Mercosur

• Monday, January 26th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Food poisoning in southern Chile

  More food poisoning cases from consumption of raw molluscs have been reported in the area of Puerto Montt and Osorno, to the north of Punta Arenas. According to Chilean sanitary authorities quoted in the Chilean press a possible cause is the bacteria “vibrio para haemolyticus” which has been detected in many patients

• Monday, January 26th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Benetton targets South American market

  Benetton the Italian fashionable textile retailer has plans to vigorously expand in Latin America in the next two years, since of the 100 million garments the company sells annually only one million are purchased in the region.

• Monday, January 26th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Ushuaia outbids Punta Arenas port

  The greater operational costs for visiting cruises in the port of Punta Arenas compared to Ushuaia in Argentina are causing growing concern among Chilean authorities and the tourist industry.

• Monday, January 26th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile, best country for mining investment

  As in 2002, Chile in 2003 ranked top of the list among the best mining investment countries according to the prestigious Fraser Institute from Canada.

• Monday, January 26th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Record world unemployment stable in 185 million

  World unemployment reached a new record in 2003, 185,9 million people according to the latest report from the International Labour Organization, ILO.

• Sunday, January 25th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Magallanes concerned with weak US dollar

  The rapid weakening of the US dollar and strong appreciation of the Chilean peso is causing much concern among Magallanes main export industries and significant “cost restructuring” is forecasted this year if the situation remains unchanged.

• Sunday, January 25th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  “Thank you very much, but it's bilateral”

  The Chilean government discarded collaboration proposals from the United States Department for a negotiated understanding regarding Bolivia's maritime claim and insisted the issue is strictly bilateral.

• Saturday, January 24th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazil President Unveils Cabinet Changes

  Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whose roots are in the Marxist left, cemented on Friday his alliance with conservative allies by giving them two Cabinet posts in a government reshuffle.

• Saturday, January 24th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Three Indicted in Argentine Scandal

  Argentina's ex-spy chief and two former senators were indicted on bribery charges Friday in connection with a vote-buying scandal that has revived one of the country's most notorious corruption cases.

• Saturday, January 24th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile's Pinochet Hospitalized After Fall

  Former dictator Gen. Augusto Pinochet was hospitalized Friday after falling and breaking his shoulder.