United States

Sunday, May 15th 2011 - 15:00 UTC
Geithner warns of catastrophic consequences if US debt limit is not raised

With the US government about to hit its 14.3 trillion US dollars debt limit, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has warned of “catastrophic” consequences and a new recession if Washington is not able to borrow more.
Saturday, May 14th 2011 - 05:03 UTC
US tourism industry calls for reforming the “antiquated visa process”

The U.S. Travel Association unveiled a plan to create 1.3 million U.S. jobs and add 859 billion dollars to the U.S. economy by 2020 by reforming an antiquated visa process that often drives international travelers to other countries. The heart of U.S. Travel's plan is to increase staffing, reduce visa interview wait times and expand the Visa Waiver Program.
Friday, May 13th 2011 - 01:01 UTC
US trade deals with Colombia, Panama and Korea could be approved ‘by August’

The United States free trade deals with Colombia, Panama and South Korea will pass through Congress by August if Republicans renew funding for the retraining of displaced workers, the chief U.S. trade official said Thursday.
Friday, May 13th 2011 - 00:54 UTC
US farmers lobby strongly for FTA, which could generate 22.500 jobs

The inability of the United States Congress and the administration to move three stalled free trade agreements is hurting US economic growth, testified American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman before the House Agriculture Committee.
Wednesday, May 11th 2011 - 07:36 UTC
Obama impassionate call for immigration reform next to US/Mexico border

President Barack Obama issued an impassioned call for immigration reform in a speech at the US-Mexican border on Tuesday, sending a message to Hispanics whose votes he needs to win re-election next year.
Tuesday, May 10th 2011 - 21:11 UTC
Microsoft buys Skype for 8.5bn USD; targets Google leading position in advertising

Microsoft Corporation agreed to buy Skype Technologies SA for 8.5 billion US dollars in cash to gain the world’s most popular Internet calling service and its 663 million customers.
Tuesday, May 10th 2011 - 11:18 UTC
Valenzuela, US top State Department official for Latam tenders resignation

Expressing a desire to return to his academic post at Georgetown University, Chilean-born Arturo Valenzuela tendered his resignation as the head United States advisor for Latin American Affairs on Friday, May 6.
Monday, May 9th 2011 - 00:53 UTC
Two-day strategic and economic dialogue between US and China

Top US and Chinese officials will be meeting for two days in Washington, starting this Monday. The heads of 16 US government agencies and representatives from 20 Chinese government departments will discuss the most difficult issues in a complex, interdependent relationship.
Friday, May 6th 2011 - 17:24 UTC
Top US grain processors join the ‘bio-fuel refineries rush’ in Brazil

Cargill Inc and the world’s largest grain processor Archer-Daniels-Midland Co, are planning to invest about 560 million US dollars in new bio-fuel refineries in Brazil.
Friday, May 6th 2011 - 17:21 UTC
US payrolls expanded in April, but jobless rate climbed to 9%

United States employers in April added more jobs than forecast. Payrolls expanded by 244,000 last month, the biggest gain since May 2010, after a revised 221,000 increase the prior month, the Labour Department said Friday in Washington.