U.S. aviation chief defends NextGen progress as funding cuts loom
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The head of the Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday defended the “NextGen” program to modernize U.S. flight control systems, telling a government panel the effort has made progress despite delays and is “designed to be f…
Senators push for action on Cuba over North Korean arms ship
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Senators sought to increase pressure on the Obama administration on Wednesday to respond after a North Korean cargo ship in Panama was found carrying what appeared to be military equipment loaded in Cuba.
U.S. Postal Service renews push for five-day mail delivery
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. postmaster general on Wednesday renewed his plea for lawmakers to allow the financially troubled Postal Service to switch to a five-day delivery schedule for first-class mail and to implement other overhauls needed to mo…
U.S. appeals court reinstates new Guantanamo detainee searches
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday reinstated a military method for searching Guantanamo Bay detainees, reversing at least temporarily a lower court’s finding that the searches were so invasive that they improperly cut off access …
U.S. Olympic Committee opposes call for Sochi boycott
(Reuters) – The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has rejected a call to boycott the Sochi Winter Olympics if Russia grants asylum to Edward Snowden, saying it was not in the best interests of the country or the athletes.
Washington IRS office played role in scrutiny case: Republicans
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A high-level Internal Revenue Service office in Washington played a role in delaying reviews of some conservative groups’ applications for tax-exempt status, according to excerpts of interviews released by Republicans on Wednesda…
Senate approves head of Ex-Im Bank for second term
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Senate on Wednesday voted 82-17 to approve Fred Hochberg for a second term as president of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, a move that will allow the government-run lender to keep operating past Saturday, when it faced a possibl…
Senate clears way for Perez confirmation as labor chief
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Senate moved on Wednesday toward approving Thomas Perez to serve as the Obama administration’s new labor secretary, overcoming accusations from some Republicans that he is a crusading ideologue.
EPA renames headquarters after former President Clinton
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Former President Bill Clinton, who made the Environmental Protection Agency a Cabinet-level department, was honored on Wednesday with the renaming of the EPA headquarters building after him.
Bernanke tells Congress Fed flexible on bond buying
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday the U.S. central bank still expects to start scaling back its massive bond purchase program later this year, but he left open the option of changing that plan if the economi…
