U.S. delegation to Iran talks includes sanctions expert
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. delegation to next week’s talks about Iran’s nuclear program includes one of the U.S. government’s leading sanctions experts, a hint that Washington may be giving greater thought to how it might ease sanctions on Tehran….
U.S. fiscal negotiations sputter as deadline nears
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Congressional negotiations to end a U.S. fiscal crisis gripping Washington and spooking financial markets hung by a thread on Saturday after bipartisan talks broke down in the House of Representatives and shifted to Senate leader…
U.S. just days away from ‘very dangerous moment’: World Bank
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The president of the World Bank on Saturday warned the United States was just “days away” from causing a global economic disaster unless politicians come up with a plan to raise the nation’s debt limit and avoid default.
U.S. Sen. Reid says ‘long way to go’ on fiscal talks with Republicans
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid on Saturday welcomed the start of negotiations with Senate Republicans on a way to end a 12-day-old government shutdown, but said there was a “long way to go” on fiscal talks.
White House urges Congress ‘do its job,’ find solution to end fiscal impasse
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House urged Congress on Saturday to “do its job” and find a solution to end a fiscal impasse over raising the U.S. debt ceiling and end a government shutdown after the Senate rejected a Democratic plan.
Senate Democratic leaders oppose Collins plan on fiscal stalemate: top aides
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Senate Democratic leaders intend to reject a proposal by Republican Senator Susan Collins to end the fiscal stalemate, senior aides said on Saturday.
Senate Democratic and Republican leaders hold private talk on fiscal stalemate: senior aide
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell had a private talk on Saturday, opening a “line of communication” between the two in a bid to end a government shutdown and raise the U.S. debt limi…
Senate Republicans expected to block bill to raise debt limit: source
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republicans in the Senate are expected to block on Saturday a bill by President Barack Obama’s Democrats to increase the U.S. debt limit through 2014, a senior congressional aide said.
Logging industry axes production with government shutdown
SALMON, Idaho (Reuters) – Brad Jensen has fought for decades to keep his Idaho sawmill afloat, buying and cutting logs from federal lands to sell in the boom-and-bust U.S. construction industry.
Anti-government anger fuels long-shot Maryland breakaway bid
WESTMINSTER, Maryland (Reuters) – Scott Strzelczyk is fed up with what he calls political slavery in Maryland and sees one way out – creating a breakaway state, a feat that has not been accomplished since the American Civil War.