Monday Mar 27, 2023 - Argentina - Lionel Messi honored, Argentina's foreign currency debt downgraded, Modern twist on Tango

These are the trending news headlines in Argentina on Monday March 27, 2023

The Argentina national team's training facility has been renamed in honor of their star player Lionel Messi. The facility, previously known as Casa de Ezeiza, will now be called Lionel Andres Messi, according to the country's football association. The decision comes as a tribute to Messi's heroics in leading Argentina to their first World Cup victory in 36 years. The unveiling ceremony was attended by several current and former players, including Messi himself, who expressed his happiness at the tribute. Messi has been voted the world's best player a record seven times and won numerous major honours, including the Copa America, 11 league titles, and four Champions League titles. He will now lead Argentina in a friendly against Curacao before returning to Paris St Germain.

Fitch Ratings downgraded Argentina's foreign currency debt on Friday by two notches to leave it hovering one level above default. The debt downgrade from CCC- to C suggests that the ratings agency believes a default is "imminent," and comes shortly after the government decree forcing domestic public sector entities to swap their foreign currency-denominated debt for debt denominated in the domestic currency, the peso. Fitch said Argentina would be downgraded further still to Restricted Default once the exchanges have been carried out. The government's decision to halt the fall in its international reserves due to a scarcity of foreign currency and exchange volatility in the financial sector has raised concerns about the country's financial stability. Argentina's net international reserves are considerably lower than the reported figure of over $37.5 billion, analysts say. Inflation hit just under 95 percent for 2022 and surpassed 100 percent in the 12 months to February.

Tango, the beloved dance of Argentina, is getting a modern twist as a new generation of dancers challenge traditional gender roles. While the dress and music have evolved over the years, the roles of the dancers have remained fixed - until now. Tango Queer, one of the first LGBTQ+ tango classes in Buenos Aires, has created a space where dancers of any gender can lead or be led. Founded 17 years ago by Mariana Docampo, Tango Queer was created for "lesbians and feminists" but welcomes anyone who wants to be liberated from the binary roles of tango. The studio provides a safe space for people of all sexual and gender identities to practice tango and dance with whoever they want.

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