The Latest Breaking News from State Department

Biden administration races to fill special envoy posts before nominees need Senate confirmation

WASHINGTON — State Department special envoys are about to get less special.

Tribune News Service · Jan 1, 2023

U.S. concerned by China's ties with Russia, State Dept says after Putin-Xi call

The United States is concerned by China's alignment with Russia as Moscow continues its invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. State Department said on Friday after Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a video meeting.

Reuters · Dec 30, 2022

US to sell Taiwan anti-tank system amid rising China threat

The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of an anti-tank mine-laying system to Taiwan amid the rising military threat from China

The Independent UK · Dec 29, 2022

Editorial: Spy who helped Cuba fight Miami exiles to be freed. Once she’s out, banish her there

Cuba’s top spy in the United States will be freed from prison on Jan. 8 after serving just 20 years in a federal prison in Texas. She is said to be coming to Miami, briefly. If she comes, she should keep on moving for the repressive regime for which she…

Miami Herald · Dec 27, 2022

Three Emergency Services Workers Killed While Demining Ukraine’s Kherson

Three Ukrainian emergency services workers were killed on Saturday when a mine exploded while they were demining parts of the Kherson region, said the emergency service of another region, in which they served. "All three selflessly served in the emergency and rescue squad of the Special Purpose Unit of the…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Dec 25, 2022

Blinken raises China’s COVID ‘transparency’ with his Chinese counterpart

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his Chinese counterpart that it was important for Beijing to be transparent about a growing COVID-19 outbreak, as questions mount about whether Chinese officials are trying to downplay the number of deaths.

Tribune News Service · Dec 24, 2022

Leaders ignore "shadow diplomats" threat

State Department trusts governments to nominate reputable honorary consuls, despite global accounts of wrongdoing

Salon · Dec 23, 2022

Blinken thanks Turkey for work on Black Sea grain initiative

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a call on Thursday with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, thanked Ankara's efforts to ensure continuation of the UN-brokered Black Sea grain initiative, the State Department said.

Reuters · Dec 22, 2022

U.S. slaps sanctions on Russian naval entities

The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on 10 Russian naval entities over Russian operations against Ukrainian ports, the U.S. State Department said, as Washington increases pressure on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

Reuters · Dec 22, 2022

Zelenskyy confident US support for Ukraine will continue

After meeting Joe Biden at the White House, Ukrainian president hails Washington’s ‘bipartisan’ backing for Kyiv.

Al Jazeera · Dec 21, 2022