US officials have announced plans to ease tough sanctions imposed on Cuba by former President Donald Trump. Under new measures approved by the Biden administration, restrictions on family remittances and travel to the island will be eased. The processing of US visas for Cubans will also be speeded up. State Department spokesman Ned Price said the move would allow Cuban citizens to pursue a life free from “government oppression”. The loosening of sanctions will see a cap on family remittances – funds sent by migrants in the US to family members in Cuba – removed. Previously migrants were prevented from … Continue reading US agrees to ease Trump-era sanctions on Cuba

The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed Caroline Kennedy, a former ambassador to Japan and daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy, as the U.S. ambassador to Australia, an important ally to the United States. Kennedy, 64, is an author and attorney. Her father was the 35th president of the United States, who served from 1961 until his assassination in November 1963. She previously served as U.S. ambassador to Japan from 2013-2017 under former President Barack Obama. She heads to Canberra as its relationship with Washington strengthens in response to China’s growing power and increasingly assertive behavior in Asia and … Continue reading U.S. Senate confirms Caroline Kennedy to be ambassador to Australia

President Biden on Monday has nominated Bridget Brink, the current U.S. Ambassador to Slovakia to be the new U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine. Bridget Brink The announcement comes after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of State Lloyd Austin met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Sunday.  State Department spokesman Ned Price said earlier Monday that Brink’s “decades of experience make her uniquely suited for this moment in Ukraine’s history.”  Prior to Monday’s nomination, Brink “previously served as Senior Advisor and Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs and as the Deputy Chief of Mission … Continue reading Biden nominates Bridget Brink as new US Ambassador to Ukraine

The US Secret Service reportedly shot an intruder at the home of the Peruvian ambassador to the United States, law enforcement officials said. The shooting occurred in the Forest Hills neighborhood in the northwest of Washington DC. The Secret Service said officers shot the intruder “following a confrontation” at the ambassador’s home. No other details were provided to The Associated Press. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert Contee told reporters that the agents initially tried to use Tasers on the intruder, who they claim was carrying a “metal stake.” “They encountered this person, they pulled their less-than-lethal service weapons, their Tasers,” Mr Contee said. “The officers fired those … Continue reading Secret Service kills intruder at Peruvian ambassador’s home

Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez meets with Moroccan King Mohammed VI at the Royal Palace in Rabat Morocco said on Thursday it will open a new page in its ties with Spain, apparently ending a diplomatic crisis after Madrid supported Rabat on the question of sovereignty over Western Sahara. During a meeting in Rabat, King Mohammed VI and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez “reiterated their willingness to usher a new phase, based on mutual respect, mutual trust, permanent consultation and frank and loyal cooperation,” a statement issued by the Royal Palace said on Thursday. It also said Sanchez reaffirmed a position … Continue reading Morocco, Spain patch up diplomatic feud after Spanish shift on Western Sahara

Madeleine Albright Madeleine Albright, who came to the United States as a child refugee and rose to be the first female secretary of state, shaping American foreign policy at the end of the 20th century, has died at the age of 84.US president Bill Clinton and then secretary of state Madeleine Albright, in 1999 in Istanbul Tapped by President Bill Clinton as ambassador to the United Nations then as the US top diplomat, Albright was one of the most influential stateswoman of her generation. In mourning her passing, Clinton said Albright had been “a force for freedom, democracy and human … Continue reading A Diplomat’s Diplomat: US first female Secretary of state, Madeleine Albright dies at 84

Hours after North Korea accused police in Islamabad of breaking the Vienna Convention following a raid on country’s embassy in the federal capital. Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Thursday said that Islamabad had ‘apologised’ for the incident that had occurred due to a ‘misunderstanding’. “We have apologised to the North Korean mission, the incident happened out of misunderstanding,” the interior minister said in a press conference in Islamabad, Geo News reported.Pakistan’s Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed In response, the Foreign Office spokesperson said the Islamabad Police had been informed that they did not have the authority to enter the … Continue reading Islamabad apologises for raid on North Korean embassy, says Sheikh Rashid

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken The United States plans to re-establish an embassy in the Solomon Islands, a senior State Department official said Saturday, as Washington seeks to beef up its presence in a region where China is rapidly expanding its influence. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to announce the opening of a new embassy on the Pacific island state during a visit to nearby Fiji, 29 years after the United States downgraded its diplomatic presence in Honiara. The move comes just a few months after riots in the island chain of 800,000 people in November when … Continue reading US to reopen Solomon Islands embassy after 29 years

Saudi Arabia and Thailand have ended a 30-year row over a scandal involving stolen jewels and a string of murders. The resumption of full diplomatic ties came during a visit to Riyadh by Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha. A Thai cleaner working for a Saudi prince took the gems in 1989. A rare 50 carat blue diamond was never recovered. Three Saudi diplomats were shot dead in Bangkok following the theft. Several top Thai policemen were implicated in the affair but never convicted. The deal opens the way for Thais once again to find employment in Saudi Arabia, which says … Continue reading Saudi Arabia and Thailand end dispute over stolen gems

Turkish police say they arrested a US citizen at Istanbul airport last month where they suspect he handed over his own passport to a Syrian national. Officers say the Syrian man, identified as RS, was trying to fly to Germany using the document. Police initially said the American man worked at the US consulate in Beirut and had $10,000 (£7,400) in cash when he was arrested. But, on Wednesday, the US denied that the man was a diplomat. “We are aware of the detention of a US citizen in Turkey,” the State Department said in a statement. “The individual is … Continue reading Turkey arrests US citizen over alleged passport handover

Nicaragua has become the latest country to cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favour of China. Taiwan said it was “deeply saddened”, adding that Nicaragua had “disregarded [their] many years of friendship”. The decision was widely praised by China, who demands that any country that wants diplomatic relations with it must cut existing ties with Taipei. It comes as the US State Department on Friday called for democracies to “expand engagement with Taiwan”. Beijing sees Taiwan as a breakaway province to be reunified with the mainland one day. However, Taiwan sees itself as a democratically-governed, independent country, though it has … Continue reading Nicaragua cuts ties with Taiwan in favour of Beijing

China has downgraded its diplomatic relations with Lithuania, days after the Baltic state allowed Taiwan to open a de facto embassy there. Lithuania defended its right to have ties with Taiwan, but said it respected the “One China” policy. Taiwan’s new office in Lithuania does not equate to official diplomatic relations but could be seen as a sign of growing ties between both places. Beijing considers Taiwan part of China, but Taiwan sees itself as independent. The new office bears the name Taiwan rather than “Chinese Taipei”, the name used by many foreign nations to avoid offending China. This is … Continue reading China downgrades diplomatic ties with Lithuania over Taiwan row