#1 Milei stumbles into crypto memecoin scandal before US trip President Javier Milei's government launches probe after Libra debacle; La Libertad Avanza leader hoping to meet Trump, secure fresh IMF funds in Washington.
#2 Investigation to probe Milei’s conduct over 'cryptogate' Judge María Servini assigned probe into President’s conduct in launch of ‘$LIBRA’ cryptocurrency; Government announces its own investigation into scandal.
#3 Former president Alberto Fernández sent to trial for beating ex-partner Federal Judge Julián Ercolini rules former president Alberto Fernández should stand trial for “minor injuries and serious injuries" suffered by his ex-partner, former first lady Fabiola Yáñez, along with "coercive threats."
#4 Pope's condition 'complex,' hospital stay extended Pope Francis followed Sunday mass and his traditional Angelus weekly prayer on television in a Rome hospital where the 88-year-old pontiff is being treated for bronchitis.
#5 Milei accused of scamming supporters as he pushes crypto token President Javier Milei sparks major controversy after pushing new cryptocurrency token online; Experts warn of potential fraud as '$libra' coin soars in value before becoming worthless in just a few hours.
#6 Milei pushes crypto token, then deletes post amid fears of scam Milei deleted initial post pushing crypto token, saying he was “not aware of the details of the project and after having become aware of it I decided not to continue spreading the word.”
#7 Cavallo, Milei and the elephant in the room Besides numbers, markets measure moods and tones. And the tone they got from President Javier Milei this week may not have been reassuring.
#8 Milei’s week of fury The market has doubts as to whether Milei and Caputo can sustain what is clearly a super strong peso, forcing them to come out publicly to defend their policy choices. The level of aggression with which they have defended their position suggests that the risks to their strategy are real.
#9 Former president Alberto Fernández: ‘Fabiola has not grasped the dimensions of what she is saying’ In the first half of a two-part interview, former president Alberto Fernández addresses the gender violence and psychological mistreatment allegations made against him by his ex-partner Fabiola Yáñez.
#10 A cyberpunk at the helm Is Milei an astute operator who is merely playing the role of a foul-mouthed cyberpunk or is he simply showing the world the kind of person he really is?
#11 Court in Argentina issues warrants for Myanmar officials accused of Rohingya 'genocide' Court in Argentina issues arrest warrants for the head of Myanmar's military junta and former officials including Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi over alleged "genocide and crimes against humanity" targeting Rohingya minority group.
#13 Primaries (time and) Again Serve Oppositions Introduced little more than 15 years ago for less than noble reasons and widely rejected today as a waste of time and money, the PASO primaries will not be missed by many.
#14 US or China? Latin America under pressure to pick a side US President Donald Trump pressures key trading partners like Mexico to break away from China's influence, vowing to shut the 'backdoor' allowing China to import products tariff-free through Latin America.
#15 Trade war puts Milei’s Trump-first foreign policy to the test Javier Milei has spent his presidency cozying up to Donald Trump. But Argentina’s suddenly vulnerable position on tariffs demonstrates that not even friends are clear of Trump’s trade ire.
#16 In Río de Janeiro, a wrong turn leads from paradise to peril Around the corner from Brazil's biggest tourist attractions lie gang-guarded areas where 19 people were shot last year.
#17 Argentina’s top environment official resigns post With forest fires raging in Argentina's north and south and President Milei analysing a withdrawal from the Paris climate accords, Environment Undersecretary Ana Lamas presents resignation due to “exhaustion” and “personal reasons.”
#18 Milei government summons disability recipients to ‘audit’ hearing Hundreds of thousands of Argentines who receive disability pensions are to be summoned to a hearing in cost-cutting push to establish and verify if they are eligible and if the welfare payment “reaches those who need it.”
#19 Argentina's giant rodents, capybaras, dyed Hulk green by algae Argentina's beloved giant rodent, the capybara, has been coated in Hulk-green slime in and around Entre Ríos Province.
#20 Just what is going on with Estudiantes and Foster Gillett? After a January of reckless spending, serious doubts have emerged over US businessman Foster Gillett's economic dealings, raising questions about just what exactly is going on with their shadowy financier.
#21 “LatAmGPT”: Latin America to have its own artificial intelligence model in 2025 Data recognising the multicultural diversity of Latin America is being incorporated into the region's new artificial intelligence model, with experts calling for technological independence.
#22 Stories that caught our eye: February 7 to 14 A selection of the stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina.
#23 Fresh health fears as Pope Francis is hospitalised with bronchitis Pope Francis admitted to hospital in Rome for tests and treatment for ongoing bronchitis, the Vatican announces.
#24 Argentina inflation hits lowest level since mid-2020 Annual consumer price hikes dip below 100% for the first time in two years as Milei continues to tame inflation.
#25 Argentina records highest monthly trade deficit with Brazil in seven years Bilateral trade between the two Mercosur partners was US$2.098 billion last month, up 34.1% from the previous January, but imports surge takes Argentina into negative territory.
#26 Inflation slowed to 2.2% in January – lowest rate in four-and-a-half years Boost for President Javier Milei and Economy Minister Luis Caputo as inflation slows to 2.2%; Consumer prices have risen 84.5% over the past 12 months, according to government data.
#27 Lower house backs ‘Ficha Limpia’ anti-corruption bill Lower house votes 144 in favour, 98 against, with two abstentions; Opposition claims bill targets Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who would be blocked from running for office if Senate backs it.
#28 Milei vs the Music: Free Milo J show at ex-ESMA blocked National government blocks performance by chart-topping star at ex-ESMA clandestine detention centre, prompting anger from artist’s camp.
#29 USAID freeze threatens millions in Latin America US President Donald Trump pulls USAID funding from vital Latin American NGOs, public entities and life-saving United Nations programs.
#30 Argentina's Diego Schwartzman retires from professional tennis Diego Schwartzman, a former world number eight, ended his professional tennis career on Thursday in the second round of the Argentina Open.
#31 Trump speaks to Putin, says Ukraine talks to start 'immediately' Russian President has been largely shunned by the West since his troops attacked Ukraine in February 2022, triggering the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II. But that era of isolation came to an abrupt end on Wednesday, when US President Donald Trump picked up the phone.
#32 Ecuador's wild west shows limits of Noboa's 'iron fist' As gang violence kills neighbours and levels homes, frightened residents of Ecuador's Puerto Bolívar coastal city doubt President Noboa's promise of safety.
#33 Government sets March target for Supreme Court appointments Casa Rosada is seeking consensus for nominees Ariel Lijo and Manuel García-Mansilla and its bid to appoint them to the nation’s highest court. But should support be lacking, it may resort to using decrees.
#34 Trump: No exemption for Argentina on steel, aluminium tariffs US president confirms 25% steel, aluminium tariffs on imports because United States has “a small deficit” with Argentina on trade.
#35 Milei’s plan to boost farm exports: stop ships from running aground Argentina’s government is moving to give the neglected Paraná waterway its first major upgrade in nearly two decades. But time is running out for the fixes to be made.
#36 Hedge fund run by former economy minister Nicolás Dujovne posts 22% gain Nicolás Dujovne enjoys double-digit hedge fund gains from his Buenos Aires trading desk, thanks to Milei's market-friendly agenda.
#37 Gutting aid, United States cedes soft power game to China Successive US administrations have vowed to wage a global competition with China. But by freezing nearly all US foreign aid, Washington has effectively ceded one of its main levers of influence.
#38 Argentines spend most dollars since 2018 on strong peso policy Argentines are spending the most amount of dollars in years as they cash in on a strong peso.
#39 Argentina market veterans launch new brokerage amid Milei rally Grit Capital Group wins brokerage licence and will kick off operations this month.
#40 Mass evacuation as fire breaks out at 51-floor building in Puerto Madero More than 100 people were evacuated as fire breaks out at apartment building in Puerto Madero.
#41 Argentines want US trade deal despite competition, tariff fears Argentines support President Milei’s quest to negotiate a free-trade agreement with the United States, but are split over competing with US firms.
#42 After Patagonia, fires rip through northeast Argentina Fires in the northeastern province of Corrientes have consumed up to 250,000 hectares of land in northeast Argentina since January.
#43 Poll: Latin Americans back US military force against Maduro Despite ill feelings toward Trump, majorities in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico support US military intervention in Venezuela against President Nicolás Maduro, new poll finds.
#44 Dozen Latin America start-ups flagged as top unicorn candidates At least a dozen tech firms in the region could cross the coveted US$1-billion valuation mark this year, according to specialised platform Distrito.
#45 Pope told to 'stick to Church' after Trump migrant critique The Argentine pontiff accused US President Donald Trump of 'damaging the dignity' of migrants through his stringent deportation policy.
#46 Chronicle of an announced withdrawal: Argentina and UN Human Rights Council Milei government anticipates its departure from the United Nations Human Rights Council, opting not to seek re-election for current mandate — an indirect way of accelerating its retreat. The move would reflect the new policy of alignment with Washington.
#47 Argentina's prison population grew 3.4% last year, says government report PROCUVIN institutional violence office highlights overcrowding at federal penitentiaries; More than 11,600 people now behind bars; “Progressive and sustained” increase over the last five years, warns report.
#48 Ecuador's president claims 'irregularities' in first-round vote Ecuador President Daniel Noboa blames inconclusive first-round vote on unsubstantiated polling "irregularities" as he and leftist rival Luisa González advance to runoff election set for April 13.
#49 Court in Argentina begins re-examining rape case against French rugby players Mendoza court hears initial appeal from plaintiff, who accused French rugby players Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou of raping her after a match last year.