Mercosur

• Thursday, January 12th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Repsol YPF, Enarsa sign offshore exploration accords - Argentina

  Spanish oil major Repsol YPF has signed two agreements with Argentina's state energy firm Enarsa and other international partners to explore for hydrocarbons in offshore Argentina, Repsol YPF said in a statement.

• Thursday, January 12th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Euro zone interest rates unchanged at 2.25%

  The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged at 2.25% in its Thursday January 12 meeting. ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet said that on the basis of regular economic and monetary analyses, “we have decided to keep the key ECB interest rates unchanged following the increase of 25 basis points on 1 December 2005”

• Thursday, January 12th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina, spaghetti or beef country?

  The myth about Argentines feeding virtually only on beef was swept aside by economic difficulties and the more modest spaghetti figures as the staple dish, according to a poll released this week in Buenos Aires.

• Thursday, January 12th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Latam trade surplus with US down in October

  Latin America and the Caribbean trade surplus with United States fell 10.7% last November compared to October totalling 8.7 billion US dollars reported the U.S. State Department.

• Thursday, January 12th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Morales and Washington “willing” to dialogue

  Bolivian elected president Evo Morales said he forgives the United States government for all the humiliations and accusations launched against his country and emphasised he was willing to dialogue with Washington.

• Thursday, January 12th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Uruguay denies works in free trade accord with US

  Uruguay Foreign Affairs minister Reynaldo Gargano vehemently denied Thursday that the Uruguayan government was advancing in a controversial free trade agreement with United States.

• Thursday, January 12th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile: Latest poll shows Bachelet 5 points ahead

  The latest public opinion poll before Sunday's run off in Chile's presidential election shows ruling coalition candidate Michelle Bachelet leading her Conservative opponent Santiago Piñera by five points.

• Wednesday, January 11th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Lula calls Brazil and IMF partners now that debt is paid

  President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Tuesday that Brazil's early payment of its debt to the International Monetary Fund will not end its relationship with the IMF, but will make them partners.

• Wednesday, January 11th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Chavez accuses US of scuttling Brazil plane deal

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said the U.S. is blocking his efforts to acquire Brazilian military training aircraft as part of an ongoing ''war'' between the two countries.

• Wednesday, January 11th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Peru bans ex-president's election bid

  Peru's former President Alberto Fujimori, fighting extradition from a Chilean jail on charges of graft and involvement in murder, is barred from running for president because congress banned him from holding office, election officials ruled.