Mercosur

• Saturday, December 2nd 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina: First ever Rural Society strike

  The Argentine Rural Society announced yesterday that it is joining the week-long lockout that begins midnight tonight that has been called by two of the country's major farming organizations.

• Friday, December 1st 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Calderón between the devil and the deep blue see.

  Mexican President Felipe Calderón, who took office on Friday, faces a tough challenge to ensure governability, caught between a party which accuses him of stealing the election and another one which would make him pay very dearly its eventual support.

• Friday, December 1st 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Mexican President Takes Office Amid Protests

  Felipe Calderon took charge of Mexico's presidential residence Friday in an unusual midnight ceremony, getting a head start on opponents trying to block his inauguration.

• Friday, December 1st 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  International oil market in reshuffling process

  Oil Petroleum Exporting Countries president Edmund Daukoru said Friday that the group is likely to cut production by at least half a million barrels a day. The specific amount will be decided at the OPEC meeting next December 14th in Nigeria.

• Friday, December 1st 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  China planning third Antarctic permanent station

  China has decided to build a third permanent research station in the Antarctic and refurbish its two existing stations to upgrade science facilities on the continent, reports Xinhua, the country's official news agency.

• Friday, December 1st 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  World Bank: China's 10% poorest situation has worsened

  China must concentrate on social security and welfare programs now that it has advanced in achieving a reduction in poverty, said the World Bank Friday.

• Friday, December 1st 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Uruguay cancels all debts with the IMF

  Uruguay has paid off its full debt of some 1.09 billion US dollars to the International Monetary Fund, “which will grant the country greater financial autonomy” according to Central Bank sources.

• Friday, December 1st 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  LAN Chile consolidates as leading regional airline

  Chile's flag carrier LAN announced Friday the fifth incorporation this year of a new long range Boeing 767-300, which is part of the 2006/08 fleet's expansion and renewal program costing two billion US dollars.

• Friday, December 1st 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Pulp mills: Royal envoy begins shuttle diplomacy

  A Spanish royal envoy acting as a “dialogue facilitator” between Argentina and Uruguay that are engaged in an escalating pulp mills controversy is scheduled to arrive next Monday for a round of contacts in Buenos Aires and Montevideo.

• Thursday, November 30th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina/UK Navy chiefs embrace in Valparaiso

  Two Falklands/Malvinas veterans who fought on opposite sides and now command their countries' navies embraced amicably on Wednesday when they met at a naval exhibition in Valparaíso, Chile.