#1 Pax cambiaria, pax mafiosa? Inflation and crime are at the top of President Javier Milei’s agenda. Both will test his libertarian approach to problem-solving.
#2 Drug-lords in the crosshairs By Latin American standards, Argentina is a law-abiding country whose inhabitants are far less prone to commit murder or be gunned down by thugs than is the case elsewhere in the region. Why do so many people in high places believe that the threat has become so frightening that the military should be called in?
#3 Rosario is always near As with so many other matters, Argentina’s leaders have not lived up to the challenge of efficiently combatting drug-trafficking. Yet it would be a mistake to confine the responsibility for Rosario’s bloody violence to politics.
#4 Meme politics, tackling price hikes and Milei’s North Star President Milei understands that he needs to deliver slowing inflation and the beginning of an economic rebound if he is to have a chance at truly governing the country.
#5 Belling terror The solution to drug crime bloodshed in Rosario is far from being as brutally simple as the problem, as some would seem to think.
#6 Police in Argentina clash with demonstrators protesting spending cutbacks for cinema industry Hundreds of people protest against dismissals and slurs from President Javier Milei at the INCAA National Cinema and Audiovisual Arts Institute. Demonstrators call for workers to be reinstatement and defend value of federal festivals, film schools, and the Cine.Ar channel and platform.
#7 Stories that caught our eye: March 8 to 15 A selection of the stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina.
#8 Lithium permit freeze limited to new projects, says Catamarca Catamarca Province says court ruling to halt the awarding of lithium permits only affects new projects, leaving other firms free to continue producing the metal.
#9 Girls, rivalries, football in Pope Francis's first memoir Pope Francis' new autobiography, which will be released next week, sees the 87-year-old is storytelling mode, joking around about his past. But he also addresses serious aspects, like his role during Argentina's 1976-1983 dictatorship.
#10 Biden and Trump gird for marathon White House race US presidential campaign begins in earnest as both candidates win enough backing to secure nominations – but the election is still eight months away.
#11 Blow for Milei as Senate rejects sweeping mega-reform decree President's sweeping deregulation DNU rejected by senators in upper house; Emergency deregulation decree now heads to lower house Chamber of Deputies, where it must also be voted down if it is to be repealed; Tensions reported between head of state and Victoria Villarruel, his vice-president.
#12 Hollywood superstar Margot Robbie is spending her vacation in Argentina – this is where she's staying Australian actor and producer is heading with family and friends to Francis Mallmann’s isolated cabin deep in Chubut Province for an exclusive culinary experience featuring cooking masterclasses by the famed chef.
#13 Argentina sued in United States over unpaid fuel for presidential plane Associated Energy Group files lawsuit against Argentina for failing to make payments to cover fuel costs from the presidential plane during trips by former president Alberto Fernández and current head of state Javier Milei.
#14 Federal troops arrive in Rosario as drug violence, paralyses city After a week marked by a wave of violence, murder and drug-trafficking, 450 reinforcements arrive in troubled city, adding to the 2,000 members of the Coast Guard, Border Guard, Federal Police and Airport Security Force who are providing support.
#15 President Milei sends scaled-back 'omnibus' reform bill to Argentina's governors So-called ‘omnibus bill’ — now containing 269 articles, less than half than the original version — excludes the privatisation of YPF while maintaining sell-off of Aerolíneas Argentinas SA.
#16 US green fuel push threatens Argentina’s main export market Biden administration’s landmark decarbonisation plan has the potential to cause tectonic shifts in global agricultural markets – and deal a damaging blow to Argentina’s troubled economy.
#17 Milei’s bold decree suffers major setback after repeal in Senate President's initial dose of shock therapy teeters on the edge of collapse after Senate defeats his sweeping executive decree.
#18 Bullrich unveils new protocol for Argentina's federal forces, relaxes rules on use of weapons Security Minister outlines new protocol for federal security forces, which will allow officers to shoot in order to prevent a criminal from escaping; "We don't want more Chocobar cases," declares Bullrich in reference to notorious 2017 incident.
#19 Universities challenged: Chancellors warn Milei government money will only last until May President Javier Milei’s government is in the grip of a battle with universities over the education budget in 2024. Amid growing complaints, chancellors despair at condemnation from Casa Rosada and Presidential Spokesman Manuel Adorni.
#20 Universities in Argentina stage one-day strike over budget demands More than 50 universities across Argentina failed to open their doors on Thursday as part of a strike in demand of “an urgent salary increase and in defence of the state, public, free and secular university.”
#21 Argentina's rugby sevens team soars to new heights Nation’s all-conquering rugby sevens team is burning bright and its stars are making a name for themselves.
#22 Milei government circulates new text of omnibus bill to governors Government circulates new text of sweeping reform bill – now slashed by half to 269 articles – to provincial leaders in bid to win support before it heads to Congress.
#23 'Stronger than ever,' Venezuelan opposition candidate María Corina Machado refuses to yield María Corina Machado continues to campaign, despite significant challenges, to rally support for her presidential bid, emphasising resilience and determination against the regime's obstacles.
#24 Buried clothes, bones and DNA help identify Colombia's missing Across Colombia, efforts have intensified to find, exhume, and identify those who have gone missing during the country's six decades of armed conflict.
#25 Milei notches win as Argentina completes US$50-billion debt swap Government successfully swaps about 77% of peso debt due this year for longer-dated notes in the largest domestic debt rollover in Argentina’s history.
#26 Argentina downgraded to selective default by S&P on debt swap Standard & Poor's downgrades Argentina's peso-denominated debt to "selective default," following announcement of US$55.3-billion debt swap.
#27 Senate set for debate as Milei's sweeping deregulation decree hangs in balance Vice-President Victoria Villarruel, in her role as head of Senate, accepts opposition's request for debate and calls special session for Thursday to address President Javier Milei's sweeping emergency deregulation decree.
#28 Gas prices set to rise sharply as Energy Secretariat prepares to trim subsidies Sources in Energy Secretariat anticipate new rates will be disclosed in next week; Energy companies have asked for rises above 500%.
#29 Six out of every 10 schoolchildren in Argentina are poor, says UCA A report by UCA's Social Debt Observatory exposes complex situation facing Argentine children and youths who attend educational institutions.
#30 Donald Trump, Joe Biden clinch enough delegates for US presidential nomination Results in four statewide elections, the latest in the months-long march to determine Democratic and Republican candidates, ensure that Joe Biden and Donald Trump have enough delegates to clinch their party nominations and set up a rematch later this year.
#31 Boost for Milei: Inflation in Argentina slowed to 13.2% in February Good news for President Javier Milei as INDEC data shows February inflation of 13.2%, below estimates; Prices have increased by 276.2% over the last 12 months in Argentina.
#32 Milei government opens up food imports in bid to curb price hikes Argentina’s government orders full opening of food imports in an attempt to curb an inflationary spike and introduce more “competitive” prices.
#33 Corpse found floating in Lanús after heavy storms flood Buenos Aires Storm hit the city of Buenos Aires and the suburbs: floods, fallen trees and cancelled flights.
#34 Venezuela closes airspace to Argentina as reprisal for plane seizure Venezuela announces it has closed its airspace to any aircraft coming from or going to Argentina as a reprisal for last month's handover of a seized cargo plane to US authorities.
#35 Argentina's Central Bank cuts rates to 80% in surprise move as inflation cools Central Bank unexpectedly cuts banchmark interest rate as policy-makers forecast cooling of inflation.
#36 Argentina’s monthly inflation slows to 13% as Milei’s cuts bite Inflation in February slowed for a second consecutive time as the impact of December’s large peso devaluation fades and President Javier Milei’s austerity measures push the economy into recession.
#37 UNICEF: 7 out of 10 children live in poverty in Argentina Approximately 8.6 million kids under the age of 18 live in low-income households or in environments where they are deprived of their rights, reports local branch of UN agency dedicated to children.
#38 Argentina hinders debt swap by not offering puts on peso bonds Central Bank isn’t offering put options for peso bonds the government is selling this week in a record debt swap.
#39 Caputo: Argentina 'just starting talks' with IMF over potential new programme "They always said that they were open to a new programme," economy minister tells business leaders at AmCham 2024 summit.
#40 Falling wages: 12 years of lost purchasing power in Argentina New study shows evoluation of Argentines’ wages over past 12 months and points to economic sectors likely to gain traction this year.
#41 Julio Cordero appointed Labour secretary after firing of Omar Yasín New official, linked to Paola Rocca’s Techint Group and UIA business group, has been advising Javier Milei and participated in drafting of labour chapter of sweeping state deregulation decree.
#42 Trial into attempted assassination of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner set for June Fernando Sabag Montiel, Brenda Uliarte and Nicolás Carrizo to stand trial for attempted assassination of former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner; More than 270 witnesses expected to be called – including the victim.
#43 Milei confirms addition of José Luis Espert to La Libertad Avanza The President said the founder of Avanza Libertad will add one more deputy to his bloc.