New Pennsylvania Democrat governor seeks bipartisan approach
HARRISBURG, Pa./NEW YORK (Reuters) – Pennsylvania’s new governor, Democrat Tom Wolf, highlighted his status as a political outsider during his inaugural address on Tuesday, asking legislators to work together to fix major problems facing their state.
Key U.S. senator opposes ‘rush’ to vote on Iran nuclear sanctions
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Banking Committee said on Tuesday he did not want to rush to vote on legislation to impose more sanctions on Iran, speaking a day after the panel said it would delay hearings on the issue for a…
U.S. top court rules for Muslim inmate over prison beard ban
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – An Arkansas policy prohibiting inmates from having beards violated the religious rights of a prisoner who had wanted to grow one in accordance with his Muslim beliefs, a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday.
Republican Abbott becomes Texas governor, pledges border security
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) – Republican Greg Abbott was sworn in as the new governor of Texas on Tuesday, pledging to fight the Obama administration over border security and grow the state’s $1.4 trillion a year economy.
U.S. top court rejects appeals by Halliburton, KBR over conduct overseas
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed lawsuits to move forward against government contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan by declining to hear appeals filed by KBR Inc and Halliburton Co.
Senior Senate Republican accuses Obama of ‘class warfare’
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Senate’s top tax law writer accused President Barack Obama on Tuesday of undertaking “class warfare” with his plan to raise taxes on wealthier Americans to help the middle class.
Obama’s top aide takes blame for U.S. absence in Paris march
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama’s chief of staff on Tuesday took responsibility for not sending a top U.S. official to a Paris unity march after deadly Islamic militant attacks in the French capital earlier this month.
U.S. wants end to travel curbs, set up embassy in Cuba talks
WASHINGTON/HAVANA (Reuters) – The United States will urge Cuba to lift travel restrictions on U.S. diplomats and agree to opening embassies in historic talks on restoring relations this week in Havana, a senior State Department official said on Monday….
U.S. worker freed from Cuba to be guest at Obama annual speech
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. aid worker whose release from a Cuban prison helped pave the way toward restoring diplomatic ties with the communist nation will be among the White House’s top guests for Tuesday’s State of the Union address.
U.S. to seek end to travel curbs, set up embassy in Cuba talks
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States will urge Cuba to lift travel restrictions on U.S. diplomats and agree to establish U.S. and Cuban embassies in historic talks in Havana this week aimed at restoring relations, a senior State Department official…