Mercosur

• Saturday, August 21st 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Successful oil licencing in Brazil

  Brazil's federal owned energy company Petrobras and 18 other companies have pledged to invest the equivalent of 704 million US dollars in up to six years to explore the 154 blocks (39,657 square kilometers) they won in the sixth hydrocarbon licensing round held this week, Brazil's hydrocarbons regulator Agencia Nacional de Petroleo ANP announced.

• Saturday, August 21st 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Judge questions Pinochet about hidden millions

  A Chilean judge has questioned Augusto Pinochet, the former dictator who has escaped prosecution on atrocities charges but is now facing corruption allegations, about millions of dollars he kept hidden in secret U.S. bank accounts, judiciary officials said Friday.

• Friday, August 20th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Chilean meat exports reach 171 million US dollars.

  Chilean meat exports during the first half of 2004 represented 171 million US dollars, 61,2% increase over the same period in 2003.

• Friday, August 20th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Three million Chileans below poverty line.

  At the end of 2003, almost three million Chileans, 18,8% of the population were below the poverty line according to the latest socio-economic characterization poll which was released this Thursday in Santiago.

• Friday, August 20th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  UN sponsors one place, one only name.

  The United Nations has undertaken the mission of standardizing world's places names and is working on two 150 pages papers to be distributed next year to all governments.

• Thursday, August 19th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  IMF Managing Director visits South America.

  The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Rodrigo de Rato, will be travelling to South America to participate in the 11th Finance Ministers' Meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which will take place in Santiago, Chile on September 1-3, 2004.

• Thursday, August 19th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentine economy expands 8%

  The Argentine economy expanded 8% during the first half of the year with industry's 12,2% growth acting as the main thrust, according to figures released this week.

• Thursday, August 19th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Duhalde's dream of a united peoples of South America.

  The president of Mercosur Representatives Committee Eduardo Duhalde arrived in Chile for a two days visit to sponsor energy integration and the “union and harmonization” of South American peoples.

• Thursday, August 19th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Venezuela pushing for higher oil prices.

  With the oil market breaking records day after day, (almost 47 US dollars this Wednesday) Venezuela is sponsoring taking the current OPEC price band from 22/28 to 28/35 US dollars per barrel.

• Thursday, August 19th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Record oil prices benefit Magallanes development

  Oil record prices are having a positive impact for Magallanes Region through the Regional Development Fund, Fondema that is financed with duties on hydrocarbons local production.