Mercosur

• Wednesday, October 12th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Booming Chile hikes basic interest rate to 4,25%

  In line with market expectations the Chilean Central Bank Council agreed Tuesday in its monthly meeting to increase the basic interest rate 25 points to 4,25%.

• Wednesday, October 12th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Nicaraguan Congress approves free trade agreement

  Nicaragua' National Assembly ratified Monday the free trade agreement between Central America, United States and the Dominican Republic, identified as CAFTA-RD.

• Wednesday, October 12th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  President Lagos invites Prince Charles to Chile

  Chilean President Ricardo Lagos asked Queen Elizabeth II that Prince Charles visit Chile in the near future.

• Tuesday, October 11th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  IMF praises Brazil's economic performance

  Inspectors from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) praised Brazil's economic performance following a three-day inspection. The IMF applauded Brazil's low inflation and strong exports yesterday, but said the country now should reduce sky-high interest rates.

• Tuesday, October 11th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  First names to succeed Fed chairman Greenspan

  United States president George W. Bush will be naming the successor of Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan “as soon as possible” said Monday the White House spokesperson Scott McClellan.

• Tuesday, October 11th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Magallanes promotes Japanese cattle breed cross

  The Chilean Agriculture Research Centre in Magallanes is involved in a pilot program to cross breed Japanese Wagyu cattle with local Aberdeen Angus with the purpose of obtaining beef cuts palatable to the Japanese consumer.

• Tuesday, October 11th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile expands and improves ozone research

  Ozone research in Magallanes region and Chilean Antarctic is expanding with the resumption of probe balloons launching and the establishment of ultra violet radiation registering equipment in the Eduardo Frei and Bernardo O'Higgins bases.

• Tuesday, October 11th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  President Lagos meets the Queen and Tony Blair

  Chilean president Ricardo Lagos left Monday for Britain and Spain on official visits including a meeting with Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace.

• Tuesday, October 11th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Peru wins UN vote for Security Council seat

  UN members elected the Republic of Congo, Ghana, Peru, Qatar and Slovakia yesterday to two-year seats on the 15-nation UN Security Council, the world body's most powerful office.

• Tuesday, October 11th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Worst drought in forty years threatens Amazon basin

  The worst drought in forty years is causing disaster in the world's most extended forest rain in the Amazon basin with innumerable fires, diseases to its inhabitants because of the contamination of the river and killing million of fish as rivers dry up.