U.S. Congress reaches deal on $1.1tn spending bill ahead of deadlineDecember 10, 2014 - 08:51 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. Congressional leaders have reached an agreement on a $1.1tn spending bill ahead of a looming Thursday, Dec 11 evening deadline. A consensus would prevent a government shutdown and fund the federal government until September 2015. The bill was agreed by congressional leaders and is expected to be passed by Congress this week. There are disagreements over immigration-related funds requested by President Barack Obama. But additional cash requested to bolster U.S. border security, issued by Obama through a controversial executive action last month, remains in the balance. Republicans - who gained control of both chambers of Congress in November's pivotal mid-term elections - may put spending for the Department of Homeland Security, responsible for immigration oversight, on a shorter timeframe until conservatives formally take the reins next month. The package must be approved before a spending deadline on Thursday. The bill is expected to include funding requested by Obama to fight the spread of Ebola in West Africa. Related links: Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Russia clarifying reports on Baku’s alleged arms supply to Ukraine Russia says is carefully working to verify reports about alleged arms supplies from Azerbaijan to Ukraine Russia warns Armenia against “falling into West’s trap” Zakharova maintained, however, that anything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed. CSTO: Armenia has not participated in secretariat’s work recently Recently Armenia has not participated in the work of the secretariat of the CSTO, Imangali Tasmagambetov said. Meeting with U.S., EU not against third parties, says Armenia The meeting scheduled for April 5 is dedicated to strengthening of the Armenia-EU-US cooperation, Yerevan added. |