Which is it, Hispanic or Latino?

140502161109-quote-hernandez-quoteonly-horizontal-galleryIf there's one thing everyone should know about Hispanics in the United States, it's that this rapidly growing minority has an undefined identity crisis.

Why? Because of the confusion surrounding what to call people whose ethnic background is from Latin American and Spanish-speaking countries. Some even feel 100% American or 100% Latino -- or Hispanic, depending to whom you're talking.

How do you know which term to use? "Hispanic" and "Latino" are often used interchangeably and aim to describe the same group of people, but technically they do not mean the same thing.

What's more, within Hispanic communities in the United States, most people identify with their country of origin and often use hyphens to represent their loyalties to both cultures: like "Mexican-American."

We're constantly having to straddle two worlds: the one where our families came from and where we've chosen to live.

To make matters even more complicated, all that can change depending on where Latinos are in any given moment.

When I'm in my parents' native country of Peru, I'm American with Peruvian parents and that's that. No matter how hard I've tried to be "Peruvian enough" to my fellow Peruvians, I might as well be a gringa in their eyes.
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And, when I'm back in United States, someone will inevitably ask me where I'm from in a way that suggests I'm not from the good ol' U.S. of A.

In other words, imagine having to constantly tell people that you're made of two colors: blue and yellow, but all people see is green, and you constantly have to go in the light and show them you are made of both colors.

Identifying as Hispanic or Latino comes with its ups and downs. But perhaps breaking down what these terms mean and how they're used within this diverse community of 54 million Latinos can help shed some light on our experience.

Hispanic or Latino?

Years ago, I attended a media networking event hoping to meet more established journalists.

I remember saying something along the lines of, "Ah, the joys of being Hispanic," and an older Latina woman turned around and said, "No, sweetie, you are a Latina. Don't refer to yourself as Hispanic. The government invented that word for us."

Um, OK. I think I hit a nerve.

Then, a younger Latino man snickered and asked her to not take those labels so seriously. She quickly turned to him and, judging by her wide eyes and stiff demeanor, she clearly did not agree. Her eyes then met with mine and she looked at me as if I had to make a choice: Hispanic or Latino? What's it going to be?

The room immediately felt as if it divided into two uncomfortable teams.

I could feel the warm embrace from the "Hispanic team," which was easygoing and used both terms interchangeably, and imagined them saying to me, "Come on over! Hispanic? Latino? Whatever you feel is best."

But the looming eyes of "Latino team" made me feel obligated to side with them and take some kind of political stance on the term. Using Latino had a slight "sticking it to the man" feel.

I wasn't sure how I felt about identifying with either term, so I decided to hold my tongue, take a deep breath and smile.

Even though this woman I had never met tried to impose her label on me, she was partially right.

The term Hispanic was first used by the U.S. government in the 1970s in an attempt to count people from Mexico, Cuba and Central and South America but what she failed to mention was that the term has existed for centuries.

Back then, there wasn't a private or public sector that had a uniform way of collecting data on the Hispanic community, so a committee was formed and it opted not to use Latino because, if taken literally, it could include Europeans of Latin origin.

The goal was to accurately account for this growing and discriminated against population so laws could be implemented to help with their needs as well as trace their accomplishments.

The term Latino finally came to fruition in the 2000 census as a more inclusive way to include mixed races known as "mestizo" or "mulato" in Central and South America.

In short, Hispanic refers to language and Latino refers to geography.

One reason for my ambivalence with both these terms is that I didn't grow up using either one.

I was born and raised in New Jersey by my Peruvian immigrant parents in a predominantly Hispanic community where everyone identified with their family's country of origin. I was Peruvian for the better half of my life and it's perhaps why I use the terms interchangeably and have no preference.

I'm not alone.

Most Hispanics in the United States prefer to use their country of origin to describe themselves most often. About half said they have no preference for either term but for those who did, Hispanic was preferred over "Latino," according to the Pew Research Center.

"For example, in California, the state with the largest Hispanic population, 30% say they prefer 'Hispanic' and 17% say they prefer the term 'Latino,'" according to Pew. The results were similar in Florida and New York.

The only exception is Texas where there was an overwhelming preference for "Hispanic." Among Hispanic Texans, 46% prefer the term Hispanic, while 8% say they prefer Latino.

But this wasn't always the case.

"There was a time when Latino was primarily used in the West Coast and Hispanic on the East Coast," said Mark Hugo Lopez, director of Hispanic Research at the Pew Research Center.

The use of both pan-ethnic terms are unique to the United States, Lopez added, as is the ongoing identity debate on which term to use.

Latino vs. Hispanic on social media

Latinos are the most active of all ethnic groups on social media networking sites -- Hispanic adults topping at 72%, followed by African Americans at 68% and whites at 65% -- and CNN recently looked into which term was used more often and in what state across the country.

Even though Pew found that Hispanic was preferred over Latino when it came to identity, in the past year, CNN found that Latino was mentioned more on Twitter than Hispanic.

"From what I've seen, the term Hispanic inspires more rage than Latino," said Adrian Carrasquillo, former social media manager at NBC Latino and now editor of Latino coverage for BuzzFeed.

"For a long time the Latino community has been fragmented, but now they are starting to have more cohesion and the rise of Latino is bringing people together more," he added.

The term's popularity may also have to do with the sudden surge of niche sites that containin the term, like Fox New Latino or The Huffington Post's LatinoVoices or two new magazines: Cosmopolitan for Latinas and Glam Belleza Latina.

CNN found the states where Google users searched the most for the term Latino from 2011-2014 were Virginia, California, Texas, Florida, Arizona and New York. The states with the highest Google searches for Hispanic were New Mexico, Texas, District of Columbia, Florida and Arizona.

Google searches for Hispanic have declined over the past 10 years, while searches for Latino have remained steady and even seen an uptick in the past two to three years. The only exception each year was during Hispanic Heritage Month.

"Groups like Latinos in Social Media and niche Latino sites that have launched recently have a lot to do with Latino being used more than Hispanic, but Latino refers to flavors, people and music. You don't hear people say
'Hispanic music,' they say 'Latino music,' " said Joe Kutchera, author of "Latino Link: Building Brands Online with Hispanic Communities and Content."

"Latino media outlets have turned to Latino more because the term feels more inclusive, but that can always change. Younger generations are generally more accepting and don't care as much about these labels," Kutchera added.

Such was the case for Lance Rios when he started the popular Latino-based community Facebook page Being Latino. He said he realized Latino held more weight than Hispanic because it was a term embraced within the community.

"Twenty years ago Chicanos were Chicanos, and Boricuas were Boricuas but now it's different," Rios said. "Latino encompasses many more who can identify with having parents from different parts of Latin America."

Hispanics in the United States: Fast Facts

That annoying question: Where are you from?

Marco Perez, founder of the United Latino Professionals, has developed a good-natured sense of humor when he is asked a question that many Latinos often hear: Where are you from?

Perez said the question doesn't bother him much anymore.

"I just say I was born in Guatemala but was raised in New York since I was toddler so I identify myself more with 'American' culture," Perez said.

It's clearly not a one-word answer for Perez but not as complicated as some make it out to be.

"Their reaction always depends on who it is, their level of education and what part of the country I'm in. But I get reactions such as, 'No, I mean ethnic origin,' but in many cases they simply leave it at an awkward, 'Oh OK,'" Perez said.

There are a couple of reasons why this question is irritating to many Latinos. It implies that the person being asked is a foreigner when he or she, or his or her family, could have easily been in the United States for several generations.

It also inevitably puts Latinos in a box, making them feel singled out and forced to justify their American-ness.
Before I knew any better, the question also made me feel foreign, so I always had my Americana spiel ready to go:

"Yes, I'm Peruvian but I was born and raised in New Jersey. And, I went to Rutgers, and watched 'Full House' and

'Saved by the Bell' growing up. I love apple pie and spend Fourth of July weekend down the shore, etc."

'Where are you from?' is not the right question

The only time I feel like I'm identifying with the Hispanic or Latino label is when I'm around non-Latinos or filling out the census survey.

Living in two worlds

With all the "Latino boom" talk, I realized I am a part of the population that isn't just part of the changing face of America but that also is altering its economic landscape.

You've heard the statistics: Latinos have a $1 trillion buying power only expected to grow. The Latino vote helped Obama get elected in 2008 and 2012. They're one out of every six people, one out of every four babies born each year.

The Hispanic population accounted for more than half of the country's growth in the past decade as well as 95% of the teen population growth through 2020. And, by 2050, Latinos are projected to make up 30% of the U.S. population.

That's what Hispanic marketing expert Chiqui Cartagena calls the duality of the Latino reality.

"From the grocery aisle where you pick up your Corona beer and your dulce de leche ice cream, to the Billboard charts where Pitbull, Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez routinely dominate, to the lunch you order at Chipotle .... the Latino effect is everywhere," wrote Cartagena, the vice president of corporate marketing for Univision Cartagena, in an op-ed for CNN.

When companies talk about the Hispanic market, they are referring to the bilingual Latino who has embraced both cultures, eats pizza and tacos, and the growing share of Hispanics who prefer to consume their news in English from television, print, radio and Internet outlets.

But Pew also found that most Latinos acknowledge the importance of speaking Spanish and found that more than 34 million Hispanics ages 5 and older spoke Spanish at home, which may be the reason why English and Spanish have influenced each other so much.

Fewer Latinos will speak Spanish, more non-Latinos will, report says

Language isn't the only aspect of Latino culture to keep in mind when speaking to this growing community in the United States. It's also important to know that Latinos are not a monolithic culture.

While a large percentage of the Hispanic market is of Mexican origin, there are still two dozen other nationalities that make up America's Latino population. Also, Latinos come in all shapes, complexions and sizes.

Glenda Guevara has little patience for stereotypes these days.

"I now take the 'where are you from?' as a teaching moment," said Guevara, who was born in El Salvador. "But I do get furious when I'm told that I can't be from El Salvador because I don't fit the 'look.'"

Without completely losing her cool, Guevara continually responds by asking, "What exactly does an El Salvadoran look like? Please tell me what my people should look like?"

Latin America's diverse racial demographics are the result of a mixed-race background of European, African and indigenous cultures.

All the attention Latinos have gotten over the years has come with its fair share of stereotypes and misconceptions, some I'm able to laugh off and some I wish I could wave a magic wand and change immediately, like:

Being asked to say something in Spanish (Nope, I'm not here solely for your entertainment.), to explain where exactly Peru is (Don't admit the little geography you know.), if I know someone you once met in Peru (It's a big country, the chances are impossible.), if I'm a U.S. citizen (That's never, ever appropriate.), and -- my personal favorite -- introducing me to your friend from a Latin American country because you believe we will hit it off. (Common backgrounds don't necessarily mean you are introducing me to my future bestie.)

These awkward and often staggering encounters only confirm how ambiguous Latinos' collective identity is to those on the outside.

But if waving that wand meant having to alter who I am or how I move seamlessly between two worlds, then I'd hold back. I can only hope that as the Hispanic community continues to grow, so will a more defined identity.

Study: Hispanics show increasing cultural, economic and social diversity

How do you identify and why? Please share your thoughts in the comments!


[readon1 url="http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/03/living/hispanic-latino-identity/"]Source:www.cnn.com[/readon1]

 

Faster travel between US and Mexico with new “bridge scanners”

bridgescanners1With summer here, standing in line at the pedestrian bridge on the U.S. Mexican border can take a toll on your body.

 To help speed up the entry process at the crossing in Larado, Customs and Border Patrol are implementing new ready lane scanners to help alleviate pedestrian traffic flow.
 
“On a given year forty one million people enter the united states walking. Not in a car, not in a train, not on a plane.  So what we wanted to do is bring the technology to the pedestrians walkway to help expedite the pedestrians coming through,” said Acting Port Director Jose Uribe.
 
The new ready line cards have radio technology that — when used in a kiosk – enables the C.P.B. officer to check biographical information, including a photo and results for terrorist and criminal connections.
 
And while the new technology does not replace face to face interaction between officers and travelers, it allows C.P.B. to focus their time on each individual.
 
“We get a small window that helps us adjust the time on the processing here in Laredo, with over 3 million pedestrians a year those few seconds make are the difference,” Uribe said.
 
Although the pedestrians KGNS spoke to haven’t felt the speed of the pedestrian traffic change, they believe once officers and travelers get accustomed to the change time on the bridge will be cut.
 
“Well it’s a new system. In the beginning it’s slow, but it’s going to be much faster, said Jose Antunes in Spanish.
 
“Now it’s really slow, but later when they get the hang of it, it will be better,” Addie Mendieta said.
 
Laredo ”Bridge One” is one of the 12 busiest border crossings to use the new scanners, including cities like El Paso and San Diego.

In China, No One Wants to Hire Virgos

22-astrology.w529.h352At the New Republic, Christopher Beam looked into horoscope-related hiring choices in China, where “astrology-based discrimination is real.” He reports that astrological signs often influence employment, based on assumptions about personality and perceived compatibility with other signs. Beam writes:

In this astrological version of natural selection, no one has it tougher than Virgos, born between Aug. 23 and Sept. 22. The persecution is mostly playful. This month, Virgos have been taking a ribbing online for the usual sins: They’re picky, they’re spoiled, they’re fussy to the point of being obsessive-compulsive … An online survey conducted by Sina this week asked, “Which astrological sign has the most trouble finding work?” Virgo won—well, lost—by a long shot.

The maligned Virgos, meanwhile, have begun a campaign to reclaim their reputation. Typical Virgo. They just want to put their exasperating diligence to work — for you, hopefully! Please reconsider their applications. Don't forget to double-check their references. They just love the concept of double-checking, that's all.

[readon1 url="http://nymag.com/thecut/2014/09/one-wants-to-hire-virgos.html"]Source:nymag.com[/readon1]

 

Mexico Warns Arizona of Waste Spill Into River

0572326001411450202Authorities are testing water from the San Pedro River in southern Arizona that may be contaminated with toxic waste that traveled north after a massive copper mine spill in Mexico this summer.

Mexican officials on Monday issued a binational alert that contaminated water had made its way into the San Pedro River, which runs north to Pinal County in Arizona.

The contamination came from Buenavista del Cobre mine in Cananea, said Carlos Jesus Arias, director of the Sonora state civil protection agency.

Officials have not said how much waste leaked, or what exactly was in the spill.

Arizona authorities say they are trying to get more information about the potential spillover.

Mike Fulton, director of the water quality division of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, said two investigators would take samples from the water closest to the Mexico-U.S. border on Tuesday.

Fulton said the San Pedro River is currently flooding and that obtaining samples could be dangerous. The department plans to examine the pH and metal levels of about two or three liters of sample water.

International Boundary and Water Commission spokeswoman Sally Spener said it could be days before Mexican authorities sampling the water near the border get lab results back. Samples of water from the area will also be tested to determine whether waste made it to Arizona.

"They don't know how much spilled and what spilled and they don't know if it's for sure flowing into San Pedro River," Spener said.

Cochise County Emergency Services director Norman Sturm Jr. said water flowed over the top of a dam in Mexico on Sunday because of heavy rain, but there's little concern of massive contamination.

"From what I understand from the Mexican authorities, they doubt there is any higher level of contamination," Sturm said Monday. "But because that dam is near the mines in Cananea, I'm assuming they're just trying to be cautious."

The San Pedro runs north from Cananea, Sonora, into Arizona, past Sierra Vista and continues until it meets the Gila River near Winkleman in southern Pinal County.

Neither state nor local officials are warning the public of any contamination.

Mexican officials say the material in the water is "probably toxic."

The office of the Federal Attorney General for Environmental Protection said the spill contained rainwater overflow with ferrous elements below the threshold of what would pose a human health risk to human health. Authorities were analyzing whether it could contain heavy metals or other contaminants such as arsenic.

The Buenavista del Cobre mine, owned by Grupo Mexico, produces about 200,000 tons of copper each year.

The mine issued a statement Sunday saying storm water overflow linked to heavy rains from Hurricane Odile had caused mine water to leach into some creeks and streams.

Earlier this month, Grupo Mexico agreed to set up a $151 million trust to pay for damage when 10 million gallons of contaminants including copper sulfate and heavy metals spilled from the same mine into two rivers on Aug. 7.

[readon1 url="http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/mexico-alert-mine-spill-river-ariz-25679517"]Source:abcnews.go.com[/readon1]

 

U.S., Arab nations strike ISIS in Syria; U.S. hits 2nd terror group

140917175331-01-syria-0916-horizontal-gallery(CNN) -- The United States and several Arab nations carried out airstrikes against ISIS in Syria early Tuesday, intensifying the campaign against the Islamic militant group.

Tomahawk missiles launched from the sea began the strikes against the Sunni Muslim extremists, followed by bombers and fighters.

Here are answers to key questions about the new phase in the conflict with ISIS.

Which areas were hit?
The bombing has focused on the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa, a city in northern Syria. ISIS has had control of Raqqa for more than a year, imposing its brutal interpretation of Islamic law on the city's residents.

The extremists have made the city, which sits on the banks of the Euphrates River, the de facto capital of their self-declared "Islamic State" that stretches across large areas of Syria and Iraq.

ISIS targets around other Syrian cities -- Deir Ezzor, Al Hasakah and Abu Kamal -- were also hit in the strikes.

What was struck?
The attacks damaged multiple ISIS targets, the U.S. military said, including training compounds, headquarters, storage facilities, supply trucks and armed vehicles.

"Usually the first part of any air campaign are strategic targets -- fixed locations, big buildings, things that you don't need a guy on the ground to laser-designate," said retired Lt. Col. Rick Francona, an Air Force veteran intelligence officer and CNN military analyst.

The Pentagon also said ISIS fighters were hit in the strikes, but didn't specify how many.

In Raqqa, a building in the governor's compound, a post office and a recruitment center were among the sites struck, activists reported.

Why is Raqqa a focus of the initial strikes?
The city is known as a place where ISIS houses training centers, weapons depots and accommodations for fighters. During the Syrian conflict, the group has also seized military bases from the Syrian regime near the city and in the wider Raqqa province.

The targets hit by the airstrikes are intended to hurt ISIS' ability to command and control, resupply and train, a senior U.S. military official told CNN's Jim Sciutto.

ISIS has made Raqqa the flagship for its model of governance, providing food, fuel and security to people struggling to survive after years of civil war. But it also imposed hardline Islamist law there and metes out harsh punishment to those who don't follow orders. Locals started calling the city Tora Bora last year, saying it felt as if the Taliban of Afghanistan had taken over.

Who is taking part in the airstrikes?
All the foreign partners participating in the strikes with the United States are Arab countries: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain and Qatar.

"It's a remarkable diplomatic achievement," said CNN Political Commentator Peter Beinhart. "I don't think it was expected that there would be this much Arab support."

How long will the attacks go on?
For a while.
The first wave of strikes was expected to last into the early hours of Tuesday morning in Syria, CNN's Sciutto reported.

It is aimed at striking a strong initial blow, a senior U.S. official told CNN. The aerial campaign on ISIS targets in Syria is expected to continue beyond Tuesday.

Counterterrorism expert Philip Mudd said Tuesday's attacks were "just the start."

"This is not a definitive blow," said Mudd, who previously worked for the CIA. "When this gets interesting to me as a former practitioner is six months down the road, when a second-tier ISIS commander starts to create some sort of cell to recruit foreigners from Europe or the United States or Canada into Syria, do we still have the will and capability, and the intelligence, to locate that person, or that group of people, and put lead on the target?"

What happens next?
U.S. military officials will be trying to assess the effectiveness of the first night of bombing.
Some analysts have suggested that ISIS had already started dispersing its assets and fighters following President Barack Obama's warning of action in Syria earlier this month.

The response of ISIS fighters to the initial strikes may give military officials clues on what to target next.
"The follow-up to some of these strikes is -- what are their actions now?" said retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, a CNN military analyst. "There is intelligence that flows from the initial strike," he said.

The Arab governments involved in the strikes could also face discontent among their own people.

"Parts of the population do not agree with Sunni going against Sunni," Hertling said.
The United States is also pushing for a binding resolution at the U.N. General Assembly this week that aims to prevent and track the travel of foreign fighters to Syria.

How has ISIS reacted?
There was no immediate confirmed comment from the militant group on the strikes.

ISIS' official Bayan Radio tweeted a photo that it claimed showed damage to a communications tower in Raqqa. CNN wasn't immediately able to independently verify the image.

The militant group has increased security patrols in Raqqa, an opposition activist told CNN.

ISIS has previously linked the U.S. campaign of airstrikes in Iraq to its decision to execute three of its Western hostages -- two Americans and one Briton. It also recently called for attacks against the United States and its allies.

How have Syrian opposition groups reacted?
Hadi al Bahra, the President of the Syrian Opposition Coalition, welcomed the strikes.

"Tonight, the international community has joined our fight against ISIS in Syria," he said in a statement. "We have called for airstrikes such as those that commenced tonight with a heavy heart and deep concern, as these strikes begin in our own homeland. We insist that utmost care is taken to avoid civilian casualties."
Did the U.S. consult with the Syrian government beforehand?

A U.S. official says it didn't coordinate nor warn President Bashar al-Assad about the attacks. But the regime claims it was given a heads-up.

"According to the Syrian Foreign Ministry, the American side informed the Syrian representative to the U.N. yesterday that the U.S. will carry out airstrikes targeting the terrorist organization (ISIS) in Raqqa," said a banner on the website of the Syrian government's official news agency, SANA.

Beinhart said al-Assad's regime may end up as "the real winner" from the airstrikes on ISIS, since the moderate U.S.-backed rebels aren't "in a position to take this territory that we are pulverizing from the air."
Did Obama have the authority to begin the attacks?

The White House argues it doesn't need any new authority; that it's using an existing authorization to combat al Qaeda to expand its airstrike campaign.

But some lawmakers say it's Congress' role, not the President's, to declare war.
They say they were open to holding a vote on military action against ISIS -- but not until after the midterm elections in November.

"It was one thing to attack in Iraq, where you had a government that wanted us to," Beinhart said. "But Congress did not vote for U.S. airstrikes in Syria and we don't have a government requesting us to do that."

What are U.S. lawmakers saying?
When the strikes began, Congress had already left town to campaign for the midterm elections, and most of the reaction came from those who had pressed the administration to act sooner. Privately, many of them conceded they were relieved not to have to take a vote on a controversial issue just weeks before voters went to the polls in November.

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[readon1 url="http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/23/world/meast/syria-isis-airstrikes-explainer/index.html?iid=article_sidebar"]Source:www.cnn.com[/readon1]

 

 

Hispanic Heritage Month 2014: Argentina Stands Out In Golf's Major Championships Among Latin American Countries

roberto-devicenzo-was-the-first-male-golfer-to-win-a-major-championshipThere's no doubt that soccer is by far the most popular sport in nearly every Latin American nation.

Baseball and basketball are also very popular in many countries such as the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Brazil and Cuba.

But aside from amazing bicycle kicks, 400-foot home runs and slam dunks, hitting a small ball off a tee is gaining popularity in South America.

Golf, like any other sport, has its big stage. The Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and the PGA Championship are the four most notable majors held every year by the PGA and LPGA. Of course, the United States and multiple European countries stand out, but numerous Latin American golfers have hoisted major championship trophies over the decades.

The first Latin American-born male golfer to win a major was Argentine Roberto DeVicenzo.

DeVicenzo won the 1967 British Open in memorable fashion over Jack Nicklaus. Nicklaus is, of course, most remembered for his PGA-record 18 career majors. DeVicenzo won the 1967 British Open by outplaying other notables such as Gary Player and Peter Thompson by shooting under par all four rounds at the Open. An Argentina-born golfer going to England and defeating the best golfers from around the world; truly remarkable.
DeVicenzo would also place second at the 1968 Masters at Augusta.

Spanish firms interested in infrastructure deals in Mexico, minister says

6612570w 1Spanish Development Minister Ana Pastor said in an interview with Efe that she told Mexican Communications and Transportation Secretary Gerardo Ruiz Esparza during a meeting here that firms from Spain were interested in investing in infrastructure in Mexico.

The goal is to implement a bilateral cooperation agreement signed during Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto's visit to Spain in June, Pastor said.

Spanish companies have the experience to "collaborate and support" Mexico in the railway, highway and airport infrastructure areas, among others, Pastor said.

"Over the past few decades, Spain has made an important effort in infrastructure investment and, today, Spanish engineering and Spanish know how in all areas of transportation are considered among the best in the world," Pastor said.

Pastor was present on Tuesday for Peña Nieto's announcement during his state of the nation address at the National Palace that a new Mexico City airport would be built.

Ruiz Esparza agrees that more must be done to meet demand for air transportation service and bolster Mexico's development, Pastor said.

The Spanish minister said she helped convene the bilateral "High-Level Group" that will "materialize cooperation and support" between Spain and Mexico.

Trade "is growing and is more positive each day for the two countries in all areas," Pastor said.

The Spanish development minister thanked Mexico for the show of confidence it made by accepting Spanish investment.

Pastor arrived in Mexico City on Monday night from Costa Rica, where she spent a few hours.

The development minister attended a breakfast meeting Tuesday at Spanish Ambassador to Mexico Luis Fernandez-Cid's residence, where she met with representatives of Spanish firms that have invested in the country.

Isolux, Sacyr, Indra, Idom, CAF, AENA and OHL were among the companies represented at the meeting.

[readon1 url="http://www.laprensasa.com/309_america-in-english/2691462_spanish-firms-interested-in-infrastructure-deals-in-mexico-minister-says.html"]Source:www.laprensasa.com[/readon1]

 

Comedian Joan Rivers Dead at 81

140828155104-17-joan-rivers-horizontal-gallery(CNN) -- Comedian Joan Rivers died in a New York hospital Thursday afternoon, a week after suffering cardiac arrest during a medical procedure, her daughter said.

"She passed peacefully at 1:17 p.m. surrounded by family and close friends," Melissa Rivers said in a written statement.

The funeral for Rivers will be at Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan on Sunday, according to temple spokeswoman Elizabeth Fezrine. Details, including the time and if the public will be allowed to attend, are not yet known, she said.

Joan Rivers: A pointed, pioneering comedian
Rivers, 81, had been on life support at Manhattan's Mount Sinai hospital, where she was taken after she stopped breathing at the Yorkville Endoscopy clinic last Thursday.

Rivers was undergoing an apparently minor elective procedure at the clinic when she suffered cardiac and respiratory arrest, according to the New York Fire Department.

Paramedics took her by ambulance to Mount Sinai Hospital, about a mile from the clinic, where she was initially listed in critical condition.

The outpatient clinic is now being investigated by the New York State Department of Health, spokesman James O'Hara said.

Joan Rivers: In her own words
Her death also has triggered an investigation by the New York medical examiner's office, its spokeswoman, Julie Bolcer ,told CNN. "The cause and manner of death will be announced at some point," she said.
The Rivers family made very little information about her medical condition public, finally confirming Tuesday that she was on life support.

"My son and I would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff of Mount Sinai Hospital for the amazing care they provided for my mother," her daughter said. "Cooper and I have found ourselves humbled by the outpouring of love, support, and prayers we have received from around the world. They have been heard and appreciated.'

Melissa Rivers and her son Cooper have spent the past week by Rivers' hospital bedside, rushing there last Thursday when they learned of her illness.

'My mother's greatest joy in life was to make people laugh," Melissa Rivers said. "Although that is difficult to do right now, I know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon."

Share your memories
The clinic has not responded to repeated calls from CNN about the state's investigation.

Yorkville Endoscopy's website says it is an "ambulatory surgical center" that has been "approved by the Department of Health." The description of its accreditations is blank.

"Yorkville Endoscopy is a state of the art facility, staffed by highly experienced endoscopists whose mission is to provide safe and compassionate care to patients and their families," the website says.

Tributes from Joan's friends
Tributes to Rivers and her long career included one from former first lady Nancy Reagan, whose close circle of friends included Rivers.

"Joan Rivers was not only a dear friend, but one of the kindest and funniest people I ever knew," Reagan said. "I doubt there's anyone who hasn't laughed at her or with her until they cried. Today our tears are those of sadness.

I know I join millions in saying, 'Thanks for the good times Joan, we will truly miss you.' My love and deepest sympathy go to Melissa and Cooper."

Former CNN host Larry King knew Rivers for 45 years. "She knew no boundaries," King said. "Everything was funny to her. You couldn't' really object because she took no prisoners."

Donald Trump, who chose her as the winner on a season of "Celebrity Apprentice," said Rivers "was stronger at the end than she was at the beginning. She had unbelievable stamina."

Ryan Seacrest, who worked with her on E! shows, called Rivers "a trailblazer in so many ways."

Liza Minnelli said Rivers was "my dear friend."

"I will miss her but I will always remember the laughter and friendship she brought into my life," Minnelli said.

E! and NBCUniversal, producers of River's TV show "Fashion Police," sent condolences to her family on "this incredibly sad day."

"For decades Joan has made people laugh, shattered glass ceilings and revolutionized comedy," the studio said.

"She was unapologetic and fiercely dedicated to entertaining all of us and has left an indelible mark on the people that worked with her and on her legions of fans. She's been a much beloved member of the E! family for over 20 years and the world is less funny without her in it. Today our hearts are heavy knowing Joan will not be bounding through the doors."

Joan Rivers

[readon1 url="http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/04/showbiz/joan-rivers-dead/"]Source:www.cnn.com[/readon1]

 

Tropical Storm Dolly Slams Into Mexico's Gulf Coast As Norbert Flirts With Baja California

Storm Dolly MexicoMaria del Carmen Gonzalez watches after part of a street and her home collapsed due to heavy rains in the Gulf port city of Veracruz, Mexico, Tuesday Sept. 2, 2014. The Gulf states of Mexico are bracing for more bad weather as Tropical Storm Dolly will cross the coast lat this evening or overnight and continue moving inland over northeastern Mexico on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

MEXICO CITY (AP) – Heavy rains from Tropical Storm Dolly threatened flash floods and mudslides in mountainous areas as it moved in from Mexico's Gulf coast, where authorities had readied shelters and suspended school classes Wednesday.

The U.S. Hurricane Center said Dolly was located about 40 miles southwest of Tampico early Wednesday morning. The storm's maximum sustained winds had decreased to near 40 mph and it was moving to the west at 8 mph.

The storm was expected to bring 5 to 10 inches of rain to states of Tamaulipas and Veracruz, along the Gulf coast and inland. Life-threatening flash floods and mud slides were possible in mountainous areas.

Tropical storm force winds extended outward up to 140 miles but weakening was expected over the next 24 hours as Dolly moved farther inland.

Tamaulipas state authorities said earlier in the day that shelters were being readied and that classes would be suspended Wednesday in several municipalities along the Gulf coast. Authorities in neighboring Veracruz state ordered classes in the whole state suspended.

By Tuesday evening, several streets in the port city of Veracruz had flooded and least two streets where electric workers had been doing underground work had collapsed, damaging a house and several cars.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Norbert formed off Mexico's Pacific coast Tuesday. By early Wednesday, Norbert's center was about 135 miles west-southwest of Cabo Corrientes and about 270 miles south-southeast of the southern tip of Baja California.

Hurricane forecasters said that on its current track, Norbert is expected to move away from the southwestern coast of Mexico on Wednesday, and approach the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula on Thursday.

A tropical storm warning was issued early Wednesday for the southern portion of Baja California.

The storm's maximum sustained winds were around 60 mph, and the storm was moving northwest at 8 mph.

[readon1 url="http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2014/09/03/tropical-storm-dolly-slams-into-mexico-gulf-coast-as-norbert-flirts-with-baja/"]Source:latino.foxnews.com[/readon1]

 

Heineken sells Mexican packaging unit to Crown for $1.2 bn

afp-dutch-heineken-to-sell-mexican-package-business-for-1.2bnDutch brewing giant Heineken says it is selling its Mexican-based packaging business Empaque to US-based Crown Holdings in a deal worth more than one billion dollars

The Hague (AFP) - Dutch brewing giant Heineken on Monday announced selling Mexican-based packaging business Empaque to US-based Crown Holdings in a deal worth more than one billion dollars.

"Heineken... has signed a binding agreement for the sale of its Mexican package business Empaque. The total enterprise value of the transaction amounts to $1.225 billion (933 million euros), the brewer said in a statement.

[readon1 url="http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-dutch-heineken-to-sell-mexican-package-business-for-1.2bn-2014-9"]Source:www.businessinsider.com[/readon1]

 

Argentine Couple Kicks Off Driving Adventure To Alaska Fueled By Love Of Science

Kombipainorte 3 1Nico and Lola are two young Argentines who in the name of popularizing science will cross the Americas from bottom to top, from Buenos Aires to Alaska, in a 1981 Brazilian van that will be their home for two years.

"The idea is to teach kids where to find science in everyday life" and do away with the idea that "physics and chemistry are boring," Nicolas Poggi, an industrial engineer and promoter of the project, told Efe, adding that he will be accompanied by his girlfriend, the journalist and photographer Lucila Munilla Lacasa.

"We're going to give workshops in rural schools" with "simple experiments that can be performed with materials native to each place" and "using a way of speaking intelligible to youngsters at the elementary school level," Poggi said.

"We want the kids to be able to create their own experiments" as we deepen "our interaction with the children and the local communities," he said.

"We'll be backed by the support and experience of the team at the San Isidro Exploratory," a place where experiments in electricity, magnetism, chemistry, physics, solar energy, pneumatics and aerodynamics are carried out, and which will provide the travelers with their most useful exercises.

To make their dream come true, Nico and Lola sold their car a year ago and looked for a vehicle that would be "easy to repair and find spare parts for in different countries," which turned out to be a 1981 made-in-Brazil van, which they adapted and prepared to begin the journey just weeks after taking their university degrees on Aug. 10.

If all goes as planned, they will leave from the town of Tilcara in the northern Argentine province of Jujuy, and will follow their route through Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and will continue along the Pacific coast from Panama to Alaska, after which they will cross Canada from west to east before descending along the Atlantic coast to the southern United States.

The idea is to have Miami as their final destination, where they want to ship their van home and fly back to Buenos Aires. If all goes as planned.
[readon1 url="http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2014/08/31/argentine-couple-kicks-off-driving-adventure-to-alaska-fueled-by-love-for-science/"]Source:latino.foxnews.com[/readon1]

 

 

Town Of 600 Sexy Brazilian Women Desperately Seeks Men For Love, Marriage; But Don't Plan To Stick Around

 Brazil Women Town 11A Town Of Beautiful Brazilian Women Who Are Looking For A Few Good Men

This small town of Noiva do Cordeiro in southeastern Brazil is made up of 600 beautiful, young women who are looking for men. Just don't plan on unpacking your suitcase, fellas, because you won't be allowed to stay.

It's like the set up to a bawdy joke or a pornographic movie.

The population of the small, southeastern Brazilian town of Noiva do Cordeiro is made up of some 600 women. Most of them between the ages of 20 and 35 and renowned in the region for their beauty.

And they are looking for more than just a few good men.

Just breath and keep it together, fellas, because there are a few caveats.

First off, men can’t actually live in Noiva do Cordeiro. The husbands of the townswomen who live in the idyllic town in the state of Minas Gerais, have to work far away and are only allowed to return for the weekend.

The only males who are allowed to live in the town, which sits in a remote valley 60 miles east of Belo Horizonte, are the women's sons, and they must move away when they turn 18.

The ladies-only rule in Noiva do Cordeiro dates back to the town's founding in the 1890s, when a woman accused of adultery was excommunicated by the Catholic Church and cast out of her home, relocated there. Other women in the region who were shunned followed, and, after multiple attempts over the decades by men to intervene, the women of Noiva do Cordeiro adopted the policy that literally made the town a “No Man’s Land.”

And while the women of the town – who run everything from the farms to the town’s policy planning to the churches – like their way of life, many see the sex stalemate they’ve created by not permitting men to live in a town renowned for gorgeous girls as a bit of a problem when it comes to dating.

"Here, the only men we single girls meet are either married or related to us. Everyone is a cousin. I haven't kissed a man for a long time,” 23-year old Nelma Fernandes told the Daily Mirror. "We all dream of falling in love and getting married. But we like living here and don't want to have to leave the town to find a husband.”

That’s the problem all the single ladies in town face: they want to find true love, but don’t want to change their way of life. And after one bad experience, who could blame them?

In 1940, an evangelical pastor, Anisio Pereira, married a 16-year old girl from the town, founded a church and turned Noiva do Cordeiro into his own personal fiefdom, imposing strict rules, banning the women from drinking alcohol, listening to music, cutting their hair or using contraceptives.

After Pereira died in 1995, the women banned men from the town for good.

“There are lots of things that women do better than men,” 49-year old Rosalee Fernandes said. “Our town is prettier, more organized, and far more harmonious than if men were in charge.”

So for all you eligible guys out there, it looks the rules aren’t going to change anytime soon.

A Town Of Beautiful Brazilian Women

[readon1 url="http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2014/08/29/town-600-sexy-brazilian-women-desperately-seeks-men-for-love-marriage-but-dont/"]Source:latino.foxnews.com[/readon1]

 

 

Ricky Martin Inaugurates Center for At-Risk Kids

 6586727wSinger Ricky Martin inaugurated Monday in his native Puerto Rico a comprehensive education center for more than 100 at-risk children and teens.

"Today, 120 children and teenagers get a new chance. We come here with the commitment to raise awareness about human trafficking and to eradicate it, which is the purpose of my foundation," Martin said at the opening of the Tau Center in Loiza, east of San Juan.

Six years after construction began, the center opened its doors in Las Cuevas, a mainly black community where 68 percent of the roughly 30,000 inhabitants live below the poverty line.

The unemployment rate in Loiza stands at 29.2 percent and the school dropout rate is 47.3 percent.

Besides the nine secondary and higher education classrooms, the Tau Center has the capacity to care for 120 children under 3, plus a library, an auditorium, and areas to promote the fine arts and recreational activities.

Attending the inauguration ceremony was Puerto Rican Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla and Senate leader Eduardo Bhatia, among other guests.

"Human trafficking looks for and finds more children and young people that we can imagine, and we can't be their accomplices. We have to give these kids the tools they need. That is part of the comprehensive mission of the Tau Center, of the school and of our allies," the singer said.

In May, the Ricky Martin Foundation presented the second part of a report that it published four years ago in collaboration with sociologist Cesar Rey, the University of Puerto Rico and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore about human trafficking on the Caribbean island.

[readon1 url="http://noticias.alianzanews.com/309_hispanic-world/2679032_ricky-martin-inaugurates-center-for-at-risk-kids.html"]Source:noticias.alianzanews.com[/readon1]