Mercosur

• Thursday, December 8th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazilian government confirms slowing down of economy

  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%.

• Thursday, December 8th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Fears that Chavez might turn Mercosur “highly political”

  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.

• Thursday, December 8th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  “We can't be hostages of a Mercosur full of problems”

  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.

• Wednesday, December 7th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuela and Mercosur: a slow integration process

  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.

• Wednesday, December 7th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  OAS and EU spotlight Venezuelan electoral process

  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.

• Wednesday, December 7th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  November shatters Argentina's 2005 inflation target

  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%.

• Wednesday, December 7th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Elected Deputy Bielsa sent to mend fences in Paris

  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.

• Wednesday, December 7th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Ecuador and Bolivia get involved in maritime conflict between Chile and Peru

  The Governments of Ecuador and Bolivia have become involved in the controversy over the maritime boundary between Chile and Peru, triggered after the 3 November Plenary of the Peruvian Congress approving a bill setting forth the basis for negotiation of a new maritime boundary with Chile.

• Wednesday, December 7th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Scientists monitor calving of huge Antarctic iceberg

  Antarctica has a “loose tooth” and scientists are gathering data to determine when, how, and why it will fall off. The loose tooth is actually a partial rift in the Amery ice shelf which eventually will cut through the entire ice shelf, dropping an iceberg into the ocean, a process called “calving.” The last time a significant chunk of ice broke off was in 1964.

• Wednesday, December 7th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Smaller ozone hole than in previous years

  NASA researchers, using data from the agency's AURA satellite, determined the seasonal ozone hole that developed over Antarctica this year is smaller than in previous years.