December 20, 2015 Obama signals reset in US foreign policy, urges against 'military adventures' President Obama, in a commencement address at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, signaled a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy -- one that pulls back from what he described as "military adventures" while wielding American power in other ways.
December 20, 2015 US gets serious about coup in Thailand, threatens to cut military aid The Pentagon on Saturday canceled military exercises in Thailand amid a military coup and urged organizers to restore democracy in the Southeast Asian country.
December 20, 2015 US suspends $3.5M in military aid to Thailand The State Department says it has suspended $3.5 million in military aid to Thailand.
December 20, 2015 US to help Central American coffee farmers fight fungus on high-end coffee blends The U.S. government is stepping up efforts to help Central American farmers fight a devastating coffee disease -- and hold down the price of your morning cup. At issue is a fungus called coffee rust that has caused more than $1 billion in damage across Latin American region. The fungus is especially deadly to Arabica coffee, the bean that makes up most high-end, specialty coffees.
December 20, 2015 Official: Freeing Nigerian girls a top US priority The State Department acknowledged Thursday it could have acted sooner to designate Nigeria's Boko Haram a foreign terrorist organization, even though the Nigerian government and many Africa experts opposed the move when it was first considered two years ago.
December 20, 2015 Peace talks set for South Sudan - or will new nation face global sanctions? South Sudan was supposed to be a crowning foreign policy achievement for the United States – something that would last at a time when the Arab Spring revolutions in Libya and Egypt haven’t been living up to their expectations. After all, the country’s very existence was brought about through years of developmental aid approved by various U.S. administrations.
December 20, 2015 Corruption threatens Afghanistan reconstruction, auditor's report claims More than a decade of work financed with American tax dollars is at stake if bribery and theft are left unabated in Afghanistan, according to a quarterly report released Wednesday by the top auditor of U.S. reconstruction spending in the impoverished nation.
December 20, 2015 State Department clears Egypt to receive some military aid, including helicopters The Obama administration said Tuesday it has certified that Egypt is upholding its 35-year-old peace treaty with Israel and therefore qualifies for some military and counterterrorism assistance.
December 20, 2015 Biden to push for peace agreement during Ukraine visit as tensions rise Vice President Joe Biden on Monday launched a high-profile visit to demonstrate the U.S. commitment to Ukraine and push for urgent implementation of an international agreement aimed at de-escalating tensions even as violence continues.
December 20, 2015 Feds reportedly built secret social media network in Cuba to stir unrest The Obama administration secretly financed a social network in Cuba to stir political unrest and undermine the country's communist government.