Jan 24 U.S. orders its embassy staff to leave Venezuela By Associated Press The State Department says it's taking the step for security reasons and that the embassy in Caracas will stay open. Continue reading
Jan 17 Shutdown ongoing, State Department sends diplomats back to work with pay By Matthew Lee, Catherine Lucey, Jill Colvin, Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press The State Department on Thursday instructed all U.S. diplomats in Washington and elsewhere to return to work next week with pay, saying it had found money for their salaries at least temporarily despite the ongoing government shutdown. Continue reading
Dec 13 U.S. diplomats had inner-ear damage after ‘health attacks’ in Cuba, doctors say By Jennifer Kay, Lauran Neergaard, Associated Press Earlier this year, a team of doctors at the University of Pennsylvania who also examined many of these patients, but months later, reported they suffered concussion-like brain damage, despite no blow to the head. Continue reading
Nov 06 U.S. to consider new Russia sanctions over spy poisoning in U.K. By Maria Danilova, Associated Press The State Department said in a statement that Russia has failed to meet a 90-day deadline that fell on Tuesday to comply with a 1991 U.S. law on preventing the use of chemical weapons. Continue reading
Oct 29 Enrollment of U.S. diplomats is up this year, State Department says By Susannah George, Associated Press During the 2018 fiscal year, 546 diplomats enrolled in the Foreign Service Institute's introductory class. The previous year's enrollment was 473. Continue reading
Oct 27 U.S. defense chief: Killing of writer is threat to stability By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press The killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi “undermines regional stability” and the U.S. State Department plans to take further action in response to the killing, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Saturday. Continue reading
Oct 23 U.S. to revoke visas of Saudis implicated in killing of writer Jamal Khashoggi By Associated Press The visa revocations are the first punitive measures taken by the Trump administration against the Saudis since Khashoggi disappeared after entering the consulate on Oct. 2. Continue reading
Sep 10 Trump administration orders closing of Palestinian office in Washington By Ken Thomas, Susannah George, Associated Press The Trump administration ordered the closure of the Palestinian diplomatic mission in Washington on Monday, citing the refusal of Palestinian leaders to enter into peace talks with Israel. The Palestinians accused the administration of dismantling decades of U.S. engagement with… Continue reading
Aug 17 U.S. ends Syria stabilization funding, cites more allied cash By Matthew Lee, Associated Press The Trump administration is ending funding for Syria stabilization projects as it moves to extricate the U.S. from the conflict, citing increased contributions from anti-Islamic State coalition partners. Continue reading
Jun 22 A mystery illness is still affecting diplomats in Cuba and China By Harry Zahn The mysterious illness, often reported along with unusual sounds and vibrations, have puzzled investigators for nearly two years — not just in Cuba, but also in China, where a number of U.S. government employees were pulled from the southern Chinese… Continue reading