Yahoo! News: Politics News

---

• Senate leaders in last-ditch fiscal cliff talks
• Obama to make a statement on fiscal cliff
• Last ditch effort to avoid fiscal cliff under way
• Alleged militants detained in Djibouti charged by U.S. court
• Senate leaders aim to craft "fiscal cliff" bill by Sunday
• White House talks don't include NRA: gun group president
• South Sudan says president ready to meet Sudan's Bashir
• Congress to "keep working" on fiscal cliff deal
• Boehner: Senate must act on House bill to avoid fiscal cliff
• India gang-rape victim dies in Singapore hospital
• APNewsBreak: Sen. Crapo won't fight DUI charge
• Bipartisan senators propose curbing filibusters
• Obama to make statement at 5:45 p.m.: White House
• U.N. to convene pledging conference for Syria aid
• Illinois could be next state to legalize gay marriage
• Obama, top lawmakers meet over fiscal cliff
• Obama meets congressional leaders on "fiscal cliff"
• Lockheed, U.S. agree funding deal for more F-35s: sources
• Senate moves toward completion of Sandy aid bill
• Wall Street ends sour week with 5th straight decline
• Senator Baucus calls for urgent House action on farm bill
• After Jackson, EPA faces decisions on U.S. fracking boom
• "Fiscal cliff" impasse doesn't affect U.S. sovereign rating: S&P
• Analysis: Cliff may be a fear, but debt ceiling is much scarier
• Obama not making new "fiscal cliff" offer to Congress: source
• Congress extends foreign surveillance law
• U.S. clears way for wider in-flight Internet deployment
• AP source: Obama not making new 'cliff' offer
• Monti says will lead centrists in Italian vote
• White House meeting a last stab at a fiscal deal
• Life returns to shell-shocked Syrian town
• In Syria, "father of martyrs" speaks of revenge
• Deal reached to avert U.S. port strike for now
• Maine gets set to ring wedding bells for same-sex couples
• Hunger strike pressures Canada PM, aboriginal protests spread
• Putin signs ban on U.S. adoptions of Russian children
• Egypt opposition says Islamists trying to stifle dissent

Senate leaders in last-ditch fiscal cliff talks Posted: 28 Dec 2012 02:32 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate's top Democrat and Republican say they're entering last-minute talks with the White House aimed at avoiding the fiscal cliff.

Obama to make a statement on fiscal cliff Posted: 28 Dec 2012 02:18 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says President Barack Obama plans to make a statement following a meeting with congressional leaders on the fiscal cliff.

Last ditch effort to avoid fiscal cliff under way Posted: 28 Dec 2012 02:40 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The end game at hand, the White House and Senate leaders launched a final attempt at compromise Friday night in hopes of preventing a toxic blend of middle-class tax increases and spending cuts from taking effect at the turn of the new year.

Alleged militants detained in Djibouti charged by U.S. court Posted: 28 Dec 2012 03:00 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a sign of evolving U.S. legal tactics in counter-terrorism operations, two Swedish citizens and a former British citizen detained in Africa in August have been charged in a U.S. court with supporting Somali-based Islamist militants. The charges were filed in Federal Court in Brooklyn, New York, even though court papers and a press release from the U.S. Attorney's office make no specific allegation that the three - all of whom are of Somali extraction - posed threats to Americans or U.S.-related targets. ...

Senate leaders aim to craft "fiscal cliff" bill by Sunday Posted: 28 Dec 2012 02:50 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate leaders are aiming to craft "fiscal cliff" legislation by Sunday, the top Republican Senator Mitch McConnell said on Friday, after a discussion with President Barack Obama on how to avert the looming tax hikes and spending cuts. McConnell characterized the meeting with Obama and other congressional leaders as "good" and said: "We are engaged in discussions, the majority leader, and myself and the White House, in the hopes that we can come forward as early as Sunday and have a recommendation that I can make to my conference. ...

White House talks don't include NRA: gun group president Posted: 28 Dec 2012 02:45 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An effort led by Vice President Joe Biden to find ways to reduce gun violence after the Connecticut school massacre so far has not included talking to the National Rifle Association, the president of the gun rights group said on Friday. NRA President David Keene said neither Biden nor his staff has contacted the organization since President Barack Obama unveiled the effort on December 19. Keene said he was not surprised, given Biden's past support for new gun control laws. "He's not even a friendly antagonist," Keene told Reuters in an interview. ...

South Sudan says president ready to meet Sudan's Bashir Posted: 28 Dec 2012 02:41 PM PST JUBA (Reuters) - South Sudan's President Salva Kiir is willing to meet his Sudanese counterpart Omar Hassan al-Bashir to sort out conflicts and resume vital oil flows, a South Sudanese minister said on Friday after Bashir agreed to hold a summit. The neighbors agreed in September to set up a demilitarized border zone and resume oil exports from landlocked South Sudan through Sudan. Oil is the lifeline of both economies. Neither country has yet withdrawn its army from either side of the border, a precondition to resume oil flows. ...

Congress to "keep working" on fiscal cliff deal Posted: 28 Dec 2012 02:38 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. congressional leaders pledged to keep working on solutions to avert the year-end tax hikes and spending cuts that would come into force if the so-called fiscal cliff is not averted, but details were yet to be decided after a meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House on Friday. "We have a lot of paths forward, (we) just have to find out which one we can take," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters after the meeting. Senate leaders will try to craft legislation for a "fiscal cliff" deal, said an aide to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. ...

Boehner: Senate must act on House bill to avoid fiscal cliff Posted: 28 Dec 2012 02:37 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner said on Friday that congressional leaders agreed at a meeting on avoiding year-end "fiscal cliff" spending cuts and tax increases that the next step should be for the Senate to take action, a Boehner aide said. "The Speaker told the President that if the Senate amends the House-passed legislation and sends back a plan, the House will consider it - either by accepting or amending," the aide said. (Reporting By Mark Felsenthal)

India gang-rape victim dies in Singapore hospital Posted: 28 Dec 2012 02:36 PM PST SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The Indian gang-rape victim whose assault in New Delhi triggered nationwide protests died in hospital on Saturday of injuries suffered in the attack, a Singapore hospital treating her said. "We are very sad to report that the patient passed away peacefully at 4:45 a.m. on Dec 29, 2012 (11:45 a.m. ET Friday). Her family and officials from the High Commission of India were by her side," Mount Elizabeth Hospital Chief Executive Officer Kelvin Loh said in a statement. ...

APNewsBreak: Sen. Crapo won't fight DUI charge Posted: 28 Dec 2012 02:22 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Sen. Michael Crapo, the Idaho Republican arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, doesn't plan to fight the charges when he appears in court in January, a spokesman said Friday.

Bipartisan senators propose curbing filibusters Posted: 28 Dec 2012 02:16 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan group of senators proposed Friday to clamp modest limits on filibusters, hoping to head off a bitter partisan fight over the issue when the new Congress convenes next week and approves its rules.

Obama to make statement at 5:45 p.m.: White House Posted: 28 Dec 2012 02:13 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama is scheduled to make a statement to the media at 5:45 p.m. ET, the White House said on Friday. The statement follows a meeting with congressional leaders on avoiding fiscal cliff tax increases and spending cuts. The president and lawmakers are working ahead of a January 1 deadline to come up with a compromise to prevent a fiscal shock that economists warn could slow fragile economic growth. (Reporting By Mark Felsenthal)

U.N. to convene pledging conference for Syria aid Posted: 28 Dec 2012 02:12 PM PST UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations will convene a pledging conference in Kuwait next month to try to secure more than $1.5 billion to help save the lives of millions of Syrians facing a "rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation," the world body said on Friday. The conference will take place on January 30 in Kuwait City and will be chaired by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the U.N. press office said in a statement. ...

Illinois could be next state to legalize gay marriage Posted: 28 Dec 2012 02:08 PM PST CHICAGO (Reuters) - Illinois could become the next U.S. state to legalize gay marriage with a bill set to be introduced in the state Senate in early January, even before a new legislature takes office with a super-majority of Democrats in both houses. Buoyed by November election referendum victories for gay marriage in Maryland, Maine and Washington state, gay marriage supporters in Illinois said they plan to press for approval in the Democrat-majority legislature. If it passes, that would make Illinois the tenth state to approve same sex nuptials. ...

Obama, top lawmakers meet over fiscal cliff Posted: 28 Dec 2012 02:05 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The end game at hand, President Barack Obama and congressional leaders made a final stab at compromise Friday to prevent a toxic blend of middle-class tax increases and spending cuts from taking effect at the turn of the new year.

Obama meets congressional leaders on "fiscal cliff" Posted: 28 Dec 2012 02:00 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama met congressional leaders on Friday but there was little sign of progress in resolving their differences over the U.S. federal budget and striking a "fiscal cliff" deal before January 1. Obama was not planning to make a new offer, a source familiar with the meeting said as the hour-long talks got under way. None of the participants made statements to the media immediately after the summit at the White House ended. U.S. ...

Lockheed, U.S. agree funding deal for more F-35s: sources Posted: 28 Dec 2012 01:57 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin Corp and the U.S. Defense Department have reached an agreement freeing up preliminary funding for production of a sixth batch of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, according to two sources familiar with the negotiations. Details of the agreement, which covers 31 of the advanced, radar-evading fighter planes to be built for the U.S. military, will be worked out between the two sides in coming months, said the sources, who were not authorized to speak publicly. ...

Senate moves toward completion of Sandy aid bill Posted: 28 Dec 2012 01:56 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is moving towards completion of a $60.4 billion aid package for victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Wall Street ends sour week with 5th straight decline Posted: 28 Dec 2012 01:46 PM PST NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell for a fifth straight day on Friday, dropping 1 percent and marking the S&P 500's longest losing streak in three months as the federal government edged closer to the "fiscal cliff" with no solution in sight. President Barack Obama and top congressional leaders met at the White House to work on a solution for the draconian debt-reduction measures set to take effect beginning next week. ...

Senator Baucus calls for urgent House action on farm bill Posted: 28 Dec 2012 01:45 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An influential Democratic senator on Friday called for the Republican-controlled House of Representatives to vote on a new U.S. farm bill before the end of the year and thus avoid a potential spike in U.S. milk prices and other repercussions. "Our rural economies will take a big hit if the House fails to pass a farm bill. Make no mistake, the farm bill is a jobs bill," Senator Max Baucus of Montana said during a Senate debate on Friday. "There is absolutely no excuse for inaction. ...

After Jackson, EPA faces decisions on U.S. fracking boom Posted: 28 Dec 2012 01:27 PM PST NEW YORK (Reuters) - The past four years of U.S. environmental regulation was marked by a crackdown on emissions that angered coal miners and power companies. Over the next four, the new head of the Environmental Protection Agency will have to decide whether to take on an even larger industry: Big Oil. Following Lisa Jackson's resignation on Wednesday, her successor will inherit the tricky task of regulating a drilling boom that has revolutionized the energy industry but raised fears over the possible contamination of water supplies. ...

"Fiscal cliff" impasse doesn't affect U.S. sovereign rating: S&P Posted: 28 Dec 2012 01:19 PM PST NEW YORK (Reuters) - Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said on Friday it does not expect U.S. lawmakers' negotiations over the "fiscal cliff" to have an impact on the sovereign credit ratings of the U.S. federal government. The credit ratings agency said it believes the same general conditions under which it downgraded the U.S. credit rating to AA-plus/A-1-plus from AAA in August 2011 continue to exist. S&P said the additional tax revenues and lower government spending that will come into force if no deal is reached to avert the fiscal cliff "would likely result in the U.S. ...

Analysis: Cliff may be a fear, but debt ceiling is much scarier Posted: 28 Dec 2012 01:06 PM PST (Reuters) - Investors fearing a stock market plunge if the U.S. tumbles off the "fiscal cliff" next week may want to relax. But they should be scared if a few weeks later Washington fails to reach a deal to raise the nation's debt ceiling as that threatens a default, another credit downgrade and a financial markets panic. Market strategists say that while falling off the cliff for any lengthy period - which would lead to automatic tax hikes and stiff cuts in government spending - would badly dent both consumer and business confidence, it would take some time for the U.S. ...

Obama not making new "fiscal cliff" offer to Congress: source Posted: 28 Dec 2012 01:06 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama was not planning to make a new offer to avert the tax increases and spending cuts that loom on January 1 at a White House meeting with congressional leaders on Friday, a source familiar with the meeting said. At the meeting, Obama was set to ask lawmakers to hold a vote on a "fiscal cliff" plan that would allow taxes to rise on those who earn $250,000 and up, and that would extend unemployment insurance benefits, according to the source. ...

Congress extends foreign surveillance law Posted: 28 Dec 2012 01:03 PM PST The Senate gave final congressional approval Friday to a bill renewing the government's authority to monitor overseas phone calls and emails of suspected foreign spies and terrorists — but not Americans —without obtaining a court order for each intercept.

U.S. clears way for wider in-flight Internet deployment Posted: 28 Dec 2012 01:01 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has cleared the way for wider adoption of in-flight Internet services, aiming to cut by as much as 50 percent the time needed for regulatory approval. Newly adopted rules should boost competition in this part of the U.S. mobile telecommunications market and promote "the widespread availability of Internet access to aircraft passengers," the FCC said in a statement Friday. ...

AP source: Obama not making new 'cliff' offer Posted: 28 Dec 2012 12:57 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — A person familiar with the details says President Barack Obama is not making a new 'fiscal cliff' offer at his high-stakes meeting with congressional leaders at the White House.

Monti says will lead centrists in Italian vote Posted: 28 Dec 2012 12:55 PM PST ROME (Reuters) - Outgoing Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti said on Friday he would lead a centrist alliance in an election in February, ending weeks of speculation over his political future and confirming his bid for a second term. The announcement clears up some of the uncertainty hanging over election and puts Monti in a three-way contest for power with the center-left Democratic Party (PD), which is leading in the polls, and Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PDL) party. ...

White House meeting a last stab at a fiscal deal Posted: 28 Dec 2012 12:49 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama was presenting a limited fiscal proposal to congressional leaders at a White House meeting Friday, a make-or-break moment for negotiations to avoid across-the-board tax increases and deep spending cuts at the first of the year.

Life returns to shell-shocked Syrian town Posted: 28 Dec 2012 12:43 PM PST ALEPPO PROVINCE, Syria (Reuters) - After months of air raids and artillery shelling, some inhabitants of northern Syria are returning to their stricken homes to clear the rubble and rebuild, despite fear that President Bashar al-Assad's forces will strike again. One town visited by a Reuters correspondent near the Turkish border was largely abandoned two months ago after relentless bombardment reduced buildings to piles of masonry. A local activist said around 200 people were killed there. Residents trickling back after the violence abated remain deeply fearful. ...

In Syria, "father of martyrs" speaks of revenge Posted: 28 Dec 2012 12:43 PM PST AZAZ, Syria (Reuters) - After losing three sons and two grandsons, 70-year-old Abdelhalim Haj Omar has no doubt about the fate he wants for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. "I hope Bashar, God willing, doesn't die until they slaughter his whole family in front of him and they bring him here so that all of Syria can get their revenge from him," he says in the Syrian town of Azaz, on the border with Turkey. "He destroyed the country and killed its people," he adds, speaking in his carpentry workshop where stacks of wood are piled up next to finished wooden door frames. ...

Deal reached to avert U.S. port strike for now Posted: 28 Dec 2012 12:25 PM PST (Reuters) - A union representing dockworkers on the U.S. East Coast and an alliance of shippers have reached a labor agreement that will avert a strike that threatened to wreak havoc on the United States' economy. The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), which represents 14,500 workers at 15 container ports in the eastern United States, and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) of shippers, terminal operators and port authorities, have agreed to extend their current contract by 30 days to finalize details, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service said in a statement on Friday. ...

Maine gets set to ring wedding bells for same-sex couples Posted: 28 Dec 2012 12:19 PM PST (Reuters) - Same-sex couples in Maine were counting down the hours on Friday until the first wedding bells were due to ring, less than two months after state residents approved gay marriage in a historic vote. The city clerk's office in Portland, the state's largest city with a metropolitan population of 250,000, planned to open a minute after midnight and stay open for three hours to accommodate same-sex couples rushing to wed. City clerk offices in Maine typically are closed on Saturdays. ...

Hunger strike pressures Canada PM, aboriginal protests spread Posted: 28 Dec 2012 12:18 PM PST OTTAWA (Reuters) - A Canadian aboriginal chief in the third week of a hunger strike is urging Prime Minister Stephen Harper to "open his heart" and meet with native leaders angered by his policies as small impromptu protests spread beyond Canada's borders. Chief Theresa Spence from the remote northern Ontario community of Attawapiskat has been fasting since December 11 and has vowed to continue until Harper commits to talks on a litany of complaints, including new legislation that she says will harm native lands. "He's a person with a heart but he needs to open his heart. ...

Putin signs ban on U.S. adoptions of Russian children Posted: 28 Dec 2012 11:52 AM PST MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin signed a law on Friday that bans Americans from adopting Russian children and imposes other sanctions in retaliation for a new U.S. human rights law that he says is poisoning relations. Washington has called the new Russian law misguided, saying it ties the fate of children to "unrelated political considerations", and analysts say it is likely to deepen a chill in U.S.-Russia relations and harm Putin's image abroad. ...

Egypt opposition says Islamists trying to stifle dissent Posted: 28 Dec 2012 11:18 AM PST CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's opposition accused President Mohamed Mursi's Islamist allies of trying to muzzle dissent on Friday after prosecutors decided to investigate whether prominent government critics were guilty of sedition. The probe, which comes a month after Mursi replaced the chief prosecutor, further sours the political climate as the leader and his opponents face off over a new constitution that became law on Wednesday. ...

You are subscribed to email updates from Politics News Headlines - Yahoo! News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610