Stories for October 2009

Friday, October 2nd 2009 - 09:21 UTC
Gay penguins and Harry Potter’s witchcraft in US banned books list

Authors, artists and musicians are due to gather at a library in San Francisco to protest against the banning of books in schools and libraries in the United States. The event, part of the 27th annual Banned Books Week, has been organised by the American Library Association.
Friday, October 2nd 2009 - 09:18 UTC
US Congress agrees 350 million USD for small dairy farmers

The United States Congress has agreed to provide 350 million US dollars to struggling dairy farmers following a compromise during negotiations on a 23.3 billion USD agriculture bill.
Friday, October 2nd 2009 - 09:13 UTC
EU emergency meeting to deal with dairy farming crisis and export subsidies

Less than two weeks after the start of a European dairy farmers’ strike, Sweden’s agriculture minister said that he would meet with other European agriculture ministers in Luxembourg on 5 October to discuss the ongoing milk crisis.
Friday, October 2nd 2009 - 05:36 UTC
EU underlines significance of global partnership with Latinamerica

The European Union wants closer links with Latinamerica and the Caribbean and will attempt in the near future to conclude the several pending agreements with different countries from the region, announced in Brussels Benita Ferrero-Waldner Commissioner responsible for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy.
Friday, October 2nd 2009 - 05:12 UTC
Next round of EU/Mercosur trade association talks in May in Madrid

The European Union and Mercosur have suspended negotiations for an association agreement, basically on trade issues, admitted Geoffrey Barrett head of the European Commission delegation for Uruguay and Paraguay.
Thursday, October 1st 2009 - 16:04 UTC
Uruguay’s fumbling presidential election makes the undecided soar

With just over three weeks to a crucial presidential election, Uruguayan political parties have been shocked by the latest public opinion polls: contrary to statistics both leading candidates have lost support while the undecided have doubled.
Thursday, October 1st 2009 - 16:01 UTC
US government relaxes control over internet

The US government has relaxed its control over how the internet is run. It has signed a four-page “affirmation of commitments” with the net regulator Icann, giving the body autonomy for the first time.
Thursday, October 1st 2009 - 15:58 UTC
UK leading banks accept international-agreed curbs on bonuses

Britain's five biggest banks have signed up to new internationally-agreed curbs on bonuses, it has been announced. Chancellor Alistair Darling welcomed the decision by the banks to accept the principles agreed last week at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh.
Thursday, October 1st 2009 - 15:53 UTC
Arias calls for support for Honduras November election

Costa Rica’s president Oscar Arias called on the international community to collaborate with Honduras November presidential election, avoiding isolating the de facto regime, thus helping to find a way out to the current crisis.
Thursday, October 1st 2009 - 15:50 UTC
Gibraltar waters dispute “caught the UK government asleep at the wheel”

Graham Watson, South West England and Gibraltar’s Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament vowed to hold Britain to account over the Gibraltar waters controversy with Spain, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle.