Washington, DC - The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the Assad regime’s deadly airstrikes yesterday on a market in the Damascus suburb of Douma, where more than 100 people were killed and hundreds were injured. The Assad regime’s brutal attacks on Syria’s cities have killed thousands of people and destroyed schools, mosques, markets, and hospitals.

Washington, DC - Secretary of State John Kerry: "On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I send my best wishes to the Gabonese citizens everywhere on the 55th anniversary of your nation’s independence on August 17th.

Stanford, California - Russian leaders are grappling with difficult and complex foreign policy choices on Afghanistan in the wake of the U.S. and NATO military exit, a Stanford expert says.

Washington, DC - The Governments of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States strongly condemn the ongoing barbaric acts by ISIL-affiliated terrorists in the Libyan city of Sirte. We are deeply concerned about reports that these fighters have shelled densely populated parts of the city and committed indiscriminate acts of violence to terrorize the Libyan population.

Stanford, California - China's surprise devaluation of its currency this week will likely boost the country's exports and generate more jobs at home, Stanford scholars say.

Washington, DC - Ambassador Thomas Shannon, Counselor of the U.S. Department of State, will travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, August 17 to represent the United States during the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Plus Heads of State Summit on South Sudan.