United States

• Tuesday, November 13th 2012 - 23:04 UTC

  Brazil orange shipments to EU suspended after samples of black spot fungus found

  

  Orange shipments from Brazil to the European Union were suspended after EU officials found samples with black spot fungus, a Brazilian government official said.

• Tuesday, November 13th 2012 - 23:00 UTC

  US public opinion pessimistic about a political agreement on the ‘fiscal cliff’

  

  A majority of Americans expect the US to go over the fiscal cliff at the beginning of 2013 and would blame Republicans if that happened, according to a poll published Tuesday. On Friday Democrat and Republican congressional leaders are scheduled to begin discussions.

• Saturday, November 10th 2012 - 05:32 UTC

  Judge Griesa warns Argentina on defying paying holdout bondholders

  

  US District Judge Thomas Griesa told Argentina it should not even consider evading a recent ruling requiring it to pay bondholders who did not participate in two major debt restructurings after the country's 2002 default.

• Saturday, November 10th 2012 - 05:08 UTC

  Next week takes off the ‘fiscal cliff’’ battle with meeting in White House of party leaders

  

  Newly re-elected President Barack Obama said on Friday the wealthy must pay more taxes under any political deal to avert a looming budget crisis. He said Congress must act against the so-called fiscal cliff, a package of tax rises and spending cuts due early next year.

• Saturday, November 10th 2012 - 05:01 UTC

  Republican Party needs a “bigger tent” to adapt to changing demographics

  

  Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the Republican Party must adapt rapidly changing demographics in the United States to remain politically relevant.

• Friday, November 9th 2012 - 06:34 UTC

  Judge Griesa summons new hearing on case of hedge funds holding Argentine bonds

  

  US Judge Thomas Griesa summoned a new hearing at New York Court over the case of investment funds against Argentina. The judge agreed with both parts a hearing on Friday to define the following steps after the US Appeals Court ruling issued on October 26.

• Friday, November 9th 2012 - 06:01 UTC

  Why foreign policy holds the key to Obama’s second term

  

  President Barack Obama’s victory over Mitt Romney is a landmark moment in US politics. He is only the second Democratic president to win re-election since Franklin Roosevelt in 1936, doing so despite a very challenging economic headwind of sluggish growth and comparatively high unemployment in the United States.

• Thursday, November 8th 2012 - 07:17 UTC

  Making marihuana legal voted in Colorado and Washington, defying federal law

  

  Colorado and Washington became the first US states to legalize the possession and sale of marijuana for recreational use in defiance of federal law, setting the stage for a possible showdown with the Obama administration.

• Thursday, November 8th 2012 - 01:49 UTC

  Wall Street and rating agencies not pleased with the US elections results

  

  No break for re-elected President Barack Obama. In the midst of what should be a honeymoon victory Fitch Ratings agency called on the newly appointed head of state to quickly “secure agreement on avoiding the 'fiscal cliff' and raising the debt ceiling,” to retain its “AAA” status.

• Thursday, November 8th 2012 - 01:45 UTC

  Majority of Puerto Rico voters, 54%, favour becoming a full US state

  

  Voters in Puerto Rico have supported a non-binding referendum to become a full US state. The measure will require approval from the US Congress, but President Barack Obama has said he will respect the vote.