Mercosur

• Friday, August 13th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Observers caution Venezuelan opposition

  The Carter Center which will act as observer of this Sunday's presidential recall referendum in Venezuela urged the opposition to desist from plans to release incomplete electoral results before the voting is over.

• Friday, August 13th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  EU-Mercosur talks stall; ministerial summit

  European Union and Mercosur agreed this Thursday in Brasilia to suspend negotiations until September after failing to make progress in a bilateral trade agreement.

• Thursday, August 12th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Petrobras oil and gas hit in Patagonia.

  Petrobras Energia the Argentine branch of Brazilian oil group Petrobras reported an oil and gas discovery in Argentina's Patagonian province of Santa Cruz.

• Thursday, August 12th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Fisheries News

  Headlines:
  Hake research cruise in south Chile; Korean cooperation for Santa Cruz aquaculture industry; Chubut questions hake quota allocation.

• Thursday, August 12th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Punta Arenas: Breaking News

  Headlines:
  UV radiation controversy in Chile; ENAP surveys for gas in Tierra del Fuego; Patagonia Chambers of Commerce unite.

• Thursday, August 12th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil oil self sufficient by end of 2005

  Brazilian authorities are confident the country will reach oil production self-sufficiency a year ahead of target. Government owned hydrocarbons complex Petrobras hopes to produce 1,85 million barrels of crude per day by the end of 2005, enough to cover domestic demand, year ahead of schedule.

• Thursday, August 12th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  President Lula image rebounds in polls.

  The positive image of Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva administration increased almost nine points at the beginning of August according to a public opinion poll from Sensus Institute contracted by the National Transport Confederation, CNT.

• Wednesday, August 11th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  US monetary policy to remain “accommodative.”

  The US Federal Reserve, as anticipated by money markets, increased this Tuesday basic interest rate a quarter of a point to 1,5%, the second consecutive rise in the year. However rates remain negative since twelve month US inflation stands at 3,3%.

• Wednesday, August 11th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Tourism industry prefers Latinamerica to US

  North America for second consecutive year continued to lose tourist trade which was mostly absorbed by the Caribbean, Central and South America, according to the president of the World Tourism Organization Americas Committee.

• Wednesday, August 11th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile reviews fishing companies “incentive” policy.

  A Punta Arenas company Concar involved in toothfish fishing is demanding Chilean authorities the payment of approximately 300,000 US dollars in industry promotion funds allegedly pending since November 2002.