Senate confirms Obama’s Tax Court judges without a fight
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Senate has confirmed President Barack Obama’s two most recent Tax Court judicial nominees, Michael Thornton and Joseph Nega, allowing Obama to deepen his imprint on the powerful but obscure court.
Obama taps labor board member to be its top prosecutor
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama has nominated Richard Griffin to be the top prosecutor at the National Labor Relations Board in a move that could strain a recent accord in the U.S. Senate about taking action on many long-stalled White Hou…
Cubans welcome new U.S. visa policy, government largely silent
HAVANA (Reuters) – Cubans are cheering a U.S. visa policy that gives them five years to travel to the United States, while Cuba’s government and state-run media have largely remained silent about the new travel measure.
Aetna exits Obamacare exchange in Maryland over price
(Reuters) – Aetna Inc pulled out of Maryland’s health insurance exchange being created under President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform law after the state pressed it to lower its proposed rates by up to 29 percent.
U.S. says visas from gay spouses will get equal treatment
LONDON/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. officials paved the way on Friday for same-sex spouses to visit or live in the United States, announcing the State Department will give equal treatment to visa applications of gays and lesbians who want to travel with…
Threat to U.S. embassies appears al Qaeda-linked: lawmaker
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee said al Qaeda appears to be behind a threat that has prompted several U.S. embassies to close on Sunday.
Analysis: McCain’s deals and ‘wacko-bird’ barbs are priceless for Obama
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican U.S. Senator John McCain accidentally walked in on President Barack Obama this week when he was addressing a Democrats-only meeting of senators.
After Snowden, no business as usual for U.S. and Russia
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – After causing weeks of embarrassment for the U.S. intelligence community, the Edward Snowden saga has now cast a shadow over international efforts to end the Syrian civil war and deal with Iran, and could also undermine White Hou…
U.S. Senate confirms White, Stein, Piwowar to serve on SEC
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed President Barack Obama’s choices of Mary Jo White, Kara Stein and Michael Piwowar as members of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
U.S. Senate confirms Obama’s head of Joint Chiefs of Staff
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed Army General Martin Dempsey to a second term as President Barack Obama’s chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.