08/01/2013 | Argentina

US approves Nahón's designation as new ambassador

US government approved the designation of Cecilia Nahón as the Argentine Ambassador to the US, leading to her official appointment in the post, according to the Foreign Ministry.

01/02/2013 | World

Bush family mourns loss of Barney the dog

Harry Truman once said if you want a friend in Washington, get a dog. George W. Bush had one, a Scottish terrier named Barney, and Bush announced today that Barney had died.

23/01/2013 | World

US Congress passes Republican plan to extend debt limit

The US House of Representatives today passed an extension of borrowing authority under the federal debt limit to May 19, putting the Republican plan on a fast track to enactment after top Senate Democrats endorsed it.

24/01/2013 | World

Obama taps former federal prosecutor to head SEC

US President Barack Obama today nominated former federal prosecutor Mary Jo White to head the Securities and Exchange Commission, picking a tough enforcement hand who more recently has defended Wall Street figures.

25/01/2013 | World

Obama to launch immigration push in Nevada next week

US President Barack Obama plans to launch his second-term push for a US immigration overhaul during a visit to Nevada next week and will make it a high priority to win congressional approval of a reform package this year, the White House said today.

14/01/2013 | World

Former President George H.W. Bush leaves hospital

Former US President George H.W. Bush was released from a Houston hospital today after more than seven weeks of treatment for bronchitis and related ailments, according to a statement issued by a family spokesman.

16/01/2013 | World

Obama unveils biggest gun-control push in decades

US President Barack Obama proposed a new assault weapons ban and mandatory background checks for all gun buyers today as he tried to channel national outrage over the Newtown school massacre into the biggest US gun-control push in decades.

22/01/2013 | World

White House: Obama would sign short-term debt limit increase

The White House today welcomed signals by Republican leaders in the House of Representatives that they aim to pass a nearly four-month extension of the US debt limit, saying the move defuses fears of a damaging US debt default.

03/01/2013 | World

US House chooses Boehner as speaker again despite strains

Despite a rocky few weeks during the "fiscal cliff" fight, John Boehner won re-election as speaker of the House of Representatives today and will again lead Republicans as they take on the White House over federal spending.

08/01/2013 | World

US does not rule out complete pullout from Afghanistan after 2014

The Obama administration does not rule out a complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan after 2014, the White House said today, just days before President Barack Obama is due to meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

10/01/2013 | World

Obama nominates Jack Lew to succeed Geithner at Treasury

US President Barack Obama today nominated his chief of staff, Jack Lew, as the next Treasury secretary, praising him as a expert on the pressing national issues of spending cuts and deficit reduction.

18/12/2012 | World

NRA breaks silence, pledges to help stop US massacres

The National Rifle Association said today it wanted to contribute meaningfully to prevent another massacre like the Connecticut shooting, suggesting a sharp change in tone for the largest US gun rights group.

19/12/2012 | World

White House readies gun-control plan as more children laid to rest

The White House revealed the first steps of a gun-control plan as the United States grieved for victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in another wave of funerals.

21/12/2012 | World

Obama urges US citizens to keep fighting for tighter gun controls

President Barack Obama urged Americans today to keep up the pressure on lawmakers to tighten gun regulations as a result of the mass shooting of 26 people in Newtown, Connecticut, a week ago.

03/11/2012 | World

Romney, Obama neck and neck in four swing states

US President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney remain neck and neck in four swing states that are likely to determine the winner of the White House race next week, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released today.

10/12/2012 | World

US 'fiscal cliff' talks fail to reach common ground

The White House and House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner's office held more negotiations today on ways to break the "fiscal cliff" stalemate, although neither side showed any public signs that they were ready to give ground.

14/12/2012 | World

'Obama remains committed to trying to renew a ban on assault weapons'

President Barack Obama has been notified about the "tragic" shooting incident at an elementary school in Connecticut and will receive regular updates throughout the day, the White House said.

20/08/2012 | World

Obama takes aim at Republicans in surprise press conference

US President Barack Obama slammed Republicans over taxes and women's rights in a surprise appearance in the White House briefing room that was meant to undercut his rivals on what was already a bad news day for them.

14/09/2012 | World

White House denies any previous information on Libya attack

US President Barack Obama's administration said today there was no "actionable intelligence" in advance about the attack on the US consulate in Libya.

28/10/2012 | World

Obama cancels stops in Virginia, Colorado because of storm

President Barack Obama is canceling campaign stops in Virginia and Colorado early next week because of the impending landfall of Hurricane Sandy and will instead monitor the storm from the White House, his spokesman said.

06/06/2012 | World

White House: Obama still opposes extending Bush-era tax cuts for rich

President Barack Obama continues to oppose extending Bush-era tax cuts for wealthier US citizens, the White House said today, shrugging off calls from some Democrats for a temporary extension to make more time for a deal on deficits.

27/07/2012 | World

White House lowers growth forecasts, brightens jobs picture

The White House cut its outlook for US growth in 2012 and 2013, hours after data showed the economy grew at a tepid pace in the second quarter, raising concerns about a slowdown that could mar President Barack Obama's re-election chances.

07/08/2012 | World

Romney opens attack on Obama over welfare law

US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney opened a new line of attack on President Barack Obama for waiving parts of a landmark welfare-to-work law, but Obama's team argued Romney had backed a similar move as Massachusetts governor.

15/05/2012 | World

Obama issues veto threat against House defence bill

US President Barack Obama threatened to veto a defence policy bill in the House of Representatives that would authorize higher Pentagon spending and tie his hands on national security issues from nuclear arms reductions to handling war detainees.

22/05/2012 | World

White House said to give inside access for bin Laden film

The Obama administration arranged for two Hollywood filmmakers to get special access to government officials involved in the commando operation that killed Osama bin Laden, according to a conservative legal group that posted internal government documents on its website.

29/05/2012 | World

Obama honors Dylan, Morrison for 'incredible impact'

US President Barack Obama gave the United States' top civilian honor to musician Bob Dylan, novelist Toni Morrison and 11 other people he said have had an "incredible impact" on society through their words and actions.

25/04/2012 | World

Gingrich to quit White House race after stormy bid

Newt Gingrich is quitting the US Republican presidential contest after a tumultuous campaign that saw him go from longshot to front-runner and back again, a campaign official said.

27/04/2012 | World

Romney keeps focus on economy despite Obama attacks

White House candidate Mitt Romney kept his focus on attacking President Barack Obama's handling of the economy, in the face of Democrats' attempts to paint the Republican hopeful as weak on national security.

14/05/2012 | World

Ron Paul stops campaigning for White House

US Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul effectively ended his White House bid, saying he would no longer campaign actively in states that have yet to hold primary elections.

08/03/2012 | World

Obama campaign makes election pitch with Hollywood-style film

US President Barack Obama's campaign is putting a cinematic finish on its re-election pitch with a new documentary about the Democratic president's first three years in the White House.

10/04/2012 | World

White House warns North Korea over missile launch

The White House warned North Korea that its planned long-range missile launch would be a flagrant breach of the impoverished country's international obligations and would jeopardize food aid from Washington.

18/04/2012 | World

Obama wants probe of photos of troops with dead Afghans; Panetta apologizes

President Barack Obama wants an investigation into photographs that have surfaced of US soldiers posing with the bodies of dead Afghan insurgents and that those responsible be held accountable, the White House said today.

27/01/2012 | World

US police warn Occupy protesters in Washington

Protesters of the "Occupy" movement will be barred from camping at two Washington parks near the White House where they have been living since October, authorities said after Republican lawmakers raised questions about the protests.

21/02/2012 | World

White House: still time for Iran diplomacy to work

The White House said today there is still enough time for diplomacy with Iran to work and prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

22/02/2012 | World

US chides Iran over failure of IAEA mission

The White House today criticized Iran over the failure of the UN nuclear watchdog's latest mission, saying it again showed Tehran's refusal to abide by its international obligations over its nuclear program.

09/01/2012 | World

US Chief of Staff steps down, budget chief takes over

US President Barack Obama said his budget chief Jack Lew would take over as White House chief of staff, replacing former businessman Bill Daley, who is stepping down after a troubled one-year tenure.

24/01/2012 | World

John F. Kennedy final hours recordings released

The final 45 hours of White House recordings secretly taped during John F. Kennedy's time in office were released today, offering researchers a unique perspective into the last three months of the assassinated president's administration.

26/01/2012 | World

Obama says he second-guesses himself, makes mistakes

Barack Obama said he doubted his decisions "constantly" and made mistakes daily but thought he had become a better president with more on-the-job experience.

10/11/2011 | World

White House: Middle East envoy to step down

Dennis Ross, a senior aide to President Barack Obama on the Middle East, has decided to step down from his post, the White House said today.

05/12/2011 | World

Obama, fellow Democrats push tax cut extension

US President Barack Obama cranked up pressure on congressional Republicans to extend a payroll tax cut, and his fellow Democrats proposed to fund it with spending cuts and a "tiny surtax" on the rich.

03/01/2012 | World

US Republican rivals face first test of 2012 in Iowa

The US presidential campaign kicked off in earnest as voters met across this rural state in the first contest to determine a Republican challenger to Democratic President Barack Obama.

06/10/2011 | World

Obama chides banks, taps anger over Wall Street

President Barack Obama launched a broad onslaught against banks today, tapping into public anger over rising fees to garner populist support ahead of his 2012 re-election campaign.

27/10/2011 | World

Obama says Europe has laid foundation to solve crisis

US President Barack Obama said TOday that European Union leaders have laid "a critical foundation" to solve the eurozone debt crisis with their deal announced Wednesday evening.
"We look forward to the full development and rapid implementation of their plan," Obama said in a statement released by the White House.

08/11/2011 | World

White House: No sign of ETs

The White House released an official statement today denying any contact or acknowledge of extraterrestrial life. The announcement came as a response to submissions to the “We The People” website, which promises to address any petition that gains 5,000 signatures.

19/09/2011 | World

Obama offers US$3 trillion debt plan, tax hikes on rich

President Barack Obama called on US lawmakers to pass his jobs proposal and take up his plan to slash up to US$3 trillion from the deficit over a decade.

22/09/2011 | World

White House dismisses Ahmadinejad condemnation of US

The White House dismissed Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's attack on US policy in his speech at the United Nations today and accused Iran's government of "vile mistreatment" of its own citizens.

29/09/2011 | World

White House says US supports European actions on debt problems

The White House said that it supports actions that European leaders have taken on their debt problems and urged them to continue.

10/08/2011 | World

Syrian forces kill 15, US slaps sanctions

Syrian forces killed 15 civilians in the city of Homs on Wednesday, an activists' group said, despite international calls for President Bashar al-Assad to end a bloody crackdown on protests against his rule.

10/08/2011 | World

White House rejects claim about bin Laden raid film

Moviemakers producing a film about the US special forces raid that killed Osama bin Laden are getting help from the Pentagon, but the Obama administration dismissed concerns on Wednesday that classified information has been divulged.

01/09/2011 | World

White House sharply cuts growth forecast

President Barack Obama sharply cut estimates for US economic growth today, underscoring the difficult challenge he faces in spurring a stronger recovery and creating more jobs.

27/07/2011 | World

US lawmaker urges Obama to back trade deals plan

Congressional leaders have a plan for action on three free trade agreements and the Trade Adjustment Assistance program but still need White House backing, a top Republican lawmaker said today.

27/07/2011 | World

Time running out for debt compromise, the White House warns

The White House warned that time was running out to reach a compromise on the US debt limit and said that Republicans and Democrats must come together now on an agreement.

05/08/2011 | World

White House: 'We still have a long way to go'

It is encouraging that US job growth accelerated more than expected in July, but the country still has a long way to go to recovery, a top White House adviser said.

03/06/2011 | World

White House says jobless rate 'unacceptably high'

The White House said the US unemployment rate was unacceptably high while trying to put a brave face on a report that showed employers hired far fewer workers than expected in May.

12/07/2011 | World

White House: Syria's Assad has lost legitimacy

The White House, echoing comments by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton a day earlier, said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had lost legitimacy and was "not indispensable."

20/07/2011 | World

Change of mind: White House open to short-term debt extension

The White House shifted gears today and signaled that President Barack Obama could support a short-term extension of the US borrowing limits as long as it was part of a broader long-term deficit reduction deal.

16/03/2011 | World

Michelle Obama to write book about White House garden

US first lady Michelle Obama will write a book about the kitchen garden she started at the White House and her efforts to promote healthy eating, the Crown publishing group said.

05/04/2011 | World

White House says still 'committed' to closing Guantanamo

The White House said that it maintains its compromise to close the Guantanamo Bay Prison despite the decision to try those accused of orchestrating the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks at the controversial detention centre.

12/04/2011 | World

White House: Obama wants balanced approach on deficit

The White House signaled that President Barack Obama will discuss the role of taxes in reducing the US deficit in a Wednesday speech.

09/02/2011 | World

US says Egypt failing to meet protest concerns

23/02/2011 | World

Obama assembles CEO group to advise on economy

US President Barack Obama named a group of top corporate executives to join a new economic advisory panel, the latest move to boost the economy and reach out to the business community.

28/02/2011 | World

White House: Exile an option for Gaddafi

Going into exile would be one option for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in meeting international demands that he leave power, White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

11/12/2010 | World

Obama calls WikiLeaks' 'deplorable,' White House

President Barack Obama told Turkish and Mexican leaders that WikiLeaks' actions were "deplorable" as the US administration kept up damage control efforts over the website's embarrassing release of masses of secret US cables.

02/02/2011 | World

US hardens stance against Mubarak's plan to stay

The United States hardened its stance against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's plans to hang on to power until September and voiced suspicions the government might be instigating violence.

04/02/2011 | World

Obama urges Mubarak to make the ‘right decision’

President Barack Obama appealed to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to make the "right decision" as the United States kept up its push for an orderly transition of power in the face of mass protests.

05/04/2012 | Sports

Obama, Romney agree: Admit women to Augusta golf club

US President Barack Obama believes women should be allowed to join the all-male Augusta National Golf Club, the White House said, adding pressure on the exclusive 80-year-old organization to drop its restrictive policy.

30/08/2011 | Entertainment

Daryl Hannah arrested in White House protest

Actress and environmental activist Daryl Hannah was briefly arrested outside the White House during a protest against a proposed $7 billion oil pipeline, police said.

13/02/2012 | Entertainment

Pacino, Tillis among arts honorees at White House

Actor Al Pacino and country singer Mel Tillis were among 17 poets, historians, organizations and others honored at the White House for their contributions to the arts or to the humanities.

08/08/2012 | Entertainment

Writer says bin Laden film, trailer not politically motivated

A Hollywood studio this week released a trailer for a film dramatizing the hunt for Osama bin Laden, but the film's screenwriter said the trailer was not meant to boost the campaign of US President Barack Obama, who ordered the May 2011 commando raid in which bin Laden was killed.