Mercosur

• Thursday, February 16th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  British Gas to provide Chile's energy alternative

  British Gas was the winner of the international bid to develop Chile's natural gas mega project, which has the purpose of ensuring the country's natural gas supply in the coming years plus gradually cutting back on the high dependency on Argentine sources.

• Thursday, February 16th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Lula da Silva requests support for bio-diesel project

  Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva asked Thursday the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to study the possibility of financing infrastructure projects and biodiesel production in Brazil.

• Thursday, February 16th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile conditions 1.5 billion US dollars mining project

  Chile's environmental authorities approved the controversial 1.5 billion US dollars mining project proposed by Canada's mining giant Barrick Gold on Wednesday but with several conditions placed on the development of the mine.

• Thursday, February 16th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Bernanke forecasts “significant” recovery of US economy

  Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke forecasted Thursday the United States economy will show a “significant” recovery this quarter and called on China to make its currency more flexible.

• Thursday, February 16th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  One out of four Latinamericans live on less than 2 US dollars

  One out of four Latinamericans lives with less than two US dollars per day according to a World Bank paper on poverty in the region. A total of 135 million people are catalogued as “poor” with Nicaragua, Jamaica and Bolivia having the highest percentage of population in that category, over 40%.

• Thursday, February 16th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentine economy expanded 9.1% in 2005

  The Argentine economy expanded at a nerve breaking 9.1% in 2005, completing three years of explosive growth based on agriculture, the automobile industry and construction, reported Thursday the Central Bank.

• Thursday, February 16th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  FAM outbreak “totally under control”

  Argentine livestock health authorities stated that the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the northeastern province of Corrientes, reported at the beginning of the month was “totally under control”.

• Wednesday, February 15th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Massive waves pelt Chilean coastline

  Two people have drowned off Chile's beaches since Sunday due to massive waves that have been pelting the coast all weekend. Ports have been closed and many locals are living in fear of tidal waves.

• Wednesday, February 15th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Haiti leader calls election “gigantic fraud”

  The leading presidential candidate in Haiti's presidential election Rene Preval, claimed Tuesday there was ''probably a gigantic fraud'' that would deny him a first-round victory and urged supporters to protest nonviolently adding he would contest the results.

• Wednesday, February 15th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Lula da Silva leads in public opinion polls

  Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is again leading public opinion polls and is the favourite candidate for next October's presidential election ahead of Sao Paulo city mayor Jose Serra who held the privileged ranking for the last six months.