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Kerry meets family of slain US diplomat

April 15, 2013 20:00
US Secretary of State John Kerry Monday met with the family of a young diplomat killed in Afghanistan, making an extra stop at the end of a 10-day trip to pay his condolences. Kerry, who had met Anne Smedinghoff during a trip to Afghanistan last month, diverted his plane to make a special visit to Chicago as he flew back from Asia. The "private" meeting with Smedinghoff's parents, her siblings and the fiance of one of her sisters lasted about an hour, officials said.

Chinese president meets U.S. secretary of state

April 15, 2013 14:25
President Xi Jinping on Saturday met with visiting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to discuss bilateral ties and issues of common concern.Xi first recalled Kerry's last visit to China as chairman of the U.S. Senate foreign relations committee in May 2009.Xi described Kerry as a veteran U.S. statesman, adding that he appreciates Kerry's commitment to developing U.S.-China ties.Kerry is the second U.S. Cabinet member Xi has met since becoming president in March, following U.S.

Kerry to visit family of U.S. diplomat killed in Afghanistan

April 15, 2013 03:16
TOKYO (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday he will go to Chicago on his return from a 10-day overseas tour to visit the family of a young diplomat who was killed in Afghanistan earlier this month. Anne Smedinghoff, 25, was killed along with four other Americans in a car bomb blast on April 6 as their convoy travelled in the southern province of Zabul to deliver textbooks to school children. Her parents live near Chicago.

Kerry to visit family of diplomat killed in Afghanistan

April 15, 2013 02:45
US Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday he would be making a stop on the way home from a 10-day overseas tour to visit the family of a young diplomat killed in Afghanistan. "The reason that I'm stopping in Chicago is to visit the parents of Anne Smedinghoff," Kerry told embassy staff just before leaving Tokyo, referring to a 25-year-old American who died in a bomb attack earlier this month. Smedinghoff was one of five Americans who died in separate attacks on April 6 in Afghanistan, one of the deadliest days of the year so far for foreigners in the war-torn country.

Kerry to visit family of diplomat killed in Afghanistan

April 15, 2013 02:30
US Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday he would be making a stop on the way home from a 10-day overseas tour to visit the family of a young diplomat killed in Afghanistan. "The reason that I'm stopping in Chicago is to visit the parents of Anne Smedinghoff," Kerry told embassy staff just before leaving Tokyo, referring to a 25-year-old American who died in a bomb attack earlier this month. Smedinghoff was one of five Americans killed in separate attacks on April 6 in Afghanistan, one of the deadliest days of the year so far for foreigners in the war-torn country.

In Tokyo, Kerry defends U.S. strategic pivot to Asia

April 15, 2013 02:15
By Arshad Mohammed TOKYO (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry defended the re-orientation of U.S. foreign policy toward Asia on Monday as he ended a trip to the region dominated by concerns about North Korea's nuclear programmes. The "rebalancing" of the United States toward Asia has caused unease in Beijing, which has tended to focus on the military dimensions of the strategy and to view it as a way to contain China's rise.

US 'committed' to defend Japan from N.Korea threats

April 14, 2013 08:00
US Secretary of State John Kerry told Japan Sunday the United States would protect it from North Korea's threats, after securing a commitment from China to rein in the unpredictable regime. After a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo, where Patriot missiles have been deployed in anticipation of a missile launch by the North, Kerry pledged the US would backstop its ally. "The United States is fully committed to the defence of Japan," Kerry told a joint press conference with Fumio Kishida, Japan's Foreign Minister, in Tokyo.

US State Department cuts budget by 6%

April 10, 2013 17:00
The US State Department proposed Wednesday a $47.8 billion budget -- six percent less than in 2012 -- with cuts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and increases for Asia programs and embassy security. Secretary of State John Kerry said the budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1 strikes a balance between furthering US security and economic interests while helping to curb the country's runaway deficits.

Kerry pledges 'new efforts' to revive West Bank economy

April 9, 2013 09:02
US Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday pledged "new efforts" to revive the West Bank economy and remove barriers to growth after three days of talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. "We agreed among us... that we are going to engage in new efforts, very specific efforts, to promote economic development and remove some of the bottlenecks and barriers that exist with respect to commerce in the West Bank," he said.

Technical problem delays Kerry's flight to Turkey

April 6, 2013 09:50
A technical mishap delayed US Secretary of State John Kerry's departure to Turkey on Saturday at the start of a globe-trotting tour focused on the crises in Syria and North Korea. Kerry was to have left Washington at 7:00 am (1100 GMT) but a problem with the plane's door forced Kerry, his wife Teresa Heinz Kerry, security guards, travelling press and staff to disembark for at least two hours. A second plane, which like the first was painted blue and white and emblazoned with the words United States of America, was hurriedly stocked and prepared for takeoff.
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