News and reports from the State Department.

Mongolian Lunar New Year

INTERETHNIC RECONCILIATION AND YOUTH SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM grant opened on Feb. 27.

Country-wide Management of English for Workforce Development Program in Pakistan grant opened on Feb. 27.

News Release: The following text reflects the Joint Communique following today’s meeting in Aqaba, Jordan

Release: U.S. Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons Jessica Stern will be in Sydney, February 27 to March 5, to participate in WorldPride. WorldPride is an event that began in 2000 and promotes LGBTQI+ issues internationally via festivals, cultural activities, and a human rights conference.

Release: Nine years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine and seized Crimea - a clear violation of international law and of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The United States welcomes the efforts of Ukraine’s Crimea Platform to focus global attention on Russia’s continued occupation. The United States does not and never will recognize Russia’s purported annexation of the peninsula. Crimea is Ukraine.

News Release: U.S. Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons Jessica Stern will be in Sydney, February 27 to March 5, to participate in WorldPride. WorldPride is an event that began in 2000 and promotes LGBTQI+ issues internationally via festivals, cultural activities, and a human rights conference.

News Release: Washington, D.C. - House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul joined ABC’s “This Week" with Martha Raddatz this morning to discuss his recent visit to Ukraine, where he conducted vigorous, in-person oversight of U.S. assistance and met with top officials in the country. They also discussed the “unholy alliance" between Vladimir Putin and Chairman Xi in China.

News Release: Nine years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine and seized Crimea - a clear violation of international law and of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The United States welcomes the efforts of Ukraine’s Crimea Platform to focus global attention on Russia’s continued occupation. The United States does not and never will recognize Russia’s purported annexation of the peninsula. Crimea is Ukraine.

Release: Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Ambassador Bonnie D. Jenkins will travel to Geneva, Switzerland, from February 27-28, 2023, to lead the U.S. Delegation to the 2023 Conference on Disarmament High Level segment and demonstrate the United States’ continued commitment to multilateral disarmament and arms control. While in Geneva, the Under Secretary will also hold bilateral meetings and attend side events.

Safeguarding Cultural Heritage in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa grant opened on Feb. 27.

Release: The following text reflects the Joint Communique following today’s meeting in Aqaba, Jordan.

News Release: Washington, D.C. - House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul released the following statement in response to the Department of Energy (DOE) assessment that concludes the COVID-19 pandemic was most likely caused by a lab leak in China. Their report reiterates the same finding in Chairman McCaul’s report from August 2021, which found a preponderance of the evidence proved the virus was leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

News Release: Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Ambassador Bonnie D. Jenkins will travel to Geneva, Switzerland, from February 27-28, 2023, to lead the U.S. Delegation to the 2023 Conference on Disarmament High Level segment and demonstrate the United States’ continued commitment to multilateral disarmament and arms control. While in Geneva, the Under Secretary will also hold bilateral meetings and attend side events.

News Release: Washington, D.C. - House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul released the following statement in response to the Department of Energy (DOE) assessment that concludes the COVID-19 pandemic was most likely caused by a lab leak in China. Their report reiterates the same finding in Chairman McCaul’s report from August 2021, which found a preponderance of the evidence proved the virus was leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.