Mercosur

• Thursday, August 4th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  President Bush loves vacations

  President George W Bush is far ahead in becoming the first US president who has spent most time on holidays in the last 36 years, reports The Washington Post.

• Thursday, August 4th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Mexico City, a kidnappers' paradise

  In spite of not experiencing an armed domestic conflict as is the case with Colombia, Mexico is the country with the largest number of kidnaps, according to the Mexican Citizens Council for Public Safety and Criminal Justice.

• Thursday, August 4th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Twelve years to recover Torres del Paine

  A twelve year program for the restoration of Chile's most renowned national park, Torres del Paine which suffered a devastating blaze that destroyed several thousands hectares of pristine wildlife was approved this week in Punta Arenas.

• Thursday, August 4th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  July inflation in Uruguay highest in 18 months

  Uruguay consumer prices increased 1,29% last July, the highest surge in 18 months with an accumulated inflation in the seven months of 2005, equivalent to 3,45%.

• Thursday, August 4th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  “No policy change” after Noriega leaves

  United States ratified there will be no changes in its current policy towards Latinamerica with whoever is named to succeed Assistant Secretary of State for Hemispheric Affairs, Roger Noriega, who's leaving the post next September.

• Thursday, August 4th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  US rice subsidies: bilateral talks with Uruguay

  United States and Uruguay will negotiate bilaterally the “US rice subsidies issue”, in spite of the formal claim presented by Uruguay before the World Trade Organization, WTO, was officially announced Wednesday in Montevideo.

• Thursday, August 4th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  OPEC member anticipates 70 US dollars per barrel

  Crude prices could reach 70 US dollars per barrel towards the end of the year if current circumstances persist, forecasted Iran Oil Deputy Minister Hadi Najad-Hosseinian during a visit to India.

• Wednesday, August 3rd 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  President Bush signs CAFTA-DR bill

  United States President George W. Bush signed into law Tuesday a free trade agreement with Central America and the Dominican Republic following one of the hardest fought battles in Congress particularly in the Lower House where it was passed by two votes.

• Wednesday, August 3rd 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Blair and Lula talks about London killing

  British Prime Minister Tony Blair telephoned Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva Tuesday to apologize once more for the death of Jean Charles de Menezes, whom London police shot him dead after mistaking him for a terrorist.

• Tuesday, August 2nd 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Ample support for President Chavez

  Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has an acceptance rate of 61% and a 45% vote intention for next year's presidential election when he is expected to run for a second term, according to a public opinion poll published Sunday in Caracas main daily, El Universal.