United States

• Saturday, May 30th 2009 - 15:35 UTC

  Mixed signals from the US economy: decline softening

  

  The US economy shrank at an annual pace of 5.7% in the first quarter, a less severe drop than initially reported but still the second-biggest quarterly decline in 27 years, according to the US Commerce Department.

• Friday, May 29th 2009 - 04:04 UTC

  A Tribute to Outgoing United States Assistant Secretary of State Tom Shannon

  

  In the coming weeks, Dr. Thomas A. Shannon, who protected a rational regional policy from the ideological knives of the Bush administration, will step down as Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. By that time, President Obama’s pick for the job, Georgetown University Professor Arturo Valenzuela, will be confirmed by the Senate.

• Thursday, May 28th 2009 - 12:07 UTC

  US reintroduction of dairy export subsidies trigger barrage of criticisms

  

  Twenty-nine countries at the World Trade Organization criticized the United States on Wednesday for reintroducing export subsidies on US dairy products, calling the handouts a dangerous retreat into protectionism and warning of “subsidy wars.”

• Wednesday, May 27th 2009 - 06:30 UTC

  Obama nominates Latino woman to Supreme Court

  

  President Barack Obama has nominated Sonia Sotomayor to serve on the country's Supreme Court. Ms Sotomayor, 54, who has now to be approved by a Senate vote, would be the first Hispanic to take the position.

• Saturday, May 23rd 2009 - 15:21 UTC

  Obama signs credit card holders “Bill of Rights”

  

  Credit card companies in the US will be bound by new restrictions on their ability to charge fees, or raise interest rates on existing borrowings. On Friday, President Barack Obama is signed a new law which will come into full effect next February.

• Saturday, May 23rd 2009 - 15:05 UTC

  Obama administration invites Cuba to resume migration talks

  

  The United States Department said on Friday it had offered to resume talks with Cuba about Cuban migration to the United States, a fresh sign of US President Barack Obama’s effort to comply, even partially, with the virtually unanimous request from Latinamerica to improve relations with the Castro regime.

• 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.