Mercosur

• Thursday, February 9th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Ecuador pushing for “fairer” share of oil windfall

  Ecuador is demanding foreign oil corporations extracting crude in the country's Amazon region to hand over half of the windfall enjoyed as a result of high global oil prices.

• Thursday, February 9th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Mercosur ministerial summit “postponed”

  Mercosur Foreign Affairs ministers' summit scheduled for next week in Buenos Aires has been suspended with no new date announce, given “agenda problems” of several participants, revealed Argentine diplomatic sources.

• Wednesday, February 8th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Haitians flock to landmark polls

  Haitians voted in overwhelming numbers in an election aimed at restoring democracy in the impoverished nation, swamping officials who struggled to cope with the large turnout.

• Wednesday, February 8th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Bolivia: Morales Asks U.S. to Reconsider Aid Cuts

  President Evo Morales asked the United States on Tuesday to reconsider a proposed cut in anti-drug aid to Bolivia, and called on the world to strengthen drug-fighting alliances.

• Wednesday, February 8th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Antarctic krill benefit environment

  A British study finds Antarctic krill -- a shrimp-like animal vital to the Southern Ocean food chain -- absorb and transfer more carbon than thought.

• Wednesday, February 8th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Record bid flight takes off

  Millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett took off in an experimental plane on Wednesday on an 80-hour flight that he hopes will set a nonstop distance record.

• Wednesday, February 8th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina confirms FAM outbreak in Corrientes

  Argentine sanitary officials announced Wednesday strict control measures in the northeastern province of Corrientes following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

• Tuesday, February 7th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina protest turns violent

  Armed oil workers attacked a police station in southern Argentina where one of their union chiefs was being held on Tuesday, killing one officer and wounding five others with gunshots, officials said.

• Tuesday, February 7th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Huge new cruise liner will rule the waves

  Royal Caribbean International on Monday ordered the world's largest and most expensive cruise ship, a $1.24-billion vessel that would hold as many as 6,400 passengers.

• Tuesday, February 7th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Gibraltar's Chief Ministers future on the Rocks

  In a reaction to the proposed destruction of a unique heritage site in the South District, Gibraltar Chief Minister Peter Caruana is accused of insensitivity and lack of planning by core GSD voters.