Mercosur

• Wednesday, February 7th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Promising prospects and skepticism bedevil Mercosur

  

  The president of the Mercosur representatives Standing Committee, Carlos Alvarez said the block faces exceptional conditions for fulfilling its integration but also warned about the “Mercosur skeptics”.

• Monday, February 5th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Mercosur helps Bolivia combat FAM outbreaks

  Several Mercosur members have offered Bolivia to “unite efforts” and help control “as soon as possible” the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. Bolivia declared last week a “state of emergency” following the confirmation of outbreaks in three counties in Santa Cruz province.

• Friday, February 2nd 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Weekly Penguin News Update

  

  Headlines: “Our ship” Clyde joins the Navy; Cruiser grounds in Antarctica; Fishery turns 20; Head-less school?; Crown calls in.

• Thursday, February 1st 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  HMS Endurance to the rescue

  

  Ice patrol ship HMS Endurance has assisted with the rescue of 280 passengers and 50 non-essential crew from a cruise ship damaged off the Antarctic peninsula.

• Monday, January 29th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  All hands on deck for Golden Princess visit to Falklands

  

  Today the huge cruise liner Golden Princess made the first of a number of scheduled visits this year to Stanley (population around 2000) the neat, but tiny capital of the Falkland Islands.

• Sunday, January 28th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Dengue fever alert in Paraguay and north Argentina

  A case of dengue fever in the northern Argentine province of Formosa has health authorities on alert since a growing number of cases, some deadly, of the disease have been reported in neighboring Paraguay where an epidemics alert has been declared.

• Sunday, January 28th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Case of foot and mouth disease confirmed in Bolivia

  A case of foot and mouth disease, FAM, was confirmed this week in the east of Bolivia, the first in the country in the last three years and a half. Bolivia has since banned all exports of beef to the Andean countries, reports the press in La Paz.

• Sunday, January 28th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Lula and Kirchner ask Chavez not to “weaken” democracy

  Brazil's Lula da Silva and Argentina's Nestor Kirchner called on their Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez to avoid decisions that could “debilitate” democratic institutions in Venezuela reported the Brazilian press this Sunday.

• Friday, January 26th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Penguin News Update

  

  Headlines: Governor opens new west road; Sir Rex in June VIP party; Visitors galore; Hudson eruption fears; Mini Sports this weekend; FIDC's new chief arrives.

• Friday, January 26th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile banking industry “The most profitable in the world”

  

  Chilean banks were among the most profitable in the world in 2006, with profits of 18.56 percent in 2006, according to recent figures developed by Chile's Bank and Financial Institution Supervisory Board (SBIF).