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Tuesday

U.S. Military Builds Up Its Presence In Africa

Gen. Carter Ham is head of the U.S. African command. An Army brigade from Fort Riley, Kan., will begin helping train African militaries beat back a growing terrorist threat posed by al-Qaida. AP hide caption

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AP

Africa

U.S. Military Builds Up Its Presence In Africa

The U.S. military plans to send an Army brigade to Africa next year. Some 4,000 soldiers would deploy — in small units and at different times — to help train and advise African troops. It's part of an Obama administration plan to address the growing challenge posed by terrorism in Africa.

U.S. Military Builds Up Its Presence In Africa

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Monday

Hagel Would Be First Former Enlisted Soldier To Run Pentagon

Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., and then-presidential candidate Barack Obama in Amman, Jordan, in 2008. Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images

Hagel Would Be First Former Enlisted Soldier To Run Pentagon

President Obama may nominate former Nebraska Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel to be the next defense secretary. The Vietnam veteran could bring a bipartisan presence to Obama's Cabinet, but only if he survives opposition from some in his own party.

Hagel Would Be First Former Enlisted Soldier To Run Pentagon

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Friday

John Kerry Already A Familiar Face To World Leaders

U.S. Sen. John Kerry (left), who was nominated Friday to be secretary of state, is shown shaking hands with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani during a trip to Pakistan last year. Aamir Qureshi/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Aamir Qureshi/AFP/Getty Images

John Kerry Already A Familiar Face To World Leaders

The Massachusetts senator has already carried out sensitive diplomatic efforts on behalf of President Obama, with a strong focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan in recent years.

John Kerry Already A Familiar Face To World Leaders

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New TSA Standards: Carry On Small Snow Globes And Pies, Keep Checking Jam

One of these snow globes doesn't belong onboard. The one on the left, which is about the size of a tennis ball, is permitted in your carry-on luggage. The one on the right is not. Ryan Smith/NPR hide caption

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Ryan Smith/NPR

National

New TSA Standards: Carry On Small Snow Globes And Pies, Keep Checking Jam

Airline travelers, there is some good news this holiday season. The Transportation Security Administration says children and the elderly won't have to remove their shoes. And you can now carry on some (but not all) snow globes. The government has some other pointers heading into a busy travel weekend.

New TSA Standards: Carry On Small Snow Globes And Pies, Keep Checking Jam

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Thursday

Is The Border Secure Enough To Tackle The Immigration System?

A hilltop view of the 18-foot fence along the U.S.-Mexico border west of Nogales, Ariz. Ted Robbins/NPR hide caption

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Ted Robbins/NPR

National

Is The Border Secure Enough To Tackle The Immigration System?

"Secure the borders first" has been the cry from Republicans in Congress before they'd agree to comprehensive immigration reform. That stance seems to be changing, as some experts say demanding border security first is backward.

Is The Border Secure Enough To Tackle The Immigration System?

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At Benghazi Hearing, Sen. Kerry Urges More Diplomatic Resources

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., led a Senate hearing Thursday on the Sept. 11 attacks in Benghazi, Libya. Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images

The Two-Way

At Benghazi Hearing, Sen. Kerry Urges More Diplomatic Resources

State Department officials, testifying before Congress, acknowledge that security was inadequate in Benghazi before the deadly attacks in Libya. Sen. John Kerry, who was chairman of the Senate hearing, says the diplomatic corps needs more resources.

Preparing For The World Of 2030

A report by the National Intelligence Council projects that in 2030 the U.S. influence in global affairs will decrease, China will continue to rise as a global power, and a global middle class will grow significantly.

Preparing For The World Of 2030

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Wednesday

Chronology: The Benghazi Attack And The Fallout

An armed man waves his rifle as buildings and cars are engulfed in flames after being set on fire inside the U.S. Consulate compound in Benghazi late on Sept. 11. AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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AFP/Getty Images

Chronology: The Benghazi Attack And The Fallout

A look at the events surrounding the deadly attack on the U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya, and the controversy that followed. An independent panel has found that "systemic failures and leadership and management deficiencies at senior levels" in the State Department led to inadequate security.

Four State Department Officials Disciplined Following Benghazi Report

Chris Stevens speaks to the media in Benghazi, Libya, in 2011. Stevens, the U.S. ambassador to Libya, was killed on Sept. 11 of this year. Three U.S. government officials resigned Wednesday following a report that cited inadequate security. Ben Curtis/AP hide caption

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Ben Curtis/AP

The Two-Way

Four State Department Officials Disciplined Following Benghazi Report

The report on the Sept. 11 attack says that security was inadequate and depended heavily on local Libyan militias. It also criticized the State Department for ignoring requests for security upgrades.

Tuesday

State Department Faulted For Inadequate Security In Benghazi Attack

Libyan President Mohammed el-Megarif speaks during a memorial service in Tripoli for U.S. Ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, and three consulate staff killed in Benghazi on Sept. 11. Abdel Magid al-Fergany/AP hide caption

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Abdel Magid al-Fergany/AP

The Two-Way

State Department Faulted For Inadequate Security In Benghazi Attack

An independent panel said systematic management failures at the State Department led to inadequate security that left the diplomatic mission vulnerable. Despite those failures, the board found no cause for any disciplinary action.

Friday

What North Korea's Rocket Launch Tells Us About Iran's Role

This monitor screen image shows a graphic of the orbit of the satellite carried by the Unha-3 rocket, which North Korea launched this week. The image is from the Korean Central News Agency, distributed in Tokyo by the Korea News Service. AP hide caption

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AP

Asia

What North Korea's Rocket Launch Tells Us About Iran's Role

U.S. officials wonder whether North Korea's successful rocket launch this week helped Iran — another country whose nuclear program concerns the U.S. The two countries have worked together in missile design, but it's unclear who's helping whom.

What North Korea's Rocket Launch Tells Us About Iran's Role

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Thursday

Report On CIA Interrogation Tactics Revives Torture Debate

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., have opposing views about a report detailing CIA detention and interrogation practices. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption

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Alex Wong/Getty Images

It's All Politics

Report On CIA Interrogation Tactics Revives Torture Debate

In a closed-door meeting Thursday, lawmakers will consider whether to approve the report, which human rights groups are pushing to be made public. It's part of an ongoing fight over whether harsh interrogation methods, which critics compared to torture, were effective.

Report On CIA Interrogation Tactics Revives Torture Debate

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Monday

The World In 2030: Asia Rises, The West Declines

The National Intelligence Council's Global Trends 2030 report predicts that by the year 2030, a majority of the world's population will be out of poverty. iStockphoto hide caption

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iStockphoto

The World In 2030: Asia Rises, The West Declines

The planet may also be racked by wars over food and water; and individuals, equipped with new lethal and disruptive technologies, will be capable of causing widespread harm. The scenarios are the work of the National Intelligence Council, comprising the 17 U.S. government intelligence agencies.

The World In 2030: Asia Rises, The West Declines

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