December 20, 2015 Obama pledges to seek additional financial aid for Jordan Obama announced that he will seek $1 billion in loan guarantees. That would be on top of a $1.25 billion loan guarantee Congress approved last year.
December 20, 2015 US pledges $380M in additional humanitarian aid for Syria war victims The United States will send $380 million in additional aid to victims of Syria's bloody civil war, much of it designated for children in need of health care, education and emotional counseling.
December 20, 2015 Boehner: US should help Iraq in anti-terror fight House Speaker John Boehner said Thursday that the United States should provide more equipment and other aid to the Iraqi government in its battle against al-Qaida militants, but he ruled out a reintroduction of U.S. troops for now. The Republican leader said President Barack Obama must get more involved in helping Iraq as it seeks to reclaim two cities, Fallujah and Ramadi, overrun by al-Qaida fighters. Boehner said the U.S. has a vital national interest in Iraq and warned that the progress made by American forces before troops were withdrawn after nine years of war is being threatened.
December 20, 2015 Iraq ambassador says White House can do more against Al Qaeda Iraq's ambassador to the United States has said the Obama administration can do more to fight the destabilizing influence of Al Qaeda in his country and warned leaders in both parties not to allow the question of military and civilian aid to Iraq to become a political football.Â
December 20, 2015 Biden calls Iraqi leader for second time this week Vice President Biden spoke on Wednesday for a second time this week to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, voicing support for the Baghdad government's effort to regain control of the city of Fallujah from Al Qaeda-linked fighters. The White House said Biden encouraged al-Maliki to continue talks with local, tribal and national leaders and said Biden welcomed al-Maliki's affirmation Wednesday that Iraqi elections will occur as scheduled in April.
December 20, 2015 Government to pay freed subcontractor Alan Gross $3.2M after Cuba ordeal A former subcontractor freed last week after five years in a Cuban jail will receive $3.2 million from the federal government as part of a settlement with the Maryland-based company that employed him at the time of his arrest.
December 20, 2015 US international aid head to step down The head of the nation's global development agency said Wednesday he will step down from his post in February, following an announcement by the U.S. government that it would start talks toward restoring diplomatic relations with Cuba.
December 20, 2015 UN still struggling to move aid into Syria The U.N.'s decision in July to begin moving aid into war-torn Syria without the consent of President Bashar Assad was heralded as unprecedented. It was the first time that humanitarian need trumped a nation's sovereignty.
December 20, 2015 DHS: Visitors from three Ebola-stricken West African countries can stay in US for 18 months The Obama administration says people in the United States whose home countries are ravaged by Ebola can stay in America.
December 20, 2015 US Labor Department grants $1.4M to help Mexico support anti-discrimination laws The Department of Labor is coming under fire from some who say a $1.4 million grant to the Mexican government to support anti-discrimination laws in that country is a waste of U.S. time, money and resources.