Stories for November 2009

Wednesday, November 18th 2009 - 03:17 UTC
“Generous” contributions to US lawmakers to uphold embargo of Cuba

Since the United States 2004 election cycle, a network of Cuban-American donors and political action committees (PACs) has donated in excess of 10 million US dollars to more than 300 US federal candidates in order to thwart any changes in the US embargo of Cuba, claims Public Campaign, a US citizens group working for “clean money, clean elections”
Wednesday, November 18th 2009 - 03:04 UTC
Zelaya claims US and Micheletti are involved in “laundering” the coup

Honduran ousted president Manuel Zelaya claims the United States in partnership with de facto leader Roberto Micheletti are involved in an operation to “launder” the coup d’etat of June 28th.
Wednesday, November 18th 2009 - 03:02 UTC
Unfriend, with real lex-appeal, word of the year for Oxford American Dictionary

Unfriend“ has been named the word of the year by the New Oxford American Dictionary, chosen from a list of finalists with high technical jargon. Unfriend was defined as a verb that means to remove someone as a ”friend” on a social networking site such as Facebook or MySpace.
Wednesday, November 18th 2009 - 02:38 UTC
Chile and Uruguay, least corrupt in Latam and an inspiration for the region

Chile, Uruguay and Costa Rica have the lowest perceived levels of corruption in Latinamerica, a benchmark and inspiration for the Americas according to the latest report from Transparency International. Argentina and Venezuela are among the low performers in a region where there are serious indications of “rampant corruption”.
Tuesday, November 17th 2009 - 12:54 UTC
Diplomatic row between Chile and Peru over spying accusations

In separate statements this weekend, Chilean Foreign Minister Mariano Fernandez and government spokesperson Carolina Toha refuted the spying accusations made by Peruvian officials late last week.
“Chile does not spy” said the Chilean government officials.
Tuesday, November 17th 2009 - 12:48 UTC
The Chilean currency at its highest in 16 months: 496 to the US dollar

The Chilean peso rose to its strongest level against the US dollar in 16 months after copper prices and global stocks rallied. The peso climbed 1.1% to 496.6 per dollar during trading and touched 494.15, the strongest since July 2008.
Tuesday, November 17th 2009 - 12:42 UTC
Brazil begins “spy” aircraft surveillance against organized crime in favelas

The Brazilian Federal Police announced that beginning December an unmanned “spy” aircraft will over-fly the shanty towns of Rio do Janeiro at a height of 7.000 metres, well out of range from the drug gangs and trades that last week shot down a police helicopter killing three men on board.
Tuesday, November 17th 2009 - 12:39 UTC
Federal Reserve working to “help ensure that the US dollar is strong”

United States Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke said Monday that US policymakers are mindful of the sliding US dollar. Bernanke said he is “attentive” to the decline in the currency and is working to “help ensure that the dollar is strong”.
Tuesday, November 17th 2009 - 12:38 UTC
Brown proposes Afghanistan campaign “transfer timetable” talks

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown plans to host talks in the New Year to discuss timing for handing over the campaign in Afghanistan to the Afghan government. PM Brown said he wanted the NATO meeting to “set a timetable” for transfer starting in 2010.
Tuesday, November 17th 2009 - 09:14 UTC
Shimon Peres in Argentina proposes “a new relation for a new world”

Israeli President Shimon Peres met on Monday with Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. Shimon arrived on Sunday in Argentina, home to Latin America's biggest Jewish community for a two-day visit.