Stories for May 23rd 2026

Saturday, May 23rd 2026 - 02:34 UTC
Uruguay captures 63% of Mercosur's annual rice quota to the European Union

Uruguay this week filled 63% of the annual zero-tariff rice quota granted by the European Union to Mercosur, in the first significant trade milestone since the provisional entry into force, on 1 May, of the association agreement between the two blocs. The total quota of 6,667 tons for the current year was covered within a few weeks of activity, according to Acting Foreign Minister Valeria Csukasi, in what amounts to one of the first operational tests of the treaty signed on 17 January in Asunción.
Saturday, May 23rd 2026 - 01:44 UTC
Messi joins billionaire athletes club after crossing USD 1 billion net worth threshold

Argentine footballer Lionel Messi, 38, has crossed the USD 1 billion net worth threshold and joined the exclusive group of billionaire athletes, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The captain of the Argentine national team, world champion in Qatar 2022 and winner of eight Ballons d'Or, now shares the category with his historic sporting rival, Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who reached the milestone in 2023 after signing with Al-Nassr of the Saudi Pro League.

Uruguay captures 63% of Mercosur's annual rice quota to the European Union