
The US budget deficit will hit 1.8 trillion US dollars this year, a record amount, according to US Congress estimates. The White House said the prediction by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) would not alter President Barack Obama's policy agenda, nor would it affect its goal to cut the deficit in half by 2013, it added.

Brazil’s government managed oil and gas corporation Petrobras faces a possible nationwide strike by oil workers that could paralyze the company's oil production for five days, starting Monday.

Amazon indigenous groups have won a major victory with Brazil's Supreme Court upholding the integrity of a vast native reserve in the northern state of Roraima next to Venezuela.

Headlines: Chamber clashes with FIG over lack of action; ‘Increased broadband’ announced by Cable and Wireless.

In a further escalation of the conflict with farmers over taxes, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner announced on Thursday that revenue from the levy on soy exports would be shared between the federal, provincial and city governments.

El Salvador's President-elect Mauricio Funes will make his first foreign trip to Brazil, officials said after his party of former Marxist rebels triumphed in weekend elections. On Wednesday US President Barack Obama telephoned Mr. Funes to congratulate him on his election.

After almost 50 years of severed ties, Costa Rica will re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba, President Oscar Arias announced Thursday. The move, announced via a press release, comes after Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno hinted earlier this week that a rapprochement was possible.
The FMLN wins the presidency in El Salvador, but it's no mandate for revolutionary change such as populism and confiscations.

Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez together with several ministers and a delegation of 70 businessmen left Friday for an official state visit to China. The party arrives Saturday in Beijing but the official program begins Monday when President Vazquez will be received by this Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao.

An estimated 10.000 Argentines marched Wednesday evening on the historic Plaza de Mayo in the capital, Buenos Aires to demand more anti-crime measures, reflecting a top priority among Argentines, according to recent polls. The protest was repeated in other marches through out Argentina at the same time.