Mercosur

• Saturday, April 15th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Former subsidiary offers $400 mil for Brazil's Varig

  Directors of Brazil's troubled flag carrier, Varig, must decide whether to ratify a deal to sell the airline to one of its former subsidiaries for $400 million.

• Saturday, April 15th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Gibraltar: referendum is an act of self determination.

  The Gibraltar Government expects the text of the proposed new Constitution to be published during the next fortnight. Speaking to the Chronicle Chief Minister Peter Caruana said he will be seeking Britain's agreement to the publication of any additional preamble before the referendum.

• Saturday, April 15th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile has one of the lowest infant mortality rates

  The U.S. based “Pediatrics” magazine reports that Chile has one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world, noting that between 1990 and 2000 the number of deaths among infants (between one to 27 days old) fell from 8.3 to 5.7 for every 1,000 births.

• Friday, April 14th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentine: Fisheries News

  Headlines:
  Argentine hake quota unchanged in 380.000 tons; Toothfish TAC. 1616 tons; Squid season in common Uruguay/Argentina zone; Squid research cruise delayed.

• Friday, April 14th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Majority support for legalizing US undocumented immigrants

  A large majority of United States citizens support immigration reform that includes both tighter border security and some kind of guest-worker program, according to a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg public opinion poll.

• Friday, April 14th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  HMS Endurance on passage to Lisbon

  HMS Endurance is currently on passage to Lisbon having sailed from Puerto Belgrano, the home of the Argentine Navy, where she underwent repair work on a rudder problem, writes Captain Nick Lambert in an update of the Ice Patrol deployment.

• Friday, April 14th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Gibraltar/MoD/Air Monarch landing rights controversy

  Gibraltar lashed out at both the Ministry of Defence and air carrier Monarch as the row over increased local airport operating costs intensified.

• Friday, April 14th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  WTO mixed forecast with “uncertainties” for 2006

  World trade began 2005 with sluggish growth and then regained momentum to end the year registering 6% growth in the volume of goods traded. However there are a number of uncertainties on the horizon for 2006, with signs of a stronger investment climate mixed with fragile prospects for consumption and employment, said Thursday Patrick Low, World Trade Organization chief economist.

• Friday, April 14th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  IMF: oil prices have worsened global imbalances

  Record high oil prices have greatly worsened global economic imbalances increasing the danger of turbulences through a “sudden, disorderly adjustment”, warned the International Monetary Fund in an advance of its World Economic Outlook.

• Friday, April 14th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  South America solid behind Brazil's bid for 2014 World Cup

  The International Federation of Football Association Joseph Blatter is sceptic about Brazil's chances of hosting the 2014 World Cup, which according to the rotation system must be disputed in South America.