Steve Cherundolo hails 'well-balanced' Monterrey ahead of Leagues Cup showdown
LAFC boss Steve Cherundolo gave praise to his Leagues Cup quarter-final opponents Monterrey ahead of their clash.
1970-01-01 08:00
Argentines to vote in a primary election that's expected to set the stage for a rightward shift
Argentina's national primary election Sunday won’t just help determine which candidates will be running in the country's October presidential vote, but could impact the economy even before then. A strong showing by the opposition coalition would be cheered by markets in an election that will also test the national appeal of an eccentric right-wing anti-establishment candidate who is an admirer of former President Donald Trump. The primary is seen as a thermometer of voter preference ahead of the Oct. 6 election, which is expected to shift Argentina to the right with the current left-leaning government bottoming out in the polls amid rising poverty, a rapidly depreciating currency and galloping annual inflation that tops 100%. Sunday’s primary officially serves two purposes: determine the candidates that will run in the October election and weed out any candidates who don’t receive at least 1.5% of the vote. But it also serves as a massive, nationwide opinion poll in a country where pre-election polls have been notoriously wrong in the past. The primary can have an economic impact. Four years ago, an unexpectedly strong showing by now-President Alberto Fernández led to a sharp depreciation of the currency as markets saw the primary results indicating that business-friendly President Mauricio Macri was on his way out. The local currency, the Argentine peso, has seen its value plunge in parallel markets ahead of Sunday’s vote. Stringent capital controls mean that access to the official foreign exchange market is extremely limited, so parallel rates have flourished. Economists will be watching to see signs that the main center-right opposition could win the presidential election outright and avoid a second round runoff in November. “There is enthusiasm, especially outside of Argentina, about a profound regime change, but without going to the opposite extreme,” said Mariano Machado, principal analyst for the Americas at Verisk Maplecroft, a global risk intelligence firm. The wildcard of the race is upstart populist candidate Javier Milei, who has gained popularity thanks to his angry screeds against the ruling class and has found followers among those who are tired of politics as usual. His unorthodox proposals that include dollarizing the economy and getting rid of the Central Bank have found particular backing among the young. “We’re fed up with the status quo, with the same old thing, with the same last names that are on the ballot, we want to change things up a bit, and give an opportunity to someone who nobody knows if he will do well, but we’re going to give him a chance,” Efraín Viveros, a 20-year-old nursing student said Monday at Milei’s closing campaign rally in Buenos Aires. A strong showing for the main center-right coalition could buoy the market, but a stronger-than-expected showing for Milei would likely send the local currency, the peso, tumbling and cause general disarray in the markets due to uncertainty over his policies. The main presidential contenders all represent a rightward shift away from Fernández, who is not seeking reelection and has been largely absent from the campaign. Also largely absent has been his vice president, Cristina Fernández, who was the country’s president from 2007 to 2015. In the currently ruling coalition, Union for the Homeland, there is little doubt that Economy Minister Sergio Massa, a market-friendly politician, will receive the nomination although he is facing a challenge from a leftist candidate, Juan Grabois. A key contest Sunday will play out in the center-right United for Change opposition coalition with Buenos Aires Mayor Horacio Rodríguez Larreta facing off against former Security Minister Patricia Bullrich to determine who will be its candidate. Pollsters say the winner of this race will have a strong chance of becoming president. Regardless of who comes out on top, analysts will be watching closely whether a strong showing by the opposition could suggest an outright victory in October without a runoff. “While we expect a volatile political transition given macroeconomic woes, the (primaries) outcome could improve market sentiment, supported by a likely policy shift next year,” said the Institute of International Finance, a Washington-based association of the financial services industry, in a recent report. Milei was the only major candidate who held his final campaign rally. Other called off what were supposed to be their final events before the vote following the killing of an 11-year-old girl during a snatch-and-grab robbery Wednesday. The death of Morena Domínguez in an attack by two motorcycle-riding thieves in the Buenos Aires province district of Lanús, left the country reeling and put crime at the forefront of a campaign that had been dominated by economic issues. Also likely to impact the final days before the vote was the Thursday death of a leftist political activist, who suffered a heart attack while being detained by police during a protest in downtown Buenos Aires. Besides presidential voting in October, about half of Argentina’s lower house of Congress and one-third of the Senate will be up for grabs. Voting is mandatory in Argentina but the fine for failing to cast a ballot is largely symbolic. Recent national elections have seen a participation rate of around 70%. ——— Associated Press journalists Débora Rey and Almudena Calatrava contributed to this report. Read More Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide They lost everything in the Paradise fire. 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1970-01-01 08:00
Polish govt plays anti-EU, anti-German card ahead of polls
Poland's populist, nationalist government is increasingly taking an anti-German, anti-European Union stance in the run-up to the October 15 legislative elections in the hope of mobilising...
1970-01-01 08:00
3 Vikings who locked up roster spot, 1 on verge of being cut in preseason Week 1
The Minnesota Vikings opened preseason Week 1 with a loss to the Seahawks. But three players earned their roster spots, while one is now a cut candidate.The Minnesota Vikings opened up the preseason on Thursday night, traveling to the Pacific Northwest for a date with Drew Lock -- a lot of Drew ...
1970-01-01 08:00
Ohio State AD reveals the one key factor that led to Pac-12 demise
Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith explained why the Big Ten was eventually able to add Oregon and Washington, resulting in the hostile takeover and eventual death of the Pac-12.Mo money, mo problems...It was all a dream. I used to watch Pac-12 After Dark! Now we are left with a Pacific...
1970-01-01 08:00
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos buys home in Miami's 'billionaire bunker.' Tom Brady will be his neighbor
The founder of Amazon is buying a home on an exclusive barrier island in Miami where he'll be neighbors with Tom Brady, Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner
1970-01-01 08:00
Premier League predictions: Gameweek 1
Full predictions for gameweek 1 of the 2023/24 Premier League season. Champions Man City open the new campaign away to Burnley, while Chelsea's first game under Mauricio Pochettino comes at home to Liverpool.
1970-01-01 08:00
MLB standings based on record since the All-Star break: Dodgers roll, Braves falter
MLB standings since the All-Star break have set the stage for the most important stretch of the season. Who is taking their chance and who has missed it?We're about a third of the way through the second half of the MLB season and rolling towards a dramatic September finish.With the All-...
1970-01-01 08:00
Attorney General Garland will appoint a special counsel in the Hunter Biden probe
Attorney General Merrick Garland says he’s appointing a special counsel in the Hunter Biden probe, deepening the investigation of the president’s son ahead of the 2024 election
1970-01-01 08:00
3 teams who still have a surprising chance at an MLB postseason spot
If you have given up on your MLB team's chances to make it to the postseason, maybe you can find a little hope in the most recent postseason odds posted by FanGraphs.Sure, you may look at the MLB standings, shake your head and dream about spring training. As someone who has seen plenty of C...
1970-01-01 08:00
ESPN analyst shades Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa with Bryce Young take
ESPN's Damien Woody is a big believer in Bryce Young coming out of the Alabama program.The Carolina Panthers appear to have drafted someone special in quarterback Bryce Young out of Alabama.Carolina traded up from No. 9 to No. 1 to select the 2021 Heisman winner out of Tuscaloosa. Young...
1970-01-01 08:00
Jim Curtin has 'had enough' with Red Bulls antics in Leagues Cup triumph
Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin explained that he was unimpressed with New York Red Bulls' antics in their Leagues Cup clash.
1970-01-01 08:00
