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: April 8, 2013

* Brazil: A Brazilian federal prosecutor will look into allegations that former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was involved in a vote-buying scheme known locally as the mensalao scandal.

* Chile: The body of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda is scheduled to be exhumed today and will be examined to determine if he died due to cancer or if he was murdered.

* Panama: Expansion of the Panama Canal has neared the halfway point though the major construction project is running eight months behind schedule.

* Argentina: Argentina advanced to the Davis Cup semifinals where they will face defending champion Czech Republic.

Video Source – YouTube via euronews

Online Sources- Miami Herald, Bloomberg, Al Jazeera English, SI.com

Daily Headlines: September 17, 2012

* South America: The Bolivian and Venezuela governments rejected being placed on a White House drug trafficking "black list" released last Friday.

* Brazil: According to a Brazilian media report former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was the “chief” in the alleged “mensalao” corruption network implicating over thirty politicians and publicists.

* Mexico: At least two Mexico state legislators allied with the PRI political party were murdered over the weekend.

* Argentina: Juan Martin del Potro’s decision to drop out of his second Davis Cup semifinal match due to injury may have cost Argentina the chance to reach the finals.

Video Source – YouTube via AFP

Online Sources- ABC News, Mercopress, Fox News Latino, CBC

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

Daily Headlines: December 5, 2011

* Mexico: President Felipe Calderon defended his anti-crime policies despite an estimated 43,000 deaths related to drug violence since he took office.

* Peru: President Ollanta Humala declared a state of emergency in areas of northern Peru where police have clashed with protesters opposed to a controversial mining project.

* Haiti: Rest in peace Sonia Pierre; the human rights activist who defended the rights of Dominican-born Haitians died yesterday at the age of 48.

* Brazil: Brazil’s chief ambassador at global climate talks in South Africa defended a government-backed proposal that would overhaul the country’s forest laws.

* Nicaragua: Thousands of people marched in Managua on Saturday to call attention to alleged “massive electoral fraud” in the reelection of President Daniel Ortega.

* Argentina: For the third time since 2006, Argentina lost in the finals of the Davis Cup tennis competition.

Image Source – Flickr via Knight Foundation (“Hundreds of Mexican journalists silently marched in downtown Mexico City (last year) in protest of the kidnappings, murder and violence against their peers throughout the country.”) (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Online Sources - Bloomberg, Miami Herald, Reuters, insidecostarica.com, ABC News, BBC Sport

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: 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