Mercosur

• Friday, July 20th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile condemns Toronto police in soccer scuffle

  

  Chilean President Michelle Bachelet condemned Friday the Toronto police's “unjustified” actions after several members of the Chilean FIFA U-20 selection were reportedly shot with stun guns and sprayed with pepper spray after losing 3-0 to Argentina at Toronto's National Stadium.

• Thursday, July 19th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Shocking results from albatross survey at Bird Islands

  

  DESPITE the achievements of the well managed South Georgia longline fishery, which has succeeded in reducing mortality of seabirds to almost zero, a new diet sampling programme at Bird Island has highlighted the shocking extent of longline hook ingestion by wandering albatrosses.

• Wednesday, July 11th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  “A realistic agreement over the Falklands Islands”

  

  The 25th anniversary of the end of a tragic war is a fitting time to regret the losses incurred. It is also a time to look forward and to avoid, once and for all, the repetition of such disasters. That requires an objective review of the past and an analysis of the future: this could be very bright, so long as all parties so wish and they undertake to make adjustments and, at times, the necessary sacrifices.

• Saturday, July 7th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Lake disappearance linked to global warming

  Experts from Chile's National Forestry Service (CONAF) and the Valdivia Center for Scientific Studies (Cecs) this week linked the May disappearance of a glacial lake in far southern Chile to global warming. The team made these claims after a series of visits to the site of the lost lake starting Thursday, and noted there is a possibility that the lake could reform.

• Saturday, July 7th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Lula calls Chavez “my friend” but also defends Congress

  Brazil's president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva admitted Friday the existence of problems between Brasilia and Caracas, although he downplayed the tone of the dispute with his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez, whom he called my “friend”.

• Friday, July 6th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Falkland Islands: Penguin News weekly update

  

  Headlines:
  Should we take self-determination message direct to Argentina?; Blanch to return; Ferry contract signed; No local tourism applications; Live Earth this weekend.

• Thursday, July 5th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Kirchner tries to smooth Chavez/Lula conflict

  Argentine president Nestor Kirchner called Thursday on his Brazilian counterpart Lula da Silva to help smooth the way so Venezuela can become an active member of Mercosur.

• Wednesday, July 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Venezuela/Brazil conflict strains Mercosur project

  Mercosur faces its most serious political crisis following the spiraling conflict between Brazil and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez who publicly announced a three months “ultimatum” for the definitive approval of his country's entry to the main South American trade block.

• Wednesday, July 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  “There are rules to belong to Mercosur, but none to leave”

  Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he was looking forward to talk with his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez to discuss the latest Mercosur misunderstandings but he also emphasized that there are rules to become a member of the trade group, but none to leave.

• Friday, June 29th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Mercosur summit calls for unity and not much more

  

  Mercosur presidential summit in Paraguay approved Friday steps to speed cross-border shipments of meat and vegetables on Friday, but postponed action on other key issues amid calls for greater unity.