International

Why do retirees protest in Argentina?

Retirees from Argentina, one of the groups most affected by the economic adjustment carried out by the Government of Javier Milei, protest every Wednesday in front of the headquarters of Congress in demand for an increase in their pensions, full coverage of their medication and the continuity of the social security moratorium, which ends on March 23.

About 7.5 million older adults receive a retirement credit in Argentina, that is, 15.7% of the population.

63.5% of Argentine retirees receive the minimum retirement, which in this month of March is 279,121 pesos (256 dollars), an income that reached 349,121 pesos for the reinforcement bonus that social security grants since September 2022 due to the economic emergency situation that the country is experiencing.

About 5.4 million retirees receive less than 400,000 pesos ($357), well below the basic basket of retirees calculated by the Ombudsman for the Elderly taking official data as a reference and estimated at 1,200,523 pesos (1,120 dollars) for April of this year.

Eugenio Semino, defender of the Third Age of the City of Buenos Aires, recently warned EFE that there is a “humanitarian crisis in the elderly sector.”

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According to the Mirador de Actualidad del Trabajo y la Economía (MatE), each retiree lost since Milei assumed the Argentine Presidency more than 2.2 million pesos in 14 months.

In addition, more than eleven trillion pesos were no longer transferred to retirees, slightly less than what the Government spent on debt payments: 14 billion dollars (about 14 trillion pesos).

The vast majority of older adults cannot afford health expenses, the cost of which skyrocketed by 119% in 2024.

The Milei government ended the policy of free medicines for retirees.

Since last December, only members of the PAMI (Comprehensive Medical Assistance Program) have access to 100% coverage of medicines, that is, those with incomes below 418,682.56 pesos.

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Between two and three million retirees and pensioners would be left out of total drug coverage.

Retirees demand the continuity of the social security moratorium, which ends next Sunday, March 23, and the Government has already said that it will not extend it.

This measure, which has been maintained for more than 20 years in Argentina, allows those who reach the required minimum age without having gathered the amount of contributions required by the social security law (30 years) to access a retirement immediately through a payment plan.

From March 23, people who turn 60 or 65, the retirement age of women and men, respectively, will no longer be able to access a pension if they do not have at least 30 years of contributions or contributions.

On the other hand, those over 65 years of age may receive a Universal Pension for the Elderly (PUAM) for an amount equivalent to 80% of a minimum retirement, which is updated by the Mobility Law.

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Between 2022 and 2024, on average, about 425,000 people per year retired, about 70% did so with moratoriums, 17% in the general regime, 9% with a PUAM and the other 4% by some special regime. Without further moratoriums, it is estimated that almost 80% will have a PUAM.

This Wednesday’s retirement mobilization is once again supported by unions and social movements.

International

Mexico City Mayor Invites U2 to Perform at Iconic Zócalo Plaza

Irish rock band U2, which spent Tuesday and Wednesday filming a new music video for its song Street of Dreams in the Historic Center of Mexico City, received an invitation to perform at the capital’s iconic Zócalo square from Mayor Clara Brugada.

Brugada shared the invitation through social media posts accompanied by photos and a video showing her meeting with the band members.

“This is an invitation for you to perform in our wonderful public square, the Zócalo. You are welcome here, and we would love to have you,” Brugada said in the video while handing a document to Bono, the band’s lead singer.

Bono responded by saying that the group would like “to begin its new tour in Mexico City.”

Referencing one of the band’s most famous songs, In the Name of Love, Brugada said she was greeting Bono along with The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr..

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“Welcoming U2 to our capital means celebrating music, connection and the emotion that can be felt in every corner of this city,” Brugada wrote in one of her messages. “We are a city open to the world, vibrant and full of stories shared from the stage to the streets.”

She also described the Zócalo as “the country’s most important public square” and a cultural landmark for Latin America.

Over the years, the Zócalo has hosted massive concerts by internationally renowned artists and bands including Roger Waters, Paul McCartney, Manu Chao, Café Tacvba, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Los Tigres del Norte, La Maldita Vecindad, Silvio Rodríguez, Joan Manuel Serrat, Rosalía and Shakira, drawing hundreds of thousands of fans.

International

Marco Rubio Urges China to Help Restrain Iran Amid Gulf Tensions

Marco Rubio said Wednesday that Washington hopes to persuade China to take a more active role in stopping Iran from escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf, arguing that the crisis directly threatens Asian commercial interests.

“It is in China’s interest to resolve this situation. We hope to convince them to play a more active role in getting Iran to stop what it is doing now and trying to do in the Persian Gulf,” Rubio said during an interview with journalist Sean Hannity on Fox News while traveling aboard Air Force One.

The top U.S. diplomat said the conflict and concerns over the possible disruption of the Strait of Hormuz have already affected China’s interests.

Rubio noted that “a Chinese cargo ship was struck over the weekend,” referring to the exchange of attacks reported last Friday between Iran and the United States.

The remarks come amid growing international concern over rising tensions in the region and the potential impact on global trade routes and energy supplies.

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International

Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubiocould potentially form a Republican presidential ticket for the 2028 elections.

Speaking during a dinner with law enforcement officials as part of National Police Week, Trump publicly praised both officials and said they could make “an ideal team” for the next presidential race.

“Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio?” Trump asked attendees before adding that the pair “sound like a good combination.”

The president highlighted his vice president’s performance in office, stating that their current partnership has been highly effective. “JD is perfect, that has been a perfect formula,” Trump told reporters later.

He further suggested that a Vance-Rubio pairing could represent a strong presidential and vice-presidential ticket, although he stopped short of offering any formal endorsement.

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“I think it sounds like a presidential candidate and a vice-presidential candidate,” he said, while clarifying that his remarks should not be interpreted as an official backing of any future campaign.

So far, neither Vance nor Rubio has publicly confirmed any intention to run in the 2028 presidential election.

Rubio previously sought the Republican nomination in 2016 but withdrew after losing the primary race to Trump. Later, in a December 2025 interview with Vanity Fair, he said he would be among the first to support Vance if he decided to run for the White House.

Vance, meanwhile, has recently dismissed speculation of any political rivalry with Rubio amid growing discussion about potential future GOP leadership.