Mercosur

• Wednesday, May 18th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Bolivia makes effective controversial oil bill

  Bolivia's Congress president Hormando Vaca Diez signed Tuesday a controversial hydrocarbons bill substantially increasing royalties and taxes on foreign oil and gas companies operating in the country, and which President Carlos Mesa originally threatened to veto.

• Wednesday, May 18th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Mounting losses in Chubut fisheries conflict

  The month long conflict which has paralyzed the Argentine Patagonia Chubut province fisheries industry has forced the destruction and dumping of 59 tonnes valued in 80,000 US dollars reports La Nación. Forty seven tons were stored in freezer depots belonging to a processing plant and another twelve in a vessel docked in the port of Rawson.

• Wednesday, May 18th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Mercosur-Canada trade round

  Mercosur and Canadian delegates began Tuesday in Asuncion, Paraguay a second round of negotiations with the purpose of reaching an understanding in goods, services and investments.

• Wednesday, May 18th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Spain to check illegal immigrants “hot routes”

  Spanish authorities currently tightening migration controls announced that airlines flying into Spain in the near future will have to report all passengers' names, announced Interior Minister Jose Antonio Alonso.

• Wednesday, May 18th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Saudi Arabia promises more oil

  Saudi Arabia oil reserves are abundant and the Riyadh government is prepared to increase production in response to world demand said Saudi Energy and Mines minister Ali Al-Naimi in Washington.

• Wednesday, May 18th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  US intensifies pressure on Chinese Yuan

  United States called on China to reform its “distorting” exchange rate policies and warned that Beijing could be accused of currency “manipulation”.

• Wednesday, May 18th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  US and Argentina agree to tighten port security

  Last Monday, Argentina became the first Latin American country to reach an agreement on the optimization of container security with the United States.

• Wednesday, May 18th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Greenpeace's Argentine skipper gets six months

  An Argentine environmentalist was yesterday found guilty of blocking a warship two years ago and sentenced to six months in prison by a Spanish court.

• Tuesday, May 17th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  “Thermo-cephalous” former Chilean Defence minister

  Former Peruvian president Alan Garcia said that former Chilean Defence Minister Edmundo Perez Yoma either wanted to “attract attention or has gone bananas” regarding alarmist comments on the growing tension between both countries.

• Tuesday, May 17th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Bolivia's president hanging from a cliff

  A new massive wave of protests demanding the nationalization of Bolivia's oil and gas industry was launched Monday. Police had to use tear gas and water-cannons to prevent one group of militants from storming Congress in the capital La Paz.