Democrats block defense spending bill, amid budget fight
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Democrats blocked the fiscal 2016 defense spending bill in the U.S. Senate on Thursday, part of a campaign to force Republicans to start budget negotiations by refusing to allow any appropriations measure to advance to a final vo…
Obama’s Pacific trade pact revived in U.S. House, heads to Senate
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday reversed course, approving “fast-track” legislation central to President Barack Obama’s trade deal with Pacific Rim nations and sending it back to the Senate.
Clinton: U.S. must face ‘hard truths’ after South Carolina shooting
(Reuters) – Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton said on Thursday after a deadly shooting at a historic African-American church in South Carolina that the United States must face “hard truths” about race and gun violence.
Republicans avoid talk of race, guns after Charleston shooting
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican presidential candidates steered clear on Thursday of addressing the role gun rights and racial tensions may have played in a deadly mass shooting in South Carolina as Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton called for the…
Senate passes annual defense policy bill, veto threatened
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate passed an annual defense policy bill on Thursday that authorizes some $600 billion in defense spending for the 2016 fiscal year and starts reforms that could help curb costs over the long run.
U.S. training for Syrian rebels moving slower than expected: Pentagon
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. effort to build a moderate Syrian opposition force that can stand up to Islamic State rebels is moving more slowly than expected due to complications vetting volunteers and bringing them out of Syria for training, the Pe…
U.S. to face differences with China head on at talks next week
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States said on Thursday it would not “paper over” differences between the United States and China when top officials of the world’s two largest economies meet to discuss financial and political strategy in Washington n…
EPA defends controversial biofuels program at Senate hearing
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. environmental regulator on Thursday defended its handling of the nation’s controversial renewable fuels program at a congressional hearing, the first since its new biofuels targets last month provoked a furor among corn …
Hastert defense attorney complains about leaks to judge
CHICAGO (Reuters) – A defense attorney for former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert complained to a federal judge on Thursday about leaks to the media, which he said could interfere with his client’s right to a fair trial on money transaction charges.
White House threatens veto for defense spending bill in Senate
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House on Thursday said President Barack Obama’s advisers would recommend a veto of a U.S. Senate bill to fund the Department of Defense if lawmakers pass it, saying it uses gimmicks to get around budget caps.
