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State Department

Diplomatic Shake-Up: Trump Administration Orders Mass Recall Of Ambassadors Diplomatic Shake-Up: Trump Administration Orders Mass Recall Of Ambassadors
Diplomatic Shake-Up: Trump Administration Orders Mass Recall Of Ambassadors The Trump administration has launched a sweeping recall of dozens of career US ambassadors from assignments around the world, targeting diplomats who were appointed during President Biden’s tenure, according to multiple reports. Roughly 30 received notice starting Wednesday, Dec. 17, that their assignments would end in January 2026, according to The Washington Post. Unlike the common practice of replacing political appointees when a new administration takes office, this move explicitly affects career Foreign Service officers.  These diplomats had survived an earlier round of dismissal…
21 Countries On State Department ‘Do Not Travel’ List: Here's Rundown 21 Countries On State Department ‘Do Not Travel’ List: Here's Rundown
21 Countries On State Department ‘Do Not Travel’ List: Here's Rundown When it comes to international travel, some destinations are firmly off-limits for Americans right now. The US State Department has issued its most serious alert — Level 4: Do Not Travel — for 21 countries worldwide. The latest advisory list, updated Wednesday, Sept. 17, reflects severe risks from armed conflict, crime, terrorism, and political instability.  Officials stress that conditions can shift quickly, and advisories are updated as local situations evolve. The 21 countries under Level 4 warnings are: Afghanistan Belarus Burkina Faso Burma (Myanmar) Central African Republic (C…
Foreign Visitors May Need To Pay $15K Bond To Enter US: Here's Why Foreign Visitors May Need To Pay $15K Bond To Enter US: Here's Why
Foreign Visitors May Need To Pay $15K Bond To Enter US: Here's Why Some international travelers coming to the US on tourist or business visas may soon have to pay a bond of up to $15,000, in the Trump administration's latest immigration crackdown effort. The State Department released details on the visa bond pilot program in the Federal Register on Tuesday, Aug. 5. The temporary final rule targets countries with high visa overstay rates or citizenship-for-sale programs. The pilot will begin on Wednesday, Aug. 20, and end on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. The program will allow US consular officers to require certain visa applicants to post a bond …
US Issues Travel Warnings For 2 Nations Amid Deadly Border Clashes US Issues Travel Warnings For 2 Nations Amid Deadly Border Clashes
US Issues Travel Warnings For 2 Nations Amid Deadly Border Clashes The US is warning travelers to think twice before booking trips to parts of Southeast Asia.  A new advisory highlights rising risks in Cambodia and Thailand, tied to an escalating border conflict that has already claimed dozens of lives. The State Department updated its guidance Friday, raising both nations to Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution overall and issuing a Level 4: Do Not Travel alert for areas within 50 kilometers of the Cambodia–Thailand border.  At least 32 people have been killed in recent clashes, which include reports of artillery and rocket fire between the two …
State Department Urges 'Increased Caution' If Traveling To These 3 Countries State Department Urges 'Increased Caution' If Traveling To These 3 Countries
State Department Urges 'Increased Caution' If Traveling To These 3 Countries The State Department is urging travelers to stay alert if heading to any of three international destinations now under expanded advisories. The new Level 2 travel advisories for the Dominican Republic, India, and Mozambique warn American citizens to exercise increased caution when visiting these countries due to risks ranging from crime to terrorism. Travel advisories from the US government are issued on a four-level scale, with Level 1 urging normal precautions and Level 4 indicating a "do not travel" recommendation.  The latest Level 2 alerts reflect safety concerns that, while not …
Mass Layoffs Begin At State Department Under Trump Downsizing Plan Mass Layoffs Begin At State Department Under Trump Downsizing Plan
Mass Layoffs Begin At State Department Under Trump Downsizing Plan The State Department is firing around 1,350 workers as part of a sweeping downsizing initiative tied to President Donald Trump’s plan to reduce the federal workforce. According to an internal memo obtained by The Washington Post, the department will issue termination notices on Friday, July 11 to over 1,100 civil servants and 240 Foreign Service employees.  The move follows a Supreme Court ruling earlier this week that cleared the way for Trump’s executive order to move forward while legal challenges continue. Earlier report: Trump Can Proceed With Government Overhaul, Cut Workers, …
UK Rap Duo's Visas Revoked After 'Death To The IDF,' Pro-Palestine Chants UK Rap Duo's Visas Revoked After 'Death To The IDF,' Pro-Palestine Chants
UK Rap Duo's Visas Revoked After 'Death To The IDF,' Pro-Palestine Chants An English rap duo has been banned from performing in the US after leading pro-Palestinian chants at the popular Glastonbury Festival. The visas for Bob Vylan have been revoked, the State Department said on Monday, June 30. The revocations were announced in a social media post by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. The group's lead singer, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, led chants like "free, free Palestine" and "death, death to the IDF [Israeli Defense Forces]" during the performance on Saturday, June 28. "The @StateDept has revoked the US visas for th…
US Issues Global Alert After Strikes On Iran’s Nuclear Site US Issues Global Alert After Strikes On Iran’s Nuclear Site
US Issues Global Alert After Strikes On Iran’s Nuclear Site The US State Department has issued its first global travel warning since the October Hamas attacks on Israel, urging Americans abroad to be on high alert amid intensifying conflict in the Middle East. The “Worldwide Caution” alert, posted Sunday, June 22, follows a series of US missile strikes on Iran's most fortified nuclear site and two other targets — a direct escalation that now places the US alongside Israel in its military campaign against Iran.  Iran has promised retaliation against the US. The State Department warned of growing threats to US citizens overseas, including the po…
Trump Could Add 36 Nations To Travel Ban, Report Says Trump Could Add 36 Nations To Travel Ban, Report Says
Trump Could Add 36 Nations To Travel Ban, Report Says The Trump Administration is contemplating a significant expansion of its travel ban, which could restrict entry for citizens of dozens more countries, a new report says. The proposed expansion lists 36 nations, among them key US partners such as Egypt, with 25 in Africa, according to a State Department memo obtained by The Washington Post. A State Department spokesperson refrained from commenting on internal discussions, while the White House did not respond to inquiries regarding the matter, The Post said.  The memo outlines various criteria that these countries are reportedly …
Man Pleads Guilty To Bridgewater Cold Case Homicide Nearly 30 Years Later: Prosecutor Man Pleads Guilty To Bridgewater Cold Case Homicide Nearly 30 Years Later: Prosecutor
Man Pleads Guilty To Bridgewater Cold Case Homicide Nearly 30 Years Later: Prosecutor After nearly three decades, a Bridgewater homicide finally has a resolution, authorities said. Robert Creter, 61, pleaded guilty on Monday, May 19, in the 1997 death of Tamara "Tammy" Tignor, the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office said. Creter pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter and is expected to be sentenced to 10 years in state prison, authorities said. On Tuesday, Nov. 4, 1997 at 4:38 p.m., Bridgewater police responded to Gilbride Road near Washington Valley Park where they found Tignor, a 23-year-old Newark resident, dead, authorities said. The case remained unsolved until 2023…
Tufts Student Must Be Freed After ICE Detained Her For Pro-Palestine Op-Ed, Judge Rules Tufts Student Must Be Freed After ICE Detained Her For Pro-Palestine Op-Ed, Judge Rules
Tufts Student Must Be Freed After ICE Detained Her For Pro-Palestine Op-Ed, Judge Rules A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to release a Tufts University doctoral student who has been in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody for more than six weeks after she wrote a pro-Palestine op-ed. The judge in Vermont granted bail to Rumeysa Öztürk on Friday, May 9. US District Judge William Sessions said the federal government had proven no basis for detaining Öztürk other than her student newspaper op-ed, criticizing the university's response to Israel's occupation of Gaza. The 30-year-old was detained by six masked, plainclothes officers whil…
Trump, CAIR, SJP Release Statements On Columbia Protest Organizer Held By ICE In Elizabeth, NJ Trump, CAIR, SJP Release Statements On Columbia Protest Organizer Held By ICE In Elizabeth, NJ
Trump, CAIR, SJP Release Statements On Columbia Protest Organizer Held By ICE In Elizabeth, NJ A Columbia University graduate detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is now at the center of a political firestorm as the Trump administration slashes federal funding to the school and enforces new visa restrictions targeting international students linked to protests. Mahmoud Khalil Detained Amid Federal Crackdown Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident and recent Columbia graduate, was taken into custody by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Saturday, March 8, outside his university-owned apartment in New York City. ICE claims his student visa was revoked, but …
US Issues Travel Warning For Popular Caribbean Destination: Here's Why US Issues Travel Warning For Popular Caribbean Destination: Here's Why
US Issues Travel Warning For Popular Caribbean Destination: Here's Why The US is warning American travelers to "exercise increased caution" if they visit the Turks and Caicos Islands. The State Department updated its travel advisory for Turks and Caicos on Tuesday, Mar. 4. The "level 2" advisory comes after several US citizens were arrested for carrying bullets in their luggage. The British Overseas Territory southeast of The Bahamas has very strict gun laws. "Firearms and ammunition, including single bullets brought by mistake in carry-on bags or luggage, are illegal," the State Department said. "Police strictly enforce these laws, even at the…
PA Teacher Marc Fogel Freed From Russia In Prisoner Exchange PA Teacher Marc Fogel Freed From Russia In Prisoner Exchange
PA Teacher Marc Fogel Freed From Russia In Prisoner Exchange A Pennsylvania teacher is finally free after years in a Russian prison, following a high-stakes diplomatic deal brokered at the highest levels of the U.S. government. Marc Fogel, who had been detained in Russia since 2021, is back on American soil after President Donald J. Trump and his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff orchestrated a negotiated exchange. Fogel, a former teacher at the Anglo-American School in Moscow, was serving a 14-year sentence for possessing medical marijuana prescribed for chronic pain. Witkoff left Russian airspace with Fogel earlier on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, as part of…
Colombia Agrees To Accept Migrant Deportation Flights After Trump Threatens 25% Tariffs Colombia Agrees To Accept Migrant Deportation Flights After Trump Threatens 25% Tariffs
Colombia Agrees To Accept Migrant Deportation Flights After Trump Threatens 25% Tariffs Colombia, one of the United States' key allies in Latin America, has agreed to accept migrant deportation flights after earlier turning back two planes, prompting President Donald Trump to threaten steep sanctions. Trump said Sunday afternoon, Jan. 26 that he would impose "emergency" 25-percent tariffs on Colombian goods after it blocked the flights. But negotiations between the countries led to an agreement late Sunday night and Trump withdrew the tariff threats. “The Government of Colombia has agreed to all of President Trump’s terms, including the unrestricted acceptance of all undocume…
17-Year-Old Pennsylvania Boy Charged For Talking With Al-Qaida Affiliate: FBI 17-Year-Old Pennsylvania Boy Charged For Talking With Al-Qaida Affiliate: FBI
17-Year-Old Pennsylvania Boy Charged For Talking With Al-Qaida Affiliate: FBI A teenager from Pennsylvania was arrested by FBI agents on Friday, Aug. 11 after authorities say he had been in contact with an al-Qaida-affiliated terror group.  The unnamed 17-year-old boy was taken into custody at his Wynnefield residence after an investigation by Bureau agents, Philadelphia police, and various federal agencies, according to District Attorney Larry Krasner's Office.  Authorities said that an Instagram account connected to the West Philly teen had communicated with an account affiliated with Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad (KTJ). The State Department has s…
Family Of US Diplomat Killed While Riding Bicycle Launches Bike Safety Fund Family Of US Diplomat Killed While Riding Bicycle Launches Bike Safety Fund
Family Of US Diplomat Killed While Riding Bicycle Launches Bike Safety Fund The family of a US Diplomat who had been killed while riding her bike shortly after evacuating from Ukraine has launched a fundraiser for a bike safety memorial fund in her honor. Sarah Langenkamp, 42, was fatally struck by a car that was turning right into the parking lot of 5244 River Road shortly after 4 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 25, as she was following a designated bike route on her way back from her children's new elementary school, as previously reported by Daily Voice. A GoFundMe fundraiser was launched in her honor in hopes to raise awareness of bike safety and "work with local and nati…
US Diplomat Killed While Biking In Maryland: Reports US Diplomat Killed While Biking In Maryland: Reports
US Diplomat Killed While Biking In Maryland: Reports A State Department employee was identified as the bicyclist struck and killed by a flatbed truck this week in Bethesda, NBC Washington reports. Sarah Joan Langenkamp, 42, was in the bike lane when the red 2014 Volvo D13 turned right into the parking lot of 5244 River Road and struck her around 4:05 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, Montgomery County police said. Langenkamp was pronounced dead on scene. Repose toi Lionne. Depuis la Côte d'Ivoire nous te pleurons Sarah Langenkamp Posted by Valerie Vai on Friday, August 26, 2022 Various news reports cite Langenkamp as the head of the International …
DC Cyclist Fatally Hit By Truck On Way To Government Job DC Cyclist Fatally Hit By Truck On Way To Government Job
DC Cyclist Fatally Hit By Truck On Way To Government Job A woman riding her bike was struck and killed by a commercial truck in D.C. while on her way to her government job, police said.Shawn O'Donnell, 40, was riding  near the George Washington University campus around 8 a.m. Wednesday, July 20, when a Mack truck made a turn into her and they collided, the Metropolitan Police Department reported. Despite life-saving efforts, O'Donnell died in a nearby hospital, police said. O'Donnell's death marks the second time in less than a week that a cyclist died while riding in D.C., according to NBC4.  On Friday, 65-year-old Michael Gordon was …
Ex-US Marine From Hudson Valley Killed In Ukraine After Joining Fight Against Russia Ex-US Marine From Hudson Valley Killed In Ukraine After Joining Fight Against Russia
Ex-US Marine From Hudson Valley Killed In Ukraine After Joining Fight Against Russia A Hudson Valley man has been killed fighting alongside Ukraine this week, according to CNN. Willy Joseph Cancel, age 22, formerly of Orange County, was killed while working with a private military contracting company when he was killed on Monday, April 25, CNN reported. Cancel, a former US Marine, and a corrections officer in Tennessee, signed up to work for the company shortly after the war broke out a the end of February, his mother, Rebecca Cabrera confirmed to CNN. "He wanted to go over because he believed in what Ukraine was fighting for, and he wanted to be a part of it to …
Westchester Native Tony Blinken Sworn In As Secretary Of State Westchester Native Tony Blinken Sworn In As Secretary Of State
Westchester Native Tony Blinken Sworn In As Secretary Of State A prominent politician from the Hudson Valley will serve as America’s top diplomat after being sworn in as President Joe Biden’s Secretary of State. Yonkers native Antony "Tony" Blinken, age 58, a longtime confidant and aide of the new president, was approved by the Senate with a 78-22 bipartisan vote this week and will return to the White House following time spent as a top member of the Obama administration. From 2009 to 2013, Blinken was the Deputy Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor to the Vice President, where he was tasked with helping to craft foreign policy in t…
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Westchester Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney Takes Leading Role In House Impeachment Inquiry Westchester Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney Takes Leading Role In House Impeachment Inquiry
Westchester Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney Takes Leading Role In House Impeachment Inquiry Maybe you were at work and unable to tune into, watch or listen to Wednesday's opening day of public testimony before the House Intelligence Committee.  Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney, D-Cold Spring, whose 18th Congressional District includes northern Westchester County and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point was there. As part of the House impeachment inquiry, Maloney questioned William Taylor, chargé d’affaires and now acting ambassador to Ukraine, and George Kent, deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs, two witnesses subpoenaed by the House Perman…
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Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, Yorktown HS Grad, Slams Trump For 'Witness Intimidation' Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, Yorktown HS Grad, Slams Trump For 'Witness Intimidation'
Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, Yorktown HS Grad, Slams Trump For 'Witness Intimidation' Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Yorktown High School graduate who now represents parts of New York City, didn't hold back on Friday, swatting back at President Donald Trump on Twitter after the Republican tweeted about former U.S Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch and her 33 years of public service as a federal diplomatic officer overseas. ""Trump himself is clearly not satisfied with only one article of impeachment," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Twitter.."His choice to publicly broadcast his own, personally authored witness intimidation means he’s wants to sign up for another artic…
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Schumer, Engel Seek Vital Impeachment Testimony Schumer, Engel Seek Vital Impeachment Testimony
Schumer, Engel Seek Vital Impeachment Testimony Two of New York's top congressmen turned up the heat in the ongoing impeachment investigation of President Trump on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Earlier on Tuesday, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham announced that he would invite Rudolph Giuliani, New York City's former mayor, to testify about Ukraine. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, reacted on Twitter: "We welcome Mr. (Rudy) Giuliani testifying. Given the apparent depth of his involvement in the president’s effort to convince foreign governments to investigate a political rival, he must testify under …
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Engel's Committee Subpoenas Pompeo As Part Of Ukraine Impeachment Inquiry Engel's Committee Subpoenas Pompeo As Part Of Ukraine Impeachment Inquiry
Engel's Committee Subpoenas Pompeo As Part Of Ukraine Impeachment Inquiry U.S. Rep. Eliot L. Engel, as chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs; Rep. Adam Schiff, as chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; and Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, as chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, sent this letter to Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on Friday, Sept. 27 for documents, including many he has refused to produce for weeks. The Committees are investigating the extent to which President Trump jeopardized national security by pressing Ukraine to interfere with our 2020 election and by withholding security assistance provided by Congre…
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U.S. Rep. Engel Seeks Proof Of Trump, Giuliani Efforts To Encourage Ukraine Probe Of Joe Biden U.S. Rep. Engel Seeks Proof Of Trump, Giuliani Efforts To Encourage Ukraine Probe Of Joe Biden
U.S. Rep. Engel Seeks Proof Of Trump, Giuliani Efforts To Encourage Ukraine Probe Of Joe Biden U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel is leading a growing chorus of congressmen calling for an investigation of President Trump's alleged interference in a federal whistleblower case and a 2020 Democratic presidential challenger. Thursday night, President Trump's personal lawyer, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani admitted making direct contact with top Ukrainian officials. Giuliani acknowledged he asked them to investigate Biden, an admission that comes as Capitol Hill Democrats investigate whether Trump and Giuliani pressured Ukraine’s government to meddle with the 2020 presidential candidate. …
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U.S. Sen. Murphy Calls For Investigation Of Trump Interference In Ukraine, Biden Campaign U.S. Sen. Murphy Calls For Investigation Of Trump Interference In Ukraine, Biden Campaign
U.S. Sen. Murphy Calls For Investigation Of Trump Interference In Ukraine, Biden Campaign U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy has joined a growing chorus of congressmen in calling for an investigation of President Trump's alleged attempt to get Ukraine government officials involved in probing a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate. Speaking to CNN, among other national media outlets on Friday, Sept. 20, Murphy expressed his concerns about the threatened loss of U.S. defense aid to Ukraine if that country declined to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut's other U.S. Senate Democrat, sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and has previously calle…
30 Security Incidents Regarding Handling Of Hillary Clinton’s Emails ID'd By State Department 30 Security Incidents Regarding Handling Of Hillary Clinton’s Emails ID'd By State Department
30 Security Incidents Regarding Handling Of Hillary Clinton’s Emails ID'd By State Department The State Department says it has identified 30 security incidents regarding the handling of Hillary Clinton’s emails, a report said. In a letter from Assistant State Department Secretary Mary Elizabeth Taylor to Sen. Chuck Grassley, Taylor said 23 “violations” and seven “infractions” have been cited as part of their investigation into Clinton’s emails, according to Fox News in this report. “To this point, the Department has assessed culpability to 15 individuals, some of whom were culpable in multiple security incidents,” Taylor, the assistant secretary in the State Department’s Bureau of L…
The Third Time? Chappaqua's Hillary Clinton On 2020 Run: ‘I'm Not Closing The Doors' The Third Time? Chappaqua's Hillary Clinton On 2020 Run: ‘I'm Not Closing The Doors'
The Third Time? Chappaqua's Hillary Clinton On 2020 Run: ‘I'm Not Closing The Doors' Is the third time the charm? Following two failed attempts to make her way into the Oval Office, Chappaqua’s Hillary Clinton is reportedly mulling a third run at the White House. On Sunday, Jan. 27, CNN senior White House correspondent Jeff Zeleny said that Clinton has begun discussing a third potential presidential bid. Clinton previously ran against Barack Obama in 2008 and infamously lost to current President Donald Trump in 2016. “So Hillary Clinton is telling people that she's not closing the doors to the idea of running in 2020,” Zeleny said. “Let's just let that sink in. “I’m …
New Court-Ordered Inquiry Into Hillary Clinton Email Setup Halted By Federal Shutdown New Court-Ordered Inquiry Into Hillary Clinton Email Setup Halted By Federal Shutdown
New Court-Ordered Inquiry Into Hillary Clinton Email Setup Halted By Federal Shutdown The longest-on-record government shutdown may have had some unexpected consequences, as investigators were forced to delay the inquiry into whether Westchester resident Hillary Clinton attempted to evade public record laws with her use of a private email account. Earlier this month, a District Court judge agreed to Judicial Watch’s request to depose several individuals regarding the State Department’s response to the 2012 terror attack in Benghazi, Libya. The watchdog group is attempting to determine whether the former Secretary of State sought to evade the Freedom of Information Act by util…
Teaneck Immigrant Admits Bribing Federal Employee For Special Visa Teaneck Immigrant Admits Bribing Federal Employee For Special Visa
Teaneck Immigrant Admits Bribing Federal Employee For Special Visa A Teaneck man admitted Friday that he tried bribing a State Department to take care of a non-immigrant visa that allows Dominican nationals to enter the U.S. Luis Santos, 27, told a federal judge in Trenton that he paid the U.S. consular adjudicator $2,381 for a favorable outcome. A nonimmigrant visa (NIV) is issued to a person with permanent residence outside the U.S. who seeks admission here temporarily for tourism, medical treatment, business or temporary work or study. U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents of the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service with inves…