Daily Headlines: September 2, 2014

* Europe: Mexican soccer star Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez left Manchester United to Real Madrid on a season-long loan hours before Colombian striker Radamel Falcao joined the famed Mancunian team via his own season-long loan.

* Peru: Police in Lima displayed a record 7.7 tons of cocaine seized last week that were reportedly destined for Spain and Belgium.

* Uruguay: A senior Uruguayan official claimed that the process of transferring six Guantanamo detainees to the South American country would likely occur after presidential elections next month.

* Cuba: Cuban expats traveling to the island are none too pleased with new government restrictions on items including “hard-to-obtain” consumer goods.

Video Source – Liga BBVA via YouTube

Online Sources – Los Angeles Times; TVNZ; Uruguay; CBS Miami

Daily Headlines: August 27, 2014

* Argentina: Angel Di Maria of Argentina broke the British transfer record when he officially signed for Manchester United on Tuesday as part of a $95 million deal.

* Venezuela: The governments of U.S. and Venezuela usually don’t see eye-to-eye but nearly two out of three Venezuelans view the U.S. favorably according to a Pew Research Center survey.

* Dominican Republic: Ex-Archbishop Jozef Wesolowski could be extradited to the Dominican Republic where he’s accused of child sexual abuse.

* Latin America: A United Nations study found that roughly 200 million residents of Latin America and the Caribbean are “vulnerable” to falling into poverty even though poverty rates in the region decreased between 2000 and 2012.

Video Source – YouTube user ScoutNationHD

Online Sources – BBC Sport; The Latin Americanist; UPI; BBC News; Pew Research Center

Today’s Video: Go, go, Chicharito (Updated)

Update (4:45 pm):

In the end it was more like "no, no, Chicharito."

For the second time in three years Barcelona beat Manchester United to capture the the UEFA Champions League crown. The Catalan side absolutely outplayed their English rivals in a 3-1 victory earlier today.

Lionel Messi of Argentina was named man of the match after scoring the game-winning goal early in the second half. But it was a total team effort that gave Barca the title and championship medals for Messi, fellow countryman Javier Mascherano, and Brazilians Dani Alves and Adriano.

Mexican Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez was a non-factor in the match and the disappointment in his face was evident after he received the runners-up medal.

Ecuadorian Antonio Valencia, who hoped to cap his comeback months after a serious injury, was also ineffective and lucky not to have received a yellow card after multiple hard fouls against Barca players.

Original post:

At the time of this post the UEFA Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester United is scoreless after seventeen minutes of play. Ahead of the kickoff the Spanish side was the odds-on favorite to win the European title.

The Barca team coached by Jose "Pep" Guardiola and starring the likes of Lio Messi and Andres Iniesta are looking to consolidate themselves as one of the best clubs ever. United can beat their rivals by playing a flawless match at Wembley. Striker Wayne Rooney will be looking for revenge two years after being part of a United side that lost 2-0 against Barca in the final. Ecuadorian Antonio Valencia is in today's starting lineup as part of an inspiring comeback eight months after suffering a near-career ending injury.

Alongside Rooney and starting with Valencia is Mexico's Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez. The 22-year-old "little pea" has paid dividends for United after he tallied twenty goals in his first Premier League season. Hernandez has received plenty of praise in England for his hard work and maturity while playing in one of the world's top leagues. "Javier has developed his strength through his own volition...making sure he was in early every morning doing his core work and working on his upper body strength to handle the rigours of the Premier League" said his coach, Sir Alex Ferguson to BBC Sport.

As mentioned in The Guardian, the popularity of the former Chivas de Guadalajara star has grown in his native Mexico:

In Mexico, where what was supposed to be a year's supply of "Chicharito" shirts recently sold out in two months, that is certainly the expectation. "They are showing it live on television," Hernández says. "I read the newspapers back home and they are all supporting me and looking forward to the final. They have even changed the time of an international friendly so it doesn't clash." Mexico versus Ecuador was originally due to kick off in Seattle at 9pm British time. It has now been put back two hours – purely because of the Hernández factor.

The Anyone But United fans (myself included) will be cheering hard for a Barca win but there will be plenty of people cheering on "ManU" and singing (perhaps off-key) the praises of "Chicharito":

(Hat tip on the video link: Deadspin).

Online Source - The Guardian, BBC Sport, internetslang.com, Deadspin
Video Source - YouTube

Daily Headlines: March 16, 2011

* Mexico: Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez scored two decisive goals to help Manchester United progress into the Champions League quarterfinals.

* Nicaragua: Representatives for Dole Foods claimed that a federal court dismissed a lawsuit brought up by allegedly poisoned Nicaraguan plantation workers.

* Chile: Variety show host Don Francisco (real name: Mario Kreutzberger) denied tampering with the DNA testing being used in a paternity lawsuit against him.

* Venezuela: Hundreds of students, professors, and workers marched through the streets of Caracas yesterday calling for more public spending on universities.

Image – Reuters via IOL (“Manchester United's Javier Hernandez celebrates with Wayne Rooney (right) after scoring his second goal during their Champions League soccer match against Olympique Marseille at Old Trafford in Manchester, northern England.”)
Online Sources- UPI, Press TV, RTT News, The Latin Americanist, The Telegraph

Daily Headlines: October 22, 2009

* U.S.: According to the study by the Rand Corporation more Latinos are enlisting in the armed forces mainly due to the “lure of a higher education.”

* Brazil: The death toll of a recent surge in violence between drug gangs and police in Rio de Janeiro has grown to 32 as authorities keep pledging to beef up security.

* Ecuador: Antonio Valencia’s late goal was enough give Manchester United a 1-0 victory over CSKA Moscow in Champions League action yesterday.

* Panama: No major damages have been reported in Panama after an earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale occurred off the country’s coast.

Image- El Mundo
Online Sources- CNN, MSNBC, The Latin Americanist, BBC Sport, Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo off to Spain in record deal

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to join Real Madrid for a world-record $130 million days after Brazilian Kaka completed his $94 million transfer to the Spanish side.

"At Cristiano's request…United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player” said a statement on Manchester United’s website today. The reigning World Player of the Year could finalize a deal by the end of this month.

Ronaldo had been the subject of transfer talk for quite a while now despite ManU head coach Alex Ferguson grumbling that he would not "sell that mob a virus". Yet the lure of such a big money deal seemed too hard to resist as Real president Florentino Perez is willing to spare no expense to recreate the superstar “Galacticos” squad of years ago.

Ronaldo may not be the only “red devil” to depart Old Trafford; the latest rumors is that Argentine Carlos Tevez will leave for intra-city rivals Manchester City.

Ironically, Ronaldo’s possible replacement may be an Ecuadorian player that Real Madrid has reportedly given up trying to sign:

Manchester United seem to have a clear run if they follow up their informal inquiry about Wigan Athletic's Antonio Valencia with a firm offer, with the player's representatives no longer optimistic about Real Madrid coming in with a bid.

Image- Guardian UK
Online Sources- Guardian UK, The Latin Americanist, BBC Sport, forbes.com, The Telegraph, The Independent

Weekend Headlines: May 17, 2009

* Argentina: Carlos Tevez may’ve been celebrating winning the Premier League title yesterday with Manchester United, but will he leave the “red devils” for Real Madrid?

* Venezuela: Claiming that their pasta was not being sold at cheap, government-established prices, the Chavez administration “temporarily” took over a factory owned by U.S. firm Cargill.

* Mexico: Ex-President Vicente Fox said last week that he felt there should be a decriminalization of marijuana as part of a change in U.S. and Mexican drug policy.

* Haiti: The U.S. Coast Guard called off the search operation for at least nine Haitian migrants presumed dead after their boat capsized near Florida.

Image- Guardian UK (“Carlos Tevez celebrates with Alex Ferguson after Manchester United had clinched the title at Old Trafford, though the Argentinian's substitution drew some dissent from the home crowd.”)
Online Sources- UPI, CNN, BBC News, The Telegraph, The Latin Americanist