Mercosur

• 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.

• Tuesday, May 11th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Ammoniac explosion leaves 67 injured in Montevideo

  The explosion early Monday of an ammoniac tank in a Korean jigger moored in Montevideo left 67 people hospitalized of which five in pharmacological comma, 19 in intensive care units and the rest with different degrees of intoxication.

• Monday, May 10th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile's economy the most competitive in LA.

  Chile continues as the most competitive economy in Latinamerica according to a report from the prestigious Swiss IMD Business Administration Institute.

• Monday, May 10th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Natural gas sources diversification

  Chile announced the medium term diversification of its natural gas supplies and the creation of a consortium that will import the necessary volumes from different countries.

• Monday, May 10th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Peruvian president on the tight rope.

  Fist line opposition leaders, members of Congress and even presidents of the 25 regional councils of Peru are demanding elections be advanced since there's a general feeling that President Alejandro Toledo's administration is rapidly nearing its end.