China behavior in South China Sea ship encounter ‘irresponsible’: U.S.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – China’s behavior in a narrowly averted naval collision in the South China Sea was both “unhelpful” and “irresponsible,” U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said on Thursday, warning against incidents could escalate existing U.S.-C…
Obama commutes prisons sentences for eight on crack charges
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama commuted the prison sentences of eight people on Thursday after deciding their crack cocaine offenses did not justify the length of their time behind bars.
Fidel Castro hails brother for Obama handshake
HAVANA (Reuters) – Fidel Castro praised his brother, Cuban President Raul Castro, on Thursday for shaking hands with U.S. President Barack Obama at a memorial for Nelson Mandela, saying he demonstrated courtesy and dignity with the gesture.
Exclusive: Top White House aide Nabors considering exit – sources
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama’s deputy chief of staff Rob Nabors, a key figure in fiscal talks with Congress, is considering leaving the White House next year, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Senator Baucus to be named ambassador to China: aides
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Senator Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat who has taken a tough stance against some of China’s trade practices, will be nominated by President Barack Obama to be the next ambassador to Beijing, Senate aides said.
White House review panel proposes curbs on some NSA programs
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A White House-appointed panel on Wednesday proposed curbs on some key National Security Agency surveillance operations, recommending limits on a program to collect records of billions of telephone calls and new tests before Washi…
U.S. Senator Baucus to be named ambassador to China-aides
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Senator Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat who has taken a tough stance against some of China’s trade practices, will be nominated by President Barack Obama to be the next ambassador to Beijing, according to Senate aides.
Senate debates U.S. defense policy bill amid rift over amendments
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Lawmakers accused the U.S. Senate’s Democratic leaders of stifling debate on everything from Iran sanctions to terrorist detention policy on Wednesday as they began considering the annual defense policy bill under rules barring a…
White House review panel proposes curbs on some NSA programs
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A White House-appointed panel on Wednesday proposed curbs on some key National Security Agency surveillance operations, recommending limits on a program to collect records of billions of telephone calls and new tests before Washi…
U.S. Senate passes budget deal, focus shifts to spending
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate passed a two-year budget deal on Wednesday to ease automatic spending cuts and reduce the risk of a government shutdown, but fights were already breaking out over how to implement the budget pact.