Mercosur

• Sunday, August 3rd 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  New visa requirements for layovers in United States

  Many travelers making layovers in the United States to catch connecting flights between international points will now be required to obtain visas, the U.S. departments of State and Homeland Security announced.

• Friday, August 1st 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Caribbean Islands Will Be National Parks

  Three Caribbean islands home only to sea birds and turtles are soon to become national parks in the British Virgin Islands, the natural resources minister said Thursday.

• Thursday, July 31st 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Lula ponders about IMF support.

  The administration of Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is assessing whether it can free itself from International Monetary Fund support financing, or will it have to renew the current accord that expires next November.

• Thursday, July 31st 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Claims of press censorship in Chile

  The Inter-American Human Rights Committee Freedom of Expression Special Rapporteur formally requested Chilean authorities to lift the ban on a controversial television documentary that was taken off the air last July 23.

• Thursday, July 31st 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina recalls ambassador from Paraguay

  Argentina recalled its ambassador from Paraguay and is demanding an official explanation of remarks by a Paraguayan official characterizing Argentines and Brazilians as “scoundrels,” diplomatic sources

• Thursday, July 31st 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Kirchner favors trying rights abusers in Argentina.

  President Nestor Kirchner said Wednesday that former members of the nation's 1976-1983 military dictatorship who have been accused of committing human rights violations “should be tried in Argentina.”

• Wednesday, July 30th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Kirchner: “Argentina is 6 miles undergound”.

  President Nestor Kirchner led reporters Tuesday on a tour of “the hidden Argentina,” taking the journalists to public institutions that serve the needy.

• Wednesday, July 30th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Lagos to visit Argentina to strengthen regional links.

  Chilean President Ricardo Lagos is scheduled to arrive in Buenos Aires for his first official visit to Argentina since President Nestor Kirchner took office on May 25.

• Wednesday, July 30th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Paraguayan gov't denies knowledge of alleged plot against Castro

  President Luis Gonzalez Macchi said Tuesday that Paraguay's government has no knowledge of an alleged plan to kill Cuban leader Fidel Castro, one of the dignitaries invited to the Aug. 15 inauguration of incoming chief executive Nicanor Duarte.

• Tuesday, July 29th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  IMF releases 1,05 billion US dollars loan to Argentina

  The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed this Monday the third review of Argentina's performance under a seven-month, SDR 2.17 billion (about US$3.04 billion) Stand-By Arrangement, which was approved last January 24, 2003.