{
  "id": 14858345,
  "title": "Stories that caught our eye: October 9 to 16",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/stories-that-caught-our-eye-october-9-to-16",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-16T03:13:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Buenos Aires Times",
    "slug": "buenos-aires-times",
    "url": "https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/stories-that-caught-our-eye-october-9-to-16.phtml"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the span from October 9 to 16, Pope Leo XIV was recuperating well in the Vatican after a lung tumor operation, but his upcoming South American tour faced uncertainty due to his health concerns. The Pope had hinted at a possible visit to Argentina shortly after his surgery. An opposition-led session aimed at overturning a deregulatory bill (70/2023) and discussing other bills fell short of quorum at a lower house meeting. Demonstrations ensued outside Congress, focusing on disabled rights, university funding, and land legislation. Clashes between police and demonstrators led to one injured officer, with tear gas and water cannons deployed.\n\nInflation remained at 1.9 percent for October, slightly higher than the previous month's 1.7 percent, resulting in an annual rate of 33.4 percent and a year-to-date rate of 23.6 percent. The main contributors were housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (3.1 percent), education (3 percent), communications (2.5 percent), health (2.4 percent) and food and beverages (2 percent).\n\nMeanwhile, the UK requested Interpol to disregard Argentine requests for red notices against businessmen involved in the Sea Lion project of British companies Rockhopper Exploration and Israel's Navitas Petroleum. The project holds significant potential to triple Argentina's economy. Argentina insists on territorial sovereignty over the islands, despite a 2013 referendum where only a small fraction of islanders voted against British rule. President Javier Milei has taken legal action against the companies and filed a case for arbitration under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Lawyers have accused the Economy Minister, Central Bank governor, and BCRA director of fraud, abuse of authority, and malfeasance, resulting in a loss of US$1.023 billion.\n\nMaverick deputy Marcela Pagano alleged that US$4 trillion in public funds disappeared, possibly into a slush fund. The Central Bank disputed the Auditor-General's findings, claiming a gain of over US$2.5 billion due to favorable gold prices. President Alberto Fernández criticized the Auditor-General's estimate as \"brutally stupid\" and emphasized his disagreements with his vice-president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, regarding the IMF and other economic policies. On the topic of Columbus Day, the holiday reverted to 'Día de la Raza' this year, with differing perspectives. The government celebrated it as a milestone in Western expansion, while the CGT union called it a provocation and organized a demonstration against it. Indigenous groups also staged a protest outside the Constitución flat where Cristina Fernández de Kirchner used to reside.",
  "summary": "A selection of the stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina. Leer más",
  "key_points": [
    "Pope Leo XIV recovering in Vatican after lung tumor surgery",
    "Opposition-led session fails to quorum, demonstrations erupt",
    "UK seeks to block Argentine red notices for Sea Lion project businessmen"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}