#1 EU says it will provisionally apply contested Mercosur trade deal European Union announces it will implement provisionally its mammoth trade deal with the Mercosur trade bloc while waiting for a top court's ruling on its legality.
#2 Flavio Bolsonaro’s rapid rise in Brazil presidential polls surprises sceptics Flavio Bolsonaro, who two months ago wasn’t considered a strong contender despite hailing from an influential family, has a real chance to become Brazil’s next leader.
#3 US backs Argentina in discovery fight in US$18-billion YPF case US government has previously backed Argentina in the case, urging courts not to allow the plaintiffs to seize majority stake in YPF.
#4 From glory to grind - ‘El Muñeco’ bows out as costly comeback unravels Never go back, they say; Marcelo Gallardo is just the latest top coach to find out the hard way.
#5 Senate approves Milei’s weakening of glacier protection law Argentina’s upper house approves Milei-backed overhaul of landmark 2010 law, bill now heads to lower house; Greenpeace activists detained during protest outside Congress.
#6 A US$40-billion copper boom in Argentina hinges on revamped glacier law Argentina’s Senate voted on Thursday on Javier Milei's bill that would allow governors – many pro-mining – to overrule federal protections on glaciers and their surrounds, known as periglacial areas.
#7 Major victory for Milei as labour modernisation bill clears Congress Argentina’s Congress approves ruling party’s Labour Modernisation Bill after weeks of protests and negotiations; Flagship bill will loosen existing rules, reduce severance pay and lower employer taxes, among other measures.
#8 Argentina's Congress votes to lower age of criminal responsibility to 14 Milei and La Libertad Avanza notch up another legislative win in special Congress sessions; New juvenile penal regime will lower the age of criminal responsibility to 14, down from the present age of 16.
#9 Stories that caught our eye: February 20 to 27 A selection of the stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina.
#10 EU advances with Mercosur trade deal in ‘provisional’ step French President Emmanuel Macron, a critic of the EU-Mercosur deal, calls the decision a “bad surprise” at an event in Paris.
#11 Argentina's Congress approves EU-Mercosur trade deal by huge majority Lawmakers in Argentina ratify sweeping trade deal between Mercosur and European Union, hours after Uruguay did the same; Senate follows lower house approval with huge majority vote, 69 in favor, three against.
#12 Milei to outline reform push in Congress speech Riding high off approval of EU-Mercosur deal and progress on amendments to Glacier Protection Law, President will address Legislative Assembly – and the nation – in a primetime speech Sunday night.
#13 Activists arrested at protest over Milei's attempt to water down Argentina's glacier protection law Twelve activists from environmental NGO Greenpeace arrested during a protest at Congress against potential reform of Glacier Protection Law.
#14 Victoria Villarruel’s coup Purple officials interpret Villarruel’s stance as part of her strategy to seek a new political umbrella, since Milei will be seeking re-election next year with another running-mate.
#15 Argentine stocks are left behind as earnings growth eludes Milei Investors have lauded Milei for slashing fiscal spending and slowing Argentina’s rampant inflation, but those successes are yet to translate into a durable surge in profits.
#16 IDB study: Uber drivers in Latin America are educated men earning US$7 per hour Uber drivers in Latin America and the Caribbean are overwhelmingly male, most have a high rate of university education and tend to take on the work part-time.
#17 Clintons testify as Epstein scandal reverberates Hillary Clinton quizzed on Epstein, calls for Trump to testify; UK govt says will release files on 'rude' ex-prince Andrew.
#18 Death be not proud Taboo subject of death is made an intro to a sequence of sardonically thought-provoking reflections in this special one-off performance.
#19 Court intervention puts abortion drug supply under scrutiny Federal court orders Health Ministry to publicise a collective constitutional amparo action seeking to guarantee access to abortion.
#20 Argentina Week: Milei takes governors to Wall Street in investment drive President to headline Argentina Week event in New York; Roadshow to gather global CEOs, top bankers and provincial leaders; Eight governors to join trip as government promotes RIGI and monetary overhaul.
#21 Dealing with taxes and eliminating the PASO primaries – Milei’s agenda for coming months La Libertad Avanza believes that there is more than enough margin to continue implementing changes which they describe as “structural.”
#22 ‘All crimes in Buenos Aires have fallen,’ says City Mayor Macri Buenos Aires City mayor says his administration has taken “a political decision to enforce the law” and that, as a result, all crimes in the capital have decreased.
#23 Argentine and Brazilian writers among finalists for International Booker Prize Gabriela Cabezón Cámara’s 'Las niñas del naranjel' (“We Are Green and Trembling”) nominated for slot on the 2026 shortlist; Chaco-based novel revisits colonial history through a bold and unsettling lens.
#24 Government may move human rights office from ex-ESMA on eve of 50th coup anniversary President Javier Milei’s government analysing moving Argentina’s Human Rights Department from ex-ESMA clandestine detention centre to offices of now defunct Women, Gender and Diversity Ministry; Move would take place in the same month as the 50th anniversary of the 1976 coup, according to reports.
#25 Iran denies missile, nuclear claims after Trump alleges 'sinister ambitions' in key speech Iran dismisses missile, nuclear claims after Trump alleges "sinister ambitions" in key Congress speech; US president says Tehran must make a "meaningful deal" in negotiations with Washington in the next 10 days or else "bad things happen."
#26 76 years in prison for alleged masterminds behind Marielle Franco’s murder Brazil Supreme Federal Court sentences Brazão brothers for ordering murder of councillor slain in 2018, a milestone of political violence and militia power in Rio de Janeiro.
#27 Crime down in capital: Murders, robberies and carjackings fall to historic lows in Buenos Aires Homicide rate dropped to 2.5 per 100,000 inhabitants last year, making Buenos Aires the second-safest capital in the Americas behind Ottawa, Canada.
#28 Economic activity in Argentina rose 4.4% in 2025 year-on-year, reports INDEC Bureau’s estimator of economic activity records 3.5% year-on-year increase for December 2025, 1.8% increase compared to November.
#29 Argentina detects bird flu outbreak, suspends exports Animal health authorities confirm outbreak of bird flu at facility in Buenos Aires Province, leading to the temporary suspension of exports.
#30 Argentina’s economy expanded more than expected after midterm election Argentina’s economy grew more than expected in December due in part to a historic wheat harvest.
#31 ‘You feel a bit ignorant’ – Lionel Messi expresses regret over not studying English Argentina captain and Inter Miami forward says he “had the time to study” and regrets “a lot” not having done so earlier.
#32 Danger on two wheels – motorcyclists account for almost half of Argentina’s road deaths Data shows around 46% of those killed in road traffic accidents are motorcyclists. High accident rates among youth and a lack of oversight from shuttered key road safety bodies set alarm bells ringing.
#33 Peronist senators break off from main caucus At least three Peronist senators break ranks; PJ leader Cristina Fernández de Kirchner cannot stop the haemorrhage.
#34 Top Milei official says Argentina’s VP ‘not part of our administration’ Cabinet Chief Manuel Adorni says Vice-President Victoria Villarruel is not involved in policy-making and “is not part” of Javier Milei’s administration.
#35 Dismissals, trial periods and litigation – key changes in Javier Milei’s labour reform bill Argentina’s government wants to reduce labour litigation, but lawyers warn that the changes in dismissals, trial periods and litigation could have the opposite effects to those sought by the government.
#36 Trump takes anti-China crusade to Chile ahead of Latin America summit in Miami Chile for decades finessed the geopolitical rivalry between China, its top trading partner, and the US, its leading foreign investor. Those days seem to be over.
#37 Argentina's top flight football league suspends matches over tax probe into AFA chief Argentina's top flight will not play next weekend in protest as clubs choose solidarity with Argentine Football Association (AFA) chief Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia over ongoing tax fraud probe.
#38 Milei government eyes criminal and labour reform in key week Reform of Juvenile Penal Code, Milei’s administration’s labour modernisation bill and the ratification of the EU-Mercosur agreement are the priorities at the close of extraordinary Congress sessions.
#39 Marcelo Gallardo resigns as River Plate coach, ending disastrous second spell at club Marcelo Gallardo officially confirms his resignation as River Plate's head coach in a surprise video; Farewell match at home to Banfield this Thursday.
#40 Marcelo Gallardo and River Plate: Is the end of a painful second act drawing near? After three straight league defeats and mounting pressure, Marcelo Gallardo’s return to the Monumental is turning sour.
#41 More than 200 political prisoners in Venezuela launch hunger strike More than 200 Venezuelan political prisoners go on hunger strike to demand their release under a new amnesty law that excludes many of them.