Mercosur

• Thursday, April 21st 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Greenspan warns about growing US deficits

  Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan warned Congress members Thursday that the United States economy could “stagnate or worse” unless the trend of rising US budget deficits is not reversed.

• Wednesday, April 20th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina growing above estimates

  Economic activity in Argentina expanded in February 8,6% compared to the same month a year ago and 0,1% over last January, accumulating 8,8% over Jan/Feb 2004 according to the latest data from the Statistics and Census Office.

• Wednesday, April 20th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Mercosur-EU talks “virtually paralyzed”

  Argentina finally admitted that negotiations for a free trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union are virtually paralyzed and only a political understanding at the highest level could get the process rolling again.

• Wednesday, April 20th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Bs. Aires City airport becomes a battlefield

  The departures lounge of the Jorge Newbery metropolitan airport (Aeroparque) became a battleground early yesterday morning as police clashed with a group of airline workers who are against the government's decision to sell the state-run airline LAFSA to Chile's LAN.

• Wednesday, April 20th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Sentenced to 640 years in prison.

  A former Argentine navy officer who admitted to participating in “death flights,” in which naked detainees were thrown from planes during the country's military dictatorship, was convicted yesterday by a Spanish court of committing crimes against humanity.

• Wednesday, April 20th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  US consumer prices rise 0,6% in March

  United States consumer prices (CPI) increased more sharply than expected in March, 0,6%, with higher oil and gas prices adding to growing concerns about underlining inflation.

• Wednesday, April 20th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  China can't lower expansion rate

  China's economy expanded faster than expected in March 9,5%, increasing pressure on Beijing to continue with efforts to restrain fixed asset investment and possibly hike interest rates.

• Wednesday, April 20th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Uruguay prepares for a tough accord with IMF

  The new Uruguayan government inherits an improved economy with diminished vulnerability although still pending is an agenda of reforms “exceptionally long” to ensure a sustained rapid growth and financial stability, reports the latest International Monetary Fund review.

• Wednesday, April 20th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Ecuador president removed

  Lawmakers in Ecuador voted Wednesday to remove embattled President Lucio Gutierrez from office after a week of escalating street protests demanding his ouster, and they swore in Vice President Alfredo Palacio to replace him.

• Tuesday, April 19th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Continental lobbying for OAS seat.

  Mexico's Foreign Affairs Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez announced Monday from Honduras he has 21 votes which are sufficient for his election as the next Organization of American States Secretary General.