Daily Headlines: July 20, 2015

* Cuba: After fifty-four years the embassies of Cuba and the U.S. reopened in their respective countries and, hence, officially reestablished bilateral diplomatic relations.

* Colombia: On Colombian Independence Day the FARC commenced their latest unilateral ceasefire that could jump start troubled peace negotiations between the rebels and the government.

* U.S.: A report published last week found that immigration authorities did not properly document 93% of deported, unaccompanied migrant children from Canada and Mexico between 2009 and 2014.

* Brazil: Brazilian swimmer Thiago Pereira became the most decorated athlete in Pan American Games history after winning his 23rd medal in Toronto.

YouTube Source – Associated Press (“After fifty years of frosty relations the United States and Cuba restore full diplomatic relations Monday.”)

Online Sources – ABC News, The Guardian, Colombia Reports, Swimming World

Weekend Headlines: October 15-16, 2011

* Cuba: Rest in peace Laura Pollan. The founder of Cuba’s Ladies in White dissident group died on Friday at the age of 63.

* Mexico: The Pan American Games in Guadalajara commenced with the opening ceremonies last night but the first day of competition was marred by two athletes expelled due to doping.

* South America: Will Ecuador be the biggest beneficiary of a U.S.-Colombia free trade pact that was passed by Congress days ago?

* El Salvador: At least 36 people have died as a result of flooding and mudslides caused by heavy rainfall.

Video Source – Via YouTube user euronews (Footage from an August Ladies in White protest including alleged harassment from pro-government supporters).

Online Sources- UPI, Xinhua, Reuters, CSMonitor.com, CBS News

Weekend Headlines: November 7-8, 2009

* Mexico: The country’s deep economic woes may start to be a thing of the past after the government proclaimed an end to the recession.

* Paraguay: President Fernando Lugo recent troubles go beyond being the possible target of a coup; on Thursday, the former priest was hit with his third paternity lawsuit.

* El Salvador: President Mauricio Funes announced that he will posthumously award El Salvador’s highest honor to six Jesuit priests infamously slain in 1989.

* Latin America: Toronto, Canada beat the capital cities of Peru and Colombia to become the site of the 2015 Pan American Games.

Image – SFGate.com (“Shopping for food in Mazatlán, in western Mexico”).
Online Sources- LAHT, Huffington Post, AP, Reuters, The Latin Americanist

Brazil: 5000+ march over deadly air crash

While the Pan American Games came to a close in Rio de Janeiro, several thousand protestors marched in Sao Paulo (image) to commemorate the deadly TAM Flight 3054 that killed nearly 200 people. Some of those marchers blamed government incompetence for widespread air traffic problems over the past few years:

“President, leave your presidential sash on my husband's grave," read one banner. Another black banner had "Misgoverning kills" emblazoned on it in white letters.

Renata Oliveira, wearing a shirt with a picture of her father who was killed in the crash, said: "It is very sad to know that someone you loved a lot died here because of someone's irresponsible actions."

Over the weekend, newly appointed Defense Minister and head of aviation Neslon Jobim pledged to emphasize passenger safety over secondary concerns such as comfort. In addition, a Brazilian news magazine alleged that pilot error was to blame for the accident.

Sources- BBC News, CNN, The Latin Americanist, Malaysia Star, USA TODAY, news.com.au

Image- BBC News

Daily Headlines: July 24, 2007

* U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales affirmed that he would not quit his post before he faces the Senate Judiciary Committee later today.

* Fidel Castro blamed the lure of wealth from U.S. professional boxing as the impetus behind the possible defection of two top Cuban boxers from the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro.

* Thousands of people marched in Oaxaca, Mexico demanding that the state governor resign.

* The Chinese government is investigating how a batch of toothpaste exported to Panama became tainted and killed nearly a hundred people.

* Follow-up: In the aftermath of the TAM Flight 3054 accident, the president of an international air controllers' group urged that Brazil allow foreign experts to oversee the country’s air traffic system.

Sources- Guardian UK, The Latin Americanist, USA TODAY, Houston Chronicle, SI.com

Image- MSNBC

Daily Headlines: July 21, 2007

* Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva promised a full investigation of Tuesday’s deadly accident of TAM Flight 3054 while criticism grows against the government.

* Big congrats to “Ugly Betty” who was the top comedy series by receiving eleven Primetime Emmy nominations.

* Immigrants in the U.S. anxiously await a massive increase in fees for most services which is set to begin on July 30^th.

* Hundreds of thousands of protestors marched in La Paz, Bolivia to demonstrate against plans to move the country’s capital from La Paz to Sucre.

* Despite U.S. swimmers leading the country’s medal surge at the Pan American Games, all eyes have been on Brazil’s Thiago Pereira who earlier today broke Mark Spitz's 40-year-old record for most gold medals at a single Games.

Sources- The Scotsman, Reuters, The Latin Americanist, E! Online, MSNBC, CNN, Taipei Times, International Herald Tribune

Image- BBC News

Sports briefs

* Now that David Beckham officially arrived in the U.S. (image) his success will partially rely on the Latino community, according to soccer journalist Grant Wahl.

* With the Pan American Games taking place in Rio de Janeiro some news articles are highlighting the stereotype of sex and Brazil. Exhibit A - this article from Bloomberg on the “benefits” the Games will have on local prostitutes. (More on the Games below).

* Earlier today Colombian cyclist Juan Mauricio Soler Hernandez won the 9^th stage of the Tour de France.

* Latin American players are dominating in Major League Baseball, according to this Spanish-language article.

* South American soccer bodies allowed an exemption for international games to be played in the high attitude of La Paz, Bolivia.

* FIFA will choose the site of the 2014 World Cup in October; Brazil is the lone candidate.

* More news on the events from the Pan American Games:

• As of Monday night, the U.S. leads the medal count with 30 medals, nearly double that of second-place Canada.
• For the first time ever, Puerto Rico won a men’s team gymnastics competition.
• Argentine dentist Juan Carlos Dasque won gold at the men’s trap shooting event and thus qualified for the 2008 Olympics.
• Despite the suspension of several baseball games on Saturday due to lighting problems, Panama upset perennial favorites Cuba 4-3.
• In a heartwarming story, Brazilian taekwando competitor Diego Silva opted before the games to compete rather than buy his mother a car for her to get to work. Yet after winning the gold medal on Sunday he has earned enough new sponsorship deals to get the car she desires.

Sources (English)- SI.com, Bloomberg, BBC News, International Herald tribune, USA TODAY, Reuters, People’s Daily Online, New York Times, TBO.com

Sources (Spanish)- El Diario/La Prensa

Image- ESPN Soccernet

Quote of the Day: Let the Games begin!

"This will leave a tremendous legacy for Rio not just for the 16 days of competition, but for decades to come, for many generations who will benefit from this legacy. And I think in this aspect is it socially warranted and responsible."

--International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge on the Pan American Games which open today Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Problems have emerged such as insufficient bathrooms at some venues and three athletes suspended for drug use. Yet over $2 billion has been invested in security, infrastructural improvements, and other areas to ensure that the Games are a success.

Sources- Voice of America, BBC News, International Herald Tribune, MSNBC

Image- 680 News