United States

• Thursday, January 12th 2012 - 04:13 UTC

  Federal Reserve ‘Beige Book’ confirms US economy modest expansion

  

  The US Federal Reserve said on Wednesday that all but one of its 12 banking districts experienced modest expansion from late November through the end of the year. The survey known as the Beige Book showed that the final weeks of 2011 were among the strongest.

• Tuesday, January 10th 2012 - 05:56 UTC

  Ortega inaugurates consecutive mandate; opposition fear he could follow Chavez example

  

  Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega takes office for a third time on Tuesday with an ample majority in Congress and in the presence of close allies such as Iran’s Mahmud Ahmadinejad and Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez.

• Tuesday, January 10th 2012 - 05:53 UTC

  Chavez and Ahmadinejad mock 'US imperialism' and joke about having an atomic bomb

  

  Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Venezuela's Hugo Chávez lavished each other with praise on Monday, mocked US disapproval and joked about having an atomic bomb at their disposal.

• Tuesday, January 10th 2012 - 05:51 UTC

  With October election in mind Chavez back on the air with “Alo Presidente” program

  

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez resumed on Sunday his weekly television and radio broadcast after a seven-month pause. Chavez's program, Alo Presidente, had been halted while he was receiving treatment for cancer.

• Monday, January 9th 2012 - 06:51 UTC

  Iran’s Ahmadinejad begins Latam tour in Venezuela: meeting with Chavez

  

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will welcome his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday on his first stop of a five-nation tour of Latin America, state media reported.

• Sunday, January 8th 2012 - 05:22 UTC

  Chavez names Defence minister Army officer described by the US as a “drug kingpin”

  

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez named as Defence minister General Henry Rangel Silva, who the United States has described as a “drug kingpin” linked to cocaine smuggling from neighbouring Colombia.

• Sunday, January 8th 2012 - 05:18 UTC

  Obama calls on US companies to ‘in-source’ jobs; unemployment falls to 8.5%

  

  President Barack Obama kicked off an effort to encourage US businesses to keep jobs at home instead of outsourcing them overseas, as he rolled out a new election-year theme aimed at courting middle-class voters.

• Friday, January 6th 2012 - 06:58 UTC

  Hillary Clinton, Lula da Silva, Chavez closely following CFK recovery evolution

  

  The US Government said they are closely following the evolution of President Cristina Fernández health after she underwent surgery to remove a thyroid tumour, and highlighted the Argentine leader’s “very good” relationship with Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

• Thursday, January 5th 2012 - 05:11 UTC

  Latam is well aware of the US position regarding Iran, says State Department

  

  United States sent a strong message to Latin American countries preparing to host Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saying Washington’s policy regarding the Teheran regime is “very well known”.

• Wednesday, January 4th 2012 - 06:09 UTC

  China’s Sinopec buys stake in five shale projects in the US

  

  Devon Energy Corp announced Tuesday the sale to China’s Sinopec of a one-third stake in five shale projects in the United States. The terms of the deal call for China’s No. 2 oil company to pay 900 million dollars in cash to the US firm and contribute 1.6 billion toward the cost of drilling.