State Dept. plans to close diplomatic missions and fire employees overseas
(NYTimes) — Senior State Department officials have drawn up plans to close a dozen consulates overseas by this summer and are considering shutting down many more missions, in what could be a blow to the U.S. government’s efforts to build partnerships and gather intelligence, U.S. officials say. The department also plans to lay off many local citizens who work for its hundreds of missions. Those workers make up two-thirds of the agency’s workforce, and in many countries, they form the foundation of U.S. diplomats’ knowledge of their environments. The shrinking is part of both President Donald Trump’s larger slashing of the federal government and his “America first” foreign policy.
House censures Al Green
for heckling Trump during
speech to Congress
(NYTimes) — The House on Thursday officially rebuked Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, whom Republicans ejected from the chamber Tuesday for standing and heckling President Donald Trump during his address to a joint session of Congress. A resolution of censure passed 224-198, with 10 Democrats joining Republicans in support of the punishment. Green and Rep. Shomari Figures, a first-term Democrat from Alabama, both voted “present.” But when Green stepped into the well of the House to receive his official scolding for a “breach of proper conduct,” the floor devolved into a scene of chaos. Green led colleagues in singing the gospel anthem “We Shall Overcome” as Speaker Mike Johnson finished reading the censure.
South Korean fighter jets mistakenly bomb village
(NYTimes) — A South Korean village near the North Korean border was mistakenly shelled Thursday by two fighter jets from the South’s own air force, leaving 15 people injured and damaging homes and a church. The jets were taking part in a joint exercise with the U.S. military when each of them dropped four bombs, according to the South’s military. The bombs were meant to hit a range several miles from the village, but at least one of the South Korean pilots had entered inaccurate coordinates, the military said. Four of the injured people were seriously wounded and required surgery, municipal officials said.
Faithful hear Pope Francis’
voice for first time in 3 weeks
(NYTimes) — For the first time in three weeks, the world heard the voice of a hospitalized Pope Francis on Thursday evening, when an audio recording was played over loudspeakers before the rosary that the faithful have been praying each day in St. Peter’s Square. “I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health from the square,” Francis said. “I accompany you from here. May God bless you and the Virgin protect you. Thank you.” The pope spoke slowly in his native Spanish. His voice set off an eruption of applause in the square. The Vatican said the message had been recorded earlier that day.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
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