Political News

WASHINGTON (AP) — The first prosecution arising from the Benghazi attacks is playing out in the federal courthouse blocks from both the White House and Capitol Hill, an appropriate setting for a case that has drawn stark lines between President Barack Obama and Republicans in Congress.

The head of the IRS said Monday his agency has provided Congress with hundreds of thousands of documents, brushing aside accusations that the IRS has obstructed investigations into the targeting of tea …

By Jeff Mason WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama will sign an executive order barring federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, the White House said on Monday, handing another victory to gay rights activists. Obama has pressed Congress to pass legislation to ban employment discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and resisted issuing an executive order in favor of pursuing a broader, legislative solution.

By Peter Henderson and Paul Lienert SAN FRANCISCO/DETROIT (Reuters) – General Motors Co recalled three million more cars for ignition switch issues on Monday, roughly doubling the number of GM vehicles with known switch problems in a crisis that has defined the automaker and new Chief Executive Mary Barra this year. GM on Monday recalled 3.36 million midsize and fullsize cars globally with ignition switches that can be jarred out of the “run” position, potentially affecting power steering, power brakes and air bags. GM engineers first noted the Cobalt problem more than a decade ago, and GM’s slow response to the switch issue triggered investigations within the company and by Congress and federal agencies. “The recall is just sort of the tip of the iceberg in terms of what has to be done” at GM, Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut and one of GM’s more vocal critics in Congress, said after Monday’s recall.

By Warren Strobel and Arshad Mohammed WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. security officials prepared on Monday to brief President Barack Obama on options to counter militants threatening Baghdad as Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki came under increased U.S. pressure to curb religious partisanship in his government. Obama notified Congress on Monday the United States was deploying up to 275 military personnel to provide support and security for U.S. personnel and the country’s embassy in Baghdad after militants seized control of the north of the country.

SAO PAULO (AP) — The feel-good Palestinian winner of last year’s ‘Arab Idol’ competition kicked off the FIFA Congress on Tuesday with an impromptu call to his homeland, signing off his performance with an emphatic “Viva Palestine.”