A controversial reform to Ley de Glaciares has intensified debate in Argentina, as the government moves to relax environmental protections in high-altitude regions to facilitate mining investment.

The decision has triggered protests from environmental groups and raised concerns among communities dependent on glacier-fed water systems.The shift follows years of tensions surrounding mining operations such as the Veladero mine, a gold and silver project that began operating in 2005 in San Juan Province.

The mine, jointly owned by Barrick Mining Corporation and Shandong Gold, has long been at the center of environmental scrutiny. A cyanide spill in 2015 polluted rivers in the region, raising concerns about downstream water safety in the Jáchal basin, although subsequent studies indicated that contamination levels remained within safe limits.

Additional spills reported in 2016 and 2017 remain under investigation.Local residents and environmental advocates have argued that operations at Veladero violate glacier protection laws, which were originally designed to prohibit industrial activity in sensitive high-mountain ecosystems.

These concerns have persisted despite legal challenges by mining companies, including attempts to have the law declared unconstitutional, which were rejected by Argentina’s Supreme Court.The newly approved reform, backed by President Javier Milei, introduces significant changes to how glacier protection is applied.

Passed by 137 votes to 111 in the Chamber of Deputies following earlier Senate approval, the legislation allows provincial authorities to determine which glaciers and periglacial areas qualify for protection.

The criteria hinge on whether these ice formations serve a “relevant water function,” effectively decentralizing decision-making that was previously governed by national standards.

Government officials argue that the reform is essential to unlocking Argentina’s mineral wealth, particularly as global demand for critical resources such as lithium and copper rises in response to the energy transition.

Milei described the previous framework as overly restrictive, stating that it created “artificial obstacles” and prevented development even in areas lacking significant environmental value.However, critics contend that the changes weaken a foundational environmental safeguard.

Andrés Nápoli, executive director of the Foundation of Environment and Natural Resources, warned that the reform undermines protections for key water reserves. He argued that linking glacier exploitation to sustainable energy goals presents a contradiction, emphasizing that glaciers play an essential role in maintaining ecological balance.

Environmental groups estimate that approximately 7 million people, or 16 percent of Argentina’s population, rely on glacier-fed water systems. Beyond supplying rivers, glaciers regulate fragile ecosystems that are increasingly vulnerable to climate change.

In the country’s northwest, scientists report that glacier mass has declined by around 17 percent over the past decade, heightening concerns about long-term water availability.The reform has prompted public demonstrations, including protests organized by Greenpeace outside the National Congress.

Several activists were detained earlier this year during a demonstration coinciding with Senate deliberations. Protesters argue that transferring authority to provincial governments risks prioritizing short-term economic gains over environmental sustainability.

Supporters of the reform, including provincial leaders in resource-rich regions, maintain that the previous law was overly broad and hindered investment in areas where environmental impact is minimal. Luis Lucero stated during a congressional hearing that framing mining and environmental protection as mutually exclusive is misleading, describing it as a misconception that should be removed from public discourse.

Experts caution that the issue extends beyond technical definitions of glaciers. Ruiz noted that glaciers are dynamic systems whose role in water supply can vary over time, making it difficult to assess their importance through fixed criteria.

He argued that the debate is ultimately political, centering on who has the authority to determine what constitutes a resource worth protecting.In communities such as Jáchal, the stakes are immediate and tangible. Residents have expressed fears about water contamination and long-term environmental degradation.

Activists like Zeballos, a local campaigner, have taken personal measures such as avoiding river water, citing concerns over safety. For many, the issue is framed not only as an environmental question but as one of survival.The reform underscores the broader challenge facing resource-rich nations seeking to balance economic development with environmental preservation.

As Argentina positions itself as a key supplier of minerals critical to global energy systems, tensions between national growth strategies and local ecological concerns are likely to intensify.

Anti-bomb squads were reported on the scene.

Around 11:00 local time (14:00 GMT), authorities said a first search of one of the embassies turned up negative, La Nation reported.

The threats came amid an escalating war between Israel and Hamas, and as U.S President Biden arrived in Israel on Wednesday pledging solidarity in the country’s fight against the Palestinian militant group.

Argentina is grappling with a severe economic crisis with sky-high inflation and falling central bank reserves and is facing IMF repayments.

The country’s Economy Minister Sergio Massa said on Monday Argentina would not use “a single dollar of its own reserves” to make the IMF repayment.

The Qatar loan will have the IMF’s variable interest rate applicable to SDRs (IMF currency), which is currently 4.033% per annum, a presidential decree said.

The funds will “fund the payment of Argentina’s maturity with the IMF (for charges and surcharges) on August 4, 2023,” it said.

Massa also confirmed on Monday the repayment will be made with a $1 billion bridge loan from regional development bank CAF and $1.7 billion from the second tranche of a swap with China, a move recently made to complete part of a June payment to the IMF.

Latin America’s third biggest economy has been seeking to bring forward some of the IMF disbursements scheduled for this year, as the country battles a severe financial crisis that could worsen further due to a lack of international reserves.

Argentine government officials have been trying to reach a so-called Staff Level Agreement with the IMF that would cover the country’s progress in relation to the fund’s fifth and sixth reviews of a 2022 loan, the sources added, asking not to be named because the talks are private. Each review covers three months.

Combining the two reviews would give Argentina access to 5.5 billion of IMF’s special-drawing rights (SDRs), equivalent to about $7.3 billion. But it is not clear if merging the reviews would automatically lead to a combined payment, what the IMF calls a rephasing of disbursements.

The move comes after fifth review talks were delayed amid discussions over some economic measures needed to maintain IMF disbursements. These included the introduction of more peso exchange rates to safeguard reserves.

A spokesperson for the Economy minister didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.

An IMF spokesperson said: “Discussions between the teams continue to be very constructive” and “are aimed at reaching staff level agreement.”

Once a Staff Level Agreement is reached, this is presented to the IMF executive board and if it is signed off, this will trigger the release of cash.

Argentina’s fifth review — linked to a $4 billion payment – was set to be completed in June but negotiations on a agreement were delayed due to IMF “prior action” demands on Buenos Aires, one of the sources added, without providing any further details.

Prior actions are measures a country needs to implement before the Fund signs off on a revision of a programme or a loan programme.

The sixth review – linked to a $3.3 billion payment – was originally planned for September, but can be brought forward because the required second-quarter data is already available.

The Fund has merged reviews before with other programmes. Earlier this year, the Fund combined reviews for Uganda and Nepal, and also a year ago with Pakistan.

Long Awaited Deal

Both sides have recently said that a Staff Level Agreement was close.

Timing is tricky for Argentina. The IMF board won’t be able to convene before the summer recess in the first half of August, so the final approval and disbursements would arrive later next month, two sources said.

The country urgently needs to find financing to pay back some $3.4 billion it owes to the IMF on a 2018 loan and which is due in the coming days.

To avoid a default with the multilateral lender, it needs to pay $2.6 billion on July 31 and almost $800 million on Aug. 1.

With no liquid currency reserves, Buenos Aires may need to use a swap line with Beijing. Argentina used $1.1 billion in yuan from a recently extended and expanded swap line with China’s central bank to complete its June payment to the IMF.

Facing a recession and triple-digit inflation, Argentina is scheduled to have four reviews between December and September 2024 on its IMF programme.

India, among the world’s top greenhouse gas emitters, has been pursuing overseas pacts to secure key minerals in resource-rich countries such as Australia, Argentina and Chile.

“Right now, we are concentrating on copper, cobalt and lithium among critical minerals and looking for collaborations with other countries,” the source said on condition of anonymity.

KABIL, short for Khanij Bidesh India Ltd, was formed in August 2019 to identify, acquire, develop and process strategic minerals overseas for use in India.

Federal Judge Daniel Rafecas issued the warrants for the four suspects, three of whom he said were believed to be living in neighbouring Paraguay or Brazil, according to a CNN report.

Refecas, who last October requested the arrest of a senior Iranian official accused of playing a central role in the attack, told the network he suspects the four men worked with the armed wing of Hezbollah, which the U.S. government lists as a terrorist group.

The four suspects are accused of playing a “secondary” logistical role in the bombing, allegedly helping attackers enter the country months earlier, the Clarin newspaper reported.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm the warrants, and neither the government or Interpol immediately responded to requests for comment.

Argentine courts have blamed the attack on Iran. But no one has been brought to trial in either that case or a deadly 1992 bombing of the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires. Iran denies playing a role in either attack.

The result revived old question marks over Argentina’s defence and broke their amazing 36-match undefeated run

Unheralded Saudi Arabia notched one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history on Tuesday with a 2-1 win over Lionel Messi’s Argentina thanks to a scintillating second half comeback.

On his fifth and final quest for the only major trophy to elude him, the 35-year-old Messi scored a 10th minute penalty in a dominant first half display where he and Lautaro Martinez also had three goals disallowed for offside.

First, Saleh Al-Shehri squeezed in a low shot in the 48th minute. Then, to the disbelief of even the Saudi fans, Salem Al-Dawsari curled in a scorching strike from the edge of the penalty area in the 53rd minute to leave Argentina and Messi looking utterly shell-shocked in the Group C opener.

Despite plenty of possession after that, Argentina could not penetrate the Green Falcons, who were competing in their sixth World Cup but had never previously won an opening game.

The entire game was played in an extraordinary atmosphere at the Lusail Stadium, with Argentina’s traditionally massive and raucous following matched by the thousands of Saudis who had come over the border to cheer on their team.

“Our team fulfils our dreams!” and “Where is Messi? We beat him!”, the green-clad Saudis chanted over and over in the Lusail Stadium, on their feet and greeting every clearance – including one headed off the goal line – with a deafening roar.

Messi’s Dream in Doubt

Both teams have Mexico and Poland to come, with Argentina needing an immediate reaction if Messi is to have a realistic chance of matching Diego Maradona’s immortality in his homeland by bringing home the World Cup.

The result revived old question marks over Argentina’s defence and broke their amazing 36-match undefeated run. That stopped them from matching the previous international record of 37 games unbeaten held by Italy.

It also marred Messi’s achievement on Tuesday of becoming the first Argentinian to score in four World Cups on his 20th appearance in the tournament. Only Maradona has played more games for Argentina at the World Cup, 21 in all.

“This hurts a lot. We were dreaming of starting the World Cup with a win,” said Messi’s strike partner Martinez. “But it’s happened and now we have to train and think forward.

“We lost this game because of our own mistakes, most of all in the second half. There are details that make a difference and we need to correct our mistakes.”

It had all looked so different at the start when the marauding Messi nearly scored in the opening seconds, celebrated joyfully after sending Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais the wrong way with his penalty, then had another goal disallowed.

For the Saudis, the result buried their dismal history at the start of tournaments, including a 5-0 thrashing by hosts Russia in 2018 and an 8-0 pummelling by Germany in 2002.

Their feat against the twice World Cup-winners and current South American champions was all the more remarkable given the departure of their influential captain and midfielder Salman Al Faraj just after halftime, clutching a hamstring.

Midfielder Abdulelah Al-Malki said the Saudis were fired up like never before by their coach Herve Renard.

“Renard made us cry with the motivation before the match and stoked us up during halftime,” he said, affectionately calling the Frenchman “crazy”.

Argentina’s last defeat was by Brazil in the semi-finals of the Copa America in July 2019. They are ranked third, 48 places above Saudi Arabia, by world football’s governing body FIFA.

Argentina’s last defeat in their opening match at a World Cup was against Cameroon in 1990. In potentially a good omen for Messi and his team mates, they still made it to the final then.

The Saudis could hardly contain themselves after their giant-killing act, falling to the floor in prayers and tears before running to celebrate with their fans as the Argentinians trudged off downcast, their supporters shaking heads in silence.

China’s aid to Latin America reflects a broader global trend, as Beijing looks to steer the narrative away from it being the country where the coronavirus started and was initially downplayed. Instead, China wants to be seen as spearheading the global fight against the pandemic, experts say.

Luo Zhaohui, a vice minister at China’s foreign ministry, said at a news conference in Beijing on Thursday that the country would “ride out the storm with people from other countries, strengthen cooperation and strive to win the last victory in the fight against the virus.”

While Trump has been criticized by opponents for branding the pandemic ‘the Chinese virus,’ China has won praise among Latin American governments that have accepted its help. The Chinese government said it has supplied test kits, protective suits and other forms of medical aid to more than 80 countries and international organizations.

“It’s remarkable and a credit, in a way, to China’s own commanding control of information that it’s been able to re-envision itself as a leader in the fight against coronavirus globally,” said Margaret Myers, director of the China and Latin American program at the Washington-based Inter-American Dialogue.

Myers said the recent re-start of Chinese industry, as cases have subsided, has enabled the country to be a provider of key products as the rest of the world’s production slows.

“This will create opportunities for China in the coming years,” she said.

The United States, meanwhile, is struggling with its own battle to contain the virus, with the World Health Organization warning on Tuesday that the country could become a new epicenter of the crisis.

Before the epidemic hit hardest, Washington in February pledged $100 million towards international efforts in combating COVID-19, including for developing nations. A regional breakdown of that funding was not immediately available.

Thank You, China

In Latin America, China’s hands-on approach has been well received.

Chile, which has among the highest numbers of coronavirus cases in the region, has sought advice from Chinese health officials to guide its response and is sending an air force plane to China to pick up donated supplies, including tests and respiratory equipment, Chile’s health minister said.

In Mexico, officials have said they are awaiting 300 ventilators from China, crucial yet scarce equipment in treating patients, while in Panama, government health officials heralded a video conference with Chinese experts to work on strategy, something China has done with more than 100 countries.

In Venezuela, the government of President Nicolas Maduro said China would send protective gear for health professionals and coronavirus test kits. The country has also opened talks with China over possible financial support.

“Thank you China for cooperation and solidarity with Ecuador!” the country’s Vice President Otto Sonnenholzner wrote on Twitter, itemizing help from China that he said included 40,000 surgical masks, infrared thermometers, and protective suits.

In Brazil, right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro has moved quickly to heal a diplomatic rift with China and Chinese officials have said Beijing would assist with medical supplies and technical assistance.

Chinese firms, including Alibaba (BABA.N), Huawei, COFCO, China Communications Construction and the Bank of China have pledged donations around the region.

Back in Argentina, Washington is keen to show that it also wants to help.

“We plan this week to make funds available to Argentine authorities to combat coronavirus,” an official at the U.S. embassy in Buenos Aires told Reuters, adding the country was “looking at the possibility of additional donations.”