Mike Pompeo

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to reporters during a press briefing at the State Department in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. (Carlos Barria/Pool Photo via AP)

Biden pauses Trump policies as Blinken takes diplomatic helm

Jan. 27, 2021 4:58 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Wednesday paused or put under review a wide swath of Trump-era foreign policies as America’s new top diplomat took the helm of the State Department. The administration placed at least temporarily holds on several big-ticket arms sales to the United Arab...

In this Aug. 5, 2019 photo released by the U.S. Air Force, an F-35 fighter jet pilot and crew prepare for a mission at Al-Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates. The Biden administration has put a temporary hold on several major foreign arms sales initiated by former President Donald Trump. Officials say that among the deals being paused is a massive $23 billion transfer of stealth F-35 fighters to the United Arab Emirates. (Staff Sgt. Chris Thornbury/U.S. Air Force via AP)

US puts hold on foreign arms sales, including F-35s to UAE

Jan. 27, 2021 1:59 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has put a temporary hold on several major foreign arms sales initiated by former President Donald Trump. Officials say that among the deals being paused is a massive $23 billion transfer of stealth F-35 fighters to the United Arab Emirates. That sale and several...

FILE - This June 30, 2020 file photo, shows the West Bank Jewish settlement of Ma'ale Efrayim in the Jordan Valley. West Bank Jewish Population Stats, a pro-settler group says Israel’s West Bank settler population has grown at a far higher rate than the country as a whole over the last four years, a period coincides with the Trump administration’s unprecedented acceptance of settlement activity. The Palestinians and much of the international community view the settlements as illegal and an obstacle to peace. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty, File)

Report: Israeli settler population surged during Trump era

Jan. 27, 2021 1:34 PM EST

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's West Bank settler population has grown at a far higher rate than the country as a whole over the last four years, a pro-settler group said Wednesday, a period that coincides with the Trump administration's unprecedented acceptance of settlement activity. The report by West Bank...

FILE - In this Nov. 24, 2020, file photo, Tony Blinken, President Joe Biden’s nominee for Secretary of State, speaks at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del. The Senate has confirmed Antony Blinken as America’s top diplomat, tasked with carrying out President Joe Biden’s commitment to reverse the Trump administration’s “America First” doctrine that weakened international alliances. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Senate confirms Antony Blinken as 71st secretary of state

Jan. 26, 2021 5:57 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Antony Blinken as America’s top diplomat, tasked with carrying out President Joe Biden’s commitment to reverse the Trump administration’s “America First” doctrine that weakened international alliances. Senators voted 78-22...

A Houthi supporter holds a poster with Arabic writing that reads

Biden administration suspends some sanctions on Yemen rebels

Jan. 25, 2021 4:15 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Monday suspended some of the terrorism sanctions that former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo imposed on Yemen’s Houthi rebels in his waning days in office. The Treasury Department said it would exempt certain transactions involving the Houthis from...

FILE - In this Jan. 15, 2010, file photo, the headquarters of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is seen with U.S., RFE/RL and the Czech Republic flags in the foreground in Prague. The heads of three federally-funded international broadcasters were abruptly fired late Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, as the Biden administration completed a house-cleaning of Donald Trump appointees at the U.S. Agency for Global Media. Two officials familiar with the changes said the acting chief of the USAGM summarily dismissed the directors of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks just a month after they had been named to the posts. (Michal Kamaryt/CTK via AP, File)

More heads roll at US-funded international broadcasters

Jan. 23, 2021 1:42 AM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The heads of three federally funded international broadcasters were abruptly fired late Friday as the Biden administration completed a house-cleaning of Donald Trump-appointees at the U.S. Agency for Global Media. Two officials familiar with the changes said the acting chief of the USAGM...

In this image made from a video screen shows and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft meeting virtually with Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen (unseen) on Wednesday night, Jan. 13, 2021. Craft's trip to Taiwan was canceled but Craft told Tsai: “The United States will always stand with Taiwan.” (The United States Mission to the United Nations via AP)

Outging US ambassador says world must end Taiwan's exclusion

Jan. 21, 2021 7:54 PM EST

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — In a final swipe at China, the Trump administration’s outgoing U.N. ambassador tweeted that it's time for the world to oppose China’s efforts to exclude and isolate Taiwan, drawing sharp criticism from Beijing. To make the point even more graphic, Ambassador Kelly Craft...

FILE - In this June 15, 2020, file photo, the Voice of America building stands in Washington. Former President Donald Trump’s hand-picked chief of U.S. international broadcasting has quit amid a burgeoning staff revolt and growing calls for his resignation. Michael Pack resigned as the chief executive office of the U.S. Agency for Global Media just minutes after President Joe Biden was inaugurated on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. The agency runs the Voice of America and sister networks. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

Biden cleans house at VOA after revolt over Trump changes

Jan. 21, 2021 3:39 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has moved quickly to remove a number of senior officials aligned with former President Donald Trump from the Voice of America and the agency that oversees all U.S.-funded international broadcasting. The actions address fears that the U.S. Agency for Global Media...

FILE - In this April 14, 2016 file photo, a Chinese national flag flutters against the office buildings in Shanghai, China. Twitter locked China’s U.S. Embassy account because of a tweet in support of China’s policies on Muslims and ethnic minorities in the western Xinjiang, The tweet on Jan. 7, 2021 says Uygur women in Xinjiang have been emancipated and are no longer “baby making machines.” Twitter said it removed the tweet because it violates its policy on dehumanization. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)

Chinese Embassy Twitter account locked for "dehumanization"

Jan. 21, 2021 12:45 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Twitter locked the account belonging to the Chinese Embassy in Washington after a tweet stated that Uighur women in Xinjiang have been emancipated and are no longer “baby making machines.” One of the final acts of the Trump administration this week was declaring that...

A large video screen shows a government news report about the inauguration of President Joe Biden at a shopping mall in Beijing, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. China has expressed hope the Biden administration will improve prospects for people of both countries and give a boost to relations after an especially rocky patch, while getting in a few final digs at former Trump officials. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

China hopes for cooperation, better relations under Biden

Jan. 21, 2021 8:43 AM EST

BEIJING (AP) — China on Thursday expressed hope the Biden administration will improve prospects for people of both countries and give a boost to relations after an especially rocky patch, while getting in a few final digs at former Trump officials. “I think after this very difficult and...

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