Cuba says fast track to restoring ties ‘depends on U.S.’
HAVANA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Cuba would agree to restore diplomatic relations with the United States in time for the April Summit of the Americas if Washington quickly and convincingly removes the Caribbean country from a list of state sponsors of ter…
Donald Trump serious about 2016 presidential run: Washington Post
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Businessman Donald Trump is ramping up efforts for a 2016 presidential run, adding to a growing pool of potential Republican candidates, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday.
U.S. Senate votes to clear path for security agency funding
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate on Wednesday took steps to avert a partial shutdown within days of the U.S. domestic security agency, voting overwhelmingly to clear a path for passage of an agency funding bill free of contentious immigration ref…
Republicans shelve measure labeling Idaho a ‘Christian state’
SALMON, Idaho (Reuters) – A county branch of the Republican Party in Idaho voted to shelve for now a measure that would have labeled the state as Christian to bolster what supporters called the Judeo-Christian underpinnings of the United States.
U.S. Treasury presses Qatar on terror finance
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew met with the emir of Qatar and emphasized the importance of fighting “terror financing,” amid suspicions that money from one of the key U.S. Middle East allies had gone to violent extremists in th…
Crunch time for Rand Paul at U.S. conservative event
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – With Republican rivals like Scott Walker and Jeb Bush off to a strong start in the 2016 U.S. presidential race, Rand Paul will seek his own breakout moment at an annual gathering where hopefuls go to burnish their conservative cr…
Kerry questions Netanyahu’s judgment as U.S.-Israel row deepens
WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM (Reuters) – U.S. officials on Wednesday questioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s judgment and said his outspoken condemnation of efforts to secure an Iranian nuclear deal had injected destructive partisanship into U.S…
Mayor says District of Columbia to go ahead with pot legalization
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said on Wednesday the District of Columbia would move forward as planned with marijuana legalization, despite objections from members of the U.S. Congress.
Chicago’s Garcia has a chance in second-round mayor’s race
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Mayoral underdog Jesus “Chuy” Garcia has a fighting chance in an April runoff election against well-funded incumbent Rahm Emanuel but political insiders say he must broaden his coalition beyond the Hispanic voters and disgruntled te…
In surprise result, Chicago’s Mayor Emanuel faces election run-off
CHICAGO (Reuters) – In a surprise result that showed the limits of a big-money campaign, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel failed to get more than 50 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s election, and must face a run-off against second-place finisher Jesus “Chuy”…