Trump visits Texas after deadly floods
President Donald Trump toured flood-hit areas in Texas and expanded federal disaster assistance to eight more counties....
As Argentina’s unemployment hits a four-year high, the spotlight has turned to the libertarian administration of President Javier Milei, whose sweeping economic reforms are reshaping the country’s social and labour landscape.
Argentina’s unemployment rate rose to 7.9 percent in the first quarter of 2025, reaching its highest level since mid-2021, as the administration of President Javier Milei presses ahead with sweeping economic reforms. The latest figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INDEC) estimate that around 1.7 million people are now unemployed nationwide.
The data reveals that the most severe impact has been felt in the Greater Buenos Aires area, where unemployment rose to 9.1 percent overall, and as high as 9.7 percent in the surrounding industrial districts. These areas, historically reliant on manufacturing and state-supported industries, have been hit hardest by factory closures and contracting municipal budgets.
The rise in unemployment comes amid the government’s implementation of what President Milei has termed “shock therapy” — a rapid transition away from Argentina’s traditional model of public-sector-driven economic management. This has included deep cuts to state spending, the withdrawal of energy and transport subsidies, and a push toward the privatisation of state-owned enterprises. The government has also moved to tighten monetary policy as part of its anti-inflation strategy.
President Milei has defended these measures as necessary to dismantle what he describes as a corrupt and unsustainable economic structure. In public addresses, he has emphasised that temporary pain is unavoidable, but insists that these reforms will eventually stabilise the country and attract private investment. However, the surge in unemployment has sparked growing public concern, particularly as the cost of living remains high and wage growth continues to lag behind inflation.
Labour unions and opposition parties have intensified their criticism of the government, accusing it of failing to implement job protection mechanisms or offer viable employment alternatives during the transition period. Strikes have disrupted transport and public services, while mass demonstrations have taken place across major urban centres demanding action to protect jobs and support families affected by layoffs.
The Pampas region, Argentina’s agricultural backbone, has also seen a notable rise in unemployment, with rates climbing to 7.4 percent. Local officials report that job losses in agro-processing and logistics are contributing to increased rural hardship.
As the Milei administration continues on its current path, economists are divided over the outlook. Some argue that structural reform is essential to revive Argentina’s long-term competitiveness, while others warn that social unrest and political instability could derail the reform process before benefits materialise.
For now, the pressure is mounting. The government’s ability to manage rising unemployment without triggering a broader crisis will be a defining challenge in the months ahead.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
A deadly mass shooting early on Monday (7 July) in Philadelphia's Grays Ferry neighbourhood left three men dead and nine others wounded, including teenagers, as more than 100 shots were fired.
Dozens of international and domestic flights were cancelled or delayed after Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted on Monday, but Bali’s main airport remains operational.
The 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was successfully held in Khankendi, Azerbaijan, highlighting the region’s revival and the deepening economic cooperation among member states.
French member of parliament Olivier Marleix was found dead at his home on Monday, with suicide being considered a possible cause.
President Donald Trump toured flood-hit areas in Texas and expanded federal disaster assistance to eight more counties.
Washington and Ottawa are once again at odds, as President Trump unveils a sharp new tariff on Canadian goods—citing drug trafficking and trade disputes just weeks ahead of a key deadline.
France recorded over 100 drowning deaths in just one month — a 58% rise from last year — as unusually high temperatures drove more people to water, public health officials say.
Migration offset natural decline for the fourth consecutive year, pushing the European Union’s population to an historic high of 450.4 million in 2024, according to Eurostat figures released on Friday.
Germany’s public debt is projected to climb from 62.5% to 74% of GDP by 2030, driven by record defence and infrastructure spending, according to a report by the European rating agency Scope.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment