Another breakthrough for the Obama administration. Despite all the naysayers, and it comes as no surprise to learn that they are all mostly in the Republican party, President Obama announced a deal between the United States and other countries including Russia and China, to curb Iran’s nuclear ambition.
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Sprint Corp. and T-Mobile US Inc. have agreed on the broad outlines of a merger valuing T-Mobile at around $32 billion, as recent regulatory developments convinced executives at both telecommunications companies that they have an opening to get a deal approved, according to people familiar with the matter.
The terms involve Sprint paying around $40 a share for T-Mobile in an acquisition that could happen early this summer, the people said. The companies are still working toward a formal contract, and the effort could fall through. But if completed, the merger would combine the country’s third- and fourth-largest wireless operators, creating a bigger competitor to market leaders Verizon Communications Inc. and AT&T Inc. while leaving consumers with fewer choices for service.
A deal between Sprint and T-Mobile would extend a wave of consolidation that is uniting some of the biggest companies in the telecom and media industries, and is expected to face strong opposition from regulators and a lengthy antitrust review.
(AP) A deal has been reached between six world powers and Iran that calls on Tehran to limit its nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief, the French and Iranian foreign ministers said early Sunday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said, “Yes, we have a deal,” as he walked past reporters crowding the hotel lobby where marathon negotiations had taken place over the past five days.
Asked if there was a deal, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said “Yes” and gave a thumbs-up sign.
The goal had been to hammer out an agreement to freeze Iran’s nuclear program for six months, while offering the Iranians limited relief from crippling economic sanctions. If the interim deal holds, the parties will negotiate final-stage agreements to ensure Iran does not build nuclear weapons.
The deal came after the personal intervention by Secretary of State John Kerry and other foreign ministers whose presence had raised hopes for a breakthrough.
Diplomats refused to spell out details of the talks, which dragged on past midnight. As the meetings continued into Sunday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the talks as being in “their 11th hour,” with most issues resolved but an agreement still elusive.
Consensus came after nearly a decade of inconclusive international efforts to halt Iran’s expanding nuclear program. Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes and not aimed at building nuclear weapons.
The agreement built on the momentum of the historic dialogue opened during September’s annual U.N. gathering, which included a 15-minute phone conversation between Obama and Iran’s new president, Hassan Rouhani, after three decades of U.S.-Iranian estrangement.
WASHINGTON — Congress was heading towards a climatic resolution Wednesday to reopen the federal government after a 16-day partial shutdown as well as avert an unprecedented debt default.
House and Senate leaders were negotiating how to maneuver a package through both chambers and get it to President Obama’s desk before the Oct. 17 default deadline. However, there was an air of certainty on Capitol Hill that a formal deal was at hand between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
Senate leaders were on track to unveil a narrow package that includes a stopgap spending measure through Jan. 15, a suspension of the debt ceiling until Feb. 7, and a framework for formal budget negotiations to begin. Negotiators are tasked with reporting out by Dec. 13 recommendations for longer-term spending levels and deficit reduction
Well I’m a die hard fan of my home state New Jersey Devils and am truly devastated by the departure of our star Ilya Kovalchuck and now I can’t say I’m too excited for the 2013-2014 hockey season. We are a team without a star, an aging star goalie, and seriously depleted of any offensive talent. Of course Devils fans have expressed any displeasure and over the off season we’ve acquired some nice pieces such as goalie Cory Schneider. Now the latest news is that we have signed Jaroimir Jagr…
Jagr spent his last season with the Boston Bruins
Jaromir Jagr is 41 years old, has played with 7 NHL teams over the course of his career, and we just gave him a one year contract where he can earn $2-4 million. I’m not a Jagr fan as he seems to play for the money over the love of the game, but this signing makes complete sense for the Devils. While Jaromir Jagr may not be on the same level as Ilya Kovalchuck at this stage of his career, he is a savy and experienced veteran winger with the occasional sparks of his brilliant play. I’m not expecting Jagr to make a huge impact on the Devils as we are a team in serious transition this year. All I can do is brace myself for a rough season ahead.
Well, the word on the street is that a “deal” was reached on Filibuster reform. This “deal” was negotiated between Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid and Republican Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell.
According to reports, this new “deal” will make some changes to how filibusters are done. These changes are:
Notice any changes yet? No? Well you’re not alone. Anyone looking at this “deal” is left wondering exactly what did Harry Reid get in return. He basically allowed Mitch McConnell and the Republicans to continue blocking bills just because they feel like it. And what did Reid and the Democrats get in this “deal?”As far as I could see, nothing.
Republicans are ecstatic though! Said Republican Senator Lamar Alexander, “We all want the Senate to function. I’m optimistic about it.”
Yes Lamar, you should be. You basically have things just the way they were before this so-called “deal” was reached.
You hear this all the time… Democrats have no backbone. Well based on what happened with the filibuster, you’d have to agree that at least in this case, that saying is correct.
Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) said Tuesday that senate leaders are getting close to a deal on filibuster reform and the chamber will take up the issue soon, probably after taking up a bill to award $60 billion in aid to victims of Hurricane Sandy.
“Once we complete that vital legislation,” Reid said of the Sandy bill, “the Senate will take action to make this institution that we all love — the United States Senate — work more effectively.”
“I’m confident we’ll reach an agreement that allows the Senate to operate more effectively in coming months,” he said in remarks on the Senate floor.
Democrats have been vowing to reform the Senate’s rules to make it harder for the minority party to bog down action by requiring nearly every bill to win 60 votes and clear a Republican filibuster. They believe the filibuster, once a legislative tool invoked only rarely, has become abused. Republicans say it is their only way to get a voice in a chamber where Democrats routinely prevent the GOP from offering amendments to key legislation.
h/t Washington Post
When President Obama earlier stated that “nothing is agreed upon until everything is agreed upon”, no one really understood where the President was going in terms of the negotiations concerning raising the debt ceiling. Later when he put forth his plan for a massive $4 trillion dollars in spending cuts – if Republicans agreed to ending the tax loopholes for the wealthy – the connection between his statement and his plan still wasn’t realized.
However, when the Republican Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell yesterday told the press, that he is willing to “authorize” the President to submit a request to congress to raise the debt ceiling, a light bulb went off in the Host of MSNBC’s The Last Word – Lawrence O’ Donnell‘s head. The President’s statement on a $4 trillion spending cut proposal finally began making sense.
The way O’Donnell explains the connection is like this: President Obama is winning the debt ceiling argument with Republicans. By making the statement, “nothing is agreed upon until everything is agreed upon,” the President put Republicans on notice, that to have a deal, both parties would have to agree to major sacrifices. He then announced a huge spending cut proposal, with the knowledge that Republicans were too much against imposing any taxes or ending the loopholes on the wealthy. With this in mind, the President essentially called the Republican’s bluff. If they were really serious about deficit reduction, they would have jumped on the opportunity to cut spending by ending the tax loopholes.
Then yesterday, Mitch McConnell came out and basically handed the President the win. What Mitch wants is a resolution to allow the President to raise the debt ceiling all by himself. The President would request congress to raise the debt ceiling. Congress would then vote to “disapprove” the request, which the President would then veto. With that veto, the debt ceiling would automatically be raised on the President’s terms.
This move by McConnell, basically giving up the fight and allowing President Obama to make the decision, brought it all home for Lawrence.
Of course, we are talking about Mitch McConnell – the same Republican who said his primary goal is to see Obama fail. It is therefore wise to look at this “plan” by McConnell from that perspective and realize the politics behind it. McConnell realizes that the Republicans have taken a dangerous position. Any default by the United States government by not raising the debt ceiling would be political assassination for the GOP. With this move, McConnell removes the Republicans from the decision-making process, that way, the President makes the decision and avoids America going into default. McConnell can tell his Teaparty constituents that he voted against raising the debt ceiling.
The punk’s way out if you ask me.
