Mercosur
MercosurDuhalde on kidnapping of Macri's daughter.
President Eduardo Duhalde yesterday repudiated the kidnapping of Florencia Macri ? daughter of top local businessman Franco Macri ? and urged the Congress to pass a law to toughen sentences for kidnappers.
Kidnappers have released F Macri.
Kidnappers have released at 5am today unharmed the 19-year-old daughter of an Italo-Argentine construction magnate after they collected $800,000 in ransom, Argentine police reported.
Paraguayan elected president pressed to take office.
Paraguayan leaders of the ruling party and the opposition have requested elected president Nicanor Duarte to advance the taking office date and replace outgoing caretaker president Luis González Macchi, who's described as the “negligent president”.
Chilean tourism industry recovering.
After two successive negative summer seasons the number of tourists visiting Chile during the first quarter of 2003 increased 2,7% over the same period in 2002 according to the latest release from the Chilean National Tourism Service. The increase represented a 5% expansion in income equivalent to 20 million US dollars.
Menem names his potential Cabinet.
Economy, Carlos Melconián; Foreign Relations, Jorge Castro; Defence, Pablo Rojo; Education, Juan Tobías; Health, Alejandro Matera; Interior... could it be Adolfo Rodríguez Saá?
Argentina floods kill 16; 100,000 evacuated.
The worst flooding to hit Argentina's farming heartland in memory has killed 16 people and forced 100,000 from their homes -- with some evacuees taking shelter in cemetery crypts -- officials said on Friday.
Daughter of Argentine tycoon kidnapped
Florencia Macri, 19, the youngest daughter of Argentine industrial magnate Franco Macri, was kidnapped here by abductors demanding $1.5 million in ransom, police officials said Thursday.
Orthodox Lula pushed reforms.
After a stern warning to the most radical Congressional members of his own party, Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva personally delivered in Congress two reform bills that are crucial for his administration and the long term financial stability of Brazil.
Kirchner: I'm my own man.
Argentine presidential candidate Nestor Kirchner pointed out in interviews with the main newspapers of the country that support from the ruling President Eduardo Duhalde administration will not represent “any conditioning or pressure” if he's finally victorious in the May 18 run off.
US-Chile trade agreement on hold.
Chilean Foreign Minister Soledad Alvear said in Santiago on her return from Washington that the free trade agreement reached with the United States will be signed and approved, however she also admitted that US Secretary Colin Powell indicated there was no definitive date for the event.
