Paraguay's government withdrew a bill that would approve the incorporation of Venezuela to the Mercosur trade bloc fearing a defeat in Congress that could hurt relations between the two countries.
The IMF allocation of Special Drawing Rights, SDR, equivalent to 250 billion USD to provide liquidity to the global economic system will supplement Mercosur country members with approximately 7 billion US dollars.
The International Monetary Fund announced Thursday it would begin to inject 250 billion US dollars into member nations' treasuries to cushion the blows of the global economic crisis. The action is part of a 1.1 trillion US dollar plan agreed by Group of 20 leaders in early April to tackle the global financial and economic crisis.
One of the largest glaciers in Antarctica is thinning four times faster than it was 10 years ago, according to research seen by the BBC. A study of satellite measurements of Pine Island glacier in west Antarctica reveals the surface of the ice is now dropping at a rate of up to 16m a year.
Ousted Honduran president Manuel Zelaya said he expects the US administration to take more drastic actions against the de facto government of Roberto Micheletti. Zelaya held a three and a half hour meeting on Thursday with Chilean president Michelle Bachelet in Santiago as part of his round of visits to drum support for his reinstatement.
Headlines: Boost for Camp ranks on new RDS advisory group; TV blackout to continue
Mexican president Felipe Calderón on an official visit to Colombia offered his country’s mediation in the conflict between Bogotá and neighbouring Ecuador and Venezuela.