https://www.scmp.com/rss/518134/feed The latest news on Javier Milei, the President of Argentina, including China-Argentina relations, plus politics in South America. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Igor Patrick Igor Patrick China made Brazil its top global investment destination last year, pouring US$6.1 billion into the country across a record 52 projects. The figures come from the China-Brazil Business Council (CBBC), which released its annual report on Thursday. The 45 per cent jump in value from the previous year far outpaced the 4.8 per cent rise in total foreign investment into Brazil. It also dwarfed China’s worldwide outbound flows, which grew just 1.3 per cent. Brazil absorbed 10.9 per cent of all Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352676/china-pours-us61b-brazil-making-it-beijings-top-investment-worldwide-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352676/china-pours-us61b-brazil-making-it-beijings-top-investment-worldwide-report?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 14:30:05 +0000 dpa dpa Argentina has called for talks with the UK over the Falkland Islands after reports the US could review its position on the South Atlantic territory in retaliation for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s lack of support for the war in Iran. Downing Street had earlier insisted the sovereignty of the Falklands was “not in question”. That came after a leaked internal Pentagon email set out options for President Donald Trump’s administration to punish Nato allies for refusing to join the US-Israeli strikes... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351428/argentina-renews-call-uk-talks-over-falklands-us-confirms-neutrality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351428/argentina-renews-call-uk-talks-over-falklands-us-confirms-neutrality?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 11:26:32 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Chilean President Gabriel Boric left La Moneda presidential palace for the last time on Wednesday, ending a four-year term with a call for national unity that most observers took as a reference to the Chinese undersea cable dispute that defined his final weeks in office. “I wish success to the incoming government, success for Chile, and may our homeland always come first, above any interest, above any disagreement,” Boric said from the palace courtyard, where he arrived with his partner, Paula... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346275/chiles-boric-leaves-office-calls-unity-after-split-successor-over-china-cable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346275/chiles-boric-leaves-office-calls-unity-after-split-successor-over-china-cable?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 18:30:28 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse US President Donald Trump on Saturday urged Latin American nations to use military power against the “cancer” of drug cartels and offered to support them with US missile strikes targeting narco kingpins. Trump, currently waging a war with Iran, laid out a muscular position for advancing Washington’s interests in the western hemisphere, pronouncing that communist-led Cuba was “in its last moments of life” and advocating tough action by allies against organised crime blighting the region. He... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3345839/trump-offers-latin-american-leaders-us-missile-strikes-hit-drug-cartels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3345839/trump-offers-latin-american-leaders-us-missile-strikes-hit-drug-cartels?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 17:46:34 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse US President Donald Trump on Thursday promised US$10 billion and Muslim-majority nations offered funding and troops for Gaza as he inaugurated his “Board of Peace”, a new institution whose ultimate mission has drawn questions. Trump brought together allies from around the world - many authoritarians, with few Western democrats who traditionally ally with the United States - to hail his peacemaking just as he sends US military might near Iran and threatens war. Presiding with a gavel over the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3344048/trump-kicks-his-board-peace-war-clouds-loom-over-iran?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3344048/trump-kicks-his-board-peace-war-clouds-loom-over-iran?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:06:55 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick The United States is seeking a fair and enduring competition with China, along with strengthening its economic and political relationships with Latin America, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday. He termed this the strategy of reducing vulnerabilities without cutting ties with Beijing. Speaking at an investor conference in Sao Paulo, hosted by the Brazilian bank BTG Pactual, Bessent said that Washington did not want to sever economic ties with China. Still, it was trying to... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3343118/treasury-chief-says-us-seeks-fair-china-competition-eyes-latin-america-realignment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3343118/treasury-chief-says-us-seeks-fair-china-competition-eyes-latin-america-realignment?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 22:05:24 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The presidents of Argentina and Romania said on Sunday they have been invited to attend the inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump’s controversial “Board of Peace” in Washington on February 19. Originally designed by Trump as a mechanism to oversee the Gaza truce and post-war reconstruction, the board’s mandate has since expanded, prompting concerns among critics that it could evolve into a rival to the United Nations. Writing on his Facebook page, Romania’s President Nicusor Dan said... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3342854/romania-argentina-leaders-invited-trumps-board-peace-meeting-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3342854/romania-argentina-leaders-invited-trumps-board-peace-meeting-us?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 19:29:27 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim China has confirmed that it received an invitation from the United States to join Donald Trump’s “board of peace for Gaza”. When asked about China’s position on the US president’s proposal on Tuesday, foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said the invitation had been received but he did not say whether Beijing would accept. Trump has invited dozens of world leaders to join the initiative as part of his efforts to push forward his 20-point plan to resolve the conflict in Gaza. The board was... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340562/china-confirms-invite-join-trumps-gaza-peace-board-wont-say-if-will-accept?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340562/china-confirms-invite-join-trumps-gaza-peace-board-wont-say-if-will-accept?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 10:30:09 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The Trump administration is asking countries that want a permanent spot on his new Board of Peace to contribute at least US$1 billion. According to a draft charter for the proposed group seen by Bloomberg, US President Donald Trump would serve as its inaugural chairman and would decide on who is invited to be members. Decisions would be taken by a majority, with each member state present getting one vote, but all would be subject to the chairman’s approval. “Each Member State shall serve a term... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3340288/trump-wants-nations-pay-us1-billion-stay-his-board-peace?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3340288/trump-wants-nations-pay-us1-billion-stay-his-board-peace?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jan 2026 23:45:11 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Argentine President Javier Milei said he intends to travel to China in 2026, confirming the plan at a moment when the United States is stepping up pressure on Buenos Aires to scale back its relations with Beijing. Milei made the remarks in an interview with the local newspaper Clarin that was published on Sunday. Asked whether the trip was still on his schedule, he said it was and framed the visit as part of Argentina’s wider commercial agenda rather than a political signal. “We have a very good... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3339649/argentinas-milei-plans-china-trip-2026-us-pressures-buenos-aires-curb-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3339649/argentinas-milei-plans-china-trip-2026-us-pressures-buenos-aires-curb-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 19:17:33 +0000 Agence France-Presse,Reuters Agence France-Presse,Reuters US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Friday that Argentina has fully repaid an emergency currency loan that generated “tens of millions” in profit for American taxpayers while stabilising a key regional ally. In a social media post, Bessent praised Argentinian President Javier Milei’s economic reforms and said the successful intervention showed that US President Donald Trump’s “Peace Through Economic Strength” policy was at work in Latin America. Argentina faced a severe liquidity... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3339402/argentina-repays-us-emergency-loan-boosting-trumps-economic-strategy-latin-america?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3339402/argentina-repays-us-emergency-loan-boosting-trumps-economic-strategy-latin-america?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 16:10:28 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Argentine President Javier Milei on Friday signed into law a so-called “tax innocence” bill, which aims to encourage people to bank dollars stashed under mattresses or in offshore accounts by forgiving a degree of tax evasion. Over years of high inflation and currency controls, Argentines traded their battered pesos for dollars, which they often hoarded at home, in cash. The government estimates Argentines are sitting on some US$251 billion in what are commonly called “mattress dollars” – six... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3338587/argentina-targets-us-dollars-hoarded-under-mattresses-eases-tax-evasion-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3338587/argentina-targets-us-dollars-hoarded-under-mattresses-eases-tax-evasion-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Jan 2026 01:17:20 +0000 Reuters Reuters Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado will not receive the Nobel Peace Prize in person at Wednesday’s award ceremony in Oslo, the director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute said on Wednesday, with her current whereabouts unknown. Machado, 58, was due to receive the award at a ceremony at Oslo City Hall in the presence of King Harald, Queen Sonja and Latin American leaders including Argentine President Javier Milei and Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa. The ceremony starts at 1pm (8pm... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3335810/machados-nobel-press-conference-called-peace-prize-winners-whereabouts-unknown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3335810/machados-nobel-press-conference-called-peace-prize-winners-whereabouts-unknown?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:37:19 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick The White House released a national security blueprint on Friday, marking a sweeping assertion of US influence in the Americas. The framework pledges to prevent non-Western powers from expanding their foothold across the Western Hemisphere, a clear reference to China’s growing presence in the region. In US strategic parlance, the “Western Hemisphere” refers broadly to the Americas, a geopolitical space long regarded as a place Washington has sway over. This belief harks back to the Monroe... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3335430/trumps-new-national-security-blueprint-aims-combat-chinas-rise-latin-america?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3335430/trumps-new-national-security-blueprint-aims-combat-chinas-rise-latin-america?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 21:23:45 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A businessman who has US President Donald Trump’s backing for the presidency of Honduras was locked in a “technical tie” with a right-wing TV host after a preliminary vote count, the Central American country’s electoral body said on Monday. Nasry Asfura, 67, led 72-year-old rival Salvador Nasralla by just 515 votes, making it a “technical tie”, National Electoral Council (CNE) head Ana Paola Hall said on X after a partial digital tally of Sunday’s down-to-the-wire ballot. She called for... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3334823/right-wing-rivals-honduras-presidency-technical-tie?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3334823/right-wing-rivals-honduras-presidency-technical-tie?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Dec 2025 22:30:26 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Former president Mauricio Macri warned on Friday that Argentina could weaken its export base if it distances itself from China, sharpening his public split with President Javier Milei. Macri argued that China remains central to Argentina’s sales of soy, beef and other raw materials, goods the US already produces in abundance. “China is more complementary than the United States for Argentina. I do not think it is good to interrupt that process,” he said. A long-time Milei ally, Macri was... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3333767/ex-argentine-leader-warns-milei-cutting-china-ties-could-backfire-us-push-grows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3333767/ex-argentine-leader-warns-milei-cutting-china-ties-could-backfire-us-push-grows?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Nov 2025 21:37:52 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The White House hit out on Thursday at South Africa’s leader for “running his mouth” over the United States’ boycott of this weekend’s Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg in another diplomatic rift between the US and a country that has been especially targeted for criticism by President Donald Trump. South African leader Cyril Ramaphosa told reporters in Johannesburg that the US had indicated it was changing its mind over its boycott of the G20 leaders summit at the “11th hour” and wanted to take... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3333602/south-african-president-says-us-wants-reverse-its-boycott-and-join-g20-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3333602/south-african-president-says-us-wants-reverse-its-boycott-and-join-g20-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Nov 2025 18:09:35 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The White House on Thursday announced trade agreements with Argentina, Guatemala, Ecuador and El Salvador, the latest deals since US President Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs around the world. Bananas and coffee are among the groceries whose prices could fall for stretched US consumers, it said, amid growing discontent about the cost of living under Trump’s second presidency. The four countries, all in America’s backyard in South and Central America, agreed to open their markets to US... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3332715/bananas-and-beef-white-house-unveils-latin-america-trade-deals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3332715/bananas-and-beef-white-house-unveils-latin-america-trade-deals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 23:38:19 +0000 Emiliano Martínez Viademonte Emiliano Martínez Viademonte After months of delays resulting from a bureaucratic tangle and possible US opposition, a multimillion-dollar China-Argentina radio telescope project could be moving ahead. Scientists involved with the China-Argentina Radio Telescope (CART) said essential parts shipped from China that had been held up at Argentine customs since September 3 could soon be released. However, academics have suggested that more political leverage will be needed to overcome US opposition to the project. CART is... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3332439/will-delayed-china-argentina-radio-telescope-be-pushed-past-politics-and-toothbrushes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3332439/will-delayed-china-argentina-radio-telescope-be-pushed-past-politics-and-toothbrushes?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Nov 2025 11:01:07 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo Every time the British consulate sends me the latest six-monthly report on Hong Kong’s development, I either sigh or roll my eyes, and then delete. While the UK government continues to claim such monitoring is an obligation under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, there is simply no specific treaty provision on how long this futile and offensive exercise needs to continue under its current format. So why do the Brits persist? One, they want to stay on the moral high ground, though that... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3331249/how-anglo-american-ideologues-have-exploited-hks-free-market-success?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3331249/how-anglo-american-ideologues-have-exploited-hks-free-market-success?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Nov 2025 15:14:20 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Argentina’s President Javier Milei has hailed his party’s runaway victory in Sunday’s midterm elections as a “turning point” for the country and vowed to charge ahead with his agenda of shrinking the state and deregulating the economy. Milei’s La Libertad Avanza (LLA) party rebounded from a series of setbacks to win 40.7 per cent of the votes cast for members of Congress, far outpacing the opposition in an election closely watched by jittery investors. “Today we reached a turning point. Today... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3330409/argentinas-milei-wins-big-crucial-midterm-elections?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3330409/argentinas-milei-wins-big-crucial-midterm-elections?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Oct 2025 01:43:57 +0000 Reuters Reuters Argentina’s central bank said on Monday it signed a US$20 billion exchange rate stabilisation agreement with the US Treasury Department, six days ahead of a midterm election. The central bank’s statement said the agreement sets forth terms for bilateral currency swap operations between the US and Argentina but it provided no technical details. “Such operations will allow the BCRA to expand its set of monetary and exchange rate policy instruments, including the liquidity of its international... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3329712/trump-ally-milei-formalises-us20-billion-currency-swap-argentine-vote?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3329712/trump-ally-milei-formalises-us20-billion-currency-swap-argentine-vote?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 15:01:49 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse US President Donald Trump warned on Tuesday he could sever struggling Argentina’s financial lifeline if his libertarian ally Javier Milei loses crucial legislative elections later this month. “If he loses, we are not going to be generous with Argentina,” Trump said as firebrand Milei visited the White House to seek the Republican’s political and economic support. “I’m with this man because his philosophy is correct. And he may win and he may not win – I think he’s going to win. And if he wins we... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3329034/trump-warns-he-could-cut-argentina-aid-lifeline-if-ally-milei-loses-election?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3329034/trump-warns-he-could-cut-argentina-aid-lifeline-if-ally-milei-loses-election?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Oct 2025 20:21:17 +0000 Chris Ogden Chris Ogden With the old global order in a heightened state of flux, driven by US President Donald Trump’s attacks on free trade, international organisations and human rights, small states like New Zealand are having to adjust their foreign policies and hedge their bets. As long-term economic and diplomatic power shifts towards Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific, alternative multilateral groups are now growing in importance. Foremost among these is the grouping known as Brics, a maturing – and potentially... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3328581/why-new-zealand-joining-brics-makes-sense-trumps-america-first-era?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3328581/why-new-zealand-joining-brics-makes-sense-trumps-america-first-era?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Oct 2025 02:00:09 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The United States rushed to stabilise Argentina’s economy on Thursday, offering US$20 billion in financing and carrying out a rare intervention in currency markets to prop up the peso after weeks of sharp declines. Washington has finalised a US$20 billion currency swap framework with Argentina’s central bank, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a social media post. The US also directly purchased pesos, he said, a move that followed unsuccessful efforts by Argentine authorities to stabilise... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3328440/us-launches-financial-rescue-argentina-treasury-buys-pesos-rare-move?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3328440/us-launches-financial-rescue-argentina-treasury-buys-pesos-rare-move?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Oct 2025 20:20:51 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Argentina has tightened export standards for sorghum to strengthen sales to China, a move that could add new strain to relations with the United States, once the main supplier of the grain before tariffs upended global trade. The Agriculture Secretariat issued a resolution on Friday, setting new grading rules based on test weight and limiting impurities, broken kernels and non-grain material. Exports must now meet minimum weights of 72, 70 and 67 kilograms per hectolitre depending on grade.... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3328047/argentina-tightens-sorghum-rules-boost-china-trade-risking-new-clash-trump-team?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3328047/argentina-tightens-sorghum-rules-boost-china-trade-risking-new-clash-trump-team?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Oct 2025 15:11:34 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China deploys prototype of missile defence system with planet-wide coverage China has deployed a working prototype of a global defence system similar to the United States’ proposed Golden Dome, while hailing a breakthrough in data... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3327706/china-fields-golden-dome-prototype-argentinas-soy-exports-anger-us-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3327706/china-fields-golden-dome-prototype-argentinas-soy-exports-anger-us-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Oct 2025 04:15:13 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi Chinese scholars warn that Argentina will be the biggest loser if it cuts ties with China to align itself with the United States, as Washington pressures Buenos Aires to dismantle its long-standing currency swap line with Beijing. The US pledged last week to do “what is needed” to aid its ally, including providing a US$20 billion swap line with Argentina’s central bank to stabilise the peso and bolster its reserves. But the offer came with a condition: cancelling Argentina’s arrangement with... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3327641/trump-targets-china-us20-billion-argentina-bailout-offer-analysts-fear-debt-trap?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3327641/trump-targets-china-us20-billion-argentina-bailout-offer-analysts-fear-debt-trap?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:00:10 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick The Trump administration pressed Argentina on Wednesday to dismantle its currency swap arrangement with China, tying future financial support to President Javier Milei’s willingness to distance his government from Beijing during a week of high-stakes diplomacy at the United Nations General Assembly. The demand, first reported by the local newspaper Clarin and confirmed by the Post on Thursday, was delivered in meetings between the two delegations in New York, where senior US officials made clear... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3326895/trump-administration-ties-argentina-support-rollback-china-credit-line?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3326895/trump-administration-ties-argentina-support-rollback-china-credit-line?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Sep 2025 17:42:03 +0000 Frank Chen,Igor Patrick Frank Chen,Igor Patrick China is poised to launch a new air route between Shanghai and Argentina that will traverse 20,000km (12,000 miles) and span 25 hours, as the country’s trade and political ties with far-flung Latin America call for faster, more direct flights that skip stopovers in the United States or Europe. China Eastern Airlines has announced that an inaugural flight from Shanghai to Buenos Aires will take off on December 4, to cut travel time between China’s largest city and the Argentine capital by as much... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3325784/china-eastern-open-record-long-shanghai-buenos-aires-route-amid-latin-america-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3325784/china-eastern-open-record-long-shanghai-buenos-aires-route-amid-latin-america-push?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Sep 2025 20:56:04 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Argentine President Javier Milei suffered a sweeping setback on Sunday in the Buenos Aires provincial election that was viewed as a barometer for how his libertarian party will perform in crucial congressional midterms next month. Milei’s recently formed La Libertad Avanza party captured just 34 per cent of the vote in Argentina’s biggest province, losing by a landslide to the left-leaning Peronist opposition, which secured 47 per cent with the majority of ballots counted late on Sunday. Milei... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3324704/argentinas-milei-suffers-crushing-defeat-provincial-vote-ahead-midterms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3324704/argentinas-milei-suffers-crushing-defeat-provincial-vote-ahead-midterms?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Sep 2025 05:17:36 +0000 Reuters Reuters Argentine President Javier Milei was rushed out of a public event by his security team in Buenos Aires province on Wednesday after protesters threw rocks and other objects at his car, according to witnesses. The president was standing in the back of a moving pickup truck with security team members and his sister Karina Milei, who is also his chief of staff, while campaigning for coming local and midterm elections. Some people in the crowd began throwing things, with at least one rock hitting the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3323407/argentinas-milei-rushed-campaign-event-protesters-throw-rocks-car?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3323407/argentinas-milei-rushed-campaign-event-protesters-throw-rocks-car?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Aug 2025 20:02:02 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A Brazilian judge on Tuesday declared far right ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest while awaiting the verdict in his coup-plotting trial, a “flight risk” and placed him under round-the-clock watch. Bolsonaro faces 40 years in prison if convicted of plotting to cling onto power after losing the 2022 elections to left-winger Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The verdict in the case is expected early next month. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is presiding over the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3323261/brazilian-judge-sends-more-police-jair-bolsonaros-home-over-flight-risk-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3323261/brazilian-judge-sends-more-police-jair-bolsonaros-home-over-flight-risk-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2025 22:51:25 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The United States and Argentina on Monday announced that they are working on a plan to allow Argentine tourists to again travel to the US without a visa. It is likely to take two to three years before visa-free travel becomes a reality for Argentine passport holders, but the Trump administration’s move to kick-start the process marked a show of support for President Javier Milei, its staunchest ally in South America and a darling of conservatives around the world. The gesture coincided with a... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3319910/us-moves-lift-visa-restrictions-argentina-boost-right-wing-ally?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3319910/us-moves-lift-visa-restrictions-argentina-boost-right-wing-ally?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jul 2025 22:28:51 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick China has issued a sharp rebuke to comments made by Peter Lamelas, the US ambassador-designate to Argentina, saying they reflected a “Cold War mentality” after he accused Beijing of fostering corruption and being a malign influence across Latin America. At his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Lamelas said he intended to travel across Argentine provinces to monitor agreements involving Chinese companies, which he claimed “could lend themselves to corruption”. On Thursday, the Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3319506/china-slams-us-envoy-nominee-framing-argentina-great-power-battlefield?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3319506/china-slams-us-envoy-nominee-framing-argentina-great-power-battlefield?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Jul 2025 16:30:45 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Argentina on Monday announced a loosening of visa requirements for Chinese citizens in a new overture to Beijing as President Javier Milei seeks to recalibrate his foreign policy amid delayed trade negotiations with the US. Under the new policy, effective Tuesday, Chinese nationals with US visas will not need Argentine visas to enter the country for tourism or business. Until now, all Chinese citizens were subject to Argentina’s full visa requirements. The policy change follows weeks of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3319067/argentina-eases-visa-requirements-chinese-nationals-new-overture-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3319067/argentina-eases-visa-requirements-chinese-nationals-new-overture-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Jul 2025 21:22:52 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A group of friends gather to play cards in their host’s cosy home when the power cuts. Mobile phones die. An eerie snow falls all over the city, killing everyone it touches. The friends struggle to survive, their panic replaced by a growing awareness that humanity itself is at stake. This is the premise of The Eternaut, a chilling dystopian drama out of Argentina that is streaming on Netflix. With its mix of sci-fi elements and focus on human resilience, the six-episode, Spanish-language series... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3312082/how-netflix-hit-eternaut-brings-real-past-horrors-home-argentina?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3312082/how-netflix-hit-eternaut-brings-real-past-horrors-home-argentina?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 May 2025 20:15:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Argentina’s right-wing President Javier Milei issued a decree on Wednesday curbing immigration to the South American nation, a move coinciding with the immigration restrictions put in place by the Trump administration. Milei’s abrupt measures and declaration that newcomers were bringing “chaos and abuse” to Argentina – a country built by millions of immigrants that has long prided itself on its openness – drew criticism from his political opponents and prompted comparisons to US President Donald... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3310426/milei-orders-immigration-crackdown-make-argentina-great-again?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3310426/milei-orders-immigration-crackdown-make-argentina-great-again?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 May 2025 05:26:51 +0000 They may be the most powerful people on earth, but for the seating arrangement at Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday, all foreign leaders will play second fiddle to the Argentines and Italians and surrender to the whims of the French alphabet. About 130 foreign delegations had so far expressed their desire to attend the funeral, the Vatican said on Friday, and more were expected to do so throughout the day. Those include around 50 heads of state who have been confirmed as attending, among them US... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3308009/where-will-trump-sit-during-pope-francis-funeral-its-complicated?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3308009/where-will-trump-sit-during-pope-francis-funeral-its-complicated?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Apr 2025 23:38:50 +0000 Beijing has accused Washington of undermining the welfare of the Global South to serve its own geopolitical interests following remarks by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who described Chinese aid to developing nations as “rapacious deals”. The Chinese embassy in Argentina rejected the comments on Tuesday and accused the US of sowing discord between China and developing countries, as well as hindering the development of other nations amid US President Donald Trump’s tariff war. “The United... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3306628/china-fires-back-after-us-official-takes-swipe-aid-global-south?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3306628/china-fires-back-after-us-official-takes-swipe-aid-global-south?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Apr 2025 10:15:55 +0000 In the past decade, more than two dozen women have publicly alleged sexual harassment or assault by Donald Trump. It dawns on me that there are strong similarities in the way he now treats other nations. One thing that seems to puzzle many people is why he is directing his tariffs and sanctions – and constant threats and insults – against allies and adversaries alike. But why? There is no point trying to figure out an underlying ideology or philosophy to, say, distinguish between democracy and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3303199/toxic-masculinity-explanation-donald-trumps-foreign-policy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3303199/toxic-masculinity-explanation-donald-trumps-foreign-policy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Mar 2025 13:00:13 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Bitcoin tumbled below US$90,000 to hit the lowest level since mid-November, as the rally that followed Donald Trump’s election to the White House reverses amid a broader retreat from risky assets. Bitcoin dropped as much as 8.5 per cent, the biggest intraday declined since August. The largest cryptocurrency by market value was down 7.6 per cent to US$86,805 at 11.20am in New York on Tuesday. Other cryptocurrencies also fell, with ether, XRP and solana mostly down more for the session. An index... https://www.scmp.com/tech/blockchain/article/3300135/bitcoin-falls-below-us90000-trump-bump-cryptocurrencies-loses-steam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/blockchain/article/3300135/bitcoin-falls-below-us90000-trump-bump-cryptocurrencies-loses-steam?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Feb 2025 02:01:46 +0000 SCMP will report on the inauguration day of US president-elect Donald Trump live from 12am Tuesday HKT. The live blog will be made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Get faster notifications on the latest updates by downloading our app. When Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday, a new chapter of geopolitical uncertainty will be written, potentially ushering in an intensified... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3295285/donald-trumps-inauguration-us-china-rivalry-opens-new-and-uncertain-chapter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3295285/donald-trumps-inauguration-us-china-rivalry-opens-new-and-uncertain-chapter?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Jan 2025 01:00:18 +0000 When Donald Trump emerged victorious from the US presidential election in November, some at Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs lamented the result but none professed surprise. For months, officials and analysts linked to the ministry had prepared for the outcome, anticipating the former president was the favourite to win the White House. And the prevailing view was that any alarm was unwarranted, a senior diplomatic source said. Many forecast that Trump’s Latin American agenda would likely... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3292807/donald-trumps-choice-marco-rubio-top-us-diplomat-leaves-latin-america-bracing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3292807/donald-trumps-choice-marco-rubio-top-us-diplomat-leaves-latin-america-bracing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Dec 2024 18:00:08 +0000 Argentine President Javier Milei is expected to attend US president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration in January, according to Milei’s office. Milei, a Trump admirer, was at a post-election victory party at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in November and a spokesperson said on Saturday that he would also attend the inauguration. Trump’s transition team did not comment on whether Milei will be a guest at the Jan. 20 ceremony in Washington. Incoming White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3290835/argentinas-javier-milei-says-he-expects-attend-donald-trumps-inauguration?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3290835/argentinas-javier-milei-says-he-expects-attend-donald-trumps-inauguration?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Dec 2024 20:10:17 +0000 Economic activity needs to be on a “a level playing field” and difficult geopolitical issues should not be ignored, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told Chinese leader Xi Jinping as the two met on sidelines of the G20 summit in Brazil on Tuesday. Xi also spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and Argentine leader Javier Milei on the final day of the gathering. According to Reuters, Scholz told Xi it was important for China and Germany to talk about difficult topics such as trade. “It is... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3287262/chinese-president-xi-jinping-meet-german-chancellor-olaf-scholz-g20-sidelines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3287262/chinese-president-xi-jinping-meet-german-chancellor-olaf-scholz-g20-sidelines?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Nov 2024 11:20:15 +0000 Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday accused TikTok of seeking to stoke civil war in his country after the Chinese-owned company blocked live-streaming services on his account. Maduro claimed the app suspended his access to the short-video platform until August 19. “Look how immoral TikTok is. I accuse the directors and owners of TikTok of wanting a civil war in Venezuela, of supporting fascism in Latin America and the world,” Maduro said during a meeting of the country’s defence... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3274380/venezuelan-leader-slams-tiktok-wanting-civil-war-his-country?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3274380/venezuelan-leader-slams-tiktok-wanting-civil-war-his-country?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Aug 2024 17:25:39 +0000 In just 100 days, his government has banned most protests, cancelled a ministry for women and a national institute against discrimination, and shut down – by deploying heavily armed police – a state news agency, which it accused of “political bias”. If all these things had happened in Hong Kong, you would have known all about it in 24/7 coverage from Washington and its faithful media servants in the Anglo-American press, just as you have been bombarded with heavily editorialised “news” about... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/world/article/3257070/argentinas-milei-wants-china-out-america?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/world/article/3257070/argentinas-milei-wants-china-out-america?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Mar 2024 13:00:10 +0000 Last year, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte surprised many by taking a stance on the rivalry between the United States and China. In an opinion piece calling for greater support for Ukraine, he expressed doubt about China’s dominance in the 21st century, declaring it to be the century of democracy and America. This marked a significant shift for the Netherlands towards the Western alliance. It initially had few allies in such a move, but other nations are now following suit. The allure of China... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/world/article/3256041/why-are-so-many-countries-rethinking-their-relations-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/world/article/3256041/why-are-so-many-countries-rethinking-their-relations-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Mar 2024 12:30:12 +0000 The US needs to update its political, diplomatic and economic toolkit if it wants to keep pace with China in vying for influence in Latin America, several Biden administration officials and representatives from the region said. The conclusion echoed that of a 36-page report on the subject by the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank that convened an event to discuss the findings on Monday. Drawing on discussions with regional business leaders, government officials and policymakers, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3253433/us-must-update-its-latin-america-toolkit-keep-pace-china-sway-region-biden-officials-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3253433/us-must-update-its-latin-america-toolkit-keep-pace-china-sway-region-biden-officials-say?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Feb 2024 21:00:14 +0000