December 20, 2015 White House reportedly warns China over tactics by agents pressing expatriates to return The Obama administration reportedly has warned the Chinese government to stop sending intelligence agents to the U.S. in an effort to persuade Chinese expatriates to return to their home country.
December 20, 2015 'Strategic blunder': Republicans slam Obama administration as Russia tries Arctic land grab Republican lawmakers slammed the Obama administration this week after Russia announced it had submitted a bid to the United Nations for huge areas of the Arctic that could contain vast quantities of oil and gas, with one lawmaker describing the application as evidence of a “strategic blunder” on the part of the administration's foreign policy.
December 20, 2015 Biden tries to reassure Japan after documents reveal US spying Working to prevent tension with a treaty ally, Vice President Joe Biden reassured Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday that the U.S. limits its surveillance of friendly nations, after leaked documents showed U.S. spying on Japanese officials and companies.
December 20, 2015 State Dept, Pentagon push back on reports of US-trained fighters being abducted, killed in Syria The State Department and Pentagon pushed back Friday on claims made by multiple media outlets that the leader of a U.S.-backed Syrian rebel group and as many as 60 other fighters under him were abducted and killed by al-Nusra, an Al Qaeda offshoot operating in that country.
December 20, 2015 US long suspected Pakistan of sheltering late Taliban leader Mullah Omar, report says U.S. intelligence officials suspected Pakistan of sheltering Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar, one of the world's most wanted men, for years before his death, according to a published report.
December 20, 2015 Obama pushes for end to crippling crisis in South Sudan President Obama launched a personal push for peace in South Sudan on Monday, convening African leaders for urgent talks in neighboring Ethiopia aimed at keeping the world's newest nation from collapsing amid civil war.
December 20, 2015 Kerry: Captive Americans raised at all meetings with Iran Secretary of State John Kerry says there was "not one meeting that took place" during the recent Iranian nuclear talks at which the U.S. didn't raise the issue of four Americans still held captive by Tehran.
December 20, 2015 Done deal? Iran nuclear agreement to be announced Monday, report says An agreement aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief will likely be announced Monday, according to a published report.
December 20, 2015 New era in ties begins as Cuba raises flag at embassy in US Cuba's blue, red and white-starred flag was hoisted Monday at the country's embassy in Washington in a symbolic move signaling the start of a new post-Cold War era in U.S.-Cuba relations.
December 20, 2015 Obama announces opening of US Embassy in Cuba President Obama formally announced on Wednesday that the United States and Cuba have both agreed to open embassies in each other’s capitals following more than a half-century of hostilities between the two nations. "This is an historic step," Obama said.