Stories for November 3rd 2008
Castro's first overseas visit to Brazil, says Lula da Silva
Brazilian President Lula da Silva said that the first overseas visit of his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro since taking office will be to Brazil. The announcement was made during his brief visit to Havana where Brazil's Petrobras signed an agreement to explore and exploit oil and gas offshore Cuba.
Chavez velvet warning to Nobel Peace Lech Walesa
Venezuelan opponents on Sunday accused President Hugo Chavez of trying to silence his critics after associates of former Polish president Lech Walesa said the Nobel Peace Prize laureate would not attend a pro-democracy forum in Venezuela.
UN convoy of food and medicine for displaced Congolese
United Nations is to send a convoy of food and medical supplies to help the 250,000 people displaced by recent fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It will be the first aid in a week for those stranded in areas controlled by renegade Gen Laurent Nkunda's forces.
US's election, only comparable to recent results in Latam
Brazilian leader Lula da Silva said that if Barack Obama if finally elected as the next president of the United States, it would be “something extraordinary”, comparable to his won victory or that of Bolivia's Evo Morales, the first indigenous president, plus a “spark of joy” for the expectant world.
Obama, McCain battle across campaign's closing day
Aiming for a last-minute upset, Republican John McCain embarked on a grueling odyssey through seven swing states Monday while Democrat Barack Obama was headed toward three longtime GOP bastions that have become Democratic-leaning battlegrounds in the historic presidential contest.
Argentine top model accused of evading 2 million USD in taxes
Argentine international top model Valeria Mazza and husband Alejandro Gravier are under investigation by Argentina's Revenue Service, AFIP, for alleged tax evasion to the tune of two million US dollars, according to the Buenos Aires press.
Global crisis creates Latam's biggest private bank
Brazilian bank shares soared on Monday after Banco Itau announced the purchase of Unibanco Holdings, a transaction that will create Latin America's biggest private banking firm. The stock transaction is valued in 12.5 billion USD.
Prince Charles: rich countries should pay annual “utility bill”
Britain's Prince Charles has called for rich countries to pay an annual “utility bill” for the benefits given to the world by its rainforests. Speaking in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, the prince called rainforests the “world's greatest public utility”. They act as an air conditioner, store fresh water and provide work, he said.
EU in recession: 0.1% growth in 09 and 0.9% in 2010
European Union finance ministers on Monday opened in Brussels two days of talks aimed at coordinating proposals for a new global financial order while prospects for the EU real economy continued to deteriorate.
IMF says China remains “robust” but '09 is “difficult year”
China's economy will slow but should remain relatively strong and help to support the rest of Asia, the International Monetary Fund said on Monday, predicting a very difficult year for the global economy in 2009.
