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Buenos Aires Times

August 2026

Lionel Messi: Architect of Argentina’s greatest joys

The final episode came during the 2026 World Cup final on July 19, when a 1-0 defeat by Spain left him on the brink of celebrating a second World Cup, four years after the happiest moment of his career: lifting the trophy in Qatar at the 2022 edition of the tournament

There's little time left and chapters are closing, and this is one that hurts me deeply. I love, loved and will always love being in the national team. I gave everything I had, I have nothing left to give and, besides, there are some great young players coming through who deserve to be there,
That's it — it's over for me with the national team."
Lionel Scalonimanager
What more does he have to do to be considered the greatest of all time?"

Messi era ends in Argentina as star retires after World Cup final loss

Lionel Messiforward
Thank God for making me Argentine. Vamos Argentina!”
Lionel Messiforward
Time is running short, stages come to a close, and this is one that hurts a lot,
For Malvinas, for Diego, for Messi’s last one,

Lionel Messi announces retirement from international football

Lionel Messiforward
It was a decision that hurt — and still hurts deeply — but I understand that the time has come,

South American producers fret over new rivals from EU trade deal

Now that the pact is finally in effect, some producers in Mercosur nations Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay are starting to share those worries

The premium cheese sector will be hit hard,
The deal benefits large-scale agribusiness at the expense of small family producers,
It creates the opportunity for a common agenda, not only among member countries, but for the bloc as a whole,
Companies aren’t going to close or fire people due to geographic indication rules for the simple reason that the cheese is still going to sell even if it’s called something else,

Malaysia at 69: Celebrating diversity, progress and a shared future with Argentina

Situated at the heart of Southeast Asia, Malaysia is home to a vibrant tapestry of communities, languages, faiths and traditions

Trump announces deal for huge US stake in Venezuelan oil reserves

Marco Rubiosecretary of State
For the Venezuelan people, this deal will bring nearly $100 billion in private investment, support thousands of high-paying jobs, and drive the reconstruction of Venezuela’s economy,
Donald Trumppresident
This Transaction will greatly strengthen the already growing relationship between Venezuela and the United States!”

Ravier: Fernando Cerimedo ‘has no relationship with Javier Milei’art from Casa Rosada visits

Adrián Ravierpresidential spokesperson
In the first half of 2024 he held meetings which ended with his exit from the government and that role and not much more remains to be said.”
Javier Negrejournalist
I asked him please to leave because he had no direct role in management,
Adrián Ravierpresidential spokesperson
Javier Milei has had no relationship with Cerimedo since 2023. There were some entries [in the Casa Rosada], which did not include meeting the President but beyond that, the government has had no relationship with Cerimedo for the past two years,
Watch out because Milei says that he has had nothing to do with Cerimedo since 2023, yet there were visits by Cerimedo to the Casa Rosada during 2024,
I knew that Fernando had sold his shares as part of a process of fine-tuning his companies in order to move ahead with his divorce process,

Emiliano 'Dibu' Martínez to join Chelsea from Aston Villa in £7.5-million deal

Martínez is expected to undergo a medical before completing the move, which comes after Aston Villa signed Japan international Zion Suzuki from Parma and made him their first-choice goalkeeper

'Mature' Franco Colapinto extends contact with Alpine through 2027

This season he has already picked up 19 world championship points, scoring in six of the 12 Grands Prix so far, finishing seventh in Miami and sixth in Canada

Flavio Briatorean Italian businessman, who serves as executive adviser and de facto team principal of Alpine in Formula One
We have seen Franco truly grow and mature into a great driver this year,
It's been even better that we have made significant progress this year compared to last,

Two new probes opened into Fernando Cerimedo, right-wing political adviser detained in Bolivia

Adrián Ravierpresidential spokesperson
There were some meetings during the first half of 2024, but they were not with the President,
Fernando Cerimedopolitical adviser
There was never a contract... there was never a direct working relationship
Rodrigo Paz Delgadopresident
I have a record of public service, with a wife who has been beyond reproach... a scandal is not proof,
He was never authorised to represent" the president, "the government or my family,

Deputies back Milei’s push to reform Central Bank charter

Let's stop for a moment with the independence fallacy,
Many thanks to the National Deputies for supporting this measure to reform the BCRA,
Do you really think you can pull the wool over people's eyes with Mr Bausili? You talk about autonomy when the Central Bank's governor is a partner at the firm where he worked alongside the economy minister, and they've had that trading relationship for many years. What autonomy are you talking about? You want to have this debate over the charter and still keep on a Central Bank governor who is Minister Caputo's partner and friend."

Milei’s magic fades on Argentina’s slowing economic recovery

If the government doesn’t pay attention to what SMEs are going through, the SME sector won’t support it in 2027,
The economy is currently stagnating — from last December to today, the economy hasn’t grown in seasonally adjusted terms,
Sales never really stabilised. Sometimes they pick up and then they fall again. It’s a seesaw,
A solid increase in June activity still failed to compensate for sizeable contractions in the preceding two months, leaving Argentine growth in negative territory in the second quarter and posing downside risk to our 2.7 percent full-year projection,
If we arrive close to the election with low approval ratings, a weak labor market and sluggish economic activity, that could generate a lot of nervousness in financial markets,
Without investment, amid business closures and no formal job creation, the Argentine economy is moving neither backward nor forward,

Trump fails to loosen China’s economic grip on Latin America

As head of an association representing cities across Colombia, Andrés Santamaría Garrido has a front-row seat to observe China’s economic playbook at municipal level

Jorge Guajardomexican diplomat
The region has been slow to understand this deindustrialization threat,
Jesús Seadechina
For us, it is very important to protect the relationship with the United States,
China’s economic weight makes it irreplaceable, regardless of the US’s increasingly coercive posture,
There will be a technological opening to China, because they are simply more advanced,
That all remains in the political sphere,
China’s influence in the region derives from a wide set of factors, especially trade,
We are forced to maintain a balance for the benefit of our national interests and our people,

The death of a self-made professor

After it became clear that the man was almost comically unsuited for the position he occupied, Cambridge finally decided to let him go, though it did so with considerable reluctance

March of the trolls

But such doubts do not acquit Cerimedo any more than the current evidence suffices to convict him — unless further investigation can prove that the incident was staged, any such insinuation about this vile attack on a pregnant woman would be abominable

Stories that caught our eye: August 14 to 21

China requires its companies to give the Chinese state access to any data passing through its technology and artificial intelligence networks. Understand this, any such data is all controlled by the Chinese Communist Party,... That is not on and nor will it help to bring foreign investment to Vaca Muerta,... investments which extend to data centres as well as to

UN holds second informal poll of secretary-general candidates

Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan was the front-runner last month when the 15-member Security Council held a first informal vote, behind closed doors and by secret ballot

Vasily Nebenzyarussian diplomat
If, for example, I'm speculating now, if there is a deadlock on any of the candidates we are seeing today, if nobody... flies, then I think that we may see other candidates as well,
There is a good chance that some nominees realise after (Friday's) vote that their campaigns have reached the end of the road,
Zenon Ngay Mukongoambassador
It's too early to have a consensus,
Christina Markus Lassenambassador
The candidates will be informed of the results through the respective permanent representatives of nominating member states... That's all I have to say today,

Argentina hit with heavy sanctions by FIFA for World Cup controversies

Boca Juniors player Paredes will be banned for 10 international games and was fined US$90,000