BLOOMBERG Caputo speech at JPMorgan event helps propel Argentine bonds Today 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' Today 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 Today 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 Yesterday 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’ Yesterday 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 Yesterday 16:49 Argentina corn farmers had high hopes for this season’s harvest. Now a bug is getting in the way.
BUSINESS & INVESTMENT Top CEOs to heap praise on Milei at Patagonia retreat Yesterday 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.
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK IMF improves inflation projection: 150% this year, but 45% in 2025 16-04-2024 15:44 Latest 'World Economic Outlook' report predicts Argentina’s GDP will contract by 2.8% this. Milei’s "shock plan" will impact economy, arriving hand-in-hand with recession, says Fund.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Mondino warms ties with Brazil, but no Milei-Lula meet on cards 16-04-2024 13:10 "The possibility of a presidential meeting is always present. And we hope that at some point it will happen," Argentina's Foreign Minister Diana Mondino declares after visit to Brasília.
DEFENCE SPENDING Petri hails Milei's leadership as he inks deal for F-16 jets in Denmark 16-04-2024 12:52 Argentina’s Defence Minister offers gushing praise for President Javier Milei as he visits a Danish air base to finalise future purchase of 24 F-16 fighter jets from Denmark.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Mondino says Argentina will ‘never interfere' in Brazil’s affairs 15-04-2024 17:06 Foreign Minister Diana Mondino denies reports that President Javier Milei will mediate in Elon Musk’s row with Brazilian Judiciary, declaring that Argentina would “never interfere” in another nation's affairs.
MILEI Milei sees four dogs and says there are five – it should concern us 15-04-2024 16:25 On a denial of reality, cloned dogs, mediums and Javier Milei's messianic project. by Juan Luis González
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY President Milei cuts short international trip over Mideast crisis 13-04-2024 21:56 President Javier Milei is ending his international trip early to handle his country's response to the crisis in the Middle East.
President's love life Milei confirms break up with actress girlfriend Fátima Flórez 13-04-2024 17:30 President Javier Milei says his relationship with girlfriend, actor and comedian Fátima Flórez, has come to an end.
Bloomberg Inflation near 300% wipes out tourists’ deep discounts 13-04-2024 17:13 Surging inflation threatens to crimp a key source of tourism revenue as foreigners opt for other destinations.
AGRICULTURE & ECONOMY World’s top fertiliser maker plans exit from Argentina, Chile 13-04-2024 16:59 Nutrien, the world’s largest maker of fertilisers, says it is looking to sell its retail operations in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.
Editorial The medium as the message 13-04-2024 05:54 Milei is the leader of a pack which competes to be the most outrageous but this week he seems to have been trumped by an underling: Alberto ‘Bertie’ Benegas Lynch.
INTERVIEW / PERIODISMO PURO Guillermo Dietrich: ‘I’m backing this government all I can so that it does well’ 13-04-2024 05:47 Former transport minister and close ally of Mauricio Macri on the Milei government, state companies and Juntos por el Cambio. by Jorge Fontevecchia
Analysing Argentina Why Javier Milei needs to be a bit like Néstor Kirchner 13-04-2024 05:40 Even though he may hate the sound of it, the lessons of the Kirchner dynasty – whose political fadeout is largely responsible for Milei’s meteoric rise to power – could help the President. by Marcelo J. Garcia
CULTURE WARS The perfect enemy for Javier Milei 13-04-2024 05:28 The president, his inner circle, and the Cabinet have become extremely selective regarding the outlets and journalists they speak to, with Milei only giving interviews to friendly reporters who lob softballs at him. by Agustino Fontevecchia
THE WEEK IN REVIEW Stories that caught our eye: April 5 to 12 12-04-2024 22:07 A selection of the stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina.
MEDIA Pressure on the press: from Videla to Milei 12-04-2024 17:20 Attacks by Javier Milei on the press in general, and at 'Noticias' and 'Perfil' in particular, are nothing new. Argentina’s President is using old methods to silence critics. by Gustavo González
ECONOMIC INDICATORS Inflation slowed to 11% in March, annual rate hits 287% 12-04-2024 16:56 Consumer price hikes continue to slow, but remain in double digits. Education records highest increases, rising 52.7 percent as increases as new school year begins.
BLOOMBERG - ANALYSIS Monthly inflation slowed more than expected in March 12-04-2024 16:35 Monthly inflation in Argentina slowed more than expected in March, cooling for the third straight month.
MILEI MEETS MUSK President Milei meets Elon Musk at Tesla factory in Austin 12-04-2024 14:52 Argentina’s President flies from Miami to Texas for a meeting with SpaceX boss Elon Musk at his Telsa factory in Austin; X owner gives Javier Milei tour of building as photos of encounter go viral online.
Bloomberg Tech giant with 30,000 employees has no return-to-office policy 12-04-2024 14:17 Software company Globant SA’s sleek office in downtown Buenos Aires are quite the attraction, but Chief Executive Officer Martin Migoya is choosing not to adopt a return-to-office policy for his nearly 30,000 employees across 33 countries.
BLOOMBERG Real-estate mogul eyes ‘city-towns’ from Patagonia to Paraguay 12-04-2024 10:33 Eduardo Costantini, Argentine real-estate mogul who popularised gated community concept, plans to spend up to US$1.5 billion developing more in new areas.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS Central Bank cuts interest rate to 70%, markets see inflation easing 12-04-2024 10:22 Argentina’s Central Bank cuts main interest rate to 70% from 80% – the third time since President Javier Milei took office.
FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA Copa de la Liga Profesional qualification goes down to the wire 11-04-2024 21:58 Conceived in 2019 as a hybrid stopgap to plug a few holes in the fixture schedule, the Copa de la Liga Profesional has taken on its own life as a worthy tournament in its own right. by Dan Edwards
AMIA BOMBING RULING AMIA bombing: Argentina court holds Iran, Hezbollah responsible 11-04-2024 19:28 Court blames 'terrorist state' Iran for 1990s attacks; Ex-judge Galeano’s sentence reduced, opening the door to lawsuits in international courts, judges ratify attack as crime against humanity.
new culture wars front President versus the press: Milei slams 'corrupt' journalists 11-04-2024 15:25 Taking a page from the populist playbook, President Milei this week criticised a number of high-profile journalists in a lengthy radio interview with TV and radio presenter Alejandro Fantino.
MILEI, MIAMI & MUSK Milei reveals Jewish family tale as he visits US for Musk meeting 11-04-2024 14:12 Libertarian leader, who was joined in Miami by his girlfriend Fátima Florez, reveals previously unknown familial tie to Jewish faith as he receives award from religious organisation; High expectation ahead of meeting with Elon Musk in Texas as plans are drawn up for mogul’s 2025 visit to Argentina.
SOCIAL UNREST Eleven arrests as police crack down on protesters in Buenos Aires 10-04-2024 16:28 Police water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets to break up a temporary blockade of Avenida 9 de Julia.
BLOOMBERG – ANALYSIS HSBC joins firms exiting Argentina amid Milei's economic makeover 10-04-2024 15:24 Foreign companies reluctance contrasts with local optimism; Exxon and Clorox decided to divest investments in Argentina.
BLOOMBERG – ANALYSIS Milei seeks second chance from Congress with scaled-back reform 10-04-2024 14:53 Government is circulating trimmed down draft version of its sweeping reform bill to lawmakers as Milei seeks to overhaul economy.
HEALTH & ECONOMY Argentina is running out of bug spray amid record dengue surge 10-04-2024 10:08 Bug spray is out of stock as Argentina confronts its worst-ever outbreak of dengue, a mosquito-borne illness that’s surged across Latin America amid high heat and heavy rains.
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND IMF faces pressure to cut billions in fees for large borrowers 09-04-2024 16:51 IMF releases statement saying that “a number” of its board members were open to reviewing policies around surcharges, a move that could benefit Argentina, among other nations.
MUTUAL APPRECIATION SOCIETY President Milei to meet Elon Musk at Tesla factory in Texas 09-04-2024 12:59 After months of online flattery and praise, Argentina’s self-proclaimed “anarcho-capitalist” head of state will finally meet billionaire businessman Elon Musk in-person at Tesla’s factory in Austin, Texas.
BANKING & BUSINESS HSBC sells Argentina division to Banco Galicia for US$550 million 09-04-2024 12:12 HSBC will sell its Argentina operation to Grupo Financiero Galicia for US$550 million, subject to price adjustments. Deal includes all of HSBC Argentina’s business, which ranges from banking to asset management and insurance, as well as US$100 million of subordinated debt.
CATHOLIC CHURCH Against abortion, for LGBTQ rights: Vatican defends 'human dignity' 08-04-2024 16:14 Vatican publishes new text condemning "grave violations of human dignity," listing abortion, surrogacy and gender theory alongside discrimination against migrants and LGBTQ people.
FOOTBALL Agüero allies himself with Milei, says City Football Group interested in Argentina 08-04-2024 15:30 Sergio Agüero, proclaiming the privatisation model for nation's top football clubs, has spoken with President Javier Milei. Tipping his former club Independiente as an option, the ex-Rojo star says the City Football Group are interested in Argentina. by Agustín Colombo
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Milei: Argentina in talks with Ukraine, military aid a possibility 08-04-2024 12:22 President Milei plans to meet with Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy in mid-June and says talks between two nations includes potential sending of military aid.
HEALTH & SOCIETY Desperate to dodge dengue, citizens struggle to find mosquito repellent 07-04-2024 09:34 Argentina is one of the worst hit by the outbreak of dengue sweeping the region – but those in and around Buenos Aires are struggling to find mosquito repellent.
HUMAN RIGHTS Court reopens probe into alleged crimes against humanity in Venezuela 06-04-2024 22:17 Court in Argentina, citing principle of universal jurisdiction, orders re-opening of investigation into crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Venezuela.
As I see it Looking for unity offshore 06-04-2024 06:54 Despite the diplomatic points that can be scored, the current status quo looks likely to prevail for some time to come. by James Neilson
Analysing Argentina Is President Milei growing in stature? 06-04-2024 06:39 Argentina’s president is exercising power fully, even as he continues to learn how the dynamics of it works. by Marcelo J. Garcia
Editorial Mixed messages 06-04-2024 06:29 While Argentina’s government has turned full circle between the two Easters from leftist populism to far right devotees of the market calling themselves libertarians, inflation persists as the basic fact of life .
POLITICS – ANALYSIS Attitudinal shifts and the risks of upheaval 06-04-2024 06:24 Milei’s “negative rhetoric,” sustained by his synthetic power, is useful in setting the agenda, but it doesn’t put food on the table. by Agustino Fontevecchia