Mercosur

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

  Six close aides of Lula's electoral campaign indicted

  A Brazilian federal judge indicted six close aides of Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva involved in an illegal electoral campaign operation to purchase a dossier of information allegedly exposing opposition candidates.

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

  Science and technology to face a world of patents

  Former Chilean president Ricardo Lagos recommended Mexico to invest oil surpluses in science and technology so as to have its own patents, or be condemned to pay for foreign produce.

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

  Venezuela or Guatemala, but what about a third candidate?

  The possibility of a third consensus candidate for the United Nations Security Council non permanent seat is being quietly considered in several Latinamerican countries who feel the dispute between Venezuela and Guatemala is causing much strain and could leave difficult-to-heal divisions.

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

  International stores target Argentina

  Undeterred by double-digit inflation, international retailers are rolling out expansion plans in Argentina, hoping to cash in on a consumer spending boom.

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

  Argentine Senate disavows Falklands' fishing licenses

  The Argentine Senate approved Wednesday a fisheries bill which imposes stronger sanctions to illegal fishing and basically forces vessels operating in the South Atlantic to opt between Argentine and Falklands issued licenses.

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

  Argentine/Falklands legislative dialogue “reopened”

  Following a meeting in Buenos Aires with a Westminster delegation, Argentine members of Congress said that the “Falklands/Malvinas dialogue” at parliamentary level has been reopened.

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

  Uruguay opts for preferential trade agreement with US

  Uruguay discarded the option of a free trade agreement with United States and counter proposed negotiations on the basis of the Trade Investment Framework Agreement.

• 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.