Mercosur

• Friday, May 12th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Blair asks Morales and Chavez to act “sensibly”

  British Prime Minister Tony Blair called Friday on Bolivian President Evo Morales and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to show the world they are responsible with use of their energy resources.

• Friday, May 12th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  EU demands greater unity from Latinamerica

  European Union leaders expressed in Vienna concern at mixed signals from Latinamerica and have asked for a “common strategic vision” to develop the full potential of partnership.

• Friday, May 12th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  US trade deficit slackened last March

  United States appetite for imports, particularly oil and other fuels, slackened somewhat in March with a surprise trade deficit of 62 billion US dollars, reported the US Department of Commerce.

• Friday, May 12th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  UK and Mexico sign trade agreement in Vienna

  United Kingdom and Mexico signed Friday a bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA) in Vienna. This agreement will offer investors, shareholders and both governments a mechanism for bilateral protection of their investments in the UK and Mexico.

• Friday, May 12th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Another bill to defend Argentina's South Atlantic interests

  A new bill to defend Argentina's interests in the South Atlantic, including the banning for life of companies directly or indirectly involved in “illegal activities”, was presented this week before the Argentine Congress by Chubut province Senator Marcelo Guinle, reports the Buenos Aires press.

• Friday, May 12th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  President Chavez on private “political” visit to London

  Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez begins Sunday a three days “private” visit to London with a complete agenda of political events but no contacts with Primer Minister Tony Blair or his administration.

• Thursday, May 11th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Investment banks with upbeat forecast for Chile's economy.

  Nineteen Chilean and international banking organizations recently consulted about the world economic growth rates anticipate positive growth in the Chilean economy over the next two years. The organizations predict a solid growth average of 5.2 percent per year.

• Thursday, May 11th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Dead penguins found on Argentina beaches

  About 100 oil-coated Magellanic penguins have turned up dead in the past two weeks in a nature reserve near the frigid southernmost tip of Argentina, local reports said Thursday.

• Thursday, May 11th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Oil prices would be stable if not for Bush

  The president of Venezuela, the world's fifth-largest oil exporter, called for stability in international crude prices, implying they should be lower than they are but blaming a near-constant rise on what he called war-mongering by the United States.

• Thursday, May 11th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Morales lines up land owners as next target

  Evo Morales, the Bolivian president, on Thursday ruled out compensating foreign energy companies that face changes to their contracts as a result of a controversial nationalisation policy announced earlier this month.