Argentina got its third government in a fortnight. Congress chose Eduardo Duhalde, a Peronist senator, to serve as the country's president until 2003.(political news and current events around the world)

Economist (US), The, January, 2002

Politics

Argentina got its third government in a fortnight. Congress chose Eduardo Duhalde, a Peronist senator, to serve as the country's president until 2003, abandoning a plan for an election in March. Protests and looting had forced out Fernando de la Rua; his successor, Adolfo Rodriguez Saa, lasted only eight days. The new government was expected to scrap the country's currency board, which pegs the peso to the dollar.

Almost 300 people were killed when a fire swept through a crowded shopping area in Lima, Peru's capital. The fire began when a firework exploded, igniting tonnes of other fireworks on sale in the area.

Mexico's Congress approved tax rises worth about 1.2% of GDP, but rejected long-standing proposals from President Vicente...