In Gitmo Opinion, Two Versions of Reality
Region: Puerto Rico
This story was co-published with The National Law Journal and ProPublica. When Judge Henry Kennedy Jr. ordered the release of a Guantánamo Bay detainee last spring, the case appeared to be a routine setback for an Obama administration that has lost a string of such cases. But there turns out to be nothing ordinary about the habeas case brought by Uthman Abdul Rahim Mohammed Uthman, a Yemeni held without c... more
Views: 1217Another Battle of the Undefeated
Region: Puerto RicoEnding the month of February with an exciting fight between two undefeated fighters is just sensational. Another talented Filipino boxer, Marvin "Marvelous" Sonsona will do everything for the gold as he will face Wilfredo “WV2” Vazquez, Jr. of Puerto Rico for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior featherweight title. Vazquez, Jr. will step in the ring with an impressive stats of 17W-0L-1D with 1... more
Views: 1477Rum Maker Diageo Lands $3B Tax Break from Puerto Rico
Region: Puerto Rico
A transfer of billions of dollars in federal aid from public projects in Puerto Rico to one of the world's largest liquor conglomerates over the next 30 years continues to move forward without any objection from Congress. As a result, money that's now being used to build schools and restore tropical forests in a U.S. territory is being turned into what is essentially a $3 billion tax break for London-based Diageo, who... more
Views: 1947Oil Refinery Explodes in Puerto Rico
Region: Puerto Rico
At around 12:30 am on Friday, October 23, the Gulf Oil Refinery (Caribbean Petroleum Company-CAPECO) in Bayamón (in the metropolitan area), Puerto Rico, exploded massively. Almost 20 tanks have exploded since then, the fire is still burning although it has been contained, and an immense and never ending tower of smoke is covering the sky. More than a 1,000 people who live in the surrounding neighborhoods h... more
Views: 2795On Gitmo, Supreme Court Will Hear Uighurs’ Case
Region: Puerto Rico
By Christopher Flavelle The Supreme Court agreed today [1] to hear an appeal by Uighur detainees held at Guantanamo on whether those detainees can be released into the United States. The New York Times’ Adam Liptak summarizes [2] the story so far: the detainees, members of China’s Muslim minority who were captured in Pakistan in 2001, were ordered released by a federal judge last October. In February an a... more
Views: 1153Puerto Rico Ready for National Strike
Region: Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is getting ready for the national strike on Thursday, October 15. Since governor Luis Fortuño layed-off about 17,000 government employees the first week of October, there has been tremendous mobilization from different sectors of the civil society: workers and members of trade unions, women, environmentalists, students, and professors, among others. There have been multiple demonstrations and acts of... more
Views: 2975Puerto Rico Reacts to Sotomayor's Nomination
Region: Puerto Rico
The nomination of Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court of the United States has brought mixed reactions from diverse sectors. Being of Puerto Rican descent, blogger reactions from the island have been mostly full of joy and pride. Traditional press sources have given the issue wide coverage, partly due to the fact that this is the first time a Puerto Rican has achieved this type of status - but while the mainstream ... more
Views: 1658Angel Pantoja Medina, Dead, Stands for Three-Day Wake
Region: Puerto Rico
Angel Pantoja Medina was found dead underneath a bridge in San Juan, Puerto Rico last Friday. However, the 24 year old will be able to stand tall, even in death, as his family has untraditionally propped his corpse against the wall in a standing position for his three-day wake. In pictures, it looks like Angel Pantoja Medina is just another person at the service held in his mother's living room. Dr... more
Views: 8291Clinton Addresses Puerto Rico's Military Veterans
Region: Puerto RicoIn preparation for the Democratic primary in Puerto Rico, Democratic co-frontrunner Senator Hillary Clinton of New York has campaigned on the island. While it is predicted Clinton will win in Puerto Rico, it will not change the delegate math as much. So far, Democratic co-frontrunner Senator Barack Obama of Illinois leads Clinton in the delegate race. Many have prepared to acknowledge Obama as the eventual Democrat... more
Views: 1237