Mercosur

• Wednesday, August 4th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  OPEC: oil prices have gone “crazy”.

  Oil prices hit a new record this Tuesday, above 44 US dollars the barrel, after OPEC's president told a jittery market that the cartel was unable to provide more supplies to the market which he described as operating at “crazy levels”.

• Wednesday, August 4th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  The Spanish are “a good EU and NATO partner”.

  ”We believe it was appropriate for a member of the (British) Cabinet to attend the (Gibraltar) ceremonies on Wednesday and we don't see any difficulty in taking that decision”, replied a 10 Downing Street spokesman when asked to comment on Spain's reported disapproval of Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon's attendance at Gibraltar's tercentenary celebrations on Wednesday.

• Wednesday, August 4th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  On Wednesday Gibraltar celebrated its Birthday with a public holiday.

  In 1704 the territory was captured by Admiral Rooke as part of a war which lasted thirteen years and was a reflection of the challenge to France as the dominant European power at the start of the eighteenth century.

• Tuesday, August 3rd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Terror scare hits oil market.

  Crude oil prices closed at record high following warnings of possible terror attacks against financial institutions in United States and the Russian government's decision to further investigate oil giant Yukos alleged massive tax evasion.

• Tuesday, August 3rd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile clears minefields in Bolivian border.

  The Chilean Army announced this Monday it will eliminate 6,526 anti personnel and anti tank mines in five fields close to the Peruvian border in the north of the country.

• Tuesday, August 3rd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Cruise accident and fuel spill in Alaska.

  The cruise vessel Clipper Odyssey with 122 passengers and a crew of 31 sailing last Sunday along the Alaskan coast spilt 5,000 gallons of fuel after striking a rock.

• Tuesday, August 3rd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Record visitors in Palermo livestock Show.

  Argentina's main agricultural show in the heart of the country's capital, Buenos Aires' Palermo grounds established last Sunday a new record with 153,600 visitors totalling 884,000 in a week.

• Tuesday, August 3rd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Attorney General says 7 responsible in store fire.

  The Paraguayan Attorney General's Office on Monday filed indictments against seven people for their alleged roles in the super-store blaze that killed 464 people and injured more than 200 others

• Monday, August 2nd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  “A minor triumph for multilateralism”

  After five days of tough negotiations in Geneva the 147 members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) reached a breakthrough that will cut rich countries farm subsidies in exchange for developing countries opening markets for industrial goods.

• Monday, August 2nd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Bolivia and Peru agree energy complementation.

  An “energy complementation” letter of intent will be signed this week when Bolivian president Carlos Mesa makes an official state visit to Peru.