Headlines:
Oil move 'no surprise'; Commemorate and celebrate'; Forum coming soon.
Flying rocks and teargas marked the 22nd annual Young Combatants' Day, which commemorates the slaying of brothers Eduardo and Rafael Vergara Toledo by Augusto Pinochet's military forces in 1985.
Oil prices briefly surged above US$66 a barrel yesterday, driven to new six-month highs by the fear that strained relations between Iran and the West could put exports in jeopardy, as US gasoline inventories are declining and demand is strengthening.
Brazil next step to becoming a world heavy player
By Thomaz Alvares de Azevedo e Almeida (*)
More than 3 billion people condemned to premature death
By Fidel Castro Ruiz (*)
Argentina took a step further Thursday in its diplomatic rift with the United Kingdom by announcing the creation of a register of oil companies which will not be allowed to operate on the mainland if engaged in exploration or any kind of production on the Falkland Islands.
Argentina is not interested in Malvinizing relations with the United Kingdom, but bilateral links have fallen hostage of London's no negotiations policy over the Falkland Islands' sovereignty, claims one of Argentina's top diplomats.
Chile's presidential Palace La Moneda put out the red carpet this week for a quick official visit from Italy's Prime Minister Romano Prodi. During the day-long visit Prodi announced his country hoped to increase investment in Chile, especially in the renewable energy sector.
Uruguay sold this week 500 million US dollars in inflation-linked bonds denominated in pesos and due to mature in 2027, at a yield of 4.25% over inflation, said Economy Minister Danilo Astori.
In a new study released this week by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Chile ranked 31 on a list of 122 countries for efficient use of information and communication technology. Only four Latin American countries made the top 50, of which Chile was the leader.