Mercosur

• Wednesday, March 1st 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Uruguay bans smoking in enclosed public places

  Uruguay has become the first country in South America and fifth in the world to ban smoking in enclosed public places.

• Wednesday, March 1st 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  UK calls for a refocusing of IMF

  The International Monetary Fund needs to refocus its goals in order to reflect the changing world economy, said British Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown.

• Wednesday, March 1st 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  EU funds for de-mining operations in Magallanes

  The European Union awarded funds to Chile for mine-clearance operations in the extreme south of the country, announced Chile's Defence minister Jaime Ravinet during the launching of similar operations in the northeast of the country, next to the Argentine border and close to Bolivia.

• Wednesday, March 1st 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  New Foreign Office Permanent Under Secretary

  Following a civil service-wide competition for the post of Permanent Under Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Sir Peter Ricketts has been appointed in succession to Sir Michael Jay, who will be retiring from the Diplomatic Service in July.

• Wednesday, March 1st 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  High rates and weak US dollar plunged Brazil's growth

  The poor showing of Brazilian agriculture, higher interest rates and a cheaper US dollar had a direct impact in the performance of the Brazilian economy in 2005, which expanded (2.3%) at less than half the 2004 rate, 4.9%.

• Wednesday, March 1st 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Fuel prices make LAN profits drop 10.3% in 2005

  High fuel prices had a direct impact in Chile's flag carrier Lan profits in 2005 which reached 146 million US dollars, a 10.3% drop compared to 2004.

• 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.