US committed to Iraq withdrawal, says Biden

BAGHDAD - US Vice President Joe Biden Saturday said the United States was committed to withdrawing its soldiers from Iraq by the end of 2011.

Statue of Liberty reopened to tourists

NEW YORK - The first people in eight years to climb the narrow inner spiral up to the Statue of Liberty’s crown were seven US immigrant soldiers who became US citizens under sparkling skies Saturday morning on the US Independence Day.

$3 (+$12) tickets set for Statue of Liberty’s crown, which reopens July 4

Want to climb Statue of Liberty’s crown? Make a reservation to get tickets

20 years after bloodbath, Tiananmen democracy movement battles a state-enforced amnesia

BEIJING — As a young poet, Cui Weiping was not much interested in politics. But she says she could never shake the image of her husband returning home on a June night 20 years ago, his pants mottled with the blood of people shot by the Chinese army.

Not again: FAA stops Navy flight over Hudson; jet photo op 2 weeks ago caused panic in NYC

NEW YORK — The Federal Aviation Administration turned down a U.S. Navy request to fly a patrol aircraft past Manhattan on Monday, two weeks after a nerve-racking Air Force photo shoot over the Statue of Liberty caused a brief panic.

No more than 5 minutes for visitors in Statue of Liberty’s crown

NEW YORK - Visitors to the crown of Statue of Liberty, after it reopens on July 4, will not get more than five minutes to enjoy the panoramic view from the historic site, according to reports.

White House aide loses job over Manhattan flyover fiasco

WASHINGTON - The White House aide who authorized the controversial Air Force One photo-op flight last week around the Statue of Liberty is out of a job.

White House aide resigns over Air Force One’s photo-op flyover in New York

WASHINGTON — The White House official who authorized a $328,835 photo-op of an Air Force jet used by the president soaring above New York City resigned under fire Friday as the administration tried to move past the embarrassing incident that sent panicked workers rushing into the streets amid flashbacks of Sept. 11.

White House spokesman brushes off questions about jet’s photo-op over NYC

WASHINGTON — The White House says it doesn’t have any information about the Boeing 747’s flying photo op over lower Manhattan that sent Manhattan into a panic. The plane is a version of the 747 that’s called Air Force One when the president is aboard.

Unsure if he’ll return as US Olympic coach, Coach K writes about building a gold medal team

NEW YORK — Mike Krzyzewski still doesn’t know if he will return to coach the U.S. Olympic team.

Statue of Liberty will open for the public again on July 4th

WASHINGTON - The Statue of Liberty, which has been closed to visitors sine the 9/11 attacks in 2001, will be open to the public again from July 4, 2009.

‘Delhi-6′ not an autobiography: Rakeysh Mehra

NEW DELHI - Filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra dismisses rumours that his much-awaited ‘Delhi-6′ is an onscreen autobiographical adaptation but admits he has used some fond memories of his childhood and youth in the movie.