Obama praises Merkel, warns of consequences of globalization

German news magazine Der Spiegel says U.S. President Barack Obama has praised German Chancellor Angela Merkel as someone "who is willing to fight for her values." Obama told Spiegel and German public Television ARD in a joint interview Thursday that he's glad Merkel is around and that "the Germans should appreciate her."

Donald Trumpa s chief strategist doesna t understand what makes America great

Steve Bannon, campaign CEO for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, right, looks on during a national security meeting with advisors at Trump Tower, Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, in New York. There's no such thing as a free lunch in economics, but high-skilled immigration is at least a heavily-discounted one.

Zoe Lofgren

A bill intended to close loopholes in the H-1B visa program , introduced by Representative Darrell Issa and co-sponsored by the rest of the San Diego delegation, is facing opposition and a committee vote has been delayed. The Protect and Grow American Jobs Act , as the bill is known, was touted for its bipartisan support.

Obama to meet Merkel in Germany, top trade partner and ally

President Barack Obama is stressing a message of solidarity on his final visit to Germany - a top trade partner, key NATO ally and home to thousands of American troops, as well as a nation critical to solving Europe's migrant crisis and debt woes. Obama arrived Wednesday night in Berlin from Greece, making his sixth and final visit as president to Germany, where he has been popular since even before he was elected.

US Senate leader says Iran sanctions renewal will pass

The US Senate will vote to renew sanctions on Iran for 10 years before adjourning next month, the chamber's Republican leader said on Wednesday, sending the bill to the White House, where President Barack Obama is expected to sign it into law. The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday for the decade-long extension of the Iran Sanctions Act, or ISA, first adopted in 1996 to punish investments in Iran's energy industry and deter the country's pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Obama to pass torch to Merkel on farewell visit

US President Barack Obama pays a farewell visit Thursday to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, widely seen as the new standard bearer of liberal democracy since the election of Donald Trump. On the last leg of his final European tour as president, Barack Obama will underline shared values and try to ease fears about the future of the transatlantic partnership On the last leg of his final European tour as president, Obama will underline shared values, try to ease fears about the future of the transatlantic partnership and thank Merkel for her friendship during his two terms, White House officials said.

Theory from 1950s can help explain Clinton loss

A theory from the 1950s can help explain. According to University of Michigan researchers in their book "The American Voter," just three factors influence the majority of voters - long-term partisan predispositions, judgments about important issues and images of the candidates.

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PIC: An Iraqi man pushes his mother on a wheelbarrow as they flee to an area held by the Iraqi Special Forces 2nd division in the Samah neighbourhood of Mosul during an ongoing operation against Islamic State group jihadists. Hundreds of people used the opportunity to get out of harm's way during a period of relative calm on the frontline neighbourhoods of eastern Mosul.

Fishermen hope Trump dumps, or at least eases, Obama’s Atlantic marine protections

New England fishermen who opposed President Barack Obama's creation of the Atlantic Ocean's first marine national monument are now hopeful President-elect Donald Trump will abolish it, shrink it or allow some fishing inside it. While Trump, a Republican, hasn't specifically addressed the monument, he has said he would undo Obama's policies that he views as executive overreach.

U.S. Senate leader says Iran sanctions renewal will pass

The U.S. Senate will vote to renew sanctions on Iran for 10 years before adjourning next month, the chamber's Republican leader said on Wednesday, sending the bill to the White House, where President Barack Obama is expected to sign it into law. The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday for the decade-long extension of the Iran Sanctions Act, or ISA, first adopted in 1996 to punish investments in Iran's energy industry and deter the country's pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Social Media Outlets, LinkedIn, and Georgetown Helping Obama Staffers Get Jobs

Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Georgetown are assuring that White House staffers find jobs after Barack Obama leaves office, The Associated Press reported Wednesday. According to the report, Facebook and Instagram leaders are advising staffers on the current job market, while LinkedIn officials are helping with resumes and marketing their skills to major media organizations.

Foreign

President-elect Donald J. Trump denied this morning that his transition is in disarray, assailing news media reports about firings and infighting and insisting in an early-morning Twitter burst... Pakistan has ordered Turkish teachers at schools with alleged links to a Turkish cleric opposed to President Tayyip Erdogan to leave the country, as it prepares to host the... Two scholars said yesterday that they believe that an old sketchbook containing 65 drawings is an authentic work by Vincent van Gogh, and was created by that... Jeremy Clarkson missed several calls in an airport lounge while other passengers had got on a plane, and claims he was stopped from boarding in an alleged row over the... Greek riot police used tear gas and stun grenades in central Athens yesterday to disperse about 3,000 Left-wing marchers protesting a visit by President Barack Obama, after... Bob Dylan will not ... (more)

Obama affirms Trump’s commitment to NATO

President Barack Obama said Monday that the United States would remain the world's "indispensable" power and that President-elect Donald Trump had told him he was committed to NATO. "In my conversations with the President-elect, he expressed a great interest in maintaining our core strategic relationships," Obama said, adding that he had a message from Trump to pass on to world leaders he will meet this week.