News of argentina

Milei meets IMF chief, gifts Musk a chainsaw

Today 00:13 Enjoying some time away from Argentina following the "cryptogate" scandal, President Javier Milei meets with Elon Musk in Washington and gifts him a chainsaw.

BUSINESS & MARKETS

MercadoLibre shares rally after record quarter of profit

Yesterday 23:55 MercadoLibre stock jumped as much as 14% in after-hours trading after Latin American e-commerce and fintech giant’s profit far surpassed estimates.

POLITICS & CONGRESS

Senate suspends primary vote in reprieve for Milei

Yesterday 23:49 Senate backs move to suspend primary elections for this year’s midterm vote, handing President Javier Milei a welcome political victory.

CONGRESS & POLITICS

Boost for Milei as Senate backs suspension of PASO primaries

Yesterday 23:46 Milei administration wins support to approve a bill to eliminate PASO primaries for this year’s elections; Victory for government in middle of crypto scandal.

by James Grainger

POLITICS & MEDIA

Bribery and pay-off claims from journalists make waves

Yesterday 15:19 Journalist Cristina Pérez claims some of President’s entourage operate a ‘cash for access’ scheme; Under-fire reporter Jonatan Viale accuses colleagues of taking money from politicians; Neither name names.

MILEI IN AMERICA

Milei seeks rebound from crypto saga on visit to Trump world

Yesterday 14:06 Until last week, Milei had done little but wow investors. But last Friday's cryptocurrency controversy has tested the pillars of his popularity.

POLITICS & ECONOMY

Milei opens up Argentina's largest bank to private capital

Yesterday 13:15 Before travelling to the United States, Milei signs decree transforming Banco Nación into a public limited company; Privatisation had been previously proposed by the government, but Congress rejected it.

'Cryptogate' Scandal

Milei orders Anti-Corruption Office to launch '$LIBRA' probe

Yesterday 11:08 Opposition lawmakers push for a congressional commission to investigate President Javier Milei's conduct in scandal; UCR senator Pablo Blanco leading initiative, with support from Kirchnerism, some sectors of PRO and provincial leaders.

'CRYPTOGATE' SCANDAL

Milei’s crypto scandal led to losses for 86% of traders

19-02-2025 23:17 Estimated 86% of crypto traders that took positions in a memecoin endorsed by President Javier Milei ended up losing money, according to research firm.

Diplomatic row

Venezuelan opposition pleads for assistance for asylum seekers

19-02-2025 22:51 Opposition leaders call on diplomatic community to raise voice against "siege" at Argentina's Embassy in Caracas.

CONFLICT IN MIDDLE EAST

Israel hostage group mourns 'heart-shattering' death of Bibas babies

19-02-2025 16:45 Israel confirms that Hamas will hand over bodies of three remaining members of the Bibas family in upcoming hostage exchange, including children Ariel and Kfir.

'CRYPTOGATE' SCANDAL

$LIBRA scandal: Multi-million-dollar civil lawsuit in US 'being prepared'

19-02-2025 16:37 New York law firm has already gathered more than 200 clients from Argentina, the United States, Europe and Asia for a possible class-action suit, according to 'La Nación' report.

NEW DEBT ISSUANCE

Provinces eye debt sales as economic optimism mounts

19-02-2025 15:30 Buenos Aires City— which oversaw a failed debt tender offer toward the end of 2024 — and Córdoba Province are each mulling the sale of around US$500 million of bonds between March and May

GAS & ENERGY

Argentina looks to purchase winter LNG imports in early March

19-02-2025 09:00 Argentina's state-owned gas importer ENARSA will start buying liquefied natural gas in early March, ahead of the start of the southern hemisphere winter.

'CRYPTOGATE' SCANDAL

Milei crypto scandal widens with allegations against his sister

19-02-2025 08:00 The political uproar over President Javier Milei’s role in a crypto scandal puts the spotlight on his closest adviser and gatekeeper: his sister Karina.

Foreign relations & diplomacy

Milei to meet Musk, IMF chief in Washington following crypto controversy

18-02-2025 18:38 Argentina’s President will travel to the United States for the latest edition of CPAC, delivering a speech on the same day as US President Trump. Milei’s agenda includes talks with Elon Musk and Kristalina Georgieva – but he will hope to avoid any mention of crypto scandal.

'CRYPTOGATE' SCANDAL

Explainer: ‘Cryptogate’ scandal involving Milei and Argentina

18-02-2025 17:49 Last Friday evening, Argentina's President Javier Milei promoted (or “shared,” according to his version of events) information about the ‘$LIBRA’ memecoin on social media. Just a few hours later, he was regretting the post.

INTERVIEW CONTROVERSY

Pressure on Santiago Caputo after clip leaked from Milei-Viale interview

18-02-2025 17:36 President granted an interview to Jonatan Viale about the scandal prompted by the ‘$LIBRA’ cryptocurrency; Interrupted by his top advisor Santiago Caputo during it, criticism rains down on government and journalist.

CATHOLIC CHURCH

Pope Francis suffering from double pneumonia, says Vatican

18-02-2025 17:19 Vatican warns of "complex" outlook for Argentine pontiff; 88-year-old is suffering from pneumonia in both lungs.

SEX ABUSE ALLEGATIONS

Argentine Olympic sailor's former coach arrested for alleged abuse

18-02-2025 14:58 Leandro Tulia, the former coach of Argentine Olympic sailor Eugenia Bosco, has been arrested in Buenos Aires following claims by the athlete and others that he sexually abused them in their teens.

IMF TALKS

Caputo says talks over new IMF agreement entering final phase

18-02-2025 11:12 “We’re onto the final points, negotiating the amount and the terms on which we agree,” says economy minister.

POLITICS

Milei denies role in 'cryptogate' as prosecutors launch probe

18-02-2025 08:49 President denies promoting 'Libra' cryptocurrency that crashed last Friday, sparking huge losses for investors and prompting a flood of complaints.

'CRYPTOGATE' SCANDAL

Milei denies wrongdoing in his first defence of crypto debacle

18-02-2025 08:34 President Javier Milei denies wrongdoing in cryptocurrency scandal that’s dented his reputation, triggering lawsuits and even calls for his impeachment.

ALLEGATIONS OF VIOLENCE

Ex-president Alberto Fernández sent to trial for beating former partner

17-02-2025 16:39 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."

CRYPTO SCANDAL

Criptogate: Government plays down scandal, paints Milei as victim

17-02-2025 15:43 Casa Rosada closes ranks and claims President was unaware of details of controversial ‘Viva la Libertad Project’; Macri blamed for working against government.

‘CRYPTOGATE’ SCANDAL

Investigation to probe Milei’s conduct over 'cryptogate'

17-02-2025 15:34 Judge María Servini assigned probe into President’s conduct in launch of ‘$LIBRA’ cryptocurrency; Government announces its own investigation into scandal.

POLITICS & ECONOMY

Milei stumbles into crypto memecoin scandal before US trip

17-02-2025 14:27 President Javier Milei's government launches probe after Libra debacle; La Libertad Avanza leader hoping to meet Trump, secure fresh IMF funds in Washington.

HUMAN RIGHTS

Court issues warrants for Myanmar officials accused of Rohingya 'genocide'

15-02-2025 17:12 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.

CRYPTO SCAM?

Milei pushes crypto token, then deletes post amid fears of scam

15-02-2025 09:25 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.”

ANALYSING ARGENTINA

Cavallo, Milei and the elephant in the room

15-02-2025 06:08 Besides numbers, markets measure moods and tones. And the tone they got from President Javier Milei this week may not have been reassuring.

by Marcelo J. García

POLITICS & ECONOMY – ANALYSIS

Milei’s week of fury

15-02-2025 06:05 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.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

FEATURE INTERVIEW

Alberto Fernández: ‘Fabiola has not grasped the dimensions of what she is saying’

15-02-2025 06:00 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.

by Jorge Fontevecchia

FRAUD ALLEGATIONS

Milei accused of scamming supporters as he pushes crypto token

15-02-2025 00:09 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.

Catholic Church

Fresh health fears as Pope Francis is hospitalised with bronchitis

14-02-2025 15:39 Pope Francis admitted to hospital in Rome for tests and treatment for ongoing bronchitis, the Vatican announces.

the week in review

Stories that caught our eye: February 7 to 14

14-02-2025 15:37 A selection of the stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Just what is going on with Estudiantes and Foster Gillett?

14-02-2025 13:30 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.

by Dan Edwards

Foreign relations & diplomacy

Trade war puts Milei’s Trump-first foreign policy to the test

14-02-2025 10:48 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.

WELFARE CLAMPDOWN

Milei government summons disability recipients to ‘audit’ hearing

14-02-2025 10:22 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.”

ENVIRONMENT & WILDLIFE

Capybaras in Entre Ríos Province dyed Hulk green by algae

14-02-2025 10:01 Argentina's beloved giant rodent, the capybara, has been coated in Hulk-green slime in and around Entre Ríos Province.

Tennis

Diego Schwartzman retires from professional tennis

13-02-2025 20:46 Diego Schwartzman, a former world number eight, ended his professional tennis career on Thursday in the second round of the Argentina Open.

ANALYSIS

Argentina inflation hits lowest level since mid-2020

13-02-2025 16:41 Annual consumer price hikes dip below 100% for the first time in two years as Milei continues to tame inflation.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation slowed to 2.2% in January – lowest rate in four-and-a-half years

13-02-2025 16:06 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.

POLITICS & COURTS

Government sets March target for Supreme Court appointments

13-02-2025 13:41 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.

by Juan Pablo Kavanagh

Congress & Politics

Lower house backs ‘Ficha Limpia’ anti-corruption bill

13-02-2025 01:43 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.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Argentina records highest monthly trade deficit with Brazil in seven years

13-02-2025 00:17 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.

AGRICULTURE

Milei’s plan to boost farm exports: stop ships from running aground

12-02-2025 11:41 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.

PRISON POPULATION

Argentina's prison population grew 3.4% last year, says report

11-02-2025 23:33 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.