United States

• Monday, March 30th 2015 - 06:20 UTC

  Cruise lines are preparing for the Cuban rush of US tourists

  

  Although U.S. tourists are still technically banned from visiting the Caribbean country, one of the world's last remaining authoritarian regimes, the process of normalizing relations between the U.S. and Cuba has the cruise industry ready to pounce, according to Maritime Link.

• Wednesday, March 25th 2015 - 07:35 UTC

  Obama and Rousseff look to improved relations with a visit to the White House

  

  The Obama administration has again invited Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff for a state visit to Washington, a diplomatic breakthrough that both sides hope will lead over time to greater trade between the two biggest economies in the Americas.

• Tuesday, March 24th 2015 - 04:23 UTC

  It's official: Uruguay will not receive any more Guantanamo inmates

  

  Uruguayan Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa said on Monday that Montevideo absolutely will not accept any more inmates from the U.S. prison at Guantanamo, in contrast to the previous government of Jose Mujica, who took in - as refugees - six Middle Eastern men who had been held at the facility.

• Friday, March 20th 2015 - 08:23 UTC

  Venezuela condemns US 'tyrannical” attempts in New York Times full page ad

  

  Venezuela has placed a full page ad in The New York Times decrying what it charges are “tyrannical” attempts by the US government to undermine its socialist system. The ad declaring that “Venezuela is not a threat” comes amid mounting tensions between the two countries after President Nicolás Maduro this month accused Washington of plotting to oust him and ordered the US Embassy in Caracas to slash staffing levels.

• Friday, March 20th 2015 - 08:03 UTC

  US website to honor Nisman has among its sponsors the head of a hedge fund in litigation with Argentina

  

  A Washington-based think-tank launched a website and award to honor the memory of late AMIA special prosecutor Alberto Nisman yet its founders raised a few eyebrows as they include someone who has an ongoing court case and regularly spoken ill of Argentina.

• Thursday, March 19th 2015 - 07:55 UTC

  Fed no longer 'patient' about rates, but drops April and targets June

  

  The U.S. Federal Reserve says it can no longer remain “patient” about changing rates, an indication that interest rate hikes could begin this spring. But in a news conference, Fed chair Janet Yellen said the central bank has not settled on the timing of the rate hike.

• Wednesday, March 18th 2015 - 08:14 UTC

  Failure to approve IMF reforms puts “credibility of the US at risk” Lew warns Congress

  

  The credibility of the United States is at risk if Congress fails to approve International Monetary Fund quota and governance reforms, Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew warned on Tuesday. For more than two years the US Congress has prevented the 2010 IMF reforms from taking effect.

• Monday, March 16th 2015 - 10:48 UTC

  President Maduro will rule the rest of the year with decree powers

  

  Venezuela's parliament has granted President Nicolas Maduro decree powers for the rest of 2015 in a move he says is to defend the country from US meddling but opponents decry as evidence of autocracy. In a noisy National Assembly session, ruling Socialist Party legislators, who have a majority, applauded the “Enabling Law” as a legitimate response to a US declaration that Venezuela is a security threat and sanctions on seven officials.

• Monday, March 16th 2015 - 10:25 UTC

  UK caught on the wrong side in a US/Beijing dispute over Chinese development bank

  

  The US has expressed concern over the UK's bid to become a founding member of a Chinese-backed development bank. The UK is the first big Western economy to apply for membership of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) despite the fact that US has raised questions over the bank's commitment to international standards on governance.

• Monday, March 16th 2015 - 10:08 UTC

  Unasur calls on the US to revoke measures against Venezuela and implement dialogue

  

  The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) slammed the United States for its decision to label Venezuela as a security threat and impose sanctions against a number of its officials, calling on Washington to revoke the measure.