March 2012
282 posts
8 tags
UN reports sharp drop in Mexico cocaine seizures
According to the UN, the Mexican government’s offensive against drug traffickers could be dissuading them from transporting large cocaine shipments across the country. (flickr Jesus Villesca Perez)
By MANUEL RUEDA Channel: Latin American Affairs
Cocaine seizures have decreased drastically in Mexico, according to an annual UN report on drug trafficking, falling from 48 tons in 2007, to just...
February 2012
241 posts
9 tags
Federal judge blocks another portion of Arizona...
A federal judge says day laborer rules in Arizona’s SB1070 violate free speech. (flickr: Gage Skidmore)
By JUAN GASTELUM Channel: Immigration
A federal judge in Arizona has blocked a portion of the state’s crackdown immigration law that prohibited day laborers from blocking the streets when looking for work, according to the Associated Press.
In a Wednesday ruling, U.S. District...
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Activists: Both 287g and Secure Communities must...
Pro-immigrant advocates applauded the Obama administration’s move to phase out parts of the 287g immigration enforcement program, but they say it’s not enough. (Flickr: sierraromeo)
By JUAN GASTELUM Channel: Immigration
A move by the Obama administration to phase out some federal agreements that give local police authority to take part in immigration enforcement doesn’t go...
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Congressman: With Latinos divided, Texas voting...
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman is opposed to the latest Texas congressional map, but says it will likely be implemented. (Flickr: Talk Radio News Service)
By JORDAN FABIAN Channel: Politics
A Texas congressional map released by a panel of judges this week is likely to take effect for the 2012 elections as Latino groups are divided over whether it provides just representation, a...
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New thriller ‘Neon Flesh’ is a rollercoaster of...
Mario Casas (pictured above) stars in Neon Flesh, a thriller from Spanish director Paco Cabezas. The film, which screened at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival, is available on demand now. (Photo courtesy of Tribeca Film)
By AMARIS CASTILLO Channel: Entertainment
What a ride Neon Flesh takes you on.
Rife with violence, sex, and color, the Spanish-language thriller set in Buenos Aires follows a...
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Romney exhales after Mich., Ariz. wins, but Super...
The voter profiles of several Super Tuesday states pose a tough challenge for the Republican front runner. (Flickr: Gage Skidmore)
By MATTHEW JAFFE Channel: Politics
Mitt Romney had a great Tuesday night, trouncing Rick Santorum in Arizona and winning a nail-biter in his native state of Michigan. But while his victories have solidified his frontrunner status and averted all-out panic within his...
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Salma Hayek tapping into her Lebanese roots to...
Salma Hayek is adapting Khalil Gibran’s 89-year-old book The Prophet, widely considered a masterpiece. She shares the author’s Lebanese heritage. (Photo: Amazon.com)
By AMARIS CASTILLO Channel: Entertainment
You may have seen those new Got Milk? ads featuring Salma Hayek, but if there’s one thing the Mexican powerhouse knows how to do...
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Opinion: If only Obama wore a crown
The President’s explanation of his immigration record to Univision Radio was condescending. (Flickr: Intel Photos)
By HELEN AGUIRRE FERRE Channel: Politics
Whether you believe in mandatory deportation, regulated work permits, or earned citizenship, most agree that it is economically and civically hazardous to have approximately 12 million people living in the shadows because of their...
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Does Mitt Romney need to be tough on immigration...
Romney’s rightward tilt on immigration might not be as rewarding in the primary as some believe. (Flickr: WEBN-TV)
By JORDAN FABIAN Channel: Politics
Mitt Romney’s dual wins in Michigan and Arizona Tuesday have given the GOP presidential hopeful a much-needed injection of momentum and delegates heading into Super Tuesday.
But is the rightward tack his campaign has taken on...
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U.S. will fly Mexican deportees back to their home...
Time to fly them back home: On Monday Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced a new program that will take Mexican deportees directly to their home states. (flickr: The National Guard)
By MANUEL RUEDA Channel: Immigration
The federal government has decided to fly Mexican deportees back to their home states in Mexico, rather than busing them across the border, Homeland Security...
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Salma Hayek joins 'The Breakfast Project' with her...
One of the busiest Latinas in Hollywood, Salma Hayek is the latest celebrity to support the Got Milk? campaign. (Photo: The Breakfast Project)
By AMARIS CASTILLO Channel: Entertainment
Salma Hayek has milk – and she’s not afraid to use it.
The Mexican-born actress recently joined a bilingual campaign called “The Breakfast Project,” which is backed by the well-known Got Milk?...
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Why Democrats' Arizona dream might not become...
Despite the anger over SB 1070, Democrats could still have trouble turning Arizona blue in 2012. (Flickr: xomiele)
By JORDAN FABIAN Channel: Politics
As we chronicled today, Democrats are becoming increasingly confident that President Obama can win Arizona in the fall with the help of Latino voters.
Those feelings reached a fever pitch after last week’s primary debate, when Republican...
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Demi Lovato reaches out to fans during National...
Demi Lovato, who has an upcoming MTV special airing March 6 that documents her post-rehab life, is using Twitter to spread the word about eating disorders. (Photo: Facebook.com/DemiLovato)
By AMARIS CASTILLO Channel: Health, Entertainment
As a young girl, Demi Lovato was bullied at school and would compulsively overeat. Later, under the pressures of fame, she took to cutting herself. The...
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Undocumented immigrant runs for student body...
Texas A&M graduate student Jose Luis Zelaya is hoping to be the school’s next student body president. Results of the election will be announced tonight at 7:30 p.m. CST. (Facebook)
By JUAN GASTELUM Channel: Immigration
It’s no secret that undocumented immigrants are among the nation’s brightest and most talented youth, from star-athletes, to valedictorians, to student...
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Opinion: When it comes to Latinos, mainstream...
Was this magazine cover truly a win for Latinos? (Time magazine)
By ARNOLDO TORRES Channel: Politics, Media
Does this week’s cover of Time magazine beckon a new age of Latino political power, or just our quadrennial 15 minutes of fame?
While the cover might have generated some excitement and pride, I’m inclined to believe it’s the latter. If Latinos are so politically powerful that we will...
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Opinion: Romney's nail in the coffin with Latino...
Mitt Romney’s long struggle to lock up the GOP nomination comes at the expense of appealing to Latinos. (Flickr: Gage Skidmore)
By FABIAN NUÑEZ Channel: Politics
This week could prove to be a turning point for Mitt Romney, in ways good and bad.
After struggling for weeks with Rick Santorum’s insurgent campaign, it appears Romney could win both Michigan and Arizona. The good news for ...
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Mexico: Durango officials find 50 bodies in mass...
The rugged state of Durango lies between Sinaloa’s opium producing areas and the Texas border to the Northeast. Drug gangs are currently fighting for the control of trafficking routes in this state. (Flickr: Michael R. Swigart)
By MANUEL RUEDA Channel: Latin American Affairs
Durango state officials revealed on Monday that they found a mass grave with 50 bodies in it, on the outskirts of the...
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Watch: ‘Casa de mi Padre’ star Will Ferrell makes...
By AMARIS CASTILLO Channel: Entertainment
Who knew Will Ferrell knew how to whip up some homemade arepas?
Well, he didn’t until this morning.
The comedian stopped by Univision’s Despierta América today with his Casa de mi Padre co-star, 24-year-old Génesis Rodríguez (in January, we said 2012 would be her breakout year in Hollywood). Both star in the upcoming film, which is entirely in...
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Opinion: Haiti's savior or Haiti's failure?
Haitian President Michel Martelly’s dalliances with leaders like Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez should cause concern on behalf of the U.S. government. (Flickr: chavezcandanga)
By EMILIO T. GONZALEZ Channel: Politics
In early February, the member counties of ALBA, the Bolivarian Alliance for the People of Our America, held its annual meeting in Caracas, Venezuela. The brainchild of...
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As Arizonans vote in GOP primary, Democrats hope...
Democrats are gearing up to use immigration as a major wedge issue against Republicans in Arizona this November. (Flickr: Dream Activist)
By MATTHEW JAFFE Channel: Politics
In black t-shirts with “Support the DREAM Act” emblazoned on the front, undocumented Latino youth in recent days walked the streets of Arizona, drumming up support for their fight against the Republican presidential...
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Venezuela: Wikileaks publishes new details on...
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is currently in Cuba where doctors operated on a lesion in his pelvic area. According to reports obtained by Wikileaks his cancer could be very serious, and his life expectancy could be from one to two years. (photo: flickr quecomunismo)
By CASTO OCANDO Channel: Latin American Affairs
The health condition of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez could be worse than...
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In honor of Dominican Independence Day, a...
My uncle, Andres Taveras, 56, in his ‘Vivero Mi Familia’ nursery during my recent trip to the Dominican Republic in January 2012. (All Photos: Amaris Castillo)
By AMARIS CASTILLO Channel: Culture
It had been a few years since I last visited the Dominican Republic. Three – to be exact. I used to go every summer, but as you get older, life gradually gets in the way.
When my mother...
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Natalie Portman used the term ‘undocumented’ to...
By JORGE RIVAS Channel: Immigration
Natalie Portman took the stage at the 84th Annual Academy Awards on Sunday to announce the year’s best actor nominees. When she introduced Demián Bichir for his role in A Better Life she identified his character as an “undocumented immigrant” and not with the pejorative “illegal” term.
Speaking to Bichir, Portman said: “You created so much...
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Colombia: FARC says it will stop kidnapping...
An anti-kidpnapping protest in Colombia. On Sunday, the FARC announced that they would no longer kidnap civilians for ransom. (Photo: facebook)
By MANUEL RUEDA Channel: Latin American Affairs
Colombia’s FARC guerrillas announced over the weekend that they will no longer kidnap civilians for ransom, taking what some analysts described as a small but important step towards peace talks with the...
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Arizona dreamers ask GOP candidates to drop tough...
After picketing several campaign events over the past few weeks, a group of DREAM Act activists in Arizona will deliver thousands of signatures to Republican presidential candidates asking them to reconsider their stance on immigration. (Arizona Dream Act Coalition)
By JUAN GASTELUM Channel: Immigration
Ahead of the Arizona primary on Tuesday, undocumented youth in the state will deliver almost...
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Ecuador: Correa pardons 'El Universo,' will not...
A threat to press freedom or a merciful president? Ecuador’s Rafael Correa said on Monday that he would not collect the $40 million awarded to him in a libel suit against newspaper El Universo. (Photo: flickr Presidencia de la Republica del Ecuador)
By MANUEL RUEDA Channel: Latin American Affairs
Ecuadorean president Rafael Correa said on Monday that he will not collect the $40 million...
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Mitt Romney's (bumpy) road map to victory: Could...
An arduous path stands between the former Massachusetts governor and the Republican presidential nomination. (Flickr: Gage Skidmore)
By MATTHEW JAFFE Channel: Politics
All eyes in the political world this week are on the Republican presidential primaries in Michigan and Arizona, but the outcomes there are unlikely to settle a nominating contest that has been anything but predictable.
When the...
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Watch: Jimmy Kimmel pokes fun at Hollywood with...
By UNIVISION NEWS Channel: Entertainment
Hilarious.
As part of his special post-Oscars edition of Jimmy Kimmel Live! last night, host Jimmy Kimmel aired a special trailer that pulls from different genres. Titled Movie: The Movie, the teaser stars a laundry list of A-listers such as last night’s Best Actress winner, Meryl Streep, and pokes fun at films like Twilight and David R. Ellis’...
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Be part of the social media revolution, vote now!
By UNIVISION NEWS Channel: Media
The annual South By Southwest Interactive (SXSWi) conference in Austin, Texas is the biggest meeting of entrepreneurs and digital media innovators in the world. This is the place where Twitter was unveiled years ago, and where important conversations about the future of technology happens.
This year, The Social Revolución will premiere as the first official...
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Commentary: Can Chile import innovation?
Start Up Chile aims to attract 1,000 start up businesses to Chile by 2014. (Photo: facebook)
By STEPHEN KEPPEL Channel: Economics
Every country wants to create the next Silicon Valley, but no one really knows how to do it. Some have tried the top-down approach of building the research university and technology park, granting tax breaks and offering matching investments. But it hasn’t worked. It...
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Top stories this week in Univision News
Word Games: The New York Times Crossword Puzzle’s use of the term “illegal” causes uproar
Time: Latinos could pick the next president
Obama: I didn’t break my promise on immigration reform
GOP candidates embrace Ariz. immigration law, Rommey calls state a “model”
Time’s Latino vote cover features non-Latino face
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Six degrees of Gael García Bernal: Latino...
Familiar Face: Any talk of Latino directors and the Oscars usually involves Gael García Bernal. (Photo: Facebook)
By UNIVISION NEWS Channel: Entertainment
It’s Oscar time once again! How well do you know your Latino Oscar history? Here in alphabetical order, is a list of notable Latin American and Spanish directors whose trailblazing and singular films have placed them in the exclusive...
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Mexico: Chivas hires Barcelona legend, Johan...
On its website, Chivas de Guadalajara already invited fans to welcome Johan Cruyff (right) to the team. On Thursday, team manager Jorge Vergara announced that Cruyff was hired to coach the team. (photos: chivascampeon.com, JNNdigital.blogspot.com)
By MANUEL RUEDA Channel: Sports
What do you do if your soccer team has gone seven games without winning, and is currently last place in league...
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New music out this week: Chris Brown & Rihanna,...
By AMARIS CASTILLO Channel: Entertainment
It’s been a very busy week in the music world. Word on the street is that Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst has signed onto Cash Money, Shakira has moved over to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation for management, and two exes are back together again — making more than just music.
Here are the week’s most notable releases. Tell us which ones you’re...
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WatchVideo of the week: 38kkk breasts and going bigger
By CONZ PRETI Channel: Media Last Sunday the TLC show My Strange Addiction aired the story of Sheyla Hershey, a woman obsessed with breast implants. Her addiction has caused her to be unable to run, to lose food in her cleavage, to struggle to hug her daughter, and to consistently have problems tying her own shoes, and gets tons of stares from...
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Sheriff Arpaio spars with Jorge Ramos over racial...
By UNIVISION NEWS Channel: Politics
Maricopa County (Ariz.) Sheriff Joe Arpaio got into it over allegations that his department has discriminated against Latinos in a contentious interview with Univision’s Jorge Ramos.
Arpaio is the subject of a federal investigation into his practices as sheriff, in particular his enforcement of immigration laws under the state’s controversial SB...
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Catching up with 'Act of Valor’ star Roselyn...
Roselyn Sanchez at the Hollywood premiere of Act of Valor on February 13. (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Relativity Media)
By ANGIE ROMERO Channel: Entertainment
It’s not your traditional action movie, that’s for sure. Act of Valor, out today, is a fictionalized account of real-life U.S. Navy SEAL operations, starring actual active-duty U.S. Navy SEALs and a few Hollywood actors, among...
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Venezuela: Thousands of Chavez supporters wish...
Chavez supporters who could not fit in Caracas´ Teresa Carreño theater gathered on sidewalks to wish the Venezuelan President good luck in his upcoming operation. Some said they could not imagine Venezuela without him.
Text and Photos by UNIVISION NEWS Channel: Latin American Affairs
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, will undergo surgery next week, after doctors discovered a lesion in his...
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Marketplace Americas | Top Business & Finance...
Hugo Chávez will head back to Cuba for surgery to remove new tumors, igniting doubts about his chances of winning re-election in October. Reports suggest Venezuela is also supplying fuel to Syria’s embattled regime (Photo: facebook)
By STEPHEN KEPPEL Channel: Economics
What we are reading this week ***In this week’s rundown of top stories we take a closer look at rethinking US-LatAm...
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February is American Heart Month: Here are 7 tips...
Heart disease and failure is the number one killer of Latinos in the United States. (Photo: Twitter)
By CAROL CAMPOS Channel: Health
We all think of February as the month to share our heart with a special Valentine. Few of us know that it is also the month to promote heart health awareness and disease prevention. American Heart Month serves to remind us that heart disease impacts everyone. In...
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Ariz. Gov. Brewer turns down congressional hearing...
Ariz. Gov. Jan Brewer declined an invitation to defend the state’s immigration law before Congress. (Gage Skidmore)
By JUAN GASTELUM Channel: Immigration
A spokesman for Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer on Thursday said the governor is unlikely to attend a congressional hearing on the state’s immigration law in April, according to the Washington Times.
“It doesn’t appear that...
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Commentary: As China woos Latin America, U.S....
Where the United States once led the charge towards international economic integration, now China is producing and consuming its way into every region of the world (Photo: Flickr Blog do Planalto)
By ANNA EDGERTON Channel: Latin American Affairs, Economics
In a globalized economy, the world is anyone’s backyard. Where the United States once led the charge towards international economic...
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Arizona newspaper's endorsement of Romney warns...
The Arizona Republic praised Romney’s economic record, but said his position on immigration “is a concern.” (Flickr: Gage Skidmore)
By JORDAN FABIAN Channel: Politics
Mitt Romney earned the endorsement of Arizona’s largest newspaper for the state’s upcoming Republican presidential primary, but the editorial board also offered the candidate a word of warning.
...
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Things Fall Apart … Lin Holds Them Together: A...
Even lifelong fans of rival teams are getting caught up in the Linsanity. (Photo: Flickr)
By DAVID GUTT Channel: Sports
Linsanity has reached its apex.
My ruptured eardrums can attest to that. Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, as the Knicks starting lineup was announced one-by-one to greet the visiting Atlanta Hawks, a cacophonous din erupted around me as if a demon were being summoned...
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Time's Latino vote cover features non-Latino face
The man pictured behind the “M” in “TIME” is not Latino, according to a report. (Time Magazine)
By JORDAN FABIAN Channel: Politics, Media
What’s wrong with this picture?
Time magazine’s upcoming cover proclaimed that “Latinos will pick the next president,” adding a visual exclamation point with the portraits of 20 Arizona Latino voters, or so we...
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Mexico: Foreign Minister is "willing to debate"...
Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa said on Wednesday that Mexico is willing to debate the legalization of drugs. Although she argued that this was not the best way forward. (photo: flickr SREMexico)
By Manuel Rueda Channel: Latin American Affairs
Mexico’s Foreign Minister told a group of Latin American and European lawmakers that her country is willing to discuss the legalization of...
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Oscar-nominated actor Demian Bichir gives voice to...
Mexican actor Demián Bichir’s Oscar worthy performance in A Better Life speaks to the struggles of millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. (Summit Entertainment)
By JUAN GASTELUM Channel: Immigration, Entertainment
“One always hopes that his/her performance transcends the typical role,” A Better Life’s Demián Bichir tells me during a recent phone call from Mexico, in the weeks...
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Why an enemy of Arizona's immigration law backed...
Ariz. State Sen. Jerry Lewis (R), who defeated Russell Pearce in a symbolic recall election, endorsed Romney despite opposing views on immigration. (Facebook)
By URIEL J. GARCIA Channel: Immigration, Politics
PHOENIX – State Sen. Jerry Lewis (R) was able to unseat one of the most powerful politicians in Arizona, former state Senate President Russell Pearce, in a November recall election...