Bloomberg Canadian utility owner Emera Inc. has reached an agreement with groups in New Mexico, including the state’s attorney general, on its $6.5 billion takeover of utility Teco Energy Inc., bringing the deal one step closer to completion. Under the agreement, filed with the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission on Monday, Emera said it wouldn’t seek a base rate increase …

Bloomberg Carnival Corp.’s maiden voyage to Cuba next month will be filled with almost 700 cruisers looking to spend time assisting in economic, environmental and community development there. The one thing the boat won’t be carrying, however, is any Cubans. Raul Castro’s government prohibits native-born Cubans from returning by sea, and makes other forms of travel difficult for them as …

Kabul / AFP The Afghan Taliban announced on Tuesday the start of their “spring offensive” even as the government in Kabul tries to bring the insurgents back to the negotiating table to end their drawn-out conflict. The Taliban said in a statement they would “employ large-scale attacks on enemy positions across the country” during the offensive they have dubbed “Operation …