Mercosur

• Wednesday, May 3rd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  16.119 species listed “threatened with extinction”

  The total number of species declared officially Extinct is 784 and a further 65 are only found in captivity or cultivation. Of the 40,177 species assessed using The World Conservation Union, (IUCN) Red List criteria, 16,119 are now listed as threatened with extinction.

• Wednesday, May 3rd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Ecuador supports Bolivia if contracts are respected

  Ecuador supports Bolivian President Evo Morales' decision to nationalize the country's hydrocarbons resources, as long as Bolivia respects existing contracts with foreign corporations.

• Wednesday, May 3rd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  UN marks Press Freedom Day

  From the deadly front line of the war in Iraq to the subtler trenches of the battle against poverty, the United Nations marked World Press Freedom Day Wednesday with awards, exhibitions, and clarion calls for the protection of journalists after a year that saw a record number of media professionals killed or injured in the line of duty.

• Wednesday, May 3rd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Garcia promises to make Peru “Pacific heavyweight”

  Former Peruvian president Alan Garcia promised Wednesday that if he wins next month's presidential runoff he will lead “a responsible change” aimed at making Peru “the foremost country of the South American Pacific”.

• Tuesday, May 2nd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Donald Trump named ambassador for Scotland

  United States real estate tycoon Donald Trump is to become an ambassador for Scotland it was announced Monday.

• Tuesday, May 2nd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Arms race in Latinamerica?

  Chile is the Latinamerican country which most spends in defense, ahead of Venezuela and Brazil according to a report published in the Spanish newspaper “El Pais”.

• Tuesday, May 2nd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Dalai Lama visits Argentina

  The Dalai Lama opened on Sunday a three-day book tour of Argentina with a call for religious tolerance, and said individuals must take the lead in seeking peace.

• Tuesday, May 2nd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Falklands' recovery: “Diplomacy and peaceful means”

  Argentina's Defence minister Nilda Garré said Monday that the recovery of the Falklands/Malvinas will be through diplomacy and peaceful means.

• Tuesday, May 2nd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  “Grumpy” Uruguay fed up with Mercosur

  Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez currently in Washington announced Monday Uruguay has decided to scale down its relation with Mercosur from full member to associate member

• Tuesday, May 2nd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  US President Bush support plummets to 34%

  United States president George W. Bush support dropped to a new low with only six months to mid term elections when the ruling Republican party will be fighting to retain control in Congress.