State Department - Page 96

Iran defies US over executions, putting three democracy protesters to death

May 19, 2023

Iran defies US over executions, putting three democracy protesters to death

The Islamic Republic of Iran continues targeting protesters who took to the streets after the regime murdered a young Iranian-Kurdish woman for failing to cover her hair.

AP reporter spars with State Department official over pronoun email confusion: 'It's wrong'

May 18, 2023

AP reporter spars with State Department official over pronoun email confusion: 'It's wrong'

The AP’s State Department reporter Matt Lee pressed State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel on a purported internal change that included gender pronouns in the 'from' field of department emails.

Blinken backs down, will let Congress see Afghan dissent cable that warned of swift Taliban takeover

May 17, 2023

Blinken backs down, will let Congress see Afghan dissent cable that warned of swift Taliban takeover

The State Department said Wednesday it would let lawmakers view the dissent channel cable related to the withdrawal of Afghanistan, in the face of a contempt vote against Blinken.

China listed as a top offender in annual State Department freedom of religion report

May 16, 2023

China listed as a top offender in annual State Department freedom of religion report

A new State Department report on religious freedoms finds China is one of the worst offenders worldwide. Other countries including Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan and India.

Former US Embassy employee arrested, held at same Moscow prison as WSJ reporter: Russian report

May 16, 2023

Former US Embassy employee arrested, held at same Moscow prison as WSJ reporter: Russian report

Russian media reported Robert Shonov, a former employee of the U.S. Embassy in Russia, is being held on a conspiracy charge at Lefortovo Prison in Moscow.

South Africa admits US claims that arms were shipped to Russia ‘still stand’

May 16, 2023

South Africa admits US claims that arms were shipped to Russia ‘still stand’

Washington, D.C., is still waiting for answers from South Africa on whether arms have been supplied to Russia, as a U.S. senator calls for reevaluating the relationship between the countries.

Top House Republican to hit Blinken with contempt charge: ‘I don’t take this lightly’

May 16, 2023

Top House Republican to hit Blinken with contempt charge: ‘I don’t take this lightly’

Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, plans to move forward with a contempt of Congress charge against Secretary of State Tony Blinken.

Biden ‘alienating our partners’ who made peace with Israel and other US allies in the region: Sen. Ernst

May 14, 2023

Biden ‘alienating our partners’ who made peace with Israel and other US allies in the region: Sen. Ernst

Amid frosty relations between Biden’s administration and traditional U.S. allies in the Mideast, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa seeks to create a broader alliance to counter Iranian terrorism.

Questions over whether South Africa supplied arms to Russia fuel huge diplomatic dispute with US

May 12, 2023

Questions over whether South Africa supplied arms to Russia fuel huge diplomatic dispute with US

More questions than answers are coming out of a huge diplomatic dispute between the U.S. and South Africa over claims the African country has supplied arms to Russia.

State Department advisory board member praised former fugitive Communist once on FBI's Most Wanted List

May 11, 2023

State Department advisory board member praised former fugitive Communist once on FBI's Most Wanted List

A member of the State Department’s International Security Advisory Board (ISAB) praised former Black Panther and noted abolitionist Angela Davis as her "intellectual-activist shero."