Mercosur

• Saturday, March 11th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile to swear in its first woman president today

  South America's most recent socialist President-elect, Chile's Michelle Bachelet, will be inaugurated today in what has been described as the latest sign of a cultural revolution in Chile.

• Saturday, March 11th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  HMS Endurance in Puerto Belgrano's dry dock

  The Royal Navy's Ice Patrol Ship HMS Endurance is undergoing repairs in the dry dock of Argentine Navy's main base Puerto Belgrano where she arrived Friday afternoon.

• Saturday, March 11th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile says adios to President Lagos

  It's reminiscent of a tale of rags to riches. Ricardo Lagos' presidency started in March 2000 with an aura of foreboding. He had only just beaten Joaquin Lavin in January's electoral run off; the specter of the first ?leftist' President since Allende sent capital flying out of the country; and it was widely believed he wouldn't finish his term.

• Saturday, March 11th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentine January fisheries exports reach 48 million USD

  Argentine fish exports totalled 48 million US dollars last January, up 16% over a year ago, 41.3 million US dollars, according to the latest release from the country's National Health and Agro-Food Quality Service (SENASA).

• Saturday, March 11th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Paper mills conflict: 90 days truce agreed

  Uruguay and Argentina presidents announced Saturday in Chile a 90 days truce in the paper mills controversy with a simultaneous plants construction suspension and lifting of international bridges blockades by Argentine residents and environmentalists protesting against the mills alleged future pollution.

• Saturday, March 11th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Michelle Bachelet takes office in Chile

  Michelle Bachelet was inaugurated as Chile's first woman president Saturday during a ceremony at the country's Congress attended by thirty world leaders and delegations from 120 countries.

• Saturday, March 11th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Arrested Korean jigger arrives in Mar del Plata

  A Korean jigger supposedly poaching in Argentine waters arrived Saturday afternoon in Mar del Plata del Plata escorted by the Argentine Navy corvette Guerrico.

• Friday, March 10th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Aerolineas Argentinas grounded by workers

  The 24-hour strike launched at midday Thursday by pilots and mechanics at Aerolineas Argentinas forced the cancellation of 38 flights and left some 10,000 passengers stranded, the carrier said.

• Friday, March 10th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Lula and Blair push trade talks

  Brazil and Britain have called for a summit of world leaders to give a decisive push to global trade liberalisation talks.

• Friday, March 10th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  The World Gets 102 More Billionaires

  As emerging stock markets surged during the past year, 102 wealthy people around the world won a much-coveted title along with their stellar gains - they all became billionaires.