Ecuador's trade minister resigns after talks with U.S. fail
Ecuador's Trade Minister Jorge Illingworth said Thursday he had submitted resignation to President Alfredo Palacio for what he called the government's failure to back him in trade talks with the United States.

Castro challenges Forbes over report on alleged personal fortune
Cuba's President Fidel Castro described as a "calumny" a U.S. magazine report of his having a personal fortune of around 900 million U.S. dollars, local media said on Thursday.

Cuba, Botswana agree to boost cultural links
Officials from Cuba and Botswana signed an agreement on Thursday to increase cultural links between the two nations.

Brazilian president widens lead in pre-election polls
Brazil's President Luiz Inacion Lula da Silva garnered 40.5 percent of voter preference, 21 percentage points higher than his political rivals in a Wednesday opinion poll.

Chavez willing to follow Supreme Court's order in seeking reelection
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Wednesday that under Venezuela's constitution, he did not have to leave office to be reelected to the presidency, but he would do so if ordered by the country's supreme court.