United States

• Wednesday, February 19th 2014 - 04:44 UTC

  Fed adopts tighter new rules for foreign banks to shield US taxpayers

  

  The US Federal Reserve adopted tight new rules for foreign banks to shield the US taxpayer from costly bailouts, ceding only minor concessions despite pressure from abroad to weaken the rule.

• Monday, February 17th 2014 - 09:35 UTC

  Maduro blames Washington and expels three US consular officials

  

  Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said Sunday he was expelling three U.S. consular officials, accusing them of conspiring with the opposition forces to foment unrest as violent protests ran into a fifth straight night. The expulsions come after two weeks of sporadic protests against across the country.

• Saturday, February 15th 2014 - 08:03 UTC

  Obama administration makes it easier for banks to deal with licensed marihuana companies

  

  The Obama administration made it easier for banks to do business with licensed marijuana companies with less fear of prosecution, further encouraging US states that are experimenting with legalization of the drug. The Justice and Treasury departments were in the process of outlining the policy in writing to federal prosecutors and financial institutions.

• Saturday, February 15th 2014 - 07:41 UTC

  Lula da Silva tries to convince top US corporations and banks to invest in Brazil

  

  Former president Lula da Silva lobbied strongly on Thursday in New York trying to convince US investors to make business in Brazil during a conference to members of the American Society and Council of Americas, which organized the event.

• Thursday, February 13th 2014 - 01:31 UTC

  Still divided, US Congress lifts government borrowing limit...until 2015

  

  The US Senate has sent to the president a bill to raise the country's borrowing limit for another year, ending a series of political standoffs over the issue. The chamber passed the bill on a 55-43 party line vote a day after it narrowly passed the House of Representatives.

• Tuesday, February 11th 2014 - 23:53 UTC

  Yellen confirms Bernanke approach: labor market recovery “far from complete”

  

  Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said on Tuesday the US central bank was on track to keep reducing its policy stimulus, even as she acknowledged the labor market recovery was “far from complete.”

• Monday, February 10th 2014 - 03:47 UTC

  Timerman calls two US Senators 'extremists', ideologically opposed to US public opinion

  

  Argentine foreign minister Hector Timerman called US senators Marco Rubio and Robert Menendez “extremists”, who don't represent the will of the Senate, the US government or the US people.

• Saturday, February 8th 2014 - 09:10 UTC

  Capitanich reacts to US Senators statements on Cristina Fernandez government

  

  Argentina's cabinet chief Jorge Capitanich reacted on Friday to US Senators' remarks who on Thursday harshly criticized the economic policies of President Cristina Fernandez administration and forecasted an economic collapse sooner than later.

• Saturday, February 8th 2014 - 08:36 UTC

  Unemployment in the US falls to lowest level since October 2008, but it's not enough

  

  The US economy added 113,000 jobs in January; the second month in a row the figure has been weaker than expected. Economists had predicted the US Labor Department would report an increase of about 180,000 new jobs. However, the unemployment rate fell to 6.8%, the lowest level since October 2008.

• Friday, February 7th 2014 - 07:13 UTC

  Two leading US Senators anticipate an economic crisis in Argentina, soon

  

  The current Argentine economic situation reached the US Capitol during the hearings to consider President Obama's nomination for future ambassador in Buenos Aires, and what was said was not encouraging.