By Timothy Gardner WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The nearly $370 billion in climate and energy security provisions in the long-delayed budget reconciliation deal struck by Democrats in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday were thin on details but highly praised by cl…
Exclusive-Former Republicans and Democrats form new third U.S. political party
By Tim Reid LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Dozens of former Republican and Democratic officials announced on Wednesday a new national political third party to appeal to millions of voters they say are dismayed with what they see as America’s dysfunctional two-…
U.S. says ‘substantial offer’ on the table for Russia to release detainees Griner, Whelan
By Simon Lewis and Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States has made “a substantial offer” to Russia to release U.S. citizens detained there, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday, adding he would press his Russian counterpar…
U.S. Treasury to allow COVID funds for state, local affordable housing loans
By David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Treasury said on Wednesday it will allow state, local and tribal governments more flexibility to use COVID-19 rescue funds to boost the supply of affordable housing, including permission to issue direct lo…
Biden recovers from COVID, compares his mild case to Trump’s more serious illness
By Trevor Hunnicutt and Jeff Mason WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden celebrated his recovery from COVID-19 on Wednesday with an appeal to Americans to get vaccinated and a comparison of his mild symptoms and work-from-home performance to t…
Two Minnesota ex-officers sentenced on federal charges in George Floyd case
By Brendan O’Brien (Reuters) -Two former Minneapolis police officers were sentenced on Wednesday on federal charges stemming from the murder of George Floyd, the Black man who was killed when their colleague Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck during an …
House Democrats press U.S. gunmakers on marketing of assault rifles
By Moira Warburton and Rose Horowitch WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Democrats on a U.S. House committee pressed the top executives of two U.S. gunmakers on Wednesday about their marketing of assault-style rifles that have been used in recent mass shootings, wh…
Man accused in assault of U.S. Capitol officer Sicknick pleads guilty to lesser charges
By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) – George Tanios, one of two men who had been accused of assaulting police officers during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol including now-deceased Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, pleaded guilty o…
Russia to NASA: Sticking with space station until at least 2028
By Joey Roulette WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Russian space officials told their U.S. counterparts that Moscow expects to remain on the International Space Station at least until their own outpost in orbit is built in 2028, NASA’s space operations chief told …
FAA did not properly oversee Southwest Airlines, U.S. watchdog says
By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -An investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) found that the agency failed to conduct proper safety oversight of Southwest Airlines, a federal watchdog said Wednesday. The Office of Special Coun…