International
Argentina will honor economic goals agreed with IMF: new minister
AFP
Argentina’s new economy minister said Monday the country would honor fiscal deficit goals and other commitments made under a deal struck with the IMF to refinance a debt of some $44 billion.
Under the agreement negotiated by Silvina Batakis’ predecessor Martin Guzman, who resigned suddenly nine days ago, Argentina committed to reducing its fiscal deficit from 3.0 percent of GDP last year to 2.5 percent in 2022, 1.9 percent in 2023 and 0.9 percent in 2024.
“The goals agreed with the IMF are maintained,” Batakis said in Buenos Aires at her first press conference since taking office a week ago.
“It is an agreement we signed as a state and we must comply.”
In 2018, under the government of conservative President Mauricio Macri, the International Monetary Fund granted its biggest-ever loan of $57 billion to Argentina.
The country received $44 billion of that amount and Macri’s successor Alberto Fernandez refused to accept the rest.
As the country struggled to repay its debt, a refinancing agreement was reached this year after protracted negotiations.
Guzman resigned suddenly on July 2 amid a power struggle between Argentina’s president and vice president, sparking fresh uncertainty in Latin America’s third largest economy.
The peso fell sharply last Monday against the US dollar after Batakis’ appointment.
On Monday, the 53-year-old said there was a need to “give order and balance to the public finances,” and vowed that “we will not spend more than we have.”
Among her proposals: to reduce energy subsidies, which in 2021 amounted to $11 billion or 2.3 percent of GDP, by applying a sliding scale to prices for gas and electricity based on income.
In 2020, the Argentine economy contracted 9.9 percent before rebounding the following year by 10.3 percent.
For this year, the IMF predicts growth of 4.0 percent.
At the time the refinancing agreement was reached, Argentina’s inflation was projected to reach 52 percent in 2022 — already one of the highest in the world.
Since then, the war in Ukraine has sent prices soaring worldwide, and Argentina marked year-on-year inflation of 60 percent in May.
“The agreement was signed before the rise in global inflation,” said Batakis, adding a new estimate for 2022 was being compiled.
“It is a methodological issue we are evaluating, not a shifting of the goal,” she insisted.
A survey by Argentina’s central bank of projections for 2022 inflation put the rate at some 76 percent.
International
American Airlines sued after woman alleges sexual assault on flight
A woman has filed a lawsuit against American Airlines, alleging she was sexually assaulted during a red-eye flight from San Francisco to Dallas last year. According to court documents made public in recent hours, the woman claims airline staff failed to respond to her complaints during the incident.
The alleged assailant, identified as Cherien Abraham, is a Texas man who had previously been reported to the airline for a similar incident involving another female passenger in 2023. The lawsuit states that Abraham “placed his hand on the plaintiff’s thigh, slid it toward her vagina, and touched her genitals.”
In a statement sent to media outlets, American Airlines confirmed it is “working closely with authorities on the investigation.” The company added that “this individual will no longer be allowed to fly with us.”
The plaintiff, Barbara Morgan, was traveling to Dallas to visit her son. She was seated next to Abraham during the flight. After the assault, she attempted to notify flight attendants, but according to her testimony, she received no assistance from the airline staff.
International
Houthis threaten israeli airports, urge airlines to cancel flights
Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced on Sunday that they will begin targeting Israeli airports and urged international airlines to cancel all flights to the country. The statement came just hours after a missile launched from Yemeni territory struck near Israel’s main airport, Ben Gurion, causing panic among passengers.
“The Yemeni Armed Forces will target Israeli airports, particularly the one in Lod, known as Ben Gurion,” said Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree in a statement. He also urged “all international airlines to take this announcement seriously and immediately cancel flights to the enemy’s airport.”
The Houthis have carried out multiple attacks against Israel throughout the war in Gaza in a show of solidarity with the Palestinian people. The missile strike near Ben Gurion International Airport occurred shortly before Israel’s top cabinet ministers were scheduled to vote on whether to escalate military operations in Gaza.
In a related development, Israel’s Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, announced the military will begin calling up tens of thousands of reservists in preparation for possible further action.
International
Vatican speeds up Sistine Chapel preparations for upcoming conclave
Work is accelerating inside the Sistine Chapel as the Vatican prepares for the papal conclave set to begin on Wednesday. The preparations include the installation of a wooden floor, the setup of a stove for burning secret ballots, and the iconic chimney that will signal the election results.
A nearly five-minute video released by the Vatican on Saturday shows technicians assembling scaffolding beneath Michelangelo’s frescoes and laying a false wooden floor, where large tables will be placed to accommodate the 133 cardinals expected to vote.
Elsewhere in the chapel, workers are installing the heavy stove that will be used to burn the ballots. The footage, dated Friday, also shows firefighters climbing the tiled roof to prepare the chimney flue, which will emit either white smoke when a new pope is elected, or black smoke if no decision has been reached.
“This is a key stage for the Catholic Church,” said Silvio Screpanti, deputy director of Vatican infrastructure, on the Vatican’s official website. The stove has been discreetly tested, and in case of any issues, a technician will remain in a nearby technical room with a remote control to manage the stove, which now operates electronically.
A team of five electricians, five technicians, and two florists will remain on-site throughout the conclave. After taking an oath, they will stay within Vatican grounds with no outside contact, including with their families.
Some of these workers have participated in previous conclaves, while younger staff will receive guidance from more experienced colleagues, ensuring a smooth transition for future conclaves.
American Airlines sued after woman alleges sexual assault on flight
Houthis threaten israeli airports, urge airlines to cancel flights
Vatican speeds up Sistine Chapel preparations for upcoming conclave
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
Central America3 days agoNicaragua plummets to 172nd in RSF World Press Freedom Index
-
International5 days agoVatican releases special “Sede Vacante” stamps ahead of papal transition
-
International3 days agoTrump signs order to end federal funding for NPR and PBS
-
Sports3 days agoLautaro Martínez doubtful for UCL semifinal second leg after thigh injury
-
International4 days agoMan arrested after deliberately driving into seven children in Osaka
-
Internacionales4 days agoClashes erupt during may day protests across France amid calls for better wages
-
International5 days agoKristi Noem credits Trump for mass migrant deportations by mexican president
-
International22 hours agoHouthis threaten israeli airports, urge airlines to cancel flights
-
International2 days agoVatican speeds up Sistine Chapel preparations for upcoming conclave
-
International2 days agoVenezuela achieves 22% drop in maternal mortality in first months of 2025
-
International22 hours agoAmerican Airlines sued after woman alleges sexual assault on flight