Mercosur

• Monday, October 25th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Press Association Faults U.S. Restrictions

  The Inter-American Press Association criticized the U.S. government on Sunday for placing restrictions on foreign journalists' travels and for recent court rulings ordering reporters to reveal secret sources.

• Monday, October 25th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil Back in Space

  A test rocket which Brazil successfully launched on Saturday provided reassurance to the country's space programme 14 months after a more powerful one exploded before lift-off killing 21 people.

• Sunday, October 24th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Young Chileans disenchanted with politicians.

  The registry of young Chileans in the Electoral Roll has dropped a dramatic 50% between 1997 and 2003 according to a report form the Chilean Youth Institute.

• Sunday, October 24th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  China slowing but expansion still above 9%.

  China's economic expansion has slowed for the third consecutive quarter sliding to an annualized 9,1% which is almost in line with Beijing's target of 9%.

• Sunday, October 24th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  IMF warns about soaring oil price.

  The soaring price of crude oil has become a risk for the world economy and will have a visible impact over growth next year, said International Monetary Fund Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato.

• Saturday, October 23rd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Court overturns Menem dismissal.

  A Buenos Aires court on Friday overturned a ruling dismissing charges against former Argentine President Carlos Menem in a case involving arms smuggling to Ecuador and Croatia between 1991 and 1995

• Saturday, October 23rd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil denies nuclear-weapons capability.

  Brazil's Science & Technology Ministry on Friday criticized a report in the U.S. magazine Science that says the South American nation has the capability of producing up to six nuclear bombs per year.

• Saturday, October 23rd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Unemployment eases in Brazil.

  Unemployment in Brazil's main six metropolitan regions dropped in September to 10,9% the lowest so far in 2004, according to the Brazilian Geography and Statistics Institute, IBGE.

• Friday, October 22nd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Promising signs of gas in Chilean coastline.

  A group of scientists from the Valparaiso University in a joint research cruise with the Chilean Navy confirmed this Thursday the discovery of gas hydrates on the ocean bed between the cities of Valparaiso and Concepcion.

• Friday, October 22nd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Electoral Tribunal confirms president Lula's fine.

  Brazil's Electoral Board Tribunal confirmed this Thursday the fine (equivalent to 17,000 US dollars) imposed on President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for having campaigned and requested voters to support the Workers Party candidate for mayor of the city of Sao Paulo.