South Sudan leader ready for talks but rival doesn’t commit
JUBA (Reuters) – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir said on Friday he was ready for face-to-face talks with rebel leader Riek Machar to try and end months of fighting in the world’s newest nation, but his rival held off from promising to take part.
Obama, Merkel still struggle over spying but agree on trade
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel could not hide differences on Friday over U.S. surveillance practices despite Obama’s offer of “cyber dialogue” with Berlin and a pledge to bridge gaps that have tarnishe…
Detroit’s civilian retiree group agrees to pension cuts
(Reuters) – The group representing the largest block of Detroit’s retired workers on Friday agreed to accept the city’s proposed cuts to their pension benefits, the latest in a string of deals the city has struck in an effort to resolve its historic ba…
Senate Democrats press for speedier LNG export permits
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration must speed up approvals of liquefied natural gas exports to help boost global supplies and help U.S. allies, five Senate Democrats said on Friday.
Obama to have attorney general look into botched Oklahoma execution
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama on Friday said the botched execution of a murderer in Oklahoma raises questions about the death penalty in the United States and he will ask the U.S. attorney general to look into the situation.
Florida lawmakers approve medical marijuana bill
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (Reuters) – Florida legislators voted on Friday to allow doctors to prescribe a special strain of “non-euphoric” marijuana for treatment of chronic epileptic seizures and some other severe illnesses.
House plans special committee to probe Benghazi
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Speaker of the House of Representatives said on Friday the House will vote to create a special committee – the same type of panel that investigated the Watergate scandal – to probe the deadly September 2012 attack in Benghazi…
Paul Ryan tries to ease tensions with black lawmakers on poverty
(This April 30 story was corrected to fix surname of congressman to Clyburn from Rayburn in the final paragraph)
Obama, Merkel say U.S., Germany committed to completing trade pact
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday reaffirmed their commitment to completing the U.S.-EU trade agreement.
‘American Idol’ runner-up Clay Aiken winning political respect in North Carolina
CARY, North Carolina (Reuters) – “American Idol” runner-up Clay Aiken readily signs autographs and poses for selfies with voters in his bid for a North Carolina congressional seat, but tries hard to keep his pitch at campaign stops focused on political…
