Mercosur

• Monday, March 22nd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Counter cyclical Fiscal Fund proposed.

  One of Buenos Aires most respected private financial consulting organizations is recommending given the strong fiscal situation of Argentina, the creation of a Counter cyclical fiscal fund to help restructure debt and invest in social development.

• Monday, March 22nd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazilian minister criticizes “moaning” countries.

  Brazilian Finance Minister Antonio Palocci criticized countries that “spend their time insulting the International Monetary Fund”.

• Monday, March 22nd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Peru purchases four frigates.

  Peruvian president Alejandro Toledo announced last week the purchase of four missile frigates Type Luppo offered by the Italian government.

• Monday, March 22nd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Optimistic forecast for Latinamerica.

  Latinamerica is forecasted to expand 4% in 2004 according to Enrique Iglesias president of the Inter-American Development Bank, IDB.

• Sunday, March 21st 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Insecurity and unemployment haunt Argentines

  Insecurity figures among the top two priority concerns of metropolitan Buenos Aires residents, according to surveys undertaken by two leading public opinion consulting firms last February.

• Sunday, March 21st 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazilian energy for Argentina

  Brazil will export electricity to Argentina in the coming months helping to overcome the expected winter shortages, confirmed visiting Brazilian Energy and Mining Minister Vilma Rouseff in Buenos Aires.

• Friday, March 19th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina cuts electricity supply to Uruguay

  Argentina suspended this Thursday an electricity supply contract with neighbouring Uruguay forcing the local public utility company to turn on fossil fuel turbines with an additional monthly cost estimated in 10 million US dollars.

• Friday, March 19th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Internet regional summit in Montevideo

  The organization that rules Internet for the Latinamerican region, Lacnic, will be meeting in Montevideo from March 29 to April first to review the functioning of the system with Latinamerica and Caribbean operators.

• Friday, March 19th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Breaking News.

  Headlines:
  HMS Glasgow visits Punta Arenas; Next June Aerolineas begins operations in Chile.; Cape Horn cruise from Ushuaia.

• Friday, March 19th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentine squid industry demands “sustainability” actions

  Low catches obtained during last season together with dismal results during the last exploratory survey undertaken north of parallel 44° South have prompted the Argentine Chamber of Squid Jigger Vessel Owners (CAPA) to declare a state of alert in the sector.