The city of Corrientes, the capital of the Argentine province of the same name, was left under water Sunday as 209 millimeters of heavy rains caused floods and material damage while vehicles were swept away by the current. Classes were suspended for Monday amid widespread power outages, with streets turned into temporary rivers.
A study released Sunday by the Argentine Confederation of Medium-Sized Companies (CAME) showed a 25.5% interannual decline at constant prices in retail sales in Argentina and a 27% drop for the first two months of 2024, it was reported in Buenos Aires. The Index of Retail Sales of SMEs also mentioned a 7.4% setback from January, when a 6.4% monthly decrease had been recorded.
Argentine President Javier Milei Friday announced he was summoning the governors of the 23 provinces plus the mayor of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires as well as former heads of state and other political leaders to sign on the national May 25 holiday what he named “the May Pact,” a foundational agreement whereby the rules of the country's future would be laid out. He launched this appeal during his speech opening the 142nd Legislature.
Uruguay's Health Ministry confirmed Friday the first case of autochthonous dengue in the country. There are currently 32 confirmed cases of imported infections, according to Montevideo outlets. The last autochthonous case in Uruguay dates back to 2020 and only three detections were registered in the country in the past four years.
Reports released Thursday showed contrasting realities between South America's two largest countries. While consumption grew 1.2% interannually in January, according to the Brazilian Association of Supermarkets (Abras), the situation was quite the opposite in Argentina due to rampant inflation outpacing wage updates.
Argentina's Navy issued an internal regulation whereby all active members must refrain from donning a beard effective April 1, it was reported in Buenos Aires. The measure dated Feb. 27 is signed by Rear Admiral Juan Carlos Romay, General Director of Personnel and Welfare, and is said to facilitate military training.
Argentina's President Javier Milei, ahead of his first appearance before the Congress of the Nation for the opening of ordinary sessions, has signaled a proactive approach to economic reform. In an interview with the Financial Times, Milei emphasized his intent to implement reforms “by decree,” citing challenges in garnering parliamentary support due to the current composition.
Thousands of air travelers were stranded Wednesday as workers of the Argentine airline industry went on strike for 24 hours in rejection of a 12% wage increase that in no way matches the country's rampant inflation.
Argentina's Luis 'Toto' Caputo and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva met Wednesday in Sao Paulo on the sides of the two-day G20 summit of Economy Ministers. The gathering took place less than a week after the visit to Buenos Aires of the IMF Managing Director Gita Gopinath, with whom Caputo and President Javier Milei discussed a new agreement on the South American country's debt.
The Buenos Aires-born Pope Francis was hospitalized Wednesday for a medical check-up after which he was discharged with a flu-like state as concerns over the 87-year-old Pontiff's health mounted after he asked an assistant to do the reading for him during a service in which he told the faithful that he was still not feeling well. He had also canceled Saturday and Monday's engagements.