Politics

• Thursday, April 26th 2012 - 21:00 UTC

  Chavez is back in Caracas, “with any adverse reaction to the treatment”

  

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez returned home after 11 days of cancer treatment in Cuba as the state television showed images of the Head of State chatting with his vice president and other aides after arriving at Caracas' international airport early Thursday.

• Thursday, April 26th 2012 - 06:18 UTC

  IMF tells Latam good days are not forever and should rebuild ‘defence walls’

  

  The IMF warned Latin America on Wednesday that favourable economic conditions are not for ever and called on the region’s countries to “rebuild defences” ahead of an uncertain economic future.

• Thursday, April 26th 2012 - 06:07 UTC

  Brazilian congress approves forest bill that further threatens Amazon basin

  

  Brazil’s Lower house of Congress on Wednesday approved a bill that weakens the country’s benchmark environmental law protecting the Amazon and other areas, a move that some fear will lead to a spike in deforestation.

• Thursday, April 26th 2012 - 05:59 UTC

  Brazil investing heavily in developing Peruvian natural gas sector

  

  Three of Brazil's leading companies said on Wednesday they are increasing investment and exploration in Peru's natural gas sector as the country prepares to build a new pipeline and petrochemical plants.

• Thursday, April 26th 2012 - 05:54 UTC

  Brazil loan delinquencies down; Rousseff wants lower rates from private banks

  

  Loan delinquencies at Brazilian banks fell in March for the first time this year, a sign that households are reining in debt to get current on their obligations, central bank data showed on Wednesday.

• Thursday, April 26th 2012 - 05:51 UTC

  US promises advanced military technology if Brazil buys Boeing F/A18 fighters

  

  Brazil will get US advanced technology transfers if it buys Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet to upgrade its air force, visiting US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said on Wednesday.

• Thursday, April 26th 2012 - 05:48 UTC

  Chilean students take to the streets in support of education reform

  

  Tens of thousands of students took to the streets in Chile in support of education reform. Organisers said at least 50.000 marched in the capital Santiago on Wednesday, with police saying 25.000 attended.

• Thursday, April 26th 2012 - 05:45 UTC

  Fed prepared to inject more funds to help lower unemployment

  

  Chairman Ben Bernanke on Wednesday said US monetary policy was “more or less in the right place” even though the central bank would not hesitate to launch another round of bond purchases if the economy were to weaken.

• Thursday, April 26th 2012 - 03:11 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez and “The elixir of populism”, by Brazil’s leading magazine

  

  As usual the Argentine people will suffer the most, victims of a “cheap nationalism” seduction inspired in the “Venezuela process”, says the latest edition of Veja, Brazil’s weekly magazine with the largest circulation, in an article dedicated to the seizure of YPF from Repsol.

• Thursday, April 26th 2012 - 01:33 UTC

  Argentina warns Falklands’ oil companies of May 2 deadline when legal actions begin

  

  Argentina once again warned oil companies considered by the Government to be “illegally operating” in the Falklands/Malvinas Islands, and reiterated it will press charges against them unless they justify their actions before next Wednesday, May 2.