Mercosur

• Monday, April 1st 2002 - 21:00 UTC

  Apathy and Lula lead Brazilian poll

  Three presidential hopefuls from the ruling Brazilian coalition for the October election are running a tight race but only one of them could in the second round confront Luiz Igancio Lula da Silva, the opposition candidate from the Socialist Workers Party who is leading in the polls with 25,9%, according to one of the latest polls released and published in the Brazilian media.

• Wednesday, March 27th 2002 - 21:00 UTC

  Fisheries most dynamic in Chile.

  Fisheries was the most dynamic sector of the Chilean economy in 2001, which overall grew 2,8% according to the latest figures released by the Chilean Central Bank.

• Monday, March 25th 2002 - 21:00 UTC

  IMF in April.Hyperinflation warning.

  An International Monetary Fund delegation will be arriving early April in Buenos Aires to continue working in a program to specifically boost exports and provide funds for social aid, according to Argentina officials, following a meeting of President Eduardo Duhalde with IMF Managing Director, Horst Koehler in Monterrey, Mexico.

• Friday, March 22nd 2002 - 21:00 UTC

  Chilean Armada looks to UK

  Chilean Navy Commander in Chief Admiral Miguel Angel Vergara said he was willing to discuss with the Royal Navy options for the Trident Program to replace most of the Chilean surface fleet.

• Friday, March 22nd 2002 - 21:00 UTC

  Pressure for a quick agreement

  United Nations Economic Committee for Latinamerica and the Caribbean, CEPAL, pressed for a quick agreement from the International Monetary Fund, IMF, with Argentina, to help the country overcome three years of crisis that could have threatening consequences in the rest of the continent.

• Wednesday, March 20th 2002 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil blasts IMF

  Brazilian president Fernando Cardoso accused the International Monetary Fund of “using questionable methods for accounting countries debts” and made an appeal to strengthen regional economies, particularly the Mercosur block.

• Sunday, March 17th 2002 - 21:00 UTC

  Political turmoil in Brazil

  Brazil's ruling coalition seems to be back in rail after a dispute over candidates for the coming October presidential election threatened government unity and had the left wing opposition hopeful comfortably leading the polls.

• Sunday, March 17th 2002 - 21:00 UTC

  “Two demands short”

  In spite of official optimism and an encouraging release from the IMF mission that left Argentina after scrutinizing the country's economic policies, budget and accounts, aid from the multilateral organization still seems distant, maybe too distant a countdown for the Duhalde administration.

• Thursday, March 14th 2002 - 21:00 UTC

  Democracy loosing ground.

  Democracy and the degree of satisfaction with democracy is loosing ground in Latinamerica given the effects of the extended economic crisis in the area, according to an annual poll taken since 1995 by a Chilean Social Studies Group, Latinobarómetro

• Wednesday, March 13th 2002 - 21:00 UTC

  Montevideo, best city in the region.

  Montevideo is the second city in Latinamerica with the best quality of life according to William M. Mercer Consultant's annual ranking. Top of the list is San Juan, Puerto Rico.