Mercosur

• Friday, March 31st 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  IMF: Uruguay over-performing but more is needed

  IMF officials praised Uruguay's strong economic performance and prospects for 2006 but also cautioned about “remaining macroeconomic vulnerabilities” and called for “measures to improve the investment climate and enhance productivity”.

• Friday, March 31st 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Jamaica's first female PM sworn in

  Veteran politician Portia Simpson Miller was sworn in as prime minister of Jamaica on Thursday, becoming the first woman to lead the Caribbean island's government.

• Friday, March 31st 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  First Disney Park in Latin America?

  Brazilian officials are talking with the Walt Disney Co. about a deal that would bring the entertainment company's first theme park in Latin America to Brasilia, the press reported Thursday.

• Friday, March 31st 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Expert Forecasts Rough Hurricane Season

  This year's hurricane season will likely be worse than usual, though not as severe as 2005, a U.S. hurricane expert said Thursday.

• Friday, March 31st 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Bolivian commercial air traffic back to normal

  Bolivian airports resumed Friday normal operations after workers from Lloyd Aero Boliviano (LAB) demanding a government takeover of the airline ended protests and agreed to negotiations.

• Thursday, March 30th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile, Latinamerica leading economy

  Chile is the show case of Latinamerica leading the region's economic ranking, making it the country most attractive to invest and 22 in the world scale, according to a special report from The Economist.

• Thursday, March 30th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Bush to talk trade, immigration at Mexico summit

  President George W. Bush prepared Wednesday to embark on his fifth trip to Mexico since taking office, heading for a tripartite summit including Canada that will deal with immigration, trade and border control.

• Thursday, March 30th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Mandelson: trade a ?two-way' street

  Bs. Aires - European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson yesterday firmly ruled out any improved EU offer for the farm sector until it has received a counteroffer to open up industry and service sectors, arguing that trade was a “two-way street” and that all offers had to be on the table.

• Thursday, March 30th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazilian blasts off in Russian rocket

  Brazil's first astronaut blasted off from earth on a cloudless day today with a Russia-US crew bound for the orbiting International Space Station.

• Thursday, March 30th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile and Peru squabble over potatoes' heritage

  The historic rivalry between Chile and Peru has in the past seen them arguing over territory and maritime borders; rights to the alcoholic beverage Pisco and to a musical instrument the charango (similar to a small guitar), culinary tradition and now potatoes.