Hard Rock International today announced its earnings for 2005 as part of a report issued by its parent company, The Rank Group Plc. Hard Rock´s total revenues for the year were $452.6 million compared to $426.1 million in 2004, a growth of 6.2 percent. Operating profit increased 23.0 percent to $63.0 million in 2005 compared to $51.2 million in 2004. Hard Rock´s hotel and gaming interests and continued improvement at company-owned cafes drove overall performance.

The signing of China-US aviation agreement to promote bilateral travel and tourism cooperation will increase two-way flights between the two countries by 460 percent. This follows the agreement signed in December 2004 to open the US to Chinese tourists. Karan Bhatia, U.S. assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs, said, the agreement was to bring air services to the level of growing demand stemming from rapidly expanding trade and tourism between the two countries.

China´s Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC) has announced it will spend $17.4 billion over the next five years on expansion of its airport infrastructure. “By 2010, the mainland will have about 186 airports, up from 142 currently,” said CAAC vice minister Gao Hongfeng. “China´s commercial aircraft fleet will grow to 1,580 by 2010, up from 863 currently and by 2020, China will have 4,000 commercial aircraft.”

A free trade agreement with El Salvador will take effect March 1, the Bush administration announced Friday, leaving behind for the moment five other Latin American nations that are supposed to be part of the Central American Free Trade Agreement. U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman praised El Salvador for the strides it has made in revising laws and regulations necessary to meet the commitments it made in CAFTA.

The government has selected Tavistock Group, an American private investment company - as the successful bidder for the development of the Harmony Cove project in Trelawny. The company had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the government-owned Harmonization Limited, which is being used by the administration to spearhead the project, estimated to cost $1.3 billion.

Antigua and Barbuda has accused the U.S. of failing to comply with a World Trade Organization ruling that it discriminates unfairly against online gambling companies based in the tiny Caribbean island nation. Last year the WTO dispute settlement body (DSB) ruled that while the US was entitled to restrict internet gambling, the rules were not being applied fairly. The case arose from complaints from internet gaming companies, several of which are based in Antigua, that US laws unfairly discriminated against foreign companies by prohibiting cross-border betting.