Daily Headlines: February 5, 2014

* Mexico: President Enrique Peña Nieto pledged to spend $3.4 billion in funds for social and infrastructure programs in Michoacán, a Mexican state where recently legalized “self-defense” groups have battled against the Knights Templar drug gang.

* Puerto Rico: Puerto Rican Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla’s plans to present a balanced budget a year ahead of time were not enough to present Standard and Poor’s from lowering the credit rating of the commonwealth to “junk” status.

* Brazil: Several million Brazilian residents were affected by blackouts that hit parts of the country, and that occurred amid record heat and low reservoir levels at the country's hydroelectric plants.

* Peru: Autopsy results could explain the cause of death of over 400 deceased dolphins that washed up on the coast of northern Peru in January.

Video Source - euronews via YouTube ("Government authorities in the Mexican state of Michoacan signed a deal (last week) allowing the police to work with local vigilante "self-defence" volunteer groups.")

Online Sources- GlobalPost; Reuters; ABC News; The Guardian