Thursday, June 27, 2013

Portal:Puerto Rico - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Portal:Puerto Rico - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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The 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
 (
Spanish
Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico
) is a archipelago located east of the 
Dominican Republic
 in the northeastern 
Caribbean
. Puerto Rico, the smallest of the 
Greater Antilles
, includes the main island of 
Puerto Rico
 and a number of smaller islands and
keys
, including the populated island-municipalities of 
Vieques
 and 
Culebra
, as well as unpopulated
Mona
 island, located halfway between the islands of Puerto Rico and 
Hispaniola
.
The nature of Puerto Rico's political relationship with the United States is the subject of ongoing debate on and off the island. Those who support maintaining the current formula insist that upon attaining this status, Puerto Rico entered into a voluntary association with the U.S. "in the nature of acompact", but opponents of the Commonwealth status, disagree: according to them, Puerto Rico is no more than an unincorporated organized territory of the U.S., subject to the plenary powers of theUnited States Congress.
The 
Puerto Rican Campaign
 refers to an 
American
 military sea and land operation on 
Puerto Rico
during the 
Spanish-American War
. The offensive began on May 12, 1898, when the 
United States Navy
 attacked the archipelago's capital, 
San Juan
. The land offensive began on July 25. The Americans encountered larger opposition as they advanced towards the main island's interior. They engaged in two crossfires in Guamani River and 
Coamo
, both of which were inconclusive as the allied soldiers retreated. On August 9, 1898, American troops that were pursuing units retreating from Coamo encountered heavy resistance in 
Aibonito
 and retreated after six of their soldiers were injured. They returned three days later reinforced with artillery units and attempted a surprise attack. In the subsequent crossfire, confused soldiers reported seeing Spanish reinforcements nearby and five American officers were gravely injured, which prompted a retreat order. All military actions in Puerto Rico were suspended on August 13, after the signing of the 
Treaty of Paris
 was made public. (
more...
)
Featured content
 represents the best of what 
Wikipedia
 has to offer. The following Puerto Rico-related articles and lists have been designated as 
Featured
 (
Featured article
) by the community, as a result of many collaborative efforts of users and readers just like you.

Selected anniversaries for June

  • ...that the island of Puerto Rico was originally christened as San Juan Bautista (St. John the Baptist), whose capital was called Puerto Rico? That over the years, the names of the island and the capital were exchanged, and San Juan Bautista became the name of the capital while Puerto Rico became the name of the island?
  • ...that the Camuy River is the third longest underwater river in the world?
  • ...that the reggaeton was invented in Puerto Rico and has since then spread to other places around the world?
  • ...that Teófilo Cruz is the first and currently only American player to be inducted to the FIBAInternational Basketball Hall of Fame?
Captain Humbert Roque "Rocky" Versace
 (July 2, 1937–September 26, 1965) was a 
United States Army
 officer of 
Puerto Rican
-
Italian
 descent who was awarded the 
United States
' highest military decoration — the 
Medal of Honor
 — for his heroic actions while a 
prisoner of war
 (POW) during the
Vietnam War
.
While acting as intelligence advisor to South Vietnamese fighters, their unit was ambushed by opposing forces, and Versace provided sufficient covering fire for his unit to evacuate. However, he was wounded and taken prisoner deep in the jungle along with two other Americans. He tried to escape a total of four times, all unsuccessful. Versace insulted the Viet Cong and cited the Geneva Convention treaty during the indoctrination sessions, and was last seen singing "God Bless America" as he was taken away for execution. He was the first member of the U.S. Army to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions performed in Southeast Asia while in captivity. (more...)
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Iranian Influence In Latin America On the Wane, State Department Report Says

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Iran is not actively supporting terrorist groups in Latin America, the U.S. State Department acknowledged in a recent report – even though for years it has insisted the influence was growing.  
The report, which said that the Islamic Republic’s influence in the region is still a “concern,” said that due to strong sanctions imposed on the country by both the United States and the European Union, Iran has been unable to expand its economic and political ties in Latin America.
“As a result of diplomatic outreach, strengthening of allies’ capacity, international nonproliferation efforts, a strong sanctions policy, and Iran’s poor management of its foreign relations, Iranian influence in Latin America and the Caribbean is waning,” the report stated, according to Bloomberg News.
While the State Department declined to comment on the report because it had not yet been sent to Congress, some Republican lawmakers said that it was too lax on Iran and downplayed the Middle Eastern nation’s threat in the U.S.’s perceived backyard.
“I believe the Administration has failed to consider the seriousness of Iran’s presence here at home,” said Congressman Jeff Duncan, a Republican from South Carolina who wrote the legislation requiring the State Department report, told Bloomberg. “I question the methodology that was used in developing this report.”
Under the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran had forged strong relationships with the left-leaning governments of Bolivian President Evo Morales and the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez.
Current Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced in late May that three surveillance drones built with Iran’s help were launched by the Venezuelan government as part of an initiative to curb drug trafficking.
The U.S. government and analysts throughout the region will be keeping a close eye on Iranian-Latin American relations in the coming in the wake of Iran’s presidential election two weeks ago.
Hassan Rohani, the only moderate-reformist candidate in Iran's presidential election, secured a surprising first-round victory after garnering more than 50 percent of the ballots.
Rohani, who was backed by two reformist ex-presidents, Mohammad Khatami and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, defeated four ultra-conservative candidates and a technocrat who finished in last place
The victory by Rohani, who will succeed two-term incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, could usher in significant changes in Iran's foreign and economic policy and lead to expanded rights for women in the Islamic nation, although there are many restrictions on presidential power and foreign and nuclear policy is determined by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Rohani, a pragmatic cleric who was secretary of Iran's Supreme Council on National Security and a nuclear negotiator, became the clear choice for reformists after former Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref dropped out of the presidential race.
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Héctor Pesquera seguirá presidiendo la Policía

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A tres días de vencerse su contrato, el superintendente Héctor Pesquera reveló hoy que permanecerá al frente de la Policía.