Mercosur

• Tuesday, May 30th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Mexico's presidential candidates neck to neck

  The latest presidential public opinion poll in the run-up to Mexico's July 2 elections shows the populist and conservative candidates in a virtual tie, with the third contender not far behind.

• Tuesday, May 30th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Memorial Day: combat continues

  President George W. Bush, delivering a Memorial Day message surrounded by the graves of thousands of military dead, said yesterday that the United States must continue combating terrorism in the name of those who have already given their life in the cause.

• Tuesday, May 30th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  LatAm trade could reach US$90 billion

  Trade among the twelve member nations of the Latin American Association (ALADI) could reach 90 billion pesos this year, 15.5 percent more than in the previous fiscal year, according to a report published by the association last week in Montevideo.

• Tuesday, May 30th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Booming black market for stolen copper

  A black market for stolen copper cables has begun to flourish throughout Chile in recent months as delinquents attempt to cash in on the commodity's record high prices.

• Tuesday, May 30th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina's Kirchner blasts defenders of military regime

  President Nestor Kirchner said at Monday's Army Day ceremonies here that his government will not tolerate military personnel who act as apologists for the “state terrorism” inflicted on Argentina by the 1976-1983 dictatorship.

• Tuesday, May 30th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Bush named Paulson for Treasury Secretary

  Treasury Secretary John Snow resigned Tuesday and President Bush nominated Goldman Sachs chief executive officer Henry M. Paulson Jr. as his replacement another chapter in the shake-up to revive Bush's troubled presidency.

• Monday, May 29th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Venezuela promises Bolivia 2 billion US dollars aid

  Venezuela's aid to Bolivia will total some 2 billion US dollars but does not mean interference in the country's internal affairs said President Evo Morales amid growing criticism from the opposition over Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez alleged involvement.

• Monday, May 29th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Garcia calls Chavez “midget dictator with a big wallet”

  Peruvian presidential candidate Alan Garcia called Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez a “midget dictator with a big wallet” who has no respect for democratic procedures, people and “much less countries”.

• Monday, May 29th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Kirchner to trim powers of Armed Forces chiefs

  The administration of Argentine President Nestor Kirchner will unveil plans to reduce “powers” of the Armed Forces chiefs in the framework of a general restructuring plan for the military, revealed Sunday Buenos Aires daily La Nacion.

• Monday, May 29th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Strong handed Uribe re-elected with landslide

  President Alvaro Uribe, a key United States ally in Latin America, swept Sunday to a landslide re-election in Colombia rewarded by voters for turning around the security threat in a country bloodied by years of conflict and crime.