http://www.voanews.com Voice of America is an international news and broadcast organization serving Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Russia, the Middle East and Balkan countries http://www.voanews.com/img/voa/rssLogo_VOA.gif http://www.voanews.com en-US 2012 - VOA 60 Wed, 22 May 2013 23:41:59 -0400 Pangea CMS – VOA The Obama administration on Wednesday formally acknowledged the killing of four Americans in drone strikes. This came on the eve of a speech by President Barack Obama about the legal principles, since 2009, supporting use of drones against terrorist suspects, and about detention policies.   The use of drone warfare and targeted killings, including of Americans helping al-Qaida or affiliates, stirred major controversy during President Obama's first term and continues in his ... http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-speech-attempts-to-fulfill-pledges-for-more-trasnparency/1666509.html http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-speech-attempts-to-fulfill-pledges-for-more-trasnparency/1666509.html Wed, 22 May 2013 18:06:40 -0400 USA Dan Robinson http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-speech-attempts-to-fulfill-pledges-for-more-trasnparency/1666509.html#relatedInfoContainer At the White House, President Barack Obama and Burma's President, Thein Sein, discussed political and economic reforms in Burma, human rights and the importance of resolving the country's ethnic conflicts and religious tensions. It was the first White House visit by a Burmese president since 1966 and came as Obama closely monitors the outcomes of an engagement process he began with Burma in 2009, months after his election. Most U.S. economic sanctions against Burma have been lifted ... http://www.voanews.com/content/burmese-president-to-visit-white-house/1664217.html http://www.voanews.com/content/burmese-president-to-visit-white-house/1664217.html Mon, 20 May 2013 01:53:35 -0400 Asia Dan Robinson http://www.voanews.com/content/burmese-president-to-visit-white-house/1664217.html#relatedInfoContainer Obama, Burmese President to Discuss Reform Progress, Challenges Burma's President Thein Sein holds talks on Monday with President Obama at the White House. The discussions will focus on progress in reforms, barriers toward greater democratization and next steps in the changing U.S. - Burma relationship. November 2012. Barack Obama becomes the first serving U.S. president to visit Burma. He meets with President Thein Sein, who has led a bold but cautious reform process since 2011 after ... http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-and-burmese-president-discuss-reform-progress-and-challenges/1663509.html http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-and-burmese-president-discuss-reform-progress-and-challenges/1663509.html Fri, 17 May 2013 21:43:00 -0400 Asia Dan Robinson http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-and-burmese-president-discuss-reform-progress-and-challenges/1663509.html#relatedInfoContainer President Barack Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan say the U.S. and Turkey are determined to see Syrian President Bashar al-Assad leave to pave the way for a political transition.   In a news conference following bilateral talks, both leaders downplayed differences over Syria, underscoring the importance of maintaining pressure on the Assad regime while sustaining Syria's opposition.   President Obama recognized Erdogan for being "at the forefront" ... http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-erdogan-to-pressure-assad-regime/1662367.html http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-erdogan-to-pressure-assad-regime/1662367.html Thu, 16 May 2013 12:57:35 -0400 Middle East Dan Robinson http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-erdogan-to-pressure-assad-regime/1662367.html#relatedInfoContainer President Barack Obama welcomes Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the White House on Thursday for talks on the situation in Syria and other regional security and bilateral issues. Obama's relationship with Erdogan is among the closest he has with any world leader.   They speak frequently on the phone.  Syria has been a key topic as the death toll there continues to mount.  Turkey has played a key role in the provision of non-lethal aid and political ... http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-turkish-pm-to-discuss-syria-in-white-house-talks/1662034.html http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-turkish-pm-to-discuss-syria-in-white-house-talks/1662034.html Thu, 16 May 2013 04:52:04 -0400 Europe Dan Robinson http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-turkish-pm-to-discuss-syria-in-white-house-talks/1662034.html#relatedInfoContainer President Barack Obama moved late Wednesday to head off further potential political damage from the controversy over his administration's response to last year's terrorist attack on a U.S. diplomatic facility in Libya. The White House released 100 pages of emails detailing intense debate among administration officials and the CIA about how to word public "talking points" after the attack in Benghazi. Four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens, were ... http://www.voanews.com/content/benghazi-email-white-house/1661974.html http://www.voanews.com/content/benghazi-email-white-house/1661974.html Wed, 15 May 2013 21:53:58 -0400 USA Dan Robinson President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron have reaffirmed their determination to achieve a negotiated solution to end Syria's civil war, through a hoped for peace conference. The president also faced questions about the controversy over last year's terrorist attack on U.S. diplomats in Benghazi, Libya. In their first Oval Office talks since Obama's re-election, the two leaders discussed steps to persuade Syria's rebels, and President Bashar al-Assad's ... http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-cameron-set-for-white-house-talks/1659785.html http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-cameron-set-for-white-house-talks/1659785.html Mon, 13 May 2013 04:34:46 -0400 USA Dan Robinson http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-cameron-set-for-white-house-talks/1659785.html#relatedInfoContainer The situation in Syria and efforts to halt bloodshed there will be a major topic on the agenda of talks Monday between President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron.   Monday's meeting will cover the range of global issues, including the agenda for next month's G8 Summit, as well as issues such as Iran and Middle East peace efforts.   But the flurry of diplomatic activity on Syria means that issue is likely to dominate the Oval Office talks.   The ... http://www.voanews.com/content/syria-likely-to-dominate-obama-cameron-meeting/1659027.html http://www.voanews.com/content/syria-likely-to-dominate-obama-cameron-meeting/1659027.html Sat, 11 May 2013 07:20:41 -0400 USA Dan Robinson http://www.voanews.com/content/syria-likely-to-dominate-obama-cameron-meeting/1659027.html#relatedInfoContainer The White House faced mounting pressure on Friday over its handling of - and explanations about - last year's terrorist attack on a U.S. diplomatic facility in Benghazi, Libya, in which the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans were killed.  The latest developments involve the so-called talking points drawn up by the intelligence community that administration officials, including U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice, used to talk about the Benghazi attack. ABC News ... http://www.voanews.com/content/us-libya-memos-benghazi/1658966.html http://www.voanews.com/content/us-libya-memos-benghazi/1658966.html Fri, 10 May 2013 17:59:39 -0400 USA Dan Robinson http://www.voanews.com/content/us-libya-memos-benghazi/1658966.html#relatedInfoContainer President Obama flew to Austin, Texas, on Thursday to announce his latest steps aimed at boosting the nation's manufacturing sector and helping to create jobs.   Part of the president's "Middle Class Jobs & Opportunity Tours," his effort to generate public support for proposals to strengthen the economy and create jobs, Obama also spoke about the importance of education in boosting the economy.   He has pointed to what he calls a trend of U.S. companies ... http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-announces-innovation-centers/1658097.html http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-announces-innovation-centers/1658097.html Thu, 09 May 2013 16:56:49 -0400 USA Dan Robinson http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-announces-innovation-centers/1658097.html#relatedInfoContainer After White House talks, U.S. President Barack Obama and South Korean President Park Geun-Hye have called on North Korea to end provocative behavior, and commit to meaningful steps to de-nuclearize.  Park's visit to Washington came as the United States and South Korea continue to observe the 60th anniversary of their mutual defense treaty signed just two months after the end of the Korean War in 1953. Weeks leading up to their Oval Office talks were marked by rising tensions on the ... http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-skorean-president-to-show-unity-on-nkorea/1656198.html http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-skorean-president-to-show-unity-on-nkorea/1656198.html Tue, 07 May 2013 10:57:51 -0400 Asia Dan Robinson http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-skorean-president-to-show-unity-on-nkorea/1656198.html#relatedInfoContainer North Korea and the international response to provocations by Pyongyang will be a major focus of White House talks between U.S. President Barack Obama and President Park Geun-hye of South Korea.  The situation on the Korean peninsula may have calmed somewhat in recent weeks, following the height of threats by Pyongyang to attack South Korea and the United States. There have been no new North Korean missile launches, although the U.S., South Korea and other governments in the region are ... http://www.voanews.com/content/north-korea-a-major-focus-of-obama-talks-with-south-korean-president/1655879.html http://www.voanews.com/content/north-korea-a-major-focus-of-obama-talks-with-south-korean-president/1655879.html Mon, 06 May 2013 20:47:43 -0400 Asia Dan Robinson http://www.voanews.com/content/north-korea-a-major-focus-of-obama-talks-with-south-korean-president/1655879.html#relatedInfoContainer The White House on Monday declined to comment directly on reported Israeli air strikes in Syria.  But President Barack Obama's spokesman said Israel is right to be concerned about movements of weapons to Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group.  Monday's White House news briefing was the first since air strikes over the weekend believed to have been carried out by Israel to prevent advanced weapons from being transferred to Hezbollah militants. Though Israel took the step ... http://www.voanews.com/content/white-house-israel-has-right-of-self-defense/1655804.html http://www.voanews.com/content/white-house-israel-has-right-of-self-defense/1655804.html Mon, 06 May 2013 18:00:33 -0400 Middle East Dan Robinson President Barack Obama has announced his nomination of Anthony Foxx, the mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, to be his new secretary of transportation. Anthony Foxx became mayor of Charlotte in 2009, three years before the city hosted the Democratic Party national convention which formally nominated Obama for a second term. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Foxx would replace outgoing Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, a former Illinois congressman, who was the second Republican in ... http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-nominates-foxx-for-secretary-of-transportation/1651297.html http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-nominates-foxx-for-secretary-of-transportation/1651297.html Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:06:17 -0400 USA Dan Robinson President Barack Obama says the world cannot stand by and permit any use of chemical weapons, and says the United States will work with international partners to vigorously investigate evidence in hand so far.  In remarks before his meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah, Obama said the U.S. now has "some evidence" with "varying degrees of confidence" that chemical weapons have been used in Syria. He said a range of questions remain about how and when such weapons ... http://www.voanews.com/content/britainus-concerned-by-possible-chemical-weapons-use-in-syria/1649268.html http://www.voanews.com/content/britainus-concerned-by-possible-chemical-weapons-use-in-syria/1649268.html Fri, 26 Apr 2013 04:56:33 -0400 Middle East Dan Robinson http://www.voanews.com/content/britainus-concerned-by-possible-chemical-weapons-use-in-syria/1649268.html#relatedInfoContainer The U.S. revelation that chemical weapons likely have been used in Syria came on the eve of President Barack Obama's talks Friday with King Abdullah of Jordan. Syria is now likely to figure even higher in the Oval Office discussions. King Abdullah's visit comes just over a month after he and President Barack Obama met in Amman during the president's Middle East trip. Syria was high on the agenda at the time along with the burdens on Jordan of hosting hundreds of thousands of ... http://www.voanews.com/content/jordan-obama-syria-chemical-weapons/1649152.html http://www.voanews.com/content/jordan-obama-syria-chemical-weapons/1649152.html Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:17:35 -0400 Middle East Dan Robinson President Barack Obama has renewed his determination to achieve a political transition in Syria, and the departure of President Bashar al-Assad.  The remarks, after talks with the visiting Emir of Qatar, came as the issue of Syrian chemical weapons remained high in the headlines.  President Obama said Syria was among issues that he and Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani discussed in their Oval Office talks. "We have been cooperating closely with Qatar and other countries ... http://www.voanews.com/content/israel-accuses-syria-of-using-chemical-weapons/1646973.html http://www.voanews.com/content/israel-accuses-syria-of-using-chemical-weapons/1646973.html Tue, 23 Apr 2013 06:27:28 -0400 Middle East Dan Robinson After the dramatic conclusion to the manhunt for the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, President Barack Obama has praised the work of the Boston police and the FBI. Obama pledged a thorough and fair ongoing investigation. Obama spoke after a long day monitoring developments in Boston, and the final dramatic conclusion in which 19-year-old Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was taken into custody after a standoff with police. Tsarnaev was captured alive after police surrounded a boat he was hiding in, in the ... http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-boston-briefings/1645204.html http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-boston-briefings/1645204.html Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:07:32 -0400 USA Dan Robinson http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-boston-briefings/1645204.html#relatedInfoContainer Three days after the bombings at the Boston Marathon, President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, local officials and religious leaders honored those killed and wounded - and the spirit of Bostonians - at a service in Boston.  The Obamas were seated in the front pew at Boston's Church of the Holy Cross as religious leaders paid tribute to the dead, wounded, first responders, and the people of Boston. Reverend Liz Walker of the Roxbury Presbyterian Church spoke about strength ... http://www.voanews.com/content/obama_in_boston_says_bomb_cannot_beat_us/1644369.html http://www.voanews.com/content/obama_in_boston_says_bomb_cannot_beat_us/1644369.html Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:43:00 -0400 USA Dan Robinson http://www.voanews.com/content/obama_in_boston_says_bomb_cannot_beat_us/1644369.html#relatedInfoContainer President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama travel to Boston Thursday to comfort families and victims of the Boston Marathon bombings, and meet with officials who responded to the attacks that killed three and wounded more than 170. The president and the first lady will participate in an interfaith service in Boston's Cathedral of the Holy Cross, dedicated to those killed and wounded in Monday's bombings. The White House says Obama will meet with local and state officials, ... http://www.voanews.com/content/suspicious-substance-found-in-letter-sent-to-obama/1643360.html http://www.voanews.com/content/suspicious-substance-found-in-letter-sent-to-obama/1643360.html Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:46:40 -0400 USA Dan Robinson