Mercosur

• Monday, October 24th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Sweeping majority in Brazil votes against fire arms ban

  A sweeping 64% of Brazilians said NO to a ban on the sale of fire arms and ammunition while 35% supported the referendum initiative which was voted Sunday, according to the latest report from the country's Superior Electoral Tribunal.
  
  Abstention was estimated in 20,9% of the 122 million electoral role

• Monday, October 24th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Delayed recognition for Shackleton's crew rescuer

  Two direct descendents from Luis Pardo the captain of the Punta Arenas Chilean steamer Yelco that in 1916 helped rescue the crew of Sir Ernest Shackleton's Endurance expedition said their grandfather's feat deserves greater recognition since it really was the first Antarctic incursion of the Chilean Navy.

• Monday, October 24th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Forty Brazilian farms under suspicion of FAM

  Forty cattle farms in the southern Brazilian state of Parana, which borders with Paraguay and Argentina, have been quarantined under suspicion of having animals with foot and mouth disease, reports the Brazilian press.

• Monday, October 24th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Lady Kirchner proved to be the winning trump

  Argentine president Nestor Kirchner managed Sunday a significant mid term victory for his two year old government which should help consolidate his power in Congress and the ruling party, plus open the way for his reelection in 2007.

• Saturday, October 22nd 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Britain, Croatia confirm bird flu cases

  Britain and Croatia confirmed cases of bird flu Friday as countries around the world scrambled to put in place measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

• Saturday, October 22nd 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina complains to Britain

  Argentina yesterday officially complained to Britain about a Foreign Office warning to British tourists about the dangers of visiting Argentina at the time of the Summit of the Americas.

• Friday, October 21st 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile seeks access to bird flu drug

  Chile is seeking to ease patent restrictions on a drug used to inhibit the effects of the bird flu virus, President Ricardo Lagos said yesterday.

• Friday, October 21st 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  CAFTA launch: Jan 1, 2006

  The CAFTA trade accord linking five Central American countries and the Dominican Republic with the United States will enter into force on Jan. 1, leaders of the region agreed here Thursday at a meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez.

• Friday, October 21st 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Britain, France and Spain celebrate bicentennial of Trafalgar battle

  Descendants of sailors who fought in the battle of Trafalgar joined military leaders from France, Spain and Britain on Friday to mark the 200th anniversary of the last great naval confrontation of the age of sail.

• Friday, October 21st 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazil divided over gun ban referendum

  This Sunday the 186 million-person country will become the first in the world to hold a nationwide referendum on banning the sales of guns and bullets to almost all civilians.