Mercosur

• Tuesday, October 18th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina regains top airport category

  Argentina's airports were raised to operational Category 1 yesterday by the United States' Federal Aviation Administration, a category Argentina lost in 2001 over safety and security failings.

• Tuesday, October 18th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Buenos Aires forecasts record cruise season

  Argentina's 2005/06 cruise season, which promises to be a record, began Sunday with the arrival in Buenos Aires of the Norwegian flagged Nordnorge with 350 tourists and a crew of 75.

• Monday, October 17th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuela, Mercosur full member next December

  Venezuela will become a “full member” of Mercosur next December, following an agreement with the current four members, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, announced in Spain Uruguay's Foreign Affairs minister Reinaldo Gargano.

• Monday, October 17th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  OPEC uneasy with barrel of oil above 60 US dollars

  High oil prices are causing a contraction in world demand according to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, (OPEC), latest monthly report issued Monday in Vienna forecasting a 2005 demand increase of 1,4% instead of 1,7% as originally estimated.

• Monday, October 17th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Fears of further FAM outbreaks in Brazil

  New outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in the Brazilian state of Matto Grosso do Sul have been reported and 280 head of cattle have been sacrificed in a farm close to where the first cases were confirmed last week.

• Sunday, October 16th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Ibero-American summit challenges in six pages

  The 15th Ibero-American Summit concluded Saturday with the Declaration of Salamanca that in six pages outlines the great challenges facing the region plus 15 special communications of marked social and political content.

• Sunday, October 16th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Tierra del Fuego with two governors

  The extreme south Patagonian province of Tierra del Fuego in the middle of an institutional crisis and has two governors both claiming the job, one of them is suspended Governor Jorge Colazo and the second his Deputy Hugo Coccaro.

• Sunday, October 16th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Pope plans to visit Brazil in 2007

  Pope Benedict XVI plans to visit Brazil in 2007 to take part in the Latin American Bishops Conference (CELAM) general meeting, announced Brazilian Catholic Church officials.

• Sunday, October 16th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  First Chilean cruise preparing for Antarctica

  “Antarctic Dream” the first totally Chilean cruise vessel, which will be sailing to Antarctica this summer is currently in Punta Arenas.

• Saturday, October 15th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Chinese economy keeps expanding above 9%

  The Chinese economy is forecasted to decelerate slightly in the second half although overall 2005 growth will remain at a quick pace given the massive influx of foreign investment and greater credit flexibility, according to the China Securities Journal.