Mercosur

• Wednesday, November 24th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  New record low for the US dollar

  The Euro reached a new record Tuesday against the US dollar, closing at 1, 3080 in financial markets following reports that Russia intends to increase the European Union currency share of its international reserves.

• Wednesday, November 24th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  China fastens Cuban nickel.

  China has agreed to invest 500 million US dollars in the Cuba's nickel industry, a huge boost for the island's economy.

• Wednesday, November 24th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Spanish fingers in anti Chavez 2002 coup.

  Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez asserted that “it was true” that the former Spanish conservative administration of Jose Aznar had supported the April 2002 coup.

• Wednesday, November 24th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  China asks “humanitarian” treatment for poachers.

  Beijing called on Peruvian authorities Tuesday to treat the 192 Chinese fishermen caught poaching in Peru's territorial waters in a “humanitarian manner” and reiterated its desire for a diplomatic solution to the incident.

• Wednesday, November 24th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Spanish vessels arrival boosts port of Montevideo.

  Around 15 vessels from Spain will arrive before the end of the year and are expected to make Montevideo's port activity more dynamic, generate hundreds of jobs, and yield around USD 300,000 per vessel for the country.

• Tuesday, November 23rd 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  A drifting bottle wishing a better world.

  A bottle with a message sent to the sea by special education students from a school in Rio Gallegos, Argentine Patagonia was found three years later in Australia, reports the Buenos Aires press.

• Tuesday, November 23rd 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Lucky, and grateful child.

  A seven year old child from Santiago won the equivalent of 200.000 US dollars in the Chilean Kino (lottery).

• Tuesday, November 23rd 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Bush promises more aid for Colombia.

  United States president George Bush pledged Monday continued support for the Colombian government in its fight against drug barons and Marxist oriented guerrillas that have ravaged the country for decades.

• Tuesday, November 23rd 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Pinochet's money, money, money?

  Although the origin of millions of US dollars in secret foreign accounts remains unexplained, former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet “hasn't stolen a single peso from anyone”, insisted this Monday in Santiago attorney Pablo Rodriguez.

• Tuesday, November 23rd 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  China wraps Latinamerican tour in Cuba

  Chinese president Hu Jintao arrived this Monday in Cuba, the last stop of his visit to Latinamerica, and as happened in Brazil, Argentina and Chile, his host Fidel Castro expects to sign important bilateral trade and investment agreements.