Month: July 2014

Obama to Republicans: ‘Stop just hatin’ all the time’

July 30, 2014 0
U.S. President Barack Obama talks about the economy at the Uptown Theater in Kansas City

By Roberta Rampton KANSAS CITY Mo (Reuters) – President Barack Obama took his criticism of congressional Republicans to a higher pitch on Wednesday, appealing to them to “stop just hatin’ all the time” even as Republicans prepared to sue him over charges he has overstepped the bounds of his office. Republicans in the House of Representatives were expected to vote on Wednesday to authorize a lawsuit against the president for exceeding his presidential authority while implementing the Affordable Care Act, his signature health care law. Stop — stop — stop just hatin’ all the time,” he said of Republicans, drawing loud cheers from a raucous crowd of about 1,500 in an ornate theater in Kansas City. While the lawsuit would focus on the health law, Republicans have complained that Obama’s use of executive actions to take other steps, such as raising the minimum wage for federal workers, risks giving him “king-like authority.” Obama disparaged the expected lawsuit as nothing but election-year political theater and a distraction from issues such as highway construction or the southwestern border crisis.

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Figure in ’80s payola probe faces NY gambling case

July 30, 2014 0

NEW YORK (AP) — He’s been one of the nation’s most influential record promoters, the producer of an Oscar-nominated movie, a defendant who successfully fought racketeering charges in a high-profile payola case, and an admitted loan shark who shook down borrowers in ritzy Beverly Hills.

House set to take up VA overhaul bill

July 30, 2014 0
House Veterans' Affairs Chairman Jeff Miller, R-Fla., joined by Speaker of the House John Boehner of Ohio, left, and incoming Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., right, speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 29, 2014, about a compromise bill to help veterans avoid long waits for health care, hire more doctors and nurses to treat them, and make it easier to fire executives at the Veterans Affairs Department. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON (AP) — With a new Veterans Affairs secretary in place and an August recess looming, Congress is likely to move quickly to approve a compromise bill to refurbish the VA and improve veterans’ health care.

House takes up VA health care overhaul

July 30, 2014 0
House Veterans' Affairs Chairman Jeff Miller, R-Fla., joined by Speaker of the House John Boehner of Ohio, left, and incoming Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., right, speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 29, 2014, about a compromise bill to help veterans avoid long waits for health care, hire more doctors and nurses to treat them, and make it easier to fire executives at the Veterans Affairs Department. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON (AP) — With a new Veterans Affairs secretary in place and an August recess looming, Congress is moving quickly to approve a compromise bill to refurbish the VA and improve veterans’ health care.

Congress cooperates _ and fights _ as recess nears

July 30, 2014 0
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the Senate Democratic Policy Committee chairman, is surrounded by reporters as he emerges from a caucus luncheon at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, July 29, 2014. As lawmakers race to adjourn this week, the Senate is facing a myriad of problems, including: keeping federal highway money flowing to states with an infusion of billions of dollars; the immigration crisis on the U.S.-Mexico border where tens of thousands of Central American kids are flowing in; funding for Israel's iron dome air defense system; and the growing tension with Russia over the crisis in Ukraine. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Eager to begin a monthlong break, Congress leavened its customary heavy partisanship on Wednesday with a pinch of compromise, advancing legislation to repair the deeply troubled Department of Veterans Affairs and working to clear funds for highway construction at home and missile defense in Israel.

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What’s in bill to overhaul VA

July 30, 2014 0

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is set to adopt a landmark bill to help veterans avoid long waits for health care, hire more doctors and nurses to treat them and make it easier to fire senior executives at the Veterans Affairs Department. The House approved the bill Wednesday, with a Senate vote expected by the end of the week.

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David Beckham voted best celebrity in suit

July 30, 2014 0

Los Angeles, July 30 (IANS) Former soccer star David Beckham has been voted the best male celebrity ‘suit wearer’ in a new poll. The 39-year-old managed to grab the top position, beating off competition from American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake and actor George Clooney to top the poll by Institchu.co.uk, a way of ordering a custom-tailored suit online. The online suit tailor asked 520 women to choose the male celebrity they thought looked best in a suit, with Beckham topping the poll as over a fifth of respondents voted for him, reports contactmusic.com. “I chose David Beckham as the winner because he looks absolutely gorgeous when he’s in a suit.

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ITC to foray into dairy, beverages

July 30, 2014 0

Kolkata, July 30 (IANS) Announcing its plans to foray into dairy and beverages segments, Kolkata-based conglomerate ITC Wednesday said it will continue its diversification drive to become India’s largest fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company by 2030. “Anything that can be categorised as FMCG, ITC wants to get into that segment,” chairman Y.C. Deveshwar told media persons here announcing the company’s plans to enter categories such as fruit juice, tea, coffee, chocolates and dairy products. Deveshwar said the company was pursuing 65 projects across India with a budgeted outlay of Rs.25,000 crore. Calling for emphasis on food processing and agro-forestry, he dwelt on the need for owning and nurturing intellectual capital to propel India to a developed economy.

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Shakeel Ahmad demands PM’s clarification over bugging issue

July 30, 2014 0

New Delhi, July 30 (ANI): Congress General Secretary Shakeel Ahmad today demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clarification over the issue of bugging in Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. I demand that a credible investigation should be carried out into this,” said Ahmad. Earlier today, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had clarified that there is no truth in the reports which appeared in the media that bugging devices were found inside Gadkari’s house.

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58 nurses confirm they would like to return to India: MEA

July 30, 2014 0

New Delhi, July 30 (ANI): Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said here on Wednesday that at this stage they have confirmations of 58 nurses who would like to return to India. He added that the External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj has directed the MEA to deploy a senior official of the rank of Joint Secretary to help in facilitating the return of Indian nationals from Libya to India and the official will be reaching Libya shortly.