White House news

• WRAPUP 7-Kerry extends Iran talks, French foreign minister returns

  01-04-2015 22:32
  
  * French foreign minister returns to talks * Russia, Iran say agreement reached on key issues * Western negotiators said agreement still elusive * U.S. says it will exit talks before June 30 if no deal (Adds Germany's Steinmeier, White House, Zarif, French return) By Louis Charbonneau, John Irish and Parisa Hafezi LAUSANNE, Switzerland, April 1 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his German and French counterparts extended marathon talks in Switzerland on Wednesday for a second da
  
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• Iran nuclear talks extended until April 2

  01-04-2015 22:26
  
  Lausanne, April 2 (IANS) Negotiations over the Iranian nuclear programme has been extended for the second time after the world powers and Iran missed the March 31 deadline for a preliminary accord. US state department spokesperson Marie Harf said progress had been made in the talks, adding that US Secretary of State John Kerry would be staying "until at least Thursday morning", The Washington Post reported on Wednesday. In Washington, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the talks continued t
  
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• Iran talks productive, progressing: US

  01-04-2015 21:30
  
  Washington, April 2 (IANS) The US said on Wednesday that the Iran nuclear talks underway in Switzerland that are aimed at laying the groundwork for a potentially historic agreement have been "productive" and making "progress". "The sense that we have is that, yes, the talks continue to be productive and that progress is being made," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Wednesday, according to a Press TV report. He added that "as long as we are in a position of convening serious talks that
  
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• White House says at the end of preliminary negotiations with Iran

  01-04-2015 20:07
  
  The United States is at the end of negotiations aimed at reaching a political agreement over Iran's nuclear capabilities, the White House said on Wednesday, as the deadline to reach such a deal lapsed on Tuesday. White House spokesman Josh Earnest did not indicate that international negotiators would reach an agreement, but he told reporters that the amount of time spent on the issue means the efforts should soon come to an end. "The time has come for Iran to make some decisions," Earnest said.
  
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• New study spots patterns in President Reagan's White House talks that may have been a red flag for Alzheimer's

  01-04-2015 20:05
  
  A new study finds that tiny changes in the way...
  
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• White House says Iran nuclear talks still 'productive'

  01-04-2015 19:36
  
  The White House on Wednesday said progress was still being made in crunch nuclear talks with Iran, but warned the United States would walk away if negotiations stall. "The sense that we have is that, yes, the talks continue to be productive and that progress is being made," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. Marathon negotiations are taking place in Lausanne, Switzerland, between Iran and six world powers including the United States.
  
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• Iran nuclear talks productive, progress being made: White House

  01-04-2015 19:27
  
  Washington (AFP) - The White House on Wednesday said progress was still being made in crunch nuclear talks with Iran, but warned the United States would walk away if negotiations stall.
  
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• White House says it has not received specific commitments from Iran in nuclear talks

  01-04-2015 19:13
  
  WASHINGTON, April 1 (Reuters) - The White House said onWednesday that it has not received tangible, specificcommitments from Iran over its nuclear capabilities asinternational negotiations for a political framework for such anagreement continue past its Tuesday deadline. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the talks continueto be productive, but that there are gaps that still remain. He also said the United States is prepared to walk away fromthe negotiations if necessary. (Reporting by Juli
  
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• Poll finds rising exile support for Obama's Cuba policy

  01-04-2015 18:21
  
  (Reuters) - A poll of Cuban-Americans shows support for the White House's new Cuba policy has risen in the three months since it was announced, with 51 percent now in favor of closer engagement with Cuba, up from 44 percent in December. The poll by consulting firm Bendixen & Amandi International, and released in New York on Wednesday, sampled 400 people across the country's population of approximately 2 million Cuban-Americans, mostly concentrated in Florida and New Jersey. The Whi
  
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• Sony Hack Attack Prompts White House to Bolster Cyber Weapons

  01-04-2015 18:11
  
  The White House on Tuesday announced it is bolstering the nation’s cyber defenses in the wake of the Sony Pictures attack. Administration officials declined to say whether the new weapon would have been used in the Sony attack itself, noting that President Obama had already taken significant enforcement action in that instance, but they said its creation stemmed from some of the discussions initiated by that attack. “Our experience at looking at proportional response on Sony Pictures inf
  
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• Monica Lewinsky Is Not Joining 'The View': 'This Is Obviously Not Happening'

  01-04-2015 17:45
  
  While Monica Lewinsky may seem like a strong candidate to replace Rosie O'Donnell on The View, a rep for the former White House intern tells Entertainment Tonight that this is not the case. "This is obviously not happening," Lewinsky's spokesperson told ET of speculation that she's in talks to join the daytime talk show. There have been no conversations with ABC about a possible hosting position on The View, the rep added. NEWS: Monica Lewinsky Reacts to Beyonce's &
  
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• Obama unveils sanctions effort to combat cyberattacks

  01-04-2015 17:23
  
  President Barack Obama ordered a new sanctions program Wednesday which could block assets of US and foreign hackers and of companies that seek to profit from cyberattacks. Obama said the threat from cyberattacks was a "national emergency" and the new sanctions could help strike back against those involved in attacks on US targets. "Starting today, we're giving notice to those who pose significant threats to our security or economy by damaging our critical infrastructure, disr
  
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• Obama authorizes sanctions to combat cyberattacks

  01-04-2015 17:03
  
  President Barack Obama on Wednesday authorized imposing economic sanctions on US and foreign hackers, allowing the government to block the assets of persons involved in cyber attacks on US targets. "Starting today, we're giving notice to those who pose significant threats to our security or economy by damaging our critical infrastructure, disrupting or hijacking our computer networks, or stealing the trade secrets of American companies or the personal information of American citizens f
  
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• The Obama administration just opened a new ‘weaponization of finance’ front

  01-04-2015 17:01
  
  REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. President Barack Obama is shown digital learning programs during a visit to Mooresville Middle School in Mooresville, North Carolina June 6, 2013. The first-ever sanctions program aimed at penalizing foreign cyber hackers and cyber espionage will be signed into law today by President Obama, the Washington Post reports. By declaring “significant malicious cyber-enabled activities” a “national emergency,” the executive order will allow the treasury to freeze the
  
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• Obama praises Nigeria's president for conceding defeat

  01-04-2015 16:57
  
  "President Jonathan has placed his country's interests first by conceding the election and congratulating president-elect (Muhammadu) Buhari on his victory," Obama said in a White House statement. "I look forward to working with President Jonathan throughout the remainder of his term, and I thank him for his many years of service and his statesmanlike conduct at this critical juncture," Obama said. "The last few days have shown the world the strength of Nigeria'
  
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• Congress' Role If Iran Deal Is Reached

  01-04-2015 14:13
  
  Josh Earnest during a White House press briefing answers questions related to the nuclear negotiations with Iran.
  
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• UPDATE 2-Netanyahu calls for "better deal" with Iran over nuclear programme

  01-04-2015 14:08
  
  * Netanyahu wants rollback of Iran's nuclear infrastructure * Holds talks with U.S. congressional speaker Boehner * Boehner says U.S.-Israeli bonds "strong as ever" (Adds Boehner comments) By Jeffrey Heller JERUSALEM, April 1 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday it was not too late for world powers locked in nuclear negotiations with Iran to demand a "better deal". He made the comments before meeting in Jerusalem with the speaker of the U.S. House of Representa
  
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• Accenture Survey Shows Federal Agencies See Benefits of Digital Tools, but Concerns About Costs, Budgets Remain

  01-04-2015 13:18
  
  More than two years after the White House announced its Digital Government Strategy to better meet citizen needs, federal agencies report positive outcomes from digital services, b
  
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• Netanyahu calls for 'better deal' with Iran over nuclear program

  01-04-2015 12:40
  
  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday it was not too late for world powers still locked in nuclear negotiations with Iran to demand a "better deal". He made the comments before a planned meeting in Jerusalem with the speak of the U.S. House of Representatives, John Boehner, a leading Republican and strong critic of the White House's policy on Iran. "Now is the time for the international community to insist on a better deal," Netanyahu said in a televised statement delivered
  
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• Netanyahu calls for 'better deal' with Iran over nuclear programme

  01-04-2015 12:39
  
  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday it was not too late for world powers still locked in nuclear negotiations with Iran to demand a "better deal". He made the comments before a planned meeting in Jerusalem with the speak of the U.S. House of Representatives, John Boehner, a leading Republican and strong critic of the White House's policy on Iran. "Now is the time for the international community to insist on a better deal," Netanyahu said in a televised statement delivered
  
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• UPDATE 1-Netanyahu calls for "better deal" with Iran over nuclear programme

  01-04-2015 12:37
  
  (Adds Boehner visit) JERUSALEM, April 1 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday it was not too late for world powers still locked in nuclear negotiations with Iran to demand a "better deal". He made the comments before a planned meeting in Jerusalem with the speak of the U.S. House of Representatives, John Boehner, a leading Republican and strong critic of the White House's policy on Iran. "Now is the time for the international community to insist on a better deal
  
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• Obama spoke with Congo President Kabila -White House

  01-04-2015 08:09
  
  President Barack Obama spoke with President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Tuesday, the White House said. The two leaders spoke about their commitment to ending the threat of armed groups, specifically the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, the White House said in a statement. Obama underscored the need for peaceful and credible elections in the country in 2016.
  
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• Exclusive: Republican White House hopefuls attack Obamacare but take money

  01-04-2015 07:10
  
  By Andy Sullivan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Several Republican governors likely to run for president have secured hundreds millions of dollars under Obamacare while working to dismantle the healthcare law, according to a Reuters review of federal spending records. Governors Scott Walker of Wisconsin, Chris Christie of New Jersey, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and former Texas Governor Rick Perry, all staunch opponents of President Barack Obama's 2010 Affordable Care Act, have collectively applied f
  
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• U.S. House committee subpoenas two Secret Service agents over security incident

  01-04-2015 03:00
  
  A House of Representatives committee subpoenaed two U.S. Secret Service agents on Tuesday after an incident this month when agents allegedly drove a car past White House barricades after drinking at a party. Republican Jason Chaffetz, head of the House Oversight Committee, said the Department of Homeland Security had declined to cooperate. The move was criticized by Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, who said he regretted that Chaffetz had taken "the unprecedented and unnecessary step of s
  
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• Obama gets update on nuclear negotiations with Iran: White House

  01-04-2015 02:18
  
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama held a video teleconference with members of his national security team on Tuesday to discuss the nuclear negotiations with Iran, the White House said. Six world powers, known as the P5+1, have been holding talks with Iran in Lausanne, Switzerland, to try to reach an accord on curbing Tehran's nuclear program. The White House said in a statement that Obama got an update on the talks from his team, but did not give any details. (Reporting by Sandr
  
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• US commits to ambitious emissions cut by 2025

  01-04-2015 01:46
  
  Washington, April 1 (IANS/EFE) The US government formally committed itself on Tuesday to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 percent from 2005 levels by 2025, according to media reports. This goal set by US President Barack Obama during his visit to China last November is included in a document that Washington sent to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on Tuesday, White House senior adviser Brian Deese said. The goal will be put on the table at the UN clim
  
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• Obama commutes sentences of 22 drug offenders

  01-04-2015 01:25
  
  US President Barack Obama on Tuesday reduced the jail terms of 22 drug offenders, part of a drive to address fairness in sentencing. "I am granting your application because you have demonstrated the potential to turn your life around," Obama wrote in letters to the 22 individuals. "They served years — in some cases more than a decade — longer than individuals convicted today of the same crime," said White House Counsel Neil Eggleston. The White House said it wanted to enc
  
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• Republicans warn world that Obama U.N. plan could be undone

  01-04-2015 01:19
  
  By Valerie Volcovici WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration's plan for U.N. climate change talks encountered swift opposition after its release Tuesday, with Republican leaders warning other countries to "proceed with caution" in negotiations with Washington because any deal could be later undone. The White House is seeking to enshrine its pledge in a global climate agreement to be negotiated Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 in Paris. It calls for cutting greenhouse gas emissions by cl
  
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• UPDATE 2-Obama ends freeze on U.S. military aid to Egypt

  01-04-2015 01:05
  
  (Adds congressional and experts' comments) By Roberta Rampton and Arshad Mohammed WASHINGTON, March 31 (Reuters) - The United States announced on Tuesday it was lifting its hold on the supply of military equipment to Egypt, which was frozen when the military took power in Cairo nearly two years ago. The White House said President Barack Obama was freeing up the equipment and making other changes to military ties with Washington's long-time ally to support U.S. interests while encouraging Egypt's
  
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• Obama ends freeze on U.S. military aid to Egypt

  01-04-2015 01:05
  
  The United States announced on Tuesday it was lifting its hold on the supply of military equipment to Egypt, which was frozen when the military took power in Cairo nearly two years ago. The White House said President Barack Obama was freeing up the equipment and making other changes to military ties with Washington's long-time ally to support U.S. interests while encouraging Egypt's political reforms. Obama directed the release of 12 Lockheed Martin F-16 aircraft, 20 Boeing Harpoon missiles, and
  
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• Republican economic veterans, Hubbard and Warsh, advising Jeb Bush: sources

  01-04-2015 01:03
  
  By Steve Holland, Anna Yukhananov and Lauren Tara LaCapra WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Glenn Hubbard and Kevin Warsh, veteran Republican economic policymakers and critics of the Fed's ultra-loose monetary policy, have emerged as top economic advisers to likely presidential candidate Jeb Bush, Republican sources said on Tuesday. Hubbard, who served as the top White House economist for former President George W. Bush, was one of the architects of Bush's tax cuts.
  
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• Obama urges DRCongo's Kabila to respect constitution

  01-04-2015 01:01
  
  As Congolese President Joseph Kabila appears to toy with extending his 14-year rule, US President Barack Obama on Tuesday urged him to respect the Democratic Republic of Congo's constitution. "The president emphasized the importance of timely, credible, and peaceful elections that respect the DRC's constitution," the White House said following a phone call between the two men. Kabila came to power in 2001 after the assassination of his father Laurent, and is now approaching t
  
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• Oversight panel issues subpoenas in Secret Service incident

  01-04-2015 00:46
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairman of the House Oversight Committee said Tuesday he is issuing subpoenas to two Secret Service agents who witnessed an episode in which two high-ranking agency officials are accused of driving into a secure area at the White House without authorization.
  
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• Corrected - Obama lifts hold on U.S. military aid to Egypt

  01-04-2015 00:24
  
  By Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - (Corrects paragraph one day of week to Tuesday instead Monday) President Barack Obama on Tuesday told Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi that he would lift a hold on U.S. military aid to Cairo, but also said the United States would stop allowing Egypt to buy equipment on credit starting in fiscal year 2018. Obama has been reviewing military aid to Egypt since 2013 when the Egyptian army ousted former president Mohamed Mursi. The decision will allow
  
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• CORRECTED-Obama says U.S. will provide more military aid to Egypt

  01-04-2015 00:21
  
  (Correct day of week to Tuesday) WASHINGTON, March 31 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Tuesday said he would ask the U.S. Congress for $1.3 billion per year in military aid for Egypt and said he would lift holds on aircraft, missiles and tanks for Cairo in place since October 2013, the White House said in a statement. Obama also said that the United States would discontinue starting in fiscal 2018 Egypt's use of cash flow financing, a financial mechanism that allows Egypt to buy equipment o
  
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• CORRECTED-UPDATE 1-Obama lifts hold on U.S. military aid to Egypt

  01-04-2015 00:21
  
  (Corrects paragraph one day of week to Tuesday instead Monday) By Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON, March 31 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Tuesday told Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi that he would lift a hold on U.S. military aid to Cairo, but also said the United States would stop allowing Egypt to buy equipment on credit starting in fiscal year 2018. Obama has been reviewing military aid to Egypt since 2013 when the Egyptian army ousted former president Mohamed Mursi. The decision w
  
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• Governor backs down, seeks 'fix' to Indiana religion law

  01-04-2015 00:20
  
  Facing a firestorm of criticism, Indiana Governor Mike Pence said Tuesday he will seek to tweak a new "religious freedom" law that some warn discriminates against gays in the US state. "This is a significant expansion of the law in terms of the way that it would apply," White House spokesman Josh Earnest warned.
  
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• Obama, Egypt's Sisi talked on the phone Tuesday: White House

  01-04-2015 00:14
  
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesday, the White House National Security Council said. There were no immediate details about what the leaders discussed. But the call comes after Sisi - who has backed the military campaign against Houthi militias in Yemen - proposed a unified Arab force to confront regional security threats. (This story corrects headline and paragraph one to Tuesday instead Monday) (Reporting by Roberta Rampton
  
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• CORRECTED-Obama, Egypt's Sisi talked on the phone Tuesday -White House

  01-04-2015 00:13
  
  (Corrects headline and paragraph one to Tuesday instead Monday) WASHINGTON, March 31 (Reuters) - President Barack Obamaspoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesday,the White House National Security Council said. There were no immediate details about what the leadersdiscussed. But the call comes after Sisi - who has backed themilitary campaign against Houthi militias in Yemen - proposed aunified Arab force to confront regional security threats. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Edit
  
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