Stories for December 22nd 2003

Monday, December 22nd 2003 - 20:00 UTC

Enriched uranium controversy in Brazil.

Since Brazil recently announced it had developed its own technology to enrich uranium the United Nations Atomic Energy International Agency, AEIA, has been pushing for site inspections, apparently so far to no avail.

Monday, December 22nd 2003 - 20:00 UTC

IMF aid for Paraguay

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a 15-month SDR 50 million (about US$73 million) Stand-By Arrangement for Paraguay to support the country's economic program.

Monday, December 22nd 2003 - 20:00 UTC

Bolivian natural gas will have to wait .

Bolivia has lost the opportunity, at least for a decade, of selling natural gas to United States and Mexico, following a similar 20 year agreement reached by Indonesian suppliers with North American buyers.

Monday, December 22nd 2003 - 20:00 UTC

More wealth and poverty in Latinamerica.

For the first time in decades Latinamerica will end 2003 with a trade surplus and next year all the economies of the region should expand. However income per capita remains below the 1997 level and 44% of the population live in poverty, according to the latest preliminary report from the Economic Commission for Latin America, CEPAL, a regional United Nations office.

Monday, December 22nd 2003 - 20:00 UTC

OAS decisive summit.

The summit of the Americas that will be taking place next month in Mexico could turn into the appropriate scenario for a Latinamerican return to the United States agenda, according to analysts in Washington.