Mercosur

• Friday, July 9th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazilian industry confirms recovery.

  Brazilian industrial production reported its third consecutive increase last May, 2,2%, with a total expansion since February of 4,5%. May 2004 was also 7,8% above the same month a year ago.

• Thursday, July 8th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  EU: “Latinamerica no longer major priority”.

  Holland which since July 1, and for the next six months, presides over the European Union said it will do its outmost to conclude a trade agreement with Mercosur by next October.

• Thursday, July 8th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Respiratory disease outbreak in Santiago.

  Hospitals in Santiago are overflowing with children suffering from a respiratory virus that already has claimed two babies' lives, and with not much prospects of decreasing in intensity according to Chilean health authorities given current extreme climatic conditions.

• Thursday, July 8th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Blindage industry booming with Iraq .

  With an industry that has prospered in the midst of a violent and crime ridden society, Brazil has become the main supplier of armoured vehicles for civilian use in Iraq.

• Wednesday, July 7th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Fox: Mercosur must become Latinamerica's strong voice.

  Mexican president Vicente Fox confirmed his country will formally request to become an associate member of Mercosur during the block's coming presidential summit to be hosted this Friday by Argentina in Puerto Iguazú.

• Wednesday, July 7th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile supports Mexico.

  Chile supports Mexico's Mercosur association petition which is scheduled to be considered this coming Friday during the biannual presidential summit in Argentina.

• Wednesday, July 7th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil supports Mexico's Mercosur request.

  Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva officially announced this Wednesday his country's full support to Mexico's Mercosur associate member request to be formally considered this Thursday in Argentina during the bi-annual presidential summit of the South American block.

• Wednesday, July 7th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina's doubts about enlarging Mercosur.

  Argentina Foreign Affairs Minister Rafael Bielsa talking in Puerto Iguazu, said Mercosur should not discard creating the category of “observer member”, as a previous step to associate or full member.

• Tuesday, July 6th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  British interest in Paraguayan oil potential.

  British-based CDS Oil & Gas Group officially expressed this week its interest in exploring for petroleum and natural gas fields in northwestern Paraguay, revealed British ambassador in Asunción.

• Tuesday, July 6th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Tokyo and London the most expensive cities.

  Tokyo is the most expensive city in the world, and Asunción, Paraguay, the cheapest according to the latest Mercer Human Resource Consulting agency report which assesses cost of living and quality of life conditions in 215 cities of the world.