U.S. Treasury officials have repeated their warning that Washington has until August 2 to raise the nation’s debt ceiling or face “catastrophic” economic consequences. Friday’s reiteration of the deadline follows news reports that the practical deadline is earlier, in late July, to give Congress time to debate and vote on the debt limit. The White […]
Strauss-Kahn Released Without Bail
Posted July 1st, 2011 at 12:00 pm (UTC-5)
A New York judge has released former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn without bail or home confinement in the sexual assault case against him. The decision Friday comes after prosecutors raised questions about the credibility of the woman who accused Strauss-Kahn of assault. None of the charges were dropped, and prosecutors said they will […]
US Wildfire Not Likely to Hit Nuclear Lab
Posted July 1st, 2011 at 11:55 am (UTC-5)
Officials at the U.S. nuclear laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico, say a raging wildfire threatening the town is not likely to reach the facility. Lab spokeswoman Lisa Rosendorf told VOA that at this point, the risk of the Las Conchas blaze going onto lab property is less than 10 percent. The lab and residents […]
Highlights of Leon Panetta’s Career
Posted July 1st, 2011 at 10:25 am (UTC-5)
Leon Panetta’s career: — Director of the Central Intelligence Agency 2009 – 2011 — Founder, Panetta Institute for Public Policy 1997 — President Bill Clinton’s White House Chief of Staff 1994 – 1997 — Director of the Office of Management and Budget 1993 — Member of the U.S. House of Representatives 1977 – 1993 — […]
Panetta Sworn in as US Defense Secretary
Posted July 1st, 2011 at 10:10 am (UTC-5)
The United States’ new defense secretary, Leon Panetta, has officially taken up his new post. The former head of the Central Intelligence Agency was sworn in Friday at the Pentagon. In a message to the defense department, he laid out his vision for confronting the challenges facing the military both at home and abroad. He […]
Strauss-Kahn: International Financier and French Politician
Posted July 1st, 2011 at 9:30 am (UTC-5)
Before his arrest on sexual assault charges in New York, former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn was one of the most powerful men in international finance and French politics. The former French finance minister took charge of the IMF in 2007, with strong support from French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The 62-year-old Strauss-Kahn led the […]
Crack Cocaine Offenders Eligible for Early Release
Posted July 1st, 2011 at 8:20 am (UTC-5)
As many as 12,000 people jailed in U.S. federal prisons can seek a reduction in their sentences for crimes related to crack cocaine possession. A law passed by Congress last year ended the lengthy prison terms tied to possession of the crystallized form of cocaine, which were much harsher than sentences for powdered cocaine possession. […]
US Justice Department to Investigate Deaths of CIA Detainees
Posted July 1st, 2011 at 7:00 am (UTC-5)
The U.S. Justice Department says it will open a full criminal investigation into the deaths of two suspected terrorists while they were in CIA custody. The investigations were announced Thursday in a statement issued by Attorney General Eric Holder. News outlets have identified the two detainees as Gul Rahman, who died in 2002 at a […]
Reports: Sexual Assault Case Against Strauss-Kahn on Shaky Ground
Posted July 1st, 2011 at 6:30 am (UTC-5)
Former International Monetary Fund director Dominique Strauss-Kahn will appear before a New York judge Friday as the sexual assault case against him is reportedly in serious trouble due to credibility issues with his accuser. The veteran French politician was arrested and charged in May for attacking a 32-year-old maid who came to clean his suite […]
NBA Imposes Player Lockout, Putting 2011-12 Season in Jeopardy
Posted July 1st, 2011 at 5:40 am (UTC-5)
The National Basketball League has formally locked out its players after they failed to reach an agreement with the owners on a new collective bargaining agreement. The lockout took effect early Friday morning when the previous labor deal expired. NBA owners announced the lockout hours earlier on Thursday, after a three-hour bargaining session in New […]
