Mercosur

• Thursday, February 24th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Paraguay: massive purge in security forces.

  Paraguayan president Nicanor Duarte Frutos sacked Interior Minister, Nelson Mora, and at least 55 Police officers, the greatest security forces purge ever, in the framework of the investigation on the abduction and killing of a former president's daughter.

• Thursday, February 24th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Mercosur approaches Arab countries.

  Mercosur and the Gulf Cooperation Council are moving closer to begin trade negotiations in the framework of a more ample understanding, said Brazilian Foreign Secretary Celso Amorim who is currently several Arab countries.

• Thursday, February 24th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Ousted Argentine Air Force Chief accused of “cover up”

  In a harsh speech Argentine President Nestor Kirchner said Wednesday he wasn't moved “by some tears”, and accused the sacked Air Force Commander in Chief (and a Malvinas hero) Carlos Rhode of “cover up” in a drug traffic scandal in the country's main air terminal Ezeiza.

• Wednesday, February 23rd 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Mercosur-EU trade talks to resume March/April

  Mercosur-European Union trade negotiations will resume during the first half of 2005, according to the latest report from Spanish Foreign Secretary Miguel Angel Morentinos.

• Wednesday, February 23rd 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Antarctica: Argentina celebrates 101 years

  Argentina confirmed its commitment to the Antarctic Treaty on Tuesday as it celebrated 101 years of uninterrupted presence on the frozen continent where it maintains six scientific research stations.

• Tuesday, February 22nd 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Project to confirm Magallanes Lamb quality.

  Chile's Agriculture Sciences Institute, INIA, and Punta Arenas main abattoir, Frigorifico Simunovic are involved in a seven months project to assess the nutritional quality and content of Magallanes Region lamb.

• Tuesday, February 22nd 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Sweeping reforms in Argentine airports security.

  The Argentine government is planning a new security agency to man the country's airports following the recent drug traffic scandal at Buenos Aires main international terminal, Ezeiza.

• Tuesday, February 22nd 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Kirchner optimistic with defaulted bonds exchange

  Argentine president Nestor Kirchner “kindly” called on all creditors of the country's defaulted sovereign debt to remember that this week is the last chance to accept the exchange for new bonds.

• Tuesday, February 22nd 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina arrests second squid poacher in a week.

  Headlines:
  Argentine Coast Guard arrests second Taiwanese poacher; Invasive oyster threatens Gulf of San Matias; Santa Cruz shrimp fishery opens March 1.

• Monday, February 21st 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Further purge in Venezuelan government oil industry

  Rafael Ramirez Venezuelan Energy and Oil Minister, and president of Petroleos de Venezuela, or PDVSA, announced the government owned company was sacking dozens of managers and supervisors allegedly involved in corruption practices.