Feliz Cinco de Mayo! But what does it celebrate?

Contrary to what some believe, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s independence day. Rather, it commemorates the battle victory in 1862 of 4500 Mexican troops against 6500 French soldiers trying to preserve French intervention in Mexico.

Also on this date, the U.S. invaded the Dominican Republic (1916), Alfredo Stroessner came to power in Paraguay (1954), and Iran-Contra congressional hearings started to be televised (1987).

mexico, france, cinco de mayo, intervention, paraguay, iran-contra, dominican republic

Maria Rita’s “silky, translucent sound” on tour in U.S.

Whose music was described as “cool and refreshing as a chilled mountain stream”? The answer is Maria Rita- Brazilian chanteuse, NYU graduate and daughter of famed vocalist Ellis Regina. Rita will be performing at Irving Plaza in Manhattan this Saturday night as part of her tour of the U.S. (News article via Latin Music News).

music, brazil, maria rita

Fox chickens out on drug bill

In a surprising move, Mexican president Vicente Fox will veto a bill passed a few days ago that would increase the amount of personal possession to several narcotics. Mexican officials deny that Fox’s change of mind was due to U.S. criticism inasmuch as the White House did not hide their delight in Fox’s decision.

Vicente fox,bush administration, mexico, drugs

The Onion: “Vampires in Havana” is a must-see movie

The Onion’s A.V. Club names the 1985 Cuban animated comedy “Vampires in Havana” as one of its 15 animated films for adults by praising the films “unconventional plotline and…goofy good humor.”

cuba, animation, the onion, vampires in havana

Argentina to receive multi-million dollar aid package from Europe

The European Union announced last month that it would give Argentina approximately $31 million in aid in order to help pay for social programs.

argentina, foreign aid, European union

Chavez’ newest target: Alan Garcia

Hugo Chavez called Peruvian presidential candidate Alan Garcia a “thief” and “crook” after Garcia insulted Chavez and Bolivian president Evo Morales. In retaliation to Chavez’ comments, Peru pulled its ambassador out of Venezuela. With almost all votes tallied in Peru’s presidential elections, Ollanta Humala still leads with 30.77%, Alan Garcia is in second with 24.30%, and Lourdes Flores is third with 23.71%.

peru , election, ollanta humala , alan garcia, lourdes flores, hugo chavez, venezuela

“Rock the Vote” a la Mexicana

MTV Latin America will create a series of news specials in an effort to encourage Mexican youth to vote in July’s presidential elections. The latest poll shows former Mexico City mayor Andrés Manuel López Obrador bumped down to second place behind government candidate Felipe Calderón.

Andrés Manuel López Obrador , Felipe Calderón , MTV Latin America , mexico, election, suffrage

Intelligence chief calls for more spies in Latin America

The head of U.S. intelligence, John Negroponte, told Time magazine that more spies are needed in Latin America. “We're beefing up in places where we hadn't been, where we'd allowed things to atrophy after the end of the cold war--in Latin America and Africa,” said Negroponte, who was U.S. ambassador to Honduras in the early 1980s.

central america, john negroponte, bush administration, honduras, intelligence, international politics, latin america

Bloggers reacts to May 1st “Day without Immigrants”

Some bloggers attended rallies held in Chicago, Miami, and New York City as part of yesterday’s “Day without Immigrants”. Other bloggers resented the May 1^st protests as a sign of ingratitude towards the U.S. led by “irresponsible opportunists”. One political blogger feels that a lot of the anti-immigrant vitriol is “Mexiphobia” while another political blog makes a tongue-in-cheek observation on President Bush declaring May 1^st as “Loyalty Day” in the U.S.

Many images of the May 1st rallies can be found in the flickr tags in this post.

immigration, bush administration, international politics, latin america, may 1, day without immigrants

Colombians remember anniversary of massacre

Today marks the four-year anniversary of the massacre in Bojaya, Colombia where a FARC bomb killed 119 villagers seeking refuge in a church.

colombia, bojaya, armed conflict, massacre

Bolivia nationalizes gas fields

President Evo Morales ordered Bolivia’s army to occupy gas fields as part of a government plan to nationalize them. Foreign companies have six months to agree to new contracts for the gas fields or face expulsion from Bolivia.

bolivia, energy, Evo morales, international economy

Caribbean headlines: Elections in Haiti; government shutdown in Puerto Rico; ex-PM

High abstentionism marred Haitian legislative elections last month won by the political party representing President Rene Preval.

Thousands of Puerto Ricans protested a partial government shutdown that started today as its government faces a $1 billion budget deficit and the laying off of nearly 100,000 public workers.

Former Trinidadian Prime Minister Basdeo Panday will serve two years jail time for failing to properly disclose financial information.

haiti, election, rene preval, caribbean, puerto rico, Trinidad and tobago

Mexican bill allows for personal possession of some narcotics

A bill passed by the Mexican legislature would allow for the possession of small amounts of cocaine heroin, and other drugs solely for personal consumption. A post to the Houston Chronicle’s immigration blog worries about the wrong message this measure sends to the U.S.

mexico, drugs, international politics

Latin American economy expected to grow, says IMF

The economy in Latin America is expected to grow by 4.3% according to a report released by the International Monetary Fund. Argentina and Venezuela are expected to grow the most this year, according to the IMF's data.

latin america, argentina, imf, Venezuela, international economy