Mercosur

• Monday, January 31st 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  41% of Brazilians overweight.

  More Brazilians die each year from obesity health related problems than from malnutrition, reported Sunday O Globo newspaper in Rio do Janeiro.

• Monday, January 31st 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  OPEC leaves production level unchanged.

  The Organization of Oil Producing and Export Countries, OPEC meeting in Vienna Sunday agreed to keep oil output levels unchanged at 27 million barrels per day in spite of a 40% increase in crude prices during the last twelve months.

• Monday, January 31st 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Colombia-Venezuela is officially over.

  Colombia and Venezuela announced in an agreed statement that the crisis over the capture of a guerrilla commander is over and anticipated a presidential summit for next February 3.

• Monday, January 31st 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  With few ideas to combat poverty concludes Davos Forum.

  The World Economic Forum gathered in Davos, Switzerland concluded Sunday with a message of hope for the Korean peninsula but with very few ideas of how to reduce poverty, combat sickness and stimulate the world economy.

• Monday, January 31st 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  FO Minister Bill Rammel will visit Brazil.

  Bill Rammell, Foreign Office Minister for Latin America, is visiting Brazil from 31 January to 1 February.

• Sunday, January 30th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  US economy expanded 4,4% in 2004

  The United States economy expanded at a slower pace than expected in the last quarter of 2004, --3,1%--, down from 4% in the third quarter but still managed to end the year with an overall growth of 4,4%, the strongest since the 4,5% of 1999.

• Sunday, January 30th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  IMF praises Brazilian economy performance

  The head of the International Monetary Fund mission in Brazil said he was impressed with the performance of the Brazilian economy during 2004 which helped to significantly reduce its financial vulnerability.

• Sunday, January 30th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Antarctic naval exercise involving “grounded cruise”

  In the framework of combined patrolling operations in Antarctic waters, the Argentine and Chilean navies participated last week in a contamination emergency exercise involving ARA “Suboficial Castillo” and the Chilean icebreaker “Almirante Oscar Viel”.

• Saturday, January 29th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Canada hosts international talks on overfishing.

  Canada will host international talks in May on what needs to be done to protect the world's dwindling fish stocks from rampant overfishing, officials said in Ottawa.

• Friday, January 28th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  China fuels currency uncertainty.

  The evolution of the Chinese Yuan, linked to the United States dollar, and several statements from different Beijing officials are causing concern in international currency markets.