Obama signs sprawling farm bill, lauds rural progress
EAST LANSING, Michigan (Reuters) – In a large barn smelling faintly of horses, President Barack Obama signed the $956 billion farm bill into law on Friday, comparing the five-year law to “a Swiss Army knife” because of the variety of ways it can suppor…
House Republicans eye possible debt limit vote next week
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republicans who control the U.S. House of Representatives have penciled in a possible vote next week on legislation to raise the debt limit, a sign that they are moving closer to deciding whether to try to attach conditions to an…
U.S. spy courts add two judges appointed by Democrats
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Two secret courts that authorize U.S. spying operations such as the massive collection of telephone data are adding two judges who were put on the bench by Democratic presidents, a spokesman said on Friday, in a shift following c…
Despite skeptics, Obama envoy sees Guantanamo jail’s days numbered
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is in talks with a wide range of countries to move “as aggressively as we can” in speeding up the transfer of Guantanamo prisoners, the State Department’s envoy said, as President Barack Obama tries to make good…
Syria a U.S. homeland security threat: DHS chief
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The civil war in Syria has become a threat to U.S. national security, with Westerners traveling to fight in the conflict, where extremists try to recruit them for missions back home, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh …
Former gov’t contractor Stephen Kim to plead guilty in U.S. leak case-lawyer
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Former U.S. government contractor Stephen Kim will plead guilty to one count of unauthorized disclosure of secret government information, his lawyer told a U.S. District Court judge on Friday.
Israeli foreign minister defends peace-maker Kerry
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s right-wing foreign minister on Friday defended U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry whose Middle East peace drive has seen mounting criticism from within the Israeli government.
Exclusive: Pentagon to boost missile defense spending by over $4 billion: sources
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Defense Department plans to ask Congress for $4.5 billion in extra missile defense funding over the next five years as part of the fiscal 2015 budget request, say congressional sources and an expert.
Biden says to decide next year if to run for U.S. presidency
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Vice President Joe Biden said he will decide by the summer of 2015 if he will make a third run for the U.S. presidency.
Insight: Republicans still seen falling behind in election data wars
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – When Barack Obama defeated Mitt Romney in the 2012 U.S. presidential election, many political strategists saw it as a triumph of the Obama team’s technological prowess, allowing it to identify likely Democratic voters and get the…
