envoy

14 Stories

Ambassador's Mustache That Irked a Nation Is No More

Harry Harris' facial hair was too harsh a reminder of Japanese colonialism for some

(Newser) - To most Americans, Harry Harris' mustache likely wouldn't cause a second glance. But to South Koreans, the US ambassador's facial hair became a lightning rod —and over the weekend, he finally shaved it off. The envoy headed to a barbershop in Seoul on Saturday to go under...

Trump's Envoy to Ukraine Quits Amid Whistleblower Hubbub

Kurt Volker steps down after Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani says they were in frequent contact

(Newser) - Kurt Volker, a former US ambassador to NATO caught in the middle of a whistleblower complaint over President Trump's dealings with Ukraine, resigned Friday from his post as special envoy to the Eastern European nation, according to a US official. The official said Volker told Secretary of State Mike...

Post-Khashoggi, Saudis Make a Major Move

The kingdom names a female envoy to the US

(Newser) - You're not seeing things: The next Saudi ambassador to America is a woman. The kingdom appointed Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan to the post Saturday in an apparent attempt to ease relations with Washington after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the New York Times reports. The daughter...

Envoy Scott Brown Is Warned After Remarks to Guests

Ambassador to New Zealand says he'll be more 'culturally aware' in future

(Newser) - The US ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa is blaming the "blood sport" of politics for the kerfuffle he's in over comments he made while visiting the latter islands. Per the New York Times , witnesses told local media that former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown acted "obnoxiously" at...

Vatican Envoy Accused of Sex Abuse Is Dead

Jozef Wesolowski was to be first high-ranking official tried for such crimes

(Newser) - Jozef Wesolowski will never see his day in court. The 67-year-old ex-envoy for the Vatican to the Dominican Republic, who was awaiting trial on charges of sexually abusing children there, died today of apparent natural causes, the Vatican reports via the AP . His body was found in the room at...

US Names 1st Global Envoy for LGBT Rights

Randy Berry will help fight discrimination overseas

(Newser) - The US named its first international envoy for gay rights today, tasking a veteran diplomat with leading the country's efforts to fight violence and discrimination against LGBT individuals overseas. Randy Berry, currently the consul general in the Netherlands, will promote human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals,...

Clinton Calls for Historic Meeting of US Envoys

Nearly all 260 ambassadors will come together today

(Newser) - What with the crisis in Egypt and the fallout from the leaked diplomatic cables , the last few months haven’t exactly been calm for Hillary Clinton—and now the secretary of state is calling for an unprecedented meeting of US ambassadors. The top envoys from almost all of America’s...

In Venezuela Feud, US Yanks Ambassador's Visa

The move is a response to Venezuela's rejection of US envoy

(Newser) - The US and Venezuela aren’t playing nice in the sandbox: The US has revoked the visa of Bernardo Alvarez, Venezuelan ambassador since 2003, following Venezuela's Dec. 20 rejection of American envoy Larry Palmer. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has refused to welcome Palmer since July, when Palmer angered him by...

UN May Tap 'Envoy' to Greet ET
 UN May Tap 'Envoy' to Greet ET 
Sep 27, 2010 3:16 AM CDT

UN May Tap 'Envoy' to Greet ET

(Newser) - ET, phone the General Assembly. United Nations scientific advisory committees are about to debate whether to place the organization's Office for Outer Space Affairs in charge of coordinating humankind's response if and when extraterrestrials make contact. The unit's boss is Malaysian astrophysicist Mazlan Othman, called "absolutely the nearest thing...

Biden Has Tricky Balancing Act on Iraq Visit

(Newser) - High-level officials of Joe Biden's caliber usually stay in places like Iraq for a few hours, max. Biden, however, is now gearing up for the second day of his surprise visit. No wonder: In his new role as a sort of unofficial envoy to the nation, Biden has no small...

Clinton Moves to Beef Up State
Clinton Moves
to Beef Up State
Dec 23, 2008 8:20 AM CST

Clinton Moves to Beef Up State

Bigger budget, expanded role sought for department that withered under Bush

(Newser) - Hillary Clinton is already working to restore some of the strength sapped from the State Department under the Bush administration, the New York Times reports. Clinton is seeking a bigger budget for the department and wants to restore the role played by high-profile special envoys. Officials say Clinton also wants...

Hello, China: Meet Japan's New Envoy

Japan tabs pop icon to bring in visitors from China

(Newser) - Hello Kitty has been tapped as Japan’s cultural envoy to China, the AP reports. Japan’s ministry of tourism chose the über-popular icon to represent the country in its drive to attract 10 million annual visitors to the islands. Last year, tourists from China and Hong Kong made...

Hamas Rips Blair Peace Mission
Hamas Rips Blair Peace Mission
Jun 28, 2007 5:18 AM CDT

Hamas Rips Blair Peace Mission

Former Brit chief 'not honest, not helpful'

(Newser) - Hamas, the Palestinian group now in control of Gaza, blasted Tony Blair's appointment as a Mideast peace envoy yesterday, characterizing the former British prime minister as "not honest and not helpful," and a puppet of the US and Israel, the BBC reports. Blair's new role, formalized hours after...

Blair Tapped as Mideast Envoy
Blair Tapped as Mideast Envoy
Jun 26, 2007 4:31 AM CDT

Blair Tapped as Mideast Envoy

He'll prepare Palestinians for Israeli talks

(Newser) - Tony Blair will move into a key post as international Mideast peace envoy after  wrapping up 10 years as British prime minister tomorrow. President Bush personally mounted an "enormous push"  for the appointment, which will be based in Jerusalem and will involve working with the Palestinians to prepare...

14 Stories