Why Argentina Should Keep Public Universities Free for Foreign Students
Argentina’s universities have become particularly attractive to students from Chile and Colombia, both of which have been plagued by high tuition fees. With the scathingly sarcastic title “Argentina: a generous country”, Lanata lambasted foreign students as freeloaders, mooching off Argentina’s public funds to the tune of, by his calculations, $360m (pesos) per year. On a regional level, Argentina’s universities perform quite well; the UBA consistently places at the top of rankings of Latin American universities. And, as is the case with Germany, free tuition coincides with lower inequality rates in Argentina relative to other countries in the region. Argentina’s background, as a country that has traditionally welcomed and accommodated foreign students, is a powerful statement about this identity; putting up obstacles to foreign students wishing to study here would be a grave threat to it.
Source:The Argentina Independent
November 04, 2016 17:06 UTC
The government is revamping the fight against money-laundering
Friday, November 4, 2016 The government is revamping the fight against money-launderingBy Pablo WaisbergFor the HeraldThe UIF watchdog seeks to relax the controls on evasion and thus offer tax reliefThe UIF (Unidad de Información Financiera) watchdog against money-laundering is advancing towards a policy aimed at excluding tax evasion as a crime linked to money-laundering. The prosecution of tax evasion is not the same in every country with Argentina being one of the most advanced. “We have a problem because international standards require that evasion be a crime preceding money-laundering. And this difficulty has led many international banks to withdraw from markets where the implementation of these norms has proved impossible in practice. “creative accountancy” and deals with governments to pay less taxes — and tax evasion.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
November 04, 2016 17:04 UTC
Congress Approves 2017 Budget
The Chamber of Deputies approved the 2017 budget yesterday with over two-thirds majority. The first budget of President Mauricio Macri’s government received 177 votes in favour, 58 against, and 4 abstentions. Speaking of the significant support for the budget, Mario Negri, spokesperson for the governing coalition Cambiemos, gave a summary at the end of the debate: “Maybe this budget doesn’t please everyone. It is the budget that we built together with the country that we inherited. It also forecasts an average exchange rate of around $18 to US$1, and an inflation rate of 17% for 2017.
Source:The Argentina Independent
November 04, 2016 12:41 UTC
The Costs of Fracking – An Interview with US Specialists in Argentina
Dr. Sandra Steingraber and Dr. Kathleen Nolan work with Concerned Health Professionals of New York, a group of scientists opposed to fracking. Steingraber and Nolan brought with them a compendium of scientific studies relating to fracking that has recently been translated into Spanish. It includes articles looking at health and environmental effects, as well the social impacts on communities in which fracking takes place. The Indy sat down with the North Americans to talk about the conference and the fracking debate in the US and Argentina. What do you say to people who think that fracking will bring economic benefits to communities?
Source:The Argentina Independent
November 03, 2016 13:31 UTC
One in Ten Argentines Living in Informal Settlements
One out of every ten inhabitants of urban centres in Argentina is living in precarious conditions and without basic services, a new study has revealed. The figures come from the 2015-2016 urban poverty study released this week by TECHO Argentina, an organisation covering social marginalisation and poverty in Latin America. Entitled “Relevamiento de Asentamientos Informales” (Survey of Informal Settlements), this new study is the NGO’s second major review of urban center poverty in Argentina. In Argentina’s urban centers, where at least 67% of the population resides, there are almost 3m inhabitants living in informal settlements. The report states, that while there have been some improvements since 2013 regarding access to basic services, the overall picture remains grim: “Approximately 40,800 families living in 136 housing units have improved access to basic services, or obtained the title to their property.
Source:The Argentina Independent
November 02, 2016 17:46 UTC
Suspect in fatal ambush of two Iowa police officers captured
Wednesday, November 2, 2016 Suspect in fatal ambush of two Iowa police officers capturedSuspect Scott Michael Greene, 46, was caught by Urbandale police after two Iowa police officers were shot dead in separate "ambush-style" killings as they sat in their patrol cars. Police in Iowa said on Wednesday they have captured a man suspected of killing two police officers hours earlier as they sat in their patrol cars in what authorities called separate and unprovoked attacks. Scott Michael Greene, who is 46 and white, was taken into custody after police named him as their suspect in the ambushes, a police spokeswoman in Urbandale, Iowa said. Police said they found the first slain officer's body about 1:06 a.m. (0606 GMT) in Urbandale, an affluent Des Moines suburb, and the second about 20 minutes later about two miles (3 km) away, in Des Moines. It was unclear what provoked Wednesday's attacks, Des Moines police department spokesman Paul Parizek told a news conference prior to Greene's arrest, adding that "we may never know."
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
November 02, 2016 14:55 UTC
State of emergency declared for Alabama after Colonial pipeline incident
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley on Tuesday declared a state of emergency for the state due to an explosion and fire involving Colonial Pipeline Co in Shelby County on Monday. "The State of Emergency is effective November 1, 2016 through December 1, 2016 unless sooner terminated," according to a statement from the governor's office. The declaration will facilitate a waiver from the US Department of Transportation – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, needed to lift a federal government limitation on the hours a driver can transport gasoline, the statement added.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
November 01, 2016 20:39 UTC
Industrial output contraction deepens in September
Monday, October 31, 2016 Industrial output contraction deepens in SeptemberArgentine industrial production fell 7.3 percent in September compared to the same month of 2015, the INDEC statistics bureau revealed today. In the first nine months of the year, the contraction of the industrial sector reached 4.6 percent in the year-to-year comparison. According to the same report, the food industry declined 5.9 percent, the oil refinery 3.3 percent and the car production 22.5 percent. The agrochemical production showed positive results with a 61.6 percent increase.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
October 31, 2016 20:29 UTC
Subway fare hike takes effect
Monday, October 31, 2016 Subway fare hike takes effectThe new subway fares came into effect today with prices for all six lines at 7.50 pesos, which represents a 40 percent hike. The Premetro fare was increased to 2.50 pesos. The hike was approved on Thursday when a court upheld an appeal by the Buenos Aires City government to a first instance ruling which had suspended the increase last June.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
October 31, 2016 13:58 UTC
UN Work Group Demands Milagro Sala’s Release
The United Nations Work Group on Arbitrary Detention has released a report calling the detention of activist Milagro Sala in Jujuy “arbitrary” and demanding her immediate release. According to a note on CELS’ Facebook page, the report identifies a system of “consecutive accusations” and court cases that maintain Sala’s detention indefinitely and violate judicial independence. A key point, they note, is that Sala was originally detained on charges unrelated to wider accusations of corruption. The judge ruled Sala’s release for the first charges on 29th January. Members of the UN work group find that the state blocked Sala’s right to defence by not clearly presenting the facts of the charge and not adequately informing her of the crimes for which she was accused.
Source:The Argentina Independent
October 28, 2016 21:04 UTC
Venezuelan opposition strike patchy amid government threats
Venezuela's streets were quieter than usual on Friday during an opposition-called strike, but participation was patchy after the socialist government threatened to shut down businesses that closed. Venezuela's opposition Democratic Unity coalition called for a 12-hour shutdown as part of escalating protests after authorities scuttled its push for a referendum to recall the OPEC nation's unpopular socialist leader. The government vowed to take over any companies heeding the strike, sending inspectors to ensure they were open. "I support the opposition, but I don't agree with this strike," said Eduardo Martinez, 51, unemployed, standing near a bakery line in eastern Caracas. As well as Friday's strike, the opposition is carrying out a political trial of Maduro in the National Assembly and is vowing to march to the Miraflores presidential palace next week.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
October 28, 2016 17:36 UTC
Models strut down Paris runway in chocolate creations
Friday, October 28, 2016 Models strut down Paris runway in chocolate creationsModels sashayed down a runway wearing gowns and corset dresses adorned with chocolate to kick off Paris' annual Salon du Chocolat fair, where chocolatiers faced the challenge of stopping their creations from melting on the catwalk. Actresses, dancers, and two former Miss France winners emerged in outfits that included a silver tutu studded with chocolates and another embellished with chocolate stars, all designed as a collaboration between stylists and chocolatiers. "The difficulties we find with a dress made of chocolate are always about contact with the body, which has a temperature of 37 degrees," said French chocolatier Joel Patouillard. "Chocolate melts at 30 degrees, so it is quite simple: chocolate must absolutely not touch the body." The fair opens to the public on Friday, featuring truffles and chocolate fountains along with a chocolate construction of the iconic Eiffel Tower.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
October 28, 2016 16:13 UTC
Bank workers stage 24-hour strike
Friday, October 28, 2016 Bank workers stage 24-hour strikeBanks won’t open to the public today amid a 24-hour nationwide strike staged by banking workers who are calling for the resumption of wage negotiations. According to Sergio Palazzo, the head of the banking union, the strike will affect public and private banks all over the country. “The protest wouldn’t have been staged if (Labour Minister Jorge Triaca) “would have fulfilled his duty.” “We have submitted six requests to reopen wage talks and the minister never called us,” he added. The protest will affect the load of ATM machines during the weekend.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
October 28, 2016 14:39 UTC
Court Approves Hike in Buenos Aires Subte Fares to $7.50
Subte users in Buenos Aires will face a 67% fare increase from next week after a city court ruled in favour of the hike. A court approved the controversial decision to increase subte fares from $4.50 to $7.50. The Chamber’s decision has been met with substantial resistance, especially on the part of Del Gaiso. “After three months, we still do not know whether the technical value of the subway tariff is right. The Chamber lifted the injunction without resolving [the issue],” said Del Gaiso through his Twitter account.
Source:The Argentina Independent
October 27, 2016 18:35 UTC
Venezuela parliament seeks to push ahead with Maduro trial
Thursday, October 27, 2016 Venezuela parliament seeks to push ahead with Maduro trialVenezuela's opposition-dominated Congress convened on Thursday to push forward a political trial of socialist President Nicolas Maduro, a day after dozens were injured in protests demanding a vote to recall the unpopular leader. The National Assembly voted on Tuesday to open a largely symbolic trial against Maduro for violating democracy, but the government dismissed the move as meaningless. "The federal legislative palace was built (in the 19th century)," wrote parliament administrator Roberto Marrero in a tweet directed at state-run power company Corpoelec. The opposition says the Maduro government effectively staged a coup by blocking a recall vote that polls suggest he would lose. Maduro says it is the opposition that is seeking to overthrow the government illegally.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
October 27, 2016 15:53 UTC