Daily Headlines: July 6, 2016

* Mexico: The Mexican government has offered to hold negotiations with representatives of teachers on a strike that has expanded beyond Oaxaca and into Mexico City.

* Ecuador: Ecuadorian Finance Minister Fausto Herrera admitted that officials are looking into creating a framework to comply with a U.S. Supreme Court order to pay Chevron $96 million.

* Brazil: U.S. and Brazilian authorities are looking for a former Guantanamo military prison detainee who resettled in Uruguay nearly two years ago but whose current whereabouts are unknown.

* Spain: A Spanish court sentenced Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi and his father to twenty-one months in prison for tax fraud but both men could escape jail time.

YouTube Source – CCTV America (From July 1, 2016: “The situation in Oaxaca still remains tense after clashes between teachers unions and the police. Blockades remain, while shortages of basic products are affecting the region.”)

Online Sources – teleSUR English, Fox News Latino, Marca, CNN

Daily Headlines: June 22, 2016

* Colombia: The Colombian government and FARC rebels will reportedly agree to a bilateral ceasefire, which could serve as a precursor to a final peace deal that might be reached in about one month from now.

* U.S.: Lionel Messi broke the record of most goals for a player on the Argentine men’s national team as the albiceleste had little trouble beating the U.S. by a score of 4-0 in a Copa America Centenario semifinal.

* Mexico: Tensions continue in the Mexican state of Oaxaca following clashes between striking teachers and police that left at least eight people dead.

* Puerto Rico: Debt negotiations between Puerto Rican officials and bondholders ended without a resolution despite a July 1st deadline to avoid falling into a major default.

YouTube Source – euronews (Last month “the Colombian government agreed on a plan to reintegrate child soldiers from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, into society”.)
 
Online Sources – BBC News, UPI, Bloomberg, CNN, Reuters

Daily Headlines: January 12, 2016

* Venezuela: Venezuela’s new opposition-led congress has been thrown into disarray after the Supreme Court voided new legislative actions over the swearing in of three barred lawmakers.

* Mexico: Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, alleged co-leader of the Sinaloa drug gang along with Joaquin Guzmán, is reportedly Mexico’s most wanted criminal days after the recapture of “El Chapo”.

* Guatemala: A Guatemalan tribunal once again suspended the trial of former dictator Efraín Ríos Montt on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.

* Europe: Lionel Messi of Argentina captured the Ballon d’or as the world’s top male soccer player for a fifth time while Brazil’s Wendell Lira won the goal of the year award.

YouTube Source – euronews

Online Sources – Reuters, The Tico Times, The Latin Americanist, BBC Sport

Daily Headlines: October 3, 2014

* Latin America: 63 doctors and 102 nurses from Cuba reportedly left for Sierra Leone to help combat the African country’s Ebola outbreak while Salvadoran authorities placed under quarantine two nuns suspected of being infected with Ebola.

* Brazil: The head of the International Olympic Committee’s inspection team claimed that plans for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro are “on track” though “the schedule was tight.”

* Venezuela: Was ruling party legislator Robert Serra and his partner killed days ago as part of a planned assassination?

* Argentina: A Spanish judge ruled that Argentine soccer superstar Lionel Messi must stand trial for allegedly evading more than four million euros in taxes.

Video Source – Voice of America via YouTube

Online Sources – Fox News Latino; Tico Times; BBC News; The Independent; Businessweek

Argentina Falls in World Cup Final Match

Chris Wondolowski’s shot above the crossbar against Belgium. Mauricio Pinilla’s attempt ringing the goalpost in extra time against Brazil. Michael Arroyo not pulling the trigger late versus the Swiss. There were numerous missed opportunities at this year’s World Cup though none may have been bigger than the squandered chances by Argentina in their narrow 1-0 loss to Germany in the title match.

In the 29th minute, Gonzalo Higuain received the ball in space following a defensive lapse by the German backline but he mishit and his shot rolled woefully wide of the goal.  Minutes later, Higuain found the back of the net yet his celebration was cut short as the goal was called back for a clear offsides.

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi also wasted several opportunities in the final match played at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium.  In the early minutes of the second half, La Pulga was alone in front of goal with only German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to beat however he dragged a poor shot low and wide.  Messi’s teammate, Rodrigo Palacio, was also alone in front of Neuer in extra time but has chip ended harmless to the right of the German netminder.

It took until the 113th minute for the scoreless deadlock to be broken when Mario Götze scored from a sharp angle past Sergio Romero’s net.

Messi, who netted a late game-winner in group play against Iran and assisted Ángel di María’s gamewinner in the second round versus Switzerland, was fouled in injury time of the second extra period.  He took it upon himself to try for the equalizer from about thirty years away from goal but his shot sailed high and wide. Two minuets later the final whistle blew and Germany won the World Cup for the fourth time in team history.

Following the match numerous Argentine players such as Messi, who was named as the best player of the World Cup, couldn’t hide their dejection.

Daily Headlines: March 24, 2014

* El Salvador: Will Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was murdered while celebrating Mass on this day 34 years ago, be granted sainthood by the Vatican within the next three years?

* Spain: Argentine soccer superstar Lionel Messi’s hat trick helped push Barcelona to a 4-3 victory against their traditional Spanish rivals Real Madrid.

* Brazil: Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has reportedly come under fire over alleged irregularities in the costly purchase of a California oil refinery by Petrobras in 2006.

* Uruguay: President Jose Mujica of Uruguay said that his country would take in several Guantanamo Bay detainees in exchange for the U.S. freeing three Cubans convicted of spying in 2001.
 
Video Source – YouTube user interestmedia

Online Sources- The Pilot; SI.com; Forbes.com; Xinhua

Daily Headlines: June 20, 2013

* Puerto Rico: The San José Church in Old San Juan was included on a National Trust for Historic Preservation of the most endangered historic places in the U.S.

* Ecuador: Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino claimed that the Ecuadorian government would consider granting asylum to U.S. whistleblower Edward Snowden.

* Argentina: Soccer superstar Lio Messi and his father have been reportedly charged with roughly $5.4 million in tax fraud by a Spanish judge today.

* Cuba: According to the State Department the U.S. and Cuba agreed to restart migration talks that have been stalled since 2011.

Video Source – YouTube via user preservationnation
 
Online Sources- Bernama; Reuters; USA Today

Daily Headlines: January 8, 2013

* South America: For the fourth straight year Argentine striker Lionel Messi received the Ballon d’Or as the world’s best soccer player and he also joined fellow South Americans Marcelo, Dani Alves and Radamel Falcao to the World XI All-Star team.

* Bolivia: Bolivian officials claimed to have “irrefutable evidence” proving that the U.S. embassy in La Paz is plotting to “damage the image and prestige” of President Evo Morales.

* Venezuela: Rescuers continue to search for a plane that disappeared off the Venezuelan coast carrying Italian fashion executive Vittorio Missoni and five other people.
 
* Argentina: The Argentine foreign ministry blasted British Prime Minister David Cameron over alleged “military threats” made regarding the disputed Falklands.
 
Video Source – YouTube via user HeilRJ03 (Lionel Messi scored 91 goals in all competitions in 2012, which is reportedly a world record).

Online Sources- ESPN Soccernet, AFP, The Telegraph, Euronews

Daily Headlines: December 24, 2012

* South America: The risk of eruption from the Copahue volcano led Chile to issue a maximum red alert and Argentina to warn residents of local villages to closely monitor the situation.

* Mexico: Several thousand supporters of the Zapatista National Liberation Army marched in southern Mexico in order to commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of the Acteal massacre.

* Spain: Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi scored in Barcelona's 3-1 victory and, thus, finished 2012 with ninety-one goals in all competitions.

* Brazil: According to new government data the number of murders in Sao Paulo last month increased by 71% compared to November 2011.

Video Source – YouTube via user abccolor
 
Online Sources- AFP, Sacramento Bee, ESPN Soccernet, LAHT

Argentine Maradona “Church” Followers Defect to Messi

It may not be a schism as profound as the Protestant Reformation but followers of one Argentine “church” are debating over whether to stay or join a breakaway “sect”.

The loyalty of members of the Maradonian Church (named after World Cup-winning soccer legend Diego Maradona) is facing a serious challenge from a group of dissidents. A statement was issued in the name of two hundred former Maradona followers who announced that they have seen the light in the form of Argentine soccer superstar Lionel Messi.

Daily Headlines: March 8, 2012

* Argentina: Lionel Messi became the first player to score five goals in a UEFA Champions League match after his club team, Barcelona, hammered Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen 7-1.

* Cuba: Citing the inability “to find a consensus” Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos said that Cuba will not be invited to the Americas Summit in Cartagena next month.

* Mexico: For the third consecutive year Carlos Slim has topped the Forbes list of the world’s wealthiest individuals with an estimated worth of $69 billion.

* Venezuela: Chevron will reportedly inject a $2 billion credit line into a joint project run by the company and Venezuelan state-owned firm PDVSA.

Video Source – YouTube via TVPublicaArgentina

Online Sources- CNN, Reuters, The Telegraph, El Universal

Daily Headlines: March 1, 2012

* Latin America: Lio Messi scored his first international hat trick in Argentina's win over Switzerland, while Jose Pekerman enjoyed a great debut as Colombia coach with a 2-0 victory over Mexico.

* Cuba: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that imprisonment of contractor Alan Gross in Cuba is “deplorable” and said that she will not make any concessions in order to free him.

* Puerto Rico: Hundreds of protestors demonstrated in San Juan earlier this month and expressed their opposition to a commonwealth government-backed natural gas pipeline project.

* Venezuela: “Here I go, soaring like the condor,” said President Hugo Chavez via Twitter regarding his recovery from surgery in Havana.

Video Source – YouTube via TVPublicaArgentina

Online Sources- Global Voices Online, swissinfo, SI.com, Fox News Latino, Huffington Post

Daily Headlines: January 9, 2012 (Updated)

* Haiti: A bipartisan Congressional coalition called for the White House to “fast-track” thousands of visas for the relatives of Haitian-Americans seeking to legally immigrate to the U.S.

* Argentina: Lionel Messi could be awarded later today with the Ballon d’Or trophy as the world’s top soccer player. (Update:Messi won his third consecutive Ballon d'Or and thus becomes the first South American player to win the honor three times).

* Guatemala: At least 19 people were murdered during a 24 hour-period over the weekend according to the authorities.

* Mexico: Former men’s national soccer team goalkeeper Omar Ortiz was arrested and accused of planning the kidnappings of two individuals.

Video Source – YouTube via swissinfo.ch (“It's two years since a 7.0-magnitude earthquake leveled Haiti's capital, leaving more than 300,000 dead and many more injured and homeless.”)

Online Sources- CBC News, Sydney Morning Herald, LAHT, The Telegraph

Today’s Video: Will the "Messi effect" work?

In 1977 a team with soccer legend Pele play a friendly match in Kolkata, India against local side Mohun Bagan. Thirty-four years later the Argentine and Venezuelan national teams played in an exhibition match in that city with the former beating the latter by a score of 1-0.

Star player Lionel Messi made his debut as captain of los albicelestes in that game that was played last week. But could his celebrity status help spur the development of soccer in India? Or will it require grassroots efforts like those in Venezuela, where soccer has grown despite the sport's secondary status compared to baseball? It remains to be seen if the "Messi effect" has any substantial impact for a country whose lone qualification to the World Cup finals came over sixty years ago.

Video Source - Al Jazeera English via YouTube

Online Sources - New American Media, India Today, AFP

Daily Headlines: April 28, 2011

* Argentina: Alejandro Chaskielberg won the Sony world photographer of the year award for his snapshots depicting islanders living on the Parana River Delta.

* Bolivia: President Evo Morales announced a major find at the Aquio gas field that could boost Bolivia’s gas reserves by nearly one-third.

* Mexico: According to the State Department a record 111 U.S. citizens were killed in Mexico last year, which is triple that of 2007.

* Spain: Lionel Messi 2 – Real Madrid 0.

Image – “Alejandro Chaskielberg, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2011” via The Guardian (“Alejandro Chaskielberg's The Hunter, one of a portfolio of images that won the Argentinian photographer an award at the Sony World Photography awards. “)
Online Sources- BBC News, CBC, Mercopress, Houston Chronicle

Rousseff, Messi make Time's "influential" list

One of the world’s best soccer players and one of Latin America’s most influential leaders have been named to Time magazine’s list of the world’s most influential people.

Argentine futbol star Lionel Messi and Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff were two of the 100 figures selected to the U.S. newsmagazine’s list. Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet described the numerous challenges Rousseff including being a female head of state and leading an “emerging nation” that is Brazil. Yet Bachelet praised Rousseff as a “courageous fighter” who “offers precisely that virtuous combination of wisdom and conviction that her country needs.”

Rousseff thus emulates her predecessor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who appeared on the Time list in 2004 and 2010.

Even though Lula hand-picked his former Chief of Staff to follow him, Rousseff has somewhat distinguished herself from him. Compared to Lula she has taken on a less charismatic and more administrative tone during her almost four months in the presidency. Rousseff has also differed from Lula in the foreign policy arena in that she is more willing to tackle global human rights violations.

Lionel Messi may’ve ended up on the short end of Barcelona’s Copa del Rey finals loss on Wednesday to bitter rivals Real Madrid. Yet ex-French international and former Barca teammate Thierry Henry couldn’t help but compare Messi to an Argentine soccer legend:

It's not normal, what he does. I know the expectation that builds up around top players, but it doesn't bother Messi. He's a competitor: he doesn't want to lose, not even in training. He reminds me of Diego Maradona, the way he dribbles past people, the way you can kick him and he'll just bounce up and carry on running with the ball, then score a goal — it's ridiculous.

Egyptian internet activist Wael Ghonim, Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg and German Chancellor Angela Merkel were in the top ten of the list that was voted on by Time readers.

Image- Eraldo Peres/Associated Press via CBC News (“Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, right, shown with artist Isabel Mendes da Cunha signed a law Tuesday in Sao Paulo granting grandparents visitation with grandchildren in cases of divorce.”)
Online Sources- Time, AS/COA Online, Al Jazeera English, AFP

Argentine politico caught in “Messi” situation

Before we get to the more serious news in the Americas we want to start the day off with a light-hearted note from Argentina.

Soccer star Lionel Messi is not a happy camper but this time it’s not due to Barcelona’s loss in the Champions League last week. His image appeared in a campaign ad for Argentine legislator Alfredo Olmedo, a candidate running for governor of Salta. "Say yes to sport, say no to drugs" is the slogan of the ad that appeared in poster form last week in parts of the northwestern province.

Messi’s lawyer, Ricardo Giusepponi, declared on Monday that Messi would sue Olmedo for improper use of his client’s image. Said Giusepponi yesterday:

"The photo may be a sham. It may have been taken at Ezeiza airport (in Buenos Aires), where Lionel is greeted by so many people. He certainly did not know who that person was and his position," the lawyer told a radio station in Rosario, Messi's native city.



"Lionel supports no one. He has nothing to do with party politics," Giusepponi said.

Image- Telam via ESPN Deportes (“The controversial poster used by a candidate for the governor to Salta.”)
Online Sources- Clarin.com, BBC Sport, Sify

Daily Headlines: January 14, 2011

* Venezuela: U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen said that Venezuela doesn’t pose “a significant threat” to the U.S. but also admitted that he was concerned over the South American country’s arms purchases.

* Brazil: The death toll from a series of landslides and flooding in southeastern Brazil rose to nearly 500 fatalities.

* U.S.: A report by researchers at Seton Hall University found that New Jersey’s day laborers have been the targets of widespread abuse by employers.

* Argentina: Are plans to start a best soccer player in Europe award next season sour grapes over Argentina’s Lionel Messi winning the Ballon d'Or last week?

Image – Carlos Garcia Rawlins/REUTERS via Christian Science Monitor (“Venezuelan soldiers take part in a military parade on June 24, 2009, to celebrate the 188th anniversary of the battle of Carabobo in Valencia, where Simon Bolivar's decisive victory against Spanish forces led to Venezuela's independence.”)
Online Sources- El Universal, The Guardian, Bloomberg, Herald Sun

Daily Headlines: November 18, 2010

* Argentina: Lionel Messi's last-second score was the lone goal in Argentina's tough win over traditional regional soccer rivals Brazil.

* Cuba: A division of Russian energy giant Gazprom will help explore and develop several possibly lucrative Cuban offshore oil blocks.

* Honduras: The murders of most of the 260 Honduran women killed this year have gone unpunished according to a local women's rights organization.

* Ecuador: Could a weakened economy lead to another attempted "coup" against President Rafael Correa?

Video Source - YouTube via ElEspectador com
Online Sources - insidecostarica.com, CBC, Reuters, Bloomberg, The Latin Americanist

Daily Headlines: October 27, 2010

* Latin America: Uruguay’s Diego Forlan (image), Argentine Lio Messi, and Maicon of brazil are among the finalists for this year’s Ballon d'Or.

* Bolivia: President Evo Morales met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in order to attract more Iranian investment and to strengthen bilateral ties.

* Panama: Is President Ricardo Martinelli turning into a “strongman”?

* Peru: Ecuador has joined Peru’s claim seeking the return of thousands of Incan relics being held by Yale University.

Image – The Guardian
Online Sources- Time, Reuters, Xinhua, USA TODAY