Latest news of Buenos Aires Times

Trump heads into Davos storm, with an eye on home

Yesterday 10:06 Trump's first appearance in six years at the gathering of the world's political and global elite; He will be appearing alongside many leaders of NATO allies that he has threatened with tariffs over Greenland.

Chile declares emergency after wildfires force 20,000 to evacuate

Yesterday 10:00 Chile's government has not said whether the fires killed anyone or how many homes had been impacted.

EU, Mercosur bloc ink major trade deal, reject 'tariffs' and 'isolation'

17-01-2026 15:06 South American bloc and European Union finally signs major trade deal are quarter-century of torturous negotiations.

EU inks South America trade deal after 25 years of negotiations

17-01-2026 14:46 Two blocs sign one of the world’s largest free-trade agreements, clinching a deal that has been in the works for more than two decades.

Milei decree reshapes SIDE intelligence services, rekindling overreach fears

17-01-2026 07:19 Changes formalised by Decree 941/2025, published in the Official Gazette on January 2, redefine the functioning of the SIDE intelligence services, reduce its internal structure and expand its powers as the central authority for intelligence.

by Rodis Recalt

LatAm on the run (from Trump)

17-01-2026 07:04 Latin American leaders are scrambling to adapt to the new reality in which the United States can impose its will on the hemisphere.

by Marcelo J. García

Is Vaca Muerta now a dead cow – and EU-Mercosur deal a cherubic baby?

17-01-2026 00:12 Today will go down as a historic day with the world’s biggest free-trade area numbering over 700 million consumers signed into being in the Paraguayan capital of Asunción.

by Michael Soltys

Stories that caught our eye: January 9 to 16

16-01-2026 18:10 A selection of the stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina.

Trump visa crackdown hits leftist-run Latin American nations

16-01-2026 00:14 Trump's US immigrant visa crackdown has ensnared friends and foes alike in Latin America

Historic EU-Mercosur deal signing fails to unite Lula, Milei

15-01-2026 21:19 Long-awaited EU-Mercosur trade pact set to be signed in Asunción Saturday; Milei, Peña and Orsi all expected to attend ceremony, though Lula won’t travel.

Massive power cut in Buenos Aires City and suburbs hits 800,000 users

15-01-2026 17:59 Incident occurred little after 2.30pm due to a failure in Edenor’s Morón–Rodríguez high-tension line with service progressively restored.

Summer waves and espionage

15-01-2026 16:25 To date, four lawsuits have been filed at different courtrooms seeking to declare Javier Milei’s decree empowering the domestic intelligence services and adding uncontrolled multi-million funds unconstitutional. For espionage, the presidential chainsaw has turned into a blunt knife.

by Javier Calvo

Hedge funds revive dispute over Argentina GDP-linked securities

15-01-2026 10:31 Aurelius Capital Management and a group of other hedge funds renewed a lawsuit against Argentina seeking payments on securities.

Trump praises 'terrific' new Venezuela leader Rodríguez after call

15-01-2026 10:26 US President Donald Trump says he had held a "long call" with Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez, describing her as "terrific."

Chubut governor demands ‘Ecocide Law,’ severe penalties for forest arsonists

14-01-2026 17:04 Chubut Province Governor Ignacio 'Nacho' Torres declares that arsonists starting wildfires in Argentina's south should be sent to jail "for the same amount of time it takes for the native forest to grow back."

Patagonia’s wildfires become weapons of disinformation

14-01-2026 16:05 From Mapuche scapegoating to an alleged Israeli plot – how conspiracy theories, false narratives, AI images and political agendas distorted the truth behind the devastating blazes in southern Argentina.

by Giselle Leclercq

Inflation accelerated more than expected in December

13-01-2026 16:48 Inflation in Argentina accelerated more than expected and for a fourth straight month in December.

31.5% – Argentina records lowest annual inflation since 2017, says INDEC

13-01-2026 16:21 Inflation in December was 2.8%, says INDEC, marking a slight acceleration from November and coming in above the expectations of private estimates. 

Argentina remembers the ‘Heist of the Century,’ 20 years on

13-01-2026 12:01 Two decades ago, a criminal gang entered a branch of Banco Río in San Isidro, taking 23 people hostage. In a daring operation involving underground tunnels, inflatable rafts and fake weapons, they managed to outwit 300 police officers and escape – albeit temporarily – with bagfuls of cash and jewellery. Twenty years on, only around US$1.5 million has ever been recovered, with the fate of the rest of haul unknown.

Argentina used multilateral funds to repay US$2.5 billion US swap

12-01-2026 23:39 Milei government secured financing from an unnamed multilateral institution to repay US$2.5 billion to the US Treasury from a currency swap agreement.

EU confirms Mercosur trade deal will be signed January 17 in Paraguay

12-01-2026 10:04 EU gave a long-delayed go-ahead last Friday to the huge trade pact with the South American Mercosur, overriding opposition led by key power France.

Firefighters battle blazes as Patagonia wildfires spread to 15,000 hectares

12-01-2026 10:02 More than 15,000 hectares of forest have been consumed by fire in Argentina's Patagonia, according to most recent update; Hundreds of firefighters and local volunteers struggled to contain flames out of control that have put small communities on edge.

Over 5,500 hectares burnt in Patagonia wildfires, says Chubut governor

11-01-2026 09:29 More than 5,500 hectares of forest have been consumed by the main wildfire in Argentina's Patagonia; Blazes come a year after region suffered some of its worst wildfires in three decades.

Police rescue newborn abandoned in rubbish bin in San Martín

10-01-2026 17:53 Newborn was premature and remains in intensive care but stable, according to medical staff; Infant was found naked in iron bin after emergency call and taken to hospital by patrol car.

Fracas in Caracas

10-01-2026 06:43 Whisking Maduro from a heavily guarded Caracas military base to a New York courtroom was also an almost magical feat but has yet to prove a game-changer in Venezuelan history. If Bolivarian 21st-century socialism could outlive Hugo Chávez, it could also survive Maduro.

by Michael Soltys

The dictator, the imperialist and the new world order

10-01-2026 06:39 Seeing a strongman take the keys to the region’s socio-political-economic inclinations is ominously reminiscent of the darkest days of the recent past. It feels even more terrifying when the man with his finger on the button is Trump.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

Argentina pays US swap line, bondholders in boost for Milei

09-01-2026 13:13 Argentina fully repays US$2.5 billion drawn down from US$20-billion swap line with the Trump administration, makes key payments to bondholders.

US says Argentina has 'fully repaid' pre-election currency lifeline

09-01-2026 13:08 Argentina has ' both quickly and fully repaid' currency swap, says Treasury secretary; US Treasury no longer holds any Argentine pesos, says Scott Bessent.

What lies ahead for Argentine football in 2026

09-01-2026 09:05 Your (tongue-firmly-in-cheek) guide to what lies ahead for Argentine football in the next 12 months.

by Dan Edwards

Argentina construction posts largest monthly drop of 2025

09-01-2026 09:03 Argentina’s construction sector posted its largest monthly decline of last year after crucial midterm elections, with activity down 4.1% in November compared to October.

US Congress report questions Trump's financial support for Milei

08-01-2026 18:04 Congressional analysts flag risks around debt, reforms and Argentina’s limited economic importance for Washington.

Venezuela releasing 'large number' of political prisoners

08-01-2026 16:36 National Assembly speaker announces release of political prisoners as a “gesture for peace; Analysts see move as concession to Washington after ouster of Maduro.

Milei praises Trump but says he won’t break trade links with China

08-01-2026 00:36 Argentina’s President Javier Milei said that there is "global reordering" taking place – and that his government has already stated which side it’s backing.

Argentina backs Trump’s plan to ‘run’ Venezuela, downplays call for elections

07-01-2026 17:31 Casa Rosada accepts that elements of Maduro regime will remain in place in Venezuela and do not view calls for free elections as viable; Milei, who has cooled on Machado’s potential leadership of nation, will back Trump’s intervention in upcoming Davos speech.

Argentina secures US$3-billion loan from private banks

07-01-2026 15:51 Short-term repo operation boosts reserves ahead of more than US$4 billion in foreign-currency debt repayments due this week.

Santander, BBVA, Deutsche lead US$3-billion repo for Argentina

07-01-2026 13:35 Argentina secures US$3-billion loan from a group of international banks to help cover a foreign debt payment; Central Bank reaches a one-year repurchase agreement – or repo – with lenders at rate of 7.4%.

Treasury buys dollars days ahead of key debt payment

06-01-2026 18:31 Argentina has US$4.3 billion due in principal and interest on January 9. Bond investors are optimistic that the payment will be made.

Latin America split at UN over US military action in Venezuela

06-01-2026 17:59 Security Council meeting exposes sharp regional divisions after Maduro’s capture and transfer to New York; Some governments defend sovereignty while others back Washington’s move against Maduro.

Maduro's fall tests Venezuela's ruling 'club'

06-01-2026 09:34 What happens to Venezuela's so-called "club of five" of powerful leftist figures, now that two of its most important members have been captured and sent to the United States to face trial?

UN: US operation in Venezuela undermined international law

06-01-2026 09:18 The Trump administration does not want to occupy Venezuela, says Washington’s envoy to the United Nations.