Mercosur

• Tuesday, July 11th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  June US unemployment 4.6%; Hispanics 5.3%

  The United States Hispanic unemployment rate increased in June, to 5.3 % from 5% in May, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Labour. The overall U.S. unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.6%, maintaining the five-year low it reached in May.

• Tuesday, July 11th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Massive funds to promote “freedom and transition” in Cuba

  President George Bush approved this week a new 80 million US dollars “Free Cuba” package to boost Cuban opposition and help the Cuban people in “their transition from repressive control to freedom”.

• Tuesday, July 11th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile's Aerolineas del Sur to fly to Buenos Aires

  Chile's Aerolíneas del Sur is opening nine new routes including Buenos Aires, despite high oil prices and company in-fighting.

• Tuesday, July 11th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  UK restates no Falklands' sovereignty talks

  British and Argentine sources have confirmed that the Foreign Office has contacted United Nations and the Organization of American States to restate the no Falklands' sovereignty negotiations “unless and until such time as the Islanders so wish”.

• Monday, July 10th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Lopez Obrador insists with “vote by vote” recount

  Some 100.000 supporters of Mexican presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador who is challenging Sunday July 2 electoral result, convened in Mexico City's main square and promised to keep up the fight against alleged “fraud” to “the very end”.

• Monday, July 10th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Kirchner hails Argentina's independence from IMF

  President Nestor Kirchner said Sunday during Independence Day celebrations that Argentina “was much more independent” since having cancelled al debts with the International Monetary Fund, IMF.

• Monday, July 10th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Poor polls showing; Chilean government admits “corrections”

  A recent Adimark poll revealed Friday that Chilean President Michelle Bachelet's approval ratings fell to 44.2% during the month of June. In response to this development, Interior Minister Andrés Zaldívar recognized Saturday the need for significant “corrections” in government policy.

• Monday, July 10th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  US funds for de-mining operations in Chile

  United States committed in July 1.85 million US dollars to the antipersonnel mine clearance and elimination program of the Organization of American States, OAS targeting on three countries Chile, Nicaragua and Honduras.

• Monday, July 10th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Iberia pilots begin week long strike

  Spain's flag carrier Iberia was forced to cancel 240 daily flights, stranding 200.000 passengers, after the company's pilots decided on a seven day strike effective zero hour Monday.

• Monday, July 10th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  China's June trade surplus soars 49%

  China's trade surplus hit a new record in June, 24.5 billion US dollars prompting fresh calls to Beijing to allow the yuan to appreciate and raising renewed fears over growing imbalances in the economy.