Mercosur

• Friday, June 9th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Lipsky confirmed as IMF Deputy Manager

  The International Monetary Fund Executive Board approved the appointment of JP Morgan Vice Chairman John Lipsky as First Deputy Managing Director of the IMF. Lipsky, a U.S. national, will start his five-year term on September 1, succeeding Anne Krueger who steps down at the end of August.

• Friday, June 9th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Uruguay wins the first World Cup in 1930

  Whenever the Soccer World Cup is mentioned, the mind is boggled by moments of magic and illusion; smiles and tears; Pele and Maradona; Brazil's five cups, the famous Maracaná final and a long history of events that begun in 1930.

• Friday, June 9th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Battle of the brands grips World Cup

  Before a ball has been kicked in Germany, the World Cup is gripped by a fierce contest between teams of global heavyweights and their smaller rivals.

• Friday, June 9th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Macri ?ready' to go for the presidency

  Argentine Boca Juniors soccer team president Mauricio Macri said yesterday that he was ready to run for president next year, in a move that further fragments the opposition in the run toward next year's general elections.

• Friday, June 9th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  April US trade deficit below market estimates

  United States trade deficit increased to 63.43 billion US dollars last April from 61.86 billion in March, which was below market estimates of 65 billion, reported the Department of Commerce.

• Thursday, June 8th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil/US closer to a formal trade agreement

  Brazil and the United States signed a letter of intent for the creation of mechanisms to promote bilateral trade and foster business dealings, including ethanol, but left aside more ambitious goals such as a full-fledged free trade agreement.

• Thursday, June 8th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  World Bank supports Bolivia in spite of nationalization

  The World Bank will continue to support Bolivia and other Latinamerican countries in spite of oil and gas industries nationalisation policies said President Paul Wolfowitz.

• Thursday, June 8th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Fiery UN Committee 24/Gibraltar debate

  The United Nations Special Decolonization Committee of 24 faced Tuesday its toughest criticism to date at the hands of Gibraltarian delegates. And in what proved to be a fiery debate by UN standards, there were clear divisions of opinion as to whether it was possible to decolonise Gibraltar without delisting it from the UN list of colonies, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle.

• Thursday, June 8th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Help for Brazilian exporters hit by a “cheap” US dollar

  The Brazilian government is preparing a package of measures to help exporters hit by the “cheap” US dollar announced Development, Industry and Trade minister Luiz Fernando Furlan.

• Thursday, June 8th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Lavagna's spotlight irritates Kirchner's administration

  Argentine former Minister of Economy Roberto Lavagna who is increasingly been signalled as a possible presidential hopeful, warned Wednesday that President Nestor Kirchner's administration was increasingly tempted to easily “grant subsidies and investments which are not a priority” for Argentina's development.