U.S. Department of State news and stories by mail.com

U.S. Department of State

US calls out China, Russia over human trafficking
The U.S. accused China and Russia of failing to meet minimum standards in fighting human trafficking, ranking them on a par with North Korea and Syria
US and Cuba agree to resume migration talks
The United States and Cuba have agreed to resume bilateral talks on migration issues next month, a State Department official said Wednesday, the ...
McCaskill endorses Ready for Hillary group
Sen. Claire McCaskill endorsed an outside political group encouraging Hillary Rodham Clinton to run for president in 2016, saying it was important for ...
Rowhani's 'path of moderation' also shows limits
Iran's newly elected president showcased his reform-leaning image Monday by promising a "path of moderation" that includes greater openness on ...
North Korea changes tack and tells US: Let's talk
After months of threatening to wage a nuclear war, North Korea did an about-face Sunday and issued a surprise proposal to the United States, its No.
Longtime gov't lawyer to lead Gitmo closure effort
President Barack Obama has chosen a high-powered Washington lawyer with extensive experience in all three branches of the government to be the State ...
Obama chooses lawyer as Guantanamo closure envoy
President Barack Obama has chosen a high-powered Washington lawyer with extensive experience in all three branches of the government to be the State ...
Hillary Clinton turning toward nonprofit world
As she considers another White House bid, Hillary Rodham Clinton intends to work in the nonprofit world on issues like improving early childhood ...
Officials: Obama aides split on arming rebels
Despite growing alarm over the Syrian government's military advances, Obama administration officials are split over whether to arm the country's rebel ...
Effort to clean up Honduras police force stalls
In the midst of a scandal over the police shooting of a university president's son, the government of Honduras launched an unprecedented effort last ...
News Summary: Civilian planes shot down by MANPADS
Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb is now thought to possess the SA-7, a surface-to-air missile in the category of MANPADS, or man-portable air-defense ...
Hillary Clinton joins Twitter
Twitter, meet (at)HillaryClinton. Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton joined Twitter on Monday, describing herself with a dash of humor ...
South Sudan urges Sudan to keep security pact
Sudan's threat to shut down South Sudan's oil exports over its alleged support for rebels in Sudan will not spark a return to armed hostility as long ...
Al-Qaida leader scraps Syria, Iraq branch merger
Al-Qaida's leader has tried to end squabbling between the terror network's Syrian and Iraqi branches, ordering the two groups to remain separate after ...
Obama names outspoken Rice as his security adviser
Defying Republican critics, President Barack Obama named outspoken diplomat Susan Rice as his national security adviser Wednesday, giving her a larger ...
APNewsBreak: Chinese-American released from China
Just ahead of a meeting between U.S. and Chinese presidents, a Chinese-American scientist was allowed to leave China after being kept there for five ...
US extends Iran sanctions relief to China
The Obama administration will extend six-month sanctions exemptions to China, India and seven other countries for significantly reducing oil imports ...
Officials: Russia rejects chemical arms evidence
The Obama administration came back empty-handed after a diplomatic delegation to Moscow last month presented intelligence suggesting that Syrian ...
Fashion world applauds de la Renta - and Clinton
The big winners at the Council of Fashion Designers of America awards on Monday night were Proenza Schouler for womenswear, Thom Browne for menswear ...
Woman's jailing in Mexico highlights tourist risks
The weeklong detention of an American woman after Mexican authorities said they found 12 pounds of marijuana under her bus seat illustrates just one ...
Gay rights cases could trail Obama in Africa
President Barack Obama's trip to Africa next month may result in a stark juxtaposition between the growing power of the gay rights movement in the U.S
APNewsBreak: Ore. Muslim sues FBI, claims torture
An American Muslim who says he was beaten with batons by prison interrogators while held in solitary confinement overseas for more than three months ...
Syria's Assad 'confident in victory' in civil war
Syrian President Bashar Assad said in an interview broadcast Thursday that he is "confident in victory" in his country's civil war, and he warned that ...
Ex-Defense Secretary Panetta has deal for memoir
Leon Panetta is the latest Cabinet member who served during President Barack Obama's first term to have a book deal. The 74-year-old Panetta has an ...
Israel to build 300 units in Jewish settlement
Israel's Housing Ministry said Thursday it has given the final go-ahead for the construction of 300 new homes in a Jewish settlement in east ...