Mercosur

• Tuesday, December 7th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Promising 2005 for meat exporting countries.

  The world's main suppliers of meat (beef, hog, broilers and turkeys) will reach a record 16,7 million tons next year, a 5,4% increase over 2004, according to a report from the United States Agriculture Department.

• Tuesday, December 7th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazilian industry forecasted to expand 7,5%.

  The president of one of Brazil's most important industry organization forecasted industry would grow 7,5% this year given the overall strong recovery of the economy and the rather low comparison base.

• Tuesday, December 7th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Bolivia moves to “centre left” in municipal elections

  Bolivia's civic and Indian organizations participating for the first time in municipal elections, following a recent constitutional amendment were the big winners in last weekend's voting.

• Tuesday, December 7th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile: Torture survivors name their tormentors.

  Former Chilean political prisoners kept pressure on President Ricardo Lagos administration by releasing this Monday a list of 2,000 people allegedly involved in human rights abuses and cover up related crimes.

• Tuesday, December 7th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  IMF praises Uruguayan economy performance

  On completing last week the sixth review of the Stand-By arrangement, IMF praised the performance of the Uruguayan economy and the “sound prospects for 2005”, underlining authorities' commitment to preserving the stabilization and reform gains through the political transition. The strong fiscal outcome for 2004 will facilitate the achievements of other targets next year.

• Monday, December 6th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Demand against Shell for oil spill.

  Some 500 residents of the Argentine town of Magdalena filed a class action lawsuit seeking damages of more than 330 million US dollar from petroleum giant Shell over alleged damage to their health caused by a 1999 oil spill,
  Buenos Aires press reported over the weekend.

• Monday, December 6th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Breaking News.

  Headlines:
  Aerolíneas del Sur takes off this Monday; Record UVR in Punta Arenas; Chilean expedition researching in South Pole; Exploratory gas drilling in Tierra del Fuego; Local cellular phones in King George Island.

• Monday, December 6th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Financial News.

  Headlines:
  Euro stronger and stronger; Chilean peso stronger against US dollar; Chilean November inflation 0,3%; Argentine consumer prices unchanged in November; Brazilian sports industry immune to economic cycles.

• Monday, December 6th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  UN Climate Change Convention in Buenos Aires.

  The tenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 10) begins this Monday in Buenos Aires with the participation of experts from all over the world.

• Monday, December 6th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Pinochet's 8 million US dollars in travelling expenses.

  Former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet collected 6,8 million US dollars as travelling expenses during several overseas trips between 1974/76, according to some Chilean Defence Ministry declassified documents.