Economy
The Brazilian Senate included the protocol of Venezuela's adhesion to the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) in its agenda, which paves the way to vote the project next Tuesday, in the event of reaching an agreement among the parties' leaders.

"Voting depends only on the political decision of the leaders of political parties and the board (of directors), the Senate reported on Friday.

The decision of the full Upper Chamber on Venezuela's adhesion protocol, already approved by the Commission of Foreign Affairs of the Legislative Chamber, has been deferred twice over the past two weeks.

On both occasions, Romero Jucá, the leader of the pro-government group, took the decision to postpone voting in view of the low turnout of Senators, which could give more chance of denial by the opposition, which is against membership of the country under the government of President Hugo Chávez.