91±¬ÁÏ

December 20, 2015

State Dept. confirms US teen held by Israeli authorities amid reports he was severely beaten

The State Department confirmed Saturday that American citizen Tariq Khdeir is being held by Israeli authorities in Jerusalem and called for an investigation into reports he was severely beaten while in police custody, amid escalating violence in the Middle East county.

December 20, 2015

US condemns 'heinous murder' of Palestinian teen

The Obama administration is condemning the killing of a Palestinian teenager as a "despicable act" and is calling on the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

December 20, 2015

Benghazi attack suspect Khatallah must remain in custody, judge rules

A federal judge ruled Wednesday that the Libyan militant charged in the 2012 deadly attacks in Benghazi, Libya, will remain in a U.S. detention center until his trial.

December 20, 2015

Blackwater manager reportedly threatened to kill State Department investigator

A manager with the security contractor formerly known as Blackwater Worldwide reportedly threatened to kill a State Department investigator in 2007 -- shortly before the investigator was pressured to abandon his probe despite finding serious problems with Blackwater's work.

December 20, 2015

Dems, GOP press Obama to withdraw ambassador pick

The opposition to President Barack Obama's nominee for U.S. ambassador to Norway is growing in Congress, with a group of House Democrats and Republicans asserting that George Tsunis' "embarrassing lack of knowledge" about the country makes him unqualified.

December 20, 2015

US Mideast envoy quits after attempt at peace deal

U.S. special Mideast envoy Martin Indyk is resigning after nearly a year of unsuccessful efforts to forge an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, Obama administration officials said Friday.

December 20, 2015

Senate confirms new US ambassadors to Iraq, Egypt

The Senate has confirmed new U.S. ambassadors to Iraq and Egypt after lengthy delays.

December 20, 2015

‘Flashpoint’? US officials concerned about Iran, Syria intervention in Iraq

Indications that Iran and Syria are providing military support to Iraq's Shiite government are raising red flags in the Obama administration, with top officials voicing concern that their involvement could create a "flashpoint" that only deepens sectarian tensions in the country.

December 20, 2015

Can Putin be trusted? US weighs sanctions pullback as Russia shifts course on Ukraine

The Obama administration could reconsider a looming package of sanctions on the Russian economy as Vladimir Putin makes an about-face and signals a willingness to ease the crisis Moscow helped create in Ukraine.

December 20, 2015

Official: Intelligence community warned about 'growing' ISIS threat in Iraq

The U.S. intelligence community warned about the "growing threat" from Sunni militants in Iraq since the beginning of the year, a senior intelligence official said Tuesday -- a claim that challenges assertions by top administration officials that they were caught off guard by the capture of key Iraqi cities.