Pentagon chief Hagel in Pakistan for talks on security, drones
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel had a frank exchange on Monday about U.S. drone strikes against militants in remote areas of Pakistan, in the first visit by a Pentagon chief to the Sout…
Rand Paul says ‘seriously thinking about’ 2016 White House run
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican Senator Rand Paul said on Sunday he is giving serious thought to a run for the presidency in 2016 but might decide against it because of the burden a campaign would cause for his family.
U.S. defense chief to visit Pakistan for talks with prime minister
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will travel to Pakistan on Monday for talks with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other senior officials, as the first Pentagon chief to visit Islamabad in nearly four years, a…
Democrats wouldn’t reject U.S. budget deal over jobless aid: senator
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A senior Democrat said on Sunday he hoped an emerging deal on the U.S. budget would include an extension of unemployment benefits but added that his party would not necessarily walk away from an agreement that left it out.
Analysis: U.S. budget deal could bring truce, minimize shutdown threats
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A minimalist U.S. budget deal that congressional negotiators hope to reach in coming days will do almost nothing to tame rising federal debt, but it could usher in a nearly two-year fiscal truce, minimizing the risk of future fun…
Cash-strapped Iranian students in U.S. hope nuclear deal will ease tuition woes
(Reuters) – When Mohammad Hamedi Rad arrived in the United States last year, he carried his Iranian passport, a hard-won student visa and a backpack containing $14,000 in hundred dollar bills, because there was no simpler way of getting money into the …
Obama defends interim Iran deal, seeks to assure Israel
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama on Saturday defended an interim deal with Iran to curb its nuclear program and, seeking to reassure Israel, pledged to step up sanctions or prepare for a potential military strike if Tehran fails to abide b…
Obama takes up new agenda item after battering on healthcare
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama, battered by weeks of turmoil over the malfunctioning HealthCare.Gov website, turned to a fresh item on his agenda on Saturday as he pressured Republicans in Congress to extend benefits for jobless American…
U.S.-Afghan security pact needs clarity by February: Hagel
KABUL (Reuters) – A NATO meeting in February could become a new deadline for a security pact between the United States and Afghanistan, whose president has been reluctant to sign the deal, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said on visit to Kabul.
Hagel says U.S. commitment to Middle East security endures
MANAMA (Reuters) – Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel told Gulf Arab leaders on Saturday that the United States has a proven and enduring commitment to Middle East security, backed by diplomatic engagement as well as warplanes, ships, tanks, artillery and 35,0…
