Obama’s ambitious trade agenda hits Asian resistance
TOKYO/SINGAPORE (Reuters) – America’s ambitious trade agenda is running into fierce resistance in Asia, but negotiators say a draft Pacific free-trade deal that papers over some differences may be ready by the time U.S. President Barack Obama visits th…
California senate leader: Carbon tax would return revenue to poor, transit
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – A carbon tax proposal outlined on Thursday by California Senate leader Darrell Steinberg would raise an estimated $3.6 billion in its first year, revenue he said would go into the pocketbooks of the state’s poorest residents a…
U.S. trade chief to focus on farm barriers in Japan, Canada
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Barriers to farm imports in Japan and Canada will be one focus of free trade talks with Pacific Rim countries this weekend, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said on Thursday.
Pentagon plays down intelligence officer’s provocative China assessment
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Pentagon on Thursday played down remarks by a senior Navy intelligence officer who told a public forum that he believed China was training its forces to be capable of carrying out a “short, sharp” war with Japan in the East C…
Obama to seek tighter tax rules for corporate offshore profits -official
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration said on Thursday it will seek new limits on overseas tax avoidance by corporations in its forthcoming budget proposal, reprising an approach it has made before to try to raise government revenue via a tig…
Venture capitalist in bid to split California into six states
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A venture capitalist seeking to break California into six new states has won approval to begin collecting signatures needed to get his plan on the ballot in November, but experts said such a measure likely stands little chance o…
Colorado lawmaker leaves behind loaded handgun in state Capitol
DENVER (Reuters) – A Colorado lawmaker said on Thursday he found a loaded handgun that one of his colleagues had mistakenly left in a room at the Capitol building where a committee had discussed a bipartisan measure to ease restrictions on carrying con…
Obama budget proposal to drop Social Security cuts
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama on Thursday dropped a measure to trim cost-of-living increases in Social Security from an upcoming budget proposal in an election-year move that may insulate fellow Democrats facing heat from senior voters….
Christie meets with voters for first time since bridge scandal
(Reuters) – New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on Thursday held his first town hall meeting since becoming embroiled in a furor over bridge traffic lane closures, and voters asked him about almost anything but the scandal.
Obama looking at range of sanctions on Ukraine violence -White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama is urgently considering a range of sanctions against Ukraine after the death toll mounted from violent protests in central Kiev, the White House said on Thursday.
