The Latest Breaking News from State Department

U.S.'s Blinken speaks with South Korean, Japanese counterparts on North Korea missile launch

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts about North Korea's ballistic missile launch, the State Department said on Wednesday.

Reuters · May 25, 2022

Brazil's Lula dispatched emissary to DC to meet with US officials, sources say

Brazil's leftist presidential frontrunner Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva quietly dispatched his emissary, Senator Jaques Wagner, to meet with U.S. State Department officials in Washington in April, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Reuters · May 25, 2022

U.S. calls U.N. rights chief's visit to China a mistake

It was a mistake for the United Nations human rights chief to agree to visit China, the U.S. State Department said on Tuesday, amid concerns that government restrictions on her access could undermine scrutiny of Beijing's rights record.

Reuters · May 24, 2022

US Lawmakers Demand FBI Investigation into Shireen Abu Akleh's Killing

Over 50 US lawmakers from the Democratic Party called on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to investigate the killing of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, a US citizen. A group of 57 lawmakers sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, saying: "Given…

Asharq Al-Awsat · May 22, 2022

Washington Urges Lebanon to Swiftly Form New Government

The United States on Friday welcomed that parliamentary elections in Lebanon were held on time and without major security incidents, calling on the political class to swiftly form a new government capable of rescuing the economy and restoring the confidence of the Lebanese people and the international community. “We urge…

Asharq Al-Awsat · May 21, 2022

Summit of the Americas invites are out, but no final decision on excluding Cuba, White House says

In a signal that it might backtrack on statements about excluding authoritarian governments from the upcoming Summit of the Americas, the Biden administration is considering inviting a representative of the Cuban government after Mexico and other countries threatened to boycott the gathering of leaders around the hemisphere.

Miami Herald · May 21, 2022

Pentagon’s spokesman Kirby is moving to a White House position

WASHINGTON — Pentagon press secretary John Kirby will move to the White House to take a senior communications role with a foreign policy focus.

Tribune News Service · May 21, 2022

U.S. says Turkey's approach to Sweden, Finland NATO bid not a bilateral topic

Turkey's approach to the NATO accession process of Sweden and Finland is not a bilateral issue between Washington and Ankara, the U.S. State Department said on Friday, but added that Washington was speaking with Ankara and it remained confident that the dispute would be overcome.

Reuters · May 20, 2022

US urges probe, accountability for Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing

Washington renews calls for investigation into journalist’s killing after Israeli military rules out criminal inquiry.

Al Jazeera · May 20, 2022

Summit of America invites are out, but no final decision on excluding Cuba, White House says

In a signal that it might backtrack on statements about excluding undemocratic governments from the upcoming Summit of the Americas, the Biden administration is considering inviting a representative of the Cuban government after Mexico and other countries threatened to boycott the gathering of leaders around the hemisphere.

Miami Herald · May 20, 2022