Mercosur

• Wednesday, July 12th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  UK Fair Trading Office scrutinizes salmon industry

  The United Kingdom Office of Fair Trading has referred the anticipated acquisition by Norway's Pan Fish ASA of its competitors Marine Harvest NV and Fjord Seafood to the Competition Commission, CC.

• Wednesday, July 12th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile's Argentine gas bill soars 50 to 75%

  Chile's natural gas bill will increase by 130 million US dollars from now until the end of 2006, following Argentina's decision to leave its domestic prices unchanged and “pass on” to Chile the new Bolivian gas price structure.

• Wednesday, July 12th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Deadly storm batters central and southern Chile

  Ten people dead, nine disappeared and over 28.000 displaced is the primary Wednesday morning balance of the torrential rains which have been punishing central and south Chile since late Tuesday and are forecasted to continue.

• Tuesday, July 11th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Companies with Falklands' “parallel” interests targeted

  The Argentine Executive is waiting for the legal instruments to sanction those companies “illegally” fishing in the South Atlantic and meantime has begun intelligence gathering focusing on those companies with “parallel” interests, which means Argentina and the Falkland Islands, reports the Buenos Aires press.

• Tuesday, July 11th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  UN warns of “entrenched reliance on fossil fuels”

  United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for next week's Group of Eight Summit in Russia to focus on what energy security means for people living in developing countries and also to address the environmental consequences of energy consumption ? especially the current “overwhelming and deeply entrenched reliance on fossil fuels.”

• Tuesday, July 11th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Businessman, next US ambassador to Brazil

  Ambassador Clifford M. Sobel will serve as the next Ambassador of the United States to Brazil starting in July 2006. Mr. Sobel's previous posting was as Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, 2001/05.

• 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”.