Senate moves toward supporting U.S. helicopters for Iraq
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate is looking more favorably at a request to provide attack helicopters to Iraq, but a top senator has not yet given the Obama administration a green light to go ahead with military assistance that Iraq wants to help…
India diplomat indicted, asked to leave U.S.
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON D.C. (Reuters) – The Indian diplomat whose arrest and strip-searching in New York caused a major rift between India and the United States was indicted for visa fraud on Thursday, and the U.S. government immediately asked her to leav…
Christie fires aide in NJ bridge scandal; prosecutor launches probe
TRENTON, New Jersey (Reuters) – New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on Thursday fired a top aide who apparently helped orchestrate massive traffic jams at a busy commuter bridge to settle a score, saying he had been blindsided in the scandal that threat…
Obama meets lawmakers ahead of intelligence reform decisions
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama met with 16 lawmakers on Thursday to discuss reforming how U.S. intelligence agencies collect telephone and internet data after damaging revelations by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snow…
Lawmakers prepare stop-gap funding as clock runs down on spending bill
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. lawmakers are preparing a stop-gap spending measure ahead of a new federal government shutdown deadline next week as talks on the $1 trillion U.S. spending legislation move slowly.
IRS should create, adopt U.S. taxpayer bill of rights: watchdog
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Internal Revenue Service should take steps to restore public trust in its work, including adopting a taxpayer bill of rights that clearly states individuals’ rights to fair treatment from the tax agency, an IRS watchdog …
White House reviews spying targets for potential embarrassment
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – White House officials are reviewing National Security Agency spying targets to weigh whether the risk of embarrassment to the United States if snooping on them is exposed is worth any gains to national security from the surveilla…
U.S. lawmakers propose fast-track bill for trade agreements
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. lawmakers on Thursday proposed a bill to give the White House power to fast-track international trade agreements as the United States gears up for a hectic year of trade negotiations.
Cuba, United States meet on migration in latest sign of a thaw
HAVANA (Reuters) – Officials from the United States and Cuba met in Havana on Thursday to discuss longstanding migration accords in the latest sign of a new collaborative spirit between the Cold War foes.
U.S. prosecutors say Trenton, NJ, mayor knew of bribe plot
TRENTON, New Jersey (Reuters) – U.S. prosecutors said during opening statements on Thursday that the mayor of New Jersey’s capital city and his brother accepted bribes in exchange for help in a garage development, while defense attorneys said there was…