Latest news with #DeclarationofPrinciples
Egypt Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- Egypt Independent
FM, Iranian counterpart hold political consultations
CAIRO, June 1 (MENA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty received a phone call on Sunday from Massad Boulos, Senior Advisor to US President Donald Trump for Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs and Senior Advisor for Africa. Boulos expressed deep appreciation for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's warm reception during his recent Cairo visit, describing it as positive and reflective of the strong bilateral ties. They exchanged views on the situation in Libya, Sudan, and the Great Lakes region. Abdelatty shared the outcomes of the tripartite meeting of Libya's neighboring states (Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia), which emphasized the need for preserving Libya's unity and sovereignty and for the withdrawal of foreign forces and militias. Both sides agreed on the importance for achieving stability and ending divisions in the country. On Sudan, Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's support for Sudan's unity and stability and highlighted Egypt's positive engagement with efforts to secure a ceasefire and alleviate the people's humanitarian suffering. The two agreed to enhance joint coordination with the US and key stakeholders on Sudan. Regarding the Great Lakes region, the top diplomat welcomed the US-facilitated Declaration of Principles signed by the DRC and Rwanda on April 25, calling it a vital step for peace, stability, and regional development. The two sides agreed to continue working together to achieve the shared goal. (MENA)
Egypt Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- Egypt Independent
FM, Trump's senior advisor mull developments in Sudan, Libya
CAIRO, June 1 (MENA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty received a phone call on Sunday from Massad Boulos, Senior Advisor to US President Donald Trump for Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs and Senior Advisor for Africa. Boulos expressed deep appreciation for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's warm reception during his recent Cairo visit, describing it as positive and reflective of the strong bilateral ties. They exchanged views on the situation in Libya, Sudan, and the Great Lakes region. Abdelatty shared the outcomes of the tripartite meeting of Libya's neighboring states (Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia), which emphasized the need for preserving Libya's unity and sovereignty and for the withdrawal of foreign forces and militias. Both sides agreed on the importance for achieving stability and ending divisions in the country. On Sudan, Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's support for Sudan's unity and stability and highlighted Egypt's positive engagement with efforts to secure a ceasefire and alleviate the people's humanitarian suffering. The two agreed to enhance joint coordination with the US and key stakeholders on Sudan. Regarding the Great Lakes region, the top diplomat welcomed the US-facilitated Declaration of Principles signed by the DRC and Rwanda on April 25, calling it a vital step for peace, stability, and regional development. The two sides agreed to continue working together to achieve the shared goal. (MENA)
Middle East
4 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East
OPEN// FM, Trump's senior advisor mull developments in Sudan, Libya
CAIRO, June 1 (MENA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty received a phone call on Sunday from Massad Boulos, Senior Advisor to US President Donald Trump for Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs and Senior Advisor for Africa. Boulos expressed deep appreciation for President Abdel Fattah El Sisi's warm reception during his recent Cairo visit, describing it as positive and reflective of the strong bilateral ties. They exchanged views on the situation in Libya, Sudan, and the Great Lakes region. Abdelatty shared the outcomes of the tripartite meeting of Libya's neighboring states (Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia), which emphasized the need for preserving Libya's unity and sovereignty and for the withdrawal of foreign forces and militias. Both sides agreed on the importance for achieving stability and ending divisions in the country. On Sudan, Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's support for Sudan's unity and stability and highlighted Egypt's positive engagement with efforts to secure a ceasefire and alleviate the people's humanitarian suffering. The two agreed to enhance joint coordination with the US and key stakeholders on Sudan. Regarding the Great Lakes region, the top diplomat welcomed the US-facilitated Declaration of Principles signed by the DRC and Rwanda on April 25, calling it a vital step for peace, stability, and regional development. The two sides agreed to continue working together to achieve the shared goal. (MENA) M S H/R E E
Newsweek
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Marco Rubio Threatens to Block Visas for Foreign Officials
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday visas would be restricted for foreign officials who engage in censorship of Americans. Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Department of State for comment via its press contact form. Why It Matters The order could have significant implications for foreign policy in nations where officials have been criticized for alleged censorship, although specific details about who may be impacted were not provided by the State Department on Wednesday. It comes as President Donald Trump's administration has reshaped foreign policy on many fronts since his return to office in January. What to Know Rubio announced the new policy in a press release on Wednesday. He wrote that a new visa restriction policy would "apply to foreign nationals who are responsible for censorship of protected expression in the United States." "It is unacceptable for foreign officials to issue or threaten arrest warrants on U.S. citizens or U.S. residents for social media posts on American platforms while physically present on U.S. soil. It is similarly unacceptable for foreign officials to demand that American tech platforms adopt global content moderation policies or engage in censorship activity that reaches beyond their authority and into the United States," he wrote. Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a Declaration of Principles signing ceremony in Washington, D.C. on April 25, 2025. Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a Declaration of Principles signing ceremony in Washington, D.C. on April 25, statement did not provide more details about implementation or any specific examples of censorship that could trigger the policy. Europe's Digital Services Act, which seeks to crack down on disinformation and illegal action online, has come under scrutiny from the administration over concerns it could be a form of censorship, though Rubio's statement did not specifically mention it. Rubio has also previously said sanctions would be considered for Brazilian judge Alexandre de Moraes, who temporarily suspended X in the South American country last year. In the U.S., Americans are generally given broad protections with regard to social media posts in the eyes of the law, though there are some limits, such as threats of violence. Social media companies are also allowed to implement their own rules on their platforms. The Trump administration has faced criticisms for policies some believe would chill free speech such as monitoring the social media of immigrants, as well as the arrests of international students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses. What People Are Saying Representative Warren Davidson, an Ohio Republican, wrote to X: "The First Amendment is a fundamental aspect of what makes the U.S. a truly free nation. I applaud @SecRubio's efforts to protect Americans' free speech and ensure accountability for foreign actors who seek to undermine it." Writer Anthony LaMesa wrote to X: "Our Gulf allies censor and arrest people for complaining about businesses. Will their officials be restricted? How about Israeli officials who censor certain speech related to the Palestinians? How about Thailand and other monarchies with their lese-majeste laws? This is absurd." Rubio wrote to X: "Foreigners who work to undermine the rights of Americans should not enjoy the privilege of traveling to our country. Whether in Latin America, Europe, or elsewhere, the days of passive treatment for those who work to undermine the rights of Americans are over." What Happens Next More details about who could be impacted by the order remain unclear. The issue of freedom of speech and social media censorship will continue to be a pressing concern for politicians both in the U.S. and abroad.
Japan Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
US to accept white South African refugees while other programs remain paused
Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during Declaration of Principles signing ceremony with Congo's Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner and Rwanda's Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe,Friday, April 25, 2025, at the State Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) By MATTHEW LEE and REBECCA SANTANA The Trump administration will welcome more than two dozen white South Africans to the United States as refugees next week, an unusual move because it has suspended most refugee resettlement operations, officials and documents said Friday. The first Afrikaner refugees are arriving Monday at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, according to a document obtained by The Associated Press. They are expected to be greeted by a government delegation, including the deputy secretary of state and officials from the Department of Health and Human Services, which has organized their resettlement under its Office for Refugee Resettlement. The flight will be the first of several in a 'much larger-scale relocation effort,' White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller told reporters. 'What's happening in South Africa fits the textbook definition of why the refugee program was created,' he said. 'This is persecution based on a protected characteristic — in this case, race. This is race-based persecution.' State Department refugee programs have been put on hold since President Donald Trump ordered a review in February. While halting arrivals from Afghanistan, Iraq, most of sub-Saharan Africa and throughout Latin America, Trump also issued an executive order prioritizing the processing of white South Africans who claim racial discrimination in their home country. 'The U.S. Embassy in Pretoria has been conducting interviews and processing pursuant to President Trump's Executive Order on Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa,' the State Department said. "The Department of State is prioritizing consideration for U.S. refugee resettlement of Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination.' The department said nothing about the imminent arrival of what officials said are believed to be more than two dozen white South Africans from roughly four families who had applied for resettlement in the U.S. Their arrival had originally been scheduled for early last week but was delayed for reasons that were not immediately clear. The HHS refugee office was ready to offer them support, including with housing, furniture and other household items, and expenses like groceries, clothing, diapers and more, the document says. 'This effort is a stated priority of the Administration." HHS didn't respond to messages seeking comment. The Trump administration has taken an outspoken adversarial position in regard to South Africa, which is the homeland of close Trump adviser Elon Musk and also holds the rotating presidency of the Group of 20 developed and developing nations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio notably boycotted a G20 foreign ministers meeting in Johannesburg in March because its main agenda centered on diversity, inclusion and climate change. Rubio also expelled South Africa's ambassador to the U.S. in March for comments that the Trump administration interpreted as accusing the president of promoting white supremacy. Shortly thereafter, the State Department ended all engagement with the G20 during South Africa's presidency. The U.S. is due to host G20 meetings in 2026. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's office said in a statement Friday that he had spoken with Trump late last month on issues including the U.S.'s criticism of South Africa and the Trump administration's allegations that Afrikaners are being persecuted. Ramaphosa told Trump that the information the U.S. president had received 'was completely false,' the statement said. 'Therefore, our position is that there are no South African citizens that can be classified as refugees to any part of the world, including the U.S.,' the statement from Ramaphosa's office said. South African Deputy Foreign Minister Alvin Botes spoke with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on Friday about the refugees, the South African foreign ministry said. Landau is expected to lead the delegation to welcome the refugees Monday. The foreign ministry said South Africa had 'expressed concerns with the information conveyed that the United States has commenced with processing alleged refugees from South Africa and will begin resettling these citizens in the United States.' The foreign ministry said the allegations of discrimination against Afrikaners in South Africa 'are unfounded.' 'It is most regrettable that it appears that the resettlement of South Africans to the United States under the guise of being 'refugees' is entirely politically motivated and designed to question South Africa's constitutional democracy; a country which has in fact suffered true persecution under apartheid rule and has worked tirelessly to prevent such levels of discrimination from ever occurring again,' the foreign ministry said in a statement. The foreign ministry said it was challenging the U.S. assessments of 'alleged refugee status' but would not block anyone who wanted to leave the country as it respected their freedom of movement and choice. The foreign ministry said it was seeking information from the U.S. over the 'status' of the people leaving South Africa and if they were going to the U.S. as refugees, asylum seekers or 'ordinary citizens.' It said it wanted assurances that the people leaving had been properly vetted and did not have outstanding criminal cases against them in South Africa. It said South Africa was 'dedicated to constructive dialogue' with the U.S. South African foreign ministry spokesperson Chrispin Phiri told The Associated Press: 'Yes, we are told that there are people who are leaving. We are saying, 'what is their status? Are they leaving as asylum seekers, are they leaving as refugees, or are they leaving as South African citizens, and they are going on some free joy ride?' It's a question we've put to them.' Associated Press writers Michelle Gumede in Johannesburg, Gerald Imray in Cape Town, South Africa, and Seung Min Kim and Amanda Seitz in Washington contributed to this report. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
