Daily Headlines: July 18, 2016

* U.S.: A new poll indicates an overwhelming majority of residents in the U.S.-Mexico border region are opposed to building a wall between both countries and also support a path to U.S. citizenship for undocumented Mexican immigrants.

* Colombia: Jarlinson Pantano of Colombia won his first Tour de France stage on Sunday, while his compatriot and race contender Nairo Quintana’s expected attack this week may not be enough to dethrone Chris Froome from winning his second straight Tour.

* Cuba: The U.S. Congress is gradually easing its opposition to normalizing ties with Cuba despite staunch opposition from Cuban-American legislators.

* Venezuela: At least 100,000 people took advantage of a brief reopening of the Venezuelan border with Colombia mainly to buy basic goods and medicine.

YouTube Source – Wall Street Journal (From February 2016: “Building a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico would be full of daunting challenges, from environmental regulations to private property laws. But that hasn't stopped politicians from pledging to do it”)
 
Online Sources – Dallas Morning News, BBC Sport, Sky Sports, The Hill, Macon Telegraph

Nuestro Cine: "Fence"-d out

With the midterm elections coming up in a few weeks certain hot button topics have become more prominent in the public eye. One of the most heated issues is immigration, particularly undocumented migrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border. All sorts of suggestions have been made regarding immigration such as erecting a massive barrier along certain border areas. But do these ideas work or are they woefully short-sighted?

"The Fence" is a documentary that takes a critical look at the proposed border fence and argues that it has done far more harm than good. This thought-provoking film will air on HBO tonight; see for yourself if you agree with the documentary's arguments:

Trailer

McCain, Kyl: Send troops to border

While Arizona is at the cusp of passing one of the country’s strongest anti-immigration bills the state’s federal senators have introduced their own tough proposal on immigration.

Sens. Jon Kyl and John McCain proposed deploying 3000 National Guard soldiers along the U.S.-Mexico border. "The situation has spiraled out of control," McCain said at a press conference today as he claimed that illegal immigrants crossing the border has supposedly led to a spike in crime in Arizona.

The proposal made part of a ten-point immigration plan that focused primarily on security and included suggestions such as erecting “double- and triple- layer fencing” along the border and increasing funds for the Border Patrol.

McCain has long been a proponent of comprehensive immigration reform and had championed a failed 2006 reform proposal that was supported by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. Yet McCain has faced strong conservative opposition in his bid for reelection that has been critical of his immigration stance. "It is unconscionable that nearly a decade after 9/11 the backdoor of the United States remains open," declared McCain’s main opponent- former Congressman J.D. Hayworth- at a recent Arizona Tea Party rally.

The push for stronger legislation against immigrants in Arizona could lead to one of the staunchest opponents of immigration to run for governor:

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has been raising fistfuls of money for months now, but the question is: for what?

If Arpaio knows what office he will run for next, he isn't saying yet. But he promises to let voters know by May 1 whether he will hang onto his sheriff's badge or toss his hat into the ring for governor.

Arpaio has raised $2 million to date, money he cannot touch until he starts campaigning for sheriff or shifts gears to run for governor. He has been soliciting contributions for nearly a year, and the response has been striking even for someone with his name recognition.

(Hat tip on the final link: Gawker).

Image- CBS News
Online Sources- CNN, Washington Independent, The Hill, Fox News, azcentral.com, Gawker

Daily Headlines: March 17, 2010

* U.S.: The Department of Homeland Security has ordered a halt to construction of a controversial “virtual fence” along the U.S.-Mexico border so that $50 million in funds may be directed “to other purposes.”

* Cuba: "Cuba desperately needs political and legal reform to bring the country in line with basic international human rights standards,” said a statement by Amnesty International regarding a report published on Tuesday.

* Argentina: The government rejected reports that it’s purposefully blocking beef exports due to the weakened domestic economy.

* Puerto Rico: A U.S. government report released yesterday found staff negligence and dirty equipment in Puerto Rican veterans clinics.

Image – The Gazette (“A prototype of a tower for the virtual fence along the U.S.-Mexico border at a test facility in Playas, N.M.”)
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, Washington Post, Reuters, AP, BusinessWeek

Daily Headlines: October 12, 2009

* Mexico: The Senate Appropriation Committee rejected a provision that would’ve added an extra 300 miles to the U.S.-Mexico border barrier.

* Argentina: Rest in peace Luis Aguile; the Argentine-born singer-songwriter best known for "Cuando Sali de Cuba" (When I Left Cuba) died in Madrid at the age of 73.

* Bolivia: According to a recent poll Bolivian president Evo Morales is well on his way to winning reelection this December.

* U.S.: Albert Pujols may have a strong chance to repeat as National League Most Valuable Player yet he and his St. Louis Cardinals teammates will be watching the rest of the playoffs at home after being flummoxed by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Image- PRESS TV
Online Sources- Houston Chronicle, CBC, YouTube, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times,
Angus Reid Consultants

Daily Headlines: September 21, 2009

* U.S.: According to the Government Accountability Office, the U.S.-Mexico border barrier will cost $6.5 billion over the next 20 years and the fence has been broken into at least 3,363 times.

* Brazil: “We want the public to become aware of our struggle and of the difficulties of inclusion, of accessibility… and that is what we came to show,” said one of the hundreds of disabled Brazilians who demonstrated yesterday.

* Argentina: According to the local press Argentina will make an offer to payback part of a multibillion dollar debt to the Paris Club group of creditor countries.

* Peru: President Alan Garcia's approval rating continues to be very low (28%) as anger continues over June’s deadly clashes between police and protestors.

Image- CBS News (“The $6.5 billion price tag is in addition to the $2.4 billion that has already been spent to build fence segments along the U.S.-Mexico border.”)
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, AP, LAHT, Forbes.com, Reuters

Daily Headlines: August 27, 2009

* U.S.: South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford remains defiant in the face of increased pressure to resign over his affair with an Argentine mistress and possibly using state funds illegally to travel to see her.

* Costa Rica: Search parties continue to look for a Chicago man who has been lost for two weeks while hiking in Costa Rica.

* Mexico: Six men were arrested in Tijuana trying to steal parts of the U.S.-Mexico border fence to sell for scrap metal.

* Colombia: Were leftist guerillas or right-wing paramilitaries behind the massacre of twelve members of the indigenous Awa yesterday?

Image- AP
Online Sources- MSNBC, UPI, Guardian UK, CNN