USA and Canada

Net income for the technology giant came in at $6.56 billion for the October-to-December period, up from the $6.38 billion posted a year earlier. Earnings for the firm were boosted by sales of the new Xbox One console and its range of Surface tablets, as well as strong demand from businesses for its cloud computing services. Sales of the firm's cloud programs, such as Office 365 and Azure, more than doubled in the December quarter from a year earlier, while sales of its Surface tablets doubled from the previous quarter.

Founded in 1977, Grupo Zeta started life as a simple sales organisation set up by the legendary Don Miguel Zaragoza Fuentes, one of Mexico's best known entrepreneurs. Knowing that there would be a growing demand for gas in the country as its industrial base grew in tandem with its population, Zaragoza then set about the task of creating a full-scale downstream industry. He began to fabricate storage tanks, gas cylinders and every kind of gas handling equipment. Today Grupo Zeta is a fully integrated gas company that employs 70,000 people.

Though its mining history may span close to 500 years and counting, Mexico remains a major mineral exploration ground and retains its position amongst the world’s largest metal producers. The country’s rich geology and favourable regulations has made it an epicentre for mining activity, not least it is mountainous northern region, home to the legendary Sierra Madre gold and silver belt. It is here, 220 kilometres west of Chihuahua, where one finds the Pinos Altos mine.

The announcement by the German carmaker comes as it seeks to boost its sales in the region, and the world’s biggest carmaker by 2018. By that time the company also hopes to achieve its goal of selling a million Volkswagens and Audis, its luxury brand, to American customers.

As we have recently seen in our extensive coverage of Trinidad & Tobago’s state oil company Petrotrin and its engagement in the exploration, development and production of hydrocarbons as well as the manufacturing and marketing of petroleum products, this island nation’s near term future is largely defined by its onshore and offshore resources. Major and junior exploration companies are scrapping over new licences and preparing to pour billions of dollars into development projects.

Ever since it was founded in 1989, DRS have worked tirelessly to forge a level of trust between itself and its customers based on a combination of experience, technical capacity and reliability. From its headquarters in Santiago, Chile, the company delivers comprehensive building projects services and works that enables it to successfully manage a project from its initial design stages right through to commissioning.

SportStream specialises in analysing social media mentions of sport and enables its users to aggregate, filter and display what it describes as “real-time” data. By acquiring the business Facebook will be making it easier for its media partners to find posts about sport on its website and use them in their content.

The measure opens up state-run oil fields to foreign investment, allowing private firm to explore and extract oil and gas alongside the state-run company Pemex, and subsequently claim a share of any profits made.

Following the Senate vote President Enrique Pena Nieto wrote on Twitter that it was "a significant decision for Mexico". Mr Pena Nieto said it was necessary to modernise Mexico's energy sector and increase oil production, which has dropped from 3.4 million barrels per day in 2004 to the current rate of 2.5 million barrels per day.

It was in 2011 that Range Resources entered into the oil market of Trinidad. A listed oil and gas exploration, development and production company already boasting interests in Puntland, Somalia, Texas, USA and the Republic of Georgia, Range’s arrival on the Caribbean’s southernmost island nation was instigated through the acquisition of 100 percent interest in three production licences, Morne Diablo, South Quarry and Beach Marcelle.