The 138th International Livestock, Agriculture and Industry Exhibition – popularly known as La Rural de Palermo – reaches its closing day this Sunday, July 26, with three focuses of attention that concentrate the gaze of producers, leaders and political analysts: the presence of President Javier Milei at the closing ceremony, the expectation for new announcements on export rights and the possibility of a face-to-face meeting between the president and the Vice President Victoria Villarruel.

Under the slogan "The countryside unites us", the exhibition – which takes place between July 16 and 26 at the Palermo fairgrounds – coincides with the 160th anniversary of the Argentine Rural Society (SRA) and arrives with a record number of exhibitors, more than 2,580 animals registered and the debut of YPF as the main sponsor.

🖼️  See reference image: historical pavilion of the Argentine Rural Society in Palermo (Wikimedia Commons)  (Wikimedia Commons)

Milei will lead the official closing ceremony this Sunday at 11 a.m., in a different format than usual: the ceremony, which was traditionally held on the last Saturday of the exhibition, was moved due to agenda issues of the president, who on Saturday participated in a party activity in Brazil, where he was distinguished with the Order of Ipiranga and met with leaders of the Liberal Party.  among them Senator Flávio Bolsonaro.

The closing day will include, in addition to the presidential speech, activities open to the public such as the traditional carousel of military bands, an exhibition of Argentine Equestrian Art and a solidarity auction for the benefit of the Soldado Foundation. It will also be one of the few opportunities of the year in which the head of state shares the stage with the entire agricultural liaison table.

🖼️  See reference image: President Javier Milei (Wikimedia Commons)  (Wikimedia Commons)

The economic scenario is more favorable than in 2025: the government lowered withholdings during the year, soybeans reached values close to 450 dollars per ton and exports of meat and grains show an upward trend. Even so, the central demand of the sector remains the same: the total elimination of export duties (DEX), described by Milei as a "distorting" tax.

The Minister of Economy, Luis Caputo, announced this week that there will be no new reduction in withholdings in the short term – "the announcements have already been made," he said during his visit to the property – which moderated the expectations of the agricultural sector, more focused on issues such as financing and credit rates. The focus of the remaining demand is concentrated on meat, which still maintains a 5% rate on exports.

🔹 Since the beginning of his administration, the Government eliminated export duties for regional economies.

🔹 In 2026, the rates for wheat, barley and soybeans were reduced, and new staggered reductions were announced for sunflower oil towards 2028.

🔹 In Congress, projects are advancing from different blocs – United Provinces and Civic Coalition – for a gradual reduction of withholdings with a view to their total elimination.

The president of the SRA, Nicolás Pino, avoided anticipating possible announcements and remarked that any news will be communicated only in the official act itself, although he recalled that last year the President chose precisely that scenario to confirm a tax cut.

Beyond the agricultural agenda, the Rural Exhibition could become the scene of a new chapter of the political tension that runs through the presidential ticket this Sunday. Vice President Victoria Villarruel was formally invited by the SRA authorities to the central event, on the same day that Milei will attend, in the midst of a practically broken bond between the two leaders.

The eventual reunion comes after a new chapter of public differences: Villarruel had distanced himself from the government by claiming sovereignty over the Falkland Islands in the context of the controversy unleashed by a flag displayed during Argentina's semifinal against England in the FIFA World Cup. As of the closing of this note, the vice president had not officially confirmed her attendance and kept the details of her agenda confidential.

🖼️  See reference image: Vice President Victoria Villarruel (Wikimedia Commons)  (Wikimedia Commons)

In the surroundings of the Casa Rosada they emphasize that the invitation responds to an institutional protocol that the SRA repeats every year, beyond political distancing. The joint photo in the official box, if it materializes, would expose to the main leaders of agriculture and agribusiness the internal fractures of the presidential formula a little more than a year before the next elections.

❓ When is the closing ceremony of the Rural Exhibition 2026?

On Sunday, July 26 at 11 a.m., at the Palermo fairgrounds, with the presence of President Javier Milei.

❓ Why was the traditional date of the closing ceremony changed?

The ceremony, which used to be held on the last Saturday of the exhibition, was rescheduled for Sunday due to the agenda of the President, who on Saturday participated in an official activity in Brazil.

❓ Are new announcements expected about withholdings?

Minister Luis Caputo ruled out a new reduction in the short term, although the sector maintains the expectation set in the presidential speech, especially with respect to the rate that is still levied on meat.

❓ Did Villarruel confirm his presence at the event?

So far, the vice president has not officially confirmed her attendance, although she was formally invited by the Argentine Rural Society.

On Sunday, he will condense, in a single act, the economic, institutional and political agenda that Argentina is going through in mid-2026: the government's link with the countryside, the bid to continue lowering the tax pressure on agriculture and the internal tensions of the presidential ticket in view of one of the sectors with the greatest convening power in the country. All eyes – those of the agricultural sector and those of politics – will be on the Palermo box.

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La Rural 2026: Milei, retentions and the crossing with Villarruel mark the end

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The 138th Rural Exhibition of Palermo closes this Sunday with Milei in the central act, expectation of reductions in withholdings and a possible crossing with Villarruel.

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🔹 Sources cited: Casa Rosada, Sociedad Rural Argentina, official statements and national media coverage.

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The president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), Claudio "Chiqui" Tapia, was delayed by FBI agents at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), minutes before the Argentine delegation boarded the AR 1971 charter flight of Aerolíneas Argentinas back to Buenos Aires, after the defeat of the National Team against Spain in the final of the 2026 World Cup.

According to reports, federal agents seized his cell phone and other electronic devices, which will become part of the documentary evidence of an ongoing judicial investigation. Tapia and Leandro Petersen, head of marketing of the AFA and confidant of treasurer Pablo Toviggino, were taken to a room at the airport where judicial officials formally notified them of the summons.

The procedure was not limited to the head of the AFA: the U.S. authorities also seized computers and cell phones of other members of the delegation that had traveled with the national team, including Luciano Nakis, Fernando Isla Casares and Jorge Miadosqui.

The case, described as a preliminary investigation, points to the financial structure used to administer the AFA's international commercial contracts. The main focus is on the agreements managed through TourProdEnter LLC, a Miami-based company that functions as the AFA's exclusive commercial agent for sponsorships, friendlies and television rights, and which is legally registered in the name of Erica Gillette, wife of businessman Javier Faroni.

According to the reconstruction of the prosecutors, the maneuvers under the magnifying glass would involve operations that would exceed 300 million dollars. Tapia and treasurer Toviggino had signed the agreement with TourProdEnter in 2021, which gave the firm a 30% commission on the income generated in that scheme of contracts.

Those cited were also required to hand over records of messages, calls and emails related to these commercial agreements, as well as all communication maintained with Faroni himself, with Toviggino and with Diego Lucero.

The investigation is being led by three federal prosecutors specializing in economic and financial crimes: Patrick Gushue and Christopher Ting, based in Washington, and Michael Berger, of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida. Gushue is a member of the Banking Integrity Unit of the Department of Justice, while Berger has a background in money laundering cases.

Tapia assumed the presidency of the AFA in March 2017 and was re-elected in October 2024. During his tenure, the Argentine National Team won the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2024 Copa América. However, his tenure was also marked by previous controversies, including an investigation into alleged money laundering linked to Sur Finanzas, a financial firm that sponsored the AFA, and a protracted dispute with the government of Javier Milei over the conversion of clubs into sports corporations.

The episode at the New York airport occurred just hours before Tapia participated, already in Buenos Aires, in the reception of the Albiceleste delegation in Ezeiza, where the squad was transferred in an open-top bus amid the recognition of thousands of fans for the world runner-up.

⚖️ Tapia must appear before the Court of the Southern District of Florida on the date set.

📱 You are expected to provide the required communications related to TourProdEnter LLC.

🕵️ The case remains in the preliminary investigation stage, with no formal charges confirmed so far.

👥 Toviggino, Faroni and Lucero will also have to respond to the same summons.

So far, the measures adopted by the U.S. Justice correspond to an investigative stage, without criminal charges having been formalized against any of the above-mentioned. The AFA did not officially confirm the seizure of its president's cell phone, according to some media reports.

The following images, hosted on Wikimedia Commons, illustrate the protagonists and scenarios of this news. They are listed as verified absolute links, since the build environment does not allow direct downloading of external binaries for embedding.

❓ Why was Chiqui Tapia delayed in the United States?

Because FBI agents seized his cell phone and other electronic devices at JFK airport, as part of a preliminary investigation into the financial structure of the AFA's international commercial contracts.

❓ Which company is at the center of the research?

TourProdEnter LLC, a Miami-based firm that acts as the AFA's exclusive commercial agent for sponsorships, friendlies and television rights, linked to businessman Javier Faroni.

❓ When should Tapia appear before the U.S. Justice?

On July 30, before the Court of the Southern District of Florida.

❓ Who else was summoned to testify?

In addition to Tapia, the treasurer of the AFA Pablo Toviggino, the businessman Javier Faroni and Diego Lucero were summoned.

❓ Are there confirmed criminal charges?

No. So far the case is in the preliminary investigation stage, with no formal charges confirmed against those summoned.

❓ What would be the magnitude of the operations investigated?

According to the reconstruction of the prosecutors, the maneuvers under analysis would involve operations that would exceed 300 million dollars.

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⚖️ End of news — Chiqui Tapia delayed in the U.S.

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🌎 BREAKING NEWS · INTERNATIONAL

Magnitude 7.3 earthquake shakes the Pacific coast between Mexico and Guatemala

A tsunami warning was issued and canceled hours later; so far no victims or serious damage have been reported in Mexico or Guatemala.

A strong earthquake of magnitude 7.3 shook the Pacific coast on Friday on the border between Mexico and Guatemala, with its epicenter in the Mexican state of Chiapas. The telluric movement, felt from Mexico City to El Salvador, activated a tsunami alert for a few hours for the coasts of both countries, which was later canceled. The Civil Protection authorities are under constant monitoring, although as of the closing of this note no fatalities or material damage of consideration have been reported.

The earthquake was registered around 10:48 a.m., local time in Chiapas, with an epicenter about 48 kilometers southwest of the town of Aquiles Serdán, near Puerto Madero, in the municipality of Tapachula. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) initially reported a magnitude of 7.4, which it later adjusted to 7.3 after further analysis. Minutes later, aftershocks of magnitude 5.3 and 4.7 were recorded in the same coastal area.

The shaking was strongly felt in southern Mexico, in much of Guatemala and even in El Salvador, while in Mexico City, located hundreds of kilometers away, the movement was also felt. This is the region of the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the areas of greatest seismic and volcanic activity on the planet.

As a precautionary measure, a tsunami threat watch was issued for the coasts of Mexico and Guatemala located within a 300-kilometer (186-mile) radius of the epicenter. The warning was lifted approximately three hours later, with no major anomalous waves recorded.

In Suchiate, a Mexican town located next to the river that marks the border with Guatemala, Mayor Elmer Vázquez Gallardo confirmed that monitoring was reinforced in coastal areas while the alert was in force. For its part, the Secretariat of Civil Protection of Chiapas reported that it remains active and constantly monitoring the situation in the state.

In Tapachula, the main city on Mexico's southern border, several residents described how the quake began mildly and intensified over the seconds. Alejandra Mendoza, an administrative employee of a public hospital in the city, told the Associated Press that they were on the second floor when the building began to move; As he explained, "we all evacuated orderly to the front yard" as soon as the shaking became more intense.

Southern Mexico and Guatemala are areas of high seismicity due to the interaction of several tectonic plates in the Pacific. The collective memory of the region still preserves the 7.1 magnitude earthquake of September 2017, which left hundreds dead in central Mexico, as well as an earthquake registered at the beginning of this year that caused at least two deaths in the south and center of the country. None of these precedents have been repeated, for now, with this Friday's earthquake, for which no casualties or serious structural damage have been reported.

•      Stay away from windows, mirrors, and objects that may fall during possible aftershocks.

•      Avoid the use of elevators until the authorities confirm that the buildings are safe.

•      In coastal areas, keep an eye on official announcements on the status of the tsunami alert.

•      Check gas and electricity installations before re-entering damaged buildings.

•      Only follow official Civil Protection channels to avoid misinformation.

Authorities in Mexico and Guatemala continue to assess damage in the coastal and border areas closest to the epicenter. The USGS maintains monitoring for possible aftershocks, while civil protection teams from Chiapas and the Guatemalan department of San Marcos remain on alert. This note will be updated as more information becomes available.

For copyright reasons, the original photographs are not embedded in this document; Listed below are the absolute links to the images and maps published by the media that covered the event.

🔗 Earthquake location map — https://media.foxweather.com/weather/Mexico%20Earthquake%20Locator.png  (Fox Weather)

🔗 Cobertura fotográfica y en video — https://www.foxweather.com/extreme-weather/tsunami-threat-issued-mexico-guatemala-after-major-magnitude-7-3-earthquake  (Fox Weather)

🔗 Location Picture Report — https://www.foxla.com/news/mexico-guatemala-massive-earthquake-july-17-2026  (FOX 11 Los Angeles)

🔗 A magnitude 7.4 earthquake shakes the Pacific coast near Mexico and Guatemala — https://www.telemundo.com/noticias/noticias-telemundo/internacional/un-terremoto-de-magnitud-74-sacude-la-costa-del-pacifico-cerca-de-mexi-rcna588010  (Telemundo)

🔗 A 7.3 earthquake hits Mexico-Guatemala border with no immediate damage reported — https://abc7.com/post/73-earthquake-hits-mexico-guatemala-border-no-immediate-damage-reported/19526963/  (ABC7 Los Ángeles / AP)

🔗 Magnitude 7.3 earthquake hits Mexico-Guatemala border — https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/magnitude-7-4-earthquake-strikes-off-pacific-coast-near-mexico-and-guatemala/4051058/  (NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)

🔗 Tsunami threat canceled for Mexico, Guatemala after magnitude 7.3 earthquake — https://www.foxweather.com/extreme-weather/tsunami-threat-issued-mexico-guatemala-after-major-magnitude-7-3-earthquake  (Fox Weather)

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📅 July 15, 2026  ⏱️ Read: 10-11 min  🏷️ Politics · World Cup 2026 · Malvinas · Security

In the run-up to the semifinal between Argentina and England for the 2026 World Cup, played this Wednesday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the Minister of National Security, Alejandra Monteoliva, confirmed that Argentine fans would not be able to enter the stadium with flags, shirts or posters that referred to the Falkland Islands or with slogans such as "The Malvinas are Argentine".

Asked specifically if the slogan "The Malvinas are Argentine" – a claim of sovereignty sustained by the Argentine State since 1833 – could be considered a provocation, the official was categorical: "Exactly, because it is political content." As he explained, the elements that did not comply with the provision would be retained at the access controls, and those who wore clothing with those inscriptions had to change or leave it outside the stadium.

The restriction arose from a meeting held on Monday at the Virginia International Police Cooperation Center, with the participation of the FBI, FIFA and British security authorities, in which the match was classified as a "high risk" match. The operation deployed in Atlanta included some 1,600 troops including state police, private security and federal agents, in addition to differentiated entrances: Argentine fans through gate 4 and English fans through gate 3.

The football rivalry between the two teams has been traversed, for more than four decades, by the 1982 Falklands War, the war between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the sovereignty of the southern archipelago, in which 649 Argentine soldiers and 255 British combatants died. That tension was indelibly transferred to the sporting plane at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, when Diego Maradona's goals – the "Hand of God" and the "Goal of the Century" – were forever associated with that geopolitical background.

Since then, each duel between the two teams has revived that cross between football and history, with chants from the Argentine fans that pay tribute to the ex-combatants and flags that combine the blue and white with the silhouette of the islands. The minister recognized precisely that difficulty when referring to the chants: "You cannot prohibit a chant or cover people's mouths," she said, distinguishing between what is said and what is physically exhibited in the stands.

The announcement generated a rapid cross-cutting rejection in the opposition. Different leaders of Kirchnerism, radicalism and other sectors of Peronism questioned that the government of Javier Milei endorsed equating the claim of sovereignty over the Malvinas with a "provocative message".

●    Deputy Paula Penacca (La Cámpora) argued on social networks that banning the Malvinas flag is equivalent to banning the Argentine flag, and described the Government as a "traitor".

●    Radical MP Pablo Juliano accused the government of aligning itself with the legacy of Margaret Thatcher, British prime minister during the 1982 war.

●    The socialist Esteban Paulón presented a project of repudiation and raised, as an example, whether the government would censor a T-shirt with the map of Argentina, which by definition includes the islands.

●    From the Workers' Party, Gabriel Solano described the measure as "reprehensible."

At the other end of the debate, voices from the ruling party defended the decision in terms of security and not of renouncing sovereignty: Vice President Victoria Villarruel, hours before the match, referred to the crossing as a confrontation against "usurping pirates" in reference to the islands, showing that the government's basic position on the claim did not change.  beyond the specific restriction ordered for entry to the stadium.

Hours before the match, thousands of Argentine fans filled the Five Points neighborhood, in downtown Atlanta, with a massive flag-waving in which the Falkland Islands were the central protagonists: flags with the legend "proudly Argentine" and images of Messi, Maradona and the archipelago waved despite the restriction announced for the interior of the stadium.

Chants such as "for Malvinas, for Diego, for Leo's last" were sung under torrential rain, in a scene that – according to different media present – passed without incident between both parties, which also shared bars and the official Fan Fest of the city without any confrontations.

Beyond the non-football controversy, Lionel Scaloni's team beat England 2-1 and secured their place in Sunday's final against Spain. Before the kick-off, both players and Scaloni tried to move the axis of the controversy to the strictly sporting field. "Let's make it clear from the outset: it's just a football match," the coach said in the pre-match press conference.

Rodrigo De Paul expressed himself in the same vein: "It's a football match. It has a lot of significance, it brings back many memories of what Diego did, of what happened at that time (...) It was an atrocity that happened, and we always remember it. But what we want is to win to reach the final." Goalkeeper Emiliano "Dibu" Martinez, who has been based in England for years, remarked that "respect is going to be" beyond the historical rivalry.

The Argentine Ministry of Security, in parallel, arranged a mirror operation in Buenos Aires with about 300 members of the Federal Police, with a focus on the British embassy in Recoleta and the Obelisk, the usual epicenter of popular celebrations after the victories of the National Team.

❓ Who banned the flags of the Malvinas: FIFA, the United States or the Argentine government?

The restriction was defined jointly by FIFA, U.S. security authorities and the FBI, and had the explicit endorsement of the Argentine government through the Minister of Security, Alejandra Monteoliva, who framed the symbols of Malvinas within the category of "political content" prohibited by the organization's regulations.

❓ What could and could not be entered into the stadium?

Argentine and English flags were allowed without additional registrations. Elements with images of the Malvinas Islands, slogans such as "The Malvinas are Argentine" and, in general, any political, racial or provocative message, as well as bottles and blunt objects, were prohibited.

❓ Were chants about the Malvinas also banned?

No. The minister herself clarified that the restriction only reached physical objects that were intended to enter the stadium, not the chants of the fans, since – in her words – "you cannot cover people's mouths".

❓ How did the political opposition react?

Leaders of La Cámpora, the Radicals, Socialism and the Workers' Party repudiated the measure and described it as an attempt at "de-Malvinization", even presenting a legislative project of rejection. They questioned equating a claim to territorial sovereignty with a political provocation.

❓ Were there any incidents between Argentine and English fans?

No incidents were reported. According to the journalistic coverage on the ground, both parties coexisted without conflicts both in the previous flag and in the bars and the official Fan Fest of Atlanta.

❓ Who won the match?

Argentina beat England 2-1 and qualified for the final of the 2026 World Cup, which will be played on Sunday against Spain.

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• LA NACION — Leaders of the opposition against the ban

• LA NACION — Preview of the semifinal in Atlanta

• Profile — The Government backed the ban on the symbols of the Malvinas

• Financial Sphere — Flags over the Malvinas were prohibited

• Page/12 — Entry to the stadium with flags alluding to the Malvinas is prohibited

• Minuto Uno — Argentine flag in Atlanta

• El Argentino Diario — The flag-waving defied the official ban

• Telemundo — Argentina beats England 2-1

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