United States

Monday, January 14th 2013 - 06:29 UTC
Growing number of US states pushing to concentrate fiscal revenue on sales tax

Attempts to overhaul the US federal tax system are fading in a divided congress in Washington, but in some state capitals, tax reform experiments - some far-reaching - are fast taking shape. Across the South and Midwest, Republicans have consolidated control of state legislatures and governorships, giving them the power to test long-debated tax ideas.
Monday, January 14th 2013 - 06:24 UTC
Flu outbreak forces New York State to declare a public health emergency

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a public health emergency Sunday, giving pharmacists permission to administer flu vaccinations to more people as officials seek to stem the worst flu outbreak in that state in several years.
Monday, January 14th 2013 - 06:20 UTC
Twenty million US children, one in four, received food stamps in 2011

One in four children in the United States participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps, in fiscal year 2011, according to data from the United States Department of Agriculture and US Census Bureau.
Saturday, January 12th 2013 - 18:57 UTC
P&O cruise line suspends stops in Argentina, confirms calls in the Falklands

British cruise line operator P&O has scrapped stops in Argentina because of continuing tensions with the country over the Falkland Islands. Two of its vessels will no longer dock at three Argentine port destinations on around-the-world cruises. The decision was taken because there was no guarantee they will be able to dock.
Friday, January 11th 2013 - 08:25 UTC
Obama nominates budget expert to replace Geithner as Treasury Secretary

US President Barack Obama on Thursday nominated his chief of staff, Jack Lew, as the next Treasury secretary, praising him as a expert on the pressing national issues of spending cuts and deficit reduction.
Wednesday, January 9th 2013 - 05:32 UTC
US says Chavez succession is an issue for Venezuelans to decide and must include all voices

The United States is concerned for the health of President Hugo Chavez and wishing a speedy recovery, but the succession situation in Venezuela “is an issue for Venezuelans to decide” and it should be done in a manner “that includes all the voices in the discussion”, said State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland on Tuesday.
Wednesday, January 9th 2013 - 05:07 UTC
Ms Nahón confirmed as Argentine ambassador in the US; takes office in February

The US government approved the designation of Cecilia Nahón as the next Argentine Ambassador to the US, leading to her official appointment in the post, according to a release from the Foreign Ministry in Buenos Aires.
Tuesday, January 8th 2013 - 21:13 UTC
Sub-prime mortgage scandal: several US banks agree compensations totalling 20bn

Bank of America has agreed to pay US government mortgage agency Fannie Mae 11.6bn dollars to settle claims relating to residential home loans. The bank will pay 10.3bn to settle claims relating to the loans and 1.3bn in compensation to the agency.
Tuesday, January 8th 2013 - 20:21 UTC
Corn-seed sales in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico help Monsanto with record earnings

US agricultural giant Monsanto Tuesday posted a large increase in quarterly earnings on strong results in corn seed sales in the US and Latin America and better sales of pesticides. The St Louis-based corporation said net income for the first quarter was 339 million dollars, up from 126 million a year earlier.
Monday, January 7th 2013 - 13:52 UTC
Several Fed members fearing inflation want a cap to the bond-buying program

A number of senior figures at the Federal Reserve want the US central bank to stop or slow down its bond-buying program “well before the end of 2013”. December minutes of its interest rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) showed that “several” of its twelve members made the call.