Mercosur

• Saturday, December 17th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Latinamerica expanding but?must do better

  Latin America posted solid economic growth in 2005 for the third straight year, but its economies lagged behind other nations struggling with poverty, a UN agency reported yesterday.

• Friday, December 16th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina will pay in advance IMF debt

  Argentine president Nestor Kirchner announced Thursday the decision to cancel in advance the country's debt with the International Monetary Fund, IMF, 9.8 billion US dollars which will be financed with international reserves from the Central Bank.

• Friday, December 16th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  EU farming subsidies under fire at WTO

  It was the European Union vs. the Rest of the World as global trade talks remained deadlocked yesterday, with the EU defending itself from a barrage of criticism that its refusal to further opens its farming markets threatened to torpedo the entire World Trade Organization meeting.

• Friday, December 16th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina industrial activity expands 8.9% in November

  Industrial activity in Argentina kept steaming ahead in November reaching 8.9% compared to the same month a year ago and 0.4% over last October.

• Thursday, December 15th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Paraguayan president prepares ruling party purge

  Paraguay's Congress rejected this week a motion to impeach President Nicanor Duarte who is running for the chair of his Colorado Party, in power since 1947, but with the more conservative nationalistic elements decisively conspiring against the government's liberal program.

• Wednesday, December 14th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  EU Sakharov Prize for Cuban “Ladies in White”

  The so-called Cuban “Ladies in White” virtually admitted Tuesday that they will not be travelling to Strasbourg to receive the Sakharov prize from the European Parliament, despite international efforts to convince the Cuban government to allow them to make the trip

• Wednesday, December 14th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Record budget deficit but US business confident

  United States November budget deficit was larger than forecasted because of a significant increase in outlays according to the US Treasury Department.
  
  However business and consumers are optimistic about 2006.

• Wednesday, December 14th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  China ends 2005 as world's fourth largest economy

  China is forecasted to end 2005 as the world's fourth largest economy, ahead of Italy, France and Great Britain, once a review of GDP numbers is completed and made public.

• Wednesday, December 14th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  UN plans second phase of ozone layer protection program

  With the impact of ozone-depleting substances already reduced to 2% of their effect during peak years, representatives of the world's governments are meeting in Dakar, Senegal to plan the complete elimination of chemicals that destroy the protective layer of the atmosphere, the United Nations Environmental Program reported Tuesday.

• Wednesday, December 14th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Federal Reserve raised basic rate 25 points to 4.25%

  The Federal Open Market Committee decided Tuesday to raise its target for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 4.25%. Most analysts had forecast the rise, the 13th consecutive increase, with the central bank wanting to keep the lid on inflationary pressures. In a statement, the Fed admitted some further monetary tightening would be needed.