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 | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |