Browsing: State department

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) described the Biden administration’s review of Israel’s war conduct in the Gaza Strip — which acknowledged the likely violation of international humanitarian law using U.S. weapons — as “woefully inadequate,” but did not indicate a ban on arms transfers. “If this conduct complies with international standards, God help us all,”…

The U.S. repatriated 11 Americans, six Canadians, four Dutch citizens and one Finnish citizen from northeast Syria on Tuesday, according to a statement from Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “In conducting this complex repatriation and resettlement the Department coordinated closely with our interagency partners,” Blinken said in the Tuesday statement. “I would like to thank the…

The U.S. State Department announced Tuesday that it has approved a potential emergency $138 million in foreign military sales to Ukraine for repairs to its Hawk missile systems. “Ukraine has an urgent need to increase its capabilities to defend against Russian missile strikes and the aerial capabilities of Russian forces. Maintaining and sustaining the HAWK…

The Biden administration is very worried about Georgia's attempt to pass a law inspired by Russia that could target civil society groups and free speech. The U.S. is very worried about the Georgian Parliament introducing a revised version of last year's 'foreign agents law,' which requires NGOs and civil society…

The Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has selected a new chief diversity and inclusion officer at the State Department. The role had been empty for 10 months, but on Tuesday, the department revealed that Zakiya Carr Johnson will take on the position as the new chief diversity and inclusion officer (CDIO). Johnson will take over from the current acting CDIO, Conny Mayer. “American diplomacy…

President Biden called chef José Andrés to express his sadness after an Israeli strike killed seven aid workers from his charity group World Central Kitchen, in Gaza. “He called chef José Andrés to express that he’s heartbroken by this news of the airstrike that killed seven aid workers and to express and share…

“I can confirm that a senior DOD official experienced symptoms similar to those reported in anomalous health incidents,” deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters on Monday. Singh referred questions about whether Russia had a role to the intelligence community, which is still investigating.

The U.S. State Department declared on Wednesday that it will offer a $10 million reward for information about the “BlackCat” ransomware group that targeted UnitedHealth Group in February. “The ALPHV BlackCat ransomware-as-a-service group hacked computer networks of critical infrastructure sectors in the United States and worldwide, deploying ransomware on the targeted systems, disabling security features…

The US imposed penalties on Thursday on Wendy Carolina Morales Urbina, the Attorney General of Nicaragua. The US alleged that Morales Urbina aided in the harsh treatment of peaceful opposition members in the country. The Treasury Department labeled Morales Urbina as a significant figure in the unfair persecution of political prisoners by…

Former President Trump said Tuesday that he could pursue expelling the Australian ambassador if he was elected to a second term, hitting back at one of his prominent vocal critics. In a GB News interview with former British politician Nigel Farage, Trump called out the former Australian prime minister-turned-ambassador, Kevin Rudd. “I don’t know. He…