AMERICAS POLITICS & POLICY 5:15pm

OAS urges debate on legalising cannabis

Study says health strategies should consider decriminalisation

Christine Lagarde delivers a speech at the Nikkei Special Forum in Japan ©Getty From GLOBAL ECONOMY May 17, 2013

Global economy lacking demand growth

For every nation reporting good news, there are weaker data elsewhere

Undated file photograph showing former Argentine dictator Jorge Rafael Videla in Buenos Aires. ©AFP May 17, 2013

Argentine ex-dictator Videla dies in jail

Leader during ‘Dirty war’ that claimed the lives of 30,000 people

From GLOBAL ECONOMY May 16, 2013

Growth shows signs of fatigue in Mexico

Estimates suggest worst quarterly figures since 2009

José Mujica ©Getty May 16, 2013

Uruguay’s Mujica lauds booming Brazil ties

President keen to do business with northern neighbour

A worker cuts sugar cane with a machete in the Usina Bonfim farm plantation ©AFP From SPECIAL REPORTS May 16, 2013

Ethanol: Logic of circular biofuel trade comes into question

Sales of commodity intended to reduce greenhouse gases have opposite effect, writes Greg Meyer

Brazil's president Dilma Rousseff and US president Barack Obama ©Getty From SPECIAL REPORTS May 16, 2013

Brazil and the US put politics to one side

A growing sense of friendship between the two countries makes sense in an increasingly multipolar world, writes Joe Leahy

From COMPANIES May 15, 2013

Citi sells Brazil units to Itaú-Unibanco

Deal increases bank’s share of country’s card market to 40%

From COMPANIES May 15, 2013

Brazil oil licences raise record R$2.8bn

Sale will reinvigorate country’s sector after years of delays

From SPECIAL REPORTS May 15, 2013

Argentina: Would-be partners worry about the risk of shale

A US-style boom has not happened, reports Jude Webber

From SPECIAL REPORTS May 15, 2013

Ecopetrol: Company looks to build on post-privatisation boom

Colombian group’s market value has soared since IPO, says Andres Schipani

From SPECIAL REPORTS May 15, 2013

Brazil: Wind gathers force in mix of renewable sources

Joe Leahy reports on a country striving to keep up with middle class demand

AMERICAS SOCIETY May 14, 2013

Builders destroy Mayan pyramid in Belize

Bulldozing ancient mounds for road fill ‘endemic problem’

From MARKETS May 13, 2013

Petrobras bond sale sets record

$11bn offering highlights global corporate bond rally

From MANAGEMENT May 13, 2013

Thunderbird targets women in mining communities

School to deliver management lessons to female entrepreneurs in Latin America

From COMPANIES May 12, 2013

Chevron forced into Argentina rethink

Plans to develop shale oil reserves with YPF thrown into question

May 12, 2013

Doubts surface over ‘Latin America decade’

Region risks losing its way on reforms

May 11, 2013

Former Guatemalan leader jailed for genocide

Efraín Ríos Montt sentenced to 80 years for crimes during civil war

May 10, 2013

Two sides to Brazil’s ‘rainbow’ diplomacy

The country’s neutrality has allowed it to build connections with some unlikely partners

From GLOBAL ECONOMY May 10, 2013

Brazil’s WTO win reflects shifting trade clout

Azevêdo must bring other developing nations on board