Argentina’s Milei wins big

From Our Own Correspondent

BBC

News, News Commentary

4.4 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 1 November 2025

⏱️ 29 minutes

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Summary

Kate Adie introduces stories from Argentina, South Korea, Japan, Ireland and the Occupied West Bank.

For decades, Argentina's cycle of boom and bust seemed endless, but two years ago, a chainsaw-wielding, self-styled 'anarcho capitalist' called Javier Milei promised a way out of all that. Since elected as president he’s shown some signs of being able to shrink the state – but are voters happy? Ione Wells watched on at the recent mid-term elections.

The meeting between China’s President, Xi Jinping and US President, Donald Trump this week in South Korea was analysed intently for any signs of a breakthrough on the two countries trade stand-off. Our China correspondent Laura Bicker followed the encounter.

Earlier on his East Asia tour Donald Trump met with Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi. The president lavished praise on Ms Takaichi whose politics many have compared to Margaret Thatcher. Shaimaa Khalil examines what Donald Trump called 'a beautiful friendship'.

Ireland has for a long time been known for its more stable, centrist politics – avoiding the polarisation seen in the US and parts of Europe. But last weekend’s presidential election suggests that is now changing. Chris Page followed the election from Dublin.

The annual olive harvest is a major cultural event for Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank – but farmers there have come under increased attack by Jewish settlers this year. Tom Bennett travelled to the village of Turmus Ayya.

Producer: Serena Tarling Production coordinator: Katie Morrison and Sophie Hill Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, today it's been a week of major talks for Donald Trump in East Asia. The president
0:12.4	said his meeting with China's Xi Jinping was 12 out of 10, but there's still no trade deal on the table.
0:19.0	And in Japan, Mr. Trump was lavished with
0:22.4	golfing gifts from the country's first female Prime Minister, the beginning of a beautiful
0:27.5	friendship? It's harvest time for olive farmers in the occupied West Bank, but the season's been
0:34.3	blighted by rising attacks by Israeli settlers.
0:44.3	And in Ireland, we hear how British protesters flew out to join Irish anti-immigration rallies as the country voted in a new president.
0:47.9	But first to Argentina.
0:50.0	For decades, the country's cycle of boom and bust seemed endless,
0:55.4	ushering in periods of painful austerity and international bailouts. But two years ago, a chainsaw-wielding,
1:00.7	self-styled anarcho-capitalist called Javier Millet promised a way out of all of that.
1:07.3	Since then, he's shown some signs of being able to shrink the state, though not without controversy.
1:13.5	So last weekend's midterm elections were a crucial test of his support.
1:18.4	Iony Wells was there.
1:20.4	About three weeks before Argentina's midterm elections, a large crowd gathered as an arena in Buenos Aires to watch a rock concert.
1:28.2	The singer, shaggy-haired and donning his signature black leather jacket,
1:32.3	roared the lyrics of an emblematic Argentine rock song called Panic Show.
1:37.0	I am the lion, he cried in Spanish.
1:39.8	Please don't run away from me. I am the king of a lost world.
1:44.2	That singer was Argentina's libertarian president, Javier Millet.
1:48.6	The lyrics may well have been a plea to his country.
1:51.9	He came to power two years ago, but recently his government has been rocked by multiple political and economic challenges.
	...

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