Mercosur

• Friday, October 1st 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile's presidential race is on.

  In what is seen as the start of the ruling coalition presidential primary, Chilean president Ricardo Lagos this week reshuffled the cabinet leaving out four ministers, two of which lead the opinion polls as his potential successors in March 2006.

• Thursday, September 30th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  US economy expands 3,3% in second Q.

  The US economy grew at an annual 3,3% rate during the second quarter of 2004 according to the latest release from the federal government. However it's the lowest rate in the last five quarters since the economy expanded 4,5% during the first quarter and 4,8% in the last twelve months to June 2004.

• Thursday, September 30th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil among the most bureaucratic for business.

  Brazil is considered among the worst of 53 poor and emerging countries regarding regulations stability, tax load, financing for development and labour costs, according to the latest report from the World Bank released this week in Washington.

• Thursday, September 30th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Lula da Silva sees his popularity ratings rise.

  The popularity of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil's president, continued to recover in September, raising hopes for his Workers' party (PT) in Sunday's municipal elections.

• Thursday, September 30th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Mercosur and EU still wide apart.

  The European Union and Mercosur were wide apart yesterday in negotiations to form the world's biggest free trade area despite a new EU offer to settle their differences, diplomats said.

• Thursday, September 30th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile's wealth distribution: among the world's worst.

  The high income bracket in Chile makes fourteen times more than those at the other end of the scale, according to a book released this week by the Chilean Statistics Institute with the purpose of underlining the unequal wealth distribution in the country.

• Thursday, September 30th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Punta Arenas optimism with coming cruise season.

  A total of 58,000 visitors and 23,000 crewmembers will be calling in Magallanes Region during the coming 2004/05 cruise season according to the Austral Port Administration, EPA, in Punta Arenas.

• Thursday, September 30th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Ozono risk forecasted to be milder.

  The annual thinning of the ozone layer with its dangerous consequences for human beings is forecasted to be milder this year according to Claudio Casiccia head of the Ozone and UV Laboratory in Magallanes University.

• Wednesday, September 29th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Municipal test for President Lula's administration.

  Brazil is in the final hours of campaigning for Sunday's municipal elections with one of the most heated and important contests in Sao Paulo, South America's largest city

• Wednesday, September 29th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Joint Patagonia tourism promotion.

  Heads of town governments from Magallanes Region in Chile and the Argentine provinces of Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego signed this week in Punta Arenas a Patagonia South-to-South integration agreement with the purpose of improving links and promoting the area overseas.