Congress passes US defense bill, Obama to sign

Washington (AFP) Dec 20, 2013 A sweeping defense bill that authorizes Pentagon spending passed Congress late Thursday, assuring funding through 2014 while easing detainee transfers from Guantanamo and cracking down on sexual assault in the military. The compromise legislation, which passed 84-15 with broad bipartisan support in the Senate, allocates some $552.1 billion for military spending on ...