Mercosur

• Friday, September 22nd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  DAP charter vessel sinks in Punta Arenas

  “DAP Mares” belonging to the Pivcevic family unexpectedly sunk Wednesday in Catalina Bay, Punta Arenas harbour area where she had been anchored for several days.

• Friday, September 22nd 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Uruguay remains “strategic” for the Spanish pulp industry

  Spain's ENCE announced Thursday that Uruguay remains a “strategic” player for its pulp industry interests in spite of having cancelled the construction of a pulp mill until a new area is agreed with Uruguayan authorities.

• Thursday, September 21st 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  US officials are ?downright rude'

  When readers of the Daily Telegraph newspaper were asked shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks whether security fears had made them think twice about travelling to the United States, a resounding 89 percent proclaimed no. But in a recent survey, 90 percent said they would avoid flying to the US.

• Thursday, September 21st 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile re-enters Andean Community

  A council of Andean foreign ministers yesterday approved Chile's re-entry to the Andean Community of Nations trade group after a three-decade absence, Peru's foreign minister told local radio.

• Thursday, September 21st 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil's Lula sacks campaign boss

  Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has replaced his re-election campaign chief, Ricardo Berzoini, amid ongoing allegations of dirty tricks.

• Thursday, September 21st 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Two women lead Chile's main military parade

  President Michelle Bachelet and Defense Minister Vivianne Blanlot were the first two women in Chile's history to preside over the Glories of the Army ceremony this week, accompanied by 7,000 members of the armed forces, navy, and police, including almost 1,000 female officers.

• Thursday, September 21st 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Israeli ambassador returning to Venezuela

  Israeli Ambassador to Venezuela Shlomo Cohen, who had been recalled for consultations last month, is returning Thursday to Caracas, revealed an Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman.

• Thursday, September 21st 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Chilean bank opens first office in Beijing

  The Bank of Chile became the first South American private finance institution to open an office in Beijing in the framework of the Chile/China free trade agreement.

• Thursday, September 21st 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Noam Chomsky makes it to the best sellers list

  The United Nations address by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has had an unexpected impact on the best seller lists of Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com.

• Thursday, September 21st 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil's exports boom sizzling warn manufacturers

  Brazil's main manufacturing organization warned that in the coming three years the country's strong export thrust, --20% annual growths since 2003-- will begin to rapidly exhaust.