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An exhibit on climate change in Mexico City?s Papalote children?s ...

(AFPTV) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:10:25 GMT

(AFPTV) - An exhibit on climate change in Mexico City?s Papalote children?s museum aims to raise awareness of global warning in one of the world?s top oil producers. Although Mexico has led global efforts to combat climate change, the issue is still new at home. Duration: 01:40(AFPTV)

File photo shows a security guard in front of the CNOOC global ...

(AFP/File) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:46:11 GMT

(AFP/File) - File photo shows a security guard in front of the CNOOC global headquarters in Beijing. China has dangled a near open cheque book to Africa's major oil producers in a bid to guarantee supplies for decades to come.(AFP/File/Frederic J. Brown)

File photo of a Chinese energy giant CNOOC plant in Daya Bay, ...

(AFP/File) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:02:35 GMT

(AFP/File) - File photo of a Chinese energy giant CNOOC plant in Daya Bay, in southern China. China has dangled a near open cheque book to Africa's major oil producers in a bid to guarantee supplies for decades to come. It has offered 30 billion dollars to Nigeria and is negotiating for stakes in oil fields in Ghana and Angola and companies that exploit the fields throughout Africa.(AFP/File/Laurent Fievet)

OPEC President Jose Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos of Angola (L) ...

(Reuters) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:41:57 GMT

(Reuters) - OPEC President Jose Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos of Angola (L) talks with Ecuador's President Rafael Correa at Carondelet Palace during his visit, in Quito November 5, 2009. REUTERS/Teddy Garcia (ECUADOR POLITICS ENERGY BUSINESS)

OPEC President Jose Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos of Angola (L) ...

(Reuters) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:40:49 GMT

(Reuters) - OPEC President Jose Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos of Angola (L) greets Ecuador's President Rafael Correa at Carondelet Palace during his visit, in Quito November 5, 2009. REUTERS/Teddy Garcia (ECUADOR POLITICS)

Ecuador's President Rafael Correa, right, gestures during a ...

(AP) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:08:00 GMT

(AP) - Ecuador's President Rafael Correa, right, gestures during a meeting with the President of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, Jose Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos at the Government Palace in Quito, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. Vasconcelos is on a visit to Ecuador to meet local authorities. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

Ecuador's President Rafael Correa, right, shakes hands with ...

(AP) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:56:03 GMT

(AP) - Ecuador's President Rafael Correa, right, shakes hands with the President of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, Jose Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos at the Government Palace in Quito, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. Vasconcelos is on a visit to Ecuador to meet local authorities. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

Map of northern Europe showing the route of the planned Nord ...

(AFP/Graphic) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:52:18 GMT

(AFP/Graphic) - Map of northern Europe showing the route of the planned Nord Stream gas pipeline. After years of procrastination, Sweden and Finland agreed on Thursday to allow the Russian-led Nord Stream pipeline to pass through their waters in the Baltic Sea, a crucial step for the project destined to supply Europe with Russian gas.(AFP/Graphic)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin attends the 3rd Russian-Finnish ...

(AFP/RIA/File) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:52:18 GMT

(AFP/RIA/File) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin attends the 3rd Russian-Finnish Forest Summit in St. Petersburg, in October 2009. After years of procrastination, Sweden and Finland agreed on Thursday to allow the Russian-led Nord Stream pipeline to pass through their waters in the Baltic Sea, a crucial step for the project destined to supply Europe with Russian gas.(AFP/RIA/File/Aleksey Nikolskyi)

Exxon Mobil Upstream Ventures president Richard Vierbuchen looks ...

(AFP) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:37:02 GMT

(AFP) - Exxon Mobil Upstream Ventures president Richard Vierbuchen looks on during a preliminary signing of an oil agreement in Baghdad. Exxon Mobil became the first US company to win a contract since Iraq's oil industry was nationalised almost 40 years ago, further expanding the role of foreign nations in the industry.(AFP/Sabah Arar)

An Exxon gas station sign. Exxon Mobil became the first US company ...

(AFP/File) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:37:02 GMT

(AFP/File) - An Exxon gas station sign. Exxon Mobil became the first US company to win a contract since Iraq's oil industry was nationalised almost 40 years ago, further expanding the role of foreign nations in the industry.(AFP/File/Karen Bleier)

Oil experts work on an Iraqi oilfield, north of Baghdad. Exxon ...

(AFP/File) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:37:02 GMT

(AFP/File) - Oil experts work on an Iraqi oilfield, north of Baghdad. Exxon Mobil became the first US company to win a contract since Iraq's oil industry was nationalised almost 40 years ago, further expanding the role of foreign nations in the industry.(AFP/File/Karim Sahib)

Exxon Mobil Upstream Ventures Ltd.'s president, Richard C. Vierbuchen, ...

(AP) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:46:11 GMT

(AP) - Exxon Mobil Upstream Ventures Ltd.'s president, Richard C. Vierbuchen, left, speaks beside Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani, center, and Senior Deputy Oil Minister for upstream Abdul Karim al-Luaybi, right, during the signing of an oil agreement, in Baghdad Iraq, on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. A consortium grouping U.S. and European oil giants Exxon Mobil Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell PLC won the right to develop one of Iraq's most prized oil fields, Iraq's Oil Ministry spokesman said on Thursday, as the OPEC nation looks to revamp its battered energy sector.(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani, left, looks on as ...

(AP) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:35:34 GMT

(AP) - Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani, left, looks on as Exxon Mobil Upstream Ventures Ltd.'s president Richard C. Vierbuchen, right, and Abdul-Mehdi Al-Amidi, the Deputy Director-General of the Department contracts and permits in the Iraqi oil ministry sign an oil agreement, in Baghdad, Iraq, on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. A consortium grouping U.S. and European oil giants Exxon Mobil Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell PLC won the right to develop one of Iraq's most prized oil fields, Iraq's Oil Ministry spokesman said on Thursday, as the OPEC nation looks to revamp its battered energy sector. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Exxon Mobil Upstream Ventures Ltd.'s president, Richard C. Vierbuchen, ...

(AP) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:35:06 GMT

(AP) - Exxon Mobil Upstream Ventures Ltd.'s president, Richard C. Vierbuchen, signs an oil agreement, in Baghdad, Iraq, on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. A consortium grouping U.S. and European oil giants Exxon Mobil Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell PLC won the right to develop one of Iraq's most prized oil fields, Iraq's Oil Ministry spokesman said on Thursday, as the OPEC nation looks to revamp its battered energy sector.(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Exxon Mobil Upstream Ventures Ltd.'s president, Richard C. Vierbuchen, ...

(AP) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:19:59 GMT

(AP) - Exxon Mobil Upstream Ventures Ltd.'s president, Richard C. Vierbuchen, right, and Abdul-Mehdi Al-Amidi, the Deputy Director-General of the Department contracts and permits in the Iraqi oil ministry sign an oil agreement, in Baghdad, Iraq, on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. A consortium grouping U.S. and European oil giants Exxon Mobil Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell PLC won the right to develop one of Iraq's most prized oil fields, Iraq's Oil Ministry spokesman said on Thursday, as the OPEC nation looks to revamp its battered energy sector. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Exxon Mobil Upstream Ventures Ltd.'s president, Richard C. Vierbuchen, ...

(AP) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:19:21 GMT

(AP) - Exxon Mobil Upstream Ventures Ltd.'s president, Richard C. Vierbuchen, right,and Abdul-Mehdi Al-Amidi, the Deputy Director-General of the Department contracts and permits in the Iraqi oil ministry sign an oil agreement, in Baghdad, Iraq, on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. A consortium grouping U.S. and European oil giants Exxon Mobil Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell PLC won the right to develop one of Iraq's most prized oil fields, Iraq's Oil Ministry spokesman said on Thursday, as the OPEC nation looks to revamp its battered energy sector. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Exxon Mobil Upstream Ventures Ltd.'s president, Richard C. Vierbuchen, ...

(AP) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:18:51 GMT

(AP) - Exxon Mobil Upstream Ventures Ltd.'s president, Richard C. Vierbuchen, right,and Abdul-Mehdi Al-Amidi, the Deputy Director-General of the Department contracts and permits in the Iraqi oil ministry shake hands, during a signing ceremony of an oil agreement, in Baghdad, Iraq, on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. A consortium grouping U.S. and European oil giants Exxon Mobil Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell PLC won the right to develop one of Iraq's most prized oil fields, Iraq's Oil Ministry spokesman said on Thursday, as the OPEC nation looks to revamp its battered energy sector. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Exxon Mobil Upstream Ventures Ltd.'s president Richard C. Vierbuchen, ...

(AP) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:11:49 GMT

(AP) - Exxon Mobil Upstream Ventures Ltd.'s president Richard C. Vierbuchen, left, and Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani shake hands during the signing of an oil agreement, in Baghdad Iraq, on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. A consortium grouping U.S. and European oil giants Exxon Mobil Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell PLC won the right to develop one of Iraq's most prized oil fields, Iraq's Oil Ministry spokesman said on Thursday, as the OPEC nation looks to revamp its battered energy sector. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

FILE - In this file picture taken on Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, ...

(AP) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:39:48 GMT

(AP) - FILE - In this file picture taken on Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, Iraqi workers walk on pipelines of an oil refinery in the town of Zubair near the city of Basra 550 kilometers (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq. A deal to develop the West Qurna Stage 1 oil field, on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, is the third such agreement in less than a week between a foreign oil consortium and Iraq, as the OPEC nation looks to revamp its battered energy sector. (AP Photo/Nabil al-Jourani, file)

FILE - In this file photo of Friday, July 17, 2009, an Iraqi ...

(AP) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:16:55 GMT

(AP) - FILE - In this file photo of Friday, July 17, 2009, an Iraqi worker operates valves at the Nahran Omar oil refinery near the city of Basra 550 kilometers (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq. A consortium grouping U.S. and European oil giants Exxon Mobil Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell PLC won the right to develop one of Iraq's most prized oil fields, Iraq's Oil Ministry spokesman said on Thursday Nov. 5, 2009, as the OPEC nation looks to revamp its battered energy sector. (AP Photo/Nabil al-Jourani, file)

Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein Shahristani, 2007. US major Exxon ...

(AFP/File) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:57:39 GMT

(AFP/File) - Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein Shahristani, 2007. US major Exxon Mobil has won a contract to develop West Qurna 1 field, the oil ministry said, as the foreign role in Iraq's oil industry widens with China leading the way.(AFP/File/Maxim Marmur)

Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein Shahristani, 2007. US major Exxon ...

(AFP/File) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:57:39 GMT

A barge holds sections of pipes to be used in an undersea pipeline ...

(Reuters) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:50:42 GMT

(Reuters) - A barge holds sections of pipes to be used in an undersea pipeline in this April 9, 2009 handout photo. A plan by Russian-German consortium Nord Stream to build a gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea cleared one of its final hurdles on Thursday as Sweden signed off on construction across Swedish waters. Picture taken April 9, 2009. REUTERS/Klaus von Mandelsloh/Nord Stream/Handout (SWEDEN ENERGY BUSINESS) NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

In this aerial photo of Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, an oil storage ...

(AP) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:34:54 GMT

(AP) - In this aerial photo of Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, an oil storage facility is shown in Linden, N.J. Crude prices bounced above $80 per barrel once again on Wednesday, a level that even OPEC leaders have said is too high given the fragile state of the global economy. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

In this aerial photo of Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, an oil storage ...

(AP) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:33:29 GMT

China National Petroleum Corp, the country's top oil producer, ...

(AFP/File) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:30:32 GMT

(AFP/File) - China National Petroleum Corp, the country's top oil producer, has kicked off construction of a pipeline across Myanmar that should give the Asian giant quicker access to oil supplies in the secretive military-ruled state.(AFP/File/Ted Aljibe)

Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani speaks to the press ...

(AP) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:17:01 GMT

(AP) - Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani speaks to the press after the end of an oil deal signing ceremony in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. Iraq on Tuesday finalized a deal with a British-Chinese consortium to develop its biggest oil field, a deal marking a milestone moment in the OPEC nation's push to lure foreign investors sorely needed to revamp its battered oil sector. The 20-year contract signed by Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani and executives from British oil giant BP PLC and China's CNPC gives the two companies development rights to the 17.8 billion barrel Rumaila field in Iraq, home to the world's third largest proven oil reserves. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani , right, reads a paper ...

(AP) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:16:48 GMT

(AP) - Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani , right, reads a paper as BP's CEO Tony Hayward,center, and Jiang Jiemin, Chairman and the General Manager of CNPC, look at him during during an oil deal signing ceremony, in Baghdad, Iraq, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. Iraq on Tuesday finalized a deal with a British-Chinese consortium to develop its biggest oil field, a deal marking a milestone moment in the OPEC nation's push to lure foreign investors sorely needed to revamp its battered oil sector.The 20-year contract signed by Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani and executives from British oil giant BP PLC and China's CNPC gives the two companies development rights to the 17.8 billion barrel Rumaila field in Iraq, home to the world's third largest proven oil reserves.(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani , right, watches BP's ...

(AP) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:54:29 GMT

(AP) - Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani , right, watches BP's CEO Tony Hayward, signing a contract to invest in the Rumaila oilfield, in Baghdad, Iraq, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. Iraq on Tuesday finalized a deal with a British-Chinese consortium to develop its biggest oil field, a deal marking a milestone moment in the OPEC nation's push to lure foreign investors sorely needed to revamp its battered oil sector.The 20-year contract signed by Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani and executives from British oil giant BP PLC and China's CNPC gives the two companies development rights to the 17.8 billion barrel Rumaila field in Iraq, home to the world's third largest proven oil reserves.(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani, right, watches BP's ...

(AP) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:51:08 GMT

(AP) - Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani, right, watches BP's CEO Tony Hayward, center, and Jiang Jiemin, Chairman and the General Manager of CNPC, right, signing a contract to invest in the Rumaila oilfield, in Baghdad, Iraq, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. Iraq on Tuesday finalized a deal with a British-Chinese consortium to develop its biggest oil field, a deal marking a milestone moment in the OPEC nation's push to lure foreign investors sorely needed to revamp its battered oil sector. The 20-year contract signed by Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani and executives from British oil giant BP PLC and China's CNPC gives the two companies development rights to the 17.8 billion barrel Rumaila field in Iraq, home to the world's third largest proven oil reserves.(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

BP's CEO Tony Hayward, left, shakes hand with Dhiya Jaafar, ...

(AP) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:50:16 GMT

(AP) - BP's CEO Tony Hayward, left, shakes hand with Dhiya Jaafar, acting chief of Iraq's South Oil Company, right, as Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani, center, looks on during an oil signing ceremony, in Baghdad, Iraq, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. Iraq on Tuesday finalized a deal with a British-Chinese consortium to develop its biggest oil field, a deal marking a milestone moment in the OPEC nation's push to lure foreign investors sorely needed to revamp its battered oil sector. The 20-year contract signed by Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani and executives from British oil giant BP PLC and China's CNPC gives the two companies development rights to the 17.8 billion barrel Rumaila field in Iraq, home to the world's third largest proven oil reserves.(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Jiang Jiemin, Chairman and the General Manager of CNPC speaks ...

(AP) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:15:12 GMT

(AP) - Jiang Jiemin, Chairman and the General Manager of CNPC speaks during an oil signing ceremony, in Baghdad, Iraq, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. Iraq on Tuesday finalized a deal with a British-Chinese consortium to develop its biggest oil field, a deal marking a milestone moment in the OPEC nation's push to lure foreign investors sorely needed to revamp its battered oil sector.The 20-year contract signed by Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani and executives from British oil giant BP PLC and China's CNPC gives the two companies development rights to the 17.8 billion barrel Rumaila field in Iraq, home to the world's third largest proven oil reserves.(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

BP's CEO Tony Hayward, speaks during an oil signing ceremony, ...

(AP) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:14:03 GMT

(AP) - BP's CEO Tony Hayward, speaks during an oil signing ceremony, in Baghdad, Iraq, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. Iraq on Tuesday finalized a deal with a British-Chinese consortium to develop its biggest oil field, a deal marking a milestone moment in the OPEC nation's push to lure foreign investors sorely needed to revamp its battered oil sector.The 20-year contract signed by Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani and executives from British oil giant BP PLC and China's CNPC gives the two companies development rights to the 17.8 billion barrel Rumaila field in Iraq, home to the world's third largest proven oil reserves.(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

BP's CEO Tony Hayward, speaks during an oil signing ceremony, ...

(AP) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:13:42 GMT

British oil giant BP's CEO Tony Hayward,left, and Iraqi Oil ...

(AP) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:13:05 GMT

(AP) - British oil giant BP's CEO Tony Hayward,left, and Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani pose for a picture during an oil signing ceremony, in Baghdad, Iraq, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. Iraq on Tuesday finalized a deal with a British-Chinese consortium to develop its biggest oil field, a deal marking a milestone moment in the OPEC nation's push to lure foreign investors sorely needed to revamp its battered oil sector. The 20-year contract signed by Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani and executives from British oil giant BP PLC and China's CNPC gives the two companies development rights to the 17.8 billion barrel Rumaila field in Iraq, home to the world's third largest proven oil reserves.(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Jiang Jiemin, Chairman and the General Manager of CNPC, left, ...

(AP) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:49:37 GMT

(AP) - Jiang Jiemin, Chairman and the General Manager of CNPC, left, BP's CEO Tony Hayward, center, and Dhiya Jaafar, acting chief of Iraq's South Oil Company shake hands during an oil signing ceremony, in Baghdad, Iraq, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. Iraq on Tuesday finalized a deal with a British-Chinese consortium to develop its biggest oil field, a deal marking a milestone moment in the OPEC nation's push to lure foreign investors sorely needed to revamp its battered oil sector.The 20-year contract signed by Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani and executives from British oil giant BP PLC and China's CNPC gives the two companies development rights to the 17.8 billion barrel Rumaila field in Iraq, home to the world's third largest proven oil reserves.(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Jiang Jiemin, Chairman and the General Manager of CNPC, left, ...

(AP) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:48:47 GMT

(AP) - Jiang Jiemin, Chairman and the General Manager of CNPC, left, BP's CEO Tony Hayward, center, and Dhiya Jaafar, acting chief of Iraq's South Oil Company shake hands during an oil deal signing ceremony, in Baghdad, Iraq, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. Iraq on Tuesday finalized a deal with a British-Chinese consortium to develop its biggest oil field, a deal marking a milestone moment in the OPEC nation's push to lure foreign investors sorely needed to revamp its battered oil sector.The 20-year contract signed by Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani and executives from British oil giant BP PLC and China's CNPC gives the two companies development rights to the 17.8 billion barrel Rumaila field in Iraq, home to the world's third largest proven oil reserves.(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

A worker collects oil palm fruits at a plantation in Sepang ...

(Reuters) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:36:04 GMT

(Reuters) - A worker collects oil palm fruits at a plantation in Sepang outside Kuala Lumpur November 3, 2009. The palm oil industry confronts critics and consumers in a meeting this week in Malaysia as it looks to beef up green standards that already include commitments to preserve rainforests and wildlife. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad (MALAYSIA BUSINESS ENERGY ENVIRONMENT)

The planned route for the planned Nabucco gas pipeline. An Iranian ...

(AFP/Graphic) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:20:22 GMT

(AFP/Graphic) - The planned route for the planned Nabucco gas pipeline. An Iranian official said on Saturday that European firms are in talks for Iran to join the EU's flagship Nabucco gas pipeline project, which aims to reduce the bloc's reliance on Russia, Mehr news agency reported.(AFP/Graphic)

Senators raise their hands during a session in Mexico City October ...

(Reuters) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:21:00 GMT

(Reuters) - Senators raise their hands during a session in Mexico City October 30, 2009. Mexico's Senate approved a watered-down version on Friday of President Felipe Calderon's proposal to raise the value-added tax rate in order to reduce Mexico's dependence on its waning oil industry. The vote marks a partial victory for Calderon, whose original plan would have broadened Mexico's tax base but was rejected in the lower house last week. REUTERS/Jorge Dan (MEXICO POLITICS BUSINESS)

Motorist fill their tanks with fuel at a shell gas station in ...

(Reuters) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:53:50 GMT

(Reuters) - Motorist fill their tanks with fuel at a shell gas station in Phoenix, Arizona October 29, 2009. Exxon Mobil Corp, Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Eni SpA dashed hopes for an imminent turnaround for the oil industry, saying sluggish economic recovery was weighing on energy demand and prices. REUTERS/Joshua Lott (UNITED STATES ENERGY BUSINESS)

The Shell logo is seen at a gas station in Phoenix, Arizona ...

(Reuters) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:52:45 GMT

(Reuters) - The Shell logo is seen at a gas station in Phoenix, Arizona October 29, 2009. Exxon Mobil Corp, Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Eni SpA dashed hopes for an imminent turnaround for the oil industry, saying sluggish economic recovery was weighing on energy demand and prices. REUTERS/Joshua Lott (UNITED STATES ENERGY BUSINESS)

A woman walks back to her car at a Shell gas station in Phoenix, ...

(Reuters) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:50:37 GMT

(Reuters) - A woman walks back to her car at a Shell gas station in Phoenix, Arizona October 29, 2009. Exxon Mobil Corp, Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Eni SpA dashed hopes for an imminent turnaround for the oil industry, saying sluggish economic recovery was weighing on energy demand and prices. REUTERS/Joshua Lott (UNITED STATES ENERGY BUSINESS)

A man walks past a Shell gas station in Phoenix, Arizona October ...

(Reuters) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:50:35 GMT

(Reuters) - A man walks past a Shell gas station in Phoenix, Arizona October 29, 2009. Exxon Mobil Corp, Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Eni SpA dashed hopes for an imminent turnaround for the oil industry, saying sluggish economic recovery was weighing on energy demand and prices. REUTERS/Joshua Lott (UNITED STATES ENERGY BUSINESS)

Control valves are seen on the tanker pipeline dock at the liquefied ...

(AFP/File) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:17:42 GMT

(AFP/File) - Control valves are seen on the tanker pipeline dock at the liquefied natural gas plant near Korsakov on Sakhalin island, a Russian island north of Japan's northernmost island Hokkaido, February 2009. Russia's economy is still hugely dependent on energy exports.(AFP/File/Natalia Kolesnikova)

An oil refinery in the oil rich city of Kirkuk, north of Baghdad ...

(AFP/File) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:40:30 GMT

(AFP/File) - An oil refinery in the oil rich city of Kirkuk, north of Baghdad in 2007. A crude oil pipeline in northern Iraq has been damaged by attempted sabotage earlier this week, an oil ministry spokesman has said.(AFP/File/Marwan Ibrahim)

REUTERS PICTURES OF THE DECADE. A man rinses soot from his face ...

(Reuters) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:07:11 GMT

(Reuters) - REUTERS PICTURES OF THE DECADE. A man rinses soot from his face at the scene of a gas pipeline explosion near Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos December 26, 2006. Up to 500 people were burned alive on Tuesday when fuel from a vandalised pipeline exploded in Nigeria's largest city, Lagos, emergency workers said. Hundreds of residents of the Abule Egba district went to scoop fuel using plastic containers after thieves punctured the underground pipeline overnight to siphon fuel into a road tanker, locals said. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye (NIGERIA)

VIDEO: Nigerian rebel group MEND targets oil producers in Niger ...

(AFPTV) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:52:30 GMT

(AFPTV) - VIDEO: Nigerian rebel group MEND targets oil producers in Niger Delta. Originally filed 270509. Duration: 1:48(AFPTV)

Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, left, and his Russian ...

(AP) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:24:02 GMT

(AP) - Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, left, and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, right, speak during a news conference at an international meeting of forest producers in St. Petersburg, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. Putin said Sunday that Russia will further delay the introduction of a higher export duty on raw timber that has deeply worried neighboring Finland, while the Finnish premier promised to soon give the go-ahead to Russia's Nord Stream natural gas pipeline. (AP Photo/Alexei Nikolsky, Pool)