Mercosur

• Wednesday, March 8th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Malvinas veterans suicide rate “14 times higher”

  The suicide rate among Falklands/Malvinas war veterans is fourteen times the Argentine population average claim veterans' associations. At least 350 and possibly 454, veterans have committed suicide since the end of the war in June 1982, a figure higher than the number actually killed in combat or sunk with the cruiser “General Belgrano”.

• Wednesday, March 8th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Uruguay's wool and skin sales top 93 million US dollars

  Uruguayan wool, sheep skin and live sheep exports from the current 05/06 clip totalled 93 million US dollars by the end of February, reported the Uruguayan Wool Secretariat.

• Wednesday, March 8th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  “Mad cow”: 10 years after EU lifts ban on British beef

  A worldwide ban on British beef exports has been lifted by the European Union, ten years after it was introduced to prevent the spread of mad cow disease, or Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis, BSE.

• Wednesday, March 8th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  India/Chile sign preferential trade agreement

  India and Chile on Wednesday signed in New Delhi a Preferential Trade Agreement as part of initiatives to increase trade and investment between the two countries.

• Wednesday, March 8th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil clamps on “wild west” border town

  Businessmen, taxi and truck drivers in Ciudad del Este blocked this week the Friendship Bridge that links the Paraguayan city with Brazil's Foz de Iguazu in protest over strict customs controls on the Brazilian side.

• Tuesday, March 7th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  FAO blasts rich countries for slow reaction to bird flu

  Wealthy nations have been slow to respond to the spread of lethal bird flu, said the head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

• Tuesday, March 7th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Companies involved in illegal fishing to be excluded from territorial waters

  Argentina National Fisheries Council (CFP) has modified the conditions required for the submittal of shortfin squid fisheries projects through the Location of Bare-boat Chartered Foreign Vessels in the National Jurisdictional Waters, so as to exclude companies involved in illegal fishing operations in Argentine waters.

• Tuesday, March 7th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Thirty world leaders at Bachelet's taking office ceremony

  At least thirty world leaders and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have confirmed their assistance to the taking office ceremony of elected Chilean president Michele Bachelet next Saturday March 11, reported officials from the Government House in Santiago.

• Tuesday, March 7th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Lan Argentina “should be profitable” by end of 2006

  Chilean flag carrier Lan Chile expects its Argentine subsidiary to become profitable towards the end of this year by capturing 30% of the air travel market.

• Tuesday, March 7th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Emperor penguins win the best documentary Oscar

  A film about the trials of Emperor penguins struggling to survive in Antarctica, “March of the Penguins”, won the Oscar for the best documentary last Sunday at the Hollywood Academy Awards.