United States
United StatesOverriding Saudi Arabia bill veto, “a mistake and dangerous precedent”, warns Obama
President Obama has said Congress made a “mistake” by overriding his veto and pushing through a bill that allows legal action against Saudi Arabia over the 9/11 attacks. He added that the bill would set a “dangerous precedent” for individuals around the world to sue the US government. Wednesday's vote was the first time Obama's veto power was overruled.
Trump embroiled in “Miss Piggy” misogynist controversy
Alicia Machado says that when she gained weight after being crowned Miss Universe for 1996, Donald Trump labeled her with a sexist nickname — “Miss Piggy” — that caused her shame and humiliation. Two decades later, Machado’s dealings with Trump, her one-time beauty pageant boss, are reverberating through the 2016 campaign as the Republican businessman and reality TV star seeks the White House.
Obama names first ambassador in Cuba in fifty years, but needs Senate confirmation
The United States has tapped Jeffrey DeLaurentis, United States' top diplomat in Havana, to become the first official ambassador to Cuba in five decades. “The appointment of an ambassador is a commonsense step forward toward a more normal and productive relationship between our two countries,” President Barack Obama said in a statement.
Kerry and Maduro meet in Cartagena and agree to continue bilateral discussions
United States Secretary of State John Kerry met Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday, the first formal encounter between the two since Kerry became the top U.S. diplomat. The two sat down together after a ceremony in the Colombian city of Cartagena de Indias to mark the signing of a peace agreement to end a 52-year armed conflict.
Early polls indicate better prepared Hillary came ahead of Trump in the debate
Early polls following the first of three presidential debates point to Hillary Clinton coming out ahead of Donald Trump in Monday night’s face off. According to a CNN/ORC poll taken immediately after the debate wrapped, 62% of 521 registered voters who watched the debate said Clinton won, compared to 27% for Trump. Pulbic Policy Polling also had Clinton trumping Trump, but by a more narrow margin of 51% to 40%.
US Treasury Secretary on advisory visit to Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico
U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew will urge his counterparts in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico to press ahead with economic and fiscal reforms aimed at restoring or strengthening growth, a senior Treasury official said on Friday. Lew will be visiting the four largest Latin American economies this week beginning with Argentina on Monday, recognizing efforts by President Mauricio Macri to reintegrate Argentina into the global economy.
US role in Colombia peace: from fanning the war to ensuring peace
When the Colombian government and Marxist rebels FARC sign the final peace accord this Monday to end a 52-year guerrilla war, a US envoy from the Obama administration will be one of the special guests at the signing ceremony.
Pinochet ordered the 1976 assassination of opposition leader Letelier, says CIA
The United States on Friday gave Chilean President Michelle Bachelet declassified CIA documents confirming that former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet personally ordered the 1976 assassination of opposition leader Orlando Letelier. US Deputy Secretary of State Heather Higginbottom presented the documents to Bachelet during a ceremony on the site of the killing in the US capital, two days after the 40th anniversary of the brazen attack.
Heavy fire from Obama, if blacks don't turn out to vote, “I will consider it an insult to my legacy”
President Barack Obama, in one of his final presidential addresses to a predominately black audience of Capitol Hill lawmakers and guests, made a plea to his Democratic base: African-Americans must vote en masse in November's presidential contest to help his legacy or he will be personally insulted.
US National Guard sent to Charlotte to quell violent rioting after shooting of black man
Violence flared in the southern US city of Charlotte, North Carolina, in a second night of unrest ignited by the fatal police shooting of a black man. Charlotte officials appealed for calm on Thursday, hours after violent riots stemming from a controversial police shooting of a black man injured several police officers and civilians and resulted in 44 arrests.
