President Obama says the decade has been difficult for the country, in that nearly 4,500 Americans have died in the Iraq war and 1,500 in Afghanistan. He said the tide of war is receding, with the combat mission in Iraq ended and 100,000 American troops already out of that country. He said the long wars […]
Obama Announces Plans for Afghan Drawdown
Posted June 22nd, 2011 at 8:15 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama says the United States and its allies are meeting their goals in Afghanistan, and 33,000 American troops will be withdrawn in about one year. In an address to the nation Wednesday, President Obama said the first 10,000 American troops will be withdrawn by the end of this year. He said the […]
Obama: Tide of War is Receding
Posted June 22nd, 2011 at 8:15 pm (UTC-5)
President Barack Obama says the “tide of war is receding,” with fewer Americans serving in harm’s way. The president says 100,000 U.S. troops are already out of Iraq and that the “light of a secure peace” can be seen in Afghanistan, with both wars coming to a “responsible end.” Mr. Obama says the United States […]
Obama: Al-Qaida, Taliban Under Pressure
Posted June 22nd, 2011 at 8:15 pm (UTC-5)
President Obama says al-Qaida is under more pressure than at any time since the September 11 terrorist attacks. In his speech, Mr. Obama calls Osama bin Laden’s death a victory for all who have served since the attacks. He says information recovered from the al-Qaida leader’s compound show the terror group under “enormous strain” and […]
Italy Cease-Fire Call Reveals Possible NATO Split on Libya
Posted June 22nd, 2011 at 7:50 pm (UTC-5)
Possible cracks have emerged in NATO’s air campaign against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi as France and Britain rejected an Italian call for a halt to military action in order to allow aid access. Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini Wednesday called for a suspension in fighting so aid corridors could be set up to bring supplies […]
Two Strong Quakes Off Northeastern Japan
Posted June 22nd, 2011 at 7:40 pm (UTC-5)
Two strong back-to-back earthquakes struck early Thursday off the northeastern coast of Japan, prompting a short tsunami warning. A 6.8 quake was centered about 136 kilometers southeast of Hachinohe. It was immediately followed by a 6.7 magnitude quake. There are no immediate reports of damage or injuries. Officials issued a tsunami warning, but canceled it […]
US Warns Americans Against Joining Gaza Aid Flotilla
Posted June 22nd, 2011 at 7:25 pm (UTC-5)
The United States has warned Americans against participating in an international aid flotilla aimed at breaking Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. A new State Department travel warning for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, issued Wednesday, said U.S. citizens could face arrest, prosecution and deportation by Israel if they join the flotilla. It […]
China Frees Dissident Artist Ai Weiwei
Posted June 22nd, 2011 at 7:05 pm (UTC-5)
China has freed internationally known artist and dissident Ai Weiwei after nearly three months in detention. The official Xinhua news agency says he was freed after confessing to tax evasion and because he suffers from a chronic illness. But Ai told British television that his health is fine. The conditions of his release forbids him […]
Television Journalist Killed in Russia
Posted June 22nd, 2011 at 7:00 pm (UTC-5)
A journalist working for a regional television company in northeastern Russia has been stabbed to death. Russian investigators said that the body of Anatoly Bitkov, chief editor of Kolyma Plus regional television company, was found Wednesday morning in his apartment in the city of Magadan in Russia’s Far East. Investigators said Bitkov’s death was likely […]
Nigerian Police Backtrack on Suicide Bomb Claim
Posted June 22nd, 2011 at 6:55 pm (UTC-5)
Police in Nigeria say they are no longer sure if an attack last week on police headquarters in Abuja was a suicide bombing. Police said soon after the June 16 bombing that it was a suicide attack believed to have been carried out by the Islamist radical group Boko Haram. The attack left at least […]
