Mercosur

• Thursday, July 14th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Bookie confirms funding for Lula's Party

  The corruption scandals engulfing Brazil's ruling Workers Party, PT, was further stoked Wednesday by a top bookmaker who confirmed he had been offered a government contract in return for funding political campaigns.

• Thursday, July 14th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Lagos hails reforms as the “end of the transition”

  Chilean president Ricardo Lagos hailed Thursday as a victory for democracy the approval by Congress of several amendments to the Constitution, inherited from the military regime, and which he described as the “end of the transition”.

• Thursday, July 14th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Lan Chile traffic kept expanding in June

  Chilean Lan airline and associates, one of the main South American passenger and cargo carriers, experienced an important increase in passenger/mile and aircraft occupation during last June.

• Thursday, July 14th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Australia potential LNG supplier of Chile

  Chile is seriously considering Australia as a natural gas supplier for the country's plan to build the first liquid gas port in South America aimed at cutting its dependence on Argentine gas, said President Ricardo Lagos currently visiting Oceania.

• Wednesday, July 13th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile's currency boosted by copper and interest rate

  Chile's currency experienced its biggest gain since May after rising demand for copper, Chile's top export and, pushed the nation's exports to a record in the second quarter.

• Wednesday, July 13th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Fisheries: Breaking News

  Headlines:
  Argentina's 2005 toothfish quota: 1,237 tons; January-May exports total 360 million US dollars; EU Parliament votes to upgrade fleet; Scientists object to salmon farms in Patagonian fiords; Brazil concerned with “exhaustion” of sardine resources; EU reduces tariffs on Argentine hake and squid imports.

• Wednesday, July 13th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazilian president's reputation untarnished in spite of scandal

  Brazilian public opinion remains strongly behind President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in spite of the cascade of corruption claims against the ruling Workers Party which he helped begin 25 years ago and took him to victory in 2002.

• Wednesday, July 13th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  China opens market to Argentine beef and poultry

  China opened its market to Argentine beef and poultry following the certification of several plants which Buenos Aires hopes will further boost bilateral trade.

• Wednesday, July 13th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Oil companies want to discuss taxes with Bolivia

  Three multinational corporations that hold concessions over nearly 63% of Bolivia's massive proven reserves of natural gas requested formal talks with the government to discuss the country's new hydrocarbons legislation which significantly boosts levies.

• Wednesday, July 13th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  New EU-Mercosur target: Vienna May 2006

  European Union Foreign Affairs Commissar Benita Ferrero-Waldner called for a resumption of bilateral talks with Mercosur and strong political will “from both sides” so as to achieve an agreement next year in Vienna.