Mercosur

• Friday, May 14th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Collision and oil spill in Magellan Strait

  Three crewmembers injured and a five nautical miles fuel spill has been reported following the collision between a French flagged tanker and a local high seas tug in the narrowest part of the Magellan strait early Wednesday morning.

• Thursday, May 13th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  NYT questions Brazil's commitment to free press

  The New York Times questioned Brazil's commitment to freedom of the press Wednesday in the event Brasilia expels a correspondent whose visa was revoked.

• Thursday, May 13th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Peru promises to defeat any terrorist resurgence

  The Peruvian government believes remnant elements from the Shining Path guerrilla-terrorist organization are behind the uprising in the southern city of Ilave where the mayor was mob-lynched by a furious crowd in the main square a few weeks ago, according to reports in the main newspapers of Lima.

• Thursday, May 13th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Cepal lowers growth estimates

  The Economic Commission for Latinamerica and the Caribbean, Cepal, lowered the region's growth prospects for this year from 4 to 3,8%, because of the oil crisis.

• Thursday, May 13th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Record US trade deficit in March

  Booming oil prices which are at their highest in over two decades are mostly blamed for the soaring United States trade deficit of March that reached 46 billion US dollars, 9,1% over February, according to the latest report from the US Commerce Department.

• Wednesday, May 12th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentine arrests Uruguayan jigger poaching

  A Uruguayan flagged jigger, “Young HWA 99” was caught last Sunday by the Argentine Coast Guard fishing in the South Atlantic with its licence expired.

• Wednesday, May 12th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Ibero-american integration faces French resistance

  An “Ibero-american integration” proposal was formally presented to the King of Spain by Mercosur representative in Madrid this week.

• Wednesday, May 12th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil revokes visa of NYT journalist.

  The Brazilian government revoked this Tuesday the visa of the New York Times correspondent, Larry Rother who published an article alleging heavy drinking habits of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

• Wednesday, May 12th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  A new government oil company is born in Argentina

  The Argentine government announced this Tuesday the creation of a government energy agency to ensure the supply of gas and electricity at accessible prices for the domestic market. Argentina is currently undergoing a serious energy crisis with domestic shortages and reduced overseas sales with diplomatic consequences in the region.

• Tuesday, May 11th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Latinamerican markets collapse.

  Latinamerican financial markets and currencies this Monday kept sliding as they did towards the end of last week given investors fears of a rise in United States interest rates.