Mercosur

• Saturday, August 19th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Military honors for Pinochet would anger Chileans

  Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said Friday that her compatriots would be angered if former dictator Augusto Pinochet is buried with full military honors when he dies

• Friday, August 18th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentine economy grows 8% in first half of 2006

  The Argentine economy grew 8.2% in June compared with the same month a year ago, expanding at a slightly faster pace than in May, the Economy Ministry revealed in Buenos Aires Thursday.

• Friday, August 18th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  British River Plate routing commemorated in London

  Belgravia in the heart of London was this week the stage for the commemoration of an event that two centuries ago helped change the course of history in the River Plate.

• Friday, August 18th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Ten bidders for Punta Arenas Free Trade Zone

  Ten companies have expressed an interest in the 23 year Punta Arenas Free Trade Zone concession. The current concession of Parenzon Chile Ltd expires February 2007, reports Punta Arenas “La Prensa Austral”.

• Friday, August 18th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile proposes to Peru joint promotional campaign for “pisco”

  The Chilean government on Thursday proposed to Peru that the two countries conduct a joint promotional campaign for “pisco” - grape brandy - after the World Intellectual Property Organization recognized the validity of Chile's manufacture of the traditional Peruvian liquor.

• Friday, August 18th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Stroessner laid to rest in Brazil

  The body of Paraguay's longtime former dictator was laid to rest here Thursday in the foreign soil where he spent his quiet exile, while back home some of those nostalgic for his rule paid tribute and others complained that Alfredo Stroessner never had to answer for his many heinous crimes.

• Friday, August 18th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Three out of four Chileans have mobile phones

  Almost three out of four Chileans have a mobile phone, according to a recent 3G Américas study. In a country of 15 million residents, more than 12 million have a mobile phone.

• Friday, August 18th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Fidel's health is better, Raul Castro says

  Gen. Raul Castro, the younger brother of Cuban leader Fidel Castro, said in an interview published Friday by the official daily Granma that the latter is feeling better after undergoing risky surgery and expressed thanks for the numerous messages of solidarity and support that had been received.

• Thursday, August 17th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Peru and Chile reach free trade agreement

  Peru announced it had successfully concluded negotiations for a free trade agreement with Chile which is to be signed next Tuesday, “opening a new era” for a bilateral relation which historically has been full of diplomatic conflicts.

• Thursday, August 17th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Sheep farming innovation in Magallanes Region

  Without innovation there's no productivity improvement is the motto which has inspired three successful sheep farmers in the extreme south of Chile, and whose achievements the Agro-business section of El Mercurio describes in a long article.