United States

Thursday, January 22nd 2015 - 06:26 UTC
US/Cuba talks take off and are described as “productive and constructive”

US and Cuban officials launched historic talks to shed their Cold War-era hostility on Wednesday, complimenting each other on the first day's progress despite persistent differences over migration policy.
Wednesday, January 21st 2015 - 08:03 UTC
Obama pledged 'middle-class economics' but faces a Republican congress

US President Barack Obama has declared an end to the financial crisis and pledged economic policies to benefit all Americans, in his annual State of the Union address to Congress. In a speech devised to appeal to working families, Mr Obama outlined his strategy for “middle-class economics”.
Monday, January 19th 2015 - 07:19 UTC
Obama wants tax increases on the wealthy to help middle class families

President Obama is to use Tuesday's State of the Union speech to call for tax increases on the wealthy to help the middle class, officials say. The proposals would raise 320 billion dollars over a decade, to fund benefits such as tax credits.
Saturday, January 17th 2015 - 07:46 UTC
Booming California overtakes Brazil as the world's seventh largest economy

California is overtaking Brazil as the world’s seventh-largest economy, bolstered by rising employment, home values and personal and corporate income, a year after the US most-populous state surpassed Russia and Italy.
Friday, January 16th 2015 - 04:58 UTC
US makes it easier for Americans to travel and make business in Cuba

The United States government on Friday will begin making it easier for Americans to travel to Cuba than it has been for more than half a century, opening the door to a new era of contact between neighbors that have been estranged longer than most of their citizens have been alive.
Thursday, January 15th 2015 - 07:56 UTC
Mexico's Slim poised to become New York Times Co. largest shareholder

Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim is poised to become the largest shareholder in the New York Times Co. after already almost doubling his money from an investment that helped the newspaper get through the financial crisis.
Tuesday, January 13th 2015 - 08:52 UTC
Vast potential energy resources in US Eastern Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific

Two new studies by Quest Offshore Inc. for the (US) National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) and the American Petroleum Institute (API) show vast potential energy and economic benefits to the U.S. if the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific outer continental shelf (OCS) were opened to offshore oil and natural gas development.
Tuesday, January 13th 2015 - 08:10 UTC
US economy creates more jobs; unemployment falls to 5.6% during December

The US economy added 252,000 jobs in December, while the unemployment rate fell to 5.6% from 5.8%, according to Labor Department figures. In addition, figures for the number of jobs created in October and November were both revised upwards. The jobless rate is now at its lowest since June 2008.
Wednesday, January 7th 2015 - 06:56 UTC
Republicans expose divisions as Boehner narrowly wins third term as House speaker

John Boehner narrowly won a third term as United States House of Representatives speaker, surviving a stiff challenge from 25 conservative Republicans as the party took full control of Congress.
Tuesday, January 6th 2015 - 22:49 UTC
Aurelius hedge fund denies being part of lawsuit filed against Petrobras

Aurelius Capital Management, one of the main plaintiffs against Argentina in New York District Judge Thomas Griesa’s courtroom, has denied being part in a lawsuit filed against Brazilian state-owned oil company Petrobras, in response to accusations by Argentina’s Economy Minister Axel Kicillof.