Latest news with #Nilda
Glasgow Times
18-05-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
New Glasgow cafe that's been generations in the making
Decked out in black and orange signage, the eye-catching logo shows coffee spilling onto a vinyl record. The words 'championing coffee and records' tell me my ears and tastebuds are in for a treat. Walking in, I'm greeted by the beaming smile of Alessandro Alonzi, the 22-year-old owner of the fledgling coffee spot, who's just started cleaning up shop for the day. He put a record I'd picked to be played in the space that week, The Midnight Organ Fight by Frightened Rabbit, on the turntable. As we chatted over the 14 songs, I was given an insight into just how much the cafe means to him and how it's been a long time coming. New Glasgow cafe that's been generations in the making (Image: Anthony Flett @ Sweeping up shop and rousing up the rich coffee aromas already seeping into the pores of the cafe, Alessandro explains that running a place like this is 'in his DNA'. He comes from a long line of Italians who've owned and run a variety of businesses, from chip shops to newsagents and, of course, coffee shops. Producing a photo of his Nonna (Grandmother) Nilda, 90, working behind one of the shop's counters in the 70s, Alessandro proudly shows a photo of them together in Revival when it opened. READ MORE: I tried Glasgow's new viral TikTok spot - but what is it exactly? He studied Business at Strathclyde University, and as part of the course, he took a 'family business' module that explained how the entrepreneurial spirit is carried through generations. Being brought up around those businesses had a big impact on him, Alessandro explained: 'I grew up hearing stories about my Nonna's business and then my first job, when I was about 12 or 13, was working every Saturday in my Nonno's shop selling sweets and ice cream.' Alessandro's Nonna, Nilda, working in a shop in the 1970s (left) and her with Alessandro (right) (Image: Supplied) Being paid five pounds for three hours of work in Edinburgh gave him more than pocket money; it was enough to ignite a spark in him and start his journey to Revival. Paolo, his dad, took him out for coffee as a teenager, and the love affair was born. His parents have recently moved to Glasgow, and Alessandro admits the cafe dream came from his dad, who's taking every opportunity to enjoy his caffeine creations after giving him the push he needed to start the business. Alessandro said: 'It was one of those Scottish moments of being too humble or scared to be seen as ambitious. I used to say I wanted to do this when I graduated, and I'd laugh and put myself down that way. READ NEXT: Arrests after Glasgow restaurants and fast food shops raided 'But at some point, I said to myself that I needed to do this, and my dad had a wee chat with me and was like 'either commit to this or go and look for a job', and here we are taking the plunge.' The passion he has for the business comes through in every word. Flipping over to side B of the record, Alessandro reveals plans to 'keep pushing forward.' He said: 'It's been a dream come true opening here, but now that I have, I don't want to just open and settle. Because it's a different concept, there's so much I can do with it, especially the vinyl side of things.' Revival's community-building focus has cemented the vinyl concept with regulars. Only a few months in, Alessandro's ran customer-picked record submissions to ensure the records always bring something new to the space. He's already planning collaborations with some local record shops and is feverishly working on other ideas he's keeping under wraps for now. Revival Cafe, located at 43 Hyndland Street (Image: Newsquest) In addition to running the cafe, Alessandro is a Hyrox competitor and will compete in the World Championships in Chicago later this year. With fitness being his passion and coming together to put yourself through your paces being a great bonding exercise, Revival Run Club was started up as the cafe opened. Led by Emily Gallacher, the run club has helped build the community around the cafe. Catching up with her as she visited the cafe, she said the importance of this is not lost on her: 'There's been great support for it. Every week, it's been building. It was an important part for Alle when it started. He wanted it to be more than a coffee shop—he wanted to build a community, which from day one he's managed to do.' As the crackle of the needle coming to the end of the record flows through the cafe, it signals the end of my stop in Revival. I can't help but ask as I'm about to head out the door to enjoy the evening sun, about which record holds a special place in Alessandro's heart as his favourite. After much deliberation, he narrowed it down to Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen. He's seen The Boss live twice already and hopes to catch him again this year.
CNN
29-03-2025
- Politics
- CNN
She was set to retire in August, but Milei's government has dashed her hopes
Twice a week, Nilda Rivadeneira hops on her bicycle and pedals to work. She tells CNN she wishes it were a women's bike instead of a men's one, but she rides it now that her son, who no longer lives at home, stopped using it. In a way, it suits her, she says: being old and inconspicuous, she blends in, which helps her as she travels through unsafe areas. Nilda works cleaning houses by the hour about two kilometers from her home in the northern part of Buenos Aires province, and by biking she saves on transportation costs. Between that job, another one that she goes to twice a week by bus, and sewing orders that she does on her own, she earns a monthly income of just under $300 (at Argentina's informal exchange rate). In August, she will turn 60, the retirement age for women in Argentina, which would allow her to draw on another source of income. However, a measure implemented by President Javier Milei's government will prevent her from accessing her pension. The Pension Debt Payment Plan – known as the pension moratorium – was a law passed during the administration of former President Alberto Fernández in 2023, which allowed those who did not have the required 30 years of contributions to instead pay into a plan of up to 120 installments through a direct deduction from their pension, allowing them to qualify for retirement. The moratorium was for two years, until March 2025, and extendable for two more. But in October, Argentina's government announced that it would not be renewed. When Nilda finished high school, she started a career in teaching, but quickly had to drop out. 'I got married very young and became a mother at 20. That's why I stopped studying, had three children not too far apart in age, and had to take care of the family,' she recalls. Some time later, a fourth child arrived, but beyond the years she dedicated exclusively to raising children, Nilda calculates she's worked for 17 years in formal jobs and almost 20 years in odd jobs and gig work. But those don't count to the 30 years of eligible contributions required to retire by law. According to the latest official data, 36.1% of Argentines have precarious jobs, meaning their employers don't make payments into the retirement system. And, according to a 2023 government report, the domestic employment sector — made up almost entirely of women — has much higher informality rates, close to 75%. Nilda is part of these statistics. 'They tell us: 'You can't retire because you don't have the years of contributions,' but we do have the years of work. What happens is that employers, if you go and present the situation to them, tell you: 'If you leave, I have 10 people in line after you.' So, that also demoralizes you,' she says. According to her estimates, Nilda needs to contribute more than $5,000 to retire. Without the moratorium that allowed payment in installments, she would have to pay it all in full before August. 'It's impossible, impossible. Even if my children helped me, I can't afford it,' she laments. For months now, senior citizens have gathered on Wednesday afternoons in front of Congress in Buenos Aires to protest government policies and particularly its pension reform. Two weeks ago, a protest by retirees, joined by soccer fans and members of social and political organizations, ended in a violent clash between police and protesters. More than 100 people were arrested, and a photojournalist was seriously injured and remains hospitalized. As part of the government's cuts, Milei vetoed a law in September that would have adjusted pension payments to mitigate pensioners' loss of purchasing power due to inflation, establishing a minimum pension and setting out an adjustment system based on price and wage developments. Currently, the minimum pension, with an additional bonus, is less than $300, and pensions are updated monthly according to inflation. According to the analysis organization Center for the Implementation of Public Policies for Equity and Growth (CIPPEC), the Argentine pension system stands out for its broad coverage, with 95% of those over 65 receiving some kind of pension. The downside: public spending on the pension system is equivalent to 10% of the country's GDP, based on data from last year. The latest social security report, from last September, counts 7.8 million retirees and pensioners. Of these, 22% received non-contributory pensions, a benefit that does not require lifetime contributions. Of the remaining 78%, or 6.1 million, who do receive a benefit based on contributions, only 2.2 million did not need to access a moratorium to retire. If she were unable to retire, Nilda could still access a universal pension for older adults (PUAM), equivalent to 80% of a minimum pension, or about $220 per month, and health coverage. However, that benefit is only available starting at age 65. Pension lawyer Christian González D'Alessandro tells CNN that, in this way, 'the age of eligibility for a benefit for women will inevitably be raised.' Furthermore, Nilda would lose all the contributions she made during her formal working years as well as the ability to continue working and contributing, if her current employers were to regularize her situation. She would also be unable to collect other types of pensions, such as a widow's pension. Nilda is still married and has become a grandmother of five. She feels fortunate. Aside from some muscle pain from cycling, she doesn't usually experience physical discomfort or have any chronic illnesses that require regular medication expenses. With her and her husband's income, they manage to make ends meet, but even so, she would like to be able to treat her children to meals and cover expenses, or occasionally take her grandchildren to the movies. 'I hope that, beyond having a headache or feeling tired, I can still be healthy enough to keep working,' she says about her future.
CNN
29-03-2025
- Politics
- CNN
She was set to retire in August, but Milei's government has dashed her hopes
Twice a week, Nilda Rivadeneira hops on her bicycle and pedals to work. She tells CNN she wishes it were a women's bike instead of a men's one, but she rides it now that her son, who no longer lives at home, stopped using it. In a way, it suits her, she says: being old and inconspicuous, she blends in, which helps her as she travels through unsafe areas. Nilda works cleaning houses by the hour about two kilometers from her home in the northern part of Buenos Aires province, and by biking she saves on transportation costs. Between that job, another one that she goes to twice a week by bus, and sewing orders that she does on her own, she earns a monthly income of just under $300 (at Argentina's informal exchange rate). In August, she will turn 60, the retirement age for women in Argentina, which would allow her to draw on another source of income. However, a measure implemented by President Javier Milei's government will prevent her from accessing her pension. The Pension Debt Payment Plan – known as the pension moratorium – was a law passed during the administration of former President Alberto Fernández in 2023, which allowed those who did not have the required 30 years of contributions to instead pay into a plan of up to 120 installments through a direct deduction from their pension, allowing them to qualify for retirement. The moratorium was for two years, until March 2025, and extendable for two more. But in October, Argentina's government announced that it would not be renewed. When Nilda finished high school, she started a career in teaching, but quickly had to drop out. 'I got married very young and became a mother at 20. That's why I stopped studying, had three children not too far apart in age, and had to take care of the family,' she recalls. Some time later, a fourth child arrived, but beyond the years she dedicated exclusively to raising children, Nilda calculates she's worked for 17 years in formal jobs and almost 20 years in odd jobs and gig work. But those don't count to the 30 years of eligible contributions required to retire by law. According to the latest official data, 36.1% of Argentines have precarious jobs, meaning their employers don't make payments into the retirement system. And, according to a 2023 government report, the domestic employment sector — made up almost entirely of women — has much higher informality rates, close to 75%. Nilda is part of these statistics. 'They tell us: 'You can't retire because you don't have the years of contributions,' but we do have the years of work. What happens is that employers, if you go and present the situation to them, tell you: 'If you leave, I have 10 people in line after you.' So, that also demoralizes you,' she says. According to her estimates, Nilda needs to contribute more than $5,000 to retire. Without the moratorium that allowed payment in installments, she would have to pay it all in full before August. 'It's impossible, impossible. Even if my children helped me, I can't afford it,' she laments. For months now, senior citizens have gathered on Wednesday afternoons in front of Congress in Buenos Aires to protest government policies and particularly its pension reform. Two weeks ago, a protest by retirees, joined by soccer fans and members of social and political organizations, ended in a violent clash between police and protesters. More than 100 people were arrested, and a photojournalist was seriously injured and remains hospitalized. As part of the government's cuts, Milei vetoed a law in September that would have adjusted pension payments to mitigate pensioners' loss of purchasing power due to inflation, establishing a minimum pension and setting out an adjustment system based on price and wage developments. Currently, the minimum pension, with an additional bonus, is less than $300, and pensions are updated monthly according to inflation. According to the analysis organization Center for the Implementation of Public Policies for Equity and Growth (CIPPEC), the Argentine pension system stands out for its broad coverage, with 95% of those over 65 receiving some kind of pension. The downside: public spending on the pension system is equivalent to 10% of the country's GDP, based on data from last year. The latest social security report, from last September, counts 7.8 million retirees and pensioners. Of these, 22% received non-contributory pensions, a benefit that does not require lifetime contributions. Of the remaining 78%, or 6.1 million, who do receive a benefit based on contributions, only 2.2 million did not need to access a moratorium to retire. If she were unable to retire, Nilda could still access a universal pension for older adults (PUAM), equivalent to 80% of a minimum pension, or about $220 per month, and health coverage. However, that benefit is only available starting at age 65. Pension lawyer Christian González D'Alessandro tells CNN that, in this way, 'the age of eligibility for a benefit for women will inevitably be raised.' Furthermore, Nilda would lose all the contributions she made during her formal working years as well as the ability to continue working and contributing, if her current employers were to regularize her situation. She would also be unable to collect other types of pensions, such as a widow's pension. Nilda is still married and has become a grandmother of five. She feels fortunate. Aside from some muscle pain from cycling, she doesn't usually experience physical discomfort or have any chronic illnesses that require regular medication expenses. With her and her husband's income, they manage to make ends meet, but even so, she would like to be able to treat her children to meals and cover expenses, or occasionally take her grandchildren to the movies. 'I hope that, beyond having a headache or feeling tired, I can still be healthy enough to keep working,' she says about her future.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
She was set to retire in August, but Milei's government has dashed her hopes
Twice a week, Nilda Rivadeneira hops on her bicycle and pedals to work. She tells CNN she wishes it were a women's bike instead of a men's one, but she rides it now that her son, who no longer lives at home, stopped using it. In a way, it suits her, she says: being old and inconspicuous, she blends in, which helps her as she travels through unsafe areas. Nilda works cleaning houses by the hour about two kilometers from her home in the northern part of Buenos Aires province, and by biking she saves on transportation costs. Between that job, another one that she goes to twice a week by bus, and sewing orders that she does on her own, she earns a monthly income of just under $300 (at Argentina's informal exchange rate). In August, she will turn 60, the retirement age for women in Argentina, which would allow her to draw on another source of income. However, a measure implemented by President Javier Milei's government will prevent her from accessing her pension. The Pension Debt Payment Plan – known as the pension moratorium – was a law passed during the administration of former President Alberto Fernández in 2023, which allowed those who did not have the required 30 years of contributions to instead pay into a plan of up to 120 installments through a direct deduction from their pension, allowing them to qualify for retirement. The moratorium was for two years, until March 2025, and extendable for two more. But in October, Argentina's government announced that it would not be renewed. When Nilda finished high school, she started a career in teaching, but quickly had to drop out. 'I got married very young and became a mother at 20. That's why I stopped studying, had three children not too far apart in age, and had to take care of the family,' she recalls. Some time later, a fourth child arrived, but beyond the years she dedicated exclusively to raising children, Nilda calculates she's worked for 17 years in formal jobs and almost 20 years in odd jobs and gig work. But those don't count to the 30 years of eligible contributions required to retire by law. According to the latest official data, 36.1% of Argentines have precarious jobs, meaning their employers don't make payments into the retirement system. And, according to a 2023 government report, the domestic employment sector — made up almost entirely of women — has much higher informality rates, close to 75%. Nilda is part of these statistics. 'They tell us: 'You can't retire because you don't have the years of contributions,' but we do have the years of work. What happens is that employers, if you go and present the situation to them, tell you: 'If you leave, I have 10 people in line after you.' So, that also demoralizes you,' she says. According to her estimates, Nilda needs to contribute more than $5,000 to retire. Without the moratorium that allowed payment in installments, she would have to pay it all in full before August. 'It's impossible, impossible. Even if my children helped me, I can't afford it,' she laments. For months now, senior citizens have gathered on Wednesday afternoons in front of Congress in Buenos Aires to protest government policies and particularly its pension reform. Two weeks ago, a protest by retirees, joined by soccer fans and members of social and political organizations, ended in a violent clash between police and protesters. More than 100 people were arrested, and a photojournalist was seriously injured and remains hospitalized. As part of the government's cuts, Milei vetoed a law in September that would have adjusted pension payments to mitigate pensioners' loss of purchasing power due to inflation, establishing a minimum pension and setting out an adjustment system based on price and wage developments. Currently, the minimum pension, with an additional bonus, is less than $300, and pensions are updated monthly according to inflation. According to the analysis organization Center for the Implementation of Public Policies for Equity and Growth (CIPPEC), the Argentine pension system stands out for its broad coverage, with 95% of those over 65 receiving some kind of pension. The downside: public spending on the pension system is equivalent to 10% of the country's GDP, based on data from last year. The latest social security report, from last September, counts 7.8 million retirees and pensioners. Of these, 22% received non-contributory pensions, a benefit that does not require lifetime contributions. Of the remaining 78%, or 6.1 million, who do receive a benefit based on contributions, only 2.2 million did not need to access a moratorium to retire. If she were unable to retire, Nilda could still access a universal pension for older adults (PUAM), equivalent to 80% of a minimum pension, or about $220 per month, and health coverage. However, that benefit is only available starting at age 65. Pension lawyer Christian González D'Alessandro tells CNN that, in this way, 'the age of eligibility for a benefit for women will inevitably be raised.' Furthermore, Nilda would lose all the contributions she made during her formal working years as well as the ability to continue working and contributing, if her current employers were to regularize her situation. She would also be unable to collect other types of pensions, such as a widow's pension. Nilda is still married and has become a grandmother of five. She feels fortunate. Aside from some muscle pain from cycling, she doesn't usually experience physical discomfort or have any chronic illnesses that require regular medication expenses. With her and her husband's income, they manage to make ends meet, but even so, she would like to be able to treat her children to meals and cover expenses, or occasionally take her grandchildren to the movies. 'I hope that, beyond having a headache or feeling tired, I can still be healthy enough to keep working,' she says about her future.
CNN
29-03-2025
- Politics
- CNN
She was set to retire in August, but Milei's government has dashed her hopes
Twice a week, Nilda Rivadeneira hops on her bicycle and pedals to work. She tells CNN she wishes it were a women's bike instead of a men's one, but she rides it now that her son, who no longer lives at home, stopped using it. In a way, it suits her, she says: being old and inconspicuous, she blends in, which helps her as she travels through unsafe areas. Nilda works cleaning houses by the hour about two kilometers from her home in the northern part of Buenos Aires province, and by biking she saves on transportation costs. Between that job, another one that she goes to twice a week by bus, and sewing orders that she does on her own, she earns a monthly income of just under $300 (at Argentina's informal exchange rate). In August, she will turn 60, the retirement age for women in Argentina, which would allow her to draw on another source of income. However, a measure implemented by President Javier Milei's government will prevent her from accessing her pension. The Pension Debt Payment Plan – known as the pension moratorium – was a law passed during the administration of former President Alberto Fernández in 2023, which allowed those who did not have the required 30 years of contributions to instead pay into a plan of up to 120 installments through a direct deduction from their pension, allowing them to qualify for retirement. The moratorium was for two years, until March 2025, and extendable for two more. But in October, Argentina's government announced that it would not be renewed. When Nilda finished high school, she started a career in teaching, but quickly had to drop out. 'I got married very young and became a mother at 20. That's why I stopped studying, had three children not too far apart in age, and had to take care of the family,' she recalls. Some time later, a fourth child arrived, but beyond the years she dedicated exclusively to raising children, Nilda calculates she's worked for 17 years in formal jobs and almost 20 years in odd jobs and gig work. But those don't count to the 30 years of eligible contributions required to retire by law. According to the latest official data, 36.1% of Argentines have precarious jobs, meaning their employers don't make payments into the retirement system. And, according to a 2023 government report, the domestic employment sector — made up almost entirely of women — has much higher informality rates, close to 75%. Nilda is part of these statistics. 'They tell us: 'You can't retire because you don't have the years of contributions,' but we do have the years of work. What happens is that employers, if you go and present the situation to them, tell you: 'If you leave, I have 10 people in line after you.' So, that also demoralizes you,' she says. According to her estimates, Nilda needs to contribute more than $5,000 to retire. Without the moratorium that allowed payment in installments, she would have to pay it all in full before August. 'It's impossible, impossible. Even if my children helped me, I can't afford it,' she laments. For months now, senior citizens have gathered on Wednesday afternoons in front of Congress in Buenos Aires to protest government policies and particularly its pension reform. Two weeks ago, a protest by retirees, joined by soccer fans and members of social and political organizations, ended in a violent clash between police and protesters. More than 100 people were arrested, and a photojournalist was seriously injured and remains hospitalized. As part of the government's cuts, Milei vetoed a law in September that would have adjusted pension payments to mitigate pensioners' loss of purchasing power due to inflation, establishing a minimum pension and setting out an adjustment system based on price and wage developments. Currently, the minimum pension, with an additional bonus, is less than $300, and pensions are updated monthly according to inflation. According to the analysis organization Center for the Implementation of Public Policies for Equity and Growth (CIPPEC), the Argentine pension system stands out for its broad coverage, with 95% of those over 65 receiving some kind of pension. The downside: public spending on the pension system is equivalent to 10% of the country's GDP, based on data from last year. The latest social security report, from last September, counts 7.8 million retirees and pensioners. Of these, 22% received non-contributory pensions, a benefit that does not require lifetime contributions. Of the remaining 78%, or 6.1 million, who do receive a benefit based on contributions, only 2.2 million did not need to access a moratorium to retire. If she were unable to retire, Nilda could still access a universal pension for older adults (PUAM), equivalent to 80% of a minimum pension, or about $220 per month, and health coverage. However, that benefit is only available starting at age 65. Pension lawyer Christian González D'Alessandro tells CNN that, in this way, 'the age of eligibility for a benefit for women will inevitably be raised.' Furthermore, Nilda would lose all the contributions she made during her formal working years as well as the ability to continue working and contributing, if her current employers were to regularize her situation. She would also be unable to collect other types of pensions, such as a widow's pension. Nilda is still married and has become a grandmother of five. She feels fortunate. Aside from some muscle pain from cycling, she doesn't usually experience physical discomfort or have any chronic illnesses that require regular medication expenses. With her and her husband's income, they manage to make ends meet, but even so, she would like to be able to treat her children to meals and cover expenses, or occasionally take her grandchildren to the movies. 'I hope that, beyond having a headache or feeling tired, I can still be healthy enough to keep working,' she says about her future.
