Mercosur

• Wednesday, November 15th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuela with New Oil Reserves

  Monday Venezuela has tested oil reserves up to 87.6 billion barrels at its disposal, after incorporating 609 million barrels certified by the international company Ryder Scout in Orinoco Strip.

• Wednesday, November 15th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuela: Chavez maintains comfortable lead over main election rival

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has an advantage of 20 percentage points over Manuel Rosales, his main rival in December 3 elections, according to an opinion poll published on Tuesday.

• Wednesday, November 15th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Al-Jazeera launches service in English

  Ten years after starting Arabic-language broadcasts that angered leaders in the region and United States, Al-Jazeera lunched on Wednesday an English-language news channel available in more than 80 million homes but lacking major U.S. distribution.

• Tuesday, November 14th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Spanish businessman pleads guilty to US seabass poaching

  A Spanish businessman pleaded guilty today to federal obstruction of justice charges arising from an investigation into the illegal harvesting of protected Chilean seabass in the first case of its kind brought in the United States.

• Tuesday, November 14th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Gold and oil prices end lower

  Gold prices fell yesterday, as a rise in the dollar and weaker oil prices encouraged investors to sell, though the correction since last week's highs has not changed bullish market sentiment

• Tuesday, November 14th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Latin America: The short view

  This was supposed to be a difficult year for investors in Latin America, as many countries in the region, including Brazil and Mexico, the two biggest, went to the polls. Fears of a swing to the left were mostly realised.

• Tuesday, November 14th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Calderon set to steer foreign policy toward South America

  Mexican President-elect Felipe Calderon hardly seems like one to chart a new foreign-policy course.

• Monday, November 13th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Lula visits Chavez to show vote support

  Brazil's newly re-elected leader visited Venezuela on Monday in a show of support for his fellow leftist, President Hugo Chavez, who is himself campaigning for another term in a December 3 vote.

• Monday, November 13th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile and Australia begin free trade talks

  Negotiations leading to a free trade agreement between Chile and Australia will begin soon, according to statements from the two countries' foreign ministers.

• Monday, November 13th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Castro: terminal cancer?

  The US government believes Fidel Castro's health is deteriorating and that the Cuban dictator is unlikely to live through 2007, US officials said.