CIA chief admits agency used ‘abhorrent’ methods on detainees
LANGLEY, Va. (Reuters) – CIA Director John Brennan said on Thursday some agency officers used “abhorrent” methods on detainees captured following the Sept. 11 attacks and said it was “unknowable” whether harsh interrogation techniques yielded useful in…
Obama administration mobilizes to save faltering spending bill
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration made a last-ditch attempt on Thursday to drum up Democratic support to salvage a faltering $1.1 trillion spending bill, just hours ahead of a midnight U.S. government shutdown deadline.
UK deputy PM says open to inquiry over spies’ role in torture
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said on Thursday he would support an inquiry into whether British spies were complicit in CIA torture of terrorism suspects, if other investigations failed to uncover the truth.
Senator Hatch sees hope for tech immigration bill in new year
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A senior Republican in the U.S. Senate plans to revive legislation early in 2015 that would raise the cap for temporary work visas for programmers, engineers and high-skilled workers.
Italy, Turkey to service F-35 jet, engine in Europe: Pentagon
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Pentagon on Thursday said Italy and Turkey would provide initial heavy maintenance of Lockheed Martin Corp’s new F-35 fighter jet and its engine in Europe from 2018, paving the way for billions of dollars in work by companies…
U.S. lawmakers give preview of coming oil export fight
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. lawmakers gave a preview on Thursday of a looming fight next year on lifting the ban on crude exports with supporters saying it would sustain the drilling boom and others questioning its impacts on industry and fuel prices.
Obama says to keep pressing China on currency, intellectual property
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States will continue to press China on its currency, protection of intellectual property and state-owned businesses, U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday ahead of bilateral trade talks next week.
Pacific trade pact chances ‘significantly’ better than 50-50: Obama
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Chances that U.S. negotiators can bring home a strong trade deal with Asia-Pacific countries are now much better than 50-50, U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday.
Obama plans to sign Venezuela sanctions legislation
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama plans to sign legislation that would impose sanctions on Venezuelan government officials found to have violated protesters’ rights during demonstrations earlier this year, the White House said on Thursday.
Lawyer fears abuse of U.S. detainees transferred to Afghan custody
KABUL (Reuters) – The final few inmates of U.S.-run prisons near Kabul, scenes of abuse highlighted by a U.S. Senate report this week, are now in an Afghan detention system with its own grisly record of torture, their lawyer said on Thursday.
