Argentine tribunal allows ex-President Fernández to serve corruption sentence at home
A federal court on Tuesday granted former Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's request to serve a six-year prison sentence for corruption at her home in Buenos Aires.
Judges ruled that Fernández, 72, can serve time in the apartment where she lives with her daughter and her granddaughter, citing her age and security reasons. Fernández was the victim of an attempted assassination attempt three years ago.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
36 minutes ago
- BBC News
Business Matters Trump demands Iran's ‘unconditional surrender'
President Trump is demanding Iran's 'unconditional surrender' as the conflict with Israel enters its sixth day. The US leader was supposed to be in Canada for the G7 summit, but decided to leave early. Has his absence there overshadowed its talks on Ukraine? We'll hear from a reporter who's at the summit. Meanwhile in Brazil, oil exploration rights are up for auction - even as the country prepares to host the UN climate conference COP30. An environmental activist tells us why oil exploration in the South American country must be stopped. And is China's biggest car manufacturer BYD playing fair? Our reporter has been speaking with the firm's executive vice president. Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.
Reuters
3 hours ago
- Reuters
Japan's Ishiba departs G7 with US trade deal and political future in doubt
KANANASKIS, Canada, June 18 (Reuters) - Japanese premier Shigeru Ishiba's bid to get U.S. President Donald Trump to relax tariffs imperiling his country's economy and his political future fell flat this week, underlining the gulf between the allies as more levies are set to kick in. Ishiba traveled to the G7 summit in Canada hoping a direct appeal might get talks back on track after Japanese negotiators struggled to secure respite on a 25% tariff imposed on imported cars, according to two officials with knowledge of the matter. While the sun beamed down as Ishiba and Trump reclined in lounge chairs in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, Monday's brief encounter did little to alter the grim forecast for Japanese industry girding for broader 24% levies due on July 9. The lack of progress could knock confidence in Ishiba's diplomacy just as he prepares to contest a dicey upper house election next month that some political analysts say could result in his ouster. "Despite our persistent efforts to find common ground through serious discussions, yesterday's meeting with President Trump confirmed that we still have discrepancies in our understanding," Ishiba told reporters on Tuesday before his departure from Canada. Trump earlier told reporters aboard Air Force One that "there was a chance of a deal" but appeared in little mood to cede ground. "Ultimately you have to understand we're just going to send a letter saying this is what you're going to pay otherwise you don't have to do business with us," he said. The most pressing issue for Japan has been the impact of Trump's tariffs on its auto sector, which employs nearly one in 10 of the country's workers and accounts for a fifth of exports. Japan's overall exports fell in May for the first time in eight months, piling pressure on its fragile economy, the world's fourth largest. Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T), opens new tab, Japan's leading car company, has already flagged that tariffs have likely sliced off 180 billion yen ($1.2 billion) from its profit in April and May alone. Honda (7267.T), opens new tab has said it expects a 650 billion yen ($4.5 billion) hit to its earnings this year from tariffs in the U.S. and elsewhere, while Mazda Motor (7261.T), opens new tab declined to issue a full-year profit forecast, citing uncertainty due to tariffs. Publicly, Ishiba's government has said it aims to win total exemption from Trump's auto tariffs, but behind the scenes its negotiators had been trying to convince Washington to knock them down to around 10%, the sources said, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. Trump's trade deal with Britain, where he agreed to allow a quota of cars to be subject to a lower 10% levy has provided somewhat of a template, although Japan is a far larger exporter of cars to the United States. In exchange for relief on the autos sector, Tokyo had pledged to step up purchases of U.S. gas and other items to rebalance a trade deficit that has long irked Trump. But just days before Ishiba was due to arrive in Kananaskis, Canada for the G7 summit, it became clear to Japan's negotiators that Washington was unwilling to budge, said one of the sources. Ishiba likely miscalculated by raising expectation of an agreement with Trump, said Kenji Minemura, a senior researcher at the Canon Institute for Global Studies. He will now have put a trade deal aside and focus on convincing Trump to extend the pause on the broader reciprocal levies, a senior lawmaker close to the premier said. Otherwise, Ishiba faces the prospect of contesting elections next month with the full force of Trump's tariffs in effect. The combined tariffs could shave nearly 1% off Japan's gross domestic product, Mizuho Research & Technologies has estimated. "The fact that nothing was agreed at the summit could raise doubts about the diplomatic skills of the Ishiba administration," said Hiroshi Shiratori, professor of contemporary political analysis at Hosei University. His ruling coalition may struggle to hold on to its majority in the upper house vote, a repeat of the result in the more powerful lower house election in October, which could potentially trigger his ouster, political analysts say. Even if the LDP limps on in minority rule, there is around a 70% chance the party would replace its leader, said Michael Cucek, a political science professor at Temple University in Tokyo. "If they do have a significant loss then Ishiba has to go. You can't lose two elections in a row," he said. Ishiba may get another chance to make progress with Trump later this month with the two leaders due to attend the two-day NATO summit in the Hague from June 24. ($1 = 145.2500 yen)
The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Takeaways from AP report on President Javier Milei's dramatic cuts to Argentine health care
Argentina used to have an extensive, free public health system that pretty much ensured that everybody who couldn't afford private insurance was covered for everything. But in the year-and-a-half since President Javier Milei rode to power on a promise to eliminate the nation's sky-high inflation and huge budget deficits, the radical economist's austerity program has taken a brutal toll on the nation's public hospitals and its population of poor, retired and unemployed patients who have lost access to vital treatment. In gutting key federal health agencies, Milei's sweeping layoffs and deep spending cuts have mirrored moves taken by the administration of his close ally, U.S. President Donald Trump. Here are takeaways from an Associated Press report about how a libertarian revolution cheered by the global far-right is affecting the health of Argentines. President Milei's suspension of a government agency, known as DADSE, that provided prohibitively expensive medication to uninsured cancer patients and others with rare diseases has left thousands of Argentines without lifesaving treatment. The changes forced patients to seek help outside the traditional health care system. Some surreptitiously manage to secure spare drug donations via Facebook groups. Others are not so lucky. A lawsuit filed by patient advocacy groups said at least 60 cancer patients died last year due to the government's suspension of the DADSE medication program. The AP spoke with four families whose loved ones died while waiting for the agency to pay for cancer drugs that it had covered and delivered before Milei took office. A federal judge ordered the government to resume drug deliveries, but the state has appealed, saying DADSE no longer exists. Milei's spokesperson, Manuel Adorni, did not respond to requests for comment. Health Minister Mario Lugones did not respond to questions on the impact of policy changes. Officials have also gutted the National Cancer Institute, suspending early detection programs for breast and cervical cancer. Progress against infectious diseases upended Since taking office in December 2023, Milei has slashed Argentina's health care budget by 48% in real terms. His administration fired over 2,000 Health Ministry employees — nearly a quarter of its workforce — including 1,400 over just a few days in January. Employees describe the worst funding crunch in the ministry's recent history and say the layoffs have allowed an upsurge of diseases once under control. The National Directorate for HIV, Hepatitis and Tuberculosis has lost 40% of its staff and 76% of its annual budget. Hospitals now face shortages of everything from virus testing supplies to medications to condoms. Patients who have the near-totally drug-resistant form of HIV say they're not being treated. The cuts have coincided with a surge in sexually transmitted infections. Last year HIV cases spiked by 20% and syphilis by 50%. Tuberculosis cases also climbed by 25% last year. TB clinics report delays in obtaining test results and say that family members of infected people are not being put on preventive therapy. Overwhelmed hospitals The government has curtailed medical coverage for retirees and lifted price controls on prescription medication and private health plans, causing prices to spike by 250% and 118% respectively, official data shows. Free public hospitals have been flooded with Argentines who dropped their private plans due to increased premiums or who lost their jobs — and with it, social security plans funded through payroll contributions. Buenos Aires facilities reported a 20%-30% increase in demand in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year. Pharmacists have reported drug shortages as mass layoffs caused administrative chaos and the government froze a program that provided basic medications to Argentine public health centers. With hiring frozen, doctors said they're handling double the patients they did a couple years ago. Besieged by staff burnout and ever-increasing workloads, Argentina's leading public Garrahan Pediatric Hospital in Buenos Aires has hemorrhaged 200 medical professionals since Milei took office. As annual inflation neared 200% last fall, their salaries lost half of their purchasing power. Doctors left for jobs abroad or better-paying work in private clinics. None were replaced. Mass protests and strikes by low-paid medical residents paralyzed Buenos Aires last month. Vaccines on the chopping block Milei froze federal funds for immunization campaigns, hobbling vaccine access as Argentina confronts a measles outbreak that in April led to its first measles death in two decades. Authorities did not renew national contracts with vaccine suppliers, in some cases disrupting deliveries to provinces. Last month Argentine officials welcomed Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the Trump administration's Health and Human Services secretary and a longtime vaccine skeptic, for meetings on health policy in Buenos Aires. Health Minister Lugones, vowed to refocus the ministry's functions on holistic health rather than infectious disease, in line with Kennedy's Make America Healthy Again movement. Milei finalized Argentina's decision to follow the U.S. in withdrawing from the World Health Organization, which had provided the nation with discounts on vaccines and medications and helped it track outbreaks. 'Argentina has been one of the most advanced South American countries and here we see it abandoning public health,' said Dr. Stanley Plotkin, an American physician who helped develop the measles vaccine in the 1960s.
