United States

Monday, March 4th 2013 - 06:04 UTC
US fourth quarter GDP revised to positive, but still far from satisfactory

Gross domestic product (GDP) in the US in the last three months of 2012 has been revised from showing contraction to growth. The Commerce Department's second estimate was that the economy had grown at an annualised 0.1%. The first estimate was a 0.1% contraction.
Saturday, March 2nd 2013 - 08:03 UTC
Obama signs spending cuts after no agreement is reached with the Republicans

US President Barack Obama has signed into effect a wave of steep spending cuts which he has warned could damage the US economy. The cuts - known as the sequester and drawn up two years ago will take 85bn dollars from the US federal budget this year.
Friday, March 1st 2013 - 02:01 UTC
Political challenges for the ambitious US-EU trade agreement to ensure Western preeminence

US-EU plans to join forces via a free-trade agreement are taking on shape. During his Berlin visit, US Secretary of State John Kerry described the planned pact as a priority for President Barack Obama's second term and marked out the agreement as a key element in cementing transatlantic ties.
Wednesday, February 27th 2013 - 05:10 UTC
Jack Lew closer to becoming US Treasury Secretary; Senate votes Hagel for the Pentagon

Jack Lew won the Senate Finance Committee’s approval to become US Treasury secretary and a full vote in the upper house confirmed Chuck Hagel as the next US defense secretary. The Senate approved the nomination Tuesday in a vote of 58 to 41.
Saturday, February 23rd 2013 - 06:26 UTC
Hague to discuss US position on Falklands’ referendum with Kerry

Foreign Secretary William Hague will discuss the United States' position on the Falkland Islands with Secretary of State John Kerry following reports that Washington will not recognise the result of next month's referendum.
Thursday, February 21st 2013 - 04:45 UTC
Brazilian soybean farmers oppose contract with Monsanto to end royalties’ dispute

Brazilian farmer groups are opposing a contract that Monsanto the world’s biggest seed company is offering farmers to end a dispute over royalty payments on its genetically modified soybean seeds. Monsanto is trying to resolve uncertainty over its ability to collect fees on its new Intacta soybeans, which it is scheduled to start selling in Brazil during the next growing season.
Thursday, February 14th 2013 - 01:47 UTC
New York court agrees to hear bank that supports Argentina in debt restructure case

A New York federal appeals court has agreed to hear from more parties potentially affected by its review of a decision requiring Argentina to pay 1.33 billion dollars to bondholders who did not participate in two debt restructurings.
Wednesday, February 13th 2013 - 20:43 UTC
Dr. Kim Crosbie named Executive Director of Antarctic tour operators

The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) announced on Wednesday a restructuring of its Secretariat, re-establishing the post of Executive Director, with Dr. Kim Crosbie named to the position.
Wednesday, February 13th 2013 - 20:36 UTC
USA and EU make official talks to begin Atlantic free trade alliance

The United States and the European Union agreed on Wednesday to push for the launch by the end of June of talks to create an Atlantic free trade alliance that could be a benchmark for global partners to follow. A free trade deal would be the most ambitious ever attempted, encompassing half the world's economic output and a third of global trade flows.
Wednesday, February 13th 2013 - 05:24 UTC
Obama challenges Congress to ‘take a vote’ on a package of progressive reforms

President Barack Obama pledged in his annual State of the Union speech to revive the sluggish US economy by creating “good, middle-class jobs”. The Democratic president promised “smarter” rather than bigger government for “the many, and not just the few” and called on Congress 'to take a vote' on a package of progressive reforms..