United States

Egypt clears way for Iranian warships through Suez Canal
By Giancarlo Doyle...
February 18, 2011 - 3:56pm
Egypt has agreed to allow two Iranian warships to cross through the Suez Canal despite Israeli opposition.

According to CNN.com, Egypt's new military regime has agreed to allow the passage of two Iranian warships through the Suez Canal.

The warships, are expected to be the first to sail through the Suez Canal since 1979.

The Suez Canal is an internal body of water, which Egypt has sovereignty over. Egypt, however, is bound by the 1976 Camp David Accords, which guarantees the right to free passage by ships belonging to Israel and all other nations on the basis of the Constantinople Convention of 1888.

Egypt will seek atomic weapons if Iran does
By Shannon Woodward
December 2, 2010 - 3:28pm
Egypt's president says the country will pursue nuclear arms if Iran does.

According to Reuters, cables made public by WikiLeaks showed that Egypt President Hosni Mubarak warned U.S. officials that his country might develop nuclear arms if Iran obtained atomic weapons.

Prices at the pumps rise again
By Callan Gray
November 16, 2010 - 3:49pm
American consumers will be paying more at the pump this winter, even as crude oil prices drop.

American consumers will be paying more for household heat this winter according to the Labor Department. Diesel and home heating oil costs rose in October along with an increase of 9.8 percent in retail gas prices, according to the Associated Press.

East Coast airports on high alert Friday morning
By Marisa DeCandido
October 29, 2010 - 12:44pm
Two United States airports were on high alert Friday after a suspicious package was found on a United Kingdom flight.

Cargo planes headed into Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Newark, New Jersey airports Friday morning were inspected more closely, according to CNN. The two airports were on high alert after a suspicious package, which contained a "manipulated" toner cartridge, was discovered on a U.K. flight the night before.

The cartridge tested negative for explosive material, authorities said.

Afghan President admits taking money from Iran
By Kevin Barry
October 25, 2010 - 1:13pm
President Hamid Karzai admitted that his chief of staff took money from the Iranian government to pay for presidential expenses.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai admitted Monday that the Afghan government has been receiving money from the Iranian government, according to The New York Times. He added that Afghanistan will continue to receive the payments, which he says are no more than $1 million two times a year.

The United States military accepts homosexuals
By Brenda Leung
October 20, 2010 - 1:13pm
The United States military, for the first time, openly accepts gays and lesbians.

The United States military is openly accepting homosexual applicants, for the very first time.

However, the notable change has created a debating platform for many.

California federal judge, Virginia A. Phillips, ordered the military to stop enforcing the "don't ask, don't tell" law, according to The New York Times.

President Obama said that the "don't ask, don't tell" policy “will end on my watch.”

China flexing muscles in trade negotiations
By Callan Gray
October 19, 2010 - 4:01pm
China has implemented an embargo on rare element shipments to the United States

China mines 95 percent of the world’s rare elements. Now the nation has decided to halt shipments of some of those minerals to the United States, reports The New York Times. These minerals are used in manufacturing to make commercial and military goods, such as large wind turbines and guided missiles.

U.S. Defense Secretary travels to China to patch military relations
By Dan Cohen
October 11, 2010 - 4:08pm
Robert Gates meets with Beijing general to resolve Taiwanese arms sale.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates met with General Liang Guanglie in Beijing Monday in an attempt to restore direct military relations between the two nations, according to a New York Times report.  The Chinese government froze relations with the U.S. armed forces in response to an American arms sale of $6.4 billion to Taiwan, a nation that China labels a "renegade province," according to the article.

Official apology from US for syphilis experiments
By Durrie Bouscaren
October 1, 2010 - 4:27pm
Experiments done on 700 prisoners and mental patients in Guatemala over 60 years ago are coming to light.

Modern scientific researchers go through great pains to ensure their studies are conducted in an ethical and safe manner. So when reports of U.S. funded studies conducted over 60 years ago that intentionally infected nearly 700 unknowing people with syphilis are found, it's a big deal. 

United States and NATO helicopters involved in exchanges of fire with insurgents near Pakistan
By Kevin Barry
September 27, 2010 - 2:23pm
Pakistan complains about use of force in its territory; United States claims insurgents opened fire then crossed the Pakistani border

United States helicopters were involved in three incidents along the boarder of Afghanistan and Pakistan over the weekend. The American Apache helicopters followed insurgents into Pakistani territory and returned fire after the insurgents opened fire on the helicopters, according to CNN.com.