Latest U.S. Department of State News
American and Australian tourists die, raising toll to 4 in Laos alcohol poisoning incident
VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) — An Australian teenager has died after drinking tainted alcohol in Vang Vieng, Laos, in what Australia's prime minister on Thursday called every parent's nightmare, and the U.S. State Department confirmed an American also died in the same party town, bringing the death toll...
US-Israel panel to look into civilian harm in Gaza is set for first meeting next month
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration says a U.S.-Israel panel to look into reports of civilian harm from the war in Gaza will meet for the first time in early December, missing by more than a month a U.S. call for the channel to be set up by the end of October. State...
US gives Israel a 'fail' grade on improving aid to Gaza so far
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is stepping up criticism of Israel for not doing enough to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza as a 30-day deadline looms for Israeli officials to meet certain requirements or risk potential restrictions on military assistance. State...
In Cyprus, officials from Algeria to Iraq train to keep WMD from crossing their borders
LARNACA, Cyprus (AP) — From as far as Algeria, Iraq and Georgia, an assortment of senior government officials converge on this small facility for training by top U.S. experts to prevent the kinds of materials used to build weapons of mass destruction from crossing their borders. In...
US says Iranian-American held in Iran as tensions high following Israeli attack on country
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An Iranian-American journalist who once worked for a U.S. government-funded broadcaster is believed to have been detained by Iran for months now, authorities said Sunday, further raising the stakes as Tehran threatens to retaliate over an Israeli attack on the...
Russia sentences former US Consulate worker to nearly 5 years in prison
MOSCOW (AP) — A court in Russia's far-eastern city of Vladivostok on Friday convicted a former U.S. Consulate worker charged with cooperating with a foreign state and sentenced him to four years and 10 months in prison. Robert Shonov, a Russian citizen and former employee of the...
Pennsylvania mail-in ballot deadlines are quickly approaching
Time is running out for Pennsylvanians to request a mail ballot and submit it to vote in the Nov. 5 general election. With the deadline to request a ballot 5 p.m. on Tuesday, elections officials recommend acting as soon as possible. Voters can request a ballot at their county...
Blinken heads to the Middle East for the 11th time since the Gaza war, but truce prospects uncertain
WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken is heading again to the Middle East, making his 11th trip to the region since the war in Gaza erupted last year and as Israel steps up attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The State Department said Blinken would depart Monday...
Third-party candidate Cornel West loses bid to get on Pennsylvania's presidential ballot
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A federal judge has turned down Cornel West's request to be included on the presidential ballot in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania, expressing sympathy for his claim but saying it's too close to Election Day to make changes. U.S. District Judge J....
US hits former Ecuador leaders with visa bans over corruption
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Wednesday imposed visa bans on former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, his vice president and their immediate families for corruption. The State Department announced that Correa and his one-time deputy Jorge Glas would no longer be...
