Mercosur

• Sunday, December 2nd 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Mercosur has become “irrelevant” and “too complicated”

  

  “Mercosur has become irrelevant and too complicated, and even more when Venezuela is finally incorporated to the block”, said former Brazilian Foreign Finance minister Mailson da Nobrega during a bankers and businessmen conference in Geneva to promote investments in Brazil.

• Sunday, December 2nd 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina and Chile celebrate Antarctic waters joint patrol

  

  Argentine and Chilean navies celebrated last Friday in Ushuaia the tenth anniversary of the combined Antarctic Naval Patrol which during summer months is jointly deployed in Antarctic waters.

• Friday, November 30th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Overseas Territories minister Falklands visit next January

  

  Meg Munn, British Foreign Office Minister for the Overseas Territories, plans to visit the Falkland Islands on 3-5 January 2008. Falklands' Governor Alan Huckle will be drawing up a wide-ranging programme for her in consultation with elected members, according to a release from Government House.

• Friday, November 30th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Colombia airs tapes of FARC hostages and Ms Betancourt

  

  Colombian officials have shown videos and photos seized from captured rebels of 16 high-profile hostages, the first sign of life since 2003. The five tapes include French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and three US nationals.

• Thursday, November 29th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Freeze Venezuela's entry to Mercosur, ask Brazil businessmen

  

  Brazilian businessmen requested Congress on Thursday to freeze plans for Venezuela's incorporation to Mercosur following President Hugo Chavez threats to nationalize those private companies contrary to the constitutional reform of his making which Venezuelans will be voting Sunday in a referendum.

• Wednesday, November 28th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Billinton increases interest in FOLG Falklands' exploration

  

  Falkland Oil and Gas Limited (“FOGL”) announced this week that BHP Billiton has decided to exercise its option to increase its interests in FOGL's 2002 and 2004 licences to the South and East of the Falkland Islands.

• Tuesday, November 27th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  “Last Chance” to catch Nazi war criminals in Latam

  The prominent Jewish rights group Simon Wiesenthal Center has launched “Operation Last Chance” to search for clues leading to 150 to 300 suspected war criminals which took refuge in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay, following Nazi Germany's defeat in 1945.

• Tuesday, November 27th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazilian Congress delays Venezuela's Mercosur entry

  

  Brazil will vote on the incorporation of Venezuela as a full member of Mercosur in 2008, Chamber of Deputies' Speaker Arlindo Chinaglia told the local press on Monday in Brasilia.

• Tuesday, November 27th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Tourism boom industry threatens Antarctica

  

  A cruise ship takes on water in the Antarctic and three more come quickly to the rescue: A blessing for the survivors, to be sure. But also an indication of a tourism boom that critics say threatens Antarctica's environment and puts passengers at risk.

• Monday, November 26th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Falklands fisheries: ban looms on high seas bottom trawling

  THE proposal for a ban on high seas bottom trawling has caused some concern among members of the fishing industry at the Falkland Islands.