Mercosur

• Thursday, March 10th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Natural gas shortage crisis brewing in Chile

  Current reductions of Argentine natural gas supply which are affecting Chile's industries will not have a negative overall impact on the economy, said Wednesday Francisco Vidal, Minister Secretary General of the Chilean Executive.

• Thursday, March 10th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil plumbs the depths.

  The Brazilian navy launched the biggest and most advanced submarine ever built in Brazil Wednesday, an achievement that President Luiz Inacio da Silva said “makes Brazil and our navy proud.”

• Thursday, March 10th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  L A countries losing ground on the global scene

  With the exception of Chile, most Latin American countries are losing ground with respect to other parts of the world in the race to turn information and communications technologies into powerful engines of growth and improved competitiveness.

• Thursday, March 10th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina arrests jigger allegedly poaching.

  Argentine Navy corvette ARA Drummond arrested a Korean jigger last March 9 allegedly poaching in Argentina's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), some 350 kilometers (190 nautical miles) east of the Port of San Julián, Santa Cruz province.

• Wednesday, March 9th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  New Uruguayan administration committed to combat IUU fishing.

  A union leader from the Uruguayan fishing industry Daniel Montiel took office last March 2 as the new Director of the country's National Directorate of Aquatic Resources (DINARA).

• Wednesday, March 9th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  FAO debates sustainable and responsible fishing.

  Fisheries management problems, potential contributions for protected marine areas leading to sustainable fishing and responsible resumption of fishing efforts in Southeast Asian tsunami-affected countries are among the main issues to be debated this week by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of United Nations (FAO) Committee on Fisheries.

• Wednesday, March 9th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Rammell in two days visit to Cuba

  Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell is currently on a two days visit to Cuba, the first official from a European nation to go to the island since Brussels imposed diplomatic sanctions on Fidel Castro' regime almost two years ago.

• Wednesday, March 9th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Human Rights: Cuba expects Latinamerican solidarity

  Cuba hopes no Latinamerican country will support or co-sponsor this year any draft resolution promoted by the United States before the United Nations Geneva Human Rights Commission, (HRC) targeted against Fidel Castro's regime.

• Wednesday, March 9th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Bolivia: waiting for Morales move

  Bolivian president Carlos Mesa was confirmed by Congress Tuesday night following the signing of a governance agreement with two of the country's main political parties which supposedly will grant the administration a working majority hopefully ending weeks of political turmoil and street blockades that were strangling the economy.

• Tuesday, March 8th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  China planning to expand “modest” 8% in 2005

  China is planning to grow a “modest” 8% in 2005 after having achieved a 9,5% expansion last year reported Prime Minister Wen Jiabao during the inaugural address to the 3,000 members of the Peoples National Assembly in Beijing.