United States

Sunday, November 2nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Palin takes prank call from fake French president

Sarah Palin unwittingly took a prank call Saturday from a Canadian comedian posing as French President Nicolas Sarkozy and telling her she would make a good president someday. “Maybe in eight years,” replies a laughing Palin.
Sunday, November 2nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
US regulators seize 17th bank of 2008; 117 with “problem”

Freedom Bank of Bradeton, Florida, in the United States became the 17th US bank to be seized by regulators in 2008, as the heaviest housing slump since the days of the “Great Depression” of the 1930 continues to trigger heaving losses.
Thursday, October 30th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
US economy shrinks 0.3%; crisis effects reaching jobs market

The United States economy shrank at an annualised rate of 0.3% between July and September, according to figures from the Commerce Department. GDP figures were better than expected, although they show the sharpest contraction of the economy since 2001.
Wednesday, October 29th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Fed cuts rate to 1%; deflation could become major threat

The United States Federal Reserve cut on Wednesday the key interest rate from 1.5% to 1% in a widely expected move with the purpose of promoting “a return to moderate economic growth”.
Tuesday, October 28th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Markets alone can't ensure housing for all, says UN

The mortgage crisis that is at the heart of the current financial turmoil reflects “fundamental” flaws in the way countries approach housing, and highlights the danger in thinking that markets alone will ensure adequate housing for all, said an independent United Nations human rights expert.
Monday, October 27th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Financial Times supports Obama; questions trade policy

Britain's leading Financial Times newspaper threw its weight behind US presidential candidate Barack Obama, saying the campaign had shown that the Democrat was the “right choice” to lead the US.
Saturday, October 25th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Miami federal jury begins deliberations of suitcase scandal

A United States federal jury in Miami began deliberations Friday in the trial of a wealthy Venezuelan businessman accused in a conspiracy to hide the source and destination of a suitcase stuffed with 800,000 USD in cash and involving Venezuela and Argentina.
Thursday, October 23rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
US election: fears of problems with new voting machines

Researchers are warning of potential problems during the United States election with record numbers set to vote and many states using new voting machines.
Thursday, October 23rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Greenspan “mea culpa” and financial crisis before Congress

Former United States Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan confessed on Thursday that he had made “mistakes” in championing the light-touch US financial regulatory system, which led to what he admitted had become a “once-in-a-century credit tsunami”.
Wednesday, October 22nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Bush invites G20 for crisis summit on November 15

Unites States President Bush invited leaders of the Group of 20 participants to a summit in Washington on November 15 on the global economic crisis announced the White House on Wednesday.