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...
)
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Selected anniversaries for June
- June 4, 1870 - Moret Law was passed which granted freedom to slaves born after September 17, 1868
- June 4, 1918 - Birth of Noel Estrada, composer of En Mi Viejo San Juan (d. 1979)
- June 9, 1976 - Birth of Sharif Fajardo, member of the Puerto Rican national basketball team
- June 11, 1948 - Governor Jesus T. Piñero signed a law which made the public advocation of independence unlawful.
- June 12, 1826 - The Municipality of Comerío was founded.
- June 13, 1899 - Birth of Antonio S. Pedreira, author and educator (d. 1939)
- June 13, 1983 - Death of Alicia Moreda, television soap opera actress (b. 1912)
- June 15, 1598 - The Royal Navy, led by George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, landed troops from 21 ships to the east in Santurce with aims to overtake the city.
- June 16, 1944 - Death of Luis Llorens Torres, poet, journalist, playwright, and politician (b. 1876)
- June 16, 2005 - Death of Enrique Laguerre, writer and poet (b. 1905)
- June 17, 1833 - Birth of Francisco Oller, artist (d. 1917)
- June 18, 1984 - Birth of Wilfredo Vázquez, Jr., professional boxer
- June 21, 1939 - Birth of Rubén Berríos, president of the Puerto Rican Independence Party
- June 22, 1772 - The Municipality of Moca is founded.
- June 24, 1820 - The Municipality of Ciales was founded.
- June 25, 1972 - Birth of Carlos Delgado, Major League Baseball first baseman
- June 25, 1835 - Queen María Cristina abolished slave trade to Spanish colonies, which included Puerto Rico.
- June 26, 1983 - Death of Concha Melendez, educator, poet and writer (b. 1895)
- June 26, 1984 - Birth of José Juan Barea, professional basketball player
- June 28, 1968 - Birth of Chayanne (Elmer Figueroa Arce), Latin pop singer
- June 29, 1993 - Death of Héctor Lavoe, as a result of conplications of AIDS (b. 1946)
- June 30, 1823 - The Municipality of Hatillo was founded.
- June 30, 1960 - Birth of Lunna, pop and jazz singer
- June 30, 1979 - Birth of Rick Gonzalez, actor
- June 30, 1983 - Birth of Juan Manuel López professional boxer
- ...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?
- September 8, 2011: The US Justice Department issues a report decrying systematic civil rights abuseby the Puerto Rico Police Department, including illegal searches, use of excessive force, andcorruption, sparking a wide call for action from the public and an announcement of reform by Gov. Luis Fortuño.
- August 21, 2011: Tropical storm Irene passes through Puerto Rico and its surrounding islands while becoming a hurricane just north of San Juan, the first of the 2011 Atlantic season.
- June 29, 2011: Jose "Piculin" Ortiz, a former professional basketball player in the NBA (Utah Jazz) and the Puerto Rican Olympic team and the Superior Basketball League, is arrested for drug-related charges.
- June 12, 2011: In professional basketball, José Juan "J.J." Barea, helps the Dallas Mavericks defeatthe Miami Heat (4-2) and win the 2011 NBA Championship. A national welcoming party is held in his honor in Puerto Rico.
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...)
Puerto Rico-related topics
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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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· ·
A tres días de vencerse su contrato, el superintendente Héctor Pesquera reveló hoy que permanecerá al frente de la Policía.