African UN missions deny women equality

Cuban exiles in Miami are “very satisfied” with the new U.S. measures to punish foreign companies operating in properties confiscated by the Castro regime in Cuba, Diario Las Américas reports. National Security Advisor John Bolton announced in Miami the full reactivation of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, which had been suspended for 20 years. Miami-Dade County Commissioner Javier D. Souto, who accused the Castro regime of confiscating his own family’s properties on the island, said he “totally” supports the measure, adding that “it should bring really good things for the people of Cuba.” Link to original story →

According to an El Nuevo Día investigation, the cleanup of the Puerto Rican island of Vieques after decades of being used as a bombing range and site for U.S. military-training exercises is expected to go on until at least 2032. Since 2003, the Navy has spent $270 million on cleanup efforts, but so far it has only removed about one-third of the 300,000 bombs dropped on the site. Hurricane María only complicated things as some funds were diverted to reconstruction efforts, and the ocean currents pushed army debris back to the island’s shores. Link to original story →

The number of deportations of Mexicans in Los Angeles has dropped some 20 percent in the first trimester of the year compared to 2018, something the Mexican consul attributes to the effects of the sanctuary law, La Opinión reports. Consul Carlos García de Alba noted that last year an average of 7.8 Mexicans were deported daily from LA, while today the number is about six per day. “This might be an effect of the sanctuary law that has limited police collaboration with ICE, and the fact that people are better informed and being more cautious." Link to original story →

With less than a year to go until the 2020 Census is underway – and nine months for the Native village of Toksook Bay, Alaska – Native leaders hope to improve the numbers for the historically undercounted American Indian and Alaska Native populations living on reservations, reports Indian Country Today. Due to "logistical obstacles," they had an undercount rate of 4.9 percent, Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby said at a recent Census Bureau press briefing. He believes new efforts by the Census Bureau will produce a better count next year, including technological improvements, increased tribal consultations and the expansion of tribal names on the questionnaire. Link to original story →