Washington, May 7 (IANS) Republican lawmakers from Texas have urged the Trump administration to launch a coordinated federal investigation into alleged H-1B visa fraud in North Texas, arguing that abuse of the programme is harming American workers and undermining confidence in the US immigration system. In a letter sent to Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Acting Secretary Keith Sonderling, and Secretary Mullin, four Texas Members of Congress called for an interagency pr…
Latest State Department News & Updates
Washington, May 6 (IANS) The United States has pressed Iraq’s leadership to take “concrete actions” against Iran-backed militias, with a senior State Department official warning that Washington wants “action, not words” amid growing concern over attacks on American facilities in the region.“I think that the Iraqi leaders, including the Prime Minister-designate, understand what the United States is looking for. We’re looking for action, not words,” the senior State Department offi…
Washington, May 6 (IANS) The United States announced the phased closure of its Consulate General in Peshawar, saying diplomatic engagement with Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province will now be handled by its embassy in Islamabad.In a brief media note, the US Department of State said the move reflected “our commitment to the safety of our diplomatic personnel and efficient resource management.”The announcement marks a significant diplomatic shift in a region that has long been at the cent…
Washington, May 4 (IANS) The United States will begin a major military-backed operation to escort commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, as President Donald Trump announced a humanitarian effort to free ships stranded amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.Trump said multiple countries had approached Washington for help, citing vessels “locked up in the Strait of Hormuz” despite having “absolutely nothing to do” with the ongoing conflict.“For the good of Iran, the Middle…
Washington, April 30 (IANS) The White House is asking other countries to join a US-led international coalition aimed at enabling ships to navigate the Strait of Hormuz, American media has reported. The so-called “Maritime Freedom Construct” (MFC) was spelt out in an internal State Department cable sent to US embassies on Tuesday, urging US diplomats to press foreign governments into signing up, according to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report on Wednesday (local time).The MFC would be a joint e…
Washington, April 30 (IANS) Two top US senators have introduced legislation requiring the State Department to determine whether China’s actions in Tibet amount to genocide or crimes against humanity, stepping up pressure on Beijing over its policies in the region. Republican Senator Rick Scott and Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley unveiled the “Tibet Atrocities Determination Act”, coinciding with Martyr’s Day on April 29, observed by the Tibetan Youth Congress to honour Tibetans who have d…
Washington, April 25 (IANS) Senior Democratic lawmakers have urged the US Treasury to review the transfer of federally owned land in Arizona to a foreign mining venture, asserting that it poses significant national security risks due to links with China and proximity to sensitive military installations.In a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and three other ranking members called for an immediate review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United Sta…
Washington, April 16 (IANS) The United States has clarified that a possible ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is not part of its negotiations with Iran, even as Washington steps up diplomatic efforts to ease tensions along Israel’s northern border.A senior administration official said the US had “not asked for” a truce in Lebanon and that it was “not part of the peace negotiations with Iran”. However, the official added that President Donald Trump “would welcome the end of hostili…
Washington, April 15 (IANS) The United States convened a rare, high-level direct meeting between Israel and Lebanon. The first such engagement in over three decades set the stage for direct negotiations.Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who hosted the talks at the State Department, called it “a historic opportunity” and said the effort aimed beyond an immediate ceasefire. “This is about bringing a permanent end to 20 or 30 years of Hizballah’s influence in this part of the world,” he sai…
Washington, April 11 (IANS) NASA’s Artemis II astronauts splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 8:07 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, completing a historic 10-day mission around the Moon and marking humanity’s return to deep space after more than 50 years.The Orion spacecraft carrying NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, made a parachute-assisted landing as recovery teams moved in to retrieve…