United States

Friday, July 3rd 2009 - 06:57 UTC
US jobless rate in June 9.5%; 14.7 million unemployed

The number of jobs lost in the US last month came in at 467,000, which was much more than had been expected. The jobless rate rose to 9.5% in June, from 9.4% in May, as the US economy continued to struggle.
Thursday, July 2nd 2009 - 08:21 UTC
US car sales drop in June but Ford shows stabilization signs

United States vehicle sales dropped in June, but there were signs of stabilisation as Ford saw its smallest fall in a year. Ford, the only one of the so-called “Big Three” carmakers not to have gone bankrupt, had the smallest drop, with sales down 10.7% from a year earlier. General Motors said sales fell 33.6%, while Chrysler sales fell by 42%.
Wednesday, July 1st 2009 - 13:07 UTC
Leading Senator calls for US trade benefits to Uruguay, “bypassing” Mercosur

United States Senator Richard Lugar, the ranking Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee is urging the US to extend trade benefits to Uruguay, bypassing Mercosur, a move he says would also increase pressure on Brazil to deepen commercial ties.
Wednesday, July 1st 2009 - 12:50 UTC
US Democrats consolidate control of the Senate with 61 seats

The state of Minnesota's Supreme Court declared Democrat Al Franken the winner of the disputed 2008 US Senate race thus giving the Democrats their 60th vote.
Thursday, June 25th 2009 - 09:49 UTC
Washington and Venezuela agree to re-establish their ambassadors

Venezuela and United States will be re-establishing their ambassadors in the coming days, confirmed on Wednesday Venezuelan Foreign Affairs minister Nicolas Maduro Ambassadors Bernardo Alvarez and Patrick Duddy were withdrawn last September when hostility between President Hugo Chavez and former President George Bush climaxed following years of disagreements and diplomatic clashes.
Thursday, June 25th 2009 - 06:16 UTC
US recession “slowing” but economy is expected to remain weak, says Fed

The United States Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged on Wednesday and said that the recession in the US is “slowing” but “economic activity is likely to remain weak for a time”.
Wednesday, June 24th 2009 - 15:25 UTC
Obama praises Bachelet and Lula da Silva as “model relations”

United States president described his Chilean peer Michelle Bachelet as “one of the most compelling leaders” of Latinamerica and together with Brazil’s Lula da Silva they are an “example” of the kind of relations Washington wants with the region.
Monday, June 22nd 2009 - 07:59 UTC
Test for “new US policy”: Chile’s Bachelet meets President Obama

Chilean president Michelle Bachelet begins on Tuesday an official two-day visit to the United States where she will be meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House, members of Congress and the Organization of American States Secretary General.
Thursday, June 18th 2009 - 14:50 UTC
US unveils major banking shake-up since the 1930s

The US government has announced a major reform of banking regulation to prevent future financial crises. The overhaul will require big banks to put more money aside against future losses to curb excessive risk taking.
Tuesday, June 16th 2009 - 10:56 UTC
US government proposes sweeping reforms to financial regulation

The US government is planning a major overhaul of the system of financial regulation to avoid future crises. The broad outlines of the plan were revealed on Monday by US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and White House economic adviser Larry Summers.