The State Department has fired about 60 contractors who work for its democracy, human rights and labor bureau, a division whose programs have often been criticized by authoritarian leaders, according to two U.S. officials and two former officials. The dismissals deal a severe blow to the bureau, because the contractors were mostly technical or area…
The Trump administration is considering sending 24,000 assault rifles to Israel that had been held up at the State Department on the orders of Antony J. Blinken, the former secretary of state, a U.S. official said. Mr. Blinken had asked the State Department not to move forward with fulfilling Israel’s request, which comprises three tranches…
President Trump’s sweeping executive order to halt foreign aid threatens to freeze a U.S. program supporting security forces inside a notorious camp in the Syrian desert that holds tens of thousands of Islamic State members and their families, Syrian and U.S. officials said. The order has also wreaked havoc on another U.S. organization in Syria…
State Department — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with his British counterpart, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, on Monday to discuss a range of pressing global issues and joint initiatives aimed at promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific that is secure and stable. “They affirmed the depth of the U.S.-UK Special Relationship and the…
The United States has stopped issuing passports with a gender-neutral “X” option, AFP reported citing the State Department, following an executive order from President Donald Trump limiting government recognition of transgender identities. President Donald Trump arrives to speak about the economy during an event at the Circa Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Saturday, Jan….
Secretary of State Marco Rubio walked into the State Department on Tuesday for the first time in his new job, taking the reins of the main agency carrying out U.S. foreign policy at a time of violent global crises and as other nations begin engaging with President Trump. After greeting employees at a ceremonial gathering,…
A transition team for President-elect Donald J. Trump has asked scores of senior career diplomats to resign from their positions on Monday, as soon as Mr. Trump takes office, and many of those asked to step down intend to do so, two U.S. officials said. The practice is common when a presidential transition occurs, but…
Beijing said on Sunday it had lodged a protest with Washington against its latest military assistance and arms sale to Taiwan, and vowed to take all necessary measures. The remarks in a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry came after the White House on Friday [US time] announced military assistance worth US$571.3 million to Taiwan,…
Washington has condemned Beijing’s “retaliatory” decision to impose visa restrictions on US officials accused of interfering in Hong Kong affairs. The US Department of State’s remarks were made on Wednesday, a day after Beijing’s move which was in response to Washington’s threats to impose fresh sanctions on officials after the jailing of 45 opposition figures…
The Biden administration quietly extended a sanctions waiver that will grant Iran access to roughly $10 billion from Iraq two days after President-elect Donald Trump’s Election Day victory. The controversial waiver, which has been repeatedly extended by Secretary of State Antony Blinken despite strong opposition from congressional Republicans, allows the Iranian regime access to funds…