Mercosur

• Tuesday, July 6th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Top ISPS marks for Punta Arenas shipyard.

  Chilean Navy Shipyards, Asmar, in Punta Arenas and Talcahuano were awarded last week the International Ship and Port Facilities Security Code, ISPS, in compliance with the December 2002 International Maritime Organization, IMO, anti terrorist measures

• Tuesday, July 6th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  “Things are going well” in Brazil.

  Things are going well“ in Brazil and ”will be better” in the near future, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Monday upon summing up his first 18 months in office.

• Tuesday, July 6th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina's six month inflation, 3.3%.

  Consumer prices in Argentina inched 0.6% in June compared to May according to the latest release from the Argentine National Statistics and Census Institute (INDEC).

• Tuesday, July 6th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Chilean retail prices increased 0.4% in June.

  Retail prices in Chile last June increased 0.4%, reaching 1.6% in the first six months of 2004 and 1.1% in the last twelve months, according to the latest report from the country's Statistics Institute.

• Monday, July 5th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Mexico, associate member of Mercosur.

  The World Trade Organization, WTO, considers that the incorporation of Mexico as an associate state of Mercosur would give the South American block a “new dimension”.

• Monday, July 5th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Record Brazilian exports.

  Brazilian exports during the first half of 2004 reached 43,3 billion US dollars, mainly because of improved international commodities prices, greater volumes and conquering new markets, reported the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade.

• Monday, July 5th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  IMF expects “progress” in discussions with Argentina.

  The International Monetary Fund, IMF, expects a significant advance in discussions to complete the third review of the program with Argentina, said IMF Managing Director Rodrigo Rato during a forum in Paris.

• Monday, July 5th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Good news, bad news.

  Good news and bad news for Magallanes Region, according to the latest official release it has the lowest unemployment rate in Chile but it's second in Tuberculosis cases in the country.

• Monday, July 5th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Lan renews students' special fares.

  For a third consecutive year Lan last week renewed the accord with the Grouping of Magallanes Families of Students which contemplates rebates and other travel benefits for local students who in higher education in other regions of Chile.

• Sunday, July 4th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Eight die, 40,000 suffer damages in Patagonia storm

  Eight people died and some 40.000 people suffered damages from storms pounding southern Argentina and Chile with torrential rains and heavy snow.