And Maradona Returns

After being banned from playing by FIFA for an outburst in November, Maradona is free to lead his national futbol team for Argentina in the World Cup in South Africa this June.

His national team is very talented individually for their club teams, but Maradona's challenge now is to find a sense of cohesion or harmony amongst his unique players. With only 5 months before the games begin, Maradona has to prove that his volatile nature is under control in order to lead his team to the win.

Not to mention, he also has the wary eyes of the bosses on him at all times. Maradona needs to prove to them, to the team, and to himself that he can pull it all together.

Source: NYT

Argentina Farm Strike Continues After Presidenta Speaks

The unthinkable is happening in Argentina. Shops and restaurants in cities are running out of meat and not because their is a shortage but because of two weeks of blockades by Argentine farmers in protest of tax increases on agricultural exports.

Protesters have been stopping lorries carrying farm produce and either turning them back or dumping their goods on the road.
Speaking on national television, President Fernandez said the agricultural sector was one of the country's most profitable with global demand growing for Argentine beef, corn, wheat and soybeans.
President Fernandez is facing her biggest test since taking office
"I'm not going to submit to extortion. I understand the industry's interests but I want them to know that I'm the president for all Argentines," she said, making it clear there would be no talks while the farmers' strike continued.
Soon after her address, demonstrators in Buenos Aires and other cities gathered on the streets to stage pot-banging protests.

The protests are impacting more than farmers and their wares. In a report on CNN en Español
last night, students and workers reported delays in getting to school and work. Another worry for city restaurants is the fact that the Copa Libertadores is playing and nothing goes as well with futbol and beer as a good Argentine parillada.

Sources : BBC, Confederacion Sudamericana de Futbol, CNN en Español (tv)