🇦🇷 Argentina Episodes

Digital IDs, ghost workers, government officials’ unnecessary travel, China import tariffs, in-hospital corruption, a new pigeon pea variety, and much more! Thanks for tuning in! Let us know what you think and what we can improve on by emailing us at [email protected]. You can also contact us on Instagram @rorshok_malawi or Twitter @RorshokMalawiLike what you hear? Subscribe, share, and tell your buds.Rorshok Updates: https://rorshok.com/updates/Check out our new t-shirts: https://rorshok.store/We want to get to know you! Please fill in this mini-survey: https://forms.gle/NV3h5jN13cRDp2r66Wanna avoid ads and help us financially? Follow the link: https://bit.ly/rorshok-donate

Following the provisional approval of the Labor Reform in the Senate, a new debate arose over the elimination of the article that allowed salaries to be credited to virtual wallets and not just banks: “In our country, eight out of 10 people over 16 years old use a virtual wallet every day for whatever purpose. It is healthy for alternatives to be expanded and for the worker, according to their convenience, to choose where to receive their payment,” said Mariano Biocca, executive director of the Argentine FinTech Chamber, on Cara o Ceca.

The Government is rushing the approval of the bill in the Chamber of Deputies after its half-approval by the Senate, in search of its first political victory of the year. At the same time, the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) announced a strike on the day the bill is debated. The head of the La Libertad Avanza bloc in the Upper House, Patricia Bullrich, anticipated changes to the article that reduces salaries in case of sick leave, with the aim of fully seducing her allies. "They want to session this week because they must have the numbers, and that worries me. Criticizing labor licenses, unions, the pension system, is focusing on problems that don't exist; today, economic recession is the reason why employment is not generated," pointed out Fernanda Miño, national deputy for Unión por la Patria, on Cara o ceca. Miño, who is also part of the Movement of Excluded Workers, denounced that her colleagues were irregularly arrested on the day of the Senate vote during protests in front of Congress: "We know that some are still facing a judicial process that has nothing to do with how they were found." "There must be a demonstration that Argentina does not want labor backwardness, the loss of rights, and measures that benefit the usual suspects," she concluded. Cuba continues fighting against the US energy blockade. Washington's measures to suffocate the island deteriorated its energy capacity, and Miguel Díaz-Canel's government announced measures to overcome the situation while receiving humanitarian aid from countries like Mexico. "The aggression is serious because the correlation of forces is unfavorable for Cuba, and today there is no alternative experience to the global capitalist order. China and Russia are two great allies, Mexico also with Sheinbaum ratifying the union," stated Víctor Ducrot, a doctor in communication from the National University of La Plata (UNLP) and Prensa Latina columnist, on Cara o ceca.

The initiative passed in the Chamber of Deputies by a large majority, with 149 votes in favor. The ruling party, La Libertad Avanza, seeks approval in the Senate in the last week of February. The main focus of the project is to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 14 for minors who commit crimes. Within this scheme, life sentences cannot be imposed on those convicted, and they will be kept separate from adults in prisons. "Not only do I agree with lowering the age of criminal responsibility, but I consider it absolutely necessary. But I believe this project solves nothing because it set an age limit and it is discriminatory: Why 14 years?" said Sergio Berni, former Minister of National Security, on Cara o Ceca.

Deputies debate the lowering of the age of criminal responsibility, which would go from 16 to 14 years, and establishes specific measures for this age group. In addition, they will seek to ratify the trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union. "There aren't many expectations regarding the treatment of the Juvenile Criminal Regime and the agreement. The first is a nice title but that won't change criminality, it doesn't address fundamental issues, they believe that lowering the age to 14 solves everything," said Agustina Propato, national deputy for the Unión por la Patria bloc, on Cara o Ceca. "They want to bring the treatment forward unconstitutionally during the extraordinary sessions" of Congress, she stated, and anticipated that they will vote against it.

The Government seeks its first legislative victory of 2026, after negotiating 20 articles of the original bill with allied blocs. Meanwhile, unions and political and social organizations are gathering in the streets to reject it. "There is high expectation because we have the numbers to approve the bill. This reform had its adjustments after negotiations with different sectors, such as provincial governors and unions. Although it is not the original proposal we put forward, the foundation is what is necessary to change norms that had not been touched for more than 40 years," said Gonzalo Guzmán Coraita, national senator for La Libertad Avanza, on Cara o Ceca.

A Blantyre City Council transporters’ law, updates on student loans, an investigation into a cheating scheme, house number plates, the Kabula Festival, and much more! Thanks for tuning in! Let us know what you think and what we can improve on by emailing us at [email protected]. You can also contact us on Instagram @rorshok_malawi or Twitter @RorshokMalawiLike what you hear? Subscribe, share, and tell your buds.“Is Your Land Really Yours?” By Ephraim Nyondo: https://www.nyasatimes.com/cecilia-kadzamira-and-the-land-justice-shock-how-one-judgment-threatens-every-malawian-landowner/ Check out our new t-shirts: https://rorshok.store/We want to get to know you! Please fill in this mini-survey: https://forms.gle/NV3h5jN13cRDp2r66Wanna avoid ads and help us financially? Follow the link: https://bit.ly/rorshok-donate

President Luiz Inázio ‘Lula’ Da Silva's party celebrated 46 years since the organization's founding, one of the political forces that has shaped the country's destiny. The leader emphasized that the defense of democracy is not only vital for Brazil, but also for Latin America, stressing that no country in the region should become a colony of another nation nor accept external interference.

In the coming days, the Senate will address the bill promoted by the ruling party, and the Chamber of Deputies will debate the Juvenile Criminal Law, which proposes lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 14. "This bill affects the rights of the worker in their individual capacity and destroys the employment relationship between employees and employers. They invert the decision-making pyramid; collective bargaining for the entire union becomes subordinate to company-level negotiation," said Kelly Olmos, former Minister of Labor of Argentina, on Cara o Ceca, from the Sputnik radio studios. "Furthermore, they want to proceed with emptying the pension system, seeking to transform it into a private savings system. They are coming for the emptying of the healthcare system because they reduce contributions for the financing of medical coverage. All of this leads to social fracture, to the disappearance of unions and, with them, the middle class," she added. Former minister Olmos also referred to the proposed amendment to the juvenile criminal law, assuring that minors who commit crimes "are part of a system that, first, makes their lives precarious and, then, pushes them to be 'cannon fodder.' The younger the person who commits a crime and enters a punitive system that does not consider their age conditions, the faster they become stigmatized," she concluded. The Epstein case continues to hit the British Government: "Starmer's days are numbered due to this scandal" The leak of files linking former US ambassador Peter Mandelson to the Epstein case continues to shake British politics. Tim Allan, Downing Street's Director of Communications, resigned from his post shortly after the departure of Keir Starmer's Chief of Staff, Morgan McSweeney. "Starmer's days are numbered due to this scandal. He appointed Manderson knowing of the links he maintained with Epstein. Now, the Scottish minister has called for his resignation," observed Marcelo Justo, an Argentinian journalist residing in the United Kingdom, on Cara o Ceca. "What has happened with Starmer since he took office is astonishing. He won with an overwhelming majority and presented himself as transparent and a defender of human rights, but that image has been disappearing due to one mistake after another. The economic situation doesn't help either, and there is no project for society," he added.

Following the withdrawal of 700 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from Minnesota, Washington reported that the officers will wear body cameras to record their actions.

The head of the ruling party bloc in the Senate, Patricia Bullrich, is leading conversations with allied senators and claims to have the votes for preliminary approval. Meanwhile, the opposition and trade unions are preparing demonstrations against it. In parallel, the Minister of the Interior, Diego Santilli, is leading negotiations with the governors and has already secured the support of seven provincial leaders. “The final details of the bill are still being debated to bring it to the floor. In general terms, the ruling is almost finalized. The only issue left to agree on was the income tax, which the governors are discussing with the Minister of Economy,” said Martin Goerling, national senator for the Republican Proposal bloc (PRO), on Cara o Ceca.

The Minister of Economy, Luis Caputo, stated that he never bought clothes in Argentina and that the protection of local industry “harms those who have the least”. The sector affirmed that it is necessary to lower taxes and costs. “The Government encourages the destruction of the sector in a situation of unfair competition. Today, the Chinese industry is being subsidized to the detriment of the Argentine one,” Carolina Carregal, manager of the Argentine Industrial Chamber of Apparel, stated on Cara o Ceca.

Former government officials arrested, fuel levy reinstated, a cabinet reshuffle, MBC journalists suspended, new music production fees, and much more! Thanks for tuning in! Let us know what you think and what we can improve on by emailing us at [email protected]. You can also contact us on Instagram @rorshok_malawi or Twitter @RorshokMalawiLike what you hear? Subscribe, share, and tell your buds.Former Government Officials Arrested For Financial Crimes: https://www.pijmalawi.org/show-story/pij-exclusive-billions-allegedly-secretly-paid-toReshuffles and Gomo’s Town Hall Meetings by Emmanuel Luciano: https://mwnation.com/reshuffles-and-gomos-town-hall-meetings/ Check out our new t-shirts: https://rorshok.store/We want to get to know you! Please fill in this mini-survey: https://forms.gle/NV3h5jN13cRDp2r66Wanna avoid ads and help us financially? Follow the link: https://bit.ly/rorshok-donate

Delivery and ride-sharing service applications have become an alternative for those looking for a new full-time job and cannot find a place in the traditional labor market, or for those looking to earn additional income to make ends meet. Those working with these applications warn that they lack formal labor rights and are "at the mercy of the algorithm" and the objectives unilaterally defined by the companies. This forces them to extend working hours without limit and reinforces the unequal relationship between the platforms and those who perform the daily work on the streets.

There are 111 fatal victims in hospitals in different provinces, confirmed from the analysis of patients' medical records and other elements of the case. At least 48 people survived the administration of the contaminated drug, marketed by HLB Pharma laboratory. "My brother Leonel was admitted to the Hospital Italiano de La Plata on March 15, 2025, due to pancreatitis. He remained hospitalized and underwent surgery, after which he began treatment with this fentanyl contaminated with bacteria," recounted Alejandro Ayala, brother of Leonel Ayala, a lethal victim of fentanyl, from the Sputnik radio studios on Cara o Ceca. "He was 32 years old, was a music teacher, and was about to take over as inspector in charge of more than 250 art schools. They stole his dreams, the opportunity to live and choose, and broke a family. There was a State that abandoned us, that did not take care of us. We want those responsible to provide explanations and ensure that this will not happen again in Argentina." "We conducted a family investigation to determine if he had been a victim of adulterated fentanyl, because hospital reports provided insufficient information and denied the drug's link to his death," he explained. "Fentanyl is wreaking havoc worldwide. This is a public health problem. In 2016, traceability was abandoned, and this laboratory operated irregularly since 2018; they have had multiple complaints," he concluded. The cases erupted in 2025, when cases began to be detected of patients admitted to different hospitals in the country to be treated for various ailments who, after receiving fentanyl as a painkiller, died due to a severe bacterial infection. At least 300,000 ampoules of fentanyl were infected by ultra-resistant bacteria and were distributed to various medical centers, most produced by HLB Pharma Group and Ramallo laboratories.The new round of tripartite negotiations on Ukraine is approaching: "Witkoff's presence reduces Kyiv's room for maneuver"On February 4 and 5, the second round of trilateral talks between the US, Russia, and Ukraine for the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine will take place in Abu Dhabi. The special representative of the President of Russia for investment and economic cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev, met on January 31 in Florida with the White House special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and other members of the Trump administration."Zelensky pretends he wants to achieve peace but continues with the stance of imposing conditions. He is adamant about not recognizing his defeat on the battlefield and finalizing the cession of territories already liberated by Russia," stated Christian Lamesa, an international analyst, on Cara o Ceca.

The Central Bank of the Argentine Republic (BCRA) added 52 million dollars and completed 19 consecutive days of purchases. The objective aims to strengthen international reserves, which reached their highest level in almost four years. The accumulation of foreign currency was also boosted by the rise in the international price of gold. “The Government is only now accumulating reserves but is on a very tight schedule. We depend one hundred percent on the support of [Donald] Trump and [Scott] Bessent. Today they are our oxygen tank,” Gabriel Rubinstein, former Argentine Deputy Minister of Economy, said on Cara o Ceca.

According to the Central Bank, delinquency in household financing reached 8.8% of the total portfolio, the highest level since 2010. The data reflects the growing difficulties in sustaining consumption in a context of tight incomes, even with decelerating inflation. “This phenomenon is indebtedness that complicates taking on credit and compromises daily consumption. There is extensive use of credit cards and many families constantly seek out offers as an aid to access everyday consumer products. This situation persists despite decelerating inflation,” explained Isaac Rudnik, an economist and consumption specialist, in a conversation with Cara o Ceca.

The Argentine president visited the seaside city of Mar del Plata to speak at a conservative event, visited an ice cream factory, and sang on stage during the show of his ex-partner Fátima Flórez. “When Milei comes to the city, he finds support for his project. This event aims to publicize our way of seeing the State. The speakers present this project, which is even superior to the president's. Several participants proposed measures in different areas such as security and the State, to be a freer country,” Emiliano Recalt, president of the General Pueyrredón Deliberative Council and of La Libertad Avanza, stated on Cara o Ceca.

Sugar prices, talks on minimum wages, the new RBM governor, fewer VP powers, optional payments in government hospitals, violence in schools, and much more!Thanks for tuning in! Let us know what you think and what we can improve on by emailing us at [email protected]. You can also contact us on Instagram @rorshok_malawi or Twitter @RorshokMalawiLike what you hear? Subscribe, share, and tell your buds.“Is The President Undermining VP Office” by The Nyasa Times: https://www.nyasatimes.com/analysis-stripped-of-power-in-100-days-who-is-afraid-of-jane-ansah/ What Is Napolo?: https://africanarguments.org/2023/08/a-mythical-giant-snake-is-helping-raise-climate-awareness-in-malawi/Check out our new t-shirts: https://rorshok.store/We want to get to know you! Please fill in this mini-survey: https://forms.gle/NV3h5jN13cRDp2r66Wanna avoid ads and help us financially? Follow the link: https://bit.ly/rorshok-donate

The topic was included on the agenda of the extraordinary sessions of Congress that will begin on February 2, and seeks to modify the Juvenile Criminal Regime to lower the age of criminal responsibility for minors. “We seek to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 13 and to consider a special regime defined by special principles and the creation of detention centers. The reform targets murders, serious crimes. It’s an infinitesimal amount in the total number of homicides, but the victim must be protected,” stated María Cecilia Ibañez, a deputy from La Libertad Avanza, in a conversation with Una mañana por descubrir.