News of services

Secrets of ‘Señora 5,’ the woman who manages Argentina’s spies

02-05-2023 13:18 Ana Clara Alberdi oversees the management of the agents of Argentina’s AFI intelligence services, but to most of the country, she is a complete unknown.

by Rodis Recalt

STREAMING BOOM

Streaming services boom in Argentina: 2 in 3 are already subscribers

30-12-2022 13:15 New study details how the online world of streaming is evolving among consumers in Argentina; Penetration of services is very high domestically, with many subscribing to several platforms simultaneously – top three are Netflix, Disney+ and Spotify.

by Enrique Garabetyan

BLOOMBERG

Fintech firm Ualá to start giving personal loans in Mexico

05-12-2022 17:06 Ualá will begin offering loans for its clients in Mexico through its alliance with Mexican bank ABC Capital.

Human rights

Venezuela rejects UN report alleging crimes against humanity

26-09-2022 21:31 UN's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela said last week that military and state intelligence services were part of a scheme "supported by senior authorities" to stifle opposition dissent.

HUMAN RIGHTS & VENEZUELA

UN committee releases damning report on human rights abuses in Venezuela

24-09-2022 08:00 Human rights watchdogs call for increased international pressure on government in Caracas following damning United Nations report; Pressure grows on Argentina to revise relations with Maduro administration.

by Sam Forster

BLOOMBERG

Ualá acquires ‘buy now pay later’ company Ceibo Creditos

06-09-2022 12:53 Argentina's Ualá has acquired Ceibo Créditos, a fintech firm specialising in providing credit and financial services that include "buy now, pay later" options.

ELECTRICITY, GAS, WATER SERVICES

Subsidies slashed – sharp rises coming for more than four million households

17-08-2022 13:05 Government hopes to save US$3.2 billion in 2023 with partial removal of subsidies for electricity, gas and water services; New Energy Secretary Flavia Royón announces a plan to trim assistance for the wealthiest, starting September.

ANALYSIS

‘Three clear groups’ in new tariff segmentation plan, says analyst

17-08-2022 13:04 Fernando Krakowiak, a journalist and educator with EcoJournal, describes the government's plan as "tariff segmentation" with "three clear groups: people with low, medium and high incomes."

AMIA Bombing

Mossad information on AMIA and embassy bombing counters beliefs about perpetrators

25-07-2022 16:46 The Israeli intelligence service showed results of investigation to the New York Times: suspicions that Argentine and Iranian officials were involved have been disproved, generating controversy in Argentina because Iran appears to have been let off the hook.

INTELLIGENCE SERVICES

What lies behind the changes at AFI

14-06-2022 14:03 With the exit of Cristina Caamaño and the advent of Agustín Rossi, new challenges open up for Argentina’s Federal Intelligence Agency. Behind the scenes of AFI, an organism in constant crisis.

by Rodis Recalt

BLOOMBERG

Ualá launches mobile payments for small businesses in Mexico

28-04-2022 10:19 Argentina’s Ualá mobile payments company is expanding into merchant services in Mexico.

IMF DEBT TALKS

Argentina says it has overcome energy-fee hurdle in IMF agreement

03-03-2022 15:12 Argentina has hammered out an agreement with the International Monetary Fund over how to handle energy subsidies, presidential spokeswoman Gabriela Cerruti said on Thursday.

BLOOMBERG

Argentine fintech Ualá launches in Colombia amid LatAm expansion

27-01-2022 16:42 Mobile payments startup Ualá is kicking off operations in Colombia, its third market in Latin America after Argentina and Mexico.

PARTY POLITICS & REVENGE

‘The Foot,’ the ‘Gestapo,’ and the dark basements of Argentina’s democracy

07-01-2022 22:56 Cristina and her acolytes abused the Judiciary to rid themselves of problems during their tenure. Unfortunately, Macri’s Cambiemos coalition followed in their exact same footsteps, despite having won elections on an anti-corruption platform.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

‘GESTAPO’ VIDEO SCANDAL

President calls for probe into allegations of trade-union persecution

04-01-2022 17:52 President Fernandez calls on Judiciary to "investigate without delay" allegations of alleged espionage and trade-union persecution, following leaked 'Gestapo' video.

'GESTAPO' VIDEO

AFI denounces ex-BA Province minister after ‘Gestapo’ comment in video

31-12-2021 12:31 Video footage emerges of ex-Buenos Aires Province labour minister Marcelo Villegas telling business leaders of plan to tackle trade union leaders. AFI intelligence denounces officials of ex-Vidal administration before courts.

BLOOMBERG

Argentine fintech start-up Ualá starts its own brokerage service

08-12-2021 08:51 Company to allow dollar purchases at parallel exchange rate; Start-up is ramping up investment after last funding round.

ILLEGAL ESPIONAGE CASE

Former president Mauricio Macri charged with illegal espionage

01-12-2021 17:11 Former president Mauricio Macri accused of ordering illegal surveillance on the families of the 44 dead crew-members of the ARA San Juan submarine tragedy.

BLOOMBERG

Argentine fintech Ualá buys Mexican bank ABC Capital

05-11-2021 02:07 Argentine financial services startup Ualá has reached an agreement to buy Mexican bank ABC Capital SA, as part of its bid to keep growing abroad.

Bloomberg

Argentina’s Ualá valued at US$2.45 billion after financing round

13-08-2021 12:16 Pierpaolo Barbier's Ualá valued at US$2.45 billion in a financing round led by Japanese conglomerate SoftBank Group Corp and Chinese Internet giant Tencent Holdings.