Mercosur

• Sunday, February 29th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Mandarin replaces English as the main language

  English worldwide as the main language is declining surpassed by Chinese, and in half a century Arabic, Hindu languages and Spanish will also be ahead, forecasts scientist David Graddol.

• Sunday, February 29th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Group of 15 Summit close yesterday in Venezuela

  The 12th summit of the Group of 15 developing nations drew to a close Saturday marred by the slaying of one person and the wounding of dozens in violent clashes between opponents of President Hugo Chavez and his National Guard.

• Sunday, February 29th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  “Cheers” with Havana Club rum

  Fidel Castro from Cuba figures among the list of ten richest world leaders according to the US business magazine Forbes.

• Saturday, February 28th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  G-15 in Caracas marred by violent incidents

  Two people were killed and dozens injured Friday afternoon in clashes between Venezuelan Army troops and opposition demonstrators trying to reach the seat of an international summit being held in Caracas.

• Saturday, February 28th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  IMF praises Uruguay and postpones debt payments

  The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed this week the fourth review under the SDR 2.13 billion (US$3.2 billion) Stand-By Arrangement for Uruguay.

• Friday, February 27th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentine debt in G 15 agenda.

  Argentine president Nestor Kirchner and a small delegation arrived Thursday evening in Caracas for the XIIth meeting of the G-15, where Argentina's dispute with its creditors and defaulted bondholders is expected to figure in the discussions.

• Friday, February 27th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Rammell praises “left wing” Chile and Brazil

  Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell praised Chile and Brazil for implementing radical reforms in the framework of an orderly rule and international law, which is not necessarily happening in two other countries supposedly ruled by “left wing” governments, Argentina and Venezuela.

• Friday, February 27th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazilian economy contracted 0,2% in 2003.

  The Brazilian economy contracted 0,2% in 2003, in direct contrast with the 1,9% expansion of 2002, 1,3% of 2001 and 4,36% of 2000, according to the Brazilian Geography and Statistics Office, IBGE.

• Thursday, February 26th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  “Argentina is now helping herself”

  “Argentina is now helping herself” and defending its interests said Argentine president Nestor Kirchner during a public ceremony this Wednesday in Buenos Aires.

• Thursday, February 26th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  The government is confidant it can revindicate the Uruguayan flag internationally

  International incidents involving Uruguayan-flagged vessels, the Maya V and Viarsa I recently detained in Australian waters for illegal fishing leaves only four of the original ten Uruguayan deep-sea vessels operating outside their jurisdiction.