Daily Headlines: July 15, 2009

* Latin America: Remittances to Latin America and the Caribbean are expected to drop by 6.9% this year; a greater rate than initially predicted by the World Bank.

* Honduras: Could elected president Manuel Zelaya be granted amnesty against charges of breaking the constitution in exchange for conceding to early elections?

* U.S.: Phillies fans, say "hi" to Pedro Martinez.

* Venezuela: According to government figures the Venezuelan oil exports fell by more than 75,000 barrels per day last month.

Image- WN.com
Online Sources- Bloomberg, LAHT, CBC, Reuters

Pedro Martinez Caught With a Cock in DR

Get your mind out of the gutter. I mean rooster people. NY Mets Pitcher Pedro Martinez and Hall of Famer Juan Marichal was caught on video cock fighting while in the Dominican Republic .

Cockfighting is both legal and popular in the Dominican Republic.
The pair took part as honorary "soltadores" - the word used to describe the person who throws the animal into the ring.

When Martinez was questioned about his participation in what many consider an act of cruelty he responded by saying in a statement released by his team:

"I understand that people are upset, but this is part of our Dominican culture and is legal in the Dominican Republic. I was invited by my idol, Juan Marichal, to attend the event as a spectator, not as a participant."

The video released on You Tube is said to be at least two years old.

Source : NY Post