Brazilian Finance minister Antonio Palocci defended Wednesday before Congress, the government's orthodox economic policy, brushed aside claims of illegal acts or wrongdoings during his time as elected mayor and ignored rumours about his possible resignation.
Falkland Islands general election came along with a few surprises: only two members of the previous government retained their seats in the Stanley constituency, and in the Camp only one was returned.
Air France inaugurated Thursday direct flights between Paris and Santiago which represents a 70% route capacity expansion, reported the French carrier in Chile.
Brazil's government owned oil company Petrobras announced Thursday it has discovered oil of ??excellent'' quality in the north-eastern state of Bahia.
Abattoir activity in the Brazilian state of Matto Grosso do Sul, the country's second main beef exporter, dropped a dramatic 76% in October since the outbreak of foot and mouth disease was reported, said Jose Antonio Felicio from the Agriculture Ministry.
Chile's peso climbed to its strongest against the US dollar in more than five years after the government reported that exports of copper, the country's biggest export, surged in October and prices for the metal kept breaking records.
In spite of the Panama Canal rates increase last May, overall 2005 hasn't been such a bad year for the Chilean maritime freight companies.
If Chilean elections were held next Sunday the ruling coalition candidate Michelle Bachelet would be forced to a run off since she has a 39% support followed by the two conservatives Sebastian Piñera, 22% and Joaquín Lavín,20%, according to the latest opinion poll released in Santiago.
THE Tourist Board's new ?generic' brochure used to promote the Falklands overseas is now being distributed.
Although Polling Day for the Falkland Islands General Election 2005 is Thursday 17th November, many of the more remote electors have already cast their vote and mobile polling teams continue to travel the Islands by land and air to ensure that anyone who wants to, will have the opportunity to exercise their democratic right this week.