Towing the line between diplomat and intelligence agent, Burns's trips to the region are shrouded under a cloak of mystery.

As C.I.A. director, William J. Burns was deeply focused on China and Russia when the Middle East conflict plunged him back into his old life.

While the United States tries to spy on one of the hardest targets, Burns has also tried to reopen a dialogue with Beijing, including via his counterpart, Chen Yixin, the security minister. (The head of the China Mission Center, a career CIA officer fluent in Mandarin, accompanied Burns on one of his trips to Beijing.)

A warning on D.E.I.: The Trump administration on Wednesday threatened tens of thousands of federal employees with “adverse consequences” if they fail to report on colleagues who defy orders to purge diversity, equity and inclusion efforts from their agencies. Read more ›

After prolonged negotiations mediated by representatives from both the Biden and Trump administrations, a ceasefire deal was reached between Israel and Hamas. The truce involves the release of hostages by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners by Israel,

according to the terms of the cease-fire and hostage release agreement with Hamas. As C.I.A. director, William J. Burns was deeply focused on China and Russia when the Middle East conflict plunged ...

Trump proposes getting rid of FEMA on disaster tours before heading to Vegas to talk ‘no tax on tips’: Live - President is highly critical of FEMA response in North Carolina arguing states are best placed to deal with disaster response,

A twisted propaganda video Hamas terrorists published in an attempt to spin the four hostages’ release Saturday in a celebratory light after they were held 477 days in captivity was slammed by ...

The fragility of the truce between Israel and Hamas was laid bare on Saturday, after Israel accused Hamas of withholding a hostage, prompting a halt in the movement of Gazan civilians back to ...

Tens of thousands of Palestinians waited, blocked on the road, to return to their homes in northern Gaza on Sunday, voicing frustration after Israel accused Hamas of breaching a ceasefire ...

JERUSALEM — Israel says a Hamas list shows that eight of the 33 hostages to be released in the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire are dead. Government spokesman David Mencer told journalists ...

The ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas took hold on Sunday, and is expected to usher in a period of at least six weeks of paused fighting. The deal is now in phase one, which should see ...