Mercosur

• Thursday, August 16th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Peru “megathrust” quake toll keeps mounting as rumbling ceases

  

  The death toll rose to 500 on Thursday in the magnitude-8 earthquake that devastated cities of adobe and brick in Peru's southern desert. Public services collapsed, emergency operations are slow in delivering and rescue efforts seem minimal compared to the magnitude of the tragedy.

• Wednesday, August 15th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Reciprocity: US citizens need visas to visit Bolivia

  

  In a long anticipated “reciprocity” decision as of this Wednesday United States citizens will have to request visas to visit Bolivia. Earlier this year president Evo Morales said that all countries have dignity “even small, underdeveloped countries as Bolivia”.

• Monday, August 13th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Chilean seabass blacklisted in the US as a “health risk”

  

  The United States based Seafood Watch Program (SWP) has blacklisted Chilean seabass, advising U.S. consumers that the fish species is commonly exposed to mercury contamination. To prevent possible health risks, SWP suggests a significant decrease in Chilean seabass consumption, especially for children, who should be restricted to a maximum of one serving per month.

• Sunday, August 12th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Bullock ends days in minefield

  

  ON a Friday evening one could be excused for thinking that the Joint Services Explosive Ordnance (JSEOD) team would be winding down at the end of a busy week -
  
  wrong.

• Friday, August 10th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Falkland Islands: 'Penguin News' Weekly update

  

  Headlines:
  Year 6 are Islands' first young lifesavers; Councillor's wages should not be an incentive to stand for election; Stay vigilant to prevent F&M entering Islands; New Senior Magistrate to take up post soon.

• Friday, August 10th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  British company project for 74 MW wind farm in Chile

  

  British company Seawind has filed the environmental impact report (EIA) for an ambitious renewable energy project that would create Chile's largest wind farm.

• Friday, August 10th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Venezuela, Bolivia and Argentina promote energy production

  

  The presidents of Venezuela, Bolivia, and Argentina signed on Friday agreements to share costs of energy production and convened funding for the construction of a gas separation plant near Bolivia's border with Argentina.

• Thursday, August 9th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Zoellick on WB fund raising tour warns about corruption

  

  World Bank President Robert Zoellick criticized on Thursday corruption in poor countries that receive the bank's loans, echoing the anti-graft stance of his controversial predecessor, Paul Wolfowitz.

• Wednesday, August 1st 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile concerned with the fall in tourists from US and Europe

  The number of foreign tourists arriving in Chile during the first half of 2007 increased 11.7% reaching 1.316.936, according to a release from the country's National Tourism Service, Sernatur. In money terms this is equivalent to 818 million US dollars, up 6%.

• Tuesday, July 31st 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  “It's essential” that Mexico joins Mercosur says Kirchner

  

  Argentina's President Nestor Kirchner said Monday “it's essential” that Mexico joins the Mercosur trade bloc. Kirchner is on a three-day trip to Mexico with his wife and presidential candidate Senator Cristina Fernandez to sign accords with President Felipe Calderon to deepen trade and investment between the two countries.