Mercosur

• Thursday, March 16th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Pulp mills conflict: “no back stepping” says Uruguay

  Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez said that Uruguay is always willing to discuss a solution to the pulp mills dispute with Argentina, but vowed that his administration would not stop the construction of the plants in spite of the “illegal” pickets.

• Thursday, March 16th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Gibraltar/UK constitutional talks are “going well”

  Gibraltar and United Kingdom delegations at the constitutional talks in London which began Wednesday agreed that they had made good progress on various issues discussed during the first day's session.

• Wednesday, March 15th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentine Squid landings exceed 42,000 tonnes over the first two months of 2006

  Information provided by the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food (SAGP&A) indicates that over the two first months of 2006, landings of shortfin squid (Illex argentinus) were pegged at 42,202.1 tonnes.

• Wednesday, March 15th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Kirchner urges: don't buy beef!

  President Nestor Kirchner urged Argentines Tuesday do not buy beef if prices continue to climb and said he wouldn't hesitate to extend to a full year a six-month ban on beef exports by the world's five largest producer

• Wednesday, March 15th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Jailed Fujimori feeling romantic

  A Japanese supporter of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori said she will marry him and soon file a marriage registration in Japan.

• Wednesday, March 15th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina expects 4.1 million tourists in 2006

  Argentina's tourism industry expects revenue in the range of 3.5 billion US dollars in 2006, 15.6% more than in 2005, said Tourism Under-secretary Daniel Aguilera.

• Wednesday, March 15th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazilian opposition names candidate to face Lula

  Geraldo Alkmin, governor of São Paulo state, was named this week presidential candidate for Brazil's main opposition party PSDB, ending months of internal wrangling between Mr Alkmin and his rival for the candidacy, José Serra, mayor of São Paulo city.

• Wednesday, March 15th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Bolivia arrests Repsol-YPF top officials

  Bolivian police on Wednesday arrested and later released on bail two top Spanish oil company Repsol YPF officials charged with smuggling. The arrests came after the two men, a Spaniard and an Argentine who had been in hiding, appeared voluntarily to be questioned by prosecutors.

• Wednesday, March 15th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  US current account deficit is 6.4% of GDP

  United States current-account deficit, --the combined balances on trade in goods and services, income, and net unilateral current transfers--, increased to 804.9 billion US dollars in 2005 from 668.1 billion in 2004, equivalent to 6.4% of GDP.

• Wednesday, March 15th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  EU earmarks 17.5 million Euros for mine sweeping

  The European Commission will assign 17.5 million Euros for its annual antipersonnel mines programs with the purpose of aiding those countries ravaged by this kind of explosives.