December 20, 2015 Pentagon says US 'able to respond' if needed after Iran seizes cargo ship The Pentagon said Wednesday that the U.S. would "be able to respond" if necessary to help a Marshall Islands-flagged ship that was diverted, and boarded, a day earlier by Iran -- though it remains unclear how far the U.S. Navy might be willing to go if the tense situation escalates.
December 20, 2015 Kazakhstan ruler, lauded by Bill Clinton for democratic and human rights gains, wins re-election -- with 98 percent of vote Former President Bill Clinton, already under the microscope for reportedly traveling to Kazakhstan with a Canadian investor seeking a uranium deal there, also gave the nation's longtime strongman a thumbs-up on democracy -- though it appears he's won re-election with a stunning 98 percent of the vote.
December 20, 2015 New Taliban threats challenge Obama narrative on Afghanistan progress The Taliban's promise Wednesday of new attacks in Afghanistan as they enter the spring fighting season is the latest development to challenge the White House narrative that Afghanistan is poised to emerge from more than a decade of war.
December 20, 2015 US aircraft carrier sent to block Iranian arms shipments to Yemen rebels A U.S. aircraft carrier has been dispatched to waters off Yemen to join other American ships prepared to block any Iranian shipments to the Houthi rebels fighting in Yemen.
December 20, 2015 Obama suggests possible compromise on Iran sanctions President Obama suggested on Friday that Iran could receive significant economic relief immediately after concluding a deal to curb its nuclear program, a gesture towards one of Tehran’s key demands.
December 20, 2015 Top US lawmakers strike deal to fast-track trade deals Top congressional Republicans and Democrats say they've reached a deal to allow President Obama to negotiate trade deals subject to an up-or-down vote from Congress.
December 20, 2015 Former British diplomat claims Clinton oversaw 'dysfunctional' mission in Iraq A former British diplomat has claimed that Hillary Clinton oversaw a "dysfunctional" U.S. diplomatic mission in Iraq during her tenure as Secretary of State in a book due to be published next month.
December 20, 2015 Obama has brief meeting with Venezuelan president on sidelines of summit President Obama and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro met privately Saturday amid a bitter dispute between the two nations over recent U.S. sanctions on seven senior Venezuelan officials.
December 20, 2015 Obama talks tough on Iran nuclear deal, McCain responds President Obama said Saturday that partisan wrangling over the nuclear agreement with Iran has gone beyond pale and said the harsh criticism of the deal “needs to stop.”
December 20, 2015 Obama says Brazilian President Rousseff will visit US in June President Barack Obama says Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff will visit Washington this summer, nearly two years after she canceled a similar trip to protest U.S. spy programs.
