U.S. State Department

August 7, 2026 11:37 AM

U.S. and ASEAN chair call for unconditional release of Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi

The U.S. State Department and the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Friday reiterated their calls for the unconditional release of Myanmar's detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners. On Monday, Aung San Suu Kyi met with a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross after years of questions over her health and well-being following her detention in a February 2021 coup that ousted an elected civilian government led by her. In s...

May 4, 2026 12:50 PM

US calls Taiwan ‘trusted and capable’ partner, praises its ties with Eswatini

Taiwan is a "trusted and capable" partner of the United States and Taipei's global relationships, including with Eswatini, provide significant benefits, the U.S. State Department said of President Lai Ching-te's trip to the southern African kingdom. Lai arrived in the former Swaziland on Saturday on a surprise visit after his government blamed Chinese pressure for nixing an earlier trip planned for last month by getting three Indian Ocean states to deny overflight permission for his aircraft. ...

March 3, 2026 8:12 PM

US struggling to de-risk Congo’s ‘war zone minerals’ even after pact, sources say

The U.S. has made progress in its push to prise Congo's strategic minerals from China's orbit, but conflict, contested licences and compliance demands are still slowing Washington's advance into a region its rival dominates, diplomats and industry officials said. Democratic Republic of Congo, which hosts the world's largest cobalt supply and rich copper and lithium reserves, is central to the U.S. push to cut the West's reliance on China for rare minerals. After the U.S. and Congo signed a min...

September 16, 2024 6:12 PM

India rejects “deeply biased” US report on international religious freedom

The Indian government has strongly rejected the U.S. State Department's 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom, describing it as "deeply biased" and lacking in understanding of India's social dynamics. In a statement delivered during a weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal criticized the report, saying, "As in the past, the report is deeply biased, lacks an understanding of India's social fabric, and is visibly driven by votebank consi...

June 24, 2024 11:21 PM

US upgrades Vietnam in human trafficking report despite concerns

The U.S. State Department on Monday boosted Vietnam's ranking on a human trafficking report, even as it cited concerns that the Southeast Asian country had failed to launch investigations into government officials complicit in trafficking crimes. A rights group last week accused Hanoi of giving misleading information and attempting to cover up trafficking cases involving officials in its communication with U.S. officials over the annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report. Washington removed V...