Daily Headlines: March 17, 2010

* U.S.: The Department of Homeland Security has ordered a halt to construction of a controversial “virtual fence” along the U.S.-Mexico border so that $50 million in funds may be directed “to other purposes.”

* Cuba: "Cuba desperately needs political and legal reform to bring the country in line with basic international human rights standards,” said a statement by Amnesty International regarding a report published on Tuesday.

* Argentina: The government rejected reports that it’s purposefully blocking beef exports due to the weakened domestic economy.

* Puerto Rico: A U.S. government report released yesterday found staff negligence and dirty equipment in Puerto Rican veterans clinics.

Image – The Gazette (“A prototype of a tower for the virtual fence along the U.S.-Mexico border at a test facility in Playas, N.M.”)
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, Washington Post, Reuters, AP, BusinessWeek