Psychologist says Senate report on CIA interrogation makes false charges
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – One of the two psychologists who devised the CIA’s harsh Bush-era interrogation program for foreign terrorism suspects said on Wednesday that a scathing Senate report on their methods “took things out of context” and made a numbe…
U.S. closes Bagram prison, says it has no more detainees in Afghanistan
KABUL (Reuters) – The United States closed the Bagram detention facility on Dec. 10 and no longer has custody of any detainees in Afghanistan, the U.S. Defense Department said, closing a controversial chapter of Washington’s long “war on terror”.
U.S. under fire over Senate’s report on CIA torture
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States on Wednesday faced criticism from the United Nations as well as governments that Washington often reprimands for human rights violations over a Senate report on CIA torture techniques in the wake of the Sept. 11…
White House stops short of veto threat for bill with Dodd-Frank changes
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House said on Wednesday it “strongly opposes” the inclusion of modifications to Dodd-Frank financial reforms in a bill that reauthorizes the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, but stopped short of issuing a formal veto threa…
Congress reaches deal for $1.1 trillion U.S. spending bill
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Congressional negotiators unveiled a $1.1 trillion U.S. spending bill that aims to avoid a government shutdown at midnight on Thursday and punts an immigration showdown between Republicans and President Barack Obama until Februar…
U.S. lawmakers skeptical of Obama strategy against Islamic State
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. lawmakers voiced deep skepticism on Wednesday about President Barack Obama’s handling of the war against Islamic State rebels in Iraq and Syria, charging that his response had been slow and “dithering” and warning the strate…
Obama to Congress: give all kids chance at preschool
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama on Wednesday announced more than $1 billion in public and private investments in preschool, but called on Congress to make more money available to programs.
U.S. OK’s more commercial drone use as Congress probes risks
(Reuters) – The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday granted four more companies exemptions to use drones commercially, further opening the airspace to unmanned aircraft even as lawmakers raised questions about the risks.
Pelosi: Democrats will insist on changes to U.S. spending bill
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. House of Representatives Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said on Wednesday that she was insisting that two controversial items be removed from a $1.1 trillion government spending bill unveiled on Tuesday that would avert a go…
White House issues veto threat for charity tax break bill
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House on Wednesday issued a formal veto threat for a U.S. House of Representatives bill that would make certain tax breaks for charitable donations permanent, saying the bill would add $500 billion or more to deficits o…