Puerto Rico: UNIVERSITY STUDENT STRIKE AWAKENS INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY The student strike at the University of Puerto Rico initiated on April 13 has received worldwide attention, awakening international solidarity. The University of Havana in Cuba sent a communication in which it recognized the demands of the Puerto Rican students as fair and just, and asked for a solution to the proposed increase in registration fees, the cuts in the university budget and the privatization several building belonging to UPR. The student strikers have occupied 10 out of 11 university campuses, and resist unjustified police abuse.

—ADITAL, Agencia de Información Fray Tito para América Latina

NICARAGUA BREAKS DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL Following the May 31 raid by the Israeli Army on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla that was carrying humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, the government of Nicaragua decided to break relations with Tel Aviv. The Nicaraguan government also asked for the end to the blockade that the Jewish State imposed on Gaza four years ago. Rosario Murillo, Communications Coordinator of the Council on Communication and Citizenry of Nicaragua, was the spokeswoman who made the announcement in the name of the president, Daniel Ortega. She reiterated Nicaragua’s support for the struggle to liberate the Palestinian people.

—TeleSUR, Prensa latina

Mexico: MORE THAN 300 EXECUTIONS IN 6 MONTHS TARNISH THE ELECTIONS IN CHIHUAHUA The elections for governor, 33 local state representatives, 67 mayors and community representatives this July 4 in Chihuahua, Mexico, were marred by the more than 300 executions perpetrated in the first six months of 2010 and in a climate of terror that dominates a great part of the mountainous region. In recent months, throughout the electoral campaigns, criminal gangs that are fighting over territorial control committed crimes against local communities. One example, the recent assassination of 19 people interned at the center of rehabilitation ¨Fe y Vida¨ in the State´s capital, in addition to six other murders at a similar institution in the border town of Juarez shined a light on the violence affected the area.

—La Jornada (www.jornada.unam.mx)

MEXICAN AUTHOR CARLOS MONSIVAIS DIES Renowned Mexican author Carlos Monsivais died on June 19, 2010 of respiratory failure last week at the age of 72. He had been battling complications due to a pulmonary disease for several months. Monsivais wrote numerous books Mexico’s political, social and cultural life in the latter part of the 20th century. He was known for deconstructing Mexico for its citizens, often ridiculing the country’s farcical political system, but savoring its cultural heritage.

—Impresiones Latinas (www.impre.com)

MARADONA TOLD HIS CLOSE FRIENDS IN THE DRESSING ROOM THAT HE WANTS TO LEAVE ARGENTINA’S NATIONAL TEAM

Diego Maradona, trainer for the Argentinean national soccer team, told his close friends that he wished to leave his position as coach of the national team. The decision would be made after talking it over with his family; however, the Argentinean Soccer Association is hoping that he will step aside. Maradona made his statement right after Argentina’s 4-to-0 loss to Germany in the city of Cabo, South Africa.

—La Prensa (www.laprensa.com.ar)

—Compiled by Veda Arias