BeltwayBlips - Latest World News Articles

Obama: U.S. wants to reduce India-Pakistan tensions (Reuters)

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:11:16 +0000

Reuters - President Barack Obama took note on Tuesday of the historic animosity between Pakistan and India and signalled the United States wanted to find ways to reduce tensions between the two countries.

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News Analysis: U.S. Strategy on Afghanistan Will Contain Many Messages

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:03:59 +0000

As President Obama rolls out his plan, he will be adjusting his approach for multiple audiences: voters, allies, and the extremists who are the enemy.

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Obama vows to 'finish the job' in Afghanistan (AFP)

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:25:41 +0000

AFP - President Barack Obama, vowing to "finish the job" in Afghanistan, promised he would soon announce his decision on sending tens of thousands more US troops to battle Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

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From the Hospital Room to Bankruptcy Court

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:02:38 +0000

Statistics are elusive, but lawyers and court officials say that, as Congress debates an overhaul, medical debt is leading to more bankruptcies.

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Obama seeks to reassure Singh on U.S.-India ties (Reuters)

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:13:03 +0000

Reuters - President Barack Obama sought to reassure Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday of his commitment to boosting U.S. ties with India even as his administration has set its rivals, China and Pakistan, as key priorities.

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Obama seeks to reassure Singh on U.S.-India ties

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:13:03 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama sought to reassure Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday of his commitment to boosting U.S. ties with India even as his administration has set its rivals, China and Pakistan, as key priorities.

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Obama hails US-India ties amid talks with Singh (AP)

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:40:04 +0000

AP - Seeking firmer footing for U.S.-India relations, President Barack Obama tried Tuesday to calm India's fears about Asian rival China, salving bruised feelings in the world's largest democracy with an elaborate state visit and assurances of India's "rightful place as a global leader."

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Surge Targets Taliban Bastion

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:24:45 +0000

Military commanders say they will devote most of the 20,000 to 40,000 fresh troops expected from the U.S. to secure Afghanistan's south.

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WH releases list of expected attendees for Tuesday's state dinner

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:35:57 +0000

Washington (CNN) - The White House has released a list of expected attendees for Tuesday's dinner: The President & First Lady Michelle Obama Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister, India & Ms. Gursharan Kaur The Honorable (Rep) Gary Ackerman, United States Representative Mr. Sant Singh Chatwal (Guest) His Excellency Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of the Republic of India, Indian Delegation Mr. Mukesh D Ambani Mr. Tim Dutta (Spouse of Ms. Pia Awal) The Honorable (Mr.) David Axelrod, White House Communications Mrs. Susan Axelrod Ms. Preeta Bansal, OMB – General Counsel The Honorable (Ms.) Melody Barnes, Domestic Policy Council Mr. Marland E. Buckner The Honorable (Rep.) Howard Berman, United States Representative (D/California) Mrs. Jane Berman, Spouse of United States Representative (D/California) Mr. Om Prakash Bhatt Mr. Hunter Biden Mrs. Kathleen Biden The Honorable (Vice President) ...

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Jennifer Hudson ready to sing for the Obamas

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:17:27 +0000

Embedded video from CNN Video Related: Flavors of India, America at Obamas' first state dinner

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AP News in Brief (AP)

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:13:04 +0000

AP - Obama to announce more troops for Afghanistan next week to 'finish the job' — expects support

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Flavors of India, America at Obamas' first state dinner

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:08:49 +0000

Tables set in apple green, ruby and gold with arrangements of roses, hydrangeas and sweet peas awaited guests to Tuesday's White House state dinner.

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U.S. won't join landmine ban, administration decides

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:05:49 +0000

The United States won't join its NATO allies and many other countries in formally banning landmines, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said during his midday briefing Tuesday.

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Feds: Phila. plot to buy weapons for Hezbollah (AP)

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:05:25 +0000

AP - A grand jury in Philadelphia has indicted four men for an alleged plot to support the Lebanon-based terror group Hezbollah.

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Poll: Global warming skepticism on the rise

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:05:01 +0000

Washington (CNN) – A new national poll indicates that some Americans are cooling to global warming. According to an ABC News/Washington Post survey released Tuesday - less than two weeks before the start of a global conference on climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark - 72 percent of those polled believe that climate change is happening, down 8 points over the past year. The poll indicates that the rise in skepticism is mostly due to a shift among Republicans and independents. According to the survey, 54 percent of Republicans questioned believe global warming is happening, down 22 points over the past three-and-a-half years, with a drop of 15 points among independents. The belief in climate change dipped 6 points among Democrats during the same period of time. The survey's release comes as a Democratic-sponsored "cap-and-trade" proposal to cut pollution slowly makes it way through Congress. The bill calls for the federal government to limit the amount of greenhouse gases that ...

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FACTBOX - U.S. and India agree on environment goals (Reuters)

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:59:33 +0000

Reuters - U.S. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh agreed their countries would work together to develop low-carbon energy and protect people from climate change.

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Official: Pentagon preparing to send 34,000 troops to Afghanistan

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:15:43 +0000

The Pentagon is making detailed plans to send about 34,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan in anticipation of President Obama's decision on the future of the 8-year-old war, a defense official said Tuesday. Washington (CNN) - The Pentagon is making detailed plans to send about 34,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan in anticipation of President Obama's decision on the future of the 8-year-old war, a defense official said Tuesday. Obama held a lengthy meeting with top advisers Monday night and said Tuesday that he would announce plans for Afghanistan after the Thanksgiving holiday. A Defense Department official with direct knowledge of the process said there has been no final word on the president's decision. But planners have been tasked with preparing to send 34,000 additional American troops into battle with the expectation that is the number Obama is leaning toward approving, the official said. Full story

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Salazar blasts critics of U.S. energy policy

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:03:23 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on Tuesday fired back at critics who claim he's not supportive enough of domestic energy production, saying their accusations have the same "poison and substance of election-year politics."

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Clinton lauds 'special relationship' between India and U.S.

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:02:11 +0000

Washington (CNN) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, praising what she called the special U.S.-Indian relationship, welcomed Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Vice President Joe Biden to a formal lunch at the State Department Tuesday. "You are the hottest ticket in town," Biden told Singh in remarks at the start of the lunch. The Indian leader will be honored at a White House state dinner Tuesday evening. Clinton praised the relationship between the two countries, adding that India - like the U.S. - is what she called a "diverse" and "occasionally raucous democracy." Singh, whose visit comes as the Obama administration is finalizing its policy on Afghanistan, made his feelings clear. "We have a common stake in peace and security in Afghanistan," he said. And he told Clinton, "Your visit to India in July has prepared the groundwork for a greatly strengthened strategic partnership between our two countries." Two hundred senior U.S. and Indian officials and other dignitaries ...

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Iraq inquiry: Early U.S. push on Saddam

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:44:50 +0000

An inquiry into Britain's role in the Iraq war kicks off with top government advisers testifying that some Bush administration officials called for Saddam Hussein's ouster as early as 2001.

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Obama: India-U.S. relations to be a 'defining partnership' for the 21st century

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:22:27 +0000

Obama: India-U.S. relations to be a 'defining partnership' for the 21st century. Washington (CNN) – America's president and India's prime minister agreed Tuesday to team up and tackle a checklist of economic, research, nuclear, security, and environmental challenges. In what is the first state visit of his presidency, President Barack Obama welcomed India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the White House Tuesday morning. Obama and Singh had what they called a productive sit-down meeting and then briefed reporters with comments that reiterated what both nations believe will be a strong relationship in the years to come. Calling India "the world's largest multiethnic democracy " with a fast growing economy, Obama said, "I believe that the relationship between the United States and India will be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century" and will reflect the "strategic dialogue" between the countries. "We're the world's two largest ...

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Obama seeks to reassure Singh on U.S.-India ties

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:50:48 +0000

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Obama vows to 'finish the job' in Afghanistan (AFP)

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:38:26 +0000

AFP - President Barack Obama vowed Tuesday to "finish the job" in Afghanistan and promised to unveil a decision soon on sending tens of thousands more US troops to battle Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

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Obama: US wants to reduce India-Pakistan tensions (Reuters)

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:54:31 +0000

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Philippines political massacre

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:18:00 +0000

From NBC's Domenico MontanaroYou thought politics in this country were rough. Take note, per AP, of what's happening in the Philippines: Two southern provinces were placed under emergency rule Tuesday as Filipino security forces unearthed more bodies from one of the worst incidents of election violence in the nation's history, pushing the death toll to 46. Police and soldiers found 22 bodies in a hillside mass grave Tuesday, adding to the 24 bullet-riddled bodies recovered near the scene of Monday's...( read more )

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Obama on US-India relationship

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:43:00 +0000

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro President Obama welcomed India's Prime Minister Singh to the White House this morning. He stressed the importance of the U.S.'s relationship with India, mentioning briefly climate change and only alluding to its regional significance as it relates to Pakistan in particular. Pakistan and India are main rivals, clashing often over the disputed Kashmir region. India also wants more done by the Pakistanis to hold accountable those responsible for the deadly Mumbai bombings....( read more )

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Obama seeks to reassure Singh on U.S.-India ties (Reuters)

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:41:29 +0000

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Analyst: India needs reassurance it's a priority

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:31:26 +0000

R. Nicholas Burns, former under secretary of state for political affairs in the State Department, tells CFR.org that Obama must reassure the Indian government that India is a priority for the United States.

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2 warlords plead innocent in Congo massacre trial (AP)

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:23:46 +0000

AP - Two Congolese militia leaders sent child soldiers and other fighters to wipe out a village in a revenge attack that left more than 200 men, women and children dead, a prosecutor told judges Tuesday at the International Criminal Court.

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Obama hails 'indispensable' India on Singh state visit (AFP)

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:23:51 +0000

AFP - Barack Obama hailed India as "indispensable" on Tuesday as he welcomed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the White House on the first state visit of his presidency.

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Taiwan leader presses US on fighter jets (AFP)

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:11:23 +0000

AFP - Taiwan Tuesday urged the United States to sell the island F16 fighter jets to ensure its security, as a senior American envoy said a deal could not be ruled out during the Barack Obama administration.

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Indian prime minister at White House

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:52:39 +0000

Washington (CNN) - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh - speaking on Tuesday at the White House for a visit - said India and the United States "are separated by distance, but bound together by the values of democracy, rule of law, and respect for fundamental human freedoms. over the years."

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Obama Welcomes India Prime Minister

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:51:57 +0000

Barack Obama welcomed Manmohan Singh to the White House, opening an elaborate state visit that will include talks designed to overcome differences on climate change and U.S. ties with Indian rivals China and Pakistan.

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Prostitute claims Berlusconi offered help with inn (AP)

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:30:39 +0000

AP - The prostitute at the center of Premier Silvio Berlusconi's sex scandal claims in a new book that she slept with him on the understanding he would help her set up a countryside inn but she got "nothing" in return.

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US public divided on more troops to Afghanistan: poll (AFP)

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:23:43 +0000

AFP - A new poll Tuesday found Americans deeply divided about deploying more US troops to Afghanistan, just days before President Barack Obama was to announce his decision on sending reinforcements.

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Afghanistan decision to come within days, White House says

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:05:22 +0000

Washington (CNN) – President Obama will announce within days whether he will send more troops to Afghanistan, the White House said after he met with his national security team Monday night. "After completing a rigorous final meeting, President Obama has the information he wants and needs to make his decision and he will announce that decision within days," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said. The U.S. commander on the ground has asked for more troops and Republicans have criticized Obama for the drawn-out consideration process. The White House has defended its timetable, saying the president wants to get the decision right, not fast. Monday's meeting, which ended at 10 p.m., included Vice President Joe Biden, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen, Afghanistan commanding Gen. Stanley McChrystal, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry and other senior officials. Full story

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Indian PM making first official state visit of Obama presidency

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:59:39 +0000

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh - the leader of the world's largest democracy - will make a noteworthy appearance at the White House Tuesday: the first official state visit of President Barack Obama's administration. Obama and Singh are expected to touch on a range of issues affecting both countries in their discussions during the visit: counterterrorism, climate change, the Afghan war, Pakistan, economic recovery, and nuclear power and non-proliferation. The visit comes amid India's always tense relationship with nuclear rival Pakistan, regional concerns over the fighting in Afghanistan, and the burgeoning trade relationship between the United States and India - a country of 1.2 billion people with a growing and influential diaspora in America. "This is a very important relationship with a very important country that we have in the world," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters Monday. "That's why India was chosen to be the first visit." Full story ...

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Poll: U.S. split over Afghan troop buildup

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:26:49 +0000

If President Obama decides to send 34,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan, a new national poll indicates Americans would be split over whether to support such a move.

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Walesa takes Poland's president to court (AP)

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:49:53 +0000

AP - A Warsaw court on Tuesday began hearing a lawsuit filed by Lech Walesa in which the Solidarity founder is demanding damages from Polish President Lech Kaczynski for having called Walesa a communist-era agent.

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U.S. pledges new arms sales to Taiwan

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:47:23 +0000

TAIPEI (Reuters) - The United States plans to resume arms sales to Taiwan and warned of a build-up of missiles aimed at the island by China, a top U.S. diplomat said Tuesday.

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UK to hold public inquiry into alleged Iraq abuse (AP)

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:37:53 +0000

AP - Britain's defense ministry says it will formally order a public inquiry this week into the alleged abuse and killing of Iraqi civilians by British soldiers.

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Sudanese woman praised for fighting pants law (AP)

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:45:00 +0000

AP - France's foreign minister has praised the courage of a journalist who has led a fight against a law in Sudan allowing for women to be flogged for wearing pants.

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Obama to announce new Afghanistan policy

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:02:10 +0000

President Obama is expected to address the nation Tuesday on his new Afghanistan policy, likely in prime time.

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CNN/Opinion Research Poll – November 13-15, 2009 – Afghanistan, Iraq

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:00:10 +0000

TOPICS: Afghanistan, Iraq Full results (pdf)

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CNN Poll: Americans divided over troop buildup in Afghanistan

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:00:02 +0000

Washington (CNN) – If President Barack Obama decides to send 34,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan, a new national poll indicates Americans would be split over whether to support such a move. Half of the people questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey say they'd support such a decision, with 49 percent opposed. But support for a troop buildup of that size is greater than the 45 percent of the public who support the war in Afghanistan. The survey indicates that 52 percent oppose the war. "The war is unpopular and previous polls have shown that Americans oppose sending more troops in the abstract," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "But it may be a different story when Americans are confronted with an actual decision, by the Commander-in-chief, on a military matter. Previous presidents have seen a 'rally effect' - at least temporarily - when they have made command decisions like this one." The poll's Tuesday morning release comes just hours after Obama met ...

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Q+A - India, U.S. seek to move "beyond cliches" on ties (Reuters)

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:56:58 +0000

Reuters - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh holds talks with U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday during the first state visit of the new administration -- a tribute, both sides say, to the close natural ties between the two giant democracies.

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Obama aims to reassure Singh on U.S.-India ties

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:14:05 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama hosts Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday for talks considered critical to showing Washington's commitment to New Delhi in a region where its rivals, China and Pakistan, are U.S. priorities.

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Obama aims to reassure Singh on U.S.-India ties (Reuters)

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:14:05 +0000

Reuters - President Barack Obama hosts Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday for talks considered critical to showing Washington's commitment to New Delhi in a region where its rivals, China and Pakistan, are U.S. priorities.

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Can Obama stand up to Israel?

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:00:00 +0000

It won't be easy, but President Obama must hold Israel to account, both for the two-state solution and the safety of US troops around the world.

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Africa's new threat: Sudan at flash point

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:00:00 +0000

Only quick, concerted international action can avert a nationwide war and keep the peace.

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