A cartographic error at the Aids 2026 Conference symbolized deeper neglect in the global HIV response, as funding cuts, particularly from the US, threaten progress, with a 25% decline in donor funding in 2025, impacting vulnerable groups and treatment access.
The US State Department notified Congress of plans to close five foreign missions in Grenada, Japan, Indonesia, Cameroon, and Canada, marking a rare downsizing of America's diplomatic footprint.
A US State Department letter to Congress confirms Türkiye's F-35 exclusion due to its S-400 system, despite diplomatic efforts. The deadlock highlights US legislative hurdles, Israeli opposition, and Türkiye's push for defense autonomy.
The US Department of State's August 2026 Visa Bulletin warns that the Employment-Based First Preference (EB-1) Green Card category for India could become unavailable in coming weeks due to high demand, potentially halting further visa issuance before the fiscal year ends September 30. India's EB-2 category is already unavailable.
A US State Department presentation at the Aids 2026 conference in Rio de Janeiro featured an AI-generated map of Africa with every country mislabeled, causing a stir. The department took responsibility, citing a hastily changed slide, while OpenAI investigates the watermark.
The US sanctions 8 mainland Chinese and Hong Kong shipping companies for operating vessels that transported Iranian oil to China and the UAE, amid ongoing economic campaign against Tehran.
The US Department of State launched a pilot in Mexico allowing eligible B1/B2 visa applicants to pay an extra $750 for an interview within 10 business days. The program, running until Dec 2026, does not guarantee visa approval or faster processing, only an earlier appointment.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are scheduled to meet on July 23 in the Philippines during ASEAN ministerial events. The agenda includes discussing US President Donald Trump's statements regarding a swift resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
A US State Department report alleges Cuba is behind major US political upheavals, including the George Floyd riots and rise of antifa, and poses a unique threat. This comes as Cuba faces a six-month US oil blockade and sanctions, leading to severe shortages and blackouts, with critics calling the report a new form of McCarthyism.
The Trump administration's State Department released a report labeling several US activists and organizations, including Hasan Piker and Chris Smalls, as "front groups and fellow travelers" for Cuba. The report denounces Cuba as the "capital of 21st-century communism" and accuses its government of a "campaign of subversion" in the US.
The US State Department issued a worldwide security warning for Americans, citing heightened Middle East tensions and potential escalation in the renewed conflict with Iran, following the deaths of two US service members in Jordan and continued retaliatory strikes.
Kuwaiti artist Tareq Alkhudari had his Green Card status revoked by the US State Department for expressing anti-American sentiments, including calling the US 'the enemy' and supporting foreign terror organizations. He is awaiting deportation.
The US State Department criticized China for providing only a few hours' notice before a submarine-launched ballistic missile test into the Pacific. Washington stated that Beijing's notification lacked sufficient detail and fell short of standards set by other nuclear powers, raising concerns amid China's "rapid and opaque nuclear weapons build-up."
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced plans for a new digital passport application process. Americans will soon be able to take passport photos using smartphone and laptop cameras, with facial recognition verifying the images online, aiming to streamline the process and reduce wait times.
The US State Department approved the potential sale of 24 additional Hellfire missiles to Singapore, totaling 67 missiles. The acquisition aims to support the Republic of Singapore Air Force's training and operational needs.
The US State Department has approved a potential sale of 67 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles to Singapore for $22.3 million. The deal aims to bolster the city-state's defenses and strengthen ties with a key Asian strategic partner amidst China's military build-up.
The US State Department has approved a potential sale of 67 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles, spare parts, and support equipment to Singapore, valued at US$22.3 million. The deal aims to bolster Singapore's defenses and strengthen US strategic partnerships in Asia amid China's military build-up.
US official Sarah B Rogers criticized the UK's justice system at a London conference, claiming "thousands of speech arrests" and echoing far-right memes. The UK government and MPs rejected her characterization, calling it an attempt to undermine democracy.
US State Department officials met with representatives from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and GE Aerospace in India to explore civil aviation commercial opportunities between the US and India. The discussions aimed to foster prosperity and security through American innovation and private sector involvement.
US farm-belt officials met with Chinese provincial counterparts in Zhengzhou, China, for a cooperation dialogue. The meeting occurred amidst US travel warnings for China following Beijing's detention of an American citizen, ahead of US midterm elections.
A senior US State Department official, Michael DeSombre, will meet the AmCham HK delegation during their annual Washington trip. This meeting, with the highest-ranking official in years, suggests a potential warming of US-Hong Kong relations following President Trump's recent meeting with President Xi Jinping.
The US State Department is cracking down on illegal 'birth tourism' schemes by revoking visas and dismantling networks in Africa and Europe. The effort targets visa fraud, not the act of giving birth in the US, which is legal.
The US State Department confirmed the death of a US government employee working at the US Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar. The body was found about two weeks ago in a residential complex, and Myanmar police are treating it as a potential homicide, having detained a Thai national.
The US State Department has declined to provide further details regarding the death of an American national in Myanmar, citing privacy concerns. Sources in the diplomatic community suggest the man was found dead at a hotel two weeks ago, and police are investigating it as a potential murder with a Thai woman in custody.
