Mar 4, 2013

Obama to Abe: China raised tensions over Senkakus

U.S. President Barack Obama told Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he understands China has raised tensions over the Senkaku Islands during their summit talks in Washington last month, sources close to the bilateral relationship said. In the inaugural meeting of the two leaders Feb. ...

Mar 3, 2013

Obama's half-brother runs for governor in Kenya

A politician named Obama who is running for governor in Kenya can boast of one big claim to fame: blood relations with the president of the United States. Malik Obama — a half-brother of Barack Obama — is running in Kenya’s elections Monday, though ...

Stronger economy to weather standoff

Mar 2, 2013

Stronger economy to weather standoff

As economic policy goes, experts say, the automatic spending cuts slated to begin Friday won’t leave a deep scar on the U.S. economy, which is otherwise looking pretty good. They are a fiscal speed bump on the road to economic recovery, which is why ...

Mar 2, 2013

U.S. spending cuts to hurt other nations

The effects of the $85 billion in U.S. government spending cuts that were to kick in Friday will be felt across oceans and could further hurt recession-hit Europe and burden an economically slowing China, shrinking the market for countries that depend on selling things ...

Lew confirmed as U.S. Treasury secretary

Feb 28, 2013

Lew confirmed as U.S. Treasury secretary

The Senate confirms Jacob Lew to be Treasury secretary, affirming President Barack Obama's choice of a budget expert at a time when Congress and the White House are at odds over sharp government spending cuts.

U.S. considering direct aid to Syrian rebels

Feb 28, 2013

U.S. considering direct aid to Syrian rebels

The White House is moving toward a major policy shift on Syria that could provide the rebels with equipment such as body armor, armored vehicles and possible military training and could send humanitarian assistance directly to Syria’s opposition political coalition, according to U.S. and ...

U.S. frees detained migrants as budget cuts loom

Feb 28, 2013

U.S. frees detained migrants as budget cuts loom

U.S. authorities revealed Tuesday that they have released hundreds of detained immigrants in recent days to trim expenses ahead of massive automatic budget cuts due to take effect this week. With days to go before the so-called sequester — $85 billion in across-the-board cuts ...