White House news

• Cuba-U.S. relationship détente: 10 key questions

  17-12-2014 22:43
  
  The United States and Cuba announced historic changes to their relationship today, in part prompted by a view at the White House that the long-standing American policy of Cuban isolation isn't working and is outdated. The two countries will begin to normalize relations after more than 50 years of frozen ties.
  
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• Cuba-U.S. détente: 10 questions

  17-12-2014 22:43
  
  The United States and Cuba announced historic changes to their relationship today, in part prompted by a view at the White House that the long-standing American policy of Cuban isolation isn't working and is outdated. The two countries will begin to normalize relations after more than 50 years of frozen ties.
  
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• Jeb Bush says Obama shift on Cuba undermines U.S. credibility

  17-12-2014 22:39
  
  By Gabriel Debenedetti WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Potential Republican 2016 presidential candidate Jeb Bush on Wednesday criticized the White House's move to restore diplomatic ties with Cuba, calling the shift a "dramatic overreach" of President Barack Obama's executive authority. "Cuba is a dictatorship with a disastrous human rights record, and now President Obama has rewarded those dictators," Bush, the former governor of Florida, a key state with a large Cuban-American population, said in a sta
  
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• White House Moves to Keep Fake Fish Off Your Dinner Plate

  17-12-2014 22:08
  The less reputable elements of the fishing industry have some pretty fishy practices.
  
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• 15-Year-Old Claire Danes On Getting Famous: 'I Just Want to Be a Sane Person'

  17-12-2014 22:08
  
  While we're waiting for Homeland's fourth season to wrap, let's rewind to a simpler time, back when Claire Danes was a smiling teenager ... on rollerblades? Yep, in this 1994 footage from the ET archives, a 15-year-old Danes is seen blading on the Venice Beach boardwalk and musing about newfound fame being just around the corner. "It's a little frightening, but I don't want to be afraid of it," Danes said at the time. Keep in mind that at this point in her career, the actress wasn't actually all
  
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• Cargill welcomes White House's historic opening to Cuba

  17-12-2014 21:54
  
  WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Cargill executives today expressed support for the White House's plan to normalize relations between the United States and Cuba. "Our two countries and people deserve the opportunity to trade and engage with one another," said Cargill chief executive officer and president David MacLennan. "This move will drive growth in both countries," said Devry Boughner Vorwerk, a Cargill vice president and chair of the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba (USACC), a p
  
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• Obama announces U.S. to restore diplomatic ties with Cuba

  17-12-2014 21:39
  
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Cuba has released American aid worker Alan Gross after five years in prison, a U.S. official said on Wednesday amid reports of a prisoner exchange that heralds a major overhaul of U.S. policy toward Cuba. The U.S. official said Gross was released on humanitarian grounds. CNN reported a prisoner exchange that also included Cuba releasing a U.S. intelligence source and the United States releasing three Cuban intelligence agents. U.S. President Barack Obama was to make a stat
  
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• Clinton v Bush, again: is US democracy a family affair?

  17-12-2014 21:33
  
  Jeb Bush has announced he will run for president, and Hillary Clinton is expected to do the same soon. In 2016, the race to the White House could be a family affair. Examples abound of political dynasties, particularly in Congress. Indeed, if either wins office, it would mean that since 1989 two families will have held executive power in America for 24 years out of 32, with Barack Obama as the only interruption.
  
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• US-Cuba thaw: tight ties remain on economic relations

  17-12-2014 21:13
  
  The historic breakthrough in US-Cuba relations announced Wednesday will allow more money to flow to the Caribbean island but keep trade and investment relations under tight controls, experts said. After a trade embargo on Cuba for more than 50 years, the White House said it will expand how much money Americans can send to the impoverished country and open up the flow of US tourists there. Gary Hufbauer of the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington estimates that a full thaw
  
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• Baseball monitoring White House Cuba decision

  17-12-2014 20:55
  
  Major League Baseball isn't sure of the impact of President Barack Obama's decision to re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba.
  
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• Historic breakthrough in US-Cuba ties

  17-12-2014 20:53
  
  The United States and Cuba brought their bitter Cold War stand-off towards a historic close Wednesday, agreeing to revive diplomatic ties and to ease a five-decade US trade embargo. In the wake of a prisoner exchange, President Barack Obama said Washington is ready to review trade ties and to re-open its embassy in communist Cuba, which has been closed since 1961. "We are all Americans," Obama declared, breaking into Spanish for a speech which the White House portrayed as a bid to reas
  
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• White House would 'not rule out' Obama vist to Cuba

  17-12-2014 20:40
  
  Washington (AFP) - The White House opened the door Wednesday to a visit to Cuba by President Barack Obama, who announced a dramatic breakthrough in relations with Havana.
  
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• US-Cuba relations: Live Report

  17-12-2014 20:37
  
  Washington (AFP) - 19:29 GMT - Presidential trip? - The White House leaves open the possiblity that Obama could visit Cuba after the historic thaw in relations.
  
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• White House does not rule out Cuba visit by Obama

  17-12-2014 20:33
  
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama does not have concrete plans to visit Cuba after restoring diplomatic relations with Havana, but a White House spokesman said on Wednesday he would not rule out a presidential visit. "If there is an opportunity for the president to visit, I'm sure he wouldn't turn it down," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters. Earnest acknowledged that a future U.S. president could reverse Obama's new policies on Cuba, but said the White House hope
  
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• Rubio, other US lawmakers furious over Obama's Cuba move

  17-12-2014 20:10
  
  Some Republican and Democratic lawmakers expressed outrage Wednesday over Washington's historic Cuba breakthrough, saying President Barack Obama conceded "everything" to a brutal Castro regime and warning Congress will block efforts to lift the trade embargo. Republican Senator Marco Rubio blasted Obama's deal with Cuban counterpart Raul Castro as naive and "inexplicable," and said it would only push back the day the communist-ruled island ultimately shifts to democ
  
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• Obama reveals experiences with racism - magazine interview

  17-12-2014 20:07
  
  NEW YORK (Reuters) - As national protests over the death of unarmed black men by white police officers pushed race relations to the top of the headlines, President Barack Obama revealed his own experiences of racism including being mistaken for a waiter and a parking valet. In an interview with People magazine published on Wednesday, Obama and his wife Michelle Obama said that before moving into the White House nearly six years ago, they faced prejudice, stereotyping and had trouble catching tax
  
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• Text of Obama's remarks on US-Cuba relations

  17-12-2014 20:02
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Text of President Barack Obama's remarks Wednesday on the release of American Alan Gross from a Cuban prison and on future diplomatic relations between the two countries. The text was provided by the White House:
  
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• Obama calls Pakistan's Sharif, offers 'unwavering support' after attack

  17-12-2014 19:53
  
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama spoke by phone with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday to express condolences and "unwavering support" after Taliban militants attacked a school, killing 132 students. "The two leaders acknowledged the shared threat from terrorism and the president made clear that the United States will continue to support Pakistan in its fight against extremism," the White House said in a statement. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Doina
  
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• U.S., Cuba to restore ties after 50 years of hostility

  17-12-2014 19:42
  
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Cuba has released American aid worker Alan Gross after five years in prison, a U.S. official said on Wednesday amid reports of a prisoner exchange that heralds a major overhaul of U.S. policy toward Cuba. The U.S. official said Gross was released on humanitarian grounds. CNN reported a prisoner exchange that also included Cuba releasing a U.S. intelligence source and the United States releasing three Cuban intelligence agents. U.S. President Barack Obama was to make a stat
  
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• Obama announces move to normalise relations between U.S. and Cuba

  17-12-2014 19:42
  
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama announced a move to normalise relations between the United States and Cuba on Wednesday, saying it is time to "cut loose the shackles of the past." In a speech at the White House, Obama said the thaw in relations after a five-decade freeze is being made after he determined the "rigid" and outdated policy of the past failed to have an impact on Cuba. "Today we are making these changes because it is the right thing to do. ...
  
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• AP Interview: McConnell wants to stop coal rules

  17-12-2014 19:21
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., pledged on Wednesday to do all he can to stop President Barack Obama's coal plant regulations, saying a White House "crusade" was devastating his state's economy.
  
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• Cuba releases US contractor Alan Gross

  17-12-2014 19:16
  
  Washington, Dec 17 (IANS/EFE) Cuba has released US contractor Alan Gross, who had been imprisoned for five years for his alleged tie with the US intelligence agencies, the White House statement said Wednesday.
  
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• U.S. Treasury to amend Cuba sanctions in coming weeks

  17-12-2014 19:08
  
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Financial sanctions on Cuba will be amended in "coming weeks" in response to U.S. President Barack Obama's announcement of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the U.S. Treasury said on Wednesday. The U.S. government said that U.S. people and companies would be able to apply for licenses to do business with Cubans residing outside Cuba, and allow people to attend Cuba-related conferences outside Cuba. The United States will also unfreeze the U.S. bank accounts o
  
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• Key elements of US policy shift toward Cuba

  17-12-2014 18:49
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and Cuba will begin taking steps to restore full diplomatic relations, marking the most significant shift in U.S. policy toward the communist island in more than half a century. Key elements of changes to U.S. policy toward Cuba, some of which President Barack Obama announced at the White House on Wednesday.
  
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• U.S., Cuba plan restored relations after 50 years of hostility

  17-12-2014 18:45
  
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Cuba has released American aid worker Alan Gross after five years in prison, a U.S. official said on Wednesday amid reports of a prisoner exchange that heralds a major overhaul of U.S. policy toward Cuba. The U.S. official said Gross was released on humanitarian grounds. CNN reported a prisoner exchange that also included Cuba releasing a U.S. intelligence source and the United States releasing three Cuban intelligence agents. U.S. President Barack Obama was to make a stat
  
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• Senator Rubio slams White House over Cuba policy change

  17-12-2014 18:45
  
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senator Marco Rubio criticized the Obama administration's decision on Wednesday to normalize relations with Cuba, saying the White House had gained little in a policy shift toward the communist-ruled nation. "The White House has conceded everything, but gained little," Rubio, a Florida Republican who is Cuban-American, told reporters at a news conference. Rubio said he will oppose the White House's efforts to confirm ambassadors and fund American embassies in a move to pre
  
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• Obama announces move to normalize relations between U.S. and Cuba

  17-12-2014 18:28
  
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama announced a move to normalize relations between the United States and Cuba on Wednesday, saying it is time to "cut loose the shackles of the past." In a speech at the White House, Obama said the thaw in relations after a five-decade freeze is being made after he determined the "rigid" and outdated policy of the past failed to have an impact on Cuba. "Today we are making these changes because it is the right thing to do. ...
  
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• MTV Taps Former White House Staffer as New Head of Public Affairs

  17-12-2014 18:26
  
  MTV named Ronnie Cho as the network’s new vice president of Public Affairs. Cho previously served as the associate director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, working as the chief liaison to young Americans.
  
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• White House fact sheet on change in Cuba policy

  17-12-2014 18:08
  
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Following is the text of a White House news release titled "Charting a New Course on Cuba." Today, the United States is taking historic steps to chart a new course in our relations with Cuba and to further engage and empower the Cuban people. We are separated by 90 miles of water, but brought together through the relationships between the two million Cubans and Americans of Cuban descent that live in the United States, and the 11 million Cubans who share similar hopes for
  
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• Factbox: How Obama will relax U.S. Cuba policy

  17-12-2014 18:05
  
  (Reuters) - President Barack Obama moved on Wednesday to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba, a shift the White House said was needed because the long-standing U.S. embargo against the communist-ruled island has failed to promote democracy and has hurt the Cuban people. Here are the key changes: DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS * The U.S. will open an embassy in Havana. * During the next six months, Secretary of State John Kerry will review Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. * U.S
  
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• U.S., Cuba to restore diplomatic relations after 50 years

  17-12-2014 17:32
  
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Cuba has released American aid worker Alan Gross after five years in prison, a U.S. official said on Wednesday amid reports of a prisoner exchange that heralds a major overhaul of U.S. policy toward Cuba. The U.S. official said Gross was released on humanitarian grounds. CNN reported a prisoner exchange that also included Cuba releasing a U.S. intelligence source and the United States releasing three Cuban intelligence agents. U.S. President Barack Obama was to make a stat
  
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• U.S. Senator Rubio says release of Gross 'sets a dangerous precedent'

  17-12-2014 16:54
  
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida said the release of U.S. aid worker Alan Gross from Cuba "sets a dangerous precedent" that "puts a price on Americans abroad." Speaking on Fox News, Rubio, a Cuban-American Republican and potential 2016 White House contender, said he did not believe the U.S. Congress would support lifting the embargo on Cuba. (Reporting by Gabriel Debenedetti; Editing by Doina Chiacu)
  
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• Gross released after a year of talks, Vatican involved: U.S. senator

  17-12-2014 16:51
  
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Negotiations for the release of ailing U.S. aid worker Alan Gross lasted for about a year, with significant involvement by the Vatican, U.S. Senator Richard Durbin told Reuters on Wednesday. Durbin said the White House called him on Tuesday night with the news of Gross' pending release. "I was overjoyed by this news," Durbin told Reuters by telephone from Joint Base Andrews, a military base outside of Washington, where Gross was expected to land within hours. But there wer
  
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• Obama to announce major Cuba policy overhaul; prisoners swapped

  17-12-2014 16:23
  
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Cuba has released American aid worker Alan Gross after five years in prison, a U.S. official said on Wednesday amid reports of a prisoner exchange that heralds a major overhaul of U.S. policy toward Cuba. The U.S. official said Gross was released on humanitarian grounds. CNN reported a prisoner exchange that also included Cuba releasing a U.S. intelligence source and the United States releasing three Cuban intelligence agents. U.S. President Barack Obama was to make a stat
  
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• Cuba releases American Alan Gross as U.S. prepares to overhaul Cuba policy

  17-12-2014 15:25
  
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Cuba has released American aid worker Alan Gross after five years in prison, a U.S. official said on Wednesday amid reports of a prisoner exchange that heralds a major overhaul of U.S. policy toward Cuba. The U.S. official said Gross was released on humanitarian grounds. CNN reported a prisoner exchange that also included Cuba releasing a U.S. intelligence source and the United States releasing three Cuban intelligence agents. U.S. President Barack Obama was to make a stat
  
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• Dignity Health Announces Commitment to Prepare for the Impacts of Climate Change

  17-12-2014 15:00
  
  At a White House event today, Dignity Health announced its commitment to improve the resilience of its facilities to extreme weather events and other impacts of climate change, and
  
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• White House says Obama will sign bill imposing new sanctions on Russia 'despite reservations'

  17-12-2014 09:19
  
  London, Dec 17 (ANI): The White House has said that the United States President Barack Obama will sign a bill imposing a slew of new sanctions on Russia despite reservations.
  
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• Putin holds late-night talks on Ukraine with European leaders

  17-12-2014 09:00
  
  Russia's President Vladimir Putin and his French, German and Ukrainian counterparts agreed in a phonecall early Wednesday that they wanted talks between Kiev, Moscow and rebels controlling parts of eastern Ukraine to resume as soon as possible. The telephone conversation came after the White House confirmed that US President Barack Obama will sign into law fresh sanctions against Russia. The Kremlin said in a statement that the leaders "continued discussion of the crisis situation in U
  
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• Senate OKs nominees and tax bill as term ends

  17-12-2014 05:32
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-controlled Senate confirmed the last batch of President Barack Obama's judicial appointees and sent the White House legislation extending tax breaks for working-class millions and special interests alike late Tuesday as Congress ended a tumultuous two-year run.
  
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• Obama signs huge spending bill

  17-12-2014 04:39
  
  Washington (AFP) - President Barack Obama signed a spending bill to keep most of the federal government funded for almost a year, the White House said.
  
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• Senate OKs nominees and tax bill as term nears end

  17-12-2014 03:54
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-controlled Senate worked to confirm a final batch of President Barack Obama's judicial appointees and sent the White House legislation extending tax breaks for working-class millions and special interests alike late Tuesday as lawmakers neared the end of a two-year Congress marked more by gridlock than accomplishment.
  
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• Jeb Bush explores White House bid — unconventionally

  17-12-2014 03:29
  
  Instead of traditional presidential exploratory committee, potential GOP candidate GOP to create a leadership PAC.
  
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• Obama reviews potential threats with security team

  17-12-2014 02:57
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama summoned his national security team to the White House to discuss potential threats after the Senate report on CIA harsh interrogation techniques and ahead of the upcoming holidays.
  
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• Obama to sign Russia sanctions bill

  17-12-2014 02:52
  
  Washington, Dec 17 (IANS) US President Barack Obama intends to sign into law a bill that will ratchet up sanctions on Russia and provide additional assistance to Ukraine, the White House said Tuesday.
  
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• Obama bars oil, gas drilling in Alaska haven

  17-12-2014 01:18
  
  President Barack Obama declared Alaska's ecologically rich Bristol Bay off-limits for oil and gas exploration on Tuesday, saying the move was necessary to safeguard the region's fishing and tourism industries. The area was being withdrawn from consideration for all future oil and gas leasing, extending indefinitely a temporary ban issued by Obama in 2010, a White House statement said. "I took action to make sure that one of America's greatest natural resources and a massive e
  
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• Obama makes Alaska's Bristol Bay area off limits for oil drilling

  17-12-2014 00:50
  
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Tuesday designated the fish-rich Bristol Bay area of Alaska "off limits" for oil and gas leasing, the White House said, drawing praise from environmental groups. The area off Alaska's coast supports a $2 billion annual fishing industry as well as the tourism sector, the White House said. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska questioned the timing of the announcement but did voice opposition. ...
  
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• Bush announcement makes path to White House tougher for Romney, Rubio

  17-12-2014 00:16
  
  By Gabriel Debenedetti WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Jeb Bush's move toward a 2016 presidential bid makes the path to the White House tougher for potential Republican rivals, including 2012 nominee Mitt Romney. Multiple Romney donors said on Tuesday the former Massachusetts governor is less likely to run now that Bush has entered the fray, since they would compete for the same Republican donors and supporters. Bush has already spoken with several major Republican donors from around the country about hi
  
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