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☆ U.S. imposes sanctions on oil smuggling network backing Iran's Quds Force, Hezbollah
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Daphne Psaledakis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 3 (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday issued sanctions against an international oil smuggling network it said supports Hezbollah and Iran's Quds Force, targeting dozens of people, companies and tankers as Washington sought to mount pressure on Tehran. The latest U.S. move against Iranian oil smuggling comes as efforts to revive Iran's 2015 nuclear deal have stalled and ties between the Islamic Republic and the West are increasingly strained as Iranians keep up anti-government protests. Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The move targeted a Gulf-based network that the Treasury said as of mid-2022 were blending and exporting Iranian oil. The 2015 agreement limited Iran's uranium enrichment activity to make it harder for Tehran to develop nuclear arms in return for lifting international sanctions.

☆ Biden, 'outraged' by oil company profits, to hit issue again in White House remarks
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 31 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden, who has expressed outrage at oil companies making record profits while Americans pay high fuel prices, will make a statement on the issue at the White House on Monday, the White House said. Biden will speak at 4:30 p.m. (2030 GMT) in response "to reports over recent days of major oil companies making record-setting profits even as they refuse to help lower prices at the pump for the American people," the White House said in a statement. During a Democratic fundraiser in Philadelphia, he suggested additional actions were coming, but White House officials have declined to provide details. Biden said six of the largest oil companies made $70 billion in profit during the last quarter, with some doubling their earnings. The price of gasoline and overall high inflation are a political stumbling block for Democratic congressional candidates in the upcoming midterm elections.

☆ U.S. FTC to order education tech firm Chegg to boost security
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 31 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Monday called on education technology provider Chegg Inc (CHGG.N) to bolster its data security, citing lax security practices that regulators said exposed the personal data of millions of customers. The proposed FTC order would also require the company to limit the data it can collect and offer users access to data and multifactor authentication, the commission said in a statement. Writing by Katharine Jackson; editing by Susan HeaveyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

I don't think his lawyers will want him to show up because he has to testify under oath," Pelosi said in an interview with MSNBC. Nevertheless, Trump has maintained he did nothing illegal in pressing that case, including on the day of the Capitol riot. Trump and Pelosi have had a long, stormy relationship. Outside the White House following the meeting that Democrats stormed out of, Pelosi told reporters Trump had suffered a "meltdown." Cheney did not say what the panel would do if Trump refuses to cooperate with the subpoena.

☆ U.S. grants Temporary Protected Status to Ethiopians fleeing conflict
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Katharine Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Friday granted Temporary Protected Status for 18 months for Ethiopians currently residing in the United States, the Department of Homeland Security said. "The United States recognizes the ongoing armed conflict and the extraordinary and temporary conditions engulfing Ethiopia, and DHS is committed to providing temporary protection to those in need," Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement announcing the designation. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe conflict has killed thousands, displaced millions and left hundreds of thousands on the brink of famine. An estimated 27,000 Ethiopians in the United States will be eligible for TPS under the new designation, a Homeland Security department spokesperson said. To qualify for the program, Ethiopians in the United States will have to show they have been continuously resided in the United States since October 20, 2022, and those who attempt to travel to the United States after that date would not be eligible, the department said.

☆ U.S., Russian defense chiefs speak amid Ukraine war -Pentagon
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 21 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke on Friday with his Russian counterpart, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, and emphasized the importance of maintaining lines of communication amid the war in Ukraine, according to a statement from the Pentagon. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Katharine Jackson and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Chris GallagherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

"We are seeing that now with the provision of (drones) to Russia." Ukraine says Russia has used Iranian-made Shahed-136 attack drones that cruise toward their target and explode on impact. Tehran denies supplying the drones to Moscow - an assertion Washington says is untrue - and Russia has denied its forces used Iranian drones to attack Ukraine. If such a resolution is not adopted by the deadline, all U.N. sanctions in place before the nuclear deal would be automatically reimposed. "Snapback" would also likely kill off efforts to revive the 2015 deal, which then-U.S. President Donald Trump abandoned and which his successor Joe Biden has sought to resurrect.

☆ Biden administration to provide $2 mln to Cuba for Hurricane Ian relief
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 18 (Reuters) - The Biden administration will provide $2 million to Cuba for emergency relief efforts following Hurricane Ian, the State Department said on Tuesday. The United States will work with independent organizations to provide the aid, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"We stand with the Cuban people as they work to recover from this disaster," Price said. U.S. President Joe Biden has promised to re-engage with Cuba after years of tensions between Havana and Washington. But Cuba's crackdown following widespread protests on the island last July led instead to sanctions on Cuban officials.

The Justice Department in its petition to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon exceeded her authority when she named the special master to vet the more than 11,000 seized documents. The Justice Department is investigating whether Trump broke the law by taking government records to his Florida estate after leaving office in January 2021. Now, the Justice Department is appealing the rest of Cannon's order. Prosecutors said in a court filing this week they had turned over the bulk of the seized records for Trump's attorneys to review.

WASHINGTON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday asked a federal appeals court to end a special third-party review of documents seized from former President Donald Trump's home in Florida, arguing that a district court should not have appointed a "special master" in the case. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Justice Department prosecutors argued that U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon exceeded her authority when she paused a criminal investigation to allow the special master to review more than 11,000 seized records. "It follows that the district court erred in requiring the government to submit any of the seized materials for the special-master review process," prosecutors said in the court papers. The Justice Department is investigating whether Trump broke the law by taking government records, including about 100 classified documents, to his Florida estate after leaving office in January 2021. They are also looking into whether Trump or his team obstructed justice when the FBI sent agents to search his home, and have warned that more classified documents may still be missing.

☆ U.S. may block Russian aluminum imports -source
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 12 (Reuters) - The Biden administration is weighing restricting imports of Russian aluminum as it charts possible responses to Moscow's military escalation in Ukraine, a person briefed on the conversations told Reuters. Rusal (RUAL.MM), the world's largest aluminum producer outside China, did not immediately reply to a Reuters' request for comment. Russian attacks using more than 100 missiles have killed at least 26 people across Ukraine since Monday, when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered what he called retaliatory strikes against Ukraine for an explosion on a bridge. Shares of U.S.-based aluminum producer Alcoa Corp (AA.N) were last trading up 5.1% in New York, following the report. Shares of Rio Tinto Plc (RIO.L), which produces aluminum as well as iron ore, copper and other metals, fell about 1% on Wednesday in London.

☆ U.S. considering complete ban on Russian aluminum -Bloomberg
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 12 (Reuters) - The Biden administration is considering a complete ban on Russian aluminum in response to Russia's military escalation in Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday. The White House is weighing an outright ban, raising tariffs to levels so punitive they would impose an effective ban, or sanctioning United Co Rusal International PJSC, the company that produces Russia's metal, Bloomberg said, citing unnamed people familiar with the decision-making. The Bloomberg report said the White House had held off sanctioning Russian aluminum at the start of the invasion out of fear it could disrupt global suppliers. There is no movement on this as of now," a White House official said in response to the report. Rusal (RUAL.MM), the world's largest aluminum producer outside China, did not immediately reply to a Reuters' request for comment.

☆ U.S. Senate headed to Thursday passage of stopgap gov't funding bill -Schumer
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate could pass a temporary government funding bill as soon as Thursday, which would avert partial government shutdowns that otherwise would begin on Saturday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Wednesday. "With cooperation from our Republican colleagues, the Senate can finish its work of keeping the government open as soon as tomorrow. There is every reason in the world to get to 'yes,'" Schumer said in a Senate speech. Once the Senate approves the bill that would extend government-wide funding through Dec. 16, the House of Representatives is expected to promptly take up and pass the bill. There is strong bipartisan support in the Senate for the measure, which cleared a procedural hurdle late on Tuesday on a 72-23 vote.

☆ U.S. Congress readies stopgap bill to avert shutdown, aid Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Richard Cowan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

President Joe Biden's Democrats, who control both chambers of Congress, are expected to avoid an embarrassing partial government shutdown just six weeks before the Nov. 8 midterm elections, when control of Congress will be at stake. The bill, which would extend overall government funding through Dec. 16, was facing resistance because of an energy permitting reform measure. The spending provisions include $12.3 billion in new money to help Ukraine turn back Russia's invasion, House of Representatives Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro said in a statement. In addition, it authorizes Biden to direct the drawdown of up to $3.7 billion for the transfer to Ukraine of excess weapons from U.S. stocks. The last time Congress allowed funding to lapse was in December 2018, when Democrats balked at paying for then-President Donald Trump's U.S.-Mexico border wall, leading to a record, 35-day impasse and partial government shutdown.

U.S. Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), answers questions during the weekly Republican news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September, 13, 2022. "I'll proudly support the legislation provided that nothing more than practical changes are made to its current form," McConnell said in a floor speech. "This bill, as introduced, is the only chance to get an outcome and to actually make law," he added. In addition to the Jan. 6 violence, 139 House Republicans and eight Senate Republicans including Cruz voted to challenge results in key states. The House bill would require at least one-third of the members of the House and Senate to agree to challenge a state's certification.

☆ Biden urges companies to lower costs for consumers
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterU.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Liz Truss, as they attend the 77th U.N. General Assembly, in New York, U.S., September 21, 2022. REUTERS/Toby Melville/Pool/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Sept 26 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday urged companies running gas stations, banks and cell phone services to lower costs for consumers coping with inflation. During a White House meeting, Biden said that "junk fees" such as bank overdraft fees and cellular phone termination charges were hurting families and that gas station operators needed to lower prices at the pump "now." Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Jeff Mason, writing by Katharine Jackson, editing by Chris GallagherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. providing $200 mln in additional aid to Mexico and Central America, Blinken says
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterFILE PHOTO - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Britain's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly hold a sidebar meeting during the 77th United Nations General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 20, 2022. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado/PoolWASHINGTON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - The United States is providing nearly $200 million in additional humanitarian assistance through international organizations and non-government partners in Mexico and Central America, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday. "Our assistance will support the humanitarian and protection needs of refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, stateless persons, and vulnerable migrants in Mexico and Central America," Blinken said in a statement. Washington has provided more than $594 million to the region since fiscal year 2018, he added. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Katharine Jackson and Rami Ayyub; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Biden, UK's Truss commit to protect Northern Ireland deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"We both are committed to protecting the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland. I'm looking forward to hearing what's on your mind and how we can continue to cooperate," Biden told Truss ahead of their talks. As a member of parliament, Truss introduced legislation to undo the Northern Ireland Protocol, which was part of Britain's withdrawal agreement from the European Union. It prioritized protecting the Good Friday Agreement, or Belfast Agreement, for peace in the British-run region. Biden has been insistent that Britain do nothing that could endanger a quarter century of peace in Northern Ireland.

☆ U.S. Senate will vote this week on election transparency bill -Schumer
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterU.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer leaves after speaking to the news media on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 13, 2022. REUTERS/Leah MillisWASHINGTON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on Monday that the chamber would vote this week on the DISCLOSE Act, which he said would require super PACs and certain other groups to disclose donors who contributed $10,000 or more to them during an election. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Makini Brice and Katharine Jackson; editing by Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. House Democrat says agreement coming on semiconductor bill
▼ + stars: | 2022-07-13 | by ( Katharine Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, July 13 (Reuters) - U.S. House Democratic Caucus chair Hakeem Jeffries said on Wednesday "significant progress" had been made on a proposed bill to boost the U.S. semiconductor industry and he believes an agreement on it will be reached by the end of July. The legislation would fund $52 billion for chip production subsidies and boost U.S. scientific and technological innovation to compete with China. The Senate passed a version of the bill in June 2021, and the House passed a version in February. Significant progress has been made," Jeffries told reporters at a news conference. Even if the House and Senate reach agreement, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has threatened to block passage if Democrats move ahead with a partisan effort to raise corporate taxes and curb carbon emissions.

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