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UNITED STATES-EDUCATION-Plans to expand college aid for Caribbean immigrant youth

NEW YORK, CMC – A New York state legislature is seeking to expand college aid for young people from the Caribbean and other countries. The State’s Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has joined with his counterpart, Francisco Moya, and the State’s Higher Education Committee Chair, Deborah J. Glick, in introducing the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. The bill, if it becomes law, would provide educational support for tens of thousands Caribbean and other immigrant youth.

CARIBBEAN-IMMIGRATION-US urged to rethink relations with Cuba

WASHINGTON, CMC – A major think tank here is urging the Obama Administration to quickly adopt three important initial steps that would “trigger a speedy rapprochement” with the Spanish-speaking nation.

In its latest report, the Washington-based Council of Hemispheric Affairs (COHA) urged Washington to “immediately phase out the embargo, free the ‘Cuban five,’ and remove Havana from the spurious State Department roster of nations purportedly sponsoring terrorism.

Explosion in Mexico City Kills at Least 25

MEXICO CITY — A mysterious explosion at the headquarters of Mexico’s state-owned oil company here on Thursday killed at least 25 people and injured 101, according to government officials, as windows shattered, the ground shook and thousands of employees fled into a panicked downtown. The cause of the explosion was not immediately known. It occurred just before 4 p.m. in the basement of an administrative building next to the 52-story tower of Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex.

IMF says overall fiscal position in St. Kitts Nevis stronger than expected

WASHINGTON, CMC – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says that despite a “difficult economic environment,” the overall fiscal position of St. Kitts and Nevis through the end of September last year was “stronger than expected.” After undertaking the fifth review under the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA), the Washington-based financial institution said on Wednesday that the latest update on the twin-island federation was “due to buoyant non-tax revenue and lower-than-expected capital outlays.” An IMF mission, led by George Tsibouris visited St.

Groups accuse immigration agents of receiving gifts for rounding up Caribbean nationals

NEW YORK, CMC - Two immigrant advocacy groups say they have found that United States Immigration border patrol agents who arrest Caribbean and other immigrants in New York State get gift cards, bonuses and extra vacations.
The Families for Freedom and the New York University (NYU) Immigrant Rights Clinic said in a new report that the rewards include US$100 Home Depot gift cards. They said some agents also got as much as US$2,500 a year each.

Can’t make this up

Who says magical realism is dead? In Latin America, where that form of imaginative literature was born, the absurd is the stuff of everyday headlines. Events that defy belief are just another aspect of the daily routine of life in the region. Or, to put it another way, you can’t make this stuff up.
Venezuela

FAO to continue assisting region develop agricultural sector

SANTIAGO, Chile, CMC - The effects of climate change on agriculture and its impact on food security were among matters discussed between Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General Irwin LaRocque and the Director General of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) José Graziano da Silva.

New study says small businesses can boost relations between Caribbean and Europe

SANTIAGO, Chile, CMC - A new study says micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) can play a “fresh and significant role” in boosting relations between Latin America and the Caribbean and the European Union (EU).
The study titled “Building SME Competitiveness in the European union and Latin America and the Caribbean : Policy Proposals by the Private Sector” was discussed during the weekend summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and European Union (EU).

Chile and Caribbean countries pledge closer working relationship

SANTIAGO, Chile, CMC – The 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping and Chile have pledged to continue working together to further strengthen their relationship.
A communiqué issued at the end of talks between Chilean President Sebastián Piñera Echenique and CARICOM leaders on Monday, noted “a commitment was also made to work together with the aim to achieve regional integration objectives set out by the new hemispheric architecture represented by CELAC), the Community of Latin American and the Caribbean States.

Chavez’s Absence Overshadows Latin American, Caribbean Summit

The absence due to illness of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez played a major role during the final day of a summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Santiago on Monday.
Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro read out to leaders a long letter from Chavez, which Venezuelan officials had noted in advance was signed in red ink.
"We have always felt perfect unity in everything, but oligarchies barred the way," Chavez said in his letter.

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