Mercosur

• Wednesday, October 4th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Uribe willing to talk

  Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said yesterday he was willing to hold peace talks with the country's Marxist rebel leaders, a softening of his stance against guerrillas fighting a 42-year-old insurgency.

• Wednesday, October 4th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Lan Chile and Gol airlines engage in price war.

  In markets where firms have little with which to differentiate themselves, one way to lure more business has been to drive prices lower. This is exactly what Brazilian Gol Airlines and LAN are doing to international flights originating from Chile.

• Wednesday, October 4th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile's September inflation 0% and 2.8% in nine months

  The Chilean Consumer Prices Index in September was 0%, helped strongly by the sustained drop in fuel prices according to the latest release from the country's Statistics Institute.

• Wednesday, October 4th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  U.S. pilots may face manslaughter charge in Brazil crash

  Two American executive jet pilots were ordered by a judge to stay in Brazil while authorities investigate whether they caused a midair collision with an airliner that crashed into the Amazon, killing all 155 people aboard.

• Wednesday, October 4th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Record budget surplus in Chile this year: 7.6% of GDP

  Chile estimates the budget surplus in 2006 will reach the equivalent of 7.6% of GDP, up from 5.3% originally announced at the beginning of the year. However economic growth will be in the range of 5%, below the original forecast of 5.3%.

• Wednesday, October 4th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Forging alliances for Brazil's October run off

  Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his run-off opponent Social-Democrat Gerlado Alckmin have begun a nerve breaking dispute to forge alliances and ensure victory next October 29, which is proving to be an open race.

• Wednesday, October 4th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Guatemala optimistic on UN Security Council vote

  Guatemala says it has “very good chances” of becoming a non permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in the coming vote October 16. The other candidate is Venezuela that has been involved in an aggressive lobbying campaign.

• Tuesday, October 3rd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  South Korean favored to become Kofi Annan successor

  South Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ban Ki-Moon has the support from the United Nations Security Council permanent members to become the next Secretary General.

• Tuesday, October 3rd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil the day after: divided and no favorites

  With the framework of what seems to have become a divided country, Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his Social-democrat opponent Geraldo Alckmin have begun preparing for the October 29 run off.

• Tuesday, October 3rd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Fuel firms will need permits

  Argentine government will oblige fuel exporters to seek a permit before making shipments in a bid to stem shortages in the farm and transport sectors.