Lawyers

• Venezuelan Opposition-Led Congress Denies Emergency Powers to President Nicolas Maduro Despite 700% Inflation Signaling Economic Breakdown

  President Nicolas Maduro was not given the emrgency powers he wanted. Opposition says he will not solve the economic problem by using the decree.

• South African police fire stun grenades as students march on parliament

  South African riot police fired stun grenades on Wednesday at hundreds of protesting students who stormed the parliament precinct in Cape Town to try to disrupt the reading of Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene's interim budget.

• Itau boss sees no cause yet for Rousseff impeachment: newspaper

  The chief executive of Itau Unibanco Holding SA, Brazil's biggest bank by market value, said he does not yet see justification for President Dilma Rousseff to be impeached.

• Appeals court decision may speed new payout to Madoff victims

  Victims of Bernard Madoff's massive fraud are not entitled to inflation or interest adjustments on their claims, a federal appeals court ruled on Friday, in a decision that could speed the return of more than $1 billion to the swindler's former customers.

• Venezuela indicts opposition mayor on charges of conspiring

  Venezuela on Friday indicted a veteran Caracas mayor on charges of plotting violence against President Nicolas Maduro's government and ordered he be jailed in a military prison pending trial.

• Texas governor plans to double state's spending on border security

  Texas Governor Greg Abbott pledged to double the state's spending on securing the border with Mexico, saying on Tuesday the federal government has not done enough to halt illegal immigration.

• Uruguay starts voting in presidential election, leftist favorite to win

  Uruguayans began voting on Sunday for a new president, with former leader Tabare Vazquez looking set to win comfortably, securing the ruling leftist coalition a third consecutive term and allowing it to roll out its pioneering marijuana law.

• Stamps Increase: USPS Says Items May Go Up to 49 Cents But Change Must Be Approved by Postal Regulatory Commission

  The postal Board of Governors said Wednesday that it wants to raise the price of a first-class stamp. The rate proposal must be approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission. The increase would become effective on January 26, if the commission accepts it.