The Economist: “In the end it was a landslide. The party of President Javier Milei, Liberty Advances (LLA), won Argentina’s midterm elections with almost 41% of the vote. The Peronist opposition, including the main party and its regional allies, trailed by nine percentage points. LLA even won in Buenos Aires province, where they had lost a provincial election by 14 points last month. The resounding win far surpassed the expectations of pollsters and markets, which clustered around a draw or perhaps a modest victory for Mr Milei.”

Said Milei: “Today we pass the turning point. Today begins the construction of a great Argentina.”

“The result gives a jolt of energy to Mr Milei’s radical libertarian reform program, which has been faltering for much of this year. He now has an opportunity to reshape Argentina’s economy with sensible macroeconomic management and free markets. Crucially, he should have the numbers in Congress to defend his presidential vetoes, thereby preventing the left-wing opposition from forcing through heavy spending on their own priorities. That renews the credibility of his impressive fiscal discipline.”

A new Nikkei/TV Tokyo survey finds new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi with a 74% approval rating.

“World leaders have developed something of a blueprint for President Trump when he comes to visit: produce a lavish welcoming ceremony and launch a charm offensive in hopes of securing relief from U.S. tariffs and demands to spend more on defense,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“President Donald Trump has been clear about one thing in particular on his three-country tour of Asia: He really wants to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un,” the Washington Post reports.

“So much so, Trump suggested aboard Air Force One on Monday, that he would extend his nearly week-long trip to make the meeting happen, if Kim agrees.”

“Sanae Takaichi, who last week became the first woman to lead Japan as prime minister, has never met President Trump. She does not play golf, Mr. Trump’s favored sport, nor is she known to share his love of hamburgers,” the New York Times reports.

“But when Ms. Takaichi holds talks with Mr. Trump in Tokyo on Tuesday, she will have another card to play as she tries to win reassurance from him on trade and security. She is expected to emphasize her connection to Shinzo Abe, the Japanese prime minister assassinated in 2022, who was Ms. Takaichi’s political mentor and who forged a closer bond with Mr. Trump than perhaps any other world leader.”

“Russia has successfully tested its nuclear-powered and nuclear-capable Burevestnik missile and is preparing to deploy it, President Vladimir V. Putin said Sunday, a pointed message to the West after plans for a summit with President Trump collapsed,” the New York Times reports.

“Because the weapon runs on nuclear power, it can fly for much longer than other missiles can, and, the Kremlin says, is capable of evading missile defense systems.”

Said Putin: “This is a unique product that no one in the world has.”