Mercosur

• Tuesday, February 10th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuela Devalues Bolivar against Dollar

  Venezuela devalued its currency by 17 percent against the U.S. dollar Monday, a surprise decision that could fuel inflation but help the government meet financing needs.

• Tuesday, February 10th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Crew scuttles Taiwanese jigger caught poaching

  The crew of a Taiwanese jigger under hot pursuit from the Argentine Navy for illegal fishing flooded the vessel and set her on fire before being picked up by another waiting jigger.

• Tuesday, February 10th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  UN Chilean phones bugged during Iraq debate

  The Chilean United Nations legation was bugged in February 2003 during the crucial debates over a resolution allowing the use of force against Iraq, revealed then Chilean Ambassador Juan Gabriel Valdés, quoted by a Santiago daily.

• Monday, February 9th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Montevideo harbours 17 IUU long-liners

  At least seventeen long-liners which international organizations for the conservation of marine living resources claim are involved in illegal, unreported and/or undeclared fishing have been normally operating in the port of Montevideo since 1996.

• Monday, February 9th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Stern warning form G 7 to Argentina

  The Group of Seven more industrialized countries of the world, G-7, meeting in Florida this weekend demanded Argentina abandon its strong bargaining tactics with defaulted sovereign bond holders or run the risk of financial isolation.

• Monday, February 9th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  “D” day for Graf Spee range finder

  The operation to recover a vital piece of the sunken World War Two German pocket battleship Graf Spee resting in shallow waters of the River Plate is scheduled to begin this Monday.

• Monday, February 9th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Radioactive cargo crosses Panama Canal

  The British flagged “Pacific-Sandpiper” loaded with radioactive waste crossed this weekend the Panama Canal, according to the Panamanian Human Rights chapter.

• Monday, February 9th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  “Useful and constructive” dialogue

  The International Monetary Fund and Argentina held this Monday in Miami a top level five hours meeting that was later described in an official release as “useful and constructive”.

• Saturday, February 7th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  No Deal in Free Trade of Americas Talks

  Deputy ministers from 34 nations in the Americas failed to reach agreement Friday on a framework for the Free Trade Area of the Americas, stymied by differences on the contentious issue of U.S. farm subsidies.

• Friday, February 6th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Latin American bonds are shaken but not stricken

  US interest rates will rise and it may take slightly longer for Brazilian overnight rates to fall than was previously expected.