Stories for November 23rd 2009
Lula da Silva anticipated his Uruguayan election vote: incumbent Mujica
A leading figure from the ruling Workers Party of Brazil visited this weekend Uruguayan presidential candidate Jose “Pepe” Mujica with a message from President Lula da Silva.
Bolivian Jews concerned with Iranian president’s visit
The Bolivian Jewish community has expressed concern over the coming visit this Tuesday of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadineyad who is scheduled to meet with his Bolivian peer Evo Morales, as part of a several days visit to South America and Africa.
Blasting report on human rights: “New Castro, Same Cuba”
Cuban president Raúl Castro's government has locked up scores of people for exercising their fundamental freedoms and allowed scores more political prisoners, arrested during Fidel Castro's rule, to languish in detention, Human Rights Watch says in a report released this week. Rather than dismantle Cuba's repressive machinery, Raúl Castro has kept it firmly in place and fully active, the report says.
Quotas for Atlantic blue fin tuna cut by one third to 13.500 tons
The body responsible for managing Atlantic blue fin tuna has decided not to suspend the fishery in response to concerns over dwindling stocks. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (Iccat) instead decided to lower the annual catch quota by about one third.
Spain prepares to announce radical reforms while “economy begins recovery”
Spanish president Jose Luis Rodríguez Zapatero said Monday that the country’s “economic recovery” has started and all indicates that the rhythm will accelerate.
Chile denies conflict with Peru will be considered in Unasur defence meeting
Chile said that the alleged espionage case involving a Peruvian military that passed sensitive information to a Chilean counterpart is a “bilateral issue” and firmly denied it was to be discussed in the coming Unasur (Union of South American nations) Defence Council.
“Flush” of icebergs heading for New Zealand
Over one hundred Antarctic icebergs are moving towards New Zealand in an extraordinary happening that has raised a shipping warning, officials announced Monday. An Australian Antarctic Division glaciologist stated that the bergs, pinpointed by satellites, have floated past the Auckland Islands, and are 280 miles northeast of the Island.
Brazilian opposition questions Iranian president’s visit
The main leader of the Brazilian opposition Jose Serra criticized the government of President Lula da Silva for receiving Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and recalled that the Iranian Defence minister has been accused of the attack against the Argentine Jewish Mutual, AMIA, in 1994, in Buenos Aires.
All Honduran parties are calling on Hondurans to vote next Sunday
Honduran presidential candidates wrapped up their electoral campaigns on Sunday with massive rallies calling on followers and “all Hondurans” to vote next November 29th when a new president, congress, and municipal officials will be elected.
Russian cruise icebreaker is back in Ushuaia
The Russian ice-breaker cruise ship carrying 105 passengers, mostly British tourists, and 88 crew members and which broke free of Antarctic ice last Friday arrived Sunday to Ushuaia, Argentine Tierra del Fuego, announced the ship's operator.
