Mercosur

• Tuesday, June 21st 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Mercosur cities among the cheapest in the world

  Tokyo and Osaka in Japan are the most expensive cities in the world followed by London which remained top of the list in Europe because of its steep housing and transport costs, and Mercosur capitals are amongst the cheapest according to the latest report from Mercer Human Resource Consulting.

• Monday, June 20th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Crucial debate on whaling in South Korea

  Pro-whaling nations seem set to command a majority of votes at the meeting of the International Whaling Commission which opens in South Korea on Monday.

• Monday, June 20th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina arrests Uruguayan trawler

  A Uruguayan flagged trawler was caught allegedly poaching in Argentine waters according to an official report from the Argentine Navy.

• Monday, June 20th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Plan to eradicate foot and mouth disease by 2009

  Mercosur and associate members Chile and Bolivia agreed on a five year plan to eradicate foot and mouth disease in the region with an aggressive immunization campaign and a strong epidemiologic control.

• Monday, June 20th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Mercosur addresses the energy challenge

  Energy, infrastructure, human rights and support for Bolivian democracy were among the main issues addressed Sunday in the Mercosur presidential summit hosted by Paraguay and which ends Monday with the transfer of the group's pro tempore chair for the next six months to Uruguay.

• Monday, June 20th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Varig files for bankruptcy in Brazil and US

  The troubled Brazilian airline filed for bankruptcy protection in Brazil and the US on Friday June 17.

• Saturday, June 18th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Record high for oil and prospects of further surge

  The price of oil finished Friday in New York at a new record, 58,47 US dollars per barrel pushed by growing supply concerns with the beginning of the United States vacation period and insufficient refining capacity.

• Saturday, June 18th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazilians support Lula da Silva in spite of scandal

  Two different public opinion polls show that Brazilian president Lula da Silva popularity has experienced some erosion because of the bribes scandal involving his administration and the ruling Workers party, but nevertheless is the favourite for next year's presidential election.

• Saturday, June 18th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina complains about Italian “hostility”

  Argentina admitted Friday that relations with Italy are at their “worst moment” and complained of continuous hostility from the Silvio Berlusconi administration, particularly in the several multilateral organizations.

• Saturday, June 18th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Ecuador redistributes oil income

  Ecuador's Congress will give preference to social programs over lowering national debt. The country's Congress voted 64-1 to amend the law regulating the so-called Stabilization, Productive and Social Investment and Public Debt Reduction Fund, FEIREP, which feeds on revenue from the country's rich oil exports.