U.S. House plans Ukraine bill without IMF reforms: congressional sources
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee will introduce a bill on Friday providing aid to Ukraine, but it will not include reforms of the International Monetary Fund requested by the Obama administration, congr…
Illinois speaker eyes millionaire tax for school funding
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Illinois’ powerful speaker of the House of Representative on Thursday unveiled a plan that would slap a tax surcharge on millionaires in the state in an effort to raise $1 billion a year for schools.
In subtle moves, Hillary Clinton creates distance from Obama
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Just over a year after leaving her job as secretary of state, Hillary Clinton has offered views on foreign policy that analysts said seem part of an effort to distance herself from the Obama administration as she prepares a possibl…
Obama gets personal, sanctions Putin’s inner circle
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama targeted sanctions at close allies and aides of Russian President Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine crisis on Thursday and threatened broad penalties against key sectors of Russia’s economy if Moscow moves de…
Senators see aid to Israel staying firm despite cuts
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – The United States will continue providing Israel with defense aid after a current package worth some $3 billion a year expires in 2017, and the grants are unlikely to wane despite Washington belt-tightening, two U.S. senators said…
U.S. Senate leader orders probe of alleged CIA computer hacking
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The leader of the U.S. Senate strongly backed the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday in a dispute with the Central Intelligence Agency, ordering an investigation into what he called an “indefensible” breach of …
Treasury cautions on dealing with Russian firms tied to sanctioned individuals
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Treasury cautioned Americans on Thursday against conducting transactions with a Russian firm that may be controlled by an individual slapped with sanctions, even if that person does not hold a majority stake.
High unemployment still haunting U.S. military veterans
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Unemployment among U.S. military veterans eased last year, government data showed on Thursday, but remained far higher than the national average rate for the civilian population.
South Carolina lawmakers fail in attempt to undo Obamacare
CHARLESTON, South Carolina (Reuters) – South Carolina lawmakers failed to derail implementation of President Barack Obama’s signature health care law in the state when a measure was defeated in the Republican-controlled Senate.
Obama pledges to address gender pay gap
ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) – President Barack Obama used a speech at a community college on Thursday to begin a series of events highlighting economic issues affecting women such as the gender pay gap in which women earn three-quarters as much as their…