The design firm of Chinese government critic Ai Weiwei is challenging a $1.85 million tax bill presented by authorities to the acclaimed artist and activist just days after he was released from nearly three months of confinement. A lawyer retained by Ai’s company said he filed an appeal Wednesday asking for an administrative review of […]
Obama Defends US Involvement in Libya Conflict
President Obama has defended U.S. involvement in Libya, saying a lot of the “fuss” U.S. lawmakers have made about the mission is political. At a news conference Wednesday, Mr. Obama repeated his administration’s view that his decision to intervene in Libya did not violate the 1973 War Powers Resolution. The law gives U.S. presidents 60 […]
Obama Discusses Economy, Libya, Afghanistan
U.S. President Barack Obama discussed the American economy, Libya and Afghanistan in a wide-ranging press conference at the White House Wednesday. Mr. Obama called on Congress to take action that he said would strengthen the economy and help Americans, including approving trade deals with Colombia, Panama and South Korea. He said Congress must act soon […]
Moldova Arrests Six Suspected of Uranium Smuggling
Moldovan authorities say they have arrested six men suspected of smuggling uranium from Russia and trying to sell it to an unidentified buyer in a Muslim country in Africa. Senior police investigator Vitalie Briceag said Wednesday the suspects were trying to sell a “few kilograms” of Uranium-235 that can be used to make nuclear weapons […]
Kidnapped French Journalists Freed in Afghanistan
Two French journalists who were kidnapped in Afghanistan in 2009 have been freed by their captors. The office of French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Wednesday that two reporters for France-3 television, Stephane Taponier and Herve Ghesquiere, have been released, along with their Afghan translator, Reza Din. The journalists, their interpreter and two other Afghan colleagues […]
Karzai: Kabul Hotel Attack Will Not Deter Security Transition
Afghan President Hamid Karzai says attacks like the one on a landmark Kabul hotel that killed 11 civilians and police will not deter the security transition in his country. The five-hour siege of the Inter-Continental Hotel by heavily armed militants ended early Wednesday after all nine attackers either blew themselves up or were killed by […]
Obama: US to Keep Pressure on Al-Qaida
President Obama says the United States will continue to keep pressure on al-Qaida, even as U.S. forces draw down in Afghanistan. The president made the statement during a lengthy news conference Wednesday in Washington, D.C. Mr. Obama said 33,000 U.S. troops will be out of Afghanistan within a year. Those troops were sent to the […]
Obama Calls for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
President Obama has called for comprehensive immigration reform in the United States. The president said the country needs a system that upholds the law, while also upholding the nation’s tradition as a land of immigrants. He said border security and employment verification need to be addressed. And he said there should be a pathway to […]
Obama Calls on Lawmakers to ‘Seize This Moment,’ Tackle Debt
U.S. President Barack Obama says Congress must act soon to raise the government debt limit, while also reducing the U.S. budget deficit. During a news conference at the White House on Wednesday, Mr. Obama told reporters that no one wants to see the U.S. default on its $14 trillion national debt, saying “we have to […]
Hungary Unveils Statue to Late US President Reagan
Hungary has unveiled a larger-than-life statue of the late U.S. President Ronald Reagan, credited by many with having helped end communist rule in Europe. Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice joined Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for the ceremony. Mr. Orban hailed the former American president as a man who had managed change wisely […]