Mercosur

• Thursday, September 28th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Ecuadorian presidential candidate calls Bush “dimwitted”

  The leftist presidential front-runner in Ecuador said that the devil should be insulted by comparisons to US President George W. Bush, whom he called a ??dimwitted'' leader who has done ??great damage'' to the world.

• Thursday, September 28th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Mexico rejects Condoleezza Rice remarks

  Mexico said United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was out of line by suggesting that its democracy was just now maturing, saying it wasn't up to her to voice such opinions publicly.

• Wednesday, September 27th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Bulgaria and Romania join EU under strict conditions

  Romania and Bulgaria hailed Monday's announcement that they will be admitted to the European Union in January 2007, although under strict conditions that include curbing organized crime and corruption, ensuring food safety and proper use of EU funds.

• Wednesday, September 27th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  EU tightens beef rules

  EU agricultural officials have tightened up definitions of cuts of top-quality South American beef to reduce the chance of fraudulent imports under the bloc's reduced-duty quotas, officials said yesterday.

• Wednesday, September 27th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Poll: Brazil's president headed to win

  President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is headed toward a first-round victory Sunday in Brazil's election, a new poll predicts.

• Wednesday, September 27th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Chilean Universities rank high in Latin America

  Two Chilean universities, the University of Chile (Universidad de Chile) and the Catholic University of Chile (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile), ranked among the top universities in Ibero-America in a new study undertaken by SCImago Research Group.

• Wednesday, September 27th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Winter 2007 gas supply to Chile will be worse

  Just as most Chileans are beginning to forget this past winter's gas dispute with neighbouring Argentina, Chile's National Energy Commission (CNE) is warning that next year could be even worse.

• Wednesday, September 27th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Frei sceptical about Mercosur's future

  Chile's former president and current leader of the Senate Eduardo Frei forecasted a dim and uncertain future for the Mercosur integration process, mainly because of the lack of political will.

• Tuesday, September 26th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Chomsky would like to meet President Chavez

  A book by left-wing US author Noam Chomsky has reached a bestsellers' list after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez praised it at the United Nations General Assembly last week. Chomsky said he would like to meet the Venezuelan leader.

• Tuesday, September 26th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Low cost Brazilian Gol airline begun flights to Chile

  Brazil's low cost Gol airline begun Monday daily flights to Chile hoping to expand the market but not compete with Chile's flag carrier Lan, rated the best and most competitive airline in Latinamerica.