Mercosur

• Tuesday, February 28th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Colombian electoral calendar remains unchanged

  Colombian President Alvaro Uribe vowed Tuesday that “terrorist” leftist rebels who are gunning down civilians will not hinder March 12 legislative elections.

• Tuesday, February 28th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Magallanes Region has its own Antarctic station

  In a solemn ceremony this week in Punta Arenas, the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica Regional Council, CORE, was granted under concession for half a century the Chilean Antarctic base of “Arturo Prat”.

• Tuesday, February 28th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Unemployment in Chile drops to 7%

  Unemployment in Chile dropped half a point to 7% in the November-January quarter compared to the same period a year ago according to the country's National Statistics Institute in Santiago.

• Monday, February 27th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Protests in Argentina, Chile over mines near the border

  Two mining projects near the mutual border between Argentina and Chile have sparked protests, with demonstrators claiming that they would cause “serious” pollution.

• Monday, February 27th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina begins early cuts of gas supply to Chile

  Chile's head of the Energy Committee warned that the industrial sector must be prepared to pay higher prices for fuel given the new set of cuts in natural gas supply from Argentina.

• Monday, February 27th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Colombia and US reach free trade treaty

  Colombia's Trade minister confirmed Monday in Washington that his country had concluded talks for a free trade agreement with United States after nearly two years of negotiations.

• Monday, February 27th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  UN: Increased fishing rights to promote conservation

  With pressure growing on worldwide fish stocks, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization recommended that governments assign more fishing rights as a means of promoting conservation.

• Sunday, February 26th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Eight vessels permitted to target Patagonian toothfish this year

  Argentina Federal Fishery Council (CFP) decided to preventively set a total allowable catch (TAC) of 2,500 tonnes for Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) this year.

• Sunday, February 26th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Bolivia orders arrest of Repsol's local chief executive

  Spain's Foreign Ministry has approached Bolivian authorities to express concern about the search and arrest warrant issued against the chief executive of energy giant Repsol YPF in that country.

• Sunday, February 26th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Raising stakes to stop climate change

  Lawmakers and business leaders from around the world launched a campaign last Friday in London to push recalcitrant governments to take action on climate change.