Head of revived watchdog pledges open look at U.S. surveillance
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The head of a newly revived federal privacy oversight board pledged on Wednesday to be “as transparent and public as possible” as the board reviews recently exposed U.S. government secret surveillance programs.
New U.S. climate strategy coming within weeks: Obama adviser
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama will target carbon emissions from power plants as part of a second-term climate change agenda expected to be rolled out in the next few weeks, his top energy and climate adviser said on Wednesday.
North Carolina governor signs law aimed at restarting executions
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina (Reuters) – North Carolina’s governor, hoping to resume executions in his state, on Wednesday signed the repeal of a law that has allowed death row inmates to seek a reduced sentence if they could prove racial bias affecte…
As Tea Party rallies, FBI says IRS probe a top priority
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – More than a dozen FBI agents are assigned to a criminal probe into Internal Revenue Service scrutiny of conservative political groups, FBI Director Robert Mueller said on Wednesday.
Immigration bill negotiators see Senate breakthrough
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Prospects for U.S. Senate passage of an immigration bill with strong bipartisan support brightened on Wednesday when a group of Republican and Democratic negotiators reached a tentative deal on ways to shore up border security, s…
Senate approves Froman as U.S. trade representative
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved White House international economic affairs adviser Michael Froman to be the next U.S. trade representative, sending him into the fray of two huge trade negotiations in Asia and Euro…
FBI says it uses surveillance drones on U.S. soil
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States uses drones for surveillance in some limited law enforcement situations, FBI Director Robert Mueller said on Wednesday, sparking additional debate about President Barack Obama’s use of domestic surveillance.
House panel OKs bill to prohibit mandatory auditor rotation
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – In a rare show of bipartisanship, the U.S. House Financial Services Committee unanimously approved a bill on Wednesday that would prohibit mandatory rotation of auditors among companies to avoid fraud and financial misconduct.
U.S. to restart migration talks with Cuba: State Department
MIAMI (Reuters) – The United States and Cuba have agreed to resume regular migration talks in a possible sign of thawing relations after more than three years of tensions over Cuba’s jailing of a U.S. government contract worker.
Lawmakers float bill for Medicare to cover obesity treatment
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A day after the American Medical Association classified obesity as a disease, U.S. lawmakers introduced bipartisan bills in the Senate and House of Representatives that would require Medicare to cover more obesity treatment costs…
