Mercosur

• Tuesday, February 11th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazil cuts budget to show fiscal discipline.

  The Brazilian government announced draconian cuts in this year's budget on Monday but sought to highlight efforts to resolve social and economic problems with a series of emergency measures.

• Monday, February 10th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Debate on the efficiency of government

  The debate about private or government control of public utilities is back in Argentina and polls indicate public opinion is divided on the issue but with a majority demanding at least a greater government regulatory presence.

• Monday, February 10th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Judge indicts Chilean Congressmen

  A judge in Chile has indicted three Congress members belonging to the ruling coalition on charges of taking bribes.

• Monday, February 10th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  “We miss Malán”

  Only forty days have elapsed since the most hated of all former Brazilian president Fernando Cardoso's ministers Pedro Malán left office, but trade union and business leaders are already saying they “miss Mr. Malán”.

• Monday, February 10th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentine private Antarctic charter cruise

  The first Argentine private charter cruise vessel sailed last weekend from Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego for its maiden voyage to the Antarctic with a group of Ukrainian scientists and officials who will be doing research work and supplying the Vernasky base, formally belonging to the British under the name of Faraday.

• Monday, February 10th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Varig and TAM merge.

  Brazil's two largest airlines, Varig and Tam, announced they will be merging their operations in a joint venture to overcome the deep crisis in the industry. With a joint fleet of 218 aircraft and 29 million passengers a year, the joint venture to be listed in the stock exchange would be larger than some European airlines.

• Friday, February 7th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Mercosur adopts strong attitude.

  Mercosur will present this month its trade proposals to the European Union and to the United States sponsored Free Trade Association of the Americas, but with the necessary safeguards to ensure the blocks economic and social development.

• Thursday, February 6th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  IMF urged to go easy on Argentina

  Roberto Lavagna, Argentina's economy minister, on Wednesday urged the International Monetary Fund to go easy on Argentina's next government rather than demand damaging fiscal restraint.

• Wednesday, February 5th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentine vote intention for the presidential elections.

  Headlines: Kirchner and Menem rebound; Tariff free berries for Europe; Argentine animal exports boom

• Tuesday, February 4th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Breaking News

  Headlines: Mercosur against the war; US economy growth drops abruptly; Seven million undocumented; Brazil targets higher surplus.