THE WEEK IN REVIEW Stories that caught our eye: April 19 to 26 Today 20:21 A selection of stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina.
Foreign relations & diplomacy Top officials to meet People's Bank of China chief amid swap talks Today 17:20 Argentina’s Central Bank Governor Santiago Bausili and Finance Secretary Pablo Quirno are scheduled to meet with People’s Bank of China Governor Pan Gongsheng in Beijing on Monday.
CURRENCY CONTROLS Argentina to offer bonds in first step to lift currency controls Today 13:33 President Javier Milei's government readying a new instrument to allow companies to send dividends abroad, a first step to lift a cobweb of restrictions in its foreign-exchange market.
VINTAGE BEAUTY 60-year-old Miss Universe hopeful challenges age-old beauty norms Yesterday 16:26 Sixty-year-old Alejandra Rodríguez, from La Plata, hopes to compete in the Miss Universe pageant that will take place in Mexico City later this year – but first, she needs to win Argentina's domestic crown.
FOOTBALL Bye bye TV Pública: Telefe to broadcast Albiceleste's matches in Argentina Yesterday 15:18 Argentina's state television network will no longer be in charge of broadcasting national football team matches.
BLOOMBERG – ANALYSIS Milei sparks wild rally that makes peso number one in the world Yesterday 15:17 Four months into office, President Javier Milei has pulled off a critical feat in a country long ravaged by runaway inflation: stabilising Argentina's currency.
INTEREST RATES CUT Central Bank lowers key rate to 60% Yesterday 15:07 Policymakers at Argentina’s Central Bank lower interest rates to 60% from 70% as officials bet on a sustained slowdown of inflation.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Argentina, 17 other nations to call on Hamas to release Israeli hostages Yesterday 12:55 Argentina signs joint statement calling for the release of the hostages held in Gaza; Casa Rosada's release says nation is aligned with "nations of the free world."
AVIATION REFUELLING ROW Argentine firms refuse to refuel Cuban state airline’s planes Yesterday 11:33 Cuba’s state airline announced Wednesday that it had been forced to cancel two flights to Argentina because fuel suppliers refused to supply the planes.
Marcha federal universitaria Milei on education march: ‘Using a noble cause to defend caste interests’ 24-04-2024 17:44 Milei used social media to unload on critics and dismisses universities march, accusing "the caste" of using a “noble cause” like education to “defend their caste interests.”
POLITICS Crisis at Human Capital Ministry: abrupt exits and resignations 24-04-2024 16:18 Legal Secretary Maximiliano Keczeli not the first from Sandra Pettovello’s inner circle to quit post, but he is perhaps the most important figure to have stepped down. Milei’s ‘protective umbrella’ and administrative overspills. by Ramón Indart
AMIA BOMBING PROBE 'Illegal': Iran slams Argentina bid to arrest minister over AMIA attack 24-04-2024 15:21 Tehran condemns "illegal" Argentine request for Interpol to arrest Iran's Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi over his alleged involvement in the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires.
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK Milei’s team sees inflation slowing faster than economist survey 24-04-2024 12:04 President Javier Milei’s economic team sees monthly inflation slowing much faster this year than analysts anticipate.
AMIA BOMBING INVESTIGATION Argentina seeks arrest of Iranian minister over 1994 AMIA bombing 23-04-2024 23:11 President Javier Milei's government calls for Interpol to assist in the arrest of Iran's Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, in connection with the bombing of the AMIA Jewish community centre in 1994.
Marcha Federal Universitaria Massive crowds march against Milei’s cuts to state universities 23-04-2024 21:08 Large crowds turn out nationwide for march in defence of universities and state education; One of biggest rallies yet of President Javier Milei's government, with estimates ranging from 100,000 to half a million.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Diana Mondino heads to China, Europe on investment quest 23-04-2024 20:52 Argentina’s foreign minister will set off on Sunday for a 10-day tour of China, France, Belgium and Portugal, accompanied by a “large business delegation.”
ECONOMIC INDICATORS Economy slumped for fourth straight month in February 23-04-2024 20:18 Economic activity fell 3.2% in February from a year ago, a fourth straight monthly decline. On a monthly basis, activity declined 0.2%, according to government data.
HUMAN RIGHTS Young activists call on states, tech firms to uphold digital rights 23-04-2024 18:01 Amnesty International’s Global Youth Summit convenes in Buenos Aires as rights campaigners discuss intricacies of life online. by Girah Lundy-Joseph
CRIME & SECURITY Prison breaks in Buenos Aires: 19 inmates escape in 20 days, many convicts at large 23-04-2024 16:04 Fugitives on the run in Argentina – overcrowding at police stations in and across the capital allows detainees to escape from jail.
Ex-deputy sex scandal Ex-lawmaker who resigned in breast-kissing scandal sentenced to month in prison 23-04-2024 15:49 Former national deputy Juan Ameri (Frente de Todos) convicted of creating a public disturbance and sentenced to one month in prison; Ex-lawmaker was suspended from Congress after kissing his partner’s breast during a remote videoconference session beamed live into Congress.
CADENA NACIONAL BROADCAST Milei trumpets quarterly budget surplus in TV address 23-04-2024 10:49 President announces Argentina’s first quarterly fiscal surplus since 2008 during a televised speech, promising his commitment to eliminating deficits wouldn’t waver throughout his term.
POLITICS & ECONOMY 'The last stretch': Milei praises 'heroic' effort in prime-time address 22-04-2024 22:08 President uses prime-time broadcast to highlight first quarterly budget surplus since 2008. "This is the last stretch of a heroic effort," Milei tells nationwide.
BUSINESS & INVESTMENT Oil driller PAE pitches investors on global bond deal 22-04-2024 21:11 Pan American Energy, one of Argentina’s largest crude exporters, is meeting with investors this week to gauge demand for a global bond sale.
STATE ENERGY FIRM Burford seeks Argentina’s YPF stake to pay US$16-billion award 22-04-2024 20:29 Burford Capital asks US judge to grant it controlling 51% stake in YPF as part of its effort to collect on a US$16-billion court judegment.
SURVEY SAYS Poll: Milei retaining support despite complaints over dengue, education 22-04-2024 13:23 New survey by Opina Argentina shows President Milei retains 49% approval rating, despite anger at weakening of pensions, attack on universities and response to dengue fever outbreak.
ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT IMF: Argentina meeting programme targets by ‘significant margins’ 22-04-2024 11:53 Milei’s stabilisation plan "has yielded better results than we expected in our last programme review," says Rodrigo Valdés, IMF's director for Latin America and the Caribbean.
POLITICS & ECONOMY Milei to hail fiscal surplus in prime-time address 22-04-2024 11:00 President Javier Milei set to address the nation tonight in a prime-time ‘Cadena Nacional’ national broadcast, during which he hail his government’s progress on balancing Argentina’s books.
Analysing Argentina Is Milei feeling the fear? 20-04-2024 06:45 Milei’s government needs to pass legislation, something it has not been able to do in its first four-and-a-half months in office. Congressional approval would be an indication to Argentines and foreign observers alike that he means business. by Marcelo J. Garcia
EDITORIAL Pre-paid or re-paid? 20-04-2024 05:14 Subordinating medical fees to the dictates of a usually populist government did not work since it placed pricing hopelessly out of sync with the costs, but the naïve faith that the market could correct the damage of years in three months was a non-starter.
INTERVIEW / PERIODISMO PURO Marcos Peña: ‘Our team lost the match, it wasn't just won by Milei’ 20-04-2024 05:11 Former Cabinet chief returns in a reflective mood, discussing Mauricio Macri’s PRO, the future Juntos por el Cambio and the rise of La Libertad Avanza. by Jorge Fontevecchia
CONGRESS & POLITICS Senators raise their own pay as Argentines cope with hardship 19-04-2024 22:41 Senators vote by a show of hands to raise their own salaries by 170%, while half of their compatriots live in poverty.
THE WEEK IN REVIEW Stories that caught our eye: April 12 to 19 19-04-2024 17:59 A selection of stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina.
EDUCATION UBA students and teachers demonstrate against Milei's cutbacks 19-04-2024 10:25 Students and teachers of the University of Buenos Aires protested with public classes in the street and symbolic embraces of buildings against the government’s drastic austerity.
POLITICS & ECONOMY Caputo looks for funds for Argentina in Washington 19-04-2024 00:07 Economy Minister Luis Caputo is on the search for funds in Washington, seeking the US$15 billion President Javier Milei says Argentina needs to remove currency controls.
RELATIONS WITH CHINA Central Bank chief Bausili among top officials headed to China 18-04-2024 18:02 Top government officials are preparing to visit China in the next few weeks as President Javier Milei ditches his aggressive rhetoric against Beijing in a bid to deepen ties with a key trade partner.
NO HAY PLATA? Rebellion in Senate: Pay increase passed by show of hands and without debate 18-04-2024 17:40 Milei lashes out via social networks after senators vote to approve pay increase; "2025 will see a historic hiding" for the caste, says President.
BUSINESS & INVESTMENT Mercado Libre to recruit 18,000 more staff in Latin America this year 18-04-2024 16:25 Mercado Libre announced “the hiring of 18,000 people in the region, which will increase its payroll to over 76,000 by the end of 2024”, the company said in a press release.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Argentina formally asks to become ‘global partner’ of NATO 18-04-2024 16:09 Defence Minister Luis Petri delivers letter of intent to authorities from transatlantic military alliance, seeking Argentina's approval as a "global partner" of NATO.
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND Inflation falling ‘a little faster than expected,’ says Georgieva 18-04-2024 15:51 Kristalina Georgieva, the head of the International Monetary Fund, says "inflation is coming down faster than expected" in Argentina.
GEOPOLITICAL ROW Argentine delegation inspects Chinese space station in Neuquén 18-04-2024 14:42 Group of government officials, scientists and experts visit controversial deep space station run by Beijing; Inspection comes after heavy pressure from Washington.
BLOOMBERG Caputo speech at JPMorgan event helps propel Argentine bonds 18-04-2024 13:18 Argentina won’t lift capital controls until international reserves are high enough to safeguard against a potential currency run, Luis Caputo tells investors.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Milei requests meeting with Lula to discuss 'joint policies' 18-04-2024 12:38 Bending to reality, Argentina’s President finally proposes an encounter with his Brazilian counterpart after trashing him on the campaign trail last year; Foreign Minister Mondino delivers a formal invite to her colleague Mauro Vieira in Brasília.
World Organisation for Animal Health Argentine veterinarian looks to conquer French multilateral bastion 18-04-2024 00:23 Luis Barcos, the Argentine candidate to be the next director-general of the World Organisation for Animal Health, is looking to become the first non-French person to lead the ex-Office International des Epizooties.
HEALTH & ECONOMY Government intervenes to halt private health scheme price surge 17-04-2024 17:21 Free-market Milei administration uses state power to challenge firms and announces most prepaid health schemes are rolling back runaway price increases; "The Argentina of wise guys is over," declares presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni.
FOREIGN POLICY & ECONOMY Mondino: Mercosur must open up to ‘agreements with other countries’ 17-04-2024 17:16 Argentina's Foreign Minister Diana Mondino calls for modernisation of Mercosur rules and backs push for free-trade deal with China.
agriculture & economy Bug plagues crops in setback for Milei’s recovery plan 17-04-2024 16:49 Argentina corn farmers had high hopes for this season’s harvest. Now a bug is getting in the way.
DIPLOMACY Bullrich sparks row with Bolivia, Chile with Hezbollah claims 17-04-2024 16:36 Bullrich alleges the presence of Iranian-linked forces in Bolivia and Chile, along with Triple Frontier; Arce’s administration calls for “end of provocation,” while Boric demands respect.
BUSINESS & INVESTMENT Top CEOs to heap praise on Milei at Patagonia retreat 17-04-2024 13:18 Elsztain will host president at exclusive Bariloche event; IRSA starting construction on biggest project in its history
ECONOMIC INDICATORS Beef consumption fell to historic low in first quarter 16-04-2024 20:21 Beef sales hit a historic low in the first quarter of 2024 amid a heavy drop in consumption, falling to their lowest level in three decades.
POLITICS – ANALYSIS Kirchnerite tensions: New wave pushes for displacement of La Cámpora 16-04-2024 15:46 Disappointed with the inaction of those aligned with Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, a new line of Kirchnerite figures are knocking on Axel Kicillof's door and asking him to take control of the Peronist movement.