Mercosur

• Friday, December 30th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Bolivia's Morales on a quick visit to Cuba

  Evo Morales, the elected Bolivian president who describes himself as “anti-imperialist” is leaving for a long pre-inauguration international tour that begins Friday in Cuba with Fidel Castro.

• Friday, December 30th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Extra second to clocks midnight December 31

  Scientists are delaying the start of the New Year by adding the first “leap second” in seven years to keep clocks in sync with solar time used by astronomers.

• Friday, December 30th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  “Too many immigrants”, say Spaniards

  In spite of a generous amnesty that in 2005 legalized the residence and employment of hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants, Spaniards are worried about the influx of foreigners and believe that too many already are in the country.

• Wednesday, December 28th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Panama Canal could become obsolete in 2013

  The Panama Canal will be obsolete by 2013 when it won't be able to service large vessels, larger than the current capacity of the inter-oceanic passage, warned a paper from the Panama Canal Authority, ACP.

• Wednesday, December 28th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  United against Kirchner's reform

  Argentine opposition binds together against Kirchner for first time to reject shrinking of Council of Magistrates.

• Wednesday, December 28th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile communists to back Bachelet

  Chile's Communist party pledged yesterday to back presidential candidate Michelle Bachelet in a tight run-off in January against a rightist alliance.

• Wednesday, December 28th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Petrobras finds large oil field

  Brazilian state-run oil company Petrobras said it found a “gigantic” oil field containing the equivalent of nearly 10 percent of the South American nation's current reserves

• Wednesday, December 28th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  “Humala factor” scares Peruvian business and politicians

  A controversial retired military officer who irrupted in the Peruvian presidential race only four months ago with a strong nationalist message and as a declared admirer of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez for the first time is leading in public opinion polls.

• Wednesday, December 28th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Morales pro business and investment but cautions US

  Playing at both ends, Bolivian elected president Evo Morales was hailed by his political enemies when he promised to sponsor regional autonomies, but close aides also cautioned that his administration would not accept any United States aid if it's conditioned to fighting drugs.

• Wednesday, December 28th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina-Chile UN stand-by combined peace force

  Chile and Argentina sealed an agreement this week in Buenos Aires creating the Argentina-Chile Combined Peace Force, the first initiative of its kind in the hemisphere.