Mercosur

• Friday, April 14th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Soaring Chilean peso controversy escalates

  Chile's Finance minister Andres Velasco downplayed opposition criticism to the current appreciation of the Chilean currency against the US dollar and said the government is already addressing the issue with a tight savings and fiscal policy.

• Thursday, April 13th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  US trade deficit in February contracts 4.1%

  United States trade deficit contracted 4.1% in February with a strong drop in imports and a significant 22.7% reduction in the deficit with China.

• Thursday, April 13th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Ecuador without forests in twenty years

  Ecuador will lose all its forests within 20 years if deforestation is not halted warned a top official in the Environment Affairs ministry warned Wednesday in Quito.

• Thursday, April 13th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazilian population aging

  The 17.6 million inhabitants over 60 ranks Brazil eighth worldwide in senior-citizen population the government said Wednesday.

• Thursday, April 13th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Bolivia demands back taxes from oil corporations

  Bolivia is claiming 40 million US dollars in back taxes from oil corporations, a sum which could jump to 200 million US dollars if fines and administrative costs are included, said Wednesday an official source from the Bolivian government.

• Thursday, April 13th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Chilean peso at record high rings alarm bells

  Chile's Peso gained a 14- week high against the US dollar as expectations that higher interest rates and surging copper exports at record prices will spur increased inflows.

• Thursday, April 13th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil-Chile strengthen strategic alliance

  Presidents of Brazil and Chile agreed this week to strengthen a strategic alliance and boost bilateral trade and cooperation.

• Thursday, April 13th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Humala demands referendum on US/Peru free trade agreement

  United States and Peru signed Wednesday a bilateral free trade treaty - two years in the making - at the headquarters of the Organization of American States in Washington.

• Thursday, April 13th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Record cruise visitors in Valparaiso and Puerto Montt

  Chilean port cities of Valparaiso and Puerto Montt registered unprecedented numbers of visitors during the summer months, with more 80,000 tourists arriving in each city.

• Wednesday, April 12th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Spain confirms huge arms deal with Venezuela

  Venezuela will buy ten military transport planes and eight patrol boats from Spain despite the United States' attempts to block the deal, a top Venezuelan navy official said.