Mercosur

• Monday, August 9th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  US considered bombing South America following 11/09.

  A few days after the September 11/2001 terrorist attacks in New York and against the Pentagon a high US official recommended bombing South America or Asia “to surprise the terrorists”, reveals the US magazine Newsweek in its latest August 9 edition.

• Monday, August 9th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile-Peru war of words becomes louder.

  Outstanding politicians and diplomats from Chile and Peru joined the maritime border controversy between both countries which is increasingly straining bilateral relations.

• Monday, August 9th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Fisheries News.

  Headlines:
  Argentina's hake policy for the rest of 2004; Australia set to standardize fish names; Chilean salmon and trout exports expand 23%; European scientists study sardine migration.

• Monday, August 9th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Oil production data controversy hits markets.

  With oil prices breaking records and no immediate prospect of containing market's nerves which are threatening global economic recovery, the Organization of Petroleum Export Countries, OPEC, has been accused of pumping two million barrels per day less than what it officially declares.

• Monday, August 9th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile and Peru attempt to cool rhetoric.

  Peruvian and Chilean officials tried over the weekend to cool the heavy exchange of statements between both countries that have strained bilateral relations.

• Sunday, August 8th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile organizing major expedition to South Pole.

  Chile is organizing a major Antarctic scientific expedition for this coming austral summer that leaving from Patriot Hills' area should reach the US Amundsen-Scott base in the Southern pole.

• Sunday, August 8th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Incentives for privatized Punta Arenas abattoir.

  Punta Arenas Appeals Court rejected the protection request presented by the Simunovic Abattoir against the local government for having extended regional investment incentives to the recently privatized former Sacor plant.

• Saturday, August 7th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazilian banker “has no plans to resign”.

  Brazil's Central Bank president Henrique Meirelles, said Friday that he was not resigning and insisted he had President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's “full support” in the face of allegations of tax evasion.

• Saturday, August 7th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  EU-Mercosur begin another trade round.

  Mercosur and European Union delegates will attempt this coming week in Brasilia to unlock negotiations for a free trade area between both blocks.

• Saturday, August 7th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Malvinas War Veterans census.

  Argentina called on all former 1982 Malvinas war combatants to register in the First National Census of War Veterans.