Mercosur

• Monday, December 26th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazil poised to become oil self sufficient in 2006

  Brazil, once almost completely dependent on imports for oil, early next year, Brazil will begin producing as much oil as it consumes, and shortly thereafter it'll join the ranks of the world's net oil exporters.

• Sunday, December 25th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Thousands gather for Pope's Christmas greeting

  Thousands packed Saint Peter's Basilica for Pope Benedict's first midnight mass at the Vatican. Outside the church, in the square, many more braved the cold night air and watched the ceremony on giant screens.

• Saturday, December 24th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Peru approves extradition charges against Fujimori

  The Peruvian government has formally approved 12 of the 17 charges that it plans to present in the extradition case against former president Alberto Fujimori

• Saturday, December 24th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Kirchner accused of promoting fascism practices

  Former Argentine president Fernando De la Rua accused Friday president Nestor Kirchner of taking Argentina to the “dangerous threshold of fascism” for having disrespected and poked fun of presidential institutions.

• Friday, December 23rd 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Vote returns confirm Morales landslide victory

  With the vote count almost completed and no prospects of dropping below the 50% benchmark, coca growers' leader Evo Morales will become next January 22 Bolivia's first even Indian president.

• Friday, December 23rd 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Petrobras buys Shell assets in three countries

  Brazilian government owned oil-company Petrobras confirmed Thursday the acquisition of Anglo-Dutch oil giant Royal Dutch Shell assets in Colombia, Paraguay and Uruguay totalling 140 million US dollars.

• Friday, December 23rd 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  New lamb facilities in Patagonia Argentine Beef Packers expands further

  Argentine Beef Packers opened its first lamb export plant in 2002 in Esquel which was very successful, despite the long distance in bringing lambs up from Santa Fe.

• Friday, December 23rd 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  From Chubut to Europe Shrimp shipments now travel by air

  The first exports flight carrying 16 tons of shrimp processed in the Argentine Patagonian province of Chubut left the Comodoro Rivadavia airport en route to Europe.

• Friday, December 23rd 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  London bid victory linked to vote error

  London's winning bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics could have been helped by an International Olympic Committee member pressing the wrong button during the voting process, according to a BBC report.

• Thursday, December 22nd 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Peru: Shining Path Rebels 'Will Pay'

  Peru's president declared a state of emergency in six jungle provinces and promised to stamp out the nation's remaining Shining Path guerrillas after suspected rebels killed eight police officers in an ambush.