December 20, 2015 Cracks appear in Democratic-Jewish alliance in wake of Iran agreement Many U.S. Jewish leaders are unnerved both by the new Iran nuclear agreement and the public falling out between President Barack Obama and his Israeli counterpart, developments that are creating a rift in the durable alliance between Jews and the Democratic Party in the run-up to the 2016 elections.
December 20, 2015 US reportedly backed down on initial goals in Iran talks U.S. negotiators reportedly lowered the bar for their own goals during talks over Iran's nuclear program in response to resistance from the Tehran team.
December 20, 2015 Fighting a bad cold, Biden cancels trip to Uruguay Vice President Joe Biden is canceling a planned trip to Uruguay because of an illness.
December 20, 2015 White House mulls ways to counter Netanyahu visit In what is becoming an increasingly nasty grudge match, the White House is mulling ways to undercut Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming trip to Washington and blunt his message that a potential nuclear deal with Iran is bad for Israel and the world.
December 20, 2015 Rebel takeover of eastern Ukraine city raises questions about cease-fire, Putin’s intentions The Ukrainian military’s withdrawal from a key eastern city – leaving Russia-backed rebels to roam the streets in celebration – has raised questions about a newly struck cease-fire and Vladimir Putin’s ultimate intentions.
December 20, 2015 Obama, Merkel aim to keep united front amid dispute over arming Ukraine A previously scheduled White House meeting between President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel took on greater import as both leaders attempt to keep a united front in the midst of a dispute over whether to arm Ukrainian forces battling Russian-backed separatists in the country's east.
December 20, 2015 Cruz pushes for US to arm Ukraine, as European leaders push for cease-fire Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz said Sunday that the U.S. should honor a treaty obligation to supply weapons to Ukraine to thwart Russian-back separatists -- a plan with little support among European leaders trying to broker a cease-fire deal as early as Wednesday.
December 20, 2015 Obama, Jordanian king vow to continue campaign against ISIS President Barack Obama and Jordanian King Abdullah II vowed not to let up in the fight against ISIS Tuesday, as Jordanians mourned the death of a military pilot held captive by the militants.
December 20, 2015 US faces calls to ‘walk away’ from Iran talks A leading Republican critic of the Iranian nuclear talks is calling on the U.S. to "walk away" from the table after negotiators missed a key deadline, while other lawmakers joined in voicing concern that Iran could extract critical final-hour concessions in the scramble to salvage an agreement.
December 20, 2015 US raises pressure on Israel over Palestinian state The U.S. exerted new pressure against Israel by leaving open the possibility of letting the United Nations set a deadline for a Palestinian state, in what would be a departure from using American veto power to protect its close Mideast ally.