Mercosur

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

  Lula: Colombia-Venezuela crisis is “secondary issue”

  Brazilian president Luiz Inancio Lula da Silva called on Colombia and Venezuela not to waste energy bickering over secondary issues.

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

  Brazilian president jeered in World Social Forum

  Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who until elected and during his first year in office was the darling of left wing and antiglobalization groups faced strong criticism during his appearance before the World Social Forum being held in Porto Alegre.

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

  US supports Flores for OAS top job

  United States formally announced Wednesday its support for former El Salvador president Francisco Flores as the next Organization of American States, OAS, Secretary General.

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

  Uruguay promotes Chilean candidate for OAS

  Uruguayan elected President Tabaré Vazquez said Wednesday in Santiago that his administration will support the candidacy of Chilean Interior Minister Jose Miguel Insulza for the job of Organization of American States, OAS Secretary General.

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

  Malvinas victims' relatives to fly to islands next March.

  The inauguration of the monument has been delayed due to strained diplomatic relations between Argentina and Britain last year.

• Thursday, January 27th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  US weak dollar could generate “abrupt and global correction”

  United States can't depend on a weak dollar as the only instrument to soften its growing trade deficit, it should rather contain outlays and increase savings, otherwise the world economy could experience a severe shock, warned the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

• Thursday, January 27th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  UN forecasts 4% Latinamerican growth in 2005.

  United Nations economic prospects for 2005 forecast 4% growth in Latinamerica and the Caribbean, above the world's 3,25% but below the 5,5% of 2004.

• Thursday, January 27th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Ozone keeps thinning say German experts.

  The ozone layer which protects the Earth's atmosphere has the lowest concentration percentages in almost two decades according to reports from the German Weather Forecasting Institute, DWD, in Offenbach.

• Thursday, January 27th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Spain supports Argentine debt exchange program.

  Spanish President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero ended Wednesday his first official visit to Argentina pledging to help the country fully recover from its economic crisis and create a better business climate for Spanish companies.

• Thursday, January 27th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  World tourism industry expanded 10% in 2004

  World tourism expanded 10% in 2004, involving 760 million international visits, revealed Francesco Frangialli during the opening of the XXV International Tourism Fair, Fitur 2005 in Madrid, Spain.