Mercosur

• Tuesday, February 28th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Chilean President Says Leftists No Threat

  Chilean President Ricardo Lagos said Monday that the wave of leftists rising to power across Latin America poses no threat to democracy and should not create tensions with the United States.

• Tuesday, February 28th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Growing number of US citizens want out of Iraq

  A growing number of United States citizens disapprove of President George W Bush and are more pessimistic than ever about the situation in Iraq, according to a public opinion poll released by CBS Tuesday.

• Tuesday, February 28th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  “John Cheek” case findings in Buenos Aires

  The inquiry into the incident involving the Falklands' flagged trawler “John Cheek” allegedly illegally fishing in Argentina's EEZ and currently retained in Comodoro Rivadavia, was addressed Tuesday to Buenos Aires.

• Tuesday, February 28th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Chirac urges airline tickets tax to fight poverty

  French President Jacques Chirac urged the international community to adopt an airline tax to bankroll programs to fight poverty and disease. Speaking at the start of the two-day Paris meeting, President Chirac said France planned to begin imposing the airline tax as of July.

• Tuesday, February 28th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Colombian electoral calendar remains unchanged

  Colombian President Alvaro Uribe vowed Tuesday that “terrorist” leftist rebels who are gunning down civilians will not hinder March 12 legislative elections.

• Tuesday, February 28th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Magallanes Region has its own Antarctic station

  In a solemn ceremony this week in Punta Arenas, the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica Regional Council, CORE, was granted under concession for half a century the Chilean Antarctic base of “Arturo Prat”.

• Tuesday, February 28th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Unemployment in Chile drops to 7%

  Unemployment in Chile dropped half a point to 7% in the November-January quarter compared to the same period a year ago according to the country's National Statistics Institute in Santiago.

• Monday, February 27th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Protests in Argentina, Chile over mines near the border

  Two mining projects near the mutual border between Argentina and Chile have sparked protests, with demonstrators claiming that they would cause “serious” pollution.

• Monday, February 27th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina begins early cuts of gas supply to Chile

  Chile's head of the Energy Committee warned that the industrial sector must be prepared to pay higher prices for fuel given the new set of cuts in natural gas supply from Argentina.

• Monday, February 27th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Colombia and US reach free trade treaty

  Colombia's Trade minister confirmed Monday in Washington that his country had concluded talks for a free trade agreement with United States after nearly two years of negotiations.