Mercosur

• Thursday, March 27th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Lula: First strike under my administration is “legitimate”

  Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva regards as “legitimate” the first strike staged during his administration, which took office on Jan. 1, a presidential spokesman said Wednesday.

• Wednesday, March 26th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  IMF suggests more austerity in Brazil
  Lula faces first strike.

  The International Monetary Fund, IMF, suggested Brazil should have a more ambitious medium term fiscal target to better protect the country against possible external shocks and praised officials for having committed themselves to a greater autonomy for the Central Bank.

• Wednesday, March 26th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina: Lavagna predicts 4,2% expansion.

  Argentina' Economy Minister Roberto Lavagna predicted that the country's economy would expand this year 4,2%, although inflation will reach 14%, four points above the February announcement.

• Wednesday, March 26th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Free trade agreement Chile-EFTA

  Chilean President Ricardo Lagos announced this week that Chile had successfully ended negotiations for a free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association, a grouping that includes Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

• Wednesday, March 26th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Incumbent candidate leading...

  Paraguay's incumbent presidential candidate is leading and has even increased its distance from other hopefuls for the coming April 27 general election, according to the latest opinion poll published this Sunday in the Asunción press.

• Wednesday, March 26th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Global court picks Argentine

  Argentine lawyer Luis Moreno Ocampo has been tentatively chosen to be the first chief prosecutor of the new International Criminal Court in The Hague, legal sources and diplomats said yesterday.

• Tuesday, March 25th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Uncertainty and pessimism in Latinamerica

  War in Iraq will affect the already stagnant Latinamerican economy said Enrique Iglesias president of the Inter American Development Bank, IDB, during the opening ceremony of the 44th IDB annual assembly held in Milan, Italy.

• Tuesday, March 25th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Bush to request 75 billion for the war

  President George Bush will be requesting the US Congress an additional 75 billion US dollars to face war costs and reinforce counter terrorism measures. The official announcement is expected Tuesday after a meeting of the President with Congress leaders and the National Economic Council.

• Tuesday, March 25th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Breaking News.

  Headlines: Chile:Prospects for fuel prices; Argentina's ex-pat remittances; UK budget in the red; Nottingham professor in Magallanes; Optimistic Chile;

• Monday, March 24th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  EU-Mercosur agree to keep talking

  The European Union and Mercosur agreed last Friday in Brussels to continue advancing in negotiations to open markets improving product liberalization lists and the exchange of proposals in services and investments.