Cuba dissidents say 38 activists freed as part of deal with U.S.
HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuba has freed 38 opposition activists from prison over the past two days, including a popular hip-hop artist, as part of a deal to improve relations with the United States, dissident groups said on Friday.
Kerry to push India to give U.S. companies greater access
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Secretary of State John Kerry will push India to make it easier for U.S. companies to do business there on a trip next week that also takes him to Europe to meet officials from Oman, Iran and Bulgaria, U.S. officials said on Frid…
Court weighs overturning gay marriage bans in three southern states
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) – A U.S. federal appeals court on Friday appeared receptive to arguments in favor of striking down same-sex marriage bans in the conservative southern states of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Nevada Senator Reid says he may lose vision in eye after home mishap
(Reuters) – U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, who broke bones in his face when a piece of exercise equipment malfunctioned at his home in Nevada, says he may not regain full vision in his right eye.
Republicans aim to deny funding for Obama immigration agenda
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republicans in the House of Representatives will try to block President Barack Obama’s immigration initiatives next week by denying funding for them in a security budget bill, lawmakers said on Friday.
Obama pushes $60 billion plan for free community college
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Reuters) – President Barack Obama promoted a proposal to offer two years of free community college tuition to students on Friday but the plan and its $60 billion pricetag over 10 years immediately faced skepticism from Republican lawm…
Obama taps Treasury official Cohen as CIA deputy director
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama has chosen David Cohen, a top Treasury official specializing in terrorism and financial intelligence, to be deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the White House said on Friday.
Illinois fiscal woes impeding state’s growth: governor-elect’s team
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Fixing Illinois’ many financial problems with a “credible” plan will be key to expanding the state’s economy, according to a report Friday from Governor-elect Bruce Rauner’s transition team.
Agent Orange endangered U.S. Air Force workers after Vietnam: panel
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Air Force reservists who did maintenance on C-123 aircraft used during the Vietnam war to spray the defoliant Agent Orange could have been exposed to harmful levels of dioxin even long after the conflict, the health arm of t…
U.S. House passes Keystone XL bill, Senate to debate next week
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on Friday to approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline, despite a threat by the White House to veto legislation on the project.
