BUENOS AIRES Jan 11 Argentina's new government has informally lifted restrictions on beef exports imposed by the previous government in a bid to ensure reasonable prices at home, the secretary for agriculture, livestock and fisheries told Reuters on Monday.Argentines are among the world's most voracious beef eaters and local beef prices are a hot-button political issue. But farmers say the restrictions are not the solution, adding they have damaged profitability and prompted them to cut investment."There Read more [...]

ZURICH Factbox on Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi, who won the FIFA Ballon d'Or on Monday, the fifth time the 28-year-old has been voted the world's best player.Born June 24, 1987 in Rosario, Argentina.EARLY CAREER* Joined Barcelona as a 13-year-old in 2000 and shone in the youth ranks before then-coach Frank Rijkaard gave him his senior debut at the age of 16 in a friendly against Porto in 2003.* Made his La Liga debut in October 2004 and scored his first La Liga goal the following Read more [...]

The ESPN FC team debate if Lionel Messi is a lock to win the Ballon d'Or for his fifth time. Edgar Davids talks about who he believes will win the Ballon d'Or and also other players that deserve to be finalists. Arsene Wenger describes himself as 'a big enemy' of the Ballon D'Or, but believes Lionel Messi will scoop the prize. Barcelona star Lionel Messi admitted he would trade five Ballon d'Or trophies to have just one World Cup for Argentina. Messi won a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics Read more [...]

CONMEBOL: January 11, 2016 - Argentina coach Gerardo Martino said star Lionel Messi has the same commitment to the Albiceleste as he does to Barcelona, in an interview published Sunday in the Clarin newspaper. Martino believes that despite repeated criticism from his compatriots that his level of play on the national team is not up to par as his play on the Spanish club, the 'flea' will continue playing for Argentina. "As long as he gets the call he will keep playing for the team," Read more [...]

Perry’s list is already pretty healthy, previous achievements in the UK including victories in the Queen's Cup two years running and the prestigious Gold Cup. All this for an Englishman who has forced his way into the top echelons of the sport with next to no financial support. Instead, he was ferried to Pony Club events by his committed family before he has given a helping hand by former England international Malcolm Borwick. It was the start of his polo odyssey and, clinically, the chance to Read more [...]

Argentina star Lionel Messi will not play at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, national team head coach Gerardo Martino has confirmed. Barcelona forward Messi, who is being widely tipped to win a fifth Ballon d'Or crown on Monday, will focus on the Copa America in June before getting a break ahead of the 2016-17 season, rather than turn out in Brazil at the Games which take place in August. Messi was part of the Argentina team that won a gold medal in Beijing in 2008, Read more [...]

The Argentina coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino has said he will rest Lionel Messi for the summer Olympics in Rio. Calling up the Barcelona forward would risk burning him out, he said, particularly as he was due to play in the centenary edition of the Copa América. “Exposing Leo by using him in another competition after all the football he’s played would be overkill, in my opinion. It would come back to haunt us in terms of what we have in store in the second half of the year”, Martino told Read more [...]

After opening retail outlets in Mexico City, Apple Store is expected to expand to Argentina, and then head to other South American countries. According to iProfessional, Apple will not only concentrate in Mexico for its retail expansion efforts, but will also bring the brand directly to Argentina, Chile, and Peru. In addition, MacRumors noted that the stores in these other countries will "work closely" with those which will be established in Mexico and other parts of Latin America. It also noted Read more [...]

Sebastian Loeb leads the Dakar Rally at the midway point by more than two minutes from French countryman Stephane Peterhansel. Carlos Sainz won the seventh stage on Saturday, 38 seconds ahead of Loeb. Loeb was 2 minutes, 22 seconds ahead of Peterhansel, and 4:50 in front of Sainz. In the motorcycle division, Paulo Goncalves of Portugal was the leader, 3:12 ahead of Toby Price of Australia, and 9:24 clear of Stefan Svitko of Slovakia. Antoine Meo of France won the stage. The Dakar Read more [...]

Two local companies are offering products from the Italy-based Hacking Team to the Argentinean government. (Enter.co) EspañolThey are the main suppliers for authoritarian governments the world over, with customers such as Ethiopia, Egypt, Morocco, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Azerbaijan, and Turkey — not to mention Latin-American nations such as Mexico, Panama, Honduras, Ecuador, and Chile. Hacking Team, the Italy-based provider of surveillance and espionage technology, may well have a new customer Read more [...]