Mercosur

• Wednesday, December 3rd 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Consulate “intruders” free.

  Four members of the Chilean Army involved in the breaking in of the Argentine Consulate in Punta Arenas three weeks ago and who remained under arrest, were set free “to help with the investigation and military Justice actions”.

• Wednesday, December 3rd 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile denies arms race.

  Chilean Defence Minister Michelle Bachelet strongly denied that recent Chilean weapons acquisitions could alter the South American military balance, as insistently claimed by Peruvian Congress members and retired military officers.

• Wednesday, December 3rd 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  World growth remains insufficient.

  The expansion of the world economy is too weak to create sufficient jobs for the growing demand of job seekers, according to the latest report from the prestigious United States private think tank Conference Board.

• Tuesday, December 2nd 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazilian stock exchange record.

  The Bovesopa index of the Sao Paulo stock exchange, the most dynamic and influential of Brazil reached last week for the first time since its creation 35 years ago, 20,000 points. The peak reflected market reaction to the official announcement that the Brazilian recession was over since the GDP in the third quarter expanded 0,4%.

• Tuesday, December 2nd 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazil marks AIDS Day

  Brazil, considered a leader in the fight against HIV, marked World AIDS Day Monday with marches by youths that joined their voices to a campaign to prevent discrimination against people suffering from the dreaded disease or infected with the virus that causes it.

• Tuesday, December 2nd 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Anti-chávez petition ends

  Opponents of Hugo Chávez, Venezuela's president, appeared on Monday to have gathered more than enough signatures to trigger a recall referendum on his rule, although the government rejected the petition as a “mega-fraud”.

• Tuesday, December 2nd 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina to face more pressure over write-off

  A group of US bondholders will make an aggressive counter-proposal in New York on Wednesday to the Argentine government's debt-restructuring offer, which creditors unanimously rejected when it was announced in September.

• Monday, December 1st 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Strong Brazilian export drive.

  Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced last week a package of initiatives and credits to promote the country's foreign trade, and to ensure “Brazil will no longer cease to grow”.

• Monday, December 1st 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Breaking News from Chile.

  Headlines:
  Lan Chile after Lafsa; Second strip for Santiago airport; Santiago, second city for making business.

• Monday, December 1st 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile-Venezuela diplomatic quarrel persists.

  Venezuela authorities are convinced that “reciprocal signals”, expressed “through democratic channels, avoiding the microphone” will help overcome the souring of diplomatic relations with Chile.