Trump already a tainted name in Indonesia after Muslim ban remarks
BOGOR/JAKARTA, Indonesia (Reuters) – Few villagers living near a half-built golf course in Indonesia’s West Java province know the name Donald Trump, and fewer still are aware that one of his firms will be managing a six-star hotel and luxury resort in…
U.S. rebuffs Koch-controlled coal company’s bid for royalties
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration has rejected a plea by billionaire investor William Koch to refund as much as $14 million in royalties on a now-shut Colorado mine, according to a letter explaining the decision.
Bloomberg opts out of U.S. presidential bid, calls for centrism
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Monday he would not mount an independent bid for the U.S. presidency because he feared it would increase the chances that Republicans Donald Trump or Ted Cruz could end up in the Wh…
Clinton’s pledge to curtail fracking falls on unconvinced ears
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Hillary Clinton’s vow to regulate oil and gas fracking almost out of existence was met with skepticism Monday, failing to convince either industry or environment groups that she would – or could – end the controversial drilling p…
Ryan calls Trump, Cruz to discuss House Republican agenda: report
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan called Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, a U.S. senator from Texas, to brief them on House Republican attempts to create a bold, election-year agenda, th…
Israel’s Netanyahu declines offer to meet with Obama: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declined an offer to meet U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House later this month and canceled his trip to Washington, the White House said on Monday.
Oklahoma governor wants to use reserve fund to shore up schools, prisons
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin on Monday proposed drawing $72 million from the state’s Rainy Day Fund to spare public schools and prisons from severe cutbacks as the oil-rich state grapples with deepening budget cuts linked to …
Lawmakers to go to Cuba with Obama, who mulls more trade moves
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama will be accompanied on his historic visit to Cuba this month by up to 20 members of Congress, and is also considering further measures to ease travel and trade restrictions around the time of the visit, U.S…
Pennsylvania governor raises minimum wage for state workers, contractors
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Reuters) – Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf raised the minimum wage for state workers and employees of some contractors by 40 percent to $10.15 an hour on Monday, a gesture aimed in part at putting pressure on Republican lawmakers.
U.S. ‘disappointed’ by India’s visa refusal for religious rights panel
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The State Department was “disappointed” India had refused visas to members of a U.S. commission that examines violations of religious freedom around the world, a spokesman said on Monday.
