U.S. President Barack Obama has nominated government lawyer and former prosecutor Matthew Olsen to become the nation’s next counterterrorism director. The White House announced the choice on Friday. President Obama said Olsen has a “distinguished record of service” in the U.S. intelligence community and will be a critical part of his national security team. The […]
US Auto Sales Rise
Posted July 1st, 2011 at 2:55 pm (UTC-5)
Auto sales rose in the United States in June, particularly some new, more fuel-efficient models. On Friday, Chrysler reported that it sold 30 percent more vehicles than during the same period one year ago, while Ford’s sales were up 14 percent and GM’s rose 10 percent. Earlier this year, auto sales were hurt when Japan’s […]
US Manufacturing Rises
Posted July 1st, 2011 at 2:25 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. manufacturing made gains in June but American consumers grew more pessimistic. Friday’s report from a business group says a survey of purchasing managers showed the manufacturing sector expanding more quickly last month. Manufacturing has been rebounding more quickly than other parts of the U.S. economy, which is still recovering from the worst recession in […]
US Budget Impasse Continues
Posted July 1st, 2011 at 12:15 pm (UTC-5)
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
US Treasury Secretary to Stay in Post for “Foreseeable Future”
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 10:05 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says he has no immediate plans to resign, addressing media reports he is considering stepping down after the current round of debt ceiling negotiations. He says the United States is facing a lot of challenges that he is going to help solve “for the foreseeable future.” He says he has […]
Petraeus Confirmed as CIA Director
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 8:30 pm (UTC-5)
The U.S. Senate has confirmed General David Petraeus as the new head of the Central Intelligence Agency. The four-star general easily won approval Thursday, on a vote of 94 to 0. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein says General Petraeus is the right man for the job, noting his military service and analytical skills will […]
