Daily Headlines: January 4, 2013

* Argentina: British Prime Minister David Cameron rejected Argentinian president Cristina Fernandez' latest push for Argentine sovereignty over the disputed Falkland Islands.

* Puerto Rico: In his inauguration speech on Wednesday new governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla vowed to fix Puerto Rico's economic woes and combat the island's high crime rates.

* Chile: The widow of folk singer Victor Jara called on the U.S. government to extradite a former Chilean military official charged with murdering her husband in 1973.

* Haiti: The Haitian government is none too pleased with the recent strengthening of travel warnings by the U.S. and Canada to the Caribbean country.

Daily Headlines: January 2, 2013

* Peru: Over thirty people died in Peru in 2012 as a result of a dengue outbreak that infected approximately 21,000 people last year.

* U.S.: Is the naming of a new California school after bandido Tiburcio Vasquez a fair recognition of a historic Latino or the unnecessary glorification of a criminal?

* Colombia: While peace talks between the Colombian government and FARC rebels are on hold at least thirteen guerillas died in a military assault.

* Haiti: The U.S. State Department upgraded its travel warning to Haiti including advising visitors “medical facilities are particularly weak.”

Video Source – YouTube via Al Jazeera English 

Online Sources- Huffington Post, The Global Dispatch, LAHT, CBS Miami

Daily Headlines: January 1, 2013

* Venezuela: Venezuelans ushered in the New Year amidst a mountain of uncertainty regarding the health of President Hugo Chavez.

* U.S.: According to a new study only 34% of Latino immigrants seek unemployment benefits even though the Latino unemployment rate is higher than the national average.

* Colombia: Nine partygoers were killed near Medellin supposedly due to tensions between rival drug gangs.
  
* Latin America: A recently released report found that Brazil has thirty billionaires, which is the most in Latin America.

Video Source – YouTube via Al Jazeera English

Online Sources- Huffington Post, Washington Post, Politic365, Channel News Asia

Unique Customs Usher in New Year in Latin America

Note: This post was originally published in December 2006 though the link has been updated.

With New Year's just hours away, most of us have our party plans set. Part of those plans include partaking in traditions with roots in our native countries.

Many of us partake of the ritual stemming from madre Spain, eating 12 grapes at the 12 strokes of midnight, making a wish with each uva and ensuring 12 months of good luck. Many South American countries including Ecuador and Colombia burn an effigy of the old year. Others insist in wearing, sometimes inside out, yellow or red underwear. Regardless of how you celebrate the New Year, may all of you have a healthy and happy one.

Daily Headlines: December 31, 2012

* Brazil: Economic growth has trickled to less than one percent this year but will one of the world’s emerging markets rebound in 2013?

* Latin America: U.S. President Barack Obama enacted a law aimed at curtailing Iranian influence in Latin America that also includes beefing up security along the U.S.-Mexico border.

* Mexico: Legislators in Mexico City unanimously approved prison terms for people convicted of animal cruelty.

* Chile: International arrest warrants were issued against eight former military officers accused of involvement in the 1973 death of singer Victor Jara.
 
Video Source – YouTube via user ASCOAonline (November 2012 panel discussion at the Americas Society/Council of the Americas on the expectations of Brazil’s economy and political climate in 2013). 

Online Sources- MSNBC, Al Jazeera English, Huffington Post, CNN