Posts By: Mike Samras
Mike earned degrees in political science and journalism from the University of Pittsburgh. After graduating from college in 2006, Mike joined the Peace Corp and spent two and half years living and working in El Salvador. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in political management at George Washington University.
June 21, 2012 > Staff
WikiLeaks Founder Awaits Ecuador’s Decision on Asylum
Top Story — With the Ecuadorean government due to respond Thursday to his asylum request, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange must remain in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London as police line up outside to […] Read More >
June 20, 2012 > Staff
Peru Says Pregnant Women Could Face Jail Time For Protesting
Top Story — The Peruvian government on Tuesday threatened to arrest pregnant women participating in a protest march against the U.S.-based Newmont’s $4.8 billion Conga mining project, based on a claim […] Read More >
June 19, 2012 > Staff
Colombia: Ex-Security Chief Accused In Drug Trafficking, Wiretapping Schemes
Top Story — A recently-unsealed document U.S. indictment revealed that Colombia’s former security chief, Ex-General Mauricio Santoyo Velasco, has been charged with conspiracy to export cocaine to the United States while he […] Read More >
June 18, 2012 > Staff
Paraguay: 15 Deaths, 9 Murder Charges After Land Dispute Turns Violent
Top Story — Rubén Candia Amarilla was sworn in Saturday as Paraguay’s new interior minister after Carlos Filizzola and Police Chief Paulino Rojas resigned due to violent clashes that left at least […] Read More >
June 15, 2012 > Staff
Judge Dismisses Lawsuit By Guatemalans Infected In U.S. Experiments
Top Story— U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton granted a motion by the U.S. federal government to dismiss a lawsuit by Guatemalan victims infected with STDs while U.S. researchers tested the effects of […] Read More >
June 14, 2012 > Staff
Arizona: Jan Brewer Orders Redistribution of SB 1070 Training Video
Top Story — Anticipating that the U.S. Supreme Court will uphold the bulk of SB 1070, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has asked to redistribute a training video originally sent to law enforcement across […] Read More >
June 13, 2012 > Staff
Falkland Islanders To Vote On Sovereignty
Top Story — The Falklands Legislative Assembly announced Tuesday that voters on the Falkland Islands will hold a referendum to decide whether the approximately 3,000 inhabitants of the remote islands […] Read More >
June 12, 2012 > Staff
More Drugs Passing Through Puerto Rico, Officials Say
Top Story — Puerto Rican officials reported that 70 percent of the 1,136 murders on the island last year could be attributed to drug violence, prompting Puerto Rican governor Luis […] Read More >
June 11, 2012 > Staff
Chilean Protesters Clash At Pro-Pinochet Documentary Screening
Top Story — Chilean police on Sunday used tear gas and water cannons to disperse a crowd of protesters gathered outside a screening of “Pinochet”, a documentary sympathetic to the […] Read More >
May 21, 2012 > Staff
The Latin America News Dispatch Takes A Vacation
The Latin America News Dispatch will take a short break from publishing our daily newsletter, Today in Latin America. Congratulations to our graduating student contributors. We’ll be back in June! […] Read More >