United States

Stories 541 - 560 | << Prev   Next >>

Hurricanes Prompt Calls to Soften Restrictions on Cuba

Some see aid now as a path toward increased influence, cooperation

(Newser) - The devastation Hurricanes Gustav and Ike wrought on Cuba has prompted the US to offer direct aid for the first time in the 47-year history of its embargo on the island, but even ardent anti-Castro Cuban Americans are pushing for more, the Washington Post reports. While not all favor lifting...

Tight Budgets Pinch Health Care Spending

As consumers prioritize, medical expenses lose out

(Newser) - Yet another casualty of the recession could wind up being an irreplaceable one: Americans' health. Consumers are increasingly skipping doctor visits and skimping on prescription meds, the Wall Street Journal reports. "It's hard to get people to follow up when they're having to decide between the gas bill, the...

US Takes Early Ryder Lead
 US Takes Early Ryder Lead 
Sep 19, 2008 1:32 PM CDT

US Takes Early Ryder Lead

Americans haven't had a strong opening since 1991

(Newser) - For the first time since 1991, American golfers lead the Ryder Cup at the end of the opening session. The US is up 3-1 on the Europeans after the morning matches. Justin Leonard and Hunter Mahan claimed the first point for the US, Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim rallied to...

Citizenship Fees Up, Applications Down

59% decline seen after charge to would-be citizens rises from $400 to $675

(Newser) - Higher fees for immigrants seeking US citizenship could be responsible for a drop in applications, USA Today reports. The fee went from $400 to $675 last summer; applications are down almost 60% in the first 6 months of 2008, compared to the same period last year. “The expense has...

About-Face on Libya Signals Hope for Iran, N. Korea: Rice

Secretary hails historic trip as US officially renews ties with former foe

(Newser) - Iran and North Korea, take heed: America’s reconciliation with Libya proves that Washington has no permanent enemies, Condoleezza Rice said today. The secretary of state, meeting in Tripoli with onetime international pariah Moammar Gadhafi, said her historic trip “demonstrates that when countries are prepared to make strategic changes...

Seeing Red Over Russia, US May Cozy Up to China
Seeing Red Over Russia, US May Cozy Up to China
OPINION
Aug 28, 2008 2:23 PM CDT

Seeing Red Over Russia, US May Cozy Up to China

Beijing may draw closer to DC: FT

(Newser) - Moscow may physically stand in between Beijing and Washington, but Russia’s aggressive behavior could bring the US and China closer together, Geoff Dyer argues in the Financial Times. The Kremlin’s interference in Georgia has Washington seething, and “a low-level confrontation in Georgia that pits Russia against the...

China Makes $3B Deal to Develop Iraqi Oil

First Saddam-era oil deal to be revived since invasion

(Newser) - China and Iraq have dusted off an oil deal that was in the works before the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, giving China the rights to develop the Ahdab field, reports the AP. The agreement—which has grown from an estimated $1.2 billion to $3 billion—was originally struck...

Gustav Kills 11, Weakens
 Gustav Kills 11, Weakens
Aug 27, 2008 11:09 AM CDT

Gustav Kills 11, Weakens

Could strike US as Category 3

(Newser) - Thousands fled their homes as Hurricane Gustav triggered flooding and landslides that killed at least 11 people in the Dominican Republic and Haiti before weakening to a tropical storm, but forecasters said today that he still represents a major threat to the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. They suggested...

West to Put Screws to Russia
 West to Put Screws to Russia
Aug 27, 2008 2:25 AM CDT

West to Put Screws to Russia

New fury at Russia's formal recognition of breakaway states

(Newser) - The West is preparing to crank up diplomatic pressure on Russia after its challenging move formally recognizing breakaway Ossetia and Abkhazia in the wake of its invasion of Georgia. The US, Europe and NATO have condemned the action, but Russia remains defiant. "We are not afraid of anything, including...

US Finishes Strong, Sweeps 1600 Relays

(Newser) - The US men's and women's teams swept the 1600-meter relays today, ending a string of frustrations for the Americans that included dropped batons in two earlier races. For the women, Sanya Richards anchored her team in a come-from-behind victory over Russia in 3:18.54, the world's fastest time since...

Russians Pull Back, But West Not Satisfied

'Peacekeeping' posts appear likely to remain on Georgian soil

(Newser) - Having withdrawn from the Georgian city of Gori, Russia said tonight it is in full compliance with a cease-fire agreement, the New York Times reports. Despite criticism from the US and France, nations that helped broker the deal, Moscow continues to occupy the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia,...

China Overtakes US as Top Market for Japan Goods

Exports to US from Japan fall for 11th consecutive month

(Newser) - China imported $11.8 billion in Japanese goods in July, MarketWatch reports, barely surpassing the US as the world’s largest importer of products and services from Japan for the first time. The 11.5% drop in shipments to the US was the 11th consecutive month of declines; exports to...

Shunning Won't Work: Invite Russia to Join NATO
Shunning Won't Work:
Invite Russia to Join NATO
OPINION
Aug 20, 2008 12:53 PM CDT

Shunning Won't Work: Invite Russia to Join NATO

Increased engagement with the bear will avert more crises: Meier

(Newser) - The kneejerk impulse to punish Russia for its Georgia incursion by withdrawing NATO civilities is exactly wrong, Andrew Meier writes in the Los Angeles Times. The only way the West can get leverage, given the case of nerves the Russians have over NATO’s expansion into former Soviet states, is...

US Chooses Georgia Over Russia at Its Own Risk
US Chooses Georgia Over Russia at Its Own Risk
OPINION
Aug 20, 2008 10:29 AM CDT

US Chooses Georgia Over Russia at Its Own Risk

Russian minister blasts misguided US

(Newser) - The US should quit blaming Russia for starting the war in Georgia, writes Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the Wall Street Journal, and think hard before backing Tbilisi to the detriment of relations with Moscow. Georgia's "ruthless military assault" in South Ossetia forced the hand of Russia. "...

Rice, Polish Counterpart Sign Missile Defense Deal

But American base is decried by Russia

(Newser) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski signed a deal today that will put an American missile defense base in Poland, a plan that has provoked increasingly belligerent opposition from Russia. The formal signing comes 6 days after the two countries agreed to the agreement that...

Georgian War Lays Bare Bush Policy's Failures
Georgian War Lays Bare
Bush Policy's Failures
OPINION
Aug 19, 2008 3:45 PM CDT

Georgian War Lays Bare Bush Policy's Failures

US encouraged Georgian bluster; provoked Russian paranoia

(Newser) - The Georgian war crystallizes the failure of the Bush administration's foreign policy, writes HDS Greenway in the Boston Globe. Besides the ready-made justification the Iraq war provides to any invading country, America has stoked Georgian boldness, "and now America's client is wiping blood from its nose," he writes....

US Wrestling Prodigy Wins Gold
 US Wrestling Prodigy Wins Gold
olympics
Aug 19, 2008 8:40 AM CDT

US Wrestling Prodigy Wins Gold

21-year-old is youngest American to win wrestling gold

(Newser) - Henry Cejudo, the 21-year-old US prodigy who had competed in only one world-level senior tournament before Beijing, won gold today in Olympic freestyle 55-kilogram wrestling. Cejudo, crying the moment the match ended and wrapping himself in an American flag, defeated Tomohiro Matsunaga of Japan in the best-of-three match. Cejudo is...

Phelps' Quest Perfectly American
 Phelps' Quest
 Perfectly American
OPINION
Aug 17, 2008 4:01 PM CDT

Phelps' Quest Perfectly American

Swimmer balanced domination with near-misses

(Newser) - Michael Phelps’ quest for eight gold medals was a perfect sports story for America: we like our athletes to either dominate or come from behind at the last minute, and Phelps delivered on both counts. He was both “the juggernaut and the ninth-inning home run with two outs and...

In China and Russia, a 'Springtime for Autocrats'
In China and Russia,
a 'Springtime for Autocrats'
ANALYSIS
Aug 17, 2008 2:36 PM CDT

In China and Russia, a 'Springtime for Autocrats'

Is the Age of Authoritarianism upon us?

(Newser) - The autocratic world powers that were crumbling in the late 1980s may yet have their day, and sooner than we think, writes executive editor Bill Keller in the New York Times. As China keeps its stranglehold on free speech despite promises to the IOC, and Russia tests how far it...

US Water Polo Bests Top-Ranked Croatia

Ninth-ranked Americans hope for medal

(Newser) - The ninth-ranked US water polo team took down top-ranked Croatia in a surprise 7-5 Olympic victory today, the New York Times reports. The victory was thanks in large part to the defensive work of goalie Merrill Moses, who had 11 saves. “What better place to take down the best...

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