No Argentines Affected Thus Far By Italy Earthquake
At least 63 people have died and several towns have been severely damaged after a 6.4 earthquake struck central Italy. Argentine Ambassador Tomás Ferrari has confirmed that he is in contact with the Italian authorities and thus far, no Argentine citizens have been reported as harmed in the earthquake. “The hardest-hit towns, where there is more destruction, are those in the mountains. The hardest-hit towns thus far are Amatrice and Accumoli, both popular tourist destinations close to the epicenter. Argentine Embassy in Rome: +39 335 603 1207Argentine Embassy in Milan: +39 349 574 1659Many Argentines have Italian origins and the two countries have, historically, kept close ties.
Source:The Bubble
August 24, 2016 13:41 UTC
Leones climb to 2nd position in rankings
Field hockey Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Leones climb to 2nd position in rankingsAfter Olympic gold, the Leones moved to second place in rankings. LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Following the conclusion of the field hockey events at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) released the latest world rankings. Argentina’s the Leones sit just ahead of fourth place finishers and now third ranked Netherlands, with Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medallists Germany moving down one place to fourth in the rankings. Another climber is Spain, moving up from 14th to 11th thanks to their eighth place finish at the Olympic Games. The next update to the FIH world rankings will be published following the completion of the World League Round 1 events later this year.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
August 24, 2016 04:09 UTC
Turkey, Syrian Kurds headed toward clash
Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Turkey, Syrian Kurds headed toward clashA Turkish Army tank and an armoured vehicle on manoeuvres yesterday, stationed near the border with Syria, in Karkamis, Turkey. Ankara is also concerned about the growing power of US-backed Syrian Kurdish forces, who it says are linked to Kurdish groups waging an insurgency in southeastern Turkey. Syrian activists, meanwhile, said that hundreds of Turkish-backed Syrian opposition fighters were gathered in the Turkish border area near Karkamis in preparation for an attack on Jarablus. Intensifying effortsThe Kurds’ outsized role in the Syrian civil war is a source of concern for the Syrian government as well. Government and Kurdish forces have shared control of Hasakeh since the early years of the Syrian war.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
August 24, 2016 04:09 UTC
Olympics are the unicorn of sports TV
Patriotism on a four-year cycle Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Olympics are the unicorn of sports TVBy Janet PaskinBloombergWASHINGTON — The 2016 Summer Olympics are over, and the women of Team USA won by a landslide. Prime-time network television caters to women in general, and the Olympics’ emphasis on pageantry and personality creates good, competitive drama. “The sports that are in the Olympics, they’re not being watched because they’re sports, they’re being watched because they’re for flag, for country, for young athletes who strive for four years — you know the stories,” Pilson said. “Not only will women watch certain programming, but if US athletes are doing well, more women will watch. “We take great pride in knowing that no-one devotes more broadcast network primetime coverage to women’s sports,” said Jim Bell, executive producer of NBC Olympics, in an e-mail.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
August 24, 2016 04:09 UTC
Teachers to strike after wage negotiations fail
Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Teachers to strike after wage negotiations failTeachers’ unions will strike today after they were unable to come to an agreement over wage hikes with negotiators. Seven largest education unions stage mass walkoutThe seven largest teachers’ unions in Argentina will stage a mass walkout today as part of a general strike, after the government failed to reach an agreement with union representatives during wage negotiations. Yesteday, the government appeared to be ready to brace for the strike, dismissing the possibility of last-minute negotiations with unions. “There will be no reopening of negotiations,” Education Minister Estebán Bullrich said during a radio interview. “In some cases, such as in basic infrastructure and school supplies, it’s down by as much as nine percent,” they added.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
August 24, 2016 03:22 UTC
Private lives exposed when WikiLeaks spills secrets
Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Private lives exposed when WikiLeaks spills secretsWikiLeaks founder Julian Assange makes a speech from the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy, in central London, earlier this year. But its disclosures have also included personal information on hundreds of people — including sick children, rape victims and mental patients. But the library is also filling with rogue data, including computer viruses, spam, and a compendium of personal records. Some were unaware their data had been published; WikiLeaks is censored in the country. But the AP found that WikiLeaks also routinely publishes identity records, phone numbers and other information easily exploited by criminals.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
August 24, 2016 03:22 UTC
Quilmes set to invest 26.9 billion pesos
Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Quilmes set to invest 26.9 billion pesosLeading brewery company trumpets five-year plan during meeting with MacriBrewery Cerveceía y Maltería Quilmes — controlled by Leuven, Belgium-based Anheuser-Busch InBev — yesterday told President Mauricio Macri that it will invest 26.9 billion pesos (1.9 billion dollars) over the next five years in Argentina. Also, we will continue to invest in the the returnable glass bottles to increasingly consolidate a sustainable and environmental commitment,” Froes said after the meeting. The company plans to invest over 7.3 billion pesos in returnable bottles over the next five years. Quilmes — founded 126 years ago — is one of the region’s leading beverage companies. Its parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev includes global brands Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois; international brands Beck’s, Leffe, and Hoegaarden; and Brazil’s Skol, Brahma and Antarctica.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
August 24, 2016 03:11 UTC
Writer’s Top 5: The Masters Of Argentine Literature
There isn’t much question when it comes to the work of Rodolfo Walsh though. A day after having published the Open Letter, Rodolfo Walsh was murdered by a group of soldiers. Rodolfo Walsh also wrote fiction: 12 crime stories which were written during his youth and which turned out to be clouded by his excellent political investigation. Alfonsina’s words can serve as a motivating reminder while we all fight our way through male dominant society:Little little man, Little little man,set free your canary that wants to fly,I am that canary, little little manleave me to fly. (Little Little Man)Manuel PuigHe was a lonely boy who grew up in a small town in Buenos Aires province daydreaming about moving downtown, very much influenced by Hollywood movies and every single film he could get his hands and eyes on.
Source:The Bubble
August 24, 2016 00:56 UTC
On Stepping Down As The Bubble’s Managing Editor
A little more than a year ago, I began working as The Bubble’s managing editor. When I first signed on, little did I know just how much a niche publication primarily destined for English-speaking expats could grow. And it’s amid the occasional difficulty, both on a personal and societal level, that we can see the importance of levity. Working at The Bubble, there is no doubt that laughter often proved to be our most valuable weapon against drudgery, anxiety, fear — you name it. I’m stepping down to pursue writing full time, including on these pages, and will stay on in Argentina for the next few months.
Source:The Bubble
August 23, 2016 21:11 UTC
Teatro Ciego: The Buenos Aires Show That Keeps Audiences In The Dark On Purpose
Waking up at the same time, delighting over the same coffee morning ritual, dozing off to the same Netflix queue. It’s a weekday and you don’t want to break away from that comfy rut you’ve found yourself in, we get it. You need a legitimate reason to let go of the routine – but wait for it … we just happen to have one. In the Abasto neighborhood, a show is messing with the conventions people hold on what theater is all about. Teatro Ciego (blind theater when translated literally) puts on five different shows that all play with audience members’ senses by putting on performances in spaces completely devoid of light.
Source:The Bubble
August 23, 2016 19:07 UTC
Human Rights Groups Alarmed That Dictatorship Repressor Is Granted House Arrest
Although he remains in prison for the time being due to other charges pressed against him, human rights groups and are raising alarm bells. However, Judges Germán Castelli and Jorge Michelle voted otherwise and gave Etchecolatz house arrest due to age and health issues. The Secretary of Human Rights, Claudio Avruj, has said that the government is evaluating whether or not to appeal the new ruling. According to Argentine law, judges have the power (but are not legally bound) to order house arrest when the convicts are over 70 years old or suffer from health problems. Government numbers indicate that almost 44 percent of those arrested for crimes against humanity do their jail time under house arrest (462 out of a total 1,056).
Source:The Bubble
August 23, 2016 19:07 UTC
Urban Escape: Things To Do In Buenos Aires’ Ecological Reserve
Buenos Aires’ Ecological Reserve is an oasis of green for burnt-out city dwellers, located along the coast of the River Plate in Puerto Madero. Once a month, on the Friday closest to the full moon, a guided tour of the reserve takes place at night. Those interested in taking the nighttime tour need to reserve a spot by emailing visitasguiadas_recs@buenosaires.gob.ar on the Monday prior to the walk. Approximately 307 species of birds can be found in the reserve, and participants have the chance to observe them in their natural habitat. Reservations can be made by sending an email to the email address above–once confirmed, participants meet at the Viamonte entrance to the reserve at 9 AM.
Source:The Bubble
August 23, 2016 18:33 UTC
Lower Division Clubs Threaten To Not Play In Argentine Football Tournament
Over 3,500 lower division Argentine football clubs (yes, there are that many), yesterday sent a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino denouncing important “irregularities” committed by the “normalizing committee” currently administering the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and requesting he “take matters into his hands so as to make sure they do what they were appointed to.” First division clubs didn’t sign the letter. Before looking into why these clubs are upset, let’s recap a bit to remember what this normalizing committee is and how AFA got to its current state of chaos. The judge also found enough evidence to determine that several representatives from football clubs were also embezzling part of the money they did get in FPT TV rights. However, it seems that clubs, especially lower division ones, are less than happy with the way the committee is running the association and warned they will not play in the Argentine football tournament next Friday if things don’t change. I read the other day that they were already fighting, that they actually had a fist fight and one of the committee’s member got kicked in the head,” she added.
Source:The Bubble
August 23, 2016 17:03 UTC
Vidal Says She Is Not Intimidated By Threats, Will Fight Police Corruption
After she received multiple death threats and found a rifle shell in her home’s garage, Governor María Eugenia Vidal today publicly stated that she will continue her work in Buenos Aires Province, including fighting police corruption. The National Security Ministry has maintained that the threats are politically motivated and according to the provincial Security Minister, Gustavo Ferrari, the death threats made against Vidal are “because of the governor’s decision to fight against corruption and the mafia.”However, Vidal has not shown any signs that the threats have affected her. Macri also tweeted his support for Vidal along the same lines: “We support [Vidal] in her work towards progress in Buenos Aires province. They will not stop us.” “Acompañamos a @mariuvidal en su tarea de sacar adelante la provincia de Buenos Aires. Despite Vidal brushing off the death threats, security around the governor may have to tighten even more, especially since this is not the first time that Vidal has been the victim of a security lapse.
Source:The Bubble
August 23, 2016 16:30 UTC
Fruit Producers Give Away 10 Tons Of Pears And Apples In Act Of Protest
Apple and pear producers from Río Negro Province today are giving away 10 tons of fruit on the Plaza de Mayo to draw attention to the severe crisis the fruit sector is currently undergoing. We get between AR $2 and AR $2.50 for a kilo of apples. In fact, consumers boycotted supermarkets on two different occasions in April and May to protest inflated prices under the rallying cry #SuperVacíos (#EmptySupermarkets). Imagine that a competitive price for a kilo of fruit in the international market is about US $1. “Usually, the country places between 480,000 and 500,000 tons of fruit overseas, between pears and apples.
Source:The Bubble
August 23, 2016 16:07 UTC