Mercosur

• Monday, June 12th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Cuban doctors “are here to stay”, says Bolivia's Morales

  Bolivian president Evo Morales said Sunday that Cuban doctors will remain in the country for an “indefinite period” since they are “performing an invaluable social service”.

• Monday, June 12th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Spain/UK optimistic about Gibraltar border crossing issues

  Geoff Hoon, British Minister for Europe responsible for Gibraltar at the Foreign Office is set to meet with his Spanish counterpoint Bernardino León next June 19 in Madrid, a day before arriving to Gibraltar, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle.

• Monday, June 12th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Lobbying for Panama Canal expansion

  Panama will be selling this week the ambitious plan to expand the 92 year old Panama waterway linking the Caribbean with the Pacific, in Britain and France.

• Monday, June 12th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  US inflation fears cause a markets' black Monday

  World financial markets plummeted Monday following fears by investors that the United States Federal Reserve might raise interest rates at the end of the month which could cause slow economic growth combined with sustained inflation.

• Sunday, June 11th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  US insists in global trade agreement by end of July

  Newly confirmed United States Trade Representative Susan Schwab said it is crucial for negotiators to wrap up the key elements of a global trade agreement by the end of July. However she did not reveal how she planned to overcome major obstacles with Europe and developing nations.

• Sunday, June 11th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Chavez calls on business to “repatriate” assets

  In a veiled warning Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called Saturday on business community leaders to repatriate ten billion US dollars they hold overseas and “invest them in their own country”.

• Sunday, June 11th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Even President Lula backs off when it's football

  Football and politics, politics and football, it's hard to find the leading thread particularly in Brazil that has won the World Cup five times and is considered among the favourites for this edition in Germany.

• Sunday, June 11th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil working hard for “energy independence”

  Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva inaugurated Saturday the lay out of a gas pipeline that will connect the southeast with the northeast of the country, in another step to ensure energy independence.

• Sunday, June 11th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Fuel prices in Chile rocket to 5 US dollars per gallon

  As of next Monday gasoline prices in Chile will soar to an average 700 pesos a litre, the highest ever, which is equivalent to five US dollars a gallon.

• Sunday, June 11th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Land value in Uruguay soars 127% in four years

  Price of land in Uruguay has soared in the two last years with the average going price for a plot of good grazing selling in the range of 1.400 US dollars a hectare, according to the latest report from the Uruguayan Landholdings Institute.