Mercosur

• Friday, January 23rd 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Former HMS Sheffield in Punta Arenas

  The latest and most modern acquisition of the Chilean Navy, “Almirante Williams”, former HMS Sheffield, arrived in Punta Arenas Wednesday greeted by a display of the local naval units stationed in the port.

• Friday, January 23rd 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Gaining ground for January 28

  While Argentine president Nestor Kirchner kept pounding against what he described as vested interests which are pressing the government for greater payments to the country's creditors, the president of the Argentine Central Bank addressing the Davos forum said that sovereign bondholders must accept a “great cut”.

• Thursday, January 22nd 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Revived EU-Mercosur optimism

  Fresh trade negotiations between Mercosur and the European Union could lead to a framework agreement by next May in time for the EU-Latinamerica summit in Mexico, according to External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten.

• Wednesday, January 21st 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Uruguayan industry tepid recovery

  The second 2003 semester was positive for almost all sectors of the Uruguayan industry, suffering from a deep recession going back to 1998, according to the latest release from the Uruguayan Chamber of Industry.

• Wednesday, January 21st 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina plans for the Security Council.

  Argentina assured this week the “unanimous support” from the Latinamerican and Caribbean group for its election as a non permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in 2005.

• Wednesday, January 21st 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Euro zone calls for “responsibility” regarding US dollar

  Euro zone Finance and Economy ministers called on “responsibility” from the United States regarding the steady revaluation of the Euro vs the US dollar, fearing the risk of monetary volatility to incipient economic growth in the European Union.

• Wednesday, January 21st 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Strict new drinking law in Chile

  With the enforcement of the new Chilean Alcohol Bill, Punta Arenas opening hours for liquor stores and discotheques are considerably reduced and the under 18 are definitively banned from pubs.

• Tuesday, January 20th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Uruguay wants to end spat with Argentina over missing persons.

  The Uruguayan government wants to put an end to its “war of communiques” with Argentina - sparked by Argentina's demand for information on a long-missing citizen and the Uruguayan president's retort - an Uruguayan official said Monday.

• Tuesday, January 20th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Sao Paulo launches week of birthday events

  A rowing regatta, in which participants wore masks, goggles and plastic gloves to guard against pollution, began festivities Sunday leading up to the 450th birthday of Sao Paulo, the Western Hemisphere's biggest city.

• Tuesday, January 20th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentine insists on direct flights to the Islands

  Argentina ratified its position banning non regular (charter) flights to the Falkland Islands, unless they are undertaken by an Argentine flagged airline. Talking to a local Buenos Aires broadcasting station, Eduardo Valdés Foreign Affairs Ministry Cabinet Chief insisted that “we believe this is fair and correct”.