Obama: North Korea’s nuclear test warrants international action
May 25, 2009
US President Barack Obama says North Korea’s reported nuclear and missile tests today are “a threat to international peace” and warrant “action by the international community”.
“These actions, while not a surprise given its statements and actions to date, are a matter of grave concern to all nations,” Obama said in a written statement.
John Stewart Discusses the Right Wing Media’s Outrage Over Wanda Sykes Comments, Yet Still Defend Torture
May 12, 2009
The mass hysteria from the right rolled in overnight, just two days after Wanda Sykes appeared at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and gave Rush Limbaugh a taste of his own medicine. Much like when Limbaugh would gleefully sing “Barack the Magic Negro” on a daily basis or when he rabidly, and brutally ripped into Michael J. Fox and his illness – Sykes decided to take it to the next level in her digs aimed at Rush.
Cheney: ‘Torture’ techniques kept US safe
May 11, 2009
Former US vice-president Dick Cheney says intelligence extracted from tough interrogations of suspected al-Qaeda militants had saved “perhaps hundreds of thousands” of US lives.
“No regrets. I think it was absolutely the right thing to do,” he said on CBS television arguing that techniques decried by critics as torture were essential to break the resistance of captured extremists.
Obama picks Egypt for Muslim address
May 10, 2009
Barack Obama will make his long-awaited address to Muslims in Egypt on June 4, accelerating his bid to mend the US image in the Islamic world from an epicentre of Arab civilisation.
The speech, fulfilling an Obama campaign promise, will focus on how Americans and Muslims abroad can secure the “safety and security” of their children in a more hopeful future, Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
Robot soldiers more fact than fiction
May 6, 2009
The world is on the brink of a “robotics revolution” in military combat that will have profound social, psychological, political and ethical effects, says a leading US defence analyst.
Peter Singer, who headed Barack Obama’s defence policy team during last year’s presidential campaign, said yesterday that the use of robots for fighting war was growing exponentially.
Obama plane’s photo-op triggers New York panic
April 28, 2009
New Yorkers evacuated offices in panic on Monday when an unexpected overflight by one of President Barack Obama’s Boeing 747s triggered fears of a new 9/11.
The jumbo, escorted by low-flying fighter jets, roared over southern Manhattan and the Hudson River for about 30 minutes on what officials later described as a photo-op.
9/11 plane scare over New York
Israel recalls envoy over welcome to Iranian President
April 20, 2009
Israel recalled its ambassador to Switzerland last night in protest over a meeting between the Swiss President, Hans-Rudolph Merz, and Iran’s President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Mr Ahmadinejad was greeted by the Swiss President after landing in Geneva on Sunday where he was due to address a United Nations conference on racism today.
Obama Eases Restrictions On Travel To Cuba
April 13, 2009
President Barack Obama directed his administration Monday to allow unlimited travel and money transfers by Cuban Americans to family in Cuba, and to take other steps to ease U.S. restrictions on the island.
Hugs and smiles for Obama on Iraq troop visit
April 8, 2009
Barack Obama drew praise from troops and veterans groups for his surprise visit this week to Baghdad, another step in his concerted effort to win the support of the military, despite having opposed the war in Iraq and never having served in uniform.
“I’m honoured and grateful to be with all of you. And I’m not going to talk long because I want to shake as many hands as I can,” the President said, to loud applause and shouts. The troops, he said, had performed “brilliantly” and he pledged to do “everything we can” for military families and combat veterans.
Obama adviser declares millions
April 6, 2009
Lawrence Summers, the top economic adviser to the US President, Barack Obama, earned millions over the past year as managing director of the hedge fund D. E. Shaw Group and through speaking fees, some from financial institutions now at the centre of the Government’s rescue program.
