By , , and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — The United States has scaled back its role on the world stage, taken actions that are undermining efforts to battle the and left the international community without a traditional global leader, according to experts, diplomats and analysts.The US – usually at the head of the table helping to coordinate in global crises – has declined to take a seat at virtual international meetings convened by the World Health Organization and the European Union to coordinate work on potentially lifesaving vaccines.Former world leaders warn that the Trump...…By , , and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — The United States has scaled back its role on the world stage, taken actions that are undermining efforts to battle the and left the international community without a traditional global leader, according to experts, diplomats and analysts.The US – usually at the head of the table helping to coordinate in global crises – has declined to take a seat at virtual international meetings convened by the World Health Organization and the European Union to coordinate work on potentially lifesaving vaccines.Former world leaders warn that the Trump...WW…

By , and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — President Donald Trump on Friday fired State Department Inspector General Steve Linick, that have come in the wake of the President’s acquittal on articles of impeachment earlier this year.Trump announced his intent to remove Linick on Friday, yet another late-night firing of an inspector general as the media’s attention was focused on the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than 87,000 Americans. The dismissal drew immediate condemnation from top Democrats who accused the President of engaging in a pattern of retaliation...…By , and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — President Donald Trump on Friday fired State Department Inspector General Steve Linick, that have come in the wake of the President’s acquittal on articles of impeachment earlier this year.Trump announced his intent to remove Linick on Friday, yet another late-night firing of an inspector general as the media’s attention was focused on the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than 87,000 Americans. The dismissal drew immediate condemnation from top Democrats who accused the President of engaging in a pattern of retaliation...WW…

(CNN)Six US oil executives who traveled to Venezuela in 2017 and were arrested on corruption charges have been found guilty, according to a person familiar with the case. Tomeu Vadell, Gustavo Cardenas, Jorge Toledo, Alirio Jose Zambrano, Jose Luis Zambrano and Jose Angel Pereira were sentenced to between 8 and 13 years, the source said.Efforts to release the men will continue despite the sentencing, according to the source.The guilty verdicts punctuate a years-long saga that began in November 2017 when the men received a call from the head of Venezuelan oil giant PDVSA summoning them to...…(CNN)Six US oil executives who traveled to Venezuela in 2017 and were arrested on corruption charges have been found guilty, according to a person familiar with the case. Tomeu Vadell, Gustavo Cardenas, Jorge Toledo, Alirio Jose Zambrano, Jose Luis Zambrano and Jose Angel Pereira were sentenced to between 8 and 13 years, the source said.Efforts to release the men will continue despite the sentencing, according to the source.The guilty verdicts punctuate a years-long saga that began in November 2017 when the men received a call from the head of Venezuelan oil giant PDVSA summoning them to...WW…

Stay Updated on Developing StoriesView in AppBy Jennifer Hansler, CNN(CNN) After more than four months, the US State Department on Thursday lifted its advisory warning US citizens against traveling abroad.The department -- the highest level of travel advisory -- on March 19, urging US citizens not to travel overseas due to the coronavirus pandemic.However, "(w)ith health and safety conditions improving in some countries and potentially deteriorating in others, the Department is returning to our previous system of country-specific levels of travel advice (with Levels from 1-4 depending on...…Stay Updated on Developing StoriesView in AppBy Jennifer Hansler, CNN(CNN) After more than four months, the US State Department on Thursday lifted its advisory warning US citizens against traveling abroad.The department -- the highest level of travel advisory -- on March 19, urging US citizens not to travel overseas due to the coronavirus pandemic.However, "(w)ith health and safety conditions improving in some countries and potentially deteriorating in others, the Department is returning to our previous system of country-specific levels of travel advice (with Levels from 1-4 depending on...WW…

Washington (CNN)US and Iranian officials say they have aimed at bringing the United States back to the 2015 nuclear deal and Iran back into compliance with it, but US officials stressed that a long road remains ahead.Representatives from the countries that are still members of the deal -- China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and Iran -- and the European Union have met several times in Vienna this month to work on salvaging the deal. A delegation from the US, which left the pact in 2018, has also been in the Austrian capital for indirect talks with Iran.Iranian President Hassan...…Washington (CNN)US and Iranian officials say they have aimed at bringing the United States back to the 2015 nuclear deal and Iran back into compliance with it, but US officials stressed that a long road remains ahead.Representatives from the countries that are still members of the deal -- China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and Iran -- and the European Union have met several times in Vienna this month to work on salvaging the deal. A delegation from the US, which left the pact in 2018, has also been in the Austrian capital for indirect talks with Iran.Iranian President Hassan...WW…

Washington (CNN)The Biden administration intends to move forward with $23 billion in proposed arms sales to the United Arab Emirates even as it continues its review of pending weapons transfers, a State Department spokesperson told CNN Wednesday.The Trump administration last yearthe controversial sale, which includes F-35 aircraft and armed drones, despite bipartisan congressional concern about the speed at which it was pursued and its potential impact on human rights and broader regional security. Secretary of State Tony Blinken that the administration was reviewing pending arms sales, as...…Washington (CNN)The Biden administration intends to move forward with $23 billion in proposed arms sales to the United Arab Emirates even as it continues its review of pending weapons transfers, a State Department spokesperson told CNN Wednesday.The Trump administration last yearthe controversial sale, which includes F-35 aircraft and armed drones, despite bipartisan congressional concern about the speed at which it was pursued and its potential impact on human rights and broader regional security. Secretary of State Tony Blinken that the administration was reviewing pending arms sales, as...WW…

Washington (CNN)President Joe Biden's decision to pull US troops by September marks a pivotal moment after almost 20 years of war in the country and thousands of lives lost -- it also signals a coming shift in US focus and resources overseas. Biden administration officials said Tuesday that the President has ordered the remaining 2,500 or so troops in the country to begin a drawdown before May 1 and that all should be gone by the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, which triggered the US-led invasion of Afghanistan and the war that followed. A senior administration official said the...…Washington (CNN)President Joe Biden's decision to pull US troops by September marks a pivotal moment after almost 20 years of war in the country and thousands of lives lost -- it also signals a coming shift in US focus and resources overseas. Biden administration officials said Tuesday that the President has ordered the remaining 2,500 or so troops in the country to begin a drawdown before May 1 and that all should be gone by the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, which triggered the US-led invasion of Afghanistan and the war that followed. A senior administration official said the...WW…

By , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — President Joe Biden revoked a Trump executive order that authorized sanctions on International Criminal Court officials and lifted sanctions on two officials, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement Friday.Blinken also said the State Department terminated another Trump-era policy to impose visa restrictions on certain ICC officials.“These decisions reflect our assessment that the measures adopted were inappropriate and ineffective,” he said.The reversal of the Trump administration’s punitive actions toward the ICC were applauded by...…By , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — President Joe Biden revoked a Trump executive order that authorized sanctions on International Criminal Court officials and lifted sanctions on two officials, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement Friday.Blinken also said the State Department terminated another Trump-era policy to impose visa restrictions on certain ICC officials.“These decisions reflect our assessment that the measures adopted were inappropriate and ineffective,” he said.The reversal of the Trump administration’s punitive actions toward the ICC were applauded by...WW…

By , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — Secretary of State said in a statement Wednesday that the United States had received the $335 million settlement from Sudan that will be paid out to victims and families of individuals impacted by the 1998 bombings at the US Embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, the 2000 attack on the USS Cole, and the murder of a USAID employee in Khartoum.“Achieving compensation for these victims has been a top priority for the Department of State. We hope this aids them in finding some resolution for the terrible tragedies that occurred,” Blinken said.The...…By , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — Secretary of State said in a statement Wednesday that the United States had received the $335 million settlement from Sudan that will be paid out to victims and families of individuals impacted by the 1998 bombings at the US Embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, the 2000 attack on the USS Cole, and the murder of a USAID employee in Khartoum.“Achieving compensation for these victims has been a top priority for the Department of State. We hope this aids them in finding some resolution for the terrible tragedies that occurred,” Blinken said.The...WW…

Washington (CNN)Former national security adviser has leveled a stunning accusation against his former boss, claiming in his new book that President Donald Trump personally asked his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, to help him win the 2020 US presidential election, according to a copy obtained by CNN Wednesday. Bolton also charged that when Xi told Trump last year that was building concentration camps for the mass detention of Uyghur Muslims, Trump said Xi should go ahead building the camps, "which he thought was exactly the right thing to do."At another meeting during last year's G-20...…Washington (CNN)Former national security adviser has leveled a stunning accusation against his former boss, claiming in his new book that President Donald Trump personally asked his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, to help him win the 2020 US presidential election, according to a copy obtained by CNN Wednesday. Bolton also charged that when Xi told Trump last year that was building concentration camps for the mass detention of Uyghur Muslims, Trump said Xi should go ahead building the camps, "which he thought was exactly the right thing to do."At another meeting during last year's G-20...WW…