United States

• Saturday, May 23rd 2009 - 14:51 UTC

  Bolivia and US agree to improve bilateral ties

  

  Bolivian President Evo Morales has called for a complete overhaul of his country's strained ties with the US. He urged “mutual respect” between the two nations, saying Washington should not interfere in Bolivia's affairs.

• Saturday, May 23rd 2009 - 14:47 UTC

  US ends week with three regional banks seized by FDIC and new owners

  

  United States banking regulators seized two banks in Illinois late Friday as the financial crisis claimed its 35th and 36th federally insured financial institutions of 2009. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) estimated the failure of Strategic Capital Bank and Citizens National Bank would cost 279 million US dollars.

• Friday, May 22nd 2009 - 12:07 UTC

  Obama sends a letter to Cristina for the May 25th celebration

  

  United States president Barack Obama has sent a letter to President Cristina Fernandez praising Argentina’s efforts “to work as a constructive and stabilizing force in the region and beyond”.

• Thursday, May 21st 2009 - 11:12 UTC

  US Congress strong message to Argentina on defaulted obligations

  

  American Task Force Argentina (ATFA), a coalition of more than 40 taxpayer, investor, educator, Latino and agriculture organizations, commended members of the United States House of Representatives for introducing legislation imposing stiff penalties on wealthy and middle-income nations that, like Argentina, refuse to honour obligations to US creditors.

• Saturday, May 16th 2009 - 13:26 UTC

  US consumer prices in April remained unchanged

  

  US consumer prices were unchanged in April, but recorded their largest year-on-year drop for more than 50 years, official data showed. Meanwhile producer prices jumped more than expected pushed by the biggest rise in food costs in more than a year.

• Saturday, May 16th 2009 - 10:37 UTC

  General Motors to close 1.100 dealerships

  

  General Motors, the US auto giant, has told 1.100 dealerships that they will be closed down as the company struggles to survive amid an economic crisis. The shutdowns are just part of a larger plan to shut 2.600 of its 6.200 dealerships as the car manufacturer makes cuts in an attempt to become profitable again. The move is likely to cause the loss of thousands of jobs across the US.

• Friday, May 15th 2009 - 09:15 UTC

  US Treasury moves to regulate complex (lethal) financial instruments

  

  The United States Treasury wants more regulation of derivatives - the complex financial instruments that brought down some of Wall Street's biggest names. Proposals to be set out by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will call for an electronic system to monitor buying and selling in the market.

• Friday, May 15th 2009 - 08:04 UTC

  Year long celebration to commemorate 50 years of NYC Lincoln’s Center

  

  New York City's Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the largest in the world, officially launched this week a year long celebration of its 50th Anniversary with a commemorative ceremony at Alice Tully Hall.

• Thursday, May 14th 2009 - 08:03 UTC

  US triple-A credit rating at risk, if finances are not put in order

  

  The United States is at risk of losing its triple-A credit rating unless it starts putting its finances in order, a former head of the agency in charge of fiscal accountability said in the Financial Times on Wednesday.

• Thursday, May 14th 2009 - 03:42 UTC

  Shannon praises Valenzuela and lists agenda of pending issues

  

  Thomas Shannon Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs who is to be replaced by Arturo Valenzuela said on Wednesday the incoming official will face “difficult challenges” in the management of relations with Latinamerica.