Juanson World

Colombian president Alvaro Uribe was in Washington yesterday lobbying for the ratification of a bilateral US-Colombia free trade agreement. The agreement, which will be signed with the US in December, faces stiff opposition from Democrats in the new Congress who will be demanding stricter labor standards. Wall Street Journal

The Associated Press profiles Flavio Sosa, a leader and founder of the Oaxaca People's Assembly. AP

Nicaraguan president-elect Daniel Ortega refused to talk to the media during his campaign, and major Nicaraguan outlets are taking a "wait and see" approach to his presidency. AP

The Miami Herald op-ed page calls the UN resolution on the Cuban embargo "hypocrisy" and calls the vote against an Australian amendment to call for the release of political prisoners evidence that the UN vote was simply a show of anti-Americanism. Miami Herald

Carlos Alberto Montaner warns that Ortega's presidency will lead many Nicaraguans in the US to withdraw investments in the country, and that a road towards Chavismo could eventually lead to Ortega's ouster. Miami Herald

Immigrants from Brazil to the US represent the fastest growing immigrant group in the US. Governador Valadares, a city in Minas Gerais, is estimated to receive almost 14 percent of the dollars sent from the 1.5 million Brazilians in the US. Washington Post

Presidents Lula and Chavez inauguarated a $1.2 billion bridge over the Orinoco River. While the bridge was finished in July, some analysts believe the ceremony was delayed to coincide with Chavez's reelection campaign, implying Lula's support of Chavez in the upcoming election. BBC