Threats

US Vacates Embassy as Uncertainty Grows in Yemen

Employees are racing to remove weapons and documents from the compound in Sanaa, which will shut down this week.

Policy

Here Are All the US Ambassador Nominees the Senate Left in Limbo

After a flurry of confirmations, the Senate left a dozen U.S. ambassador nominees hanging until next year. By Charles S. Clark

Policy

Kerry Says the Fight Against the Islamic State Could Expand Beyond Iraq and Syria

Secretary of State John Kerry says Congress shouldn’t limit geography or ground combat in the war against the Islamic State. By Molly O’Toole

Ideas

Four Ways the US Can Help the African Union Stand on Its Own

A united and capable Africa appeals to both regional players and Washington, which increasingly views violence within Africa’s many fragile states as enabling conditions for terrorists with growing global ambitions. By Stewart M. Patrick

Threats

The State Department's Reluctance To Disclose Hacking Unsettles Lawmakers

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle demand to know why the State Department waited at least a month before disclosing its unclassified email system had been hacked. By Aliya Sternstein

Threats

State Department and White House Networks Hacked at the Same Time

The breaches have forced officials to take down the State Department's unclassified email system for repairs, disrupting email traffic and access to public websites. By Aliya Sternstein

Threats

John Kerry: The Cold War Was 'Easy' Compared to Today

The Secretary of State says more economically powerful countries make today's political landscape more complex than it was 50 years ago. By Kaveh Waddell

Ideas

Counterterrorism Messaging Needs To Move From State to CIA

The information battleground against the Islamic State should be fought by the CIA. Here’s why. By Philip Seib

Business

State Department Clears Sale of 46,000 Tank Rounds for Iraq

The pending sale would bolster the Iraqi Army, which has been fighting Islamic State militants all year. By Marcus Weisgerber

Threats

U.S. Evacuates Embassy in Libya

Ongoing violence between Libyan militias forced the State Department to evacuate the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli on Saturday. By Stephanie Gaskell

Science & Tech

U.S. Embassies Get $275 Million to Secure Communications Systems

The State Department is spending $275 million over the next five years to upgrade its communications systems at more than 300 U.S. embassies and consulates. By Frank Konkel

Threats

Putin Is Ignoring Kerry's Warning on Ukraine

Secretary of State Kerry warned Moscow to pull back from Ukraine 'within hours' -- that was 5 days ago. By Marina Koren

Policy

Senate Politics Leave 28 Countries With No U.S. Ambassador

Nominations for U.S. ambassadors are gathering dust as partisan posturing holds up their Senate confirmation. Never mind that the world’s on fire. By Molly O’Toole

Science & Tech

The State Department Is Fighting With ISIL on Twitter

The State Department is taking to Twitter, Tumblr and YouTube to push back on messaging by al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, al-Shabab and ISIL. By Rebecca Carroll

Threats

A Political Solution to Iraq Crisis Won’t Come Easy

Secretary of State John Kerry is urging Iraq to create a new government – but that’s going to take time as ISIL fighters continue to advance. By Stephanie Gaskell

Policy

Here are the Democrats Picked for Benghazi Committee Duty

Pelosi picks Armed Service Committee's Smith and veteran Tammy Duckworth to joust with GOP's Benghazi team. By Elahe Izadi and Sarah Mimms

Threats

Terrorist Attacks Have Increased By 43 Percent in the Last Year

A decentralized al-Qaeda focused on less global objectives, while Syria honed its reputation as both factory and battleground for new fighters. By Kedar Pavgi and Ben Watson

Ideas

The Unraveling of Kerry’s Bid for Mideast Peace

Will the secretary of state's "strategic patience" with Israeli and Palestinian leaders pay off? By David Rohde

Threats

Kerry: NATO Members Must Increase Military Spending

Secretary Kerry, claiming Russia has ‘escalated the crisis even further’ in Ukraine, tells under-spending NATO member states it’s time to pay up. By Ben Watson

Threats

Kerry Warns Russia: The U.S. Is 'Ready to Act'

A week after the Geneva agreement, Secretary of State John Kerry says Russia 'has refused to take a single concrete step in the right direction.' By Matt Berman