Stories for July 18th 2003

Friday, July 18th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

Penguin News Friday 18th update

Headlines: 'Tactical' exit or Chilean partner for loss-making meat company?; Government loses to Gordon Forbes; Philip stands down; Petition to councillors.

Friday, July 18th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

US retail prices rise

United States retail prices in June rose 0,2%, but if volatile items such as food and energy are excluded, inflation remained flat.

Friday, July 18th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

FAM emergency in Bolivia

The Bolivian Livestock Health Service declared a sanitary emergency in six of the country's nine regions following the confirmed report of outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in two of them.

Friday, July 18th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

Mercosur, “a protocol of intentions”

In a most controversial statement Brazilian Agriculture Minister Roberto Rodrigues said this week in Sao Paulo that “trade integration in Mercosur is a fallacy; it's a simple protocol of intentions because since the Asunción agreement in 1991, it has been unable to harmonize macroeconomic policies and its four members don't have a converging vision towards third countries”.