United States
United StatesNew York appeals court rejects “legal personhood” to chimpanzees
In the first case of its kind, a New York appeals court has rejected an animal rights advocate's bid to extend “legal personhood” to chimpanzees, saying the primates are incapable of bearing the responsibilities that come with having legal rights.
Obama makes official nomination of Ashton Carter as Pentagon chief
President Barack Obama on Friday named Ashton Carter, a highly regarded technocrat, to lead the Pentagon as the US military embarks on the latest phase in its 13-year war against Islamic extremists.
UN human rights experts bash US courts on latest racial killings
A group of United Nations human rights experts said on Friday that they had “legitimate concerns” over decisions to not charge the white officers who killed two unarmed black men in separate incidents, and they also called for a review of policing in the United States.
Finally Argentina will have a US ambassador: he never visited the country or speaks Spanish
The United States Senate confirmed soap opera producer Colleen Bell to be the next U.S. ambassador to Hungary and political consultant Noah Mamet to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Argentina on Tuesday. Neither of the two newly-confirmed Ambassadors are career diplomats, but both raised millions for President Obama's Presidential campaigns.
US wants to continue with president-elect Vazquez the “vibrant relationship” developed with Mujica
Secretary of State John Kerry congratulated on Monday Uruguayan president-elect Tabare Vazquez on his Sunday victory, and said that the US looks forward to working with the new administration and to continue advancing with the “vibrant relationship we have had” under the leadership of President Jose Mujica.
Slow planting season cuts soybean production prospects for Brazil
US officials joined market analysts cutting Brazilian soybean production prospects thanks to a slow planting season, but maintained expectations of a, small, rise in exports to a record high.
Racial relations becomes political debate in the US following the Ferguson trial and verdict
More National Guard troops and police have been sent to Ferguson, Missouri to head off a third night of violence, as over 400 people have been arrested in the St. Louis suburb and around the United States in unrest after a white policeman was cleared in the killing of an unarmed black teenager.
US economy stronger and growing sturdier than most forecasts
The US economy grew much faster in the third quarter than first reported, official figures have shown. It expanded at an annual zed rate of 3.9% between July and September, up from the 3.5% first estimated by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Follow the sand to the real fracking boom
When it takes up to four million pounds of sand to frack a single well, it’s no wonder that demand is outpacing supply and frack sand producers are becoming the biggest behind-the-scenes beneficiaries of the American oil and gas boom.
Two hard-core Pentagon former officials candidates for US Secretary of Defense
President Barack Obama is considering two former Defense Department officials as successors to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, administration officials said on Monday. Both are seasoned national security professionals whose credibility among members of both parties and Defense Department experience would be considered assets in managing the threat from the Islamic State, budget cuts and other challenges.
