:: wikimiki.org ::
| Colombian Peso |
Colombian pesoThe peso is the currency of Colombia. Its ISO 4217 code is COP and it is also informally abbreviated as COL$. Its sign is the peso symbol ($).
History
The peso has been the currency of Colombia since 1837. It was introduced at a value of 8 reales. In 1847, Colombia decimalized and the peso was subdivided into ten reales, renamed decimos in 1853. The current system of 100 centavos = 1 peso was introduced in 1872.
The exchange rate as of November 2005 was:
- 1 euro = 2,676.34 COP
- 1 U.S. dollar = 2,249.68 COP
Coins
The available coin denominations are:
- $20
- $50
- $100
- $200
- $500
- $1000
Since November 1996, a $1000 coin has been in circulation and as of April 2005 it is still legally valid for transactions as it has not been officially withdrawn by the authorities.
However, due to massive counterfeiting, Colombians have increasingly avoided the use of this denomination, the possibility of its withdrawal has been considered, and in practice its circulation has significantly decreased since 2002.
The problem of false $1000 coins has been considered widespread enough that, according to some observers, it may be possible that the number of bogus coins could have outnumbered that of legitimate ones. It was reported in the Colombian press throughout 2004 that, at a date yet to be determined, a new type of $1000 coin may be minted as a replacement in order to correct these problems. Even so, it's very rare to see $1000 coins circulating, and are generally rejected by most commercial establishments.
[http://web.archive.org/web/20040608092555/http://elpais-cali.terra.com.co/HOY/ECO/B107N1.html]
Bills
The available bill denominations are:
- $1,000 (Jorge Eliécer Gaitán)
- $2,000 (Francisco de Paula Santander)
- $5,000 (José Asunción Silva)
- $10,000 (Policarpa Salavarrieta)
- $20,000 (Julio Garavito Armero)
- $50,000 (Jorge Isaacs)
As noted above, the $1000 note was withdrawn from circulation to be replaced by a coin; however, it was subsequently reintroduced, with a new design, due to the coin counterfeiting problem. There is now (2005) a widespread problem with counterfeit $2000 peso bills. Real bills have brown colored lettering; false bills have red lettering.
Current COP exchange rates
[http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?amt=1&from=AUD&to=COP&submit=Convert AUD] |
[http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?amt=1&from=CAD&to=COP&submit=Convert CAD] |
[http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?amt=1&from=EUR&to=COP&submit=Convert EUR] |
[http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?amt=1&from=GBP&to=COP&submit=Convert GBP] |
[http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?amt=1&from=INR&to=COP&submit=Convert INR] |
[http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?amt=1&from=NZD&to=COP&submit=Convert NZD] |
[http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?amt=1&from=USD&to=COP&submit=Convert USD]
Links
[http://www.banrep.gov.co/emision/caracte4.htm Bills and Coins (Spanish)]
Colombia
The Republic of Colombia is a country in northwestern South America. It is bordered to the north and north-west by the Caribbean Sea, to the east by Venezuela and Brazil, to the south by Ecuador and Peru, and to the west by Panama and the Pacific Ocean.
Pacific Ocean
History
:Main article: History of Colombia
Around 1450 BC there was cultural activity near Bogotá, in "El Abra". In 1000 BC, groups of amerindians developed the political system of "cacicazgos" (answering to a figure known as the Cacique) with a pyramidal structure of power, especially in the cases of the Muisca or Chibcha people. They have been considered to have one of the most developed political systems in South America, after the Incas. Spanish explorers made the first exploration of the Caribbean littoral in 1500 led by Rodrigo de Bastidas. Christopher Columbus navigated near the coasts of Choco in 1502. In 1508 Vasco Nuñez de Balboa started the conquest of the territory through the region of Urabá. In 1513, he also discovered the Pacific Ocean which he called "The Sea of the South" and which in fact would bring the Spaniards to Peru and Chile. In 1525, the first European city in the American Continent was founded, Santa María la Antigua del Darién in what is today the Chocó Department. The territory's main population was made up of hundreds of tribes of the Chibchan and "Karib", currently known as the Caribbean people, whom the Spaniards conquered through warfare, while resulting disease, exploitation, and the conquest itself caused a tremendous demographic reduction among the indigenous. In the 16th century, Europeans began to bring slaves from Africa.
Since the beginning of the periods of Conquest and Colonization, there were several rebel movements under Spanish rule, most of them either being crushed or remaining too weak to change the overall situation. The last one, which sought outright independence from Spain, sprang up around 1810. Eventually being led by Simón Bolívar and Francisco de Paula Santander, the rebellion finally succeeded in 1819, when the territory of the Viceroyalty of New Granada became the Republic of Gran Colombia, as a Confederation with Ecuador and Venezuela. Modern day Panama, which subsequently remained a Colombian department until 1903, was also included in this union.
Internal political and territorial divisions led to the secession of Venezuela and Quito (today's Ecuador) in 1830. At this time, the so-called "Department of Cundinamarca" adopted then the name "Nueva Granada", which it kept until 1856 when it became the "Confederación Granadina" (Grenadine Confederation). In 1863 the "United States of Colombia" was created, lasting until 1886, when the country finally became known as the Republic of Colombia. Internal divisions remained, occasionally igniting very bloody civil wars and, eventually, contributing to setting the stage for the U.S.-sponsored secession of Panama in 1903. Afterwards, the country achieved a relative degree of political stability, which was interrupted by a bloody conflict which took place between the late 1940s and the early 1950s, known as La Violencia ("The Violence"). Its cause was mainly due to mounting tensions between partisan groups, reignited by the murder of Jorge Eliécer Gaitán, and it claimed the lives of at least 180,000 to more than 200,000 Colombians.
To replace the previous 1886 document, a new constitution was made in 1991, after being drafted by the Constituent Assembly of Colombia. The constitution included key provisions on political, ethnic, human and gender rights, which have been gradually put in practice, though uneven developments, surrounding controversies, and setbacks have persisted.
In recent decades the country has been plagued by the effects of the influential drug trade and by guerrilla insurgents such as FARC and illegal counter-insurgency paramilitary groups such as AUC, which along with other minor factions have been engaged in a bloody internal conflict. The different irregular groups often resort to kidnapping and drug smuggling to fund their causes, tend to operate in large areas of the remote rural countryside and can sometimes disrupt communications and travel between different regions. Since the early 1980s, attempts at reaching a negotiated settlement between the government and the different rebel groups have been made, either failing or only achieving the partial demobilization of some of the parties involved. One of the last such attempts was made during the administration of President Andrés Pastrana Arango, which negotiated with the FARC between 1998 and 2002.
In the late 1990s, President Andrés Pastrana implemented an initiative named Plan Colombia, with the dual goal of ending the armed conflict and promoting a strong anti-narcotic strategy. The most controversial element of the Plan, which also included a smaller number of funds for institutional and alternative development, was considered to be its anti-narcotic strategy, consisting on an increase in aerial fumigations to eradicate coca. This activity came under fire from several sectors, which claimed that fumigation also damages legal crops and has adverse health effects upon population exposed to the herbicides. Critics of the initiative also claim that the plan represents a military approach to problems that have additional roots in the social inequalities of the country.
During the presidency of Alvaro Uribe, who was elected on the promise to apply military pressure on the FARC and other criminal groups, the government and its supporters claim some security indicators have improved, showing a decrease in reported kidnappings (from 3700 in the year 2000 to 1441 in 2004) and of more than 48% in homicides between July 2002 and May 2005. It is argued that these improvements have favored economic growth. [http://www.dnp.gov.co/novedades_detalle.aspx?idn=31]
Analysts and critics inside Colombia agree that there has been a degree of pratical improvement in several of the mentioned fields, but the exact reasons for the figures themselves have sometimes been disputed, as well as their specific accuracy. Some opposition sectors have criticized the government's security strategy, claiming that it is not enough to solve Colombia's complex problems and that it has contributed to creating a favorable environment for the continuation of some human rights abuses.
Politics
:Main article: Politics of Colombia
Colombia is a republic where the executive branch dominates government structure. Up until recently, the president was elected together with the vice-president by popular vote for a single four-year term, which functioned as both head of government and head of state. However, on October 19, 2005 the Colombian Congress amended the constitution, which now allows Colombian presidents to serve up to two consecutive four-year terms.
Colombia's bicameral parliament is the Congress of Colombia or Congreso, which consists of the 166-seat House of Representatives of Colombia and the 102-seat Senate of Colombia. Members of both houses are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms. Colombia is also a member of the South American Community of Nations.
In the 1990s, the Colombian judicial system underwent significant reforms and is undergoing a process of migration from a inquisitorial system to an adversary system. parts of the coffee growing region of Colombia and Bogotá have already adopted the adversary system, with the rest of the country following suit starting on January 1, 2006.
Geography
:Main article: Geography of Colombia
Located in the North of South America (4 00 N, 72 00 W) and part of Caribbean South America. The only South American country with coast in both oceans (Atlantic or Caribbean Sea with 1,760 km and Pacific Ocean with 1,448 km. Borders: North with the Caribbean Sea (sea borders with Jamaica, Haiti and Dominican Republic). West with Panama (225 km) and sea borders with Costa Rica both in the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean and Guatemala. South with Ecuador (590 km), Peru (1,496 km) and Brazil (1,643 km). East with Brazil and Venezuela (2,050 km).
Venezuela
Colombia has a total area of 1,138,910 km² being the fourth biggest country in South America after Brazil, Argentina and Peru and the seventh one in the American Continent. From this area, the land has 1,038,700 km² and the water area has 100,210 km². It has also an archipelago in the Caribbean sea (San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina) that forms the territory of the department San Andrés y Providencia.
Mainland territory divided into four major geographic regions: Andean highlands (composed of three mountain ranges and intervening valley lowlands); Caribbean lowlands; Pacific lowlands; and Ilanos and tropical rainforest of eastern Colombia. Colombia also possesses small islands in both Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.
Striking variety in temperature resulting principally from differences in elevation; little seasonal variation. Habitable areas consist of hot (below 900 meters in elevation), temperate (between 900 and 1,980 meters), and cold (from 1,980 meters to about 3,500 meters) climatic zones. Precipitation generally moderate to heavy, with highest levels in Pacific lowlands and in parts of eastern Colombia; considerable year-to-year variations recorded.
The Andes range is located in Colombia from Southwest (Ecuador boarder) toward Northeast (Venezuela boarder) and is divided in the Colombian Massif (Macizo Colombiano) in three ranges (East Range, Centre Range and West Range) that form two long valleys, Magdalena and Cauca follow by the rivers of the same name. The highest mountain in Colombia is not in the Andes but in the Caribbean plain: Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta with its highest points named Pico Cristobal Colon (5,775 m) and Pico Simon Bolivar (same elevation).
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
The eastern part of Colombia, comprising more than half its territory, is plain and composed by savanna and rainforest, crossed by rivers belonging to the Amazon and Orinoco basins. The northern part, called "Los Llanos" is a savanna region, mostly in the Orinoco basin (therefore called also Orinoquía). The southern part, usually called Amazonía, is covered by the Amazon rain forest and belongs mostly to the Amazon basin.
At the north and west of the Andes there are coastal plains, the Caribbean plains to the north and the Pacific plains to the west.
Colombian Pacific plains are among the most rainy parts in the world, especially at the north (Chocó).
The five traditional natural regions are therefore: the Andean Region, the Caribbean Region, the Pacific Region, the Orinoquia Region and the Amazonia Region. Some people also include an Insular Region, separated from the coastal regions.
Departments
:Main article: Departments of Colombia
Additionally, there is one capital district (distrito capital), Bogotá D.C.
Economy
:Main article: Economy of Colombia
After experiencing decades of steady growth (average GDP growth exceeded 4% in the 1970-1998 period), Colombia entered into a recession in 1999, and the recovery from that recession was long and painful. Colombia's economy suffers from weak domestic and foreign demand, austere government budgets, and serious internal armed conflicts. The IMF Economic Indicators published on September 21, 2005, forecast the Colombian GDP to reach US$112,300,000,000 in 2005. Inflation has been below 6% for 2004 and 2005, and is expected to remain below 5% during 2006. Colombia's main exports include manufactures (41.62 of exports), petroleum (26.52%), coal (12.11%), and coffee (6.10%). New oil exploration is needed to offset declining oil production. All imports, exports, and the general trade balance are in record levels, and the inflow of export dollars has resulted in substantial revaluation of the Colombian peso, trading slightly below 2300 pesos for US$1 by September 2005.
The problems facing the country range from reforming the pension system to reducing high unemployment. Several international financial institutions have praised the economic reforms introduced by Uribe, which include measures designed to reduce the public-sector deficit below 2.5% of Gross domestic product (GDP) in 2004. The government's economic policy and its controversial democratic security strategy have engendered a growing sense of confidence in the economy, usually within the business sector, and GDP growth in 2003 which was among the highest in Latin America. In 2005, the value of Colombia's exports are expected to total US$25 billion.
Demographics
:Main article: Demographics of Colombia
Colombia has a diverse population that reflects its colourful history and the peoples that have populated her from ancient, to colonial and modern times. The historic amalgam of three main groups: Amerindians, Spanish colonist/European immigrants, and imported African slaves, are the basis of Colombia's current demographics. The miscegenation or mestizaje in Colombia has created a racial and ethnic continuum; an order characterized by fluidity and ambiguity in which any claims of inclusion within the categories of Amerindian, Afro-Colombian, mestizo, mulatto, zambo or white is far from being evident.
There has also been small immigration from Europe and the Middle East, particularly Turks and Arabs.
Colombia is the third most populous country in Latin America, after Brazil and Mexico.
Religion
The predominant religion in Colombia is a generally conservative form of Roman Catholicism, although American-based cults, religions and sects are making inroads. There has been a degree of passive discrimination conducted against non-Catholic Christians in some circles, but outright persecution is rare. It is believed that some Evangelical forms of Protestantism would be on the rise and, unofficially estimated as of yet, could number some 4.3 million people, or 10% of the population.
Culture
:Main article: Culture of Colombia
- Cinema of Colombia
- List of Colombians
- List of people on stamps of Colombia
- List of universities in Colombia
- Music of Colombia
- Carnival in Colombia
- Festivals in Colombia
Miscellaneous topics
- Communications in Colombia
- Foreign relations of Colombia
- List of cities in Colombia
- Military of Colombia
- Palenquero
- Transportation in Colombia
- Controversy about the existence of Anti-Colombianism
External links
-
- [http://www.travel-impressions.de/taganga/pelican.htm Pictures of Colombia]
- [http://www.presidencia.gov.co/Ingles/news/news.htm Presidencia de la República de Colombia] - President
- [http://www.banrep.gov.co/engroot/home4.htm Banco de la República] - Central Bank
- [http://www.ejercito.mil.co/english/ Ejército Nacional de Colombia] - Army
- [http://www.armada.mil.co/english/ Armada Nacional de Colombia] - Navy
Category:South American countries
zh-min-nan:Colombia
ko:콜롬비아
ms:Colombia
ja:コロンビア
ISO 4217ISO 4217 is an international standard describing three letter codes to define the names of currencies established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
The first two letters of the code are the two letters of ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country codes (which are similar to those used for national top-level domains on the Internet) and the third is usually the initial of the currency itself. So Japan's currency code becomes JPY—JP for Japan and Y for yen. This eliminates the problem caused by the names dollar, franc and pound being used in dozens of different countries, all with wildly differing values. Also, if a currency is revalued, the currency code's last letter is changed to distinguish it from the old currency. In some cases, the third letter is the initial for "new" in that country's language, to distinguish it from an older currency that was revalued; the code often long outlasts the usage of the term "new" itself. Examples of this include the Mexican peso (MXN) and the Turkish lira (TRY). Other changes can be seen, however; the Russian ruble, for example, changed from RUR to RUB, where the B comes from the third letter in the word "ruble".
There is also a three-digit code number assigned to each currency, in the same manner as there is also a three-digit code number assigned to each country as part of ISO 3166.
The standard also defines the relationship between the major currency unit and any minor currency unit. Often, the minor currency unit has a value that is 1/100 of the major unit, but 1/10 or 1/1000 are also common. Some currencies do not have any minor currency unit at all. In others, the major currency unit has so little value that the minor unit is no longer generally used (e.g. the Japanese sen, 1/100th of a yen). Mauritania does not use a decimal division of units, setting 1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums, and Madagascar has 1 ariary = 5 iraimbilanja.
ISO 4217 includes codes for not only currencies, but also codes for precious metals (gold, silver, palladium and platinum; by definition expressed per one troy ounce, as compared to "1 USD") and certain other entities used in international finance, e.g. Special Drawing Rights. There are also special codes allocated for testing purposes (XTS), and to indicate no currency transactions (XXX). These codes all begin with the letter "X". The precious metals use "X" plus the metal's chemical symbol; silver, for example, is XAG. ISO 3166 never assigns country codes beginning with "X", so ISO 4217 can use "X" codes for non-country-specific currencies without risk of clashing with future country codes.
Supranational currencies, such as the East Caribbean dollar, the CFP franc, the CFA franc BEAC and the CFA franc BCEAO are normally also represented by codes beginning with an "X". However, the Euro is represented by the code EUR; although EU is not an ISO 3166-1 country code, it was used anyway, and in order to do so EU was added to the ISO 3166-1 reserved codes list to represent the European Union. The predecessor to the Euro, the European Currency Unit, had the code XEU.
History
In 1973, the ISO Technical Committee 68 decided to develop codes for the representation of currencies and funds for use in any application of trade, commerce or banking. At the 17th session (February 1978) of the related UN/ECE Group of Experts agreed that the three letter alphabetic codes for International Standard ISO 4217, "Codes for the representation of currencies and funds", would be suitable for use in international trade.
Over time, new currencies are created and old currencies are discontinued. Frequently, these changes are due to new governments (through war or a new constitution), treaties between countries standardizing on a currency, or revaluation of the currency due to excessive inflation. As a result, the list of codes must be updated from time to time. The ISO 4217 maintenance agency (MA), the British Standards Institution, is responsible for maintaining the list of codes.
Active codes
# AED United Arab Emirates dirham
# AFN Afghan afghani
# ALL Albanian lek
# AMD Armenian dram
# ANG Netherlands Antilles Gulden
# AOA Angolan kwanza
# ARS Argentine peso
# AUD Australian dollar
# AWG Aruban guilder
# AZM Azerbaijani manat
# BAM Bosnia-Herzegovina convertible mark
# BBD Barbadian dollar
# BDT Bangladeshi taka
# BGN Bulgarian lev (since 1999-07-05)
# BHD Bahraini dinar
# BIF Burundi franc
# BMD Bermuda dollar
# BND Brunei dollar
# BOB Bolivian boliviano
# BOV Bolivian Mvdol (Funds code)
# BRL Brazilian real
# BSD Bahamian dollar
# BTN Bhutan ngultrum
# BWP Botswana pula
# BYR Belarusian ruble
# BZD Belize dollar
# CAD Canadian dollar
# CDF Congolese franc
# CHF Swiss franc
# CLF Chilean Unidad de Fomento (Funds code)
# CLP Chilean peso
# CNY Yuan renminbi (PR China)
# COP Colombian peso
# COU Colombian unidad de valor real (added to the COP)
# CRC Costa Rican colón
# CSD Serbian dinar
# CUC Cuban convertible peso (replaced USD as additional national currency in November 2004)
# CUP Cuban peso (still in use)
# CVE Cape Verdean escudo
# CYP Cyprus pound
# CZK Czech koruna
# DJF Djibouti franc
# DKK Danish krone
# DOP Dominican peso
# DZD Algerian dinar
# EEK Estonian kroon
# EGP Egyptian pound
# ERN Eritrean nakfa
# ETB Ethiopian birr
# EUR European Union euro
# FJD Fijian dollar
# FKP Falkland Islands pound
# GBP Pound Sterling
# GEL Georgian lari
# GHC Ghana cedi
# GIP Gibraltar pound
# GMD Gambian dalasi
# GNF Guinea franc
# GTQ Guatemalan quetzal
# GYD Guyanese dollar
# HKD Hong Kong dollar
# HNL Honduran lempira
# HRK Croatian kuna
# HTG Haitian gourde
# HUF Hungarian forint
# IDR Indonesian rupiah
# ILS New Israeli shekel
# INR Indian rupee
# IQD Iraqi dinar
# IRR Iranian Rial
# ISK Icelandic króna
# JMD Jamaican dollar
# JOD Jordanian dinar
# JPY Japanese yen
# KES Kenyan shilling
# KGS Kyrgyzstan som
# KHR Cambodian riel
# KMF Comorian franc
# KPW North Korean won
# KRW South Korean won
# KWD Kuwaiti dinar
# KYD Cayman Islands dollar
# KZT Kazakhstan tenge
# LAK Lao kip
# LBP Lebanese pound
# LKR Sri Lankan rupee
# LRD Liberian dollar
# LSL Lesotho loti
# LTL Lithuanian litas
# LVL Latvian lat
# LYD Libyan dinar
# MAD Moroccan dirham
# MDL Moldovan leu
# MGA Malagasy ariary
# MKD Macedonian denar
# MMK Myanmar kyat
# MNT Mongolian tugrik
# MOP Macau pataca
# MRO Mauritanian ouguiya
# MTL Maltese lira
# MUR Mauritius rupee
# MVR Maldives rufiyaa
# MWK Malawian kwacha
# MXN Mexican peso
# MXV Mexican Unidad de Inversión (UDI) (Funds code)
# MYR Malaysian ringgit
# MZM Mozambican metical
# NAD Namibian dollar
# NGN Nigerian naira
# NIO Nicaraguan córdoba
# NOK Norwegian krone
# NPR Nepalese rupee
# NZD New Zealand dollar
# OMR Omani rial
# PAB Panamanian balboa
# PEN Peruvian nuevo sol
# PGK Papua New Guinea kina
# PHP Philippine peso
# PKR Pakistani rupee
# PLN Polish złoty
# PYG Paraguayan guaraní
# QAR Qatari rial
# RON Romanian leu (since 2005-07-01, formerly ROL)
# RUB Russian ruble
# RWF Rwandan franc
# SAR Saudi Arabian riyal
# SBD Solomon Islands dollar
# SCR Seychelles rupee
# SDD Sudanese dinar
# SEK Swedish krona
# SGD Singapore dollar
# SHP Saint Helenian pound
# SIT Slovene tolar
# SKK Slovak koruna
# SLL Sierra Leonean leone
# SOS Somali shilling
# SRD Suriname dollar (since 2004-01-01)
# STD São Tomé and Príncipe dobra
# SYP Syrian pound
# SZL Swaziland lilangeni
# THB Thai baht
# TJS Tajikistani somoni
# TMM Turkmen manat
# TND Tunisian dinar
# TOP Tongan Pa'anga
# TRY New Turkish lira
# TTD Trinidad and Tobago dollar
# TWD New Taiwan dollar
# TZS Tanzanian shilling
# UAH Ukrainian hryvnia
# UGX Ugandan shilling
# USD United States dollar
# USN United States dollar (Next day) (Funds code)
# USS United States dollar (Same day) (Funds code) (one source claims it is no longer used, but it is still on the ISO 4217-MA list)
# UYU Uruguayan peso
# UZS Uzbekistani som
# VEB Venezuelan bolívar
# VND Viet Nam dong
# VUV Vanuatu vatu
# WST Samoa Tala
# XAF CFA franc BEAC
# XAG Silver ounce
# XAU Gold ounce
# XBA European Composite Unit (EURCO) (Bonds market unit)
# XBB European Monetary Unit (E.M.U.-6) (Bonds market unit)
# XBC European Unit of Account 9 (E.U.A.-9) (Bonds market unit)
# XBD European Unit of Account 17 (E.U.A.-17) (Bonds market unit)
# XCD East Caribbean dollar
# XDR Special Drawing Rights (IMF)
# XFO Gold-franc (Special settlement currency)
# XFU UIC franc (Special settlement currency)
# XOF CFA franc BCEAO
# XPD Palladium ounce
# XPF CFP franc
# XPT Platinum ounce
# XTS Code reserved for testing purposes
# XXX No currency
# YER Yemeni rial
# ZAR South African rand
# ZMK Zambian kwacha
# ZWD Zimbabwean dollar
Obsolete currency codes
Replaced by Euro
# ADP Andorran Peseta
# ATS Austrian Schilling
# BEF Belgian Franc
# DEM Deutsche Mark
# ESP Spanish Peseta
# FIM Finnish Markka
# FRF French Franc
# GRD Greek Drachma
# IEP Irish Pound
# ITL Italian Lira
# LUF Luxembourg Franc
# NLG Netherlands Guilder
# PTE Portuguese Escudo
# XEU European Currency Unit (ECU)
Replaced for other reasons
# AFA Afghani (replaced by AFN)
# ALK Albanian old lek (replaced by ALL)
# AON Angolan New Kwanza (replaced by AOA)
# AOR Angolan Kwanza Readjustado (replaced by AOA)
# ARP Peso Argentino (replaced by ARS)
# ARY Argentine peso (replaced by ARS)
# BEC Belgian Franc (convertible)
# BEL Belgian Franc (financial)
# BGJ Bulgarian lev A/52 (replaced by BGN)
# BGK Bulgarian lev A/62 (replaced by BGN)
# BGL Bulgarian lev A/99 (replaced by BGN)
# BOP Bolivian peso (replaced by BOB)
# BRB Brazilian cruzeiro (replaced by BRL)
# BRC Brazilian cruzado (replaced by BRL)
# CNX Chinese People's Bank dollar (replaced by CNY)
# CSJ Czechoslovak koruna A/53
# CSK Czechoslovak koruna (replaced by CZK and SKK)
# DDM mark der DDR (East Germany) (replaced by DEM)
# ECS Ecuador sucre (replaced by USD)
# ECV Ecuador Unidad de Valor Constante (Funds code) (discontinued)
# EQE Equatorial Guinean ekwele (replaced by XAF)
# ESA Spanish peseta (account A)
# ESB Spanish peseta (account B)
# GNE Guinean syli (replaced by XOF)
# GWP Guinea peso (replaced by XOF)
# ILP Israeli pound (replaced by ILR)
# ILR Israeli old shekel (replaced by ILS)
# ISJ Icelandic old krona (replaced by ISK)
# LAJ Lao kip - Pot Pol (replaced by LAK)
# MAF Mali franc (replaced by XOF)
# MGF Malagasy franc (replaced by MGA)
# MKN Macedonian denar A/93 (replaced by MKD)
# MVQ Maldive rupee (replaced by MVR)
# MXP Mexican peso (replaced by MXN)
# PEH Peruvian sol (replaced by PEN)
# PLZ Polish złoty A/94 (replaced by PLN)
# ROK Romanian leu A/52 (replaced by ROL)
# ROL Romanian leu A/05 (replaced by RON)
# RUR Russian ruble (replaced by RUB)
# SRG Suriname guilder (replaced by SRD)
# SUR Soviet Union ruble (replaced by RUB)
# SVC Salvadoran colón (replaced by USD)
# TPE Timor escudo
# TRL Turkish lira A/05 (replaced by TRY)
# UGW Ugandan old shilling (replaced by UGX)
# UYN Uruguay old peso (replaced by UYU)
# VNC Vietnamese old dong (replaced by VND)
# YDD South Yemeni dinar (replaced by YER)
# YUD New Yugoslavian Dinar (replaced by CSD)
# YUM Yugoslavian Dinar (replaced by CSD)
# ZAL South African financial rand (Funds code) (discontinued)
# ZRN New Zaire (replaced by CDF)
# ZRZ Zaire (replaced by CDF)
# ZWC Zimbabwe Rhodesian dollar (replaced by ZWD)
See also
- List of currencies
- Currency
- Table of historical exchange rates
- List of international trade topics
- SWIFT and List of SWIFT codes
External links
- [http://www.iso.org/iso/en/prods-services/popstds/currencycodeslist.html The official list of ISO-4217 alphabetic and numeric codes]
- [http://www.unece.org/cefact/recommendations/rec09/rec09_ecetrd203.pdf An older list of ISO-4217 alphabetic codes that contains some history of ISO-4217] (PDF file)
- [http://fx.sauder.ubc.ca/currency_table.html Another list of numeric and alphabetic ISO 4217 currency codes]
- Currency conversion:
- [http://coinmill.com/ Calculator for Currency Rate Exchange]
- http://www.xe.com/ucc/
- http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic
- [http://www.fx4business.com/services/EasyReference.html Travelex Country and Currency Guide]
Category:Currency
Category:Encodings
Category:International economics
Category:International trade
ko:ISO 4217
ja:ISO 4217
th:ISO 4217
November 20052005 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- →
__NOTOC__
:To suggest a news story for the main page, refer to the criteria then add your suggestion at the candidates page. You can also check our news sources list.
- The 2005 hurricane season officially ended today, despite Tropical Storm Epsilon remaining active in the Atlantic. [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATWOAT+shtml/010315.shtml (US NHC 1)] [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATWOEP+shtml/010509.shtml (US NHC 2)]
- Gabon: Africa's longest serving president (since 1967), Omar Bongo, wins presidential elections, securing a further seven years in office. [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/deb437c5c0e267fe05d75fc2e9ea90f2.htm (Reuters)]
- The US Military has been covertly paying to run news stories written by US Military "information operations" troops. The stories, usually praising the work of the U.S. Baghdad newspapers. [http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=10010 (Al Jazeera)][http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-fg-infowar30nov30,0,3132219.story?track=hpmostemailedlink (LA Times)]
- A new campaign against Iraqi insurgents begins with joint U.S.-Iraqi troops conducting Operation Iron Hammer in western Iraq. [http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1358370 (ABC)]
- New policy document on American involvement in Iraq, "National Strategy for Victory in Iraq", is published by the White House. [http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism/view.php?StoryID=20051130-084311-1112r (UPI)]
- Surgeons in France carry out the first human face transplant. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4484728.stm (BBC)]
- Death toll in northeast China coal mine blast reaches 150. [http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/?feed=TopNews&article=UPI-1-20051130-05324400-bc-china-mineblast.xml (Science Daily)]
- Giovanni Prezioso, the General Counsel of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, announces that he's leaving that post, although he'll remain until early 2006 to aid with the transition. [http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2005-167.htm (SEC website)]
- There are reports that Walt Disney Co., which is trying to sell its ABC Radio unit, has narrowed the field of potential buyers to three: Entercom Communications Corp., Cumulus Media Inc. and a private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts. [http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2005/11/28/daily29.html (Business Journal)]
- The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season nears its official end but the 26th named storm of the season, Tropical Storm Epsilon, forms from a non-tropical low east of Bermuda. [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al292005.discus.001.shtml? (US NHC)] [http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/11/29/hurricane.season.ender/index.html (CNN)]
- Virginia Governor Mark R. Warner grants clemency in the case of convicted murderer Robin Lovitt. It was about 24 hours before Lovitt was scheduled to be executed. Evidence against Lovitt had been illegally destroyed after his trial by a court clerk, preventing DNA testing that may have cleared him of the crime. Lovitt's execution was to be the 1,000th execution in the United States since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. [http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2005-11-29T220333Z_01_N29339026_RTRIDST_0_CRIME-VIRGINIA-EXECUTION-UPDATE-1.XML (Reuters)]
- Former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres says he may leave the Labour Party to join Ariel Sharon's government after the next election if he is re-elected and if Sharon's new party is to form a government. [http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1354908 (ABC)]
- The Government of Lesotho offers all its citizens a free HIV test. Aimed at stopping and reversing the spread of AIDS, this is believed to be the first programme of its kind in the world. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4480108.stm (BBC)]
- President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, has cancelled the Fatah Primary Elections after accusations of voter fraud were made. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4480966.stm (BBC)]
- Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, a top aide to former Secretary of State Colin Powell, accused Vice-President Dick Cheney of ignoring a decision by President Bush on the treatment of prisoners in the war on terror. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4480638.stm (BBC)]
- Two bomb attacks occur in the Bangladeshi cities of Chittagong and Gazipur. Six people are killed and 65 others wounded. [http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-11-29T065845Z_01_WRI919050_RTRUKOC_0_UK-BANGLADESH-BLAST.xml (Reuters)]
- Activist investor Carl Icahn announces that he has hired Lazard to advise him as he wages a proxy fight for control of Time Warner, the media empire. [http://www.thestreet.com/stocks/media/10254891.html (thestreet.com)]
- Canadian federal election, 2006 - Canadian Governor General Michaëlle Jean formally dissolves Parliament, following Prime Minister Paul Martin's loss of a confidence vote, and calls an federal election for January 23, 2006. [http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1133219410173 (Toronto Star)]
- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has called the former prime minister Iyad Allawi's comments "nonsense". Allawi claimed that the human rights abuses in Iraq were as bad now as they were under Saddam Hussein. Talabani stated that the government was against any form of torture or harming of prisoners. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1517827.htm (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)]
- Reports that Darshan Singh has been dismissed as chief hangman of Singapore are denied by prison officials. They would not say if he would perform the hanging of Nguyen Tuong Van. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1518962.htm (ABC)]
- Canadian federal election, 2006: Prime Minister Paul Martin's minority government is defeated in a confidence motion by a vote of 171 - 133. The Prime Minister announces he will request a dissolution of parliament from the Governor General tomorrow. [http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/11/28/noconfidencevote051128.html (CBC)].
- The tribunal trying Saddam Hussein and seven co-defendants adjourned for a second time after hearing posthumous evidence. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4477908.stm (BBC)]
- EU Justice commissioner Franco Frattini makes an unprecedented call for the suspension of privileges, for any member state found to have hosted a CIA black site. [http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1352347 (ABC)]
- Running water is restored to the city of Harbin, in Heilongjiang, China after several days of a water cut-off due to the toxic benzene spill. Yilan County, Heilongjiang, however, is still without running water. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5443272,00.html (The Guardian)]
- The United Nations Climate Change Conference opens in Montreal. - [http://www.montreal2005.gc.ca/ (Government of Canada)]
- 23rd Southeast Asian Games formally opens in Manila, Philippines. [http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2005/11/28/MAIN2005112850308.html (Manila Bulletin)]
- A tornado outbreak across four U.S. states kills at least two people. [http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/051127_rpts.html (US NWS Storm Prediction Center)]
- Conflict in Iraq: Four Westerners have been kidnapped in Iraq while in Baghdad. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4476276.stm (BBC)]
- The former Prime Minister of Iraq, Iyad Allawi, has claimed in the Observer newspaper, that human rights abuses by members of the Government of Iraq are as bad now as they were in the time of Saddam Hussein. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4475030.stm (BBC)]
- Incumbent President Omar Bongo Ondimba seeks another seven-year term against four other candidates in Gabonese presidential election, 2005. [http://za.today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-11-27T082022Z_01_ALL729962_RTRIDST_0_OZATP-GABON-ELECTIONS-20051127.XML (Reuters)]
- Honduras presidential election, 2005: Elections in Honduras are held, with either Porfirio Pepe Lobo or Manuel Zelaya expected to be elected President of Honduras. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4475240.stm (BBC)]
- An earthquake hits southern Iran, measuring 5.9 on the moment magnitude scale. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4475546.stm (BBC)]
- Leader of the Democratic Action Party Lim Kit Siang calls for the resignation of the Malaysian Deputy Inspector-General of the Police for his actions in the Malaysian prisoner abuse scandal. [http://blog.limkitsiang.com/?p=220 (Lim's blog)]
- The Edmonton Eskimos defeat the Montreal Alouettes 38-35 in the 93rd Grey Cup Canadian Football League championship at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Eskimos won in overtime on a Sean Fleming field goal to capture their 13th Grey Cup in franchise history. Eskimos quarterback Ricky Ray was named Grey Cup MVP. [http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/news_story.asp?ID=144765&hubName=cfl (Game Coverage)]
- Former Philippine election official Virgilio Garcillano reappeared before Philippine media after 5 months of his disappearance. [http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=57970 -Philippine Daily Inquirer]
- The Rafah crossing linking the Gaza Strip and Egypt turns over to Palestinian control for the first time. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4472312.stm (BBC)]
- An earthquake measuring 5.5 on the moment magnitude scale hits the area near Ruichang, Jiangxi in China, killing more than 14. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4472582.stm (BBC)] [http://earthquake.usgs.gov/recenteqsww/Quakes/usfwbf.htm (USGS)]
- Vijaypat Singhania of India sets a world record for highest hot air balloon flight, reaching 69,852 feet (20.29 km). [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051126/ap_on_re_as/india_hot_air_balloon;_ylt=AiKTQ2LiysHz5OV8J8s91ZsPLBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA-- (AP)]
- The British government suppresses further details of the Bush/Blair memo. [http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Further_details_about_Bush/Blair_memo_stopped (WikiNews)]
- Polish defence minister Radek Sikorski opens Warsaw Pact archives to historians. Maps of possible nuclear strikes against Western Europe, as well as the possible nuclear annihilation of 43 Polish cities and 2 million of its citizens by Soviet-controlled forces, are released. [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0511260069nov26,1,2440898.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true (Chicago Tribune)]
- The European Commission starts a legal action against the Bank of Italy and its President, Antonio Fazio, who allegedly favoured the Italian bank Banca Popolare Italiana in the race to acquire Banca Antonveneta, thus penalising Dutch group ABN AMRO. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4465668.stm (BBC)]
- Conflict in Iraq: German archaeologist Susanne Osthoff is kidnapped in Iraq. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4480480.stm (BBC)]
- Cebu leads the "soft-opening" of the 23rd Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines. Games will formally start on November 27, 2005 at Manila's Quirino Grandstand. [http://www.mb.com.ph/SPRT2005112650133.html (Manila Bulletin)]
- The president of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, calls for the Holodomor to be internationally recognised as an act of genocide. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4471256.stm (BBC)]
- Papua New Guinea decides to evacuate the 1500 inhabitants of Carteret Atoll to Bougainville, 100 km away, over the next two years. The atolls, maximum elevation 1.5 metres, are the first inhabited land to be abandoned to rising sea levels and they are expected to be totally inundated by around 2015. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,3605,1650407,00.html (Guardian)] [http://www.ecologyasia.com/news-archives/2001/dec-01/straitstimes.asia1.com.sg_cybernews_story_0,1870,91530,00.html (Straits Times)]
- George Best, the Northern Irish international footballer who won the European Footballer of the Year award in 1968, has died of lung infection and organ failure at the age of 59. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4380332.stm (BBC)]
- Arab-Israeli Conflict: Israel hands over the bodies of three Hezbollah militants its Defence Forces killed earlier in the week to the Lebanese Government. [http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=134542020&p=y3454z6xx&n=134542629 (IOL)]
- Al Jazeera bombing memo:
- Reporters Without Borders voice concerns over the Al Jazeera bombing memo and their shock over the reporting ban placed by the UK government on the issue. [http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=56941 (New Kerala)]
- Peter Kilfoyle, MP lodges Early day motion 1084 in the House of Commons calling on the government to publish the memo in full. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/11/25/ujaz.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/11/25/ixportaltop.html (Daily Telegraph)]
- Wadah Khanfar, Al Jazeera's director general, is reportedly flying to the UK to discuss the matter with the UK government. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4469044.stm (BBC)]
- CHOGM - Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is currently underway in Malta.
- The city of Khabarovsk in Far Eastern Russia declares a state of emergency as the 80 km benzene slick released by an explosion in a Chinese chemical plant on 13 November, which has already caused water supplies for 4 million inhabitants of the Chinese city of Harbin to be suspended, approaches the Amur river which is the main water source for 1.5 million people in Russia. [http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2005/11/24/afx2353457.html (Forbes)] [http://www.moscowtimes.ru/stories/2005/11/25/015.html (Moscow Times)]
- Two people were injured in an accident at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City when the M&M's balloon was tangled in a light pole and fell near Times Square. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051124/ap_on_re_us/thanksgiving_parade_16 (AP via Yahoo! News)]
- Conflict in Iraq:
- 15 people die after a Suicide Bomb attack in Hilla. [http://abcasiapacific.com/news/stories/asiapacific_stories_1516431.htm (ABC aus)]
- Prisoners at an Iraqi detention centre revealed to the BBC details of apparent widespread use of torture and abuse in prisons and detention centres in Iraq. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4465194.stm (BBC)]
- At least thirty people have died following a car bomb outside a hospital in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4465692.stm (BBC)]
- Khadim Sarhid al-Hemaiyim, one of the most important Sunni Arab Tribal leaders in Iraq, has been shot dead, along with his three sons and a son-in-law in Baghdad. The gunman appeared to be a member of the new Iraqi Army. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4462436.stm (BBC)]
- Canadian federal election, 2006: Opposition leader Stephen Harper introduces a motion of no confidence in the Canadian House of Commons. With the support of all opposition parties, it is expected to pass on Monday, toppling Prime Minister Paul Martin's minority Liberals and forcing a campaign spanning the holiday season. [http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/11/24/ottawa-politics051124.html (CBC)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4467536.stm (BBC)]
- There are further calls in the media and Parliament of the UK for Prime Minister Tony Blair to publish a full account of his discussions with US President Bush on the bombing of Al Jazeera TV station headquarters in Doha. A memo on the conversation has been partly leaked to the Daily Mirror newspaper, before the Official Secrets Act was invoked. [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,12956,1649351,00.html (Guardian)] The widow of journalist Tareq Ayyoub, who was killed in the 2003 bombing of Al Jazeera offices in Baghdad, says she is considering legal action against the US government. [http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=CultureAndMedia&loid=8.0.232620063&par= (Adnki)] Al Jazeera staff later staged a 15 minute symbolic walk-out from all their offices around the world in protest. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4467878.stm (BBC)]
- Conflict in Iraq:
- One Suicide Car Bomber kills 18 people, mostly Iraqi Police in an Ambush in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4460984.stm (BBC)]
- The Prime Minister of Italy, Silvio Berlusconi, states that Italian Soldiers could leave Iraq by the end of 2006. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4463248.stm (BBC)]
- Israeli troops kill one Palestinian and Iyad Abu Rob, a suspected senior member of Islamic Jihad surrenders after a day-long siege, in the Palestinian refugee camp of Jenin. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4465694.stm (BBC)], [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/israel_west_bank;_ylt=AocYUme9kT5woKQPZGHHnZWs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ-- (Reuters)]
- The record-breaking 2005 Atlantic hurricane season continues as Tropical Storm Delta forms from a non-tropical low 1000 nautical miles southwest of the Azores. [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al282005.discus.001.shtml? (U.S. NHC)]
- The lower house of the Russian parliament passed a bill by 370-18 requiring local branches of foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to reregister as Russian organisations subject to Russian jurisdiction, and thus stricter financial and legal restrictions. The bill gives Russian officials oversight of local finances and activities. The bill has been highly criticised by Human Rights Watch, Memorial rights organization, and the nonprofit think tank Indem for its potential effects on international monitoring of the status of human rights in Russia. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051123/ap_on_re_eu/russia_ngos (Reuters)]
- An explosion at a chemical factory on the Songhua River in northeastern China releases high levels of benzene into the river water. Authorities shut off the water supply for the downstream city of Harbin. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4462158.stm (BBC)]
- The new Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, goes to Paris, France for her first foreign trip in office. Some observers see this as a signal that intra-European affairs will be a high priority. [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1103AP_Europe_Merkel.html (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)]
- Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is officially declared as the winner of the Liberian presidential runoff, after she took 59.4 percent of the vote, making her Africa's first elected female head of state. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4462032.stm (BBC)]
- Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki has dismissed his entire cabinet and deputy ministers after voters rejected a draft constitution. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4463262.stm (BBC)], [http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-11-23T162355Z_01_WRI359012_RTRUKOC_0_UK-KENYA-REFERENDUM.xml (Reuters)]
- Arab-Israeli Conflict: Israeli planes bomb targets in Southern Lebanon. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4459500.stm (BBC)]
- Floods and mudslides due to Tropical Storm Gamma, the 24th named storm in the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, kill at least 32 people in Honduras. [http://www.alertnet.org/thefacts/satelliteimages/113276503876.htm (Reuters)]
- After two months of negotiations, Angela Merkel is elected the first female Chancellor of Germany by a coalition of the CDU/CSU and SPD delegates in the Bundestag. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4458430.stm (BBC)]
- Kenyan voters overwhelmingly reject a new constitution, which would have given the president greater power, in a national referendum, which used symbols on the ballot paper to assist illiterate voters. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4459824.stm (BBC)]
- A secret British government memo leaked to the Daily Mirror newspaper suggests that George W. Bush discussed with Tony Blair a plan to bomb the offices of the Al Jazeera TV station in Doha and elsewhere [http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/tm_objectid=16397937%26method=full%26siteid=94762-name_page.html (Mirror)]. Following the publication, the Attorney General threatens to prosecute, under §5 of the Official Secrets Act, anyone making further disclosures from the memo [http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1648590,00.html (Guardian)]. Al Jazeera offices in Baghdad and Kabul have previously been bombed by the US military; US officials deny Al Jazeera was the target of either attack, and a White House spokesman describes the Mirror's report as "outlandish" [http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1648988,00.html (Guardian)].
- The Prime Minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon, announces his resignation from Likud and his intention to form a new party, and asks the President of Israel to call a general election. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4456242.stm (BBC)]
- Conflict in Iraq: Five Iraqi civilians, including three children, are shot dead by U.S. troops as they approached a checkpoint in Baquba. The minibus they were travelling in failed to stop as it approached a roadblock. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4456244.stm (BBC)]
- As more than one million Zambians face severe food shortages due to drought, President Levy Mwanawasa declares a national disaster and appealed for international food aid. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4457814.stm (BBC)]
- Conflict in Iraq:
- At least forty people died following a series of Insurgent and American led attacks. [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/KAM935028.htm (Reuters)]
- The Independent reports that British-trained police tortured and killed at least two Iraqis using electric drills. [http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article328214.ece (The Independent)] [http://www.khilafah.com/home/category.php?DocumentID=12273&TagID=2 (Khilafah)]
- One British Soldier dies following a Roadside Bomb in Basra, southern Iraq. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4454096.stm (BBC)]
- Israeli army radio reports Ariel Sharon, the current Prime Minister of Israel, will leave Likud and create a new centrist party positioned between it and Labour. This move ends more than a year of Likud infighting between Sharon and hard-right members led by Benjamin Netanyahu who opposed withdrawal from Gaza, and closely follows Labour's departure from the present grand coalition government. Early elections are now a near-certainty. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4455356.stm (BBC)] [http://news.haaretz.co.il/hasen/spages/647757.html (Haaretz)]
- U.S. President George W. Bush attends a church service during his visit to People's Republic of China as he presses for greater freedoms of expression and faith during his east Asian tour. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4453336.stm (BBC)]
- Russia:
- Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Japan with 100 business leaders for trade talks. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4453730.stm (BBC)]
- A Cessna light aircraft departing northward from the Russian city of Voronezh to the capital Moscow explodes upon landing. Igor Olshansky, an assistant to a deputy in the State Duma (The lower house of the Russian legislature), is one of eight people believed to have died in the plane crash. [http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/WorldNF.asp?ArticleID=193766 (Gulf News)]
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the latest film based on the books by J. K. Rowling, earns US$101.4 million in its first three days of release across North America, making it the fourth-largest opening ever. [http://in.today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2005-11-21T000043Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-224356-2.xml (Reuters)]
- In a speech to U.S. troops in South Korea, U.S. President George W. Bush rejects calls for a timetable for withdrawing US troops from Iraq, laying out why he believes the American presence in Iraq should continue. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1510506.htm (ABC Australia)] [http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-11-19T140546Z_01_YUE932011_RTRUKOC_0_US-BUSH-ASIA.xml (Reuters)] [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051119/ap_on_re_as/bush_asia (Yahoo)]
- After negotiations, Maoist rebels in Nepal agree to work with opposition politicians in a common front against the rule of King Gyanendra of Nepal. The Nepal Civil War has killed more than 12,000 people since 1996. [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1301467.cms (Times of India)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4450438.stm (BBC)]
- Prince Albert of Monaco is formally enthroned. [http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/11/19/monaco.albert.reut/index.html (CNN)]
- Lisa Lynette Clark, a 37 year old woman from Gainsville, Georgia, weds her teenage son's 15-year-old best friend after being released from jail on the charge of child molestation. This sparks another controversy regarding Ephebophilia since Mary Kay Letourneau and Debra Lafave made news. [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110AP_Molestation_Charge.html (Seattle PI)]
- Tropical Storm Gamma forms from a regeneration of Tropical Depression 27, becoming the 24th named storm of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT2+shtml/182033.shtml (NHC)]
- Conflict in Iraq:
- A Series of Suicide bombings kill 74 Shia worshippers at two mosques in eastern Iraq while in Baghdad two car bombs destroy the blast wall protecting a hotel housing foreign journalists and kill eight Iraqis. [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3171292,00.html (Ynetnews)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4448798.stm (BBC)]
- Two Car Bombs strike outside a Baghdad interior ministry building at the centre of a detainee abuse scandal. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4448078.stm (BBC)]
- The United States House of Representatives reject a Republican resolution offered by Duncan Hunter (R-California) "expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the deployment of United States forces in Iraq be terminated immediately" by a vote of 403-3. Ohio Republican Jean Schmidt is forced by Democratic (and quiet Republican) protests to apologise to Pennsylvania Democrat John Murtha for reading a letter from a marine in which those wishing to "cut and run" from Iraq are called "cowards". [http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/18/congress.iraq.ap/index.html (Associated Press)]
- Sri Lankan presidential election, 2005: Sri Lanka holds its presidential election to appoint the fifth executive president. The election was conducted peacefully despite a few minor incidents. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa defeats former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in the election. [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1300558.cms (Times of India)] [http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-11-18T085521Z_01_SCH766819_RTRUKOC_0_US-SRILANKA-ELECTION.xml (Reuters)]
- The press baron Conrad Black is charged with multiple counts of fraud regarding his dealings with Hollinger International. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4447538.stm (BBC)]
- Controversial historian David Irving is arrested in Vienna on charges of denying the Holocaust, a criminal offence in Austria. [http://uk.news.yahoo.com/17112005/325/irving-arrested-holocaust-denial.html (Reuters)]
- Former rock star Gary Glitter, previously convicted on child pornography charges, is being sought by Vietnamese authorities who seek to question him about under-age sex allegations. [http://uk.news.yahoo.com/17112005/325/glitter-run-vietnam.html (Reuters)]
- The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the leader of the world-wide Anglican Communion, is challenged to rethink his personal stance on the ordination of gay clergy in the light of scripture by nearly half of all the Anglican Primates. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,2763,1644268,00.html (Guardian Online)]
- French Police declare a "return to normalcy throughout France" as civil unrest subsides. [http://www.lemonde.fr/web/articleinteractif/0,41-0@2-706693,49-710990@51-704172,0.html (Le Monde)]
- British Secretary of State for Education Ruth Kelly promises that student selection will not return to schools. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4444024.stm (BBC)]
- Members of the European Parliament pass an item of controversial chemical safety testing legislation, known as the Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) law. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4444550.stm (BBC)]
- 1 person is killed, and 15 are injured in Hakkâri, Hakkari Province, Turkey during fighting between Turkish police and Kurdish PKK rebels. [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L16754634.htm (Reuters)]
- In the 2005 Burkina Faso presidential elections incumbent Blaise Compaoré celebrates victory several days ahead of the release of the voting results. International watchdogs and opposition officials allege widespread vote rigging. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4436782.stm (BBC)]
- The Health Ministry of the People's Republic of China announces the country's first one confirmed and one suspected cases of avian flu in humans in Hunan Province, and one confirmed case in Anhui. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4442436.stm (BBC)]
- The United States government has won its fight to keep its supervisory authority over the internet through the ICANN, despite opposition from many nations. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4441544.stm (BBC)]
- Major areas of the Australian city of Adelaide have been "locked down" ahead of the arrival of United States Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld for the 17th annual AUS-MIN meeting. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1508405.htm (ABC)]
- 2005 Sony CD copy protection controversy: Sony BMG recalls all unsold CDs that are equipped with XCP, a controversial copyright protection software. [http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2146053/sony-backs-root-kit-anti-piracy (vnunet.com)] [http://news.ft.com/cms/s/e9e41f72-56f4-11da-b98c-00000e25118c.html (FT)] [http://www.nbc4.com/technology/5338178/detail.html (NBC4)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4441928.stm (BBC)] [http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyID=2005-11-16T100906Z_01_RID636392_RTRUKOC_0_US-SONYBMG-RECALL.xml (Reuters)]
- 173 prisoners are found in an Iraqi government bunker in Baghdad, having been starved, beaten and tortured. [http://www.cbc.ca/storyview/MSN/world/national/2005/11/15/iraq-detainees-051115.html (CBC)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4440134.stm (BBC)]
- Terrorism in Pakistan: A car bomb explodes outside a KFC outlet in Karachi, Pakistan around 08:45 (UTC+5). At least three people are killed and eight others wounded. [http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/11/14/karachi.explosion/index.html (CNN)]
- Quebec, Canada: Former Minister André Boisclair is elected Leader of the Parti Québécois, the provincial official opposition and Quebec's main party promoting separation of the French-speaking province from Canada, in the Parti Québécois leadership election, 2005. [http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/11/15/pqleader051115.html (CBC)]
- Mid-November 2005 Tornado Outbreak: Many tornadoes (at least 23 confirmed) have been reported during the afternoon and evening across central North America, stretching from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. Damage has been reported in many areas, and at least one person was killed. [http://www.14wfie.com/Global/story.asp?S=4124541]
- Japan: 2005 Sanriku Japan Earthquake A 6.9-magnitude earthquake, as determined by the Japan Meteorological Society, occurred off the northern coast of Japan near Sanriku at 6:39am Japan Standard Time (UTC+9), prompting a tsunami warning to be issued in Japan and the western coast of the United States. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051114/ap_on_re_as/japan_quake (Yahoo)] [http://earthquake.usgs.gov/recenteqsww/Quakes/usfkbr.htm (USGS)]
- Sayako, Princess Nori of Japan marries a commoner and thereby leaves the USD (disambiguation).
The United States dollar, or American dollar, is the official currency of the United States. It is also widely used as a reserve currency outside the United States. Currently, the issuance of currency is controlled by the Federal Reserve Banking system. The most commonly used symbol for the U.S. dollar is the dollar sign ($). The ISO 4217 code for the United States Dollar is USD; the U.S. dol | | |
