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☆ AI imagines kids of victims kidnapped during Argentina dictatorship
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Candelaria Grimberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

After Argentina's 1976 military coup, about 30,000 people including about 500 children and babies were killed or disappeared, almost all of them civilians. Mothers and grandmothers of the victims, the Abuelas of Plaza de Mayo, rose to prominence advocating for answers about their loved ones. The group, which has located 132 grandchildren, thanked the initiative but noted that DNA testing remains the "only infallible" identification method. Barros said he had always aimed to support Abuelas' mission, using AI as a way for younger generations to examine past atrocities. But "it does not replace the DNA samples or any of the Abuelas methods" such as investigating possible illegal adoptions and collecting DNA samples, he noted.

Persons: Santiago Barros, Marta Bugnone, Jorge Ayastuy, Argentina's, Read, Barros, Esteban Herrera, Abuelas, Herrera, Candelaria Grimberg, Lucila Sigal, Kylie Madry, Anna, Catherine Brigida, Richard Chang Organizations: Thomson Locations: Argentine, BUENOS AIRES, Instagram, Plaza de Mayo

Instead, Gomez Cabrera has to juggle a part-time nannying job beside strenuous practices. Now, Santino runs girls’ soccer program La Nuestra in the Villa 31, where Gomez Cabrera has played for nearly a decade. Becoming a soccer star is a common dream for boys and girls alike where Pereira grew up. "How can we realize our dream to become top players if they don't give us a chance?" Oliveros works part-time as a girls' soccer instructor.

Persons: Carla Carniel, Camila Lujan Gomez Cabrera, Gomez Cabrera, Maradona, Pele, Monica Santino, Santino, Christiane Rozeira, Gabrielle Cardoso, Paola Genes, it's, Genes, Nicole Pereira, Pereira, Laurina Oliveros, Oliveros, Lucila Sigal, Anna, Catherine Brigida, Daniela Desantis, Lucinda Elliott, Leandro Benassatto, Sebastian Rocandio, Christian Radnedge Organizations: REUTERS, Buenos Aires's Villa, Villa, Belgrano, SOUTH, Olimpia, National Cancer, Rocinha Soccer, Argentina women's, Argentina's Boca Juniors, Thomson Locations: Sao Paulo, Brazil, Carla Carniel BUENOS AIRES, Buenos, South America's, Buenos Aires, Nuestra, South America, Paraguay, Rio de Janeiro, United States, Argentina, Uruguay

The ninth Women's World Cup, which kicks off on July 20, is expected to attract the largest television audience in the history of women's soccer and FIFA will pay $30,000 directly to each participating player. In Argentina, the big local teams do not always open the doors of their stadiums for women's soccer matches, which are played at smaller venues. The South American Soccer Confederation (CONMEBOL)recognizes the disparity between men's and women's soccer and said recently it was taking steps to reduce it. Invigorated by Argentina's qualification for a fourth Women's World Cup, fans hope that progress into the knockout stage will generate more support for the sport. In women's soccer, everything is more difficult," she said.

Persons: Julieta Cruz, UAI Urquiza, Mariana Nedelcu, Lionel Messi, Messi, Diego Maradona, Estefania, Yamila Rodriguez, Laurina, Oliveros, Laura Fortunato, Fortunato, Martina Borgatello, Jacinta, Borgatello, Lucila Sigal, Anna, Catherine Brigida, Daniela Desantis, Nick Mulvenney, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Boca, Libertadores, America, REUTERS, Boca Juniors, soccer, FIFA, South American Soccer Confederation, CONMEBOL, women's, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, Argentine, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Sweden, South Africa, Albiceleste, Paraguay

☆ Argentina 'death flight' plane returned from US
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Miguel Lo Bianco | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The turboprop plane took part in the so-called "death flights" that Argentina's bloody 1976-1983 dictatorship employed as one of its tools to get rid of critics. At the request of relatives of the victims, Argentina's economy minister bought the plane and organized its transfer from the United States. It will be housed at a museum in the capital, Buenos Aires, on the site of a former clandestine detention and torture center where death flight victims were held before their murders. The Skyvan PA-51 was identified in 2010 by journalist and survivor of the dictatorship, Miriam Lewin, and the Italian photographer Giancarlo Ceraudo, using flight logs. About 30,000 people disappeared during the 1976-1983 dictatorship, according to human rights organizations.

Persons: Read, Alice Domon, Leonie Duquet, Azucena Villaflor, Cecila, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Fernandez de Kirchner, Sergio Massa, Miriam Lewin, Giancarlo Ceraudo, Miguel Lo Bianco, Lucila Sigal, Brendan O'Boyle, Gerry Doyle Organizations: de Mayo, Monday, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Argentine, Naval, de, BUENOS AIRES, United States, Buenos Aires, Italian

☆ At a Buenos Aires soup kitchen, lines grow longer as inflation soars
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Miguel Lo Bianco | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BUENOS AIRES, June 14 (Reuters) - Anahí Robledo feeds 50 families each day at the community kitchen she runs in a poor neighborhood on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, struggling with the chronic inflation that has thrown four in every ten people in the country into poverty. Robledo said the soup kitchen she works at can't keep up: it went from feeding 10 or 15 families to around 50 today. I would like each family to have a plate of food on their table to eat with their children and not have to come to a soup kitchen," she said. To get the growing amount of food they need, Robledo goes to a large market on the outskirts of Buenos Aires to rummage through discarded fruit and vegetables and salvage what she can. As in other soup kitchens in the country of 46 million people, many children come to get fed.

Persons: Robledo, Miguel Lo Bianco, Lucila Sigal, Adam Jourdan, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Reuters Graphics, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Ukraine

1 steak consumer per capita despite the painful impact of 109% inflation on food prices, a Rosario grains exchange report showed on Friday. That, however, seems to be partly reversing, even in the face of one of the world's highest inflation rates which has badly hurt spending power. Reuters GraphicsThe exchange said the relative cost of beef versus pork and chicken had dropped since 2021, though it remained elevated versus a historical average. The proportion of beef in meat consumption climbed this year to 46% from 44% two years ago. The recent bump in the data underscores the importance of beef in Argentine culture, even as the highest inflation rate since 1991 has pushed some 40% of the population into poverty.

Persons: Gross, Anna, Catherine Brigida, Richard Chang Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, Rosario

☆ Long-necked dinosaur fossil found by Argentine scientists is one of biggest ever
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Lucila Sigal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The find in the Pueblo Blanco Nature Reserve, presented on Thursday, was first discovered by scientists in 2018. Paleontologist Nicolas Chimento said scientists decided to name the dinosaur "Chucarosaurus Diripienda", meaning hard-boiled and scrambled, because it had rolled around and survived the accident. At 50 tonnes and 30 meters in length, the Chucarosaurus is the largest-ever dinosaur discovered in the mountainous Rio Negro province. Some 140 dinosaur species have been discovered in Argentina, which ranks among the world's top three countries for research and discoveries alongside China and the United States. Reporting by Lucila Sigal; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Red metal rising: Argentina sets lofty sights on global copper top 10
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Lucila Sigal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The South American country has a pipeline of copper projects that could produce 793,000 tonnes a year by the end of the decade, government forecasts show, well below neighboring No. Reuters GraphicsBRIDGING THE DEMAND GAPSan Juan is home to five of Argentina's eight main copper projects that have a total capex of $22 billion, a recent government report shows. Argentina has an estimated 65 million tonnes of copper reserves, according to a 2022 government report, some 3% of the global total. "The projects we have are of global importance and relevance because it's estimated that demand for copper between now and 2050 could be multiplied," he said. Copper demand is forecast to double to 50 million tonnes by 2050 from 2020 levels.

☆ Argentina's lithium pipeline promises 'white gold' boom as Chile tightens control
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Lucila Sigal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Neighboring Chile, the region's top lithium producer, last week unveiled plans for a state-led public-private model, spooking investors. Bolivia has long maintained strict control over its huge though largely untapped resources, while Mexico nationalized its lithium deposits last year. The country has six lithium projects under construction and 15 in the advanced exploration or feasibility stage, Mignacco said. "Argentina's lithium sector has thrived through a decentralized, pro-market strategy," said Benjamin Gedan, director of the Latin America program at The Wilson Center, adding in contrast Bolivia's lithium sector had "repeatedly stalled as a result of excessive state control." "Chile today produces and exports much more lithium than Argentina," said Natacha Izquierdo, analyst at consultancy ABCEB.

☆ Pope Francis plans to visit his native Argentina in 2024, local media reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BUENOS AIRES, April 23 (Reuters) - Pope Francis, who has not visited his home country Argentina since he left for the Vatican a decade ago, said he planned to visit in 2024, local media reported on Sunday. "I always wanted to return," Francis told Argentina's La Nacion newspaper. If the visit takes place, he would travel a year after the general elections next October. "Don't link me to Argentine politics, please," the leader of the world's nearly 1.4 billion Roman Catholics is quoted as saying. Reporting by Lucila Sigal in Buenos Aires; Additional reporting by Francesca Landini in Milan; Editing by Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Argentine President Fernandez pulls out of 2023 election
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Lucila Sigal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BUENOS AIRES, April 21 (Reuters) - Argentine President Alberto Fernandez will not run in the country's October general election, the center-left leader announced on Friday, throwing open a race to lead the Peronist coalition at the ballot amid swirling economic crisis. Pressure had been building for a decision from the leftist wing commanded by powerful Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who served as president from 2007-2015 and has at times been at loggerheads with Fernandez, no relation. "On the negative side, with him becoming an outgoing president so early, it could make it difficult to manage until the end of the mandate." Mauricio Macri, the leader of the main center-right opposition party and president from 2015 to 2019, said last month he would not run for presidency either. Vice President Fernandez de Kirchner has also ruled herself out.

[1/6] Jorge Pedro Armoa, 67, works with metal in one of his three jobs to beat Argentina's over 100% inflation rate, in 9 de Abril, in the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina March 21, 2023. REUTERS/Tomas CuestaBUENOS AIRES, March 30 (Reuters) - As Argentina's over 100% inflation rate saps earning power and outstrips wages, Jorge Pedro Armoa, 67, has found a painful solution: juggling three jobs as a metal worker, soccer coach and part-time salesman of medical creams, flip flops and honey. So sometimes it's not enough," said Armoa, a metal mold factory worker who is the technical director of a local soccer team and funds his own small business. Armoa, even with his three salaries and income from his wife, a teaching assistant, often struggles to get by. "You have to put a positive face on things, good energy and think that tomorrow things will be better."

☆ In homeland of Pope Francis, long absence prompts prayers for return
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Lucila Sigal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/4] Catholic faithfuls pray during a mass at the Basilica San Jose de Flores, where Pope Francis used to attend in his childhood, in Buenos Aires, Argentina March 6, 2023. Some in Argentina claim Pope Francis as a Peronist, part of the powerful political movement forged by Juan Domingo Perón in the 1940s based on social justice values. She accused him of taking sides politically and once avoided him by shunning a traditional Mass in Buenos Aires. "We shouldn't rule out the possibility that (the pope) is concerned his presence will sharpen the political divide," De Vedia said. Bergoglio, he pointed out, had gained the nickname "Papa villero" - Pope of the villas - due to his closeness with the people.

☆ Argentina makes headway in establishing a cannabis export industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"The industry has incredible potential," said Gabriel Gimenez, director of the ARICCAME cannabis agency created in January this year, last week. Argentina is looking to build its domestic medical cannabis market and generate foreign currency through exports. In Santa Fe province, the medical cannabis research and development center (CIDCam), which has over 200 cannabis plants of various varieties, is expecting a second harvest this month. Pablo Fazio, president of the Argentine Chamber of Cannabis (ARGENCANN) and Pampa Hemp's co-founder, said demand could ignite a new domestic industry for products made from the raw material. The chamber comprises some 200 private firms either directly or indirectly linked to the industrial hemp and medical cannabis business.

☆ In Argentina's drought-hit fields, billion dollar losses and farmers going under
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Lucila Sigal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/5] Dried sunflowers are seen on a farm, amid Argentina's worst drought in sixty years, in Tostado, northern Santa Fe Argentina February 8, 2023. The wheat harvest was already slashed in half by drought. Like many farmers, Giailevra - who has experienced bad droughts before - has seen his livelihood hammered over the last year. Many farmers in the area say they have lost early-sown corn, wheat and soy, so to rake back income they have planted fields with more drought-resistant cotton. The government has rolled out some tax relief measures for farmers, though with depleted state coffers has limited firepower.

☆ Latin America, Caribbean call for more international funding at CELAC summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BUENOS AIRES, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Countries from Latin America and the Caribbean on Tuesday called for more international funding in the region following economic and climate crises, in a final declaration after a summit held in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires. The 111-point "Declaration of Buenos Aires" from the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States' (CELAC) seventh summit described how effects of COVID-19, climate change and the war in Ukraine had rippled across the region. "We express our concern that several countries emerged from the pandemic with higher levels of public debt," it said. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro sent a recorded message saying he had chosen not to attend due to "permanent conspiracies, the permanent threat, calculated ambushes." Reporting by Lucila Sigal; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Argentines take to the streets to celebrate World Cup win over Australia
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Jubilant fans celebrated across Argentina after the country defeated Australia on Saturday and advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Messi, who played his 1,000th game on Saturday, opened the scoring against Australia and played a key role in Argentina reaching the quarterfinals. "We have to stay united, we took one more step and now comes a difficult one," said Messi, 35, the captain of the team who is playing his fifth World Cup. Argentina fans, some of whom even put off buying homes to see Messi play in the World Cup, hope the country will win the third World Cup. Argentina won its first world championship at home in 1978 and its second in Mexico in 1986, where Diego Maradona was a key player.

☆ Ambivalent Argentines want to be Messi but are more Maradona - author
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Lucila Sigal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Argentines aspire to be like clean-living Lionel Messi but in reality are more like flawed rebel Diego Maradona, an author says, as comparisons between the two great No. 10s become a dominant talking point of the Qatar World Cup. But only a World Cup would give him Maradona's stature. "People demand more from Messi because he's come on the scene to compete with and rival Maradona. "But unfortunately he needs to win here because in Argentina winning is what counts.

For years, Argentine fans said that no matter how many Ballons d'Or and trophies Messi won with Barcelona, he could never match Maradona until he too lifted a World Cup. EMOTIONAL MESSIMany of the banners show Messi and Maradona together, some depicting the late No. And Messi himself has opened up emotionally to rally the team and nation after their shock defeat to Saudi Arabia. "For me, Messi has always felt and done his all for the national team, from his first game until now. "Messi has suffered from being a venerated star in Barcelona but often under attack here in Argentina."

☆ Messi laments 'five minutes of mistakes' against Saudis
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Messi said his team knew Saudi Arabia, despite being the second-lowest ranked team in the tournament, could hurt them. "We knew they were a team who would play if we let them...They did not surprise us, we knew they could do that." Argentina now have to focus on beating Mexico and Poland in their next group games in search of the only major title that has eluded Messi in his otherwise glittering career. "Obviously we have to win or win now. Reporting by Lucila Sigal; Writing by Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Angus MacSwanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Argentine writer releases book of bizarre World Cup tales ahead of Qatar
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Lucila Sigal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

These are some of the unusual facts that Argentine writer Luciano Wernicke has compiled in the latest version of his book "Incredible World Cup Stories," published in 20 languages, ahead of the Qatar World Cup opening match on Sunday. In 1994, he wrote, an Albanian man went into a betting shop and gambled his wife on an Argentina win against Bulgaria. With a new chapter added for each World Cup, this is Wernicke's third edition of the book, and he is already gathering bizarre titbits on the upcoming Qatar tournament, the first to be held in a Middle Eastern country. "There are many interesting things, starting with all these boycott claims and the human rights issues," Wernicke, 52, said. Wernicke's next chapter may be inspired by Friday's news: World soccer governing body FIFA announced alcoholic beer would not be sold at stadiums in the conservative Muslim nation.

☆ Giant new mural celebrates 'warrior' Maradona in Buenos Aires
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Lucila Sigal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Artist Martin Ron works on a mural depicting late soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona, which will be presented on the anniversary of Maradona, the 30th of October, in Buenos Aires, Argentina October 19, 2022. REUTERS/Tomas CuestaBUENOS AIRES, Oct 24 (Reuters) - An Argentine artist has painted a giant mural of late soccer legend Diego Maradona in Buenos Aires to commemorate what would have been the World Cup winner's 62nd birthday at the end of October. He was a warrior, he went up against adversity, even all injured, he faced whatever came at him," Ron, 41, told Reuters. Ron said it was the largest mural of Maradona ever - around 45 meters (148 ft) high, similar in height to New York's Statue of Liberty. Ron added three stars to the mural to represent Argentina's two World Cup wins in 1978 and 1986 - and what he hopes will be another in Qatar this year.

☆ In Argentina, controls spawn soybean and 'Netflix' currency rates
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Lucila Sigal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The blossoming of parallel foreign exchange rates has gained pace in recent weeks, becoming the target of memes online, one calling the array a "tutti-frutti". But it also reflects a serious risk the government faces to protect dwindling dollar reserves needed to pay back debt. The government and central bank argue that the controls are needed to protect foreign reserves and stabilize the economy. "All these different exchange rates shows a political desperation for dollars," said Eduardo Maehler, 37, a self-employed worker in Buenos Aires. "We know the cost of imposing these controls over time: it always ends in a very deep crisis," he said.

☆ Indian rupee falls to record low on broad dollar strength
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Lucila Sigal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

MUMBAI, Oct 19 (Reuters) - The Indian rupee fell to record low versus the U.S. dollar on Wednesday, as surging U.S. Treasury yields prompted a broad rally in the greenback. The rupee fell to a record low of 82.7750 per dollar, down from 82.36 in the previous session. "Once the RBI (Reserve Bank of India) moved away from the 82.40 level, which it was protecting, there was absolute panic dollar buying," a trader at a private sector bank said. Traders from two private banks said that large dollar demand from two public sector companies had contributed to the rupee's fall to record low. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Nimesh Vora; Editing by Savio D'SouzaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Argentina to give workers income tax relief from November
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BUENOS AIRES, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Argentina's Economy Minister Sergio Massa said on Sunday the government will give workers tax relief from November by raising the threshold at which income tax is charged, as the country battles with soaring inflation. "It will take effect from Nov. 1, it will be above 330,000 pesos ($2,176)," Massa said in an interview with Radio Rivadavia, referring to monthly income. The move should help alleviate the burden faced by workers, he added. "We've been working with companies of mass consumption," said Massa, saying the plan was to implement a broader and longer price program than the current one. ($1 = 151.6700 Argentine pesos)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Lucila Segal, editing by Deepa Babington and Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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