Mercosur

• Wednesday, December 18th 2002 - 20:00 UTC

  Hot News from Argentina - Brazil & Chile

  Headlines: Lavagna announces end of recession; Second thoughts about free trade agreement; Sales to Argentina and Brazil drop 38%; Modest 2% growth in Chile

• Tuesday, December 17th 2002 - 20:00 UTC

  Lagos government looses majority in the Senate

  Chilean president Ricardo Lagos admitted his administration has lost control of the Senate following the decision of Senator Nelson Avila to “freeze” his relation with the ruling coalition. Mr. Lagos is confronted with a growing political crisis since several Congressmen from the ruling coalition face possible conviction for corruption charges and illegal party financing.

• Tuesday, December 17th 2002 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile hails trade deal as finest moment

  After two years of negotiations, Chile and the US have agreed a broad bilateral agreement which has been hailed in Santiago as the finest moment in more than a decade of aggressive pursuit of trade deals.

• Monday, December 16th 2002 - 20:00 UTC

  IMF delegation in Argentina & Uruguay.

• Sunday, December 15th 2002 - 20:00 UTC

  Lula names key posts

  Elected Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva relieved markets when he officially announced the nomination of Deputy Henrique Meirelles, belonging to outgoing president Fernando Cardoso party and a former extremely successful CEO of Bank Boston, as the country's next president of the Central Bank.

• Saturday, December 14th 2002 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuela requests special meeting of OAS foreign ministers

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Friday that his administration has asked for a special meeting of Organization of American States (OAS) foreign minister to denounce what the president labeled “another coup attempt.” ”My government has requested an extraordinary meeting of OAS foreign ministers to denounce with evidence, videos (and) documents, the running roughshod over the Venezuelan people and another coup attempt,” Chavez said in an impromptu press conference.

• Saturday, December 14th 2002 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina Says to Default Again on World Bank Debt

  Argentina's government said it would default on more than $700 million due to the World Bank on Friday, a second missed payment that cuts the bankrupt country off from any aid from the bank.

• Friday, December 13th 2002 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentine court blocks utility hikes

  The Argentine judiciary issued an injunction Thursday blocking increases in gas and electricity rates imposed last month by presidential decree, court sources reported.

• Thursday, December 12th 2002 - 20:00 UTC

  Breaking News

  Headlines: Köhler in Chile; “Aninat's party”; Free trade agreement breakthrough; US interest rates unchanged; US interest rates unchanged; A meeting “beyond expectations”; Red tide alert in Argentina; Menem-Duhalde truce?

• Tuesday, December 10th 2002 - 20:00 UTC

  New offshore oil deposit in Brazil

  Brazilian oil company Petrobras made a new discovery in the Campos Basin this time 76 kilometres offshore the state of Spirito Santo just to the north of Rio do Janeiro. The new well 1-EES-116 was drilled seven kilometres from the Jubarte area that has proved reserves of 600 million barrels of oil.