State Newswire Report News


Assistant Secretary Stewart Travels to South Africa and Egypt

From May 6-12, 2023, Assistant Secretary for Arms Control, Verification and Compliance Mallory Stewart will travel to Cape Town and Pretoria, South Africa, and Cairo, Egypt, to meet with leaders in government and academia, as well as NGO officials.


The Department of State Announces Reward Offer Against Russian Ransomware Actor

The impacts of ransomware attacks are significant and far-reaching, with victims suffering loss and disclosure of sensitive information and disruption of critical services.  Russia is a safe haven for cybercriminals, an environment in which ransomware actors are free to conduct malicious cyber operations against the United States and our partners and allies. Today, the State Department is announcing a reward offer, under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP), of up to $10 million, for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Russian national Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev for transnational organized crime. We are taking these actions Matveev for his role in ransomware incidents targeting U.S. law enforcement, businesses, and critical infrastructure around the world. In conjunction with this action, the Department of Justice unsealed two indictments against Matveev in the District of Columbia and the District of New Jersey. The Treasury Department also imposed financial sanctions on Matveev.


Securing Semiconductors: How to Scale-up Global Semiconductor Production and Protect U.S. National Security at the Same Time  

Last August, Congress passed bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which will strengthen American manufacturing, supply chains, and national security, and invest in research and development, and science and technology to keep the United States the leader in nanotechnology, clean energy, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence.


Congratulations to Department of State Employees Named as 2023 Service to America Medal Finalists

The Director General is pleased to announce that Mr. Fletcher Schoen and Ms. Jennifer Harkins of the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs have been named as finalists for the 2023 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals.


Faces of Kremlin Propaganda: Maria Zakharova

A loyal Kremlin messenger and among the most enthusiastic purveyors of Russia’s disinformation and propaganda, Maria Zakharova has served as the Russian Foreign Ministry (MFA)’s spokesperson since 2015.


Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism Landberg’s Travel to Egypt

Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism Christopher Landberg will lead the U.S. delegation to Cairo May 2-5 to participate in the 21st Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) Coordinating Committee Meeting, in which Egypt will join the European Union as incoming GCTF Co-Chairs.



AIM For Climate Summit: Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils in Africa

The U.S. Department of State, Office of the Special Envoy for Global Food Security, is organizing a breakout session during the AIM for Climate Summit that will discuss the role of developing climate-resilient seeds and improving soil health and fertility in determining the future success and sustainability of food systems.


Space Unites Us

We are wrapping up Space Diplomacy Week here at the Department of State.


Cities on a Hill: Reflections on the Inaugural Cities Summit of the Americas

Cities are on the front lines of the biggest issues facing our world today. From the climate and pollution crises to questions of effective democratic governance, cities are where it all happens.


Artemis Accords Foster Peaceful Civil Space Cooperation

The Artemis Accords bring together nations through a common set of principles to guide civil space exploration, setting the stage for peaceful, responsible, and productive cooperation in space affairs.


The Czech Republic Signs the Artemis Accords

Acting Assistant Secretary Jennifer R. Littlejohn, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, and U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic Bijan Sabet welcomed the Czech Republic as the 24th Artemis Accords signatory at a ceremony on May 3 at NASA Headquarters.


An Optimistic and Thankful Farewell: The Hard Work Will Continue and Will Succeed

Goodbyes are always hard. Soon I will be stepping down as the Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, or OES, to lead the Wildlife Conservation Society, based in New York City. Serving the people of the United States as part of the Biden Administration has been the opportunity of a lifetime.


Assistant Secretary Pyatt’s Travel to Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana

Department of State Bureau of Energy Resources (ENR) Assistant Secretary Geoffrey R. Pyatt will travel to Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and Georgetown, Guyana, May 8-10.


The Future of Central Asia’s Development: Between Russia and China

Thank you, [Ariel]. It’s wonderful to see so many colleagues here. I feel a little bit like the prodigal son coming back to a family that I was part of until nine years ago.


United States-Australia Fifth Energy Security Dialogue

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Energy Resources (ENR), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), hosted a delegation from Australia in Washington on April 25-27 for the fifth bilateral Energy Security Dialogue.


Secretary Blinken to Deliver Remarks at the World Food Prize Laureate Announcement Ceremony

This year’s World Food Prize Laureate will be announced at the 2023 World Food Prize Announcement Ceremony on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C.


Secretary Antony J. Blinken at Freedom House 2023 Annual Awards Ceremony

Let me start by thanking my good friend of so many years, Mike Abramowitz, for the honor of joining Freedom House tonight and helping you to celebrate the 2023 Annual Freedom Awards.


The Attack on AHA Centre Convoy

We are deeply concerned by reports that unknown assailants in Burma shot at an ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) convoy under military escort.


Notice of Funding Opportunity: DRL Media Literacy in Europe

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor