Daily Headlines: September 19, 2016

* Peru: The San Sebastian Church in Cuzco, which was built in the 16th century, was almost completely destroyed by a fire purportedly caused by a short circuit.

* Latin America: A Mexican boy’s stand at an anti-gay rights demonstration wasn’t the only image at a protest in Latin America that went viral last week.

* Venezuela: President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela said OPEC member states and non-cartel oil producing countries are “close” to agreeing to a plan to stabilize oil prices.

* Argentina: Third time could be the charm for Argentina in the Davis Cup finals after their team knocked out defending champions Great Britain in the semifinals.

YouTube Source – No Comment TV (“The historic San Sebastian church, in Cuzco, Peru has been gutted by fire. Dozens of works of art, including those by celebrated local artist Quispe Tito were destroyed in the flames.”)

Online Sources – The Washington Post, CNN, The Latin Americanist, Reuters, ESPN

Daily Headlines: August 30, 2016

* Brazil: A defiant suspended President Dilma Rousseff defended herself during a marathon session of Brazil’s Senate but it may not be enough to prevent her from being ousted as soon as later today.

* Puerto Rico: Monica Puig made made history this month by earning Puerto Rico’s first ever gold medal but the tennis star was shockingly eliminated in the first round of the U.S. Open.

* United States: A federal appeals court upheld an order denying asylum to twenty-eight immigrant mothers and their children who claimed they would face danger if deported to their Latin American countries of origin.

* Mexico: Federal police chief Enrique Galindo was fired from his post over denunciations against officers accused of the extrajudicial killings of twenty-two suspected drug gang members last year.

YouTube Source – euronews (“Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff has accused her critics of using trumped charges against her to trample on the country's democracy.”)

Online Sources – Daily Telegraph, ABC News, Reuters, USA TODAY

Daily Headlines: August 8, 2016

* Mexico: At least forty people died following several landslides in Puebla and Veracruz states following Tropical Storm Earl though heavy rain is expected to continue and potentially cause “life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.”

* Cuba: Cuban officials blamed the United States for a surge of nationals fleeing from the country including several hundred migrants awaiting deportation from Colombia.

* Ecuador: Maria Duarte, Ecuador's Minister of Urban Development and Housing, claimed to be “optimistic” over the rebuilding of homes destroyed in a major earthquake nearly four months ago.

* Brazil: Several upsets in tennis at the Olympics on Sunday including Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina beating Novak Djokovic, and the Colombian pair of Juan-Sebastián Cabal and Robert Farah surprising the top seed in men’s doubles.

* Bolivia: Bolivian authorities last week seized nearly eight tons of cocaine valued at around $350 million from a cargo truck.

YouTube Source – Associated Press 
 
Online Sources – Reuters, CNN, Business Insider, Houston Chronicle, Al Jazeera English, The Tico Times

The Paulista Who Won at Wimbledon

Juan Martín del Potro of Argentina will attempt to become the first Latin American tennis player to win the men's singles at Wimbledon.  The 2009 U.S. Open champion will likely face a very tough challenge in the semifinals from top ranked Novak Djokovic as he vies to capture his second Grand Slam title.

Two of Del Potro’s fellow Argentines – David Nalbandian and Gabriela Sabatini – made it to the Wimbledon finals though both stumbled at the final hurdle.  In fact, only one Latin American tennis player has won a singles title at the All England Club: Brazil’s Maria Bueno.

In 1959, the nineteen-year-old Bueno captured the Wimbledon crown when she bested Darlene Hard in straight sets:
 
Her accomplishments in 1959 included a U.S. Open title, the World No. 1 ranking and recipient of the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year award.  In Brazil, meanwhile, Bueno was treated as a national heroine, received a ticker tape parade in Rio de Janeiro and was honored a special Mass at the cathedral of her native Sao Paulo.

Daily Headlines: June 25, 2013

* Bolivia: Inmates at Bolivia’s largest prison, the San Pedro in La Paz, are protesting after rumors emerged that a twelve-year-old girl was raped by prisoners and became pregnant.

* U.S.: Is a new TV drama about five Latina housekeepers who work for wealthy Beverly Hills employers reinforcing negative stereotypes against Latinas or much ado about nothing?

* England: Mónica Puig of Puerto Rico shocked fifth seed Sara Errani of Italy in straight sets at the first round of Wimbledon tennis tournament.

* Chile: Ex-leader and current presidential candidate Michelle Bachelet and HidroAysen manager Daniel Fernandez have butted heads regarding the viability of the major hydroelectric project.

Video Source – YouTube via user ejumeridian (Bolivia’s San Pedro prison, which has been the site of several riots like this one in 2009, is scheduled to be shutdown next month).

Online Sources- Reuters; BBC News; New York Daily News; The Guardian

Daily Headlines: June 19, 2012

* Argentina: Tennis star David Nalbandian was fined $12,000 and could face a criminal investigation after (accidentally?) kicking a line judge at a tournament in London, England.

* Brazil: Has the Rio+20 conference on sustainable development failed before it begins on Friday or will the summit lead to meaningful results?

* Peru: “Social conflicts and the population's sensation of misrule” might explain why President Ollanta Humala’s approval rating fell to 45%.

* Colombia: A U.S. grand jury indicted former Colombian police general Mauricio Santoyo Velasco over allegations that he collaborated with paramilitaries and drug traffickers.

Video Source – YouTube via TVPublicaArgentina

Online Sources- The Telegraph, Reuters, ABC News, Christian Science Monitor

Daily Headlines: April 9, 2012

* Brazil: The presidents of Brazil and the U.S. are scheduled to meet today and they might examine issues such as bilateral trade, counternarcotics strategies and energy cooperation.

* Peru: Cabinet chief Oscar Valdes claimed that it “could take days” before rescue workers reach a group of nine miners trapped over 650 feet underground.

* Argentina: Argentina’s quest for its first ever Davis Cup tennis title continued after beating Croatia 4-1 in the quarterfinals.

* Venezuela: President Hugo Chavez flew back to Cuba for another round of radiation therapy but not before declaring a boost in the minimum wage by 30%.

Image Source – Flickr via dilmarousseff (Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff met with President Barack Obama in Brasilia in March 2011). (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Online Sources- Voice of America, SI.com, BBC News, ABC News

Weekend Headlines: December 3-4, 2011

* Latin America: The global economy and drug trafficking where some of the topics focused on during this weekend’s summit of the newly formed Community of Latin American and Caribbean States bloc.

* Argentina: The duo of David Nalbandian and Eduardo Schwank kept alive Argentina’s chances against Spain in the Davis Cup finals.

* Mexico: Women’s rights activist Norma Andrade is in stable condition after she was shot twice outside her home in Ciudad Juarez.

* El Salvador: According to police data the murder rate is expected to increase this year by 8% in comparison to 2010.

Video Source – YouTube via Al Jazeera English

Online Sources- InSight, Fox News Latino, CNN, BBC News

Daily Headlines: June 22, 2010

* Latin America: Southern Mexico is expected to soon be hit by a strengthening Hurricane Celia while floods and mudslides have killed at least 31 people in northeastern Brazil.

* U.S.: According to a Center for Responsible Lending report Latino families are 71% more likely than whites to lose their home to foreclosure.

* Chile: The archbishop of the capital city of Santiago has requested that the Vatican investigate a priest accused of abusing minors.

* Colombia: Alejandro Falla nearly pulled off one of the greatest upsets in tennis history against Roger Federer in the first round of Wimbledon.

Image – AFP (“A teenager enjoys body boarding at a beach in Acapulco in 2006.”)
Online Sources- CNN, Democracy Now, Xinhua, MSNBC

World Watch: Hair today, gone tomorrow

* Spain: Radios in hair salons across Spain have gone silent in a protest against music industry demands for a radio tax.

* Middle East: Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s declaration of keeping a future presence in the West Bank could further complicate Middle Eastern peace talks.

* China: China may soon become the world’s second largest economy after the government said that 2009 GDP grew by 8.7% to $4.9 trillion.

* Australia: The Williams sisters were among those who moved into the third round of the first Grand Slam of the year – The Australian Open.

Image – BBC News (“"Don't forget to bring your own music from home!," Fedcat's poster says.”)
Online Sources- Guardian UK, Canadian Press, BBC News, Reuters

Del Potro captures U.S. Open crown

I've never watched an entire tennis match until last night's U.S. Open men's final between Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro and #1-ranked Roger Federer. Yet Monday's five-set marathon was an absolutely thrilling affair topped off be Del Potro's stunning victory:

Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro ended Roger Federer's five-year unbeaten reign at the US Open in five dramatic sets to win his first Grand Slam title.

The 20-year-old sixth seed twice fought back from a set down to win 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-2...

"I had two dreams this week," said Del Potro. "One was to win the US Open and the other one is to be like Roger...

"You fought until the final point. You are a great champion. I'm very happy to be here with this crown, with these people, on this court. This will be in my mind forever."

Del Potroshould expect a hero's welcome upon returning to his native land where his feats have caught nationwide attention:

Online Sources - YouTube, BBC Sport

Del Potro upsets Nadal in U.S. Open

With lips still buzzing over Serena Williams’ outburst, Argentine Juan Martin del Potro took center stage and upset one of the world’s best players.

In only his second Grand Slam semifinal ever, Del Potro beat the third-ranked Rafael Nadal in straight sets at the U.S. Open. Hours after Nadal won over Chile's Fernando González in a rain-soaked quarterfinal, Del Potro blitzed the Spaniard with a convincing 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 win. Del Potro "kept Nadal on the defensive” throughout the whole match and overpowered a seemingly tired opponent.

The sixth-seeded Del Potro becomes the first Argentine to make a U.S. Open final since Guillermo Vilas in 1977 and he might face top seed Roger Federer. Del Potro promised the capacity crowd that he would battle in Monday afternoon’s final as strongly as he did today:

After the match on court, the 20-year-old Del Potro addressed the fans expecting a Federer-Nadal final, he said, “Yes, I’m sorry.”

With that, he laughed and explained how special the Open is to him. He called it his favorite tournament. “I am close to doing my dream, to win this tournament,” he said. “I think this is the best moment of my life.”

Image- BBC Sport (“Del Potro is into a Grand Slam final for the first time”)
Online Sources- Bloomberg, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, AP

Weekend Headlines: September 12-13, 2009

* Bolivia: Last year president Evo Morales successfully campaigned against FIFA’s altitude requirement. This year he wants to “nationalize” the country’s soccer teams.

* U.S.: The Texas Border Coalition of elected officials insists that Congress drop a provision that would add more pedestrian bridges to the U.S.-Mexico border.

* Peru: A group of Japanese and Peruvian archeologists uncovered an estimated 2900-year-old tomb in northern Peru.

* Honduras: The European Union could sign off on additional sanctions against Honduras’ de facto regime days after the U.S. cut at least $11 million in aid to the Central American state.

* Cuba: In order to alleviate Cuba’s transportation problems the government will grant new licenses for private taxis for the first time in about a decade.

* Argentina: Tennis star Juan Martin del Potro will make his second trip to a Grand Slam semifinal after beating Marin Cilic in the U.S. Open quarterfinals.

Image- Time (“Bolivian President Evo Morales vies for the ball with former soccer pro Oscar Arce” in a 2007 friendly game.)
Online Sources- Al Jazeera English, The Latin Americanist, LAHT, MSNBC, USA TODAY, San Francisco Gate

Transsexual Chilean plays in female tennis tourney

A Chilean woman became the first transsexual to play in a professional women's tennis tournament in over thirty years.

Thirty-seven-year-old Andrea Paredes von Roth was born as Ernesto Paredes and underwent a sex change operation in 2000. Paredes began her tennis career as a man but would endure discrimination in the years after her gender change. The Chilean Tennis Federation refused to let her rent tennis courts for her training while the International Tennis Federation passed rules in 2005 effectively barring her from competing. (The ITF would later clear Paredes to compete).

Paredes made her debut last week in Buenos Aires in a Futures tournament where she was beaten 6-0, 6-0 by Britain’s Nicola Slater. Nonetheless, Paredes vowed to live her dream on the tennis courts:

"I'm tough. I've had to be. I won't let the comments get to me. I'm going to get on with playing tennis. I've had to fight all the way. People said it wasn't possible, and I had to have hormone tests with the ITF last year, so it was a big step for me to finally have the chance to play tennis. It has been my aim to play a professional match, and I've done that, but I want to go on and play more matches. All the players here in Argentina have been very tolerant and understanding of me, and I haven't had any nasty comments from anyone. They've been very nice to me. I believe that the people in Argentina are much nicer and more understanding than they are in Chile, and maybe that's because there are a lot more transsexuals in Argentina."

Image- Revista Tennis
Online Sources- The Telegraph, Milenio, sportal.com.au, Pravda

Daily Headlines: April 20, 2009

* Dominican Republic: Have archeologists found the tomb of famed lovers Cleopatra and Mark Antony? Teams from Egypt and the Dominican Republic hope so.

* Haiti: The threat of violence may’ve been a major reason why there was low voter turnout in Haiti’s senatorial elections yesterday.

* Mexico: Eight officers were killed in a failed attempt to free a suspected drug gang leader being transferred by a convoy.

* Spain: Can anyone stop top ranked tennis superstar Rafael Nadal?

Image- CBC (“Zahi Hawass, head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, displays part of a mask archaeologists believe may have been that of Mark Antony at the Temple of Taposiris Magna.”).
Online Sources- Xinhua, Times Online, MSNBC, AP

Daily Headlines: January 22, 2009

* U.S.: A poll released by CNN showed that people in the U.S. are split nearly 50-50 over President Barack Obama’s decision to suspend military trials at the Guantanamo Bay jail.

* Chile: Chilean tennis star Fernando Gonzalez qualified to the third round of the Australian Open after winning against Argentine Guillermo Canas.

* Mexico: The country’s oil output plummeted in 2008 by over 9% and exports hit its lowest point since 1995. (Perhaps I was too optimistic on Mexican oil).

* El Salvador: Despite global economic problems the amount of remittances Salvadorans sent home last year grew by 2.5% to the tune of approximately $3.8 billion.

Image- AP (“In this Dec. 6, 2006 file photo, reviewed by the U.S. Military, a shackled detainee, clutching paperwork of some kind, is escorted by two gloved U.S. Military personnel to an Annual Review Board Hearing, inside Camp Delta detention facility, at Guantanamo Bay U.S. Naval Base, Cuba.”)
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, Times of India, abc.net.au, Bloomberg, AP

Daily Headlines: November 26, 2008

* Argentina: Argentina lost the Davis Cup finals against Spain despite playing in front of an excited home crowd and the absence of Spanish ace Rafael Nadal.

* Caribbean: The death penalty will return to Jamaica after a twenty year moratorium.

* Brazil: Troops have been sent to calm tensions in a remote Amazonian town where residents are tired of excessive logging.

* Colombia: Osama bin Laden has been found…as a Colombian policeman’s disguise.

Image- AFP (“Fernando Verdasco celebrates his win” for Spain in the Davis Cup finals.)
Sources- Christian Science Monitor, Guardian UK, BBC News, The Latin Americanist, Bloomberg

Argies angling for Davis Cup title

The Davis Cup tennis championship is set for November 21-23 in Mar de Plata, Argentina and the home side is hopeful that they can take their first-ever title.

In 2006, the Argentines came close but lost in the deciding fifth match against Russia. This year could be different in the final series against two-time champs Spain since world number one Rafael Nadal will be unable to play. A painful tendonitis in the right knee has forced the Olympic gold medalist to drop out.

The Argentine squad lamented the loss of Nadal though acknowledged the advantage it gives them:

"Argentines want to be Davis Cup champions," (captain Alberto) Mancini said. "And in that sense this is good news, because our chances improve."

Added Jose Acasuso: "It's true that our possibilities are better, but we're still up against a tough opponent. We can't relax."

Acasuso will be joined by three strong players: Juan Martin del Potro, David Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri. Spain will field an experienced squad that have been together throughout the tournament.

Image- UPI (Photo of Juan Martin del Potro from this year’s U.S. Open).
Sources- The Latin Americanist, seattlepi.com, IHT, MSN India, TVNZ, Xinhua, AFP

Spanish tennis also does “slanty-eyed Chinese" pose

Just when you thought the controversy over the Spanish basketball’s team “slanty-eyes” photo was over the country’s tennis squad decided to join in on the act:

The latest photo to emerge shows Spanish women tennis players pulling the pose, apparently in anticipation of their Federation Cup match against China in April…

It was apparently taken after the team defeated Italy in the quarter-finals of the competition - the premier team contest for women tennis players - in February. Wine glasses are visible on the table in front of the party…

The photo is still visible on the official website of the Spanish Tennis Federation, where it was spotted.

The original is captioned “Estamos preparados para China”, which translates as “We are prepared for China”.

(The Spaniards won against China in the Fed Cup en route to the finals which have yet to take place).

Meanwhile, this article notes how several Beijing citizens reacted to the offending basquet team photo. None had previously seen the image due to local media controls and most where not offended by the photo. (The piece was via NBC who holds the broadcast rights to the Olympics. Is it any coincidence that the Chinese reaction wouldn’t be outrage in the article?)

Image- The Telegraph

Sources- The Telegraph, MSNBC, Gawker, The Latin Americanist

Marcelo "Chino" Rios Beats Pete Sampras

I don't know much about tennis, but I do know that Chilenos love them some Chino Rios. Late last night, Marcelo Rios, former number one tennis estrella, beat another former number one tennis star, Pete Sampras, in a match in Santiago.
The score looked like this: 3-6, 6-3 y 7-6 (4) and the match was won in an hour and 43 minutes.

Sampras and Rios have faced off numerous times in their tennis careers, but last night was the first time Rios won.

Source : El Mercurio