Mercosur

• Friday, April 28th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  China raises rates to cool economy but, US unmoved

  US Treasury Department described China's Central Bank decision to raise its one year lending interest rates from 5.58 to 5.85% as “positive”, but demanded more flexibility for the Yuan in money exchange markets.

• Friday, April 28th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentine squid industry complains low prices

  Since the beginning of the squid season last January 16 and the end of March, Argentina's Illex landings reached 123.845 tons, up 71.5% from the same period last year reported the Fisheries Undersecretariat in Buenos Aires.

• Friday, April 28th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Lan Chile profits surge in first quarter

  Chile's flag air carrier Lan saw profits soar 72% in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2005.

• Friday, April 28th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Kirchner celebrates IMF Krueger's departure

  Argentine president Nestor Kirchner celebrated Thursday the announced departure from the International Monetary Fund of Deputy Managing Director Anne Krueger with whom his administration has had a permanent irritating confrontation.

• Friday, April 28th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazilian president says gov't can help salvage Varig

  Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Friday that the government can provide the funds needed to prevent troubled air carrier Varig from shutting down.

• Thursday, April 27th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Flowers, tears in memory of Chernobyl

  Mourners laid red carnations -- symbols of grief -- in the shadow of the ruined Chernobyl power station on Wednesday as they marked the 20th anniversary of the world's worst civil nuclear accident.

• Thursday, April 27th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  MI6 advertises for secret agents

  On 27 April 2006, the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS, also known as MI6) will begin open advertising for the first time in its 97 year history, as a means of expanding the Service to meet 21st Century challenges such as terrorism and counter proliferation.

• Thursday, April 27th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Left-leaning trio invite regional leaders to pipeline unveiling

  The left-leaning leaders of three South American heavyweights - Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela - agreed to invite their counterparts from throughout the region to August's scheduled unveiling of Caracas' plan for a $20 billion continent-spanning natural gas pipeline

• Thursday, April 27th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Uribe leads opinion polls for May presidential election

  Colombian President Alvaro Uribe remains the leading candidate for a second four-year term next month, though he has been sliding in opinion polls and according to the latest survey might have to face a run off.

• Wednesday, April 26th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Woman conquers “seven mountains” and “three poles”

  Norwegian adventurer Cecilie Skog reached Monday the North Pole, making her the first woman to both climb the highest mountains on seven continents and ski to the so-called “three poles,” her team said Tuesday.