Latest news with #StateDepartment
New Straits Times
18 minutes ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Taiwan denies President Lai blocked from US stopover
TAIPEI: Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has not been blocked from visiting the United States, Taipei's foreign ministry said Tuesday, insisting he has no plans to travel overseas "in the near future." The remarks came after US President Donald Trump's administration reportedly denied permission for Lai to transit in New York as part of an official trip to Latin America next month. Lai's office had never confirmed his travel plans, but Paraguay, Taiwan's only diplomatic ally in South America, said in mid-July that Lai would visit the country in 30 days. Such a visit would likely mean Lai would need to fly through US territory. "There has been no postponement, cancellation, nor any denial of permission for the transit by the US side," spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei told reporters in Taipei. "Given the ongoing post-disaster recovery efforts in southern Taiwan, the ongoing reciprocal tariff negotiations with the US, and the relevant international situation, the president has no plans for overseas visits in the near future." In Washington, asked about the report, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told a media briefing that there had been no travel plans presented for Taiwan's president and therefore "nothing canceled." She reiterated Washington's policy that "transits by high-level Taiwan officials, including presidents, are fully consistent with our long-standing policy and practice. This has not changed." The Financial Times, citing unnamed sources, reported Tuesday that the Trump administration had denied permission for a Lai stopover in New York, after Beijing objected. China claims Taiwan is part of its territory and opposes any international exchanges with the democratic island. Asked about the reports on Tuesday, Beijing's foreign ministry reiterated its opposition to Taiwan's leaders visiting the United States. "This position is consistent, clear, and firm," spokesman Guo Jiakun said. The Financial Times said Lai decided not to travel after he was told he couldn't enter New York. Chinese and US officials held trade talks Tuesday in Stockholm, in a bid to extend a fragile truce in the face of Trump's global tariff war. While the United States does not recognise Taiwan as a country, Washington remains the island's most important partner and biggest arms supplier. Commenting on the Financial Times article, the former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi said the decision "sends a dangerous signal." "But once again, (Chinese) President Xi has achieved a victory over the values, security and economy of the United States in the Trump Administration blocking the democratically elected president of Taiwan from making a diplomatic trip through New York," Pelosi wrote on Facebook. "Let us hope President Trump's denial of this stopover in New York is not indicative of a dangerous change in US policy on Taiwan." Lai had originally planned stopovers in New York and Dallas as part of the trip to Paraguay and Central American allies Guatemala and Belize next month, Bloomberg News previously reported. They are among Taiwan's 12 remaining diplomatic allies. --AFP
Al Jazeera
an hour ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Calls for US to sanction Israeli settlers after Palestinian activist killed
Washington, DC – A spokesperson for the State Department in the United States has been questioned about the killing of Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen, allegedly at the hands of an Israeli settler previously sanctioned by the US government. At a news briefing on Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce demurred when asked whether the suspect in Hathaleen's death, Yinon Levi, would be held accountable. 'Israel has investigations that it's implementing regarding situations of this sort,' Bruce said. 'I don't know the end result of what that's going to be, nor will I comment or speculate on what should happen.' Bruce's tense exchange with reporters came one day after video circulated showing Levi opening fire on Hathaleen in the village of Umm al-Kheir in the occupied West Bank. The 31-year-old Palestinian activist later died from a gunshot wound to his chest. Levi is among several Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank who were previously sanctioned under the administration of US President Joe Biden for perpetrating violence against Palestinians. But President Donald Trump reversed those sanctions in an executive order shortly after taking office for a second term in January. The United Kingdom and the European Union, however, maintain sanctions against Levi. Hathaleen, a resident of Masafer Yatta, had helped create the Academy Award-winning documentary No Other Land, which captured the effects of illegal Israeli settlements and attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank. In Tuesday's news briefing, Bruce appeared to suggest Hathaleen's shooting happened in the 'war zone' of Gaza, before being corrected. Still, she maintained the Trump administration sought to address violence wherever it occurred. 'It's the same argument. We see this in the West Bank. We know when there's violence in general. We saw something unfold in New York City as well, with a shooting in New York City yesterday,' she said, in an apparent reference to an unrelated shooting in a Manhattan skyscraper. The State Department did not respond to a subsequent request from Al Jazeera about whether the Trump administration would revisit its sanctions policy in light of the killing. On Tuesday, Israeli media reported that Levi had been placed on house arrest after being charged with manslaughter and unlawful firearm use. Illegal settlements and Trump Hathaleen was a father of three who coordinated with several influential advocacy and lobbying groups in the US, and his death has renewed scrutiny on Trump's policies towards illegal Israeli settlements in occupied territories like the West Bank. During his first term, Trump reversed longstanding policy recognising such settlements as illegal. Such settlements are widely considered to be in violation of international law, as a means of displacing Palestinians and seizing their lands. But Israeli settlements have continued to spread rapidly in recent years and are seen as a major roadblock to future peace agreements with Palestinian leaders. Upon taking office earlier this year, Trump then revoked a raft of Biden-era executive orders, including the sanctions against Israeli settlers. The move reportedly came amid pressure from the Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During his term, Biden had been criticised for continuing to funnel aid to Israel amid its war in Gaza, but his administration showed a willingness to take a harder line when it came to settlements in the occupied West Bank. 'The situation in the West Bank — in particular high levels of extremist settler violence, forced displacement of people and villages, and property destruction — has reached intolerable levels,' Biden's executive order, dated February 2024, said. It added that Israeli actions in the West Bank constitute 'a serious threat to the peace, security, and stability of the West Bank and Gaza, Israel, and the broader Middle East region'. Violence on the parts of Israeli settlers and military forces has surged since Israel's war in Gaza began in October 7, 2023, with at least 1,000 Palestinians killed in the West Bank. Rights observers say violent settlers are often protected by the military as they attack Palestinians. Those killed have included US citizens, most recently Sayfollah Musallet, a 20-year-old resident of Florida beaten to death while visiting his family's land in the village of Sinjil. In a rare statement condemning Musallet's killing, US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, a vocal supporter of Israeli settlements, called on the country to 'aggressively investigate' what he called a 'criminal and terrorist act'. To date, no one has been arrested or charged in the killing. In a statement following Monday's attack, J Street, a left-leaning pro-Israel lobbying group, called on US lawmakers to support legislation that would codify the Biden-era sanctions against settlers like Levi. The group explained its members had 'deep, personal ties' to Hathaleen and said they were 'heartbroken and horrified' by his killing. In a post on the social media platform X on Tuesday, Congress member Delia Ramirez called Hathaleen's killing 'a painful reminder that our government and Israel continue to enable and condone violence in the West Bank'. 'We must reinstate the sanctions on West Bank settlers perpetrating violence and hold accountable all those whose extreme and escalating violence continues to rob us of our neighbors — including Trump and Netanyahu,' she wrote.
Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Map Shows Countries That Are Part of US Visa Waiver Program
United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said Monday that Argentina was likely to rejoin the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), allowing visa-free travel to the U.S. Noem said that part of the reason for the move was a rise in Argentinian tourism to the U.S. in the past year, along with low visa overstays. Adding a country to the VWP takes time and requires it to meet strict security requirements, but getting on the list means a far easier process for nationals visiting the U.S., including avoiding a new $250 "visa integrity fee" being introduced by the Trump administration. The VWP allows visitors to the U.S., including those traveling for business, to spend up to 90 days in the country without needing to apply for a visitor visa, with some caveats. There are currently 41 nations on the list, with Chile the only other South American country as of July 2025. Nationals from these countries have to apply for a what is known as an ESTA, through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, ahead of traveling, and must be approved by the U.S. Department of State through this. An ESTA currently costs $21 per application, but this will rise to $40 from October 1, 2025, following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. While that cost may affect some travelers, it will still be less than for those from other countries applying for a B visitor visa, which costs $185. That will soon have the $250 visa integrity fee added on top. For VWP applicants, there are certain criteria that must be met. The State Department will not approve ESTAs for those who: Have traveled to or been present in Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen since March 1, 2011Have traveled to or been present in Cuba since January 12, 2021Are also nationals of Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria. The VWP is also not applicable to those coming to the U.S. to study for credit, for employment, to work as foreign press or other media, or to live as a permanent resident. All of these require different immigration pathways. As for Argentina-which was part of the VWP until 2002 when economic instability and concerns around illegal immigration were raised during the Bush administration-it will have to comply with the American rules in order to rejoin. According to the State Department, a country has to share enhanced law enforcement and security-related data with the U.S., issue e-passports, have a low visitor-visa refusal rate, timely reporting of passport issues, and be able to prove it maintains high counter-terrorism, law enforcement, and border controls. In the Department of Homeland Security's press release on the intention to get Argentina back on the VWP, Noem said Argentina now had the lowest visa overstay rate in Latin America. U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, in a press release: "Argentina now has the lowest visa overstay rate in all of Latin America and 25 percent more Argentines traveled to the U.S. in the first four months of this year compared to last year-the biggest jump of any of the top 20 international arrivals. That is why we are now taking steps to allow Argentina back into the Visa Waiver Program. "This statement of intent I signed alongside Minister Werthein and Minister Bullrich highlights our strong partnership with Argentina and our mutual desire to promote lawful travel while deterring threats. This kind of diplomatic leadership, spearheaded by President Trump, will help increase the safety of both countries." Republican Florida Representative Maria Salazar, on X: "This marks a powerful step toward restoring trust, deepening U.S.-Argentina ties, and bringing Argentina back onto the world stage. Under [Javier Milei], Argentina is emerging as a regional model of economic freedom, transparency, and strong democratic values." Argentina will have to be vetted further by the U.S. government before it can rejoin the VWP. Related Articles Green-Card Changes Threaten Pastors' Ability To Remain in USTrump Admin Reveals Planned Changes to US Citizenship Test, H-1B VisasTrump Admin Identifies Gang Immigration 'Loophole'US Denies Visas to Venezuelan Little League Baseball Team 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
State Department increases reward for info on al-Qaeda leader to $10M
July 29 (UPI) -- The State Department has increased to $10 million its reward for information leading to the identification or location of the leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Sa'ad bin Atef al-Awlaki is the man the State Department says leads AQAP and has called for attacks against the United States and its allies. Al-Awlaki also has led AQAP attacks against the United States and kidnapped Americans and other Westerners in Yemen in his prior role as the amir of the Shabwah province in Yemen, according to a State Department news release issued on Tuesday. The State Department previously offered a $6 million reward for information identifying or locating al-Awlaki's whereabouts via the Rewards for Justice program. Al-Awlaki also goes by the names Sa'd Muhammad Atif and Jalaal al-Sa-idi and was born in Yemen sometime between 1978 and 1983. He stands 5'6" and has a thin build, according to the State Department. The State Department also is offering rewards of $5 million and $4 million, respectively, for information leading to the identification or location of Ibrahim al-Banna and Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud al-Qosi. Al-Banna and al-Qosi are part of the leadership team that assists al-Awlaki in his role as the leader of AQAP. Anyone with information on al-Awlaki, al-Banna or al-Qosi can contact the Rewards for Justice office via Telegram, Signal or WhatsApp at +1202-702-7843. Those using a Tor browser also can contact the Rewards for Justice's Tor-based tipline at Congress created the Rewards for Justice program in 1984, which is administered by the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security. The program offers rewards for information that helps protect American lives, U.S. interests and national security. Since its inception, Rewards for Justice has paid out more than $250 million in rewards to more than 125 people who provided information that helped protect U.S. citizens and end threats to national security. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Rudaw Net
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
US repatriates child from Rojava ISIS detention camp
Also in Syria UN Envoy urges reforms in Syria's political transition, compromise in SDF-Damascus talks Two Kurdish forces, one civilian injured in motorcycle attack in Rojava Most abducted Yazidis held in Syria amid Damascus inaction: Rescue office Bedouin families forced to leave Suwayda despite years of peaceful coexistence A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An American child who spent their entire life inside a displacement camp for individuals linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) in northeast Syria (Rojava) was brought home last week, the State Department announced Tuesday, urging other countries to follow suit for their nationals. 'Last week the United States repatriated a U.S. citizen minor from a displaced persons camp in northeast Syria for unification with the child's family,' the State Department said in a statement.'Our interagency efforts have given this child, who has known nothing of life outside of the camps, a future free from the influence and dangers of ISIS terrorism.' Thousands of individuals with suspected ISIS ties are held in al-Hol and Roj camps, both located in Rojava's Hasaka province and controlled by the Kurdish-led and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Al-Hol is the larger of the two, housing 34,927 people as of April. Of these, 15,681 were Iraqis, 15,861 Syrians, and 6,385 foreigners, according to data obtained by Rudaw English. The SDF serves as the de facto military of Rojava and is the main local partner of the US-led international anti-ISIS coalition. Around 30,000 people from over 70 countries remain in the two camps, most of them children under the age of 12, the State Department said, stressing that 'they deserve a chance at life outside the camps.' Al-Hol has become notorious for its poor conditions and has been described as a breeding ground for terrorism. Since ISIS's territorial defeat in 2019, tens of thousands of people linked to the group - mostly Iraqis and Syrians - have been held there, alongside others from across the world who traveled to join the jihadists' so-called caliphate. Iraq has been repatriating its citizens from the camps in groups and providing rehabilitation. Many other countries, however, remain reluctant to take back their nationals over fears of extremist ideology spreading at home. 'The only durable solution to the humanitarian and security crisis in these displaced persons camps in northeast Syria is for countries of origin to repatriate, rehabilitate, reintegrate, and where appropriate, ensure accountability for their nationals,' the State Department said. The same applies to former ISIS fighters held in detention centers in Rojava, Washington added, urging countries 'not to look to others to solve the problem for them,' and to share responsibility for repatriation efforts. Iraq plans to host a conference in Geneva in September to encourage more countries to repatriate their citizens from the camps, the country's national security advisor announced last month. Rojava and US officials have repeatedly called on foreign governments to take responsibility for their nationals still stranded in the camps.
