Brittney Griner Reclassified As ‘Wrongfully Detained,’ per Report The shift could drastically change how U.S officials will try to get her back on American soil. Sports Illustrated · May 3, 2022
Egyptian researcher’s death requires ‘thorough’ probe, US says Egyptian authorities say economic researcher Ayman Hadhoud died in a state mental health facility in early March. Al Jazeera · May 2, 2022
US Condemns Tadamon Massacre In Syria, Demands Accountability The US State Department condemned on Saturday the atrocities depicted in a recently released video, showing blindfolded, unarmed civilians being shot point-blank by an Assad regime official before falling into a mass grave. The 2013 massacre in the area of Tadamon, Syria, reportedly killed hundreds of Syrian civilians. Department spokesman Ned… Asharq Al-Awsat · May 1, 2022
Any Bolsonaro attempt to undermine Brazil election should be met with sanctions -ex U.S. diplomat Washington should make it clear to the "messianic" Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro that any effort to undermine his country's elections would trigger multilateral sanctions, a newly retired U.S. State Department official wrote on Saturday. Reuters · Apr 30, 2022
Congressmen Upset over 'Assad's Wealth Growth' despite US Sanctions The US State Department estimated the wealth of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family at $1 to $2 billion, despite the imposed sanctions. The estimated figure surprised US lawmakers amid international reports stating that nearly 90 percent of the Syrian people live below the poverty line. Ranking member of… Asharq Al-Awsat · Apr 30, 2022
US State Department Reveals Assad Family’s Net Worth The US Department of State issued a highly anticipated report to Congress on the estimated net worth and known sources of income of Syrian President Bashar Assad and his family, estimated at between $1-2 billion. The report examines the finances of Bashar Assad and his wife Asma, Bashar’s brother Maher… Asharq Al-Awsat · Apr 29, 2022
Bill to help Taiwan regain WHO status passes Congress, sent to Biden for signature The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation on Wednesday calling on the State Department to submit a plan to help Taiwan regain its observer status at the World Health Organization, seeking to boost the island as it faces pressure from China. Reuters · Apr 27, 2022
Lawmakers, rights groups urge US to condition aid to Tunisia In separate letters, legislators and advocacy groups ask Biden administration to do more to protect Tunisian democracy. Al Jazeera · Apr 27, 2022
Madeleine Albright eulogised by Biden and Clinton as ‘force of nature’ who was ‘always the first’ to warn of fascism ‘With her goodness and grace, her humanity and her intellect, she turned the tide of history’ The Independent UK · Apr 27, 2022
EXPLAINER: Will a Russian prisoner exchange impact Griner? Brittney Griner remains detained in Russia and it’s unclear how an unexpected prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia that freed marine veteran Trevor Reed will affect the status of WNBA star The Independent UK · Apr 27, 2022
Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela's Maduro government unlikely to be invited to regional summit -U.S Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government are likely to be excluded from the U.S.-hosted Summit of the Americas to be held in June in Los Angeles, a senior State Department official said on Wednesday. Reuters · Apr 27, 2022
Former top State official to plead guilty for helping Qatar A former top-ranking State Department official is set to plead guilty for improperly helping a wealthy Gulf country try to influence U.S. policy and not disclosing on a government ethics form gifts he received from a disgraced political fundraiser The Independent UK · Apr 27, 2022
State Department: Griner’s Release Is ‘Top Priority,’ Russian state media recently reported the WNBA star’s detention will last through at least May 19. Sports Illustrated · Apr 27, 2022
Utah siblings sue Brazilian oil giant Petrobras for ‘orchestrating’ 2003 murder of their parents Oil executive was murdered with his wife while investigating corruption in Brazil The Independent UK · Apr 27, 2022
Reuters · Apr 27, 2022 U.S. to provide $200 million in humanitarian aid for Horn of Africa, State Department says The United States will provide more than $200 million in aid for the Horn of Africa to address humanitarian needs caused by drought and regional conflict, Ned Price, spokesperson for the State Department, said in a statement.
France 24 · Apr 27, 2022 Live: Biden, Clintons lead tributes to Madeleine Albright at memorial service President Joe Biden, former president Bill Clinton and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton will lead tributes on Wednesday to Madeleine Albright, the first woman to helm the US State Department, at a memorial service in Washington. Watch it live on FRANCE 24 at 5pm Paris time (GMT+2).
Asharq Al-Awsat · Apr 27, 2022 Blinken Sticks to Efforts for Reviving Iran Nuclear Deal US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed on Tuesday that Washington still believes that reviving the nuclear deal with Tehran remains as “the best way to address the nuclear challenge posed by Iran.” He stressed the US ability to curb Iran’s other malign activities. Speaking to the Senate Committee on…
The Independent UK · Apr 27, 2022 Live updates | Russia cuts gas supply to Poland, Bulgaria Russia’s state-controlled natural gas giant Gazprom says it has cut gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria after they have refused to pay for the shipments in rubles
The Hindu · Apr 27, 2022 India’s designation by the USCIRF What is the USCIRF? Which other countries have been labelled as a ‘Country of particular Concern’?
McClatchy Washington Bureau · Apr 26, 2022 Iran’s attempts to kill Pompeo, current U.S. officials are real and ongoing, Blinken says WASHINGTON — Iran’s attempts to assassinate former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are real and ongoing, his successor, Antony Blinken, told Congress on Tuesday.
Reuters · Apr 26, 2022 Key U.S. senator criticizes Blinken for failing to condemn Turkish jailing of philanthropist The influential chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee criticized Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday for failing to condemn Turkey's decision to convict philanthropist Osman Kavala to life imprisonment, a verdict seen as symbolic of President Tayyip Erdogan's crackdown on dissent.
Reuters · Apr 26, 2022 U.S. State Dept says it's deeply concerned by Tunisia's move to restructure the election authority The United States is "deeply concerned" by the Tunisian president's decision to restructure the election authority in the country, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Tuesday.
Roll Call · Apr 26, 2022 Democrats call out India for buying Russian oil and weapons - Roll Call Senators also warned the secretary of State to call out global human rights abuses as the U.S. focuses on threats posed by Russia and China.
Axios · Apr 26, 2022 What Anthony Blinken will tell Congress Blinken's testimony will be his first public appearance since returning to the U.S. from Ukraine.
The Hindu · Apr 25, 2022 India, again, ‘Country of Particular Concern’ on religious freedom grounds, says U.S. Commission The government has, previously, pushed back against the USCIRF’s grading, questioning its locus standi.