Secretary of State Marco Rubio waived human rights restrictions on over $300 million in military aid to Egypt, citing Cairo's helpful role in dealing with Iran and regional security. The decision reverses previous withholding of funds over human rights concerns.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanded that the Iranian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly immediately leave the country on Monday following stalled negotiations. The delegation included Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who had been involved in indirect talks with the United States during his stay in New York.
The United States military completed the withdrawal of all American troops from Iraq on Wednesday, ending a 12-year mission to fight the Islamic State group. President Donald Trump hailed the withdrawal as a victory for both countries, calling it the end of 'a very expensive excursion into Hell.'
The Trump administration has made legally binding commitments to spend almost all of the $400 million in military aid to Ukraine approved by Congress late last year, ensuring the funds will not expire on September 30. As of early this week, $307 million had been committed, with the remaining $93 million expected to be approved before the deadline.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that US President Donald Trump made a "final decision" to allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air defense interceptor missiles, a critical capability as Kyiv faces ongoing Russian aerial attacks. However, Trump has not publicly confirmed the decision.
The United States has proposed that the United Arab Emirates host a trilateral meeting between the US, Ukraine, and Russia to discuss efforts to end the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Friday. The date, format, and agenda of the proposed technical-level talks have yet to be finalized.
Taiwan rejected Chinese President Xi Jinping's remarks to US President Donald Trump during their Washington meeting, in which Xi appeared to push for a subtle change in US stance against Taiwan independence. Taiwan accused Xi of distorting facts about the island's sovereignty and its relationship with the United States.
Democratic Senators Edward Markey and Jeff Merkley led colleagues in demanding the Trump administration abandon a proposed civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, citing the deal's failure to meet the "Gold Standard" and classified U.S. intelligence indicating Saudi Arabia has not ruled out developing nuclear weapons.
President Donald Trump announced he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping twice more in 2026: in November in China and again at the G20 summit in Miami in December. Trump said "a lot of progress" had been made in talks between the two countries following Xi's recent state visit to Washington.
Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez told the UN General Assembly that the country would hold elections as part of a transition to 'full democracy,' though she did not provide a specific timeline, in her first address since taking power after US forces captured Nicolás Maduro.
The Trump administration is preparing comprehensive sanctions targeting the International Criminal Court itself, potentially disrupting payments, IT services and investigations. The move follows the ICC's arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
The United States has lifted sanctions targeting Eritrea's ruling party and military that were imposed during the Biden administration, ending a five-year national emergency over the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia. The State Department cited advancing US regional interests in the Red Sea as a reason for the decision.
The United States has lifted sanctions on Eritrea's Defense Forces, ruling party, and other entities by allowing its five-year national emergency over the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia to lapse. The Treasury Department formally removed the designations on September 18, 2026.
Jon Kyl, a Republican who served nearly 30 years in Congress representing Arizona and rose to become Senate Minority Whip, died Thursday from complications of a neurological disease. He was known for shepherding Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation and authoring the Jerusalem Embassy Act.
Myanmar's military-backed government deported Adam Castillo, a U.S. businessman and former president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar, after holding him for three months on breach of trust charges stemming from a business dispute. Authorities cited preserving diplomatic relations with the U.S. as the reason for his release, with Trump administration officials credited for securing his freedom.
Belarus released 25 political prisoners following negotiations with President Trump's special envoy John Coale, who met with authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko. The US lifted some sanctions in return, continuing a series of prisoner-for-sanctions deals since Trump's second term began.
The Trump administration is planning to deliver 40,000 powerful 2,000-pound bombs to Israel as part of a $2.8 billion arms deal, the largest such sale in years. The munitions include MK-84 and BLU-117 bombs previously linked to civilian casualties.
President Donald Trump said Irish reunification 'would be a fantastic thing' during meetings with Irish leaders, departing from longstanding US neutrality on the issue and drawing criticism from UK officials.
Trump aide Corey Lewandowski approached senior Qatari officials with a proposal to hire him on the side while he was effectively the shadow secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Kyiv for meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, marking the Trump administration's renewed push to end Russia's war in Ukraine following their earlier visit to Moscow.
The Trump administration announced it will phase out financial support for Namibia's HIV response programs after more than 20 years and $1.1 billion in total aid. The U.S. will provide a final $45 million payment in fiscal year 2027, after which Namibia will fund its own programs.
Trump administration envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow on September 5 to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a renewed push to end the Russia-Ukraine war. Both Russia and Ukraine agreed to a 72-hour pause on strikes against each other's capitals during the diplomatic talks.
President Trump announced he will ask European nations to retroactively pay back the United States for military aid and munitions previously sent to Ukraine, marking a significant shift in US policy toward allied burden-sharing.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent informed Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov at the G20 Finance Ministers Meeting in Asheville, North Carolina on August 31, 2026, that no economic relief or sanctions easing would be possible until Russia ends its war in Ukraine. The message crystallizes the Trump administration's strategy of maintaining economic pressure on Moscow.
The United States is planning to reduce health funding to 18 developing countries by 59% by 2030 through secretive bilateral deals, targeting programs that combat deadly diseases while pushing recipient nations to increase their own health spending.
The Trump administration deported over 100 individuals from Afghanistan, Cuba and other nations to eight African countries over a 10-day period, including an Afghan man whose brothers assisted the US military. The deportations to the Central African Republic and other African nations represent an expansion of third-country deportation practices.
The Trump administration has struck a deal giving the Pentagon a 35% stake in a Venezuelan oil venture led by mogul Alejandro Betancourt, marking an unusual arrangement where the U.S. government would directly collaborate in developing Venezuela's oil resources.
Border czar Tom Homan defended the Trump administration's deportation of hundreds to Haiti, even as the State Department warns Americans not to travel there for any reason. The UN reports nearly 200,000 forced deportees have been received by Haiti amid surging gang violence, prompting an emergency Security Council meeting.
President Trump announced the US has entered an agreement with Venezuela to take majority control of over 65 billion barrels of the country's oil reserves, calling it the 'biggest oil deal in world history.'
The Trump administration announced a deal to secure long-term access to a portion of Venezuela's massive oil reserves, with the US taking majority control of more than 65 billion barrels. The agreement comes as US strategic reserves have fallen to 40-year lows.
President Trump announced that the U.S. has secured a deal with Venezuela to take control of a significant portion of the country's proven oil reserves, which he described as historic and aimed at lowering gas prices. The agreement comes as U.S. strategic reserves have fallen to 40-year lows.
International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane, recently sanctioned by the United States, called on Japan to resist American pressure on ICC members to withdraw from the court. The appeal comes as Washington escalates its campaign against the Hague-based tribunal, partly in response to war crimes charges against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Trump administration formally removed Syria from its state sponsors of terrorism list on Monday, lifting decades-old economic sanctions following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also delisted Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham as a terrorist organization.
Iran denounced sweeping new U.S. economic sanctions described as 'Economic D-Day' as state terrorism, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei banning acts that could harm social cohesion amid fears of domestic unrest. Iranian officials warned that countries cooperating with the sanctions would be considered enemies and threatened to block oil shipments through the Persian Gulf.
Israel's defense minister clarified that Israeli forces will not withdraw from southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed, walking back earlier remarks suggesting indefinite occupation that drew US rebuke. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions over the fragile Lebanon agreement, with Lebanon denying it agreed to a verification mechanism for Hezbollah's disarmament.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the U.S. will roll out what he called unprecedented economic measures against Iran next week, intensifying the Trump administration's effort to force Tehran's capitulation as military operations continue.
Ukraine has halted drone strikes on oil tankers using Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk following a request from US Vice President JD Vance, according to Ukrainian officials. The pause comes despite recent Ukrainian attacks on the port that killed three people and damaged grain terminals.
Four leading US human rights organizations filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Tuesday, challenging its sanctions regime and campaign against the International Criminal Court as unconstitutional. The groups accuse the administration of using 'crippling' sanctions to undermine global justice efforts.
President Trump departed Turkey's NATO summit on a secondary military aircraft while the White House said he was aboard Air Force One, an extraordinary security operation prompted by an Iranian assassination threat. The ruse involved a catering truck to conceal the switch.
President Donald Trump rejected Iran's demand for reparations from recent US and Israeli bombardment, instead demanding that Tehran compensate Americans killed in attacks he attributed to Iran over recent decades. The exchange comes amid ongoing negotiations following a five-month military conflict.
The U.S. government has sold two sanctioned oil tankers, seized following a military raid in Venezuela in January, to Dubai-based Global Marketing Systems for scrapping. The vessels, identified as Era and Lileo (previously known as Bella 1/Marinera), will be dismantled at metal recycling facilities in India.
The Trump administration announced $1 billion in security assistance to Colombia on the inauguration day of President Abelardo De La Espriella, who has pledged a crackdown on drug trafficking and organized crime. The new right-wing leader narrowly won a June runoff election, ending Gustavo Petro's left-wing presidency.
President Donald Trump announced he is halting new military strikes against Iran, stating that Middle East allies have agreed to the parameters of a deal to end the five-month conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, contingent on a rapid agreement being finalized.
The US Senate advanced sweeping sanctions legislation targeting Russia's energy revenues as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Washington. The bill, championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham who died earlier this month, cleared its first procedural hurdle.
The Trump administration has weighed severing relations with UNHCR in recent weeks, prompting urgent diplomatic efforts by UN officials and international diplomats to persuade the United States to maintain its support for the refugee agency.
One study found that approximately 77,000 fewer children worldwide received U.S.-supported HIV treatment in the year ending October 2025 than in the previous fiscal year after Trump administration cuts and changes to foreign aid; some may have continued receiving treatment through governments or other donors. Separately, an amfAR survey of 166 PEPFAR-funded organizations in 46 countries reported more than 1,700 clinic and service-site closures and over 16,000 full-time job losses.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is traveling to Manila this weekend for meetings with Asia-Pacific countries, where he is expected to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to prepare for a possible September summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The discussions are also expected to address South China Sea disputes and regional security issues.
A Pew Research Center poll of over 40,000 people across 36 countries shows China is now viewed more positively than the United States in 25 nations, marking a historic reversal in global opinion. The survey also found Chinese President Xi Jinping is viewed more favorably than US President Donald Trump.
The United States Department of the Treasury has sanctioned Cuba's Ministry of Tourism and other state-owned companies, expanding existing sanctions to target a key sector of Cuba's economy amid growing tensions between the two countries.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Monday that the Trump administration is launching a major effort to dismantle the International Criminal Court, calling it a threat to U.S. sovereignty and urging other countries to join the campaign against the global institution.
Trump administration envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner traveled to Kyiv and Moscow for trilateral peace negotiations, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated the war appears set to continue into winter with no resolution in sight. The diplomatic push comes amid concerns from NATO defense officials about Europe's ability to sustain a prolonged conflict and as Russia prepares for parliamentary elections.
President Trump said he would remove Syria from the state sponsor of terrorism designation during a bilateral meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the NATO summit in Turkey, clearing the way for private-sector investment in Syria.
President Donald Trump said at a NATO summit in Turkey that the United States will give Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot air defense system interceptors, marking a significant shift in his approach to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump acknowledged he had not yet informed defense contractors Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, who produce the Patriot system.
President Donald Trump stated he will lift sanctions on Turkey and make a decision on selling F-35 fighter jets to Ankara during a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at a NATO summit. The move represents a significant policy shift despite concerns from Israel and questions about Turkey's S-400 missile defense system.
The UN General Assembly held a debate on the decades-long US embargo against Cuba after an overwhelming vote approved Havana's request. The session featured heated exchanges, with Cuba's foreign minister denouncing the 'ruthless' blockade and accusing the US of committing an 'act of war' over fuel shipment restrictions, while US Ambassador Mike Waltz delivered a sharp rebuke to the Cuban delegation.
President Donald Trump is traveling to Ankara, Turkey, for the annual NATO summit this week, where he will focus on enforcing defense spending pledges that alliance members made at last year's summit in response to his demands.
NATO leaders gathered in Ankara, Turkey for a summit focused on demonstrating increased European defense spending commitments to President Donald Trump. Alliance members announced at least $50 billion in defense industry deals while Trump renewed demands for Greenland and weighed allowing Turkey to purchase F-35 fighter jets.
FIFA made the unprecedented decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's automatic one-game red card ban, allowing the U.S. striker to play in Monday's World Cup round-of-16 match against Belgium. The decision came after President Donald Trump personally called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to discuss the situation.
US President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a lengthy phone call discussing Ukraine and potential peace negotiations, just as NATO leaders gathered in Ankara for their summit. The call, in which Trump positioned himself as a peacemaker, comes amid uncertainty over how to bring Putin to the negotiating table.
The United States has signed a $1.3 billion healthcare agreement with Tanzania, marking a major five-year investment in the East African nation's health sector. The pact was signed late Wednesday as part of expanding US engagement in the region.
President Trump informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of a pending Iran deal that the Israeli leader opposes, while US and Iranian officials issued conflicting statements about the status of peace negotiations aimed at ending hostilities between the two countries.
NATO's top military officer is developing new defense strategies for Europe as the United States plans to cut aircraft and warships allocated to the alliance, amid warnings from Germany that Russia could threaten NATO members by 2029.
Omar Artan, Africa's referee of the year, was barred from entering the United States for the 2026 World Cup due to alleged associations with terror organizations, according to U.S. officials. In response, UEFA announced he will officiate the prestigious European Super Cup final in August or September.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used a D-Day anniversary ceremony in France on Saturday to criticize European immigration policies, claiming Europe is being 'invaded' by migrants and drawing comparisons between wartime beach landings and contemporary immigration by sea.
The U.S. State Department announced nearly $38 million in additional funding for Ebola response efforts, bringing total direct U.S. funding to over $200 million as Congo reports rapid community spread with 71 new confirmed cases.
Negotiations between the United States and Iran have reached a deadlock over the release of $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets, according to a senior Iranian adviser, while Tehran organizes nightly pro-government demonstrations amid internal tensions and warnings of potential wider conflict.
The Trump administration announced new economic sanctions targeting Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, his wife, and members of the Castro family, marking the latest escalation in US pressure on Cuba's leadership amid ongoing food shortages and blackouts on the island.
Israeli airstrikes killed at least nine people in southern Lebanon and near Beirut on Wednesday, while Hezbollah launched cross-border attacks into northern Israel, undermining a ceasefire deal that U.S. President Donald Trump announced he had brokered earlier this week. The continued violence comes as Israeli forces maintain control of the historic Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon.
At least eight people were killed in Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon shortly after President Trump announced a partial ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah. Trump reportedly called Netanyahu to prevent a planned Israeli strike on Beirut, with the Israeli leader agreeing to scale back operations, though fighting continued in southern Lebanon.
The United States has supplied experimental antibody drugs for clinical trials in Democratic Republic of Congo as the Ebola outbreak exceeds 1,000 confirmed cases. Meanwhile, Kenya's health minister ordered a halt to construction of a US-run Ebola quarantine facility following court orders and public opposition.
The United States announced plans to pull significant military assets from NATO, including reducing fighter jets by a third, along with destroyers and submarines. No clear timeline was provided for the withdrawal as the US seeks to reduce its commitments to the alliance.
The U.S. military carried out strikes against Iranian positions, including missile launch sites, even as President Trump announced that negotiations for an Iran deal are progressing. Trump is demanding that multiple countries, including Saudi Arabia and Turkey, normalize relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords as a condition of any agreement, drawing criticism from pro-Israel hawks and GOP lawmakers concerned about concessions to Iran.
Iran's top negotiators arrived in Qatar on Monday as mediators work to finalize a deal with Washington to extend a fragile 60-day ceasefire. The talks continue despite threats from Iranian military officials against the American people.
President Trump announced Saturday that a broader agreement with Iran has been 'largely negotiated' and the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened, though he told Axios he remained '50/50' on finalizing the deal and would decide by Sunday whether to resume the war.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting NATO allies in Sweden and India as the Trump administration's abrupt policy decisions create uncertainty over U.S. support for Ukraine and strain relations with key partners. The visits come as European allies face pressure to assume greater defense responsibilities.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a message to the Cuban people offering a potential 'new relationship' with the United States while condemning the island's Communist leadership. The outreach was made in Spanish on May 20, 2026.
The World Health Organization defended its response to the Congo Ebola outbreak after Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the agency as being 'a little late,' with WHO noting that national authorities are responsible for initial outbreak detection.
President Trump is reportedly growing impatient with Cuba's government maintaining power despite months of U.S. pressure, prompting warnings from both Senate Republicans and over 30 members of Congress against military strikes or invasion. Lawmakers cite concerns about military overextension with Iran and the use of Guantánamo Bay for migrant detention.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Friday, urging European allies to take concrete action against Iran and support efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while expressing frustration that allies are not backing Washington's confrontational approach.
Pope Leo marked his first anniversary as head of the Catholic Church by calling on world leaders to calm global tensions and reduce hatred, one day after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican.
CIA analysis indicates Iran retains 70% of its pre-war missile stockpile and can sustain the Strait of Hormuz blockade for months, directly contradicting public statements from US officials about Iran's degraded capabilities.
President Trump has publicly criticized Pope Leo over the pontiff's stance on Iran, accusing him of endangering Catholics, while the Pope denied Trump's claim that he supports nuclear weapons. The dispute comes ahead of Secretary of State Rubio's trip to Rome and marks what Vatican officials describe as an unprecedented low in U.S.-Vatican relations.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to the Vatican for talks with Pope Leo XIV in what observers view as an effort to repair strained relations between the White House and the Holy See. The Vatican emphasized the need to work for peace during the meeting, which follows weeks of tension including a reported clash over Iran policy.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared from the White House briefing room that U.S. military operations in Iran known as 'Operation Epic Fury' have concluded, while announcing a transition to 'Project Freedom' and emphasizing the need to address Iranian nuclear material.
Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced plans to significantly expand the military by adding 75,000 soldiers in response to the US decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany. The move represents a major shift in German defense policy amid NATO tensions.
The United States is pitching a new international coalition to restore maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz after shipping has stalled in the critical waterway. The initiative aims to secure passage for commercial vessels through one of the world's most important oil transit chokepoints.
Iraqi President tasked businessman and political outsider Ali al-Zaidi with forming a new government after months of gridlock. The appointment came after Trump opposed the nomination of pro-Iran former PM al-Maliki.
At the White House state dinner, President Trump claimed King Charles III shares his position on Iran's nuclear program, saying "Charles agrees with me even more than I do, we're never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon", drawing the traditionally apolitical monarch into a live diplomatic controversy.
