic ties with China, have in general, not been affected.

Buenos Aires half-marathon

Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha sets world half-marathon record in Buenos Aires

23-08-2026 17:05 Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha sets new world record in the Buenos Aires half-marathon, winning the race in 56 minutes and 51 seconds.

ABUSE SCANDAL

Próvolo child abuse: Mendoza high court overturns acquittal of former nun

23-08-2026 13:46 Japanese national Kumiko Kosaka was previously acquitted in 2023 of abusing deaf children at the Instituto Próvolo in Mendoza between 2005 and 2016.

Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Rebeca Grynspan, Rafael Grossi.

RACE TO BE UN SECRETARY-GENERAL

Grossi remains in the running for top UN post after second straw poll

22-08-2026 11:30 Guyana's Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett leads second straw poll in race to succeed António Guterres as head of the United Nations; Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica came second, Argentina's Rafael Grossi retains support.

Two young Mexicans gesture toward their opponent during a face-off in a so-called 'Aura Battle' in Mexico City on August 20, 2026.

SOCIAL MEDIA TREND

'Aura' battles leap from social media to Latin America streets

22-08-2026 10:38 "Aura Battles" – a new viral trend among young people in which two individuals face off in public spaces, with charisma and style the deciding factor.

ANALYSING ARGENTINA

Underground wealth, above ground worries

22-08-2026 08:26 Milei is comfortable ignoring the day-to-day economic agenda of the public. But his inner circle is increasingly wary that this trajectory will make the 2027 electoral year an uphill race.

by Marcelo J. García

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

ASEAN, as in the zone

22-08-2026 08:21 The creation of ASEAN in 1967 saw the region create unity out of division and harmony out of discord.

by Michael Soltys

The fall of the Cambridge don Jason Arday.

AS I SEE IT

The death of a self-made professor

22-08-2026 08:06 It was only to be expected that the fall of the Cambridge don Jason Arday would attract the attention of the media on both sides of the Atlantic.

by James Neilson

POLITICS – ANALYSIS

The ‘uncanny valley’ theory meets Milei and Cerimedo

22-08-2026 06:28 The reality of the Milei administration’s near three years in office is even more bizarre than expected.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

INTERVIEW / PERIODISMO PURO

Óscar Martínez: ‘Bukele has neither principles nor ideology – he was after power, any which way’

22-08-2026 06:24 A look at the dictator’s playbook – investigative journalist Óscar Martínez on the rise of Nayib Bukele, the dismantling of democracy in El Salvador and the fight for truth from exile.

by Jorge Fontevecchia

EDITORIAL

March of the trolls

22-08-2026 05:54 Perhaps the most significant development is the government’s implied admission of economic stagnation for the first time when almost two-thirds of the year is over, accompanying a cautious relaxation of monetary policy.

A group of Gandalfs outside Peter Thiel's home in Buenos Aires.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Stories that caught our eye: August 14 to 21

21-08-2026 19:01 A selection of the stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina.

United Nations headquarters in New York.

foreign relations

UN holds second informal poll of secretary-general candidates

21-08-2026 12:49 UN Security Council meets for another straw poll to gauge the popularity of a growing field of contenders to succeed Antonio Guterres as next secretary-general.

President Javier Milei arrives at the Americas Society/Council of the Americas "Political and Economic Perspectives" conference in Buenos Aires on August 20, 2026.

PRESIDENT ON BIRTHRATE

Milei says legal abortion ‘madness’ is ‘costing Argentina dearly’

21-08-2026 12:44 President links Argentina’s falling birth rate to the feminist movement and the legalisation of abortion.

TV & STREAMING

Amazon Prime Video to invest US$2 billion in Latin America productions

21-08-2026 12:26 Amazon announces US$2-billion investment in Latin American productions for its Prime Video streaming service through to 2030.

Argentina's midfielder Leandro Paredes (top) clashes with Spain's midfielder Gavi during the 2026 World Cup football tournament final match between Spain and Argentina at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on July 19, 2026.

World Cup fall-out

Argentina hit with heavy sanctions by FIFA for World Cup controversies

21-08-2026 11:59 Leando Paredes banned for 10 international matches and fined, along with teammate Nahuel Molina, who gets seven games; AFA ordered to play one national team match without fans for Malvinas flag incident, Thiago Almada and Spain’s Gavi given one-match bans.

STRATEGIC INFRASTRUCTURE

USA and China at war over Vaca Muerta, Hidrovía and Patagonia

21-08-2026 11:16 Dispute between Washington and Beijing for global technological influence is alive in Argentina. Huawei lies at the centre of the controversy due to its participation in CALF projects in Neuquén, while the United States demands “networks of confidence” to protect data linked to Vaca Muerta. The Hidrovía waterway and the future AI projects in Bariloche complete a map where US investments co-exist with technology of Chinese origin.

by Carlos Burgueño

Members of the political group Libres del Sur hold a protest against Mercado Libre creator Marcos Galperin due the usurious interest rates over debts of impoverished users within the government of President Javier Milei, next to the Casa Rosada government palace in Buenos Aires on August 20, 2026.

INDEBTED DEMONSTRATION

Protesters rally in Buenos Aires over soaring household debt

20-08-2026 21:21 More than 5.8 million nationwide are behind on loan payments, say protest groups; Unions and left-wing parties call for state action to ease debt burdens and regulate high interest rates.

A man works at a supermarket in Buenos Aires, on February 10, 2026.

economic indicators

INDEC data shows economy improved in June after uneven first half of year

20-08-2026 20:11 Mining and agriculture drive growth but economists warn the recovery remains uneven and should be viewed with caution.

Visitors at the Alto Palermo shopping centre in Buenos Aires.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Economy expanded faster than expected in June

20-08-2026 18:56 Economic activity grew more than expected in June, offering fresh signs of momentum; Mining sector led growth on an annual basis, followed by agriculture.

Cardboard recyling collected by cartoneros.

POLITICS OF WASTE

Cartoneros warn City Hall recycling overhaul could push them out

20-08-2026 18:01 Groups representing cartoneros warn that the conditions being set by City Hall for renewing recycling system contracts could push them out and pave the way for private firms to take them over; Cooperatives say the proposed financial and asset requirements are challenging and could lead to their exclusion.

A woman walks past a banner depicting Diego Maradona and demanding justice outside the court before a trial hearing on his death in San Isidro, Buenos Aires Province.

Death of Diego Maradona

Maradona death trial on hold amid suspected father-son kidney test mix-up

20-08-2026 16:49 Trial proceedings suspended for a week over possible medical evidence mix-up; Defence lawyers claim kidney kidney tests produced at the trial belonged to Maradona's father, who died in 2015.

COUNCIL OF THE AMERICAS

Milei hails progress on inflation, vows to grow economy

20-08-2026 16:01 President says he had already fulfilled electoral promises that brought him to office; Milei uses Council of the Americas speech to review his administration’s record, criticise economists and journalists and plead for re-election.

A Galicia bank branch in the financial district of Buenos Aires.

ANALYSIS: SHOCK THERAPY

Impatient savers are hindering Milei’s lending push

20-08-2026 13:09 Certificate deposits in pesos from the private sector – including individuals and companies – are growing. Yet the maturity of those savings is shrinking.

Harold Hamm speaks during the APEC CEO Summit in Gyeongju, South Korea.

ENERGY & GAS

Hamm’s Continental to buy 50% of Mercuria Argentina oil firm

20-08-2026 12:44 Billionaire shale pioneer Harold Hamm’s Continental Resources signs agreements to buy half of Argentine shale oil firm Phoenix Global Resources, owned by Mercuria Energy Group.

Brazil election 2026

Lula wages his final campaign as Brazil’s presidential frontrunner

20-08-2026 12:31 Incumbent is broadly considered the favourite to beat right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro, whose campaign has been marred by feuds with his stepmother and links to a banker at the centre of a massive financial fraud probe.

Pump jacks in Neuquén Province, Argentina.

OIL & GAS

Continental, Geopark among bidders for Argentina shale blocks

20-08-2026 09:10 Interest amid Argentina’s largest offering of exploration licences in more than a decade.

POLITICS & PRIVATISATIONS

Argentina opens 50-year bidding process for Belgrano Cargas concession

19-08-2026 23:39 Economy Minister Luis Caputo confirms national and international tender for privatisation of Belgrano, San Martín and Urquiza freight lines for half a century; Rules barring state-controlled bidders seen as targeting Chinese rail operators, local media reports.

CITY

Cooperatives protest plans to overhaul Buenos Aires recycling

19-08-2026 22:27 Cooperatives warn plans to bring in private companies could threaten thousands of jobs and undermine a 20-year-old socially inclusive recycling system.

argentina

From Milei to Bolsonaro to Paz and Bolivia: the fall of Fernando Cerimedo

19-08-2026 22:05 Former digital troll chief linked to President Javier Milei is under arrest in Bolivia, accused of masterminding an attack against his pregnant ex-partner. His career as troll includes smear campaigns, a graft scandal and accusations of being a background influence in the Bolivian government.

DRUG-TRAFFICKING

DEA chief calls Argentina a 'model' for region in anti-narco fight

19-08-2026 21:52 Top US DEA drug enforcement chief Terrance Cole, praises Argentina's counter-narcotics strategy during the 40th International Drug Enforcement Conference, hosted in Buenos Aires for the first time.

CRIME & INSECURITY

Over 100 countries meet in Buenos Aires to tackle drug-trafficking

19-08-2026 15:58 Delegates are gathering behind closed doors in Buenos Aires this week for the 40th International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC), co-organised by President Javier Milei's government and the US Drug Enforcement Administration for the first time.

This handout picture released by the Nicaraguan Presidency shows Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice-President Rosario Murillo, greeting supporters during an act to commemorate the 44th anniversary of the Nicaraguan Revolution in Managua, on July 19, 2023.

FOREIGN RELATIONS

OAS to hold urgent meeting on Nicaragua plan to ban opposition

19-08-2026 15:48 Argentina’s Ambassador to the OAS Carlos Cherniak says need for debate on Nicaragua is urgent as Daniel Ortega’s government moves to bar opponents from running for office.

Bolivian police officers stand guard at the entrance to the Clinica de Las Americas, where Bolivian lawyer Nadia Beller – partner of Fernando Cerimedo, personal adviser to the president of Bolivia, Rodrigo Paz, and former adviser to Argentina’s President Javier Milei – was hospitalised after receiving several gunshot wounds, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, on August 18, 2026.

CRIME & INSECURITY

Milei-linked consultant refuses to testify in Bolivia shooting case

19-08-2026 10:13 Fernando Cerimedo was arrested after his former partner was shot in Santa Cruz, with Bolivian prosecutors investigating whether others masterminded the attack; Victim Nadia Beller accuses her ex-lover of attempting to kill her and makes allegations about consultant's past and involvement in ANDIS scandal linked to Milei siblings.

Rescuers call for silence in the search for survivors amid the rubble of a collapsed building after an earthquake in Pereira, Colombia on August 12, 2026.

Foreign Ministry

Argentina sends two planes with aid to earthquake-hit Colombia

19-08-2026 10:02 Milei goverment sends humanitarian aid to Colombia to help emergency efforts following last week's devastating earthquake.

Construction workers in the financial district of Buenos Aires.

JOBS & EMPLOYMENT

Surging unemployment is Milei’s biggest political threat

19-08-2026 09:56 For a second straight year, the economy is growing yet employment is falling in the formal sector. Only one province, Neuquén, has added businesses during Milei’s tenure.

Diego Armando Maradona, pictured in a 2015 file photo.

death of diego maradona

Maradona's doctors missed renal red flag, court hears

18-08-2026 22:32 Late football legend's failing kidneys should have been a red flag for his doctors, specialist tells trial into star's death.

HUMAN RIGHTS

Amnesty International slams rise of Argentina’s 'surveillance state'

18-08-2026 22:24 Massive online surveillance is deterring the right to protest in Argentina, says Amnesty International NGO in latest report.

CRIME & INSECURITY

Former Milei aide arrested after pregnant woman shot in Bolivia

18-08-2026 22:09 Argentine political strategist Fernando Cerimedo under arrest in Bolivia; Woman, who says she is pregnant with his child, survives shooting and accuses him of orchestrating attack.

Then-president Alberto Fernández and then-first lady Fabiola Yáñez.

COURTS

Alberto Fernández, Fabiola Yáñez reported over alleged pandemic plane party

18-08-2026 14:45 Complaint against the former president and first lady was filed following report by LN+ news channel.

CHINA & LATIN AMERICA

China's Xi says supports Latin America in 'upholding independence'

18-08-2026 14:35 "China supports Latin American countries in upholding independence and self-reliance," says Chinese leader as he hosts Ecuador's Daniel Noboa.

Commuters ride past a State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Bengaluru on August 11, 2026.

GUEST COLUMN

Viksit Bharat 2047: A road map for India to become a developed nation

18-08-2026 10:55 India should become Viksit Bharat by 2047, which would be the 100th year anniversary of India’s independence.

An Indian rocket launched the record-breaking BlueBird 6 satellite to orbit.

GUEST COLUMN

India's space sector: A launchpad for global partnerships

18-08-2026 10:41 India's space sector offers a powerful reminder that the greatest achievements in space are those that bring nations together.

ARREST IN BOLIVIA

Right-wing political consultant detained in Bolivia after shooting of former partner

18-08-2026 10:12 Political consultant , a key digital strategist behind Milei's 2023 presidential campaign, detained in Bolivian city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra while attempting to board a flight to Buenos Aires; Detention comes amid investigation into armed attack that left his alleged partner, lawyer Nadia Beller, seriously injured.

Porteños wait for a public transport bus in Buenos Aires.

PERSONAL FINANCES

How families in Milei's Argentina sank deep into debt

18-08-2026 09:50 Stagnant incomes, coupled with a cost of living crisis, have nudged household finances in Javier Milei’s Argentina to the brink.

President Javier Milei delivers a speech at a government tribute commemorating General José de San Martín on the 176th anniversary of his death.

POLITICS

‘Liberty as a mandate’ – Milei links Presidency to San Martín’s ‘ideas and values’

18-08-2026 09:34 After several days without public activity, President Milei appears in public to deliver a speech urging defence of San Martín’s ideals against those who "attack our ideas and values, making us believe that sin and robbery are justified."

Martín Varsavsky and an image from his Wamani compound.

SOCIETY

Wamani: Martín Varsavsky's Mendoza refuge for a hypothetical war

17-08-2026 16:33 Businessman Martín Varsavsky, a member of the Silicon Valley elite, caused a stir this week in the 'Financial Times' by declaring that "we're already in World War III." Working from that premise, the entrepreneur says that "it makes sense to have a refuge" and reveals details of Wamani, his retreat in the Mendoza foothills. But the site’s corporate paperwork conceals a geopolitical paradox.

by Nicolás Gonzalez

ENERGY & GAS

Shale driller Vista Energy jumps as Peter Thiel logs stake

17-08-2026 14:14 Shares in Vista Energy, Argentina’s top oil exporter, jump after tech billionaire Peter Thiel reports a sizeable stake in the company.

Foreign policy

Milei signs up Argentina to Trump’s anti-abortion international alliance

16-08-2026 11:03 Argentina’s decision to join Trump-led Geneva Consensus brings position on abortion and reproductive rights back into focus; Secrecy surrounding the move raises questions about government’s strategy over politically sensitive issue.

by Giselle Leclercq

A F-34 drilling rig at the Vista Energy Bajada del Palo Oil and Gas Field in Neuquén, Argentina.

ENERGY & GAS

Peter Thiel reports stake in Argentine shale oil exporter Vista

16-08-2026 10:38 Peter Thiel’s hedge fund acquires a sizeable stake in Vista Energy SAB, Argentina’s top oil exporter, increasing his ties to the country.

OPINION & ANALYSIS

The New Right redraws Latin America’s map

16-08-2026 07:23 Latin America has become fertile ground for outsiders who know how to turn resentment into votes.

Perfil's Jorge Fontevecchia interviews former Brazil president José Sarney.

INTERVIEW WITH EX-BRAZIL PRESIDENT

José Sarney: ‘President Milei is hostile to Brazil’

15-08-2026 13:28 Former Brazil president criticises disparaging remarks delivered by Argentina’s Javier Milei towards Lula and Brazil, describing them as inappropriate and a breach of diplomatic dignity. Calling on both nations to prioritise regional unity and resist external pressures, he declares that the bond between the Brazilian and Argentine people remains strong.

by Jorge Fontevecchia

POLITICS – ANALYSIS

Scenarios: Three possible paths to Argentina’s 2027 election

15-08-2026 10:22 Three scenarios, but one decisive factor: the economy.

by Jorge Fontevecchia

AS I SEE IT

Life in the age of empathy

15-08-2026 07:43 The ongoing drive to subordinate just about everything else to empathy has already had far-reaching geopolitical consequences.

by James Neilson

Editorial

Economic conundrums

15-08-2026 07:00 The Milei administration has yet to square the circle of taming inflation without recession.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

And if the divided rule?

15-08-2026 06:15 Should the wheels come off for Trump, this would be another question-mark over Milei’s re-election chances.

by Michael Soltys

POLITICS – ANALYSIS

Campaign battle royale as outsiders and professionals face Milei

15-08-2026 05:33 Political campaigns in Argentina have been governed by fragmentation, negative voting and thin results in the last few presidential bouts. There’s also been big surprises.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

Fernando De Andreis and Cristian Ritondo arrive at the Casa Rosada for a meeting with La Libertad Avanza officials.

The Week in Review

Stories that caught our eye: August 7 to 14

14-08-2026 17:28 A selection of the stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina.

EDUCATION

Report: Only half of primary school kids have ‘satisfactory knowledge’ of language and maths

14-08-2026 11:50 Only 50% of schoolkids in Argentina reach sixth grade with ‘satisfactory knowledge of language and maths,’ finds NGO report, but 94 in 100 pupils reached sixth grade without dropping out or repeating a year.

CENTRAL BANK

Argentina eases post-2001 dollar loan curbs to boost economy

14-08-2026 09:18 President Javier Milei’s government seeks to boost credit and economic activity by easing longstanding restrictions on dollar lending.

COPA LIBERTADORES

Argentina’s Libertadores candidates look to break Brazil’s hold on Copa

14-08-2026 07:17 Almost eight years have passed since an Argentina side lifted the Copa Libertadores and this season, for the first time since 2014, neither Boca or River are contenders for the continental title.

by Dan Edwards

ENERGY & GAS

‘Argentina LNG’ – YPF confirms massive US$51-billion RIGI production plan

13-08-2026 19:58 State energy firm announces largest RIGI scheme investment to date, worth over US $50 billion; Project envisages massive export of liquefied natural gas from Vaca Muerta, backed by ENI and XRG.

Cuban leader Raúl Castro attends the gala marking the 100th anniversary of his brother Fidel Castro's birth at the Karl Marx theatre in Havana on August 13, 2026. The 95-year-old and US-indicted Cuban leader Raul Castro received a standing ovation as he appeared in public for the first time in months on August 13, 2026, attending an event in Havana to mark the centenary of his brother Fidel's birth.

US PRESSURE ON CUBA

Indicted Raúl Castro reappears after months out of public view

13-08-2026 18:39 Brother of Fidel Castro, facing indictment in United States, last appeared in public at a May 1 event in front of the US Embassy in Havana, where he appeared frail, and was shown on state television at events in June.

US Ambassador to Argentina Peter Lamelas.

GEOPOLITICAL ROW

US ambassador warns Argentina over Chinese firms in Vaca Muerta

13-08-2026 17:10 Trump envoy Peter Lamelas says Chinese involvement in strategic sectors “will not help attract foreign investors” to Argentina’s shale oil and gas hub.

ANALYSIS

Inflation edged up last month on winter holidays

13-08-2026 17:00 Economy Minister Luis Caputo announces companies without earnings in dollars will now be able to borrow greenbacks.

A shopper consults a staff member at a supermarket in Buenos Aires.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation ticks up slightly, rising to monthly 2.1%

13-08-2026 16:05 Consumer prices rose 2.1% in July, lifting annualised inflation figure to 33.8%; July figure slight acceleration on 1.9% recorded previous month.