Latino Daily News: Bringing You the Latest Hispanic Current Events and News Stories 24/7

‘Battle: Los Angeles’ starring Michelle Rodriguez, Aaron Eckhart and R&B Singer Ne-Yo won this weekend’s box office race garnering $14.1 million.

The story of a U.S. marine unit fighting invading aliens who are destroying Los Angeles, toppled ‘Rango’ from its top spot, with the movie coming in second.  The movie did especially well with minority audiences due in great part to its multicultural cast that included Rodriguez, Ne-Yo, Ramon Rodriguez and Neil Brown Jr. playing the Hispanic class clown.

Michelle plays a tough as nails female soldier who describes herself as a ‘not fancy Hollywood type’.  She appears to love the role of a butt-kicking female, case in point with her roles in movies like “Machete” and “Avatar”.  However, she does appear concerned about the number of roles out there for her:  “When us chicks don’t remove our clothes and we don’t play the girlfriend, there are not a lot of roles out there.” 

The top three movies of the weekend were rounded out by the gothic remake of ‘Red Riding Hood’.

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Celebrities from the worlds of music, film, television and sport have joined with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to engage consumers in a conversation about the lack of access to safe, clean water for nearly 900 million children and adults across the globe. The UNICEF Tap Project is a public service campaign that aims to draw attention to this serious issue and encourage the public to take action to reduce the numbers of children dying daily from waterborne illnesses, the second-highest cause of preventable childhood deaths in the world.

Celebrity supporters – UNICEF Ambassador Selena Gomez, along with Adrian Grenier, Dwight Howard, Rihanna, Taylor Swift and Robin Williams – will bottle their own tap water from their homes for a sweepstakes benefiting the UNICEF Tap Project. Supporters of the UNICEF Tap Project can enter to win a limited-edition “Celebrity Tap Pack,” a one-of-a-kind case of custom-made water bottles featuring tap water from the homes of each celebrity advocate, all the while raising vital funds for UNICEF’s clean water and sanitation programs.

Since its inception in 2007, the UNICEF Tap Project has raised nearly $2.5 million in the United States and has helped provide clean water for millions of children globally.  UNICEF works in more than 90 countries to improve access to safe water and sanitation facilities in schools and communities, and to promote safe hygiene practices. Over the past 16 years more than a billion people have gained access to improved drinking water and sanitation facilities thanks to the efforts of UNICEF and its partners.

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The Diocese of Saltillo, the Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez Centre for Human Rights, the Rafto Foundation (Norway) and the Pastoral Care Commission for Human Mobility of the Mexican Episcopal Conference, together with other groups, wish to present a proposal to the People’s Commission from the Mexican Chamber of Deputies: for Mexico to concede a temporary “humanitarian visa” to Central American migrants.

In a press conference, Bishop Raul Vera of Saltillo confirmed: as immigration reform by the Mexican Senate, made a few weeks ago, continues to support the criminalization of migrants in Central America, we ask that this document may be conceded. Therefore, Mexico could be an example to the world and could also acquire a moral authority to demand the dignified treatment of Mexicans who emigrate to the United States.

This humanitarian visa “would be temporary and would be issued only to those who wish to cross the Mexican territory, especially from the south to the northern border of the Country.” In addition, to obtain it, “there would not be the need to have a bank account or proof of work contracts, residence, immigration status or other information,” said Bishop Vera.

Read more at Fides Services →

On the heels of President Barack Obama appointing Chicago attorney and prominent Hispanic business man, Marty Castro to the Commission on Civil Rights, he was appointed the chair person of the Commission via an affirmation vote at the Commission’s first meeting.

A unanimous vote of the Commission approved the President’s designation of Mr. Castro as the Chairperson at its regular business meeting on March 11, 2011.

Mr. Castro becomes the eighth chairperson of the Commission since its inception in 1957, and the first Latino chairperson in the Commission’s history. 
Mr. Castro was appointed by President Obama to the Commission on January 27, 2011.

Chairperson Castro said,

“I am humbled by the confidence that President Obama and my fellow Commissioners have shown in me by elevating me to Chairperson of the Commission.  As the son and grandson of immigrants from Mexico who came to this county for the hope it offered, and as a proud American, I am honored to serve my country in this important capacity.  I believe the Commission has an important role to play in ensuring that the American Dream continues to be available to all persons in the United States.  I also look forward to working with my fellow Commissioners and our staff to ensure that the Commission renews its mission to be our Nation’s conscience on civil rights issues.”

Chairperson Castro is President of Castro Synergies, LLC in Chicago, and Chair of the Illinois Human Rights Commission. Prior to founding Castro Synergies, Mr. Castro was Vice President of External Affairs, Head of Strategic Business Development at Aetna, Inc. in Chicago.

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Texas Republican State Representative Aaron Peña is hoping Texas can learn something from Utah and their dual approach to the immigration issue. 

The former Democratic Rep who recently became a Texas Republican, filed bill HB 2757, which would “develop a comprehensive, coordinated, and sustainable state plan to address…immigration and the use of migrant workers in the state.”  Peña’s bill would call for the creation of a commission on immigration and migration that would continuously assess the state’s needs for foreign labor. 

The commission would work with the Mexican government to provide a legally migrated workforce depending on the needs of the state.  Peña is hopeful that Texas can learn from Utah where a similar measure just passed. 

Read more at Texas Tribune →

The Latin American region is currently assessing the damage Japan’s tsunami has had on the region – thus far early reports are the damage was minimal.

The 9.0 magnitude earth quake in Japan unleashed a tsunami that resulted in enormous devastation in Japan and resulted in numerous tsunami warnings throughout the Latin American region. 

Over 300 coastal buildings in Peru were damaged and flooding was reported there.  Several hundred people in the town of Pisco spent the night inland in the town square.  In Peru they measured the first tsunami wave at 1.5 metres.

Ecuador had declared a state of emergency and ordered evacuations early, right after the Japan tsunami hit there.  Therefore, Ecuador reported no fatalities and ‘minimum damage’.  Though there was some flooding in the Galapagos Island chain.

In Chile evacuations had also been ordered early saving lives said President Sebastian Pinera. 

In Mexico the government of Felipe Calderon reported higher than normal waves but no damage or fatalities. 

Thus far in the Americas the only known death was of an American that was swept away from the coast line while he was taking pictures of the incoming tsunami waves in California. 

Read more at ABC →

The alternative Spanish-language website Frekuenzia.com has launched a dance parody of Lady GaGa’s Born This Way.  They have changed some of the word phrasing and the visuals are just plain freaky but clearly they love Lady GaGa.

The video dance titled “Ansina Naci” by Lady Gagi’s is a freak show from start to finish, the good stuff (well maybe not good stuff but less freaky part) starts 1:45 minutes into the 6 minute video – tell us what you think.

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Several Mexican media sources are reporting that the former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney is due to perform in Ciudad Juarez, located in the northern state of Chihuahua, Mexico

Representatives for Mr. McCartney have not confirmed to English-language media but Spanish language media is saying he has indeed confirmed a performance sometime in October of this year.

It is not known if a performance in Juarez is part of a tour throughout Mexico or just a single performance in this border city is planned.  Ciudad Juarez is considered one of Mexico most dangerous due to drug-related violence and drug-related homicides.

The city would welcome the former Beatle and all the positive publicity such a visit would garner.  You will keep you posted as the story develops. 

Read more at El Paso Times →

Mexican authorities from the northern state of Chihuahua have announced that Veronica Perez Rodriguez, a professor of archaeology at Northern Arizona University, has been kidnapped there while visiting relatives.

The 41-year old professor who resides part-time in El Paso, Texas was visiting her mother in Ciudad Juarez when armed men kidnapped her Friday afternoon as she was exiting her mother’s house.

Perez Rodriguez grew up in Cuidad Juarez and then pursued her college and doctoral degrees at the University of Texas at El Paso and University of Georgia. 

The Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez is considered the most dangerous city in the country and has seen 400 killed thus far this year.  In 2010 3,100 residents were killed in drug-related homicides.

Read more at Fox News Chicago →

The government of Puerto Rico is starting to see its investment in sports tourism pay off with over 50 sport events scheduled between 2010-2011, netting the island’s economy roughly $28 million.

The island government invested nearly $7 million to market the island as a destination for high-profile sporting events and funds were also used to upgrade sporting facilities.  Right now the Puerto Rico Open is being held, considered one of the more important golf events of the year.

In addition the island recently hosted the Surfing Professionals Pro Search which brought $10 million in direct and indirect revenue and the Central American and Caribbean Games in Mayaguez were also held recently. 

This week alone the island is prepping for the Ironman competition and the Corona Extra Pro Surf circuit.  Tourism is a very important part of the island economy representing 7% of its overall economy by contributing $3.3 billion in revenue and maintaining 17,500 jobs.

Read more at LAHT →

The pleas of the U.S. government and Alan Gross’ family fell on deaf ears in Cuba.  After a two-day trial, a Cuban court found the 61-year old contractor guilty of crimes against the island nation and sentenced him to 15-years in prison.

Gross was charged with operating as a ‘subversive’, working on behalf of the U.S. government with intention of undermining the authority of the Cuban communist regime.  The Cuban government claims he was handing out illegal satellite equipment so that the U.S. could spy on the country.

Whereas Gross’ family and the U.S. government say he was on the island attempting to improve the quality of life for the Cuban Jewish community by improving their internet access.  In actuality he was a U.S. government subcontractor employee doing democracy building efforts on the island, which the U.S. government routinely does without the permission of Cuba.

He had been jailed for 15 months before coming to trial on charges.

Read more by HS News Staff →

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) seized nearly 13 pounds of methamphetamine this week near Amado, Ariz.

An HSI agent, working with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Border Patrol, found the drugs after a suspected drug smuggling vehicle was stopped in Nogales as it traveled north on Interstate 19 (I-19) toward Tucson.

The vehicle was transported to the I-19 checkpoint where a canine alerted positively. Border Patrol agents used non-intrusive inspection technology to scan the vehicle and further scrutiny led to the discovery of nearly 13 pounds of methamphetamine, with an estimated value of $233,000 hidden within the vehicle.

HSI agents arrested the driver, an 18-year-old lawful permanent resident from Mexico, on federal felony charges related to the possession of narcotics with the intent to distribute.

In March 2009, the Department of Homeland Security launched the Southwest Border Initiative to bring unprecedented focus and intensity to securing the Southwest border, coupled with a reinvigorated, smart, and effective approach to enforcing our immigration laws.

Read more by HS News Staff →