Mercosur

• Thursday, January 16th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina “suspends” payment

  The Interamerican Development Bank announced this Wednesday the suspension of credit disbursements to Argentina after this country failed to make a crucial 681 million US dollars re payment.

• Thursday, January 16th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Ecuador's New President Takes Office

  Lucio Gutiérrez became president of Ecuador on Wednesday, three years after leading a short-lived coup that toppled the presidency of Jamil Mahuad at the height of an economic crisis.

• Wednesday, January 15th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Lula and Duhalde committed to Mercosur

  Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his Argentine counterpart Eduardo Duhalde during their meeting held in Brasilia agreed on “several initiatives” with the purpose of strengthening Mercosur.

• Tuesday, January 14th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazil's Lula wants to expand Mercosur membership

  Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wants to expand membership in Mercosur, the world's third-largest trade bloc comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

• Tuesday, January 14th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuelan Gov't: Oil Strike Costs $4B

  A strike that has almost paralyzed Venezuela's crucial oil industry is an act of “terrorism” that has cost the country $4 billion, the energy and mines minister said.

• Tuesday, January 14th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina's tourism boom

  With over three million tourists last year, a 15,4% jump over 2001, Argentina's tourism industry is undergoing a boom and this year expects to further increase the number of foreigners attracted by the country's multitude of possibilities and excellent prices since the peso was drastically devalued twelve months ago.

• Monday, January 13th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentines seek emigration to Europe

  Argentina's historic condition as a melting pot of immigrants from all over Europe is providing hundreds of thousands of children and grandchildren of those pioneers with the hope of escaping their nation's economic nosedive and returning across the Atlantic

• Monday, January 13th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Eight Chilean army officers indicted for role in 1973 slayings.

  A Chilean court on Monday ordered the arrest of eight former military officers allegedly linked to the abduction and summary execution of 12 people detained at the onset of Augusto Pinochet's coup d'etat.

• Friday, January 10th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Breaking News

  Headlines: IMF-Argentina talks begin; “Special envoy” for Latinamerica; EU and UK rates unchanged; “Everything possible to help Argentina”;

• Thursday, January 9th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  IMF announces dispatch of mission to Argentina

  An IMF mission will leave for Argentina Thursday to resume negotiations with the government on a transition accord, the fund announced.