Mercosur

• Friday, December 17th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Mercosur declares expansion despite problems among founders.

  The southern South American trade bloc established 10 years ago with an eye to spurring regional development and clout declared here a hefty expansion despite lingering problems between founding members that have made economic union more of a goal than a reality.

• Friday, December 17th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Russia & Argentina to co-operate in Security Council.

  Russia and Argentina have agreed to co-operate within the framework of the United Nations Security Council, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov, the Russian news and information agency Novosti reported yesterday.

• Friday, December 17th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Menem: Xmas in “La Rioja”.

  A judge struck down an arrest warrant for ex-president Carlos Menem yesterday, clearing a legal hurdle for the former leader who has been living in neighbouring Chile, while his nephew said that Menem will come back to Argentina on December 22.

• Friday, December 17th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Plant find points to global climate peril.

  The discovery of a bed of plants that lay frozen under a Peruvian glacier for thousands of years points to dire consequences from climate change today, according to Lonnie Thompson, a glaciologist.

• Thursday, December 16th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Record US trade deficit in October

  The United States trade deficit last October increased almost 9% reaching a record 55,5 billion US dollars totalling 500, 5 billion US dollars during the first ten months of 2004, reports the US Department of Commerce.

• Thursday, December 16th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazil leads world meat exports

  Brazil's meat exports this year should reach 5,8 billion US dollars, 42% above 2003, equivalent to 4,2 million tons, 23% over last year, according to the latest report from the Ministry of Agriculture.

• Thursday, December 16th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Off to the Mercosur get-together

  Economy Minister Roberto Lavagna today joins with President Néstor Kirchner for travel to Brazil to take part in the Mercosur summit that kicks off in the Brazilian city of Ouro Preto tomorrow.

• Thursday, December 16th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Tens of thousands of Antarctic penguin chicks could starve because an iceberg is blocking their pare

  Tens of thousands of Antarctic penguin chicks could starve because an iceberg is blocking their parents' access to coastal feeding grounds, officials say.

• Wednesday, December 15th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  US support for Argentina's “responsible efforts”

  United States Secretary of State Colin Powell expressed support for Argentina's economic policy said Foreign Affairs Minister Rafael Bielsa after a private meeting in the US State Department.

• Wednesday, December 15th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Federal Reserve raised basic rate to 2,25%

  The United States Federal Open Market Committee unanimously decided Tuesday to raise its target for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 2,25%, the fifth increase since June. The decision was anticipated by money markets.