Watt nears U.S. Senate confirmation as housing regulator
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Democratic Representative Mel Watt’s nomination to lead the agency that regulates taxpayer-owned mortgage financiers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac looked set for final approval on Tuesday after clearing a hurdle in the U.S. Senate.
Obama-Castro handshake – a sign of Mandela-like reconciliation?
HAVANA (Reuters) – For sure it’s just what Nelson Mandela would have wanted, but does it amount to more than that?
Negotiators say no new U.S. farm bill before January
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The lead agricultural negotiators in the U.S. Congress said on Tuesday that a new bill would not be completed before January as Democrats and Republicans struggle to reach a compromise on sticking points such as funding for food …
Hearing on Obama pick for IRS chief halted abruptly, then rescheduled
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Senate panel hearing on President Barack Obama’s nominee to head the Internal Revenue Service was set to resume Wednesday after it was abruptly halted on Tuesday at a Republican senator’s request, committee aides said.
Former Clinton aide Podesta joining White House to advise Obama
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – John Podesta, a former chief of staff to President Bill Clinton, is returning to the White House to advise President Barack Obama as he struggles to regain his footing after the flawed healthcare law rollout.
Exclusive: Despite warnings, Pentagon kept ties to controversial helicopter firms
Washington (Reuters) – After almost four years of allegations that two related helicopter companies in Lithuania and Russia were doing substandard work and should be banned from new contracts, the Pentagon continued to give them business, according to …
U.S. justices voice support for air pollution regulation
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Supreme Court justices offered President Barack Obama’s administration some encouragement on Tuesday as they weighed the lawfulness of a federal regulation limiting air pollution that crosses state lines, mostly emissions fr…
In Qatar talks, U.S. underscores support for Syrian moderates
AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel briefed Qatari leaders on Tuesday about the effort to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons, and he underscored U.S. support for Syria’s moderate opposition.
Kerry to brief full U.S. Senate on Iran on Wednesday: aides
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew will participate in a classified briefing for the full U.S. Senate on Wednesday on the status of talks with Iran, Senate aides said on Tuesday.
Obama’s encounter with Karzai at Mandela memorial just a greeting: White House
ON BOARD AIR FORCE ONE (Reuters) – President Barack Obama’s encounter with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai at Nelson Mandela’s memorial in South Africa was “just an exchange of greetings,” a White House aide said on Tuesday.
