Brazil's Agriculture Ministry confirmed this week another outbreak of foot and mouth disease, two months alter an initial outbreak led several countries to ban Brazilian beef and pork imports.
Headlines:
Fisheries meeting is non-starter; Battle of the Falkland Islands remembered; De-mining meeting; Mobile Stanley; Search continues; This week's cruisers.
Havana, Cuba will be the location for a formal exploratory meeting between Colombia's second largest Marxist oriented insurgency and representatives of the United States backed government leading to a possible |peace process.
Brazil's Institute of Applied Economic Research, IEPA, downgraded Wednesday the country's economic growth forecasts both in 2005 and 2006. The quarterly report forecasts Brazil will expand 2,3% instead of 3,5% as previously announced, and 3,4% in 2006, down from 4%.
Venezuela's incorporation to Mercosur scheduled for this week's presidential summit in Montevideo, Uruguay, is seen with limited enthusiasm by Brazilian business and experts who feel the customs union might become highly political, creating additional difficulties to negotiations with other trade blocks.
Uruguay's trade links can't be limited to a Mercosur full of problems, the country must adopt a more proactive attitude towards other regions in search of trade and investments, said Uruguayan Economy minister Danilo Astori.
The recently named president of the Committee of Mercosur Permanent Representatives Carlos Chacho Alvarez underlined this Tuesday the importance of Venezuela's coming incorporation to the regional trade block.
Organization of American States, OAS, and European Union observers expressed concern because a significant sector of the Venezuelan electorate was left without congressional representation following the pull out of the opposition from last Sunday's legislative election.
Argentina's consumer prices index surged 1,2% in November reaching 11,1% pushed mainly by increases in food, clothing and health services. Inflation in the last twelve months stands at 12%.
Argentine former Foreign Affairs minister and elected deputy Rafael Bielsa who was scheduled Tuesday to take the Congressional oath was unexpectedly named Ambassador in France.