An American nurse and her child were kidnapped near Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince on Thursday, according to the nonprofit organization El Roi Haiti. The U.S. State Department has confirmed that it is aware of the reports and is working with Haitian authorities and other U.S. government interagency partners to investigate the incident. El Roi Haiti has asked for prayers for the safe return of Alix and her child, which is a reminder of the dangers of living and working in the country.
Posts tagged as “the U.S. State Department”
On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that there has been contact between the U.S. and Russia regarding a possible prisoner swap involving Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, both of whom are considered "wrongfully detained." The same day, the U.S. ambassador to Russia met with Gershkovich in Moscow, and Peskov said that any discussions about a prisoner swap must be kept in complete silence. It is unclear if the two countries have made any progress in their negotiations.
American journalist Evan Gershkovich has been wrongfully detained in Russia since March and his pre-trial detention has been extended until August 30th by the Lefortovsky District Court in Moscow. The U.S. State Department and international human rights groups have called for his release, while the Russian Foreign Ministry has accused him of espionage without providing any evidence.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has been wrongfully detained in Russia since late March, prompting a letter-writing campaign from friends and colleagues to keep his spirits high. President Joe Biden has addressed the situation, saying he is doing everything in his power to secure Gershkovich's release. The letters must be written in Russian and mailed from inside the country in order to be received.
The U.S. State Department has successfully evacuated hundreds of American citizens from Sudan after two weeks of deadly fighting. The evacuation was conducted with the help of American unmanned aircraft, providing armed overwatch for a bus convoy carrying 200-300 Americans over 500 miles. The State Department is continuing to monitor the situation and provide assistance to those who wish to leave the country.
American journalist Evan Gershkovich, who is currently jailed in Russia, has been charged with espionage by the Federal Security Service (FSB). Gershkovich, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, has entered a formal denial of the charges, which have been widely condemned as "baseless" and "fabricated." U.S. officials have called for Gershkovich's immediate release, and the Wall Street Journal has also called for his release, saying that the charges against him are "unfounded and politically motivated."
The U.S. State Department is facing an "unprecedented demand" for passports as Americans prepare to travel again following the COVID-19 pandemic. The State Department is receiving 500,000 passport applications a week, with wait times of 10 to 13 weeks for a regular passport and seven to nine weeks for an expedited passport. The State Department is hiring additional staff and increasing resources to meet the increased demand and is urging travelers to plan ahead and apply for passports as soon as possible.
Iran executed a dual Iranian-British national on Saturday, sparking immediate anger from the U.S., UK and other countries who have sanctioned Iran over the protests. This execution is believed to be part of an ongoing power struggle within Iran's theocracy, and has further escalated tensions with the West. The U.S. and UK have condemned the execution and demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners in Iran, highlighting the human rights violations committed by the Iranian government.