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Tag: Mexico

  • Internet access: Vital to addressing poverty, climate change – Ban ki-Moon

    Internet access: Vital to addressing poverty, climate change – Ban ki-Moon

    Access to information and communications technology has ben termed necessary to address the challenges of poverty and climate change.

    UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon,stated this in his message to the ongoing 11th session of the Internet Governance Forum in Jalisco, Mexico, delivered by Lenni Montiel, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development.

    “I welcome the theme of this session: ‘Enabling Inclusive and Sustainable Growth’.

    “Indeed, the Internet and information and communication technologies can play an important enabling role in our efforts to fulfil the great promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

    “They can deliver smart solutions to address climate change, hunger, poverty and other global challenges.

    “They are tools for providing digital and mobile health care and wider access to education to those in rural areas.

    “They can also help to empower women, generate efficiencies in industrial and agricultural production, and safeguard the environment,” he said.

    The Secretary-General said the 2016 gathering was the first since its 10-year renewal by the General Assembly, which reaffirmed the importance of the Internet Governance Forum multi-stakeholder platform for public policy dialogue.

    “Your efforts have made profound impacts as we strive together to create an equitable, human rights-based knowledge society,” Ban said.

    The UN chief urged the forum  to keep working to ensure universal access to a more open information society.

    “Let us address the challenges we face by empowering people everywhere with these transformative technologies so that they can help build a better future for all,” he said.

  • Iheanacho’s Golden Eaglets beg for Calabar houses

    Iheanacho’s Golden Eaglets beg for Calabar houses

    Three years after they conquered the world in the UAE , Golden Eaglets class of 2013 have yet begged the incumbent  Cross River State Executive Governor Prof. Ben Ayade  to redeem the pledge of houses made to officials and players of the national U-17 team.

    On Tuesday (November 8), it would be exactly three years after the Golden Eaglets massacre Mexico 3-0 in Abu Dhabi to lift the FIFA World Cup for the fourth time in the presence of Immediate past Governor of the state,Senator Liyel Imoke.

    An impressed Governor Imoke later hosted the team on November 15 2013 inside the state’s council chamber at the Governor’s office in Calabar where he magnanimously pledged houses for players and officials to be located within the state’s new housing estate scheme in Akpabuyo in Calabar.

    The amiable Governor said then it was necessary to break away from the norm in order to give a befitting future to players and officials hence the state’s was duty-bound in rewarding the team with properties instead of monetary largess.

    “We want to partner and invest in you because we believe this kind of investment (house property) would yield better dividends in the future even if you no longer want anything to do with football,” Imoke told the victorious team in the presence of top officials of Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) and other state’s executives.

    ” It is three years now that we won the World Cup and the then Governor Imoke pledged all the 21 players and 10 officials houses as rewards but it is unfortunate that we are yet to be given these houses despite several appeals,” stated coach Manu Garba.

    In the team was new Super Eagles sensation Kelechi Iheanacho who was the tournament’s MVP as well Saviour Godwin and Denis Okon who are both indigenes of Cross River State.

    “It’s really painful that we don’t have our houses  even after three years and I wonder why they are yet to give us the houses promised by former  Governor Imoke ,” lamented who is now with Belgian club, Roeselare.

    ” We just have to keep begging our new Governor and pray they give us these houses because we did the state and Nigeria proud in 2013,” added Godwin.

  • Chile, Mexico clash in quarters

    Chile, Mexico clash in quarters

    Holders Chile booked their place in the quarterfinals on Tuesday while Argentina maintained their 100 percent start to the Copa America Centenario with an easy win over Bolivia.

    The tournament favorites, already assured of a quarterfinal berth after wins over Chile and Panama, wrapped up their Group D campaign with one-sided win at Seattle’s CenturyLink Field.

    The victory sees Argentina reach the last eight as group winners, handing them what in theory should be a straightforward assignment against Venezuela in Foxborough on Saturday.

    The two-time world champions are determined to end a 23-year wait for a major title after suffering agonizing defeats in the finals of the 2014 World Cup and last year’s Copa America.

    Argentina coach Gerardo Martino elected to rest captain Lionel Messi after his devastating hat trick performance against Panama.

    But the Argentines were still far too strong for a feeble Bolivian team who were overwhelmed in a devastating opening period.

    The match was effectively settled within the first quarter of an hour, with Tottenham Hotspur winger Erik Lamela opening the scoring with a deflected free-kick in the 13th minute.

    Two minutes later China-based forward Ezequiel Lavezzi marked his comeback from injury with a goal, volleying home from close range after Gonzalo Higuain’s downward header.

    Central defender Victor Cuesta made it 3-0 just after the half-hour, diverting home Lavezzi’s low cross in the 32nd minute.

    With Messi coming on as a substitute at half-time, the game became a question of when or if the Barcelona superstar could grab a 54th international goal to equal Gabriel Batistuta’s longstanding scoring record.

    However despite Argentina’s dominance of possession — which reached 87 percent at one point — Messi was unable to add to his tally.

    In Tuesday’s other game, Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas both scored twice as Chile advanced with a 4-2 victory over Panama.

    Chile recovered from the shock of falling behind to a Miguel Camargo goal after only five minutes, with Vargas scoring twice before Arsenal’s Sanchez grabbed a third in the Group D game.

    Sanchez added his second in the 89th minute to complete the scoring.

    Chile will now face Mexico in the pick of the quarter-finals on Saturday.

    However they will be keen to iron out kinks in their defensive display which saw them concede two cheap goals.

    The Chileans were given a scare early on when Camargo gave the Panamanians an early lead. Chile defender Gonzalo Jara was the culprit, giving away possession with a lazy pass out of defense that allowed Panama to pounce.

    The ball arrived at Camargo’s feet and the midfielder let fly with a venomous low shot which Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo failed to grasp to leave Panama 1-0 up.

    Chile hit back quickly however, leveling through Vargas, who tapped in from close range after Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo could only half block a Sanchez shot.

    Two minutes before the break, Chile took the lead, Vargas heading in a cross from the left for 2-1.

    Five minutes into the second half, it was 3-1. Vargas picked out Sanchez with a lofted pass from one side of the penalty area to the other and the Arsenal star showed great technique to lash a volley into the roof of the net.

    Chile were jolted by a second Panama goal on 75 minutes, when Abdiel Arroyo headed in a free-kick from Ricardo Buitrago to make it 3-2 but finished on top to seal the win when Sanchez added his second.

  • Global experts call for stronger tobacco laws

    Experts from around the world have come together at the World Heart Federation’s World Congress of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Health (WCC 2016) to call for more to be done to fight tobacco industry interference and strengthen tobacco control laws.

    Tobacco is one of the world’s most prolific killers, responsible for six million deaths globally each year, and is the second leading cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD), If current trends continue, by 2030 tobacco will be responsible for more than eight million deaths each year.

     Strengthening tobacco control laws is one of the simplest, most cost-effective ways to save lives and improve the health of populations, but unfortunately the tobacco industry continues to try to block tobacco control legislation using tactics such as encouraging the illicit tobacco trade, attempting to hijack legislation or exploit loopholes, exaggerating the economic importance of the industry and discrediting scientific research.

     At WCC 2016 health experts at the forefront of the fight against tobacco shared practical examples of the challenges they faced and the solutions that are now saving lives, including how they have used WHF’s roadmap on tobacco control. This roadmap, based on the global tobacco control treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, indicates clear routes of action for reducing death and disability from heart disease caused by tobacco, and calls upon different groups to coordinate action to accelerate implementation of the treaty. 

     Speaking at Congress, Dr Vera Luiza da Costa e Silva, Head of the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, said: “The struggle against the consumption of tobacco only really moves forward when there is a robust response from a wide alliance of professionals willing to offer their time and expertise to counter the tobacco industry’s litany of self-serving untruths.

     “When an eminent physician speaks, most people will listen and consider the message. This is what weighs in the balance against the money and advertising of the tobacco industry. The advocacy of cardiologists and health campaigners is our low-cost response to this powerful enemy, and yet it is invaluable.”

     Also speaking at Congress, Dr Eduardo Bianco, Framework Alliance for Tobacco Control (FCA)’s regional Director for the Americas and co-author of the World Heart Federation’s CVD roadmap explained how Uruguay’s global leadership in implementing the tobacco control treaty helped reduce hospital admissions for heart attacks in the country by 22 percent in two years, while rates increase elsewhere.

     Sharing his personal experience of implementing some of the most stringent tobacco control measures in the world, President Vazquez of Uruguay said: “Tobacco consumption causes 6 million deaths every year and has resulted in cumulative damage to public health for over 60 years. We have approached this battle very seriously in Uruguay and I’m pleased to say, as a direct result, have reduced tobacco consumption among young people from 22.8percent to 8.2 percent less than 10 years.”

     While in Mexico the World Heart Federation will aim to leave a lasting legacy by using its Congress as a platform to support adoption of a national tobacco control law, supporting the #LibredeHumo campaign to make Mexico smoke-free. 

     Dr Salim Yusuf, President of the World Heart Federation said: “The World Heart Federation is committed to reducing premature deaths from non-communicable diseases by 25percent by 2025 and reducing tobacco use by 30% or more is key to saving millions of lives.

     “To enable this we need to persuade political leaders to stand firm in the face of pressure from the tobacco industry.”

  • World Cardiology Congress opens in Mexico

    World Cardiology Congress opens in Mexico

    Researchers, cardiologists, policymakers and health leaders from around the world came together in Mexico City on Saturday to mark the beginning of the World Heart Federation’s World Congress of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Health.
    Over the course of WCC 2016, leading figures in cardiovascular health will share ground-breaking research, new technological advances and practical examples of how interventions from around the world can be implemented in various settings to save lives.
    Cardiovascular disease (CVD) such as heart attack and stroke are the leading cause of death globally, responsible for over 17.5 million deaths each year worldwide. However, the majority of premature heart disease and stroke is preventable. The World Heart Federation (WHF) is working with its members and partners to build global commitment to address cardiovascular health and reduce the number of premature deaths.
    Among the priorities for WCC 2016 is a focus on reducing global inequalities. Currently, 80% of CVD deaths occur in low and middle income countries.
    Dr Salim Yusuf, President of the World Heart Federation, said: “Despite the numerous medical advances the cardiovascular community has made in recent years, the epidemic of CVD globally has spread and the burden has shifted to the non-Western countries.”
    ” We now have the knowledge to prevent 80% of heart attacks and strokes; we must use this knowledge to ensure that CVD is reduced across the globe and not just in countries that are more economically developed.”

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Health global experts hold congress

    All is set for this year’s World Congress of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Health billed for Mexico City between June 4 -7. 
    The World Congress of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Health (WCC 2016) is a global interactive event to promote Cardiovascular (CV) health uniting cardiovascular disease specialists with other disciplines to network, share knowledge and build innovative solutions for patients and populations.
    The Congress will be attended by an outstanding line up of world leaders in heart health, 120 sessions on cardiovascular health and cardiology practice – including acute coronary syndromes, heart rhythm disorders, heart failure, congenital heart disease and risk factors in the young – for all health and public health professionals. 
    It will also feature best practice and sharing  interactive programme/session designed to respond to the needs of professionals – representing disciplines including cardiology, internal medicine, general practice, nursing and public health – in their everyday practice across different resource setting. 
    Ground breaking research into cardiovascular health 1,000 new abstracts on prevention, diagnosis and treatment alongside public health and health systems approaches for cardiovascular and related diseases will also be featured.
    Other spotlight of the Congress are on Latin America and sessions in Spanish exploring the spectrum of CVD in Latin America:  epidemic of atherosclerosis, Chagas’ and rheumatic heart disease, obesity, tobacco as well as health systems.
    The Nation’s Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha will cover the event having emerged the Winner of the World Congress of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Health (WCC 2016) Africa Correspondent Competition.
    She will report on the world’s researchers, policymakers and health leaders’ activities to position heart health at the centre of global development. 
    President of the World Heart Federation, Dr. Salim Yusuf, said he believes the congress will feature one of the most innovative and action oriented programme, designed to meet the needs of cardiologists, other health workers and patients for the 21st century.” 
  • U-17: Eaglets beat Mexico 4-2, set to meet Mali in final

    U-17: Eaglets beat Mexico 4-2, set to meet Mali in final

    With a 4-2 victory over Mexico, Nigeria’ Golden Eaglets are through to the finals of the on-going FIFA U-17 world championship in Chile.

    From one goal down, the Golden Eaglets won the epic semi-final match and will now face Mali in an all-African final in Vina Del Mar on Sunday.

    Mexico will play Belgium in the match for third place earlier the same day.

  • Kia to build $1b plant in Mexico

    Kia Motors Corporation has signed an investment deal with the Mexican government to build a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Monterrey, northeastern state of Nuevo León.

    The signing held at the Technological Museum of the Electricity Federal Commission (MUTEC) in Mexico City. It was attended by top executives of Kia Motors, led by Hyoung-Keun (Hank) Lee, Vice Chairman of Kia Motors Corp.

    Mexican President, Enrique Peña Nieto,  and Governor, State of Nuevo León, Rodrigo Medina de la Cruz also attended .

    Construction on the Kia Motors Mexico plant is scheduled to begin  this month. When completed in the first half of 2016, it will boast of  a yearly production capacity of 300,000 vehicles, thereby boosting Kia’s total global manufacturing capacity to 3.37 million vehicles, including 1.69 million vehicles at domestic Korean plants and 1.68 million at overseas plants. Kia plans to produce a range of yet-to-be confirmed compact models at the new plant.

    Representing an investment of about US$1billion by Kia Motors, the new, highly automated manufacturing plant will be situated on a 500-hectare (53.8 million square foot) site that will also be home to numerous supplier companies’ facilities.

    As one of the world’s fastest growing automakers, Kia Motors has been evaluating various options for entering new overseas markets to secure future growth for the brand. With its strong growth forecasts for new vehicle demand, Mexico was chosen as the site for Kia’s next overseas plant given that it is one of the few remaining major markets of the world in which Kia does not have a sales presence.

    For Korean automakers to competitively enter the Mexican market, the establishment of local production facilities is pivotal as Mexico imposes high tariffs on imported cars from Korea. Moreover, Mexico is well-known for its skilled, low-cost labour force and numerous free trade agreements (such as NAFTA) with about 40 countries.

    Meanwhile, Kia expects the Mexico plant to play a major role in alleviating global supply issues thanks to its strategic geographic location. Namely, its proximity to the USA will enable the company to better address the ongoing supply shortage situation that has arisen due to the dramatic growth of the Kia brand in the US market. Furthermore, Kia plans to utilise the plant as a foundation for strengthening the brand’s sales presence throughout the entire Central and South America region while freeing up supply from Kia’s domestic plants to address supply shortage issues in other regions of the world.

    Lee said: “All of us at Kia Motors are proud to signal in a new era for the brand with the announcement of our first manufacturing plant in Mexico. We are committed to producing world-class quality vehicles here in Mexico that feature industry-leading styling and high-tech convenience and safety features that customers have come to expect from Kia, while making significant contributions to both the economic growth of the State of Nuevo León and the future development of the Mexican automotive industry.”

  • Reforms shake up Mexico Telecoms

    Mexican telecoms reforms are forcing the break-up of billionaire Carlos Slim’s America Movil empire, Latin America’s biggest telecoms company.

    Mr  Slim, one of the world’s richest men, says he will bring America Movil’s market share below 50 per cent.

    Its Telmex fixed line subsidiary has 80 per cent of the Mexican market and its mobile Telcel operation 70  per cent.

    The reforms would make America Movil in its present form a dominant player, subject to strict new rules.

    They would include being forced to share infrastructure with rivals such as Spain’s Telefonica.

    In a move aimed at avoiding this, it will present its restructuring to the country’s new telecoms watchdog, the Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT).

    The much-delayed legislation reforming telecoms and broadcasting is expected to get final approval from Congress this week.

    It was introduced by President Enrique Pena Nieto, who took office 20 months ago promising to boost competition in the Mexican economy.

    The new rules will also affect Televisa, the world’s biggest provider of Spanish-language content, which has more than 60 per cent of the free-to-air TV market.

    Although America Movil has not yet said what it would sell off in order to reduce its market share, it has said it will split its infrastructure business and cellphone towers away from Telcel into a separate business.

    Mexico’s Transport and Communications Ministry said in a statement: “This decision could transform competition in the telecommunications sector, with improved quality and better prices for services to end users.”

    If America Movil does cut its market share below 50 per cent, it will be allowed into other markets, such as the pay-TV sector, which it is barred from at the moment.

  • Enyeama off to Mexico on holiday

    Enyeama off to Mexico on holiday

    • Wanted France to win the tournament

    Following the Super Eagles’ 2-0 loss to the Le Blues of France in the round of 16 of Brazil 2014, Nigeria and Lille’s goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama is off to Mexico, on holidays.

    SportingLife understands that Enyeama, who was one of Nigeria’s shinning lights at the World Cup, made this disclosure to LOSC TV when he visited his club’s training centre in Lille, France. It was after this interview that he left for the North American nation.

    Interestingly, the Nigerian said he had been hoping that France, the European country that dumped Nigeria out of Brazil 2014, would triumph at the FIFA World Cup. Unfortunately for the Eagles’ assistant captain, however, Coach Didier Deschamp’s team were last night knocked out of the tournament via a lone goal off the head of Germany’s Matt Hummels.

    “I play in France, I live in France, I had hoped they would win. Germany are a great team, but I had hoped to see ‘Les Bleus’ enjoying a victory,” Enyeama told LOSC TV.

    “I want France to win the World Cup, it is my dream. If it cannot be Nigeria, then it must be France. I wish them the best,” he added, while remaining vague on his future with the Super Eagles.

    “I am not yet sure about my future with the national team as there are many things that are not working well.

    “For many reasons, I prefer to keep my distance and let them deal with it. There are a lot of vain quarrels. But I haven’t decided yet on my future with the national team.”