Four United States soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan; hours after the US announced direct talks with the Taliban. The soldiers were killed by indirect fire from insurgents at Bagram air base. Bagram, near the Afghan capital Kabul, is the largest military base for US troops in Afghanistan. A condition for the talks, due to begin tomorrow in Qatar, was for the Taliban to renounce violence. In comments made before the attack, US President Barack Obama said the announcement of talks is an important first step toward reconciliation.
U.S. Politics
Four United States soldiers die in attack in Afghanistan
- 19 June 2013
- Maureen1
- Hits: 7
United States President Barack Obama urges Congress to finish immigration reform by autumn;
- 12 June 2013
- Maureen1
- Hits: 18
United States President Barack Obama has urged Congress to pass immigration reform by the end of summer, as the legislation cleared a major procedural hurdle. President Obama said if lawmakers were serious about fixing immigration, this is the vehicle to do it. At the legislation's core is a 13-year path to citizenship for immigrants who came to the US illegally. Hispanic voters' growing political clout has encouraged many in Congress to take up immigration reform.
Deadly tornadoes ravage US State of Oklahoma
- 20 May 2013
- Maureen1
- Hits: 19
At least one person is reported dead and several others injured by a series
of tornadoes that have torn through the US state of Oklahoma. US media
report say the worst damage was caused by a tornado near the town of Shawnee
55km from Oklahoma City. A mobile home park near Shawnee is said to have
been leveled to the ground. Tornadoes have been reported in other states,
including Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas and Texas. The National Weather Service
warned of a dangerous tornado approaching the city of Wichita, Kansas.
US preserves diplomatic, military options on Syria, says Barack Obama
- 17 May 2013
- Maureen1
- Hits: 25
United States President Barack Obama says all options, including diplomatic
and military are being considered to resolve the situation in Syria.
But he added that Syria is an international problem and that unilateral
action from the US would not bring about a better outcome in the country.
President Obama said he has seen evidence of chemical weapons being used in
Syria, but it is important to get more specific information about what
happened.
OJ Simpson take stand in bid for new trial
- 16 May 2013
- Maureen1
- Hits: 23
Former American football star and actor OJ Simpson has made his own case for a new trial on armed robbery charges. He told a court in Nevada he had not
received proper legal representation when the case was heard in 2008, and
also that he had only been attempting to reclaim stolen personal
memorabilia. Simpson is serving up to 33 years for the theft at gunpoint of
memorabilia from a hotel room in Las Vegas in 2007. The 65 year old was
famously acquitted of the murder of his former wife and her friend in Los
Angeles in 1995.
Head of the US tax agency quit.
- 16 May 2013
- Maureen1
- Hits: 29
US President Barack Obama has announced that the head of the US
tax agency has quit, after it emerged his staff singled out conservative
groups for extra scrutiny.
He said Treasury Secretary Jack Lew had asked for and accepted the
resignation of Internal Revenue Service Acting Commissioner Steve Miller.
President Obama said he had reviewed the Treasury Inspector General for Tax
Administration report on the IRS's targeting of conservative groups and
found the misconduct uncovered was inexcusable.
