Tag Archives: ARGENTINA

Argentine senate votes to legalise Marijuana

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Argentina’s senate has voted unanimously to legalise medical marijuana, joining the lower house and setting the country on course to become the latest to relax its laws on pot.

President Mauricio Macri is all but certain to sign the bill, which garnered an unusual level of cross-party support and was applauded by patients and their families.

A group of mothers with sick children burst into tearful applause in the senate as lawmakers voted 58-0 to pass the bill.

“This is a dream fulfilled, an immense happiness because it will bring solace to patients,” said Maria Laura Alasi, whose four-year-old daughter Josefina suffers from West syndrome, a form of epilepsy that causes her to have dozens of seizures a day.

The new law lifts a ban on importing cannabis oil and allows Argentines to buy it with a prescription.

It stops short of allowing home-grown marijuana, something young patients’ families had demanded.

“I have faith the senators will find a way around that,” said Alasi. “A lot of mothers are already growing their own.”

Latin America has seen a major political shift on pot in recent years.

In 2013, Argentina’s neighbor Uruguay became the first country in the world to fully legalise marijuana at every stage of production, sale and consumption — though users must be registered.

Colombia, Chile and Mexico have all legalised the cultivation and use of marijuana for medical and scientific purposes.

 

Source: The Cable

Why we are sending soldiers to Argentina to learn cattle rearing — Buratai

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The Nigerian army has said that some army officers have been sent to Argentina to learn the art and trade of cattle rearing in preparation for the setting up of cattle ranches across the country.

 

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai said that the Nigerian Army would be raising up cattle ranches in such a manner that in almost all the divisions, and all the brigades, cattle will be reared.

 

Buratai who was represented by the Chief of Army Logistics, Major General Patrick Akem, stated this on Tuesday at the Commissioning of Mogadishu Cantonment New Mammy Market (former Abacha Barracks), Abuja.

 

A statement issued by PRNigeria noted that the Army Chief disclosed that in keeping up with modern cattle rearing tradition, he sent officers of the Army to Argentina to look at how cattle were reared.

 

“Argentina has a population of 41 million people, but it feeds about 400 million people around the world with its beef. To take it to the next level, we want to adopt a system where the cattle are not just free ranging coming from Sokoto to Port Harcourt, thereby making their meat tough to eat, the products will soon be coming from our own farms and ranches,” Buratai said.

 

He noted that he has created the Barrack Investment Initiative as platform that affords Army family members the opportunity of raising up fishing ponds, vegetable gardens, fruits, livestock, chicken and their eggs.

 

According to him, the intention of the Nigerian Army was not just to secure the country, but to contribute in growing the economy of the nation.

 

He added: “We want to tell our wives that they can live beyond the salaries of their husbands, so we are trying to empower the women in the barracks to be able to form co-operatives, so as to access loans and to a large extent be able to fend for themselves and their families, even without the salaries of their husbands.

Army sends officers to Argentina to learn cattle rearing.

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Tukur  Buratai, chief of army staff, says some army officers have been sent to Argentina to learn cattle rearing.

Speaking at the launch of Mogadishu cantonment mammy market in Abuja on Tuesday, Buratai, who was represented by Patrick Akem, chief of army logistics, said the army would set up cattle ranches in all its divisions.

A statement issued by PRNigeria quoted Buratai as saying that in keeping with modern cattle-rearing tradition, he sent “officers of the army to Argentina to look at how cattle are reared”.

“Argentina has a population of 41 million people, but it feeds about 400 million people around the world with its beef,” he said.

“To take it to the next level, we want to adopt a system where the cattle are not just free ranging coming from Sokoto to Port Harcourt, thereby making their meat tough to eat; the products will soon be coming from our own farms and ranches.”

He said he created the Barrack Investment Initiative as a platform to give families of staff the opportunity to create fishing ponds, fruit and vegetable gardens, keep livestock, and poultry.

According to Buratai, the intention of the army is not only to secure the country but also to contribute in growing the economy.

“We want to tell our wives that they can live beyond the salaries of their husbands, so we are trying to empower the women in the barracks to be able to form co-operatives, so as to access loans and to a large extent be able to fend for themselves and their families, even without the salaries of their husbands,” he added.

#BringBackOurGirls wins the International Human Rights ‘Emilio F. Mignone’ Prize 2016

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The Government of Argentina has awarded the #BringBackOurGirls movement the International Human Rights Prize ‘Emilio F. Mignone’ for work in advocacy towards respect for human rights worldwide.

The award ceremony will take place on Tuesday 6 December at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Buenos Aires.

The #BringBackOurGirls is being represented at the event by two members of the Movement– Aisha Yesufu who is the Chairperson of the  Strategic Team, and Dr. Chinwe Madubuike, a member of the Team.

While in Argentina, they will as part of the award ceremonies, meet with the human rights group– Las Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo (The Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo- a Citizens’ group with a historical origin similar to #BringBackOurGirls. It is made up of grandmothers, mothers and other citizens who have since 1977  been advocating for the return of an estimated 500 children abducted or born in detention during the military era and illegally adopted, with their identities hidden.

 

The Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo has advocated weekly in the last thirty nine years. Their advocacy bears strong similarity with #BringBackOurGirls which has been on a daily campaign since 30 April 2014 for the rescue of now 196 out of the 219 #ChibokGirls abducted in their school on 14 April 2014.

Other engagements are with Equipo Argentino de Trabajo e Investigación Psicosocial (EATIP – Argentine Psychosocial Work and Research Team), the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team (EEAF, Equipo Argentino de Antropología Forense). Special Representative for Human Rights in the international stage, Ambassador Leandro Despouy; General Director for Human Rights, Minister María Gabriela Quinteros; Director for Subsaharan Africa; and Director for Women’s Issues, Minister María Luisa Martino. Center for Legal and Social Studies (CELS, Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales). Visit to the ex ESMA (ex Naval School of Mechanics), visit to the Parque de la Memoria (Memory Park). Monument to the victims of State Terrorism, and conclude with a dinner with the Mignone family.

Sesugh Akume

 

#BringBackOurGirls Spokesperson

Olympics: Argentina Shoot Down Nigeria In Basketball

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Perennial medal contenders Argentina eased past Nigeria 94-66 in each team’s Rio Olympic debut as Facundo Campazza scored 19 points on 5-of-8 shooting from three-point territory. Manu Ginobili of the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs added 12 points and the Brooklyn Nets’ Luis Scola 18 as the more experienced Argentines proved too much for the sloppy African qualifiers. Argentina is the only country since 1988 to have won an Olympic basketball gold medal other than the USA.

They won in Athens in 2004 on the strength of their “golden generation” of core players including Ginobili, Scola and Andres Nocioni. But with Ginobili now 39 and the other two 36 years old, time is running out for that decorated cadre to take home another medal. Cheered on by a boisterous turnout of fans from their nearby homeland, which borders on Brazil, Argentina jumped out to an 11-0 lead. They never looked back, using tough defence and superior ball movement to set up eight first-half three-pointers and take a 50-31 halftime lead. More of the same followed in the second half, with the Argentines cruising to the final buzzer. They finished with 15 three-pointers. Nigeria was led by Ikechukwu Diogu’s 15 points and 13 rebounds, and 14 points from Ebi Ere.

“Messi is The Best Footballer Of All Time” – Pope Francis

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Pope Francis says that he thinks Lionel Messi is the best footballer of all time.

Pope Francis said this in Krakow, Poland, during lunch while on a trip for the World Youth Day gathering, according to sport-english.com.

He was joined by 12 youths and one of them asked him, “Who is better, Maradona or Pele?” and the pope responded, “For me, Messi,” without giving further explanation.

A response that the participants at the lunch enjoyed – and none of them were Argentine.

lionel-messi

Reports say nearly three million pilgrims made it to the mass he was celebrating on the final day of a five-day to Poland, as the 1,050th anniversary of Poland’s adoption of Christianity was celebrated.

Messi Is No 1986 Heroes- Maradona

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Diego Maradona apparently boasted that his 1986 World Cup-winning Argentina team was better than the current squad now thrown into turmoil by Lionel Messi’s departure, in a recording published Wednesday.

Previously critical of Messi, the 55-year-old ex-national captain and 2010 World Cup coach joined calls this week for him to reverse his decision to retire from the Argentina national team after a morale crushing penalty shoot-out defeat to Chile in the Copa America Centenario final.

But in a recording published online by Argentine media, he was heard apparently belittling the side led by Messi.

“Every second that goes by makes us greater, because we went and played with balls… We didn’t go and play against Chile. We beat Germany,” Maradona told his old World Cup teammates in a recorded message to celebrate commemorating the 1986 victory.

“You know what I mean: the difference there is between one team and another.”

Argentina’s congress held a tribute to the 1986 squad on Tuesday to mark the 30th anniversary of their triumph, but Maradona did not attend.

Credit: Guardian

Argentina Begs Messi Not To Quit

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Argentine football legend Diego Maradona and the country’s President Mauricio Macri urged Lionel Messi on Monday not to leave the national team despite his vow to quit after a humiliating defeat.

The Barcelona superstar left the field in tears after missing a spot-kick in the Copa America Centenario final shootout against Chile on Sunday.

He promptly told reporters he was quitting, throwing Argentine football into turmoil ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

“He has to stay because he still has playing days ahead of him,” Maradona was quoted as saying by La Nacion newspaper online.

“He will go to Russia in form to be world champion.”

Messi, 29, is widely rated as the best player in the world, but Sunday’s loss was his fourth defeat in an international final for Argentina.

After an outpouring of disappointment by fans online, Macri joined the calls for the Barcelona superstar to stay with Argentina.

“He called him and told him how proud he feels of the national team’s performance and asked him not to listen to the criticism,” a spokesman for Macri told AFP by telephone.

Credit: Guardian

Referee Shot Dead In Argentina After Showing Red Card

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A referee has been murdered in Argentina by a young player for showing him the red card.

The incident happened in Cordoba, as a player shot the referee just minutes after being dismissed for hitting another player.

Another player, Walter Zarate, was also hit by a bullet and was taken to hospital, though he is not in critical condition.

The referee, Cesar Flores, 48, was killed after being shot three times – once in the head, neck and chest, according to police.

Credit: Leadership

Official: Manchester United Make 5th Signing Of The Transfer Window

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Manchester United have completed the signing of Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero.

The Argentina international goalkeeper has signed a three-year contract, with the option of a fourth season, after leaving Sampdoria earlier this summer

The 28-year-old joins United on a free transfer after leaving Sampdoria earlier this summer and has signed a three-year contract with the option of a fourth season.

“I am absolutely delighted to join Manchester United,” Romero told the club’s official website.

“To play for the biggest club in the world is a dream come true for me. Louis van Gaal is a fantastic manager and I cannot wait to get started on this new and exciting challenge in my career.”

http://twitter.com/ManUtd/status/625455572700262400/photo/1

Romero has previously played under Van Gaal at AZ Alkmaar between 2007 and 2009, and is United’s fifth signing of the summer following the acquisitions of Memphis Depay, Morgan Schneiderlin, Matteo Darmian and Bastian Schweinsteiger.

“Sergio is a very talented goalkeeper,” said Van Gaal. “He was a young keeper during my time at AZ Alkmaar and I am delighted he is joining Manchester United.

“He had a fantastic World Cup last summer in Brazil, although that is something I have put to the back of my mind! He will be a great addition to the team and I am looking forward to working with him once again.”

Romero’s arrival is set to be followed by the departure of Victor Valdes. The Spaniard’s attitude has been labelled a “big disappointment” by Van Gaal after he allegedly refused to play for United’s reserves, and Valencia are in talks over a season-long loan deal.

Meanwhile, Van Gaal is hoping to keep David De Gea at United but has refused to rule out the possibility of the 24-year-old joining Real Madrid before the end of the transfer window.

Gunmen Kidnap Argentinian National In Niger State

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An Argentinian man identified as Santiago Lopez Menendez has been kidnapped in Niger state. Santiago, who works as an agronomist for the Nigerian Flour Mills Plc and manages two farms in the Sunti and Kabbugi districts of the state, was kidnapped while traveling without his military escort along the Mokwa -Kontagora road in the state yesterday June 24th.

Niger state police commissioner, Olusola Amore, while confirming the incident said “We normally provide protection for all foreigners working on farms and elsewhere in the state but he (Menendez) chose to travel alone on the bad road without police protection and they kidnapped him.” he said

At least 10 patrol vans and a special anti-kidnapping team have been deployed to rescue him.