Buenos Aires, May 22 (Prensa Latina) The government of Javier Milei celebrated the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) approval of another loan for one billion dollars, which means greater indebtedness for the country and, in addition, gave it other prescriptions to apply.

In reviewing the program that the libertarian government must implement, the IMF endorsed the removal of subsidies and the tariff increases this year, which have made life much more expensive for Argentinians, in order to continue lowering spending, and warned that the plan, nevertheless, still has “high risks,” according to the Argentine press.

The board of directors of that credit institution, under the leadership of Bulgarian Kristalina Georgieva, nevertheless left some messages about the current political and economic situation, which the team of the Minister of Economy, Luis Caputo, will have to take into account when defining the course of his administration.

The board emphasized accelerating the purchase of reserves, a goal that Caputo’s team failed to meet, and being able to return to international markets as soon as possible.

On the subject of communication, the IMF insisted that the Argentine executive must implement “measures to continue improving the quality and dissemination of inflation data,” called for improvements in communication, transparency and independence of the Central Bank (BCRA), and for responses “in good faith” to the international lawsuits in which Argentina is in the dock.

The Fund supports the goal of achieving overall fiscal and financial balance by 2026, and prescribed that the Casa Rosada make further reductions in energy subsidies, a “better targeting” of social transfers and the containment of what it called discretionary spending.

Luis Caputo responded that this is precisely a strategy of the administration, and that tariff increases this year would be above monthly inflation.

Therefore, he refused to change the Consumer Price Index, for which he was the target of harsh criticism for using an inflation measurement that does not take into account all family expenses, and that data therefore does not reflect reality.

Georgieva insisted that the government must pursue a “multifaceted financing strategy to restore timely and lasting access to the international market” and obtain more reserves in order to pay off more of the country’s short-term foreign currency debt obligations.

However, in another move to favor powerful agricultural groups that help him stay in power, Milei announced on Thursday another reduction in export taxes on soybeans, wheat, and barley from 5.5 to 7.5 percent starting in June, which means less revenue for the treasury, or in other words, fewer dollars to increase reserves.

Conversely, it drastically reduces funding for health, education, and other social programs, while celebrating the Chamber of Deputies’ approval of a bill to cut gas subsidies in the country’s colder regions, where the population needs it most for heating. This will significantly increase gas rates.

This is one of the recommendations the IMF calls a suggestion. However, the draft bill must be approved by the Senate to become law.

Buenos Aires, May 16 (Prensa Latina) A new poll by the Zubán Córdoda consulting firm confirms that a majority of Argentinians reject President Javier Milei and will not vote for him in the 2027 general elections, much to the concern of him and his supporters.

The study, conducted from April 25 to May 1 to measure the potential vote for Milei and other leading political figures, reveals that 57.2 percent will not vote for him in next year’s presidential elections, according to the digital media outlet MinutoUno.

By age group, the “I wouldn’t vote for him” option surpasses the “I would vote for him” option. In the 18-30 age bracket, the negative sentiment is 45.6 percent; among voters aged 31-45, the percentage rises to 63.1; in the 46-60 age group, this option is at 59.3 percent, and among voters over 60, 50.7 percent also will not choose him in 2027.

Regarding gender, among men, who were his strongest supporter in 2023, 55.7 percent stated they would not vote for him, compared to 37 percent who said they would, and 7.3 percent who said they didn’t know. Among women, the negative vote rose to 58.6 percent, while the positive vote fell to 26.3 percent.

In summary, according to Zubán Córdoba’s survey, only 18.7 percent of respondents answered with certainty that they will vote for him, 12.7 percent responded with a conditional “I would vote for him,” and 11.4 percent are unsure about what they will do with their vote next year.

That public opinion leaves the president with a potential 30.1 percent of voters, similar to the percentage that La Libertad Avanza obtained in the 2023 primary elections in which it came in below Peronism, an electoral stage that he now wants to eliminate in the proposed electoral reform, but it is confirmed that he does not have the votes in Congress to proceed with his intention.

In summary, the newspaper Página12 notes that in January, 43 percent considered the government’s measures “necessary even if they hurt”; by May, that support had dwindled to 32 percent, and the approval rating for the libertarian administration is the lowest since the beginning of its term. “Milei is even losing on social media,” the newspaper points out.

The policy of strict and profound adjustments that is already hitting the middle class, from the lower to the upper, the economic crisis, the corruption scandals such as that of his Chief of Staff, Manuel Adorni, for illicit enrichment – ​​and others – that have tarnished his public image, plus his excessive outbursts have cracked the support even of those who elected him in 2023.

His attacks against the press are becoming increasingly vicious, and he once again insulted journalists, calling them “sons of bitches” on public programs—the streaming show Neuro being one of them—where he uttered vulgarities that left many speechless. In his irritation at the criticism of his economic management, he snapped: “Let’s see how I can masturbate better…”

Such behavior leaves much to be desired.

W.H.O. this Wednesday elevated the Ebola epidemic impacting Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to a high-risk level, following nearly 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths that could escalate in the coming days.

This declaration, made after consultations with health officials from Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo, underscores the critical need for immediate and concerted action to contain the spread of the deadly virus and safeguard public health across the region.

The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom, clarified that while the situation is of extreme concern, it does not yet classify as a pandemic emergency, which is the highest category under international health regulations.

“The situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern, but not a pandemic emergency“, the W.H.O. Chief stated. This distinction emphasizes the severity of the localized outbreak and the potential for wider regional destabilization without prompt intervention, highlighting the urgent need for a coordinated global response focused on containment and support for the affected African nations.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a total of 51 confirmed cases have been reported, primarily concentrated in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, including the urban centers of Bunia and Goma.

The W.H.O. issued a stark warning that the actual scale of this Ebola outbreak could be significantly larger than currently reported. This concern stems from observations suggesting that the virus had likely been circulating undetected for some time before being officially identified by local health authorities, posing a considerable challenge for contact tracing and containment efforts.

Concurrently, Uganda has informed the W.H…O of two confirmed cases in its capital, Kampala, including one fatality. Both individuals had a travel history from the DRC, directly linking the outbreaks.

Adding to the complexity situation, a United States citizen working in the DRC also tested positive for Ebola and has since been transferred to Germany for specialized medical treatment. These cross-border transmissions underscore the highly mobile nature of the region’s population and the inherent difficulties in controlling the virus’s spread in densely populated and interconnected areas.

The W.H.O. Director-General further reported an alarming figure of nearly 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths attributed to the Ebola virus, warning that these numbers are expected to increase in the coming days as surveillance and testing capacities improve. This rising toll reflects the rapid and aggressive nature of the disease, which poses a severe threat to public health systems already stretched thin in these regions, emphasizing the need for robust international support and resource allocation.

Tedros Adhanom also highlighted the tragic loss of health workers due to the Ebola infection. This critical detail points to transmission associated with healthcare settings, a common challenge in Ebola outbreaks, compounded by high population mobility in Ituri and escalating insecurity due to conflict in the area since late 2025.

The Director-General reiterated that the gravity of the situation demands urgent measures to halt the virus’s propagation and save lives. He confirmed that the W.H.O. already has teams on the ground, actively supporting national authorities. Furthermore, the organization has deployed additional personnel, essential supplies, specialized equipment and funds to bolster the response capabilities, demonstrating a robust commitment to assisting these affected nations in their fight against the deadly disease.

In a concrete move, the W.H.O. announced the approval of an additional 3.4 million dollars from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies, bringing the total support allocated to 3.9 million dollars. This vital financial injection aims to accelerate the response capacity in key areas such as epidemiological surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, infection control and the comprehensive care of suspected cases.

Specialists from the W.H.O. have emphasized a significant challenge: for the specific Bundibugyo strain of Ebola identified in this outbreak, there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments available. This lack of specific medical interventions underscores the critical importance of non-pharmaceutical interventions such as rapid diagnosis, isolation of infected individuals, and rigorous infection control protocols to break chains of transmission and prevent further escalation of this high-risk epidemic in Uganda and the DRC.

Moscow, May 22 (Prensa Latina) The Russian ambassador to Cuba, Viktor Koronelli, today dismissed alleged plans for the evacuation of his nationals from the Caribbean nation.

“The evacuation of Russian citizens from the island is not on the agenda,” the diplomat told the newspaper Izvestia, noting that the Cuban population conducts constant drills in response to the US threat.

“Population drills, coordinated by the National Civil Defense General Staff, are conducted regularly. Of course, in the context of threats from the United States, greater attention is paid to the drills and recommendations,” he stated.

On January 29, US President Donald Trump imposed an energy embargo against Cuba by threatening tariffs on countries that supply it with oil.

This measure generated a severe fuel shortage and affected power plants, transportation, food production, healthcare, and education.

Cuba accuses the United States of trying to strangle its economy and make living conditions unbearable for its population, while threatening military aggression.

For his part, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel stressed on May 3 that the United States’ military threat against his country had reached unprecedented levels.

The president warned that any aggression against the island will be met with the people’s determination to defend their sovereignty and independence.

On May 20, the United States sent its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz to the Caribbean Sea.

Bogotá, May 22 (Prensa Latina) The presidential candidate for the progressive movement Historical Pact, Iván Cepeda, will hold one of his campaign closing events today in the Plaza de Bolívar of this capital, which will include a political event and a cultural one.

The candidate, who is leading in the polls according to surveys, presented yesterday the seven social welfare programs he will implement once he arrives at the Casa de Nariño (Presidential Palace).

The main pillars of his government strategy are focused on eliminating poverty and overcoming inequality, so that progress for all is promoted.

As he proposed, he would strengthen and expand the Colombia Mayor program (economic subsidy for older adults in conditions of extreme poverty), Renta Joven (incentives for the social and economic inclusion of young people) and Renta Ciudadana (eradication of extreme poverty through monetary transfers).

Cepeda also commented that he would create other social benefit programs for people with disabilities, as well as for social leaders, and that he would establish the direct purchase of food from farmers and school supply kits for low-income families.

He also stated that he would seek to agree with business leaders on a plan of social programs in exchange for tax relief.

According to the candidate, the cost of this set of social actions will be three trillion pesos (around 808 million dollars at the current exchange rate), with progressive implementation and diverse sources of financing.

The candidate, whose vice-presidential running mate is indigenous leader Aida Quilcué, will hold his grand national campaign closing event in Barranquilla next Sunday the 24th.

The presidential elections, in which 12 contenders will participate, are just nine days away.

Cepeda, with 44.6 percent, is followed in voting intention by the far-right Abelardo De la Espriella (31.6) and the representative of Uribismo, Paloma Valencia, with 14 percent, according to the Invamer survey.

If none of them obtains 50 percent plus one of the valid votes, those who occupy the first two positions will then face each other in a runoff election on June 21.

https://xcancel.com/thiagoavilabr/status/2057570882483003746

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