The Hispanic press in the United States

Por By Silvio González

Havana (PL) The history of Latin journalism in the United States shows a constant struggle in defense of culture and for preserving its own identity, as well as being a bulwark for fighting against racial discrimination and injustice.

According to ancient history, the first daily was the one placed by Roman Emperor Julius Caesar in the “Forum”, which he named “Daily Acts” in the first century A.D.

Cape Verde to Elect New President

Mexico, Aug 21 (Prensa Latina) Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla arrived in Mexico on Sunday to hold talks with her peer Felipe Calderon on security, drug trafficking and commercial relations.

The meeting of the two leaders is scheduled for August 22 and 23, when they will sign agreements on extradition procedures and exchange of information in the fight against organized crime.

Cape Verde to Elect New President

Praia, Aug 21 (Prensa Latina) Cape Verdeans are ready to elect a new president of this African country between candidates Manuel Inocencio Souza of the PAICV ruling government and opponent Jorge Carlos Fonseca of the Movement for Democracy (MFD).

Libyan Government and Rebels Claim Control of Zones

Trípoli, Aug 21 (prensa Latina) The Libyan leader Muamar el Gadafi assured in a recorded speech to have eliminated rats, as he called his opponents backed by NATO; while his opponents assured they will soon control the city.

Spain Urges European Nations to Recognize Palestinian State

Madrid, Aug 21 (Prensa Latina) Spain’s Foreign Affairs Minister Trinidad Jimenez was hopeful that the majority of European Union member nations move towards the recognition of a Palestinian state, reported El Pais daily on Sunday.

“There’s the feeling that now is the time to do something, to give the Palestinians the hope that a state could become a reality,” she said in an interview with El Pais newspaper published on Sunday.

Venezuelan Socialists Support Gold Repatriation

Caracas, Aug 21 (Prensa Latina) The ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) begins in this capital on Sunday a process of mobilizations to support the President Hugo Chavez�s decision to repatriate gold reserves held in foreign banks.

According to PSUV vice president Aristobulo Isturiz, the mobilizations planned nationwide for the coming days begin with an assembly which will have among participants the minister of Finance and Planning, Jorge Giordani, and the president of the Central Bank, Nelson Merentes.

Chavez Reiterates Opposition”s Inability to Govern Venezuela

Caracas, Aug 20 (Prensa Latina) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez insisted on Saturday that the opposition is “absolutely” unfit to govern this country again.

Through his column Notas de Retaguardia published in the local newspaper El Correo del Orinoco, Chavez stressed the need for the people and government to be deployed throughout the country to address the stance of the opponents to the developing social transformations.

Mexico: PRD Makes Last Congress before the 2012 Elections

Mexico Aug 20 (Prensa Latina) The Democratic Revolution Party (PRD in Spanish) held on Saturday its 13th Extraordinary National Congress, which is the last before the presidential election in 2012.

The agenda for this meeting will focus, among other topics, on the PRDâ�Ös program and development plan, according to Jesus Zambrano, who was the national president during the 9th Extraordinary Plenary of the National Council on Friday.

Malawi Government Dissolved amid Crisis

Blantyre, Aug 20 (Prensa Latina) Malawi President Bingu Wa Mutharika dissolved his cabinet amid a political crisis, without specifying reasons.

In an official statement released Saturday, Mutharika said he will direct the ministerial activities.

Uruguay: Council of Ministers to Approve Farm Bill

Montevideo, Aug 20 (Prensa Latina) The Bill on Rural Properties Tax (ICR) will be passed in the Lower House with the approval of all cabinet ministers, official sources said Saturday.

At a meeting of the Council of Ministers on Monday, the government should pass the bill, which levies a new tax on the possession of agricultural land exceeding two hectares.

Egyptians Protest Israeli Attack on Sinai

Cairo, Aug 20 (Prensa Latina) The Egyptian government demanded explanations from Israel for the death of five agents who were shot by soldiers of the government of Tel Aviv Friday, in an obscure incident in the Desert of Sinai, provoking protests in the Egyptian capital.

The Egyptian security agents were shot Thursday by Israeli troops on the border, according to media reports that quoted official sources.

DPRK President in Russia

Pyongyang, Aug 20 (Prensa Latina)The president of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Kim Jong Il, started a visit to Russia to hold talks with his counterpart, Dmitri Medvedev.

Kim Jong Il is on his second visit since 2002 to Russia, one of the six members of the peace talks on the Korean Peninsula.

Russia, China, the United States, Japan and North and South Korea make up the group of negotiators trying to ease tensions in the region, especially on the issue of nuclear non-proliferation.

Interior Ministry Investigates Repression in Madrid

Madrid, Aug 20 (Prensa Latina) The Spanish Interior Ministry opened an investigation into the violent repression by the national police of two lay demonstrations against public funding for Pope Benedict XVI’s visit.

Reports on Gaddafi”s Flight Ruled Out

Tripoli, Aug 20 (Prensa Latina) Libyan official sources and foreign governments said that transnational media reports claiming that leader Muammar Gaddafi has fled the country are groundless.

The official Libyan spokesperson, Musa Ibrahim, denied that Gaddafi had sought political asylum in South America.

San Francisco Bay Area’s BART Pulls a Mubarak

By Amy Goodman

What does the police killing of a homeless man in San Francisco have to do with the Arab Spring uprisings from Tunisia to Syria? The attempt to suppress the protests that followed. In our digitally networked world, the ability to communicate is increasingly viewed as a basic right. Open communication fuels revolutions—it can take down dictators. When governments fear the power of their people, they repress, intimidate and try to silence them, whether in Tahrir Square or downtown San Francisco.

Venezuelan Opposition Accused of Ties to CIA

Caracas, Aug 19 (Prensa Latina) Members of the Venezuelan political oppositions are tied to the intelligence agencies of the United States, a country that represents a threat for the whole region, Socialist congress member Hector Navarro said Friday.

Spain Approves New Measures to Cut Deficit

Madrid, Aug 19 (Prensa Latina) Spain approved new measures on Friday to boost the economy and keep its commitment to reduce the budget deficit by six percent of its GDP this year.

The government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero gave green light to a plan of austerity and incentives, similar to the plan it adopted last year to meet the goal it promised to the EU.

CARICOM-SICA Summit Starts in El Salvador

San Salvador, Aug 19 (Prensa Latina) The 3rd Summit of the Central American Integration System (SICA) and the Community of Caribbean States (CARICOM) began Friday, with the aim of discussing security issues, risk management, climate change and trade.

Turkey to Support Somalia Rebuild Civil Infrastructure

Mogadishu, Aug 19 (Prensa Latina) Turkey”s Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan announced on Friday his government”s decision to help Somalia in the creation of a solid infrastructure as part of an international action to support the African country.

Piedad Cordoba Leaves Colombia after Death Threat

Bogota, Aug. 19 (Prensa Latina) Former Colombian senator Piedad Cordoba left the country after receiving a death threat, sources close to the human rights activist confirmed.

Senator Ivan Cepeda, of the opposition Alternative Democratic Pole, said that Cordoba told him by telephone last night that she was leaving the country because the threats had intensified and her life was in immediate danger.

Libyan Capital Hammered by NATO Bombings

Tripoli, Aug 19 (Prensa Latina) Tripoli was under a new wave of bombardments by NATO planes as rebel forces claimed new advances by land, as yet unconfirmed by the Libyan official media.

Dense columns of smoke rose in the Bad el Aziziya area, where the residence of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is located, and in districts of the western outskirts of this metropolis, which is longer than it is high, given the reluctance of Muslim families to live in high-rises.

USA: More Sanctions, Pressure on Syria

Washington, Aug 18 (Prensa Latina) The U.S. government stepped up its pressure on Syria in the form of sanctions and a request from President Barack Obama for Syrian President Bachar el-Assad to resign immediately.

Obama made his statements shortly before leaving to vacation in a luxury resort, followed by sharp criticism for taking a break when the economy is in dire straits and unemployment is rising.

Chile: Students Reject New Gov´t Proposal

Santiago de Chile, Aug 18 (Prensa Latina) “We don´t want to improve the system, it has to be changed,” student leader Camila Vallejo said Thursday in response to a third government proposal to resolve the political crisis over education reform.

Bolivia: Gov´t, Indigenous Dialogue on Road Project Stagnates

La Paz, Aug 18 (Prensa Latina) Despite numerous appeals from the government to hold talks, indigenous leaders will begin the fourth day of their march to the capital on Thursday, although some people began to drop out. According to Adolfo Chavez, participants in the march to protest the construction of a road that goes thrugh Isiboro Secure National Park in Beni, insisted on demanding the presence of President Evo Morales as their only valid interlocutor.

Chavez Ratifies Sovereign Use of International Reserves

Caracas, Aug 18 (Prensa Latina) President Hugo Chavez reaffirmed Thursday that Venezuela will use its international reserves according to the country’s interests, without subordinating itself to foreign powers or institutions. In a second article for his column “Notes from the Rear Guard” in the Orinoco Mail newspaper, Chavez decried what he called a campaign to create confusion and destabilization by using the issue of reserves.