Stories for March 2nd 2006

Thursday, March 2nd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

Argentine Leader Touts Economic Recovery

President Nestor Kirchner told Congress on Wednesday that Argentina's recovery from a deep crisis in 2002 is one of the strongest rebounds here in a century.

Thursday, March 2nd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

Dispute between Argentina and Uruguay

Uruguay rejected a plea by Argentine President Nestor Kirchner on Wednesday to temporarily halt construction of two pulp mills that have sparked environmental concerns, protests and a deep diplomatic crisis between the neighbors.

Thursday, March 2nd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

Chavez-sponsored Rio Carnival club wins top title

Rio's samba parade, the highlight of the pre-Lenten carnival, is a hard-fought competition among the city's 14 top samba groups, which present 80-minute parades featuring thousands of costumed dancers, drummers and singers. The parades can cost some $2 million each.

Thursday, March 2nd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

Punta Arenas Standard Wool plant reopens October

Standard Wool Chile S.A. from Punta Arenas which a year ago was razed to the ground by fire has begun to rebuild the plant and expects to be in full production by next October.

Thursday, March 2nd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

Argentina confirms second FAM outbreak in Corrientes

Argentina announced this week a second case of foot and mouth disease following the confirmation of the disease in a stray cow found in a neighboring paddock to the farm where an outbreak was first reported three weeks ago in the northeastern province of Corrientes.

Thursday, March 2nd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

Large deposits of natural gas in Chilean Tierra del Fuego

Chilean president Ricardo Lagos confirmed Thursday that the government owned petroleum company ENAP, had discovered natural in Magallanes Region, more precisely in the Mercedes Lake, Tierra del Fuego.

Thursday, March 2nd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

Bachelet's first trip to Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil

Chile's future president Michele Bachelet will be visiting Uruguay next March 24 following an official invitation from the government of Socialist Tabaré Vazquez, confirmed diplomatic sources in Montevideo.

Thursday, March 2nd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

Pulp mills dispute: Greenpeace blocks vessel in Chile

Environmentalist group Greenpeace blocked Thursday a cargo vessel that was leaving the Chilean port of Talcahuano for Uruguay loaded with equipment for one of the controversial pulp mills to be built in the shore of a shared Argentine-Uruguayan river.

Thursday, March 2nd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

Mercosur junior partners' frustration with Brazil and Argentina

The months' long dispute between Argentina and Uruguay over the construction of two pulp mills on the Uruguayan side of a river shared with Argentina has exposed the increasing disappointment of Mercosur junior partners with the overall functioning of the block dominated by Brazil and Argentina.

Thursday, March 2nd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

Euro rate increased 25 basis points to 2.5%

European Central Bank decided Thursday to increase the key interest rates by 25 basis points to 2.5% reflecting the risks to price stability which have been identified.