El Diario NY

Rupert Murdoch se retira a los 92 años de Fox y News Corporation

Jorge Antonio Vázquez Buendía — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 16:36:22 +0000

Rupert Murdoch, el magnate de los medios, anunció este jueves que deja su cargo de presidente de la junta directiva de Fox Corporation y News Corp.; su hijo Lachlan queda a cargo del imperio mediático

Google pagará a algunos medios de comunicación por compartir sus contenidos

EFE — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 02:11:22 +0000

La idea es ayudar a los medios a "monetizar sus contenidos mediante una experiencia mejorada”

Leftist party in Spain mirrors Greeces Syriza

Impremedia — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 17:03:00 +0000

Spains new leftist party continues to gain momentum, reminding us of a similar situation when Syriza, the far-left party in Greece, swept to power in…

Hot water found on icy Saturn moon, suggests life

Impremedia — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 13:03:00 +0000

The human race has long been searching for another planet to call home. You know just in case we blow up Earth by accident or…

Which of the Voto Latino Innovators finalists would you vote for?

Impremedia — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 14:03:00 +0000

In terms of being tech savvy and embracing digital media, Latino Americans are ahead of the curve. However, a disconnect currently exists in the Hispanic…

Racist rants unleashed after Puerto Rico sells winning Powerball lottery ticket

Impremedia — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 14:02:00 +0000

After news broke out that one of the winning Powerball tickets was sold in Puerto Rico, the offensive tirade of comments on Twitter started filling…

Gas station feels lucky to sell Puerto Ricos first big Powerball winner

Impremedia — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 13:02:00 +0000

Employees at the gas station in Ponce, PR where the winning Powerball ticket was sold are feeling lucky. We feel like winners, says Laisa Rodriguez,…

New evidence shows massive oil footprint from BP spill

Impremedia — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 12:02:00 +0000

Many of us still remember the BP oil spill from five years ago, when 205 million gallons of oil were accidentally spilled into the Gulf of…

Millennials think differently of their futures in the US vs. Europe

Impremedia — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 09:02:00 +0000

Millennials from Europe have a far dimmer view of their fates and futures than do American millennials. Up to half of young adults are unemployed in…

Can Spains new leftist party survive?

Impremedia — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 19:02:00 +0000

Spains turbulent economic state continues without improvement and Spanish citizens have had enough. They are tired of corrupt government officials and unemployment rates that leave…

Fall of the embargo may kill Miamis Cuban cigar industry

Impremedia — Sat, 07 Feb 2015 20:02:00 +0000

Over the past decade, the Cuban government has gone after countless American cigar makers and vendors. They are targeting innocent local tabacaleros and taking them…

Pope Francis chills with youngsters on Google hangout

Impremedia — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 16:02:00 +0000

Pope Francis continues to reign as the coolest Pope to walk this Earth. First he declared that the Internet is a “gift from God” and now he’s…

Officials: Bowe Bergdahl will be charged with desertion

Impremedia — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 18:01:00 +0000

The Taliban held Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl captive for five years, and now senior military sources are claiming that he will be charged with desertion, NBC News reported. Before his capture in June 2009, Bergdahl allegedly deserted his unit, and the Army has been actively reviewing his case since his release in May 2014. SEE ALSO: Alan Gross released from Cuba after five years The Taliban freed Bergdahl in a controversial prisoner exchange last year. The U.S. freed five Taliban prisoners from Guantanamo Bay in exchange for Bergdahl. Now, Bergdahl could be charged with desertion within the week, according to unnamed senior defense officials. These may be unfounded reports, however. Reuters contacted several senior Army and defense officials about Bergdahls cause, yet none could confirm the report. According to The Washington Post, top Pentagon officials are outright denying these claims. Let me just put a fork in this right not, if I can, John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, told reporters on Tuesday. No decision has been made with respect to the case of Sergeant Bergdahl. And General Milley is not being put under any pressure to make a decision, either way. General Mark Milley is the officer in charge of the case, and he has yet to publicly state whether or not he will file charges against Bergdahl. If General Milley does decide that Bergdahl intentionally abandoned his base, Bergdahl could be court-martialed or face other forms of administrative punishment. This means that he might be forced to forfeit hundreds of thousands of dollars in back pay and benefits. The investigation about Bergdahl began due to accusations from his fellow soldiers claiming that the soldier walked away from his post in Afghanistan. SEE ALSO: Bergdahls release: birthers, truthers and conspiracies unleashed This made the prisoner exchange for Bergdahl even more controversial; as many of his fellow soldiers felt that the U.S. shouldnt exchange Taliban prisoners for a deserter. NBC did quote officials saying that Bergdahls time in captivity will be considered in his case. Bergdahls attorney declined to comment on NBCs report.

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Fla. mother wins legal battle to speak Spanish to her daughter

Impremedia — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:01:00 +0000

A Florida mother who lost custody of her daughter won a legal victory that will allow her to speak Spanish to the child during supervised visitations, all thanks to a court reversing a previous decision. Because the father, who has primary custody of the daughter, does not speak Spanish, the courts ruled in 2010 that, Under no circumstances shall the Mother speak Spanish to the child. The mother is a native Venezuelan whose first language is Spanish. While she is fluent in English, many members of her extended family are not. A Florida appellate court reversed the No Spanish order because they found it isolating for the child. If the child does not learn Spanish, it would be difficult for her to connect with her Spanish-speaking relatives, and the appellate court claimed that neither the father nor the trial court had the right to estrange the child from her extended family. SEE ALSO: Miami-Dade Court makes history; marries first gay couples in Florida The court also recognized the fact that the child would benefit from speaking Spanish with the mother, as most parents would be pleased to have their child acquire a second language. Bilingualism is particularly useful in a state like Florida, where approximately 20 percent of the population speaks Spanish. How the English-only ruling came about When the Mother and the Father first separated, they shared parental responsibility of their daughter, and the mother had primary residential custody. After several years of this successful arrangement, them mother began to suffer from bipolar disorder and was involuntarily committed to an inpatient facility. Following her hospitalization, the father fought for primary custody, and won. At this time, the court also implemented the No Spanish rule so that the father could supervise phone calls and interactions between the mother and the child. On Jan. 23, 2015, the appellate court decided that this ban on Spanish between the mother and child was unfair. SEE ALSO: The Mother-Daughter Relationship The Mother spoke Spanish when the parties were married, and she spoke to the child in Spanish until the ex parte order forbade it, the court said. We can see no legal reason to continue this xenophobic language restriction at this point.

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Fidel Castro breaks silence on US and Cuba efforts to renew diplomatic ties

Impremedia — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 11:01:00 +0000

Retired Cuban leader Fidel Castro broke his silence this week with the United States. He gave hesitant approval to the process now underway to establish diplomatic ties between both countries. According to the “Miami Herald,” Castro said to the University Students Federation, Defending peace is the duty of everyone. Any peaceful or negotiated solution to the problems between the United States and the peoples or any people of Latin America that doesnt imply force or the use of force should be treated in accordance with international norms and principles.” SEE ALSO: US and Cuba inch closer to opening embassies We will always defend cooperation and friendship with all the peoples of the world, among them our political adversaries, said Castro, 88, in a message remembering his admission to the University of Havana 70 years ago. If he had to do it all over again, he said he would have chosen a scientific field. Castro retired in 2006 after falling ill and ceded power to his younger brother Raúl, said he doesnt have confidence in U.S. policy nor has he exchanged a single word with them. Raúl Castro and President Barack Obama announced December 17th that the two countries planned to reestablish diplomatic relations after 53 years of isolation and ever since, there has been silence from Fidel Castro about his old nemesis. His absence in person during the historic talks between the U.S. and Cuba — as well as his lack of written reflections published in the state run newspaper “Granma” — spawned rumors of his death again. The last time Fidel Castro appeared in public was over a year ago when he attended the inauguration of a Havana art gallery. Attempts at reconciliation with Washington kept failing with Fidel Castro at the helm. SEE ALSO: Cuba digs in heels on concessions as part of better US ties Castro also commented on the changes he has seen in his lifetime as the world has become smaller and more globalized. He also noted that when he entered the University of Havana, it was the only one in Cuba. Today we have more than 50 centers of higher education spread across the country, he said. He closed his message to the students by saying: The serious dangers that threaten humanity today should give way to rules that are compatible with human dignity. No country is excluded from such rights. With this spirit I have fought and will continue fighting until my last breath.

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Venezuela denies former presidents access to political prisoner

Impremedia — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 18:01:00 +0000

The former presidents of Chile and Colombia have been denied their request to visit opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez in jail by the Venezuelan government. SEE ALSO: Jailed leader Leopoldo Lopez wants foreign intervention in Venezuela Chile’s Sebastian Pinera and Colombia’s Andres Pastrana say they are visiting Venezuela to support the opposition. They have called for the release of Lopez, who was arrested nearly a year ago and is being held in a military jail in the outskirts of Caracas. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was suspicious when he heard of Pinera and Pastranas request. He accused the former leaders of taking part in a plot against him and denied them access to Lopez. Pastrana criticized the decision, saying “a president does not need official authorization to visit a political prisoner.” Pinera and Pastrana had travelled to Venezuela to attend a forum on democracy organized by the opposition. Lopez turned himself in during an opposition in March, about 11 months ago, after having an arrest warrant issued against him. More than 40 people from both sides of the political divide were killed in protests, which took place in Venezuela between February and May. The government said opposition leaders, including Lopez, had incited protesters to violence. The opposition accuses the socialist government of Maduro and his predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez, of mismanaging the economy. SEE ALSO: Venezuela’s credit rating downgraded On Saturday, thousands of opposition supporters took to the streets of Caracas for the first time in months to complain about the worsening economic crisis. Many banged empty pots, in reference to the shortage of many staple foods. Maduro says businessmen linked to the opposition are waging “an economic war” against the Venezuelan people and the government. He accused four supermarket chains of hoarding goods and smuggling items out of the country and promised to produce the evidence in the next few days. Venezuela – a major oil producer – has been heavily affected by the sharp fall in oil prices on international markets.

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Winter storm Juno promises blizzard conditions

Impremedia — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 14:01:00 +0000

Millions of citizens in the Northeast are preparing for what promises to be one of the major storms of this winter season. The storm began yesterday and is predicted to last through Wednesday. In preparation for the storm, gas stations, grocery stores and more were soon flooded with customers. Twitter featured panic-stricken photos and tweets of empty grocery aisles stripped clean and lines to pay miles long. Scenes of the typical apocalyptic movie come to mind. People are resorting to hoarding, saving away everything they possibly can, hoping for the best and expecting the worst. New York’s Mayor announced schools would be closed through Wednesday as a safety precaution. Fortunately, there haven’t been any images on social media of customers elbowing each other for the last six-pack left on the shelf, but everyone in the tri-state area is anticipating a major snow storm. Some are preparing with provision, while others are preparing for an indoors blizzard party, complete with booze and party food. Like most panic buying, it started as a trickle, just after New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s dramatic televised speech during which he described the upcoming snow storm as “one of the largest snowstorms in the history of this city.” There have been some complaints about de Blasio’s claims being somewhat over-the-top. But anyone who has been paying attention to what the weathermen are saying, quickly realized that this could turn out to be an historic weather event. Winter Storm Juno has a high potential for blizzard conditions, and Weather.com predicts high sustained winds, likely 20 to 40 mph in a large area, with gusts up to 50 mph. Even higher winds are expected in Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard where gusts up to 70 mph are possible. Widespread accumulations of 1 to 2 feet of snow are likely with some areas picking up over 2 feet with even higher snow drifts. SEE ALSO: Your flu vaccine may be less effective this winter The National Weather Service has issued blizzard warnings well in advance of the storm from the New Jersey shore all the way to Downeast Maine, including the cities of New York City, Boston, Providence, Hartford and Portland. By far, the heaviest snowfall amounts from Juno are expected from eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey to New England. Flurries are predicted as far south as north Georgia. Most warnings are in effect from Monday afternoon — or evening — through late Tuesday night. This is when the snowstorm will have its peak impacts At least 28 million people are in the zone of potential blizzard conditions, and millions more will have to face snow deep enough to inconvenience travelers. People are encouraged to not proceed with travel plans in the affected areas late Monday and Tuesday. Blizzard or near-blizzard conditions will make travel dangerous and, in some areas, impossible. SEE ALSO: 3 ways the winter can affect your sex life Preparations should have been made by yesterday afternoon. Northeastern citizens should prepare for power outages both during and in the days after the storm. Damaging wind gusts, power outages and coastal flooding also possible. Over 3,500 U.S. flights originally scheduled for Monday and Tuesday have been canceled, according to FlightAware. Any flights that have not already been canceled will likely be severely delayed. Airports are likely to be closed late Monday through Tuesday.

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Pope Francis wants to show support for immigrants

Impremedia — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 12:01:00 +0000

While Pope Francis does not have plans to visit Mexico this year, his future trip to the country may include him walking across the US-Mexico border to show support for immigrants. To enter the United States from the border with Mexico would be a beautiful gesture of brotherhood and support for immigrants, Francis said, according to The Huffington Post. Francis 2015 travel plans do not include Mexico, but they do include three cities in the US: Philadelphia, New York, and Washington DC. He will arrive in the US in September. SEE ALSO: Californias Junipero Serra could become Americas new saint Although the details of the trip have yet to be confirmed, organizers are already pushing for appearances at Ground Zero, the White House, the United Nations, and even a Mass at Madison Square Garden, reported NBC News. The Argentinian pope did express regret that a trip to the US-Mexico border isnt on his itinerary for his first official visit to the United States, but he said the issue is simply a lack of time. You know that [to] go to Mexico without going to visit the Madonna [of Guadalupe] would be a drama. A war could break out, he joked. I think there will only be those three cities. Later there will be time to go to Mexico. In addition to those three East Coast cities, the popular pontiff also plans to travel to Ecuador, Bolivia, and Paraguay in 2015. Next year, he has plans to travel to Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. Of course, these plans are still tentative. Pope Francis has expressed compassion and support for immigrants in the past, especially to those traveling to the United States. Last year, more than 60,000 unaccompanied minors traveled from Central America to the US, which caused a controversial border crisis. Francis urged support for the young migrants. SEE ALSO: Is Pope Francis safe amid a Dan Brown Vatican thriller setting? This humanitarian emergency requires, as a first urgent measure, these children be welcomed and protected, Pope Francis said last year in the midst of the crisis. These measures, however, will not be sufficient, unless they are accompanied by policies that inform people about the dangers of such a journey and, above all, that promote development in their countries of origin. As for the cities that Francis will visit this year, there is excitement amongst both Catholics and non-Catholics for the popes visit. A December poll by Saint Leo University found that 88 percent of US Catholics approved of the pope, while 6 out of 10 non-Catholics also shared a positive view of Pope Francis.

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Alan Gross among 22 special guests to attend State of the Union

Impremedia — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 14:01:00 +0000

Ever since President Ronald Reagan began to acknowledge special guests with compelling stories during his State of the Union speech in 1982, every president since has continued the tradition. Alan Gross and his wife, Judy, are among the 22 guests invited by the White House to attend Tuesday night’s speech. SEE ALSO: Dreamer to sit with First Lady at State of the Union Gross was a contractor for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), who in ending 2009 was arrested in Cuba while working as a U.S. government subcontractor. The New York native returned home five years later, after being released from the Cuban prison in December 2014. That same day with Alans unjust captivity resolved the President announced to the world that the U.S. was changing its relationship with the people of Cuba and would normalize relations between both countries after more than 50 years. Gross will take a seat near first lady Michelle Obama, having prime viewing during Obama’s State of the Union address this year. His story, along with the stories of the other 21 guests, is a perfect example of tragedies or triumphs that highlight an issue or public policy. This year’s group also includes three Latinos, as identified by the White House in a statement: Ana Zamora (Dallas, TX) Letter Writer, Student, DREAMer Ana wrote to the President in September, As with any other dreamer, my parents came to this country with a dream of a better future for their children. And through the Administrations Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, Ana is closer than ever to fulfilling those dreams. In 2012, she qualified and was granted temporary relief and work authorization an opportunity Ana credits with getting a job in line with her career path and a better livelihood while finishing up her last year at Northwood University in Texas. Anas life has fundamentally changed for the better as a result of DACA. And because she has siblings who are U.S. citizens, her parents, a small business owner and a construction worker, are among the millions of people who are potentially eligible for the new Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents program announced by the President last November. Nicole Hernandez Hammer (Southeast Florida) Mother and Sea Level Rise Researcher Nicole knows firsthand the impacts of climate change and sea level rise and is raising awareness to the disproportionate effects felt along the coast and beyond. As a sea level researcher she has studied how cities and regions most vulnerable to the effects of climate change also have large concentrations of Hispanics. She immigrated from Guatemala and also has Cuban heritage, and now works to mobilize the Latino community to understand and address the devastating effects that disproportionately affect the health of Hispanics and their families. To that end, Nicole works with Moms Clean Air Force to further the publics awareness of climate change on childrens health. Anthony Mendez (Bronx, NY) Student, Reach Higher Initiative Anthony Mendez names two experiences from his formative high school years. In ninth grade, his best friend was murdered in his neighborhood, and the next year his family was evicted from their home and moved into a homeless shelter. Living two hours away from school, for six months Anthony had to wake up at 4:30AM to continue his education. Overcoming these experiences, he became the first high school graduate in his family his story of perseverance represents the core of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher initiative. In July he met the First Lady and fellow students who never took their education for granted, and he said he learned to be proud of his past and never hide from it. Today Anthony is a freshman at the University of Hartford — where he plans to study Political Science. For the complete list of special guests, click here. The 22 guests will will seated in the box with the First Lady, Dr. JillBiden and Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President, at the State of the Union Address. SEE ALSO: State of the Union: Promises made in 2014 which got fulfilled? President Barack Obama will give his State of the Union address at 9 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

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A map of the worlds most and least racially tolerant countries

Impremedia — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 20:01:00 +0000

The World Values Survey has been measuring global attitudes and opinions for decades, which is why two Swedish economists turned to its information in their examination of whether economic freedom made people any more or less racist. You might not be surprised at this verdict: Racism is is still a rampant problem throughout the world. Which are the countries that have it worse than others? The Washington Post reported on the survery. SEE ALSO: Ronaldinho sheds light on racism problem in Mexico The survey asked dozens of questions but among those, one stuck out as an efficient and accurate indicator of tolerance for other races. The survey asked respondents in more than 80 different countries to identify kinds of people they would not want as neighbors. Some respondents, picking from a list, chose “people of a different race.” The more frequently that people in a given country say they don’t want neighbors from other races, the economists reasoned, the less racially tolerant you could call that society. The survey found that Anglo and Latin countries are the most tolerant. People in the survey were most likely to embrace a racially diverse neighbor in the United Kingdom and its Anglo former colonies (the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand) and in Latin America. The only real exceptions were oil-rich Venezuela, where income inequality sometimes breaks along racial lines, and the Dominican Republic, perhaps because of its adjacency to troubled Haiti. Scandinavian countries also scored high. The most racially intolerant populations are all in the developing world, with India and Jordan in the top five. The country with the highest proportion of ‘intolerant’ people who wanted neighbors similar to them was Jordan, where 51.4% of the population would refuse to live next to someone of a different race. India followed with 43.5%. Racist views are strikingly rare in the U.S., according to the survey, which claims that only 3.8% of residents are reluctant to have a neighbor of another race. Other English-speaking countries once part of the British Empire shared the same tolerant attitude – fewer than five per cent of Britons, Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders showed signs of racism. SEE ALSO: Racism is bad in Brazil if you’re Black, unless you’re visiting The Middle East, which is currently dealing with large numbers of low-skilled immigrants from south Asia, seems to be a hotbed of racial tension, however. Europe is remarkably split – the west of the continent is generally more tolerant than the east, but France is a striking outlier with 22.7 per cent of the French rejecting neighborhood diversity.

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Less religious diversity on Capitol Hill than in America

Impremedia — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 19:01:00 +0000

The lawmakers on Capitol Hill may not see eye-to-eye on political issues, but there is one common denominator amongst the majority of the 114th Congressreligion. According to a new study by the Pew Research Center, approximately nine in ten members of the House and Senate identify as Christians. This makes Congress significantly more Christian than the national population. SEE ALSO: How Latinos are changing religion in America In America, 73 percent of adults consider themselves Christians. The Democrats in Congress are more religiously diverse than Republicans, although they still lean more Christian than the general population. According to Pew, 81.6 percent of Democrats in Congress identify as Christians compared to 99.7 percent of Republicans. Only one Republican in Congress is not a Christian. Rep. Lee Zeldin of New Yorks 1st District is Jewish. Of the 535 members of the 114th Congress that was sworn in on Tuesday, 491 identify as Christians, while 9 responded with dont know or declined to answer the question. Congress is not only more Christian than the American population, but it is also more Jewish. The study found that 5 percent of Congress is Jewish, compared to 2 percent of the general population. Buddhists, Muslims, and Hindus combined represented one percent of Congress, while they represent roughly 2 percent of American adults. Unlike the American public, Congress is unwavering in its religious beliefs. Only one Congress memberRep. Kyrsten Sinema from Arizonaclaims to be unaffiliated. Thats just .02 percent of Congress that doesnt subscribe to a particular religion, while 20 percent of the American population is unaffiliated. SEE ALSO: Religious and spiritual practices of 20 Latino celebrities In areas other than religion, the 114th Congress is the most diverse group ever, with 104 women and 96 racial minorities in the group. Although this is the most diverse Congress to date, it still falls short of being representative of the American public. While it seems that politics are gradually becoming more diversified in terms of race and gender, it doesnt seem like religious diversity will be seen from the lawmakers on Capitol Hill in the near future.

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Marco Rubio slams Florida gay marriage ruling

Impremedia — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 14:01:00 +0000

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) is flexing his conservative political muscle in light of a possible 2016 presidential campaign, openly criticizing the decision legalizing same-sex marriage in his home state of Florida. “I do not believe that there is a U.S. constitutional right to same-sex marriage,” Rubio said in an interview with Florida reporters on Wednesday afternoon. “Now, as I’ve said before, states have a right to change their laws. I don’t believe it’s unconstitutional. I just don’t believe there’s a constitutional right to it.” SEE ALSO: Where Latinos stand on gay marriage, abortion, role of government Rubios opinion comes as Florida became the 36th state in the union to allow for same-sex marriages this week. “My position on [gay marriage] is pretty well-known. I mean, I believe that the institution of marriage is defined as the union of one man and one woman. I understand that voters in some states have changed that, and I respect it. And, you know, we have a court system that’s beginning to weigh in and whatever the law is, we’re going to abide by it and respect it.” Rubio said to CNN. Rubio also said that if proponents of gay marriage “wanted to change that law, they should have gone to the legislature or back to the Constitution, I don’t agree we should be trying to make those changes through the courts,” as he stated to “Politico.” “Thousands of years of human history have taught us that the ideal setting for children to grow up in is with a mother and a father committed to each other, living together and sharing the responsibility of raising their children.” Rubio wrote on his upcoming book. “It is for this reason and this reason alone that I continue to believe marriage should be defined as one man and one woman. It is neither my place nor my intention to dictate to anyone who they are allowed to love or live with.” Rubio added, “the trend that I will not accept, however, is the growing attitude that belief in traditional marriage equates to bigotry and hatred. Just as California has a right to redefine marriage to include same-sex couples, Florida has a right to define it as one man and one woman.” SEE ALSO: What the SCOTUS decision on gay marriage means for immigrants Rubio hasn’t confirmed whether he will seek the Republican nomination for the 2016 presidential race, but earlier this week he sounded very convinced of his chances of winning the nomination if he were to do so. He hasn’t denied a possible presidential run, while former Florida governor Jeb Bush is already exploring his options for a possible run.

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Is Pope Francis safe amid a Dan Brown Vatican thriller setting?

Impremedia — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 11:01:00 +0000

OPINION Is Pope Francis, the first Latino pontiff in Roman Catholic Church history, the target of a conspiracy right out of the pages of a Dan Brown Vatican thiller novel involving secret societies? Should the popes security be intensified? Should he travel to the Philippines this month or to the United States in September? Could Francis be at risk because of the current attacks against the pope for taking on the church bureaucracy the criticism of the Curia and questioning the operation of the Vatican bank? SEE ALSO: 9 Reasons why Pope Francis deserves the Nobel All the flak that the pope has been taking recently, promoted by some Catholic conservatives upset with the direction that Francis is leading the church, have created a growing concern among the faithful. They fear that the danger is no longer limited to Islamic State terrorists who last year set their sights on Pope Francis and threatened to harm harm because of his attempts to rally the world to subdue the group. In the 22 months since the start of his papacy in 2013, Francis has provoked frantic reactions within the scandal and corruption-plagued Vatican Curia, where many reportedly consider the pope a meddling outsider who has unmasked its two perverse instruments of shame money and sex. Within the Church, there is a tough group of conservative bishops and priests and cardinals, and also very traditionalist bishops and cardinals who are practically against the Pope, who are working against the Pope, veteran Vatican watcher Marco Politi told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour in an interview. They don’t like what he wanted to do with the synod about family, to give new possibilities to remarried and divorced people to get the communion, or to have a new look on the homosexual union. The concerns among some of Francis supporters is heightened by the fact that there is still another pontiff in Rome — Benedict XVI, who became the first pope in six centuries to resign, and who could unwittingly undermine his successor. Benedict is hanging back for now, but theres no doubt that he could easily become a figurehead for traditionalists harkening back to the good old days, warned Notre Dame New Testament professor Candida Moss and Joel Baden, Old Testament professor at Yale Divinity School, in a Daily Beast column last November. A recent story in The National, an Abu Dhabi English-language publication even reported that, The pontiff has reportedly become the target of a wide range of groups from mobsters to ISIL to rich Catholics all the while shunning efforts by his security team to keep him a safe distance from the faithful. It makes for a Dan Brown novel dark scenario that inevitably raises eye-brows. Could any of that hasten any revolt, especially since Pope Francis jolted Vatican staff and conservativess when he listed 15 ailments of the Curia during his annual Christmas greetings to the cardinals, bishops and priests who run the central administration of the worlds 1.2-billion member Catholic Church? Pope Francis has also said he would like to open the doors to the divorced and remarried, saying they must be integrated into church life. Clearly, Francis style has rubbed many traditionalists the wrong way, starting with his more humble approach to the papacy, and his comments on social issues that have ruffled feathers. The pope has also visibly shunned the display of Vatican wealth, from refusing to wear the velvet red slippers of the office to driving a Ford Focus, instead of a luxury car. In visits to St. Peter’s Square, he has been known to embrace and kiss visitors who are severely disfigured and he has said of gay members of the clergy, Who am I to judge? Last month, Pope Francis even dismissed the head of Swiss Guards who protect the Vatican. The pope complained about the Swiss Guards commanders excessively strict, authoritarian style and of his refurbishment of a luxurious penthouse apartment for his family above the Swiss Guards barracks in the Vatican. In the U.S. there have been reports of Pope Francis having irritated wealthy conservatives, and of billionaire investors threatening to withhold their millions from church and charity unless the pontiff stops preaching against the excesses and cruelty of unleashed capitalism. According to reports, some rich donors have even appeared to lose their enthusiasm for the restoration of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan. Still, others — including Catholics in South Florida where there are strong feelings against the Castros have been upset with Francis for the significant role that he apparently played in brokering the normalization of relations between the U.S. and Cuba. I’m still Catholic till the day I die, Efrain Rivas, a 53-year-old Miami maintenance worker who was a political prisoner in Cuba for 16 years, was quoted in news reports, but I am a Catholic without a pope. In the Philippines recently, officials have announced that sniper teams will be posted on high-rise buildings when the pope visits later this month and that the airspace in the cities he tours will be cleared of all aircraft, with 6,000 to 7,000 soldiers to be deployed. SEE ALSO: Pope Francis helped make U.S.-Cuba deal a reality In his native Argentina, some faithful have even called on the pope to don a bulletproof vest as he did in 2009 while serving as the archbishop of Buenos Aires as then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio. But Federico Wals, who worked closely with Francis in the Buenos Aires archdiocese, says no threat will alter the popes mission. He complained about (the bullet proof vest) being uncomfortable after using it once, he recalled, and decided not to use it again.

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Armed gun club aims to protect black neighborhoods in Dallas

Impremedia — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 19:01:00 +0000

The Huey P. Newton Gun Club, an armed self-defense group, has taken to the streets of Dallas to protect black neighborhoods from the police. The group first formed in August, following the highly publicized killings of African Americans Michael Brown Eric Garner by white cops. SEE ALSO: Hispanic groups missing in NYPD cop murders The wave of unrest that has swept through the country following the deaths of Garner and Brown has instigated a call for a widespread social revolution, in particular to put an end to racial profiling by police. This unrest is what helped spark the idea for the gun club, where local black citizens carry rifles and assault weapons in order to protect their neighborhoods not just from police violence, but from drug dealers and gang violence as well. Darren X, the national field marshal of the New Black Panther Party, told VICE, The complete agenda involves going into our communities and educating our people on federal, state, and local gun laws. We want to stop fratricide, genocideall the cides. According to VICE, some of the chants one might hear from the gun club include, Justice for Michael Brown! Justice for Eric Garner! and Black power! and No more pigs in our community! The gun club staged their first armed patrol in Dixon Circle in August, where police killed a young unarmed black man named James Harper in 2012. Since this inaugural march, donations have poured in from around the country in support of the idea of a black armed citizenry. Carrying shotguns and assault rifles is perfectly legal in Texas, while openly carrying handguns is not. The revolutionaries hold weekend fitness and self-defense classes for those who want to join the gun club. The Huey P. Newton Gun Club aims to even the playing field, arming themselves to avoid more black deaths at the hands of police, which has a particularly dismal record in Dallas. The Dallas Police Department have shot at least 185 people since 2002, with nearly 75 percent of the victims being black or Hispanic. Dallas African-American police chief, David Brown, supports the gun clubs mission. According to a local NBC outlet, Brown issued a statement saying, The Dallas Police Department supports the constitutional rights of all. SEE ALSO: Officer Darren Wilson will not face charges in shooting death of Michael Brown Browns own son, David Brown Jr., was killed by a cop after opening fire at the police in 2010. As for who qualifies for the club, Darren X said, We accept all oppressed people of color with weapons. To some, arming citizens to protect their communities against armed police may seem like a path to justice; to others, it may seem like a ticking time bomb.

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Miami-Dade Court makes history; marries first gay couples in Florida

Impremedia — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 19:01:00 +0000

Miami-Dade County made history by conducting Florida’s first gay marriage on Monday, the first county in the state to recognize same-sex couples in a district courtroomhalf a day before a ban is lifted in the rest of the state. SEE ALSO: What the SCOTUS decision on gay marriage means for immigrants Around 1:30 p.m. two of the original six gay couples who sued the state along with advocacy group Equality Florida, were the first to be married: Catherine Pareto and Karla Arguello, of Coconut Grove and Jeff and Todd Delmay of Hollywood. They were married by Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Sarah Zabel, the same judge who lifted the stay on her ruling that declared Floridas same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional. Earlier in the day Judge Zabel offered guidance to Miami-Dade Conty Clerk of Courts Harvey Ruvin, after U.S. federal Judge Hinkle cleared the way for marriage in all of Floridas 67 counties. On the first of the year, Judge Hinkle cleared the final hurdle by clarifying that his ruling applied to all clerks of court in Florida, that they’d be in violation of the constitution if they enforced Florida’s ban on gay marriage. The instructions to the clerk cleared a major hurdle for advocates of gay marriage, because originally Greenberg Traurig, the law firm that acts as Counsel for the Florida Association of Clerks of Court, had said that Judge Hinkle’s ruling only applied to Washington County, because only Lora C. Bell, the Clerk of Court and Comptroller for Washington County, was a party to the lawsuit. The motion comes as clerks across Florida prepare to begin issuing marriage licenses for gay couples on January 6th. The motion to lift the stay notes that such a move has led other state courts to allow marriages to commence immediately, stated Equality Florida in a press release issued this week. Florida’s first gay marriage takes place in Miami The two gay marriage ceremonies at the Miami-Dade District court in Downtown Miami were done with much fanfare; TV news cameras were present, with family and friends surrounding the two couples, cheering them on as they exchanged rings. In the big picture, does it really matter whether or not I lift the stay or leave it until tomorrow? Zabel said from the bench. Im lifting the stay, referring to moving ahead before midnight January 6th, the time when Judge Robert Hinkle’s ruling, from Tallahassee, goes into effect for the rest of the state. The cheers in the courthouse reflect how much the nation’s third-largest state has changed since the days of Anita Bryant, the former beauty pageant queen and orange juice spokeswoman who started her national campaign against gay rights in Miami in the 1970s. “It’s been a long time coming,” said Cathy Pareto, who wed Karla Arguello, her partner of 15 years. “Finally Florida recognizes us as a couple. It’s just, I don’t know, sweet justice.” But signs of opposition were evident farther north, where more conservative Floridians live. In Jacksonville, Duval County Court Clerk Ronnie Fussell shut down the courthouse chapel, saying no marriage ceremonies — either gay or straight — would be allowed there. At least two other counties in northeast Florida did the same. “Mr. Fussell said some of his people felt a little uncomfortable doing it,” said his spokesman, Charlie Broward. “It could cause discriminations down there (in the marriage license department) with those who are uncomfortable. We wanted to eliminate any unfairness.” SEE ALSO: Ted Cruz slams SCOTUS decision on gay marriage Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, a staunch conservative, legally fought to prevent gay marriage in the state, along with the support of Governor Rick Scott, however, this final clarification was not further challenged by her. As for Miami-Dade County, Judge Zabel had already scheduled a hearing on her calendar for Monday to clarify to clerk Ruvin whether he had to follow the decision regarding Washington County’s clerk, but Judge Hinkle already clarified the ruling on the 1st of January, clearing the way for Zabel to allow the gay marriages a day before the rest of the state. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Best photos and biggest events in Latin America 2014

Impremedia — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 17:12:00 +0000

Sadly it’s been a year of extreme violence for many parts of Latin America, capitulated by the disappearance of 43 college students in Mexico, who authorities say were murdered and their bodies burned, but there were also many beautiful sights and even victories to celebrate the biggest events in Latin America 2014. SEE ALSO: Top moments that defined immigration reform in 2014 The Associated Press put out a retrospective of its best images from Latin America and the Caribbean for 2014. a collection VOXXI curated to bring you some of the most impactful images of the year. “Whip-cracking vigilantes served up justice in the highlands of Peru, and self-defense groups in Mexico fought to flush out cartels from their neighborhoods, two examples of how some Latin Americans are responding to corrupt, indifferent police forces and the erosion of state-run criminal justice,” The Associated Press reported. Biggest events in Latin America for 2014 Mexico mourned the loss of Roberto Gomez Bolaños “Chespirito” one of the biggest comedic geniuses of all-time, but they also celebrated a small victory in the World Cup when they beat Croatia in the group stage. However, Brazil suffered its worst World Cup loss ever, and to add insult to injury, it occurred on their own home turf. SEE ALSO: The hottest & sexiest Latino celebrities of 2014 We start off with one of the most impacting crime stories of the year: drug cartel violence overtaking several states in Mexico. Lawlessness & cartels in Mexico For years cartel violence has ravaged Mexico, and especially the State of Michoacan. Police are often absent to defend citizens, or can’t be trusted, so citizens have resorted to vigilante justice, trying to keep order and peace, whichever way they can. The Self-Defense Council of Michoacan and other groups have also been accused of perpetuating the same crimes they claim to defend citizens’ against–sometimes acting as organized gangs. Click the pages below for more photos.

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Muhammad Ali stable after he stopped breathing

Impremedia — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 17:12:00 +0000

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali is in stable condition after being taken to the hospital over the weekend. The 72-year-old reportedly stopped breathing last Friday and was revived by paramedics called to the scene. SEE ALSO: Manny Pacquiao’s workout: Not for the timid “[Family members] called 911. He was revived by the paramedics and is in ICU with fluid on the lungs. He is on a respirator and IV’s,” a source told media outlets. Ali’s spokesperson, Bob Gunnell, was less dramatic about the event, telling People in a phone interview that, “He (Muhammad Ali) went into the hospital this morning. He has a mild case of pneumonia and the prognosis is good.” Though intense exercise and a clean diet kept Ali a formidable athlete in his prime and a healthy aging adult, pneumonia is a common affliction for people over the age of 65. According to the American Lung Association (ALA), pneumonia can be viral or bacterial, but older adults are at an increased risk because of weakened immune systems as a result of the aging process. “Pneumonia tends to be more serious for infants and young children, older adults (people 65 years or older), people who have other chronic health problems, and people who have weak immune systems as a result of diseases or other factors,” states the ALA. “With treatment, most patients will improve within two weeks. Elderly or debilitated patients may need longer treatment.” It is unconfirmed whether Muhammad Ali’s additional health issues may complicate or contribute to his pneumonia, but his representative indicates there is no cause for concern. Though the Ali family has requested any more details on the scare be kept private, Muhammad Ali’s daughter, Laila Ali, Tweeted that her father is doing well. “Thanks for all the well wishes and prayers for my father,” she said on social media. “He is doing well~Y’all know he is a fighter! WE APPRECIATE ALL THE LOVE!” SEE ALSO: Parkinson’s disease: High prevalence among Hispanics Ali has been living with Parkinson’s disease since 1984, a neurological condition doctors feel may be the result of repeated head injuries. Modern medications have made it possible for the boxing champion to live a normal lifespan; however, as of 2009, Ali was no longer able to speak in public. Parkinson’s disease is known to exacerbate other illnesses, and WebMD indicates pneumonia can be a complication of the disease.

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Cuba deal worries some Cubans, insults others

Impremedia — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 14:12:00 +0000

Upon hearing news of the historic diplomatic opening between Cuba and the United States after a half century of hostility– announced concurrently by U.S. president Barack Obama and Cuban leader Raul Castro,–families of victims shot down by Cuban planes in 1996 denounced the deal. SEE ALSO: Pope Francis helped make US-Cuba deal a reality In the Cuban exile community of South Florida, resistance to the normalization of relations in Miami has been historically strong, but U.S. Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen and the families feel that in the chess game of international diplomacy, the prisoner exchange for Alan Gross and an unnamed Cuban national for three Cubans convicted of spying is a lopsided deal. Families remember Brothers to the Rescue tragedy The families of Brothers to the Rescue pilots, shot down by Cuban MIGs over international waters on February 24, 1996, feel the president and the U.S. got too little in the exchange. Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen joined the families Wednesday in denouncing the deal. Myriam de la Peña, whose son Mario was shot down by Cuban Air Force MIGs while searching for rafters over the Florida straits, says Obama disregarded the family’s many years of anguish: “They just don’t care what our feelings are. The [White House] is going to do what they’re going to do – irregardless.” They feel that convicted spies complicit in the loss of family members’ lives were traded for an innocent pawn like Gross, who was arrested by the Castro regime for delivering internet equipment to the Jewish community in Cuba and incarcerated for five years. Reopening old wounds in the Cuban exile community The unexpected announcement and secret talks between the Cuban and American presidents, and the intervention of Pope Francis as a catalyst are the salient aspects of the historic news. But the wake of the announcement brings many other issues to the fore. Maggie Alejandre, whose brother Armando was a U.S. veteran shot down by the Cuban Air Force, added, “These families have been equally divided between Republicans and Democrats, and some of us voted for Obama. So it’s not political.” “They are justifying what cannot be justified. Gross was unjustly jailed in Cuba. It cheapens and devalues the human lives on the island and is an insult to these families,” stated Ros-Lehtinen. Ros-Lehtinen noted that even if diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United states are restored, lifting the embargo would need congressional approval. SEE ALSO: What normalizing ties with Cuba means for America Now that Cuba will normalize relations with the U.S. as Vietnam and China did, only North Korea remains as a former communist state without diplomatic relations with the U.S.

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New NASA study offers troubling insight into Atmospheric CO2

Impremedia — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 19:11:00 +0000

NASA released the results of a much-anticipated multiyear studywhich looks into the concentrations and distribution of carbon dioxide in the atmospherethis week. Over the course…

Miami-Dade FC step in amidst Ft. Lauderdale homeless feeding controversy

Impremedia — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 20:11:00 +0000

The public image of the modern soccer player: self absorbed, worried more about their cars, mobile phones or girlfriends. Even if the public image…

Helping the homeless, from Ft. Lauderdale to Latin America

Impremedia — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 14:11:00 +0000

OPINION In a very bizarre turn of events, several Floridians have been arrested for feeding homeless people in Fort Lauderdale. The draconian law that prohibits…

The significance of a US Marines release from a Mexican jail

Impremedia — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 09:11:00 +0000

Andrew Tahmooressi, the retired Marine who was arrested in Mexico for allegedly trying to smuggle guns across the border, has been released and is now…

Latinos go missing at the Concert for Valor honoring US veterans

Impremedia — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 11:10:00 +0000

A Veterans Day tribute unlike any other is the idea behind the recently announced Concert For Valor taking place Nov. 11 on the National Mall…

Ben Bradlee and the Cubans, a genuine passion for getting it right

Impremedia — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 16:10:00 +0000

Ben Bradlee, the great Washington Post editor of Watergate fame who died Tuesday at the age of 93, may have been the countrys first major…

Our Little Roses: The only loving home for orphaned girls in Honduras

Impremedia — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 17:10:00 +0000

Our Little Roses Ministries (OLR) in San Pedro Sula (Honduras) is a real, loving home for around 70 girls. All of them are orphans, were…

Texas health care worker has tested positive for Ebola

Impremedia — Sun, 12 Oct 2014 12:10:00 +0000

A Texas health care worker has tested positive for Ebola even though she wore full protective gear while caring for a hospitalized patient who later…

San Gabriel Mountains become countrys newest national monument

Impremedia — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 12:10:00 +0000

President Barack Obama traveled to southern California on Friday to designate about 346,000 acres within the San Gabriel Mountains as the nations newest national monument.…

1901 Boston time capsule opened

Impremedia — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 14:10:00 +0000

On Thursday, Oct. 9, the Bostonian Society opened a time capsule that had remained sealed for over a century, and archivists were pleasantly surprised by…

A 20-year old battle between a fruit company and the UFW may end soon

Eduardo Stanley — Sun, 05 Oct 2014 15:10:00 +0000

Farm workers at the giant fruit company Gerawan Farming, Inc, based in Californias Central Valley, considered the breadbasket of the country, voted twice about union…

Hunger Games stuntman dies in freak accident

Impremedia — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 16:10:00 +0000

One movie and TV stuntman has leaped to his own death as a result of a tragic freak accident. Carlos Lopez, a stuntman who worked…

Bill and Hillary Clinton grandparents to a baby girl

Impremedia — Sat, 27 Sep 2014 14:09:00 +0000

Bill and Hillary Clinton are the proud grandparents of a baby girl. Their daughter, Chelsea Clinton, had her first child on Friday. They named her…

Pope Francis on WWIII: First it was your turn and now it is our turn

Impremedia — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 16:09:00 +0000

According to Pope Francis, we are not on the cusp of World War IIIwere already in the middle of it. Earlier this month the Pope and…

Vatican puts accused pedophile and papal ambassador to the Dominican Republic under house arrest

Impremedia — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 16:09:00 +0000

The Vatican announced today in a press release that it had put Jozef Wesolowski under house arrest inside the city state. The former archbishop and…

Getting a diverse newsroom is not a black and white issue

Impremedia — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 18:09:00 +0000

This opinion piece originally appeared in VOXXI partner Borderzine. Diversity doesnt happen easily. It is slow progressive change. The pundit who asks, why dont they…

Search and rescue dogs: The unknown heroes of 9/11

Impremedia — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 12:09:00 +0000

In the immediate days that followed the attack in New York on September 11, 2001, more than 300 search and rescue dogs (SAR) scoured Ground…

US plane escorted by fighter jets passes Cuba; crashes in Jamaica

Impremedia — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 13:09:00 +0000

A small airplane that lost radio contact while flying from New York to Florida and went into Cuban airspace crashed in the island of Jamaica Friday…

What Puerto Ricans can learn from the Scottish independence referendum

Impremedia — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 17:09:00 +0000

OPINION Puerto Ricans should pay attention to the national referendum in Scotland come September 18, 2014. Scottish voters will be asked: Should Scotland be an…

King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Sofia heading for divorce?

Impremedia — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 15:09:00 +0000

Summer vacation and the media truce for the Spanish royal family are over. Traditional summer photos of the Spanish monarchs King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia…

Its a femur, its a bone; no its just a rock on Mars, NASA says

Impremedia — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 12:08:00 +0000

A rock formation found by NASA on Mars very closely resembles a femur; the image captured by the robot Curiosity has unleashed all kinds of…

Ferguson violence has Davis, California fearing police militarization

Eduardo Stanley — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 14:08:00 +0000

The news took everybody by surprise: the city of Davis with 66,000 residents, a College community with a vast majority of Whites, 59 percent, followed…