New: @SecBlinken  tells @HFACDemocrats  he "very much understand(s)" concerns abou #TPLF  , but "situation i #Tigray  is unacceptable &has to change." Says they've seen "acts of ethnic cleansing in western Tigray," &there needs to be "full accountability," "independent investigation"

Quite the statement from the nation's top diplomat: Sec Pompeo responds to @NPR , saying @NPRKellyKelly  lied and... insinuating she misidentified Ukraine on that map. "This is another example of how unhinged the media has become in its quest to hurt Pres Trump and this administration."

WOW: Tillerson had "every intention of staying... did not speak to the President and is unaware of the reason," according to Under Sec of State Goldstein.

NEW: Trump admin further restricting US travel to Cuba: --Cruise ships, private yachts, even fishing vessels barred from travel --Group tours called people-to-people exchanges now banned, but if you've already booked flight/hotel, you're grandfathered in

New: @SecBlinken  confirms he'll name special envoy for Horn of Africa, saying, "We need a senior person who is going to be focused full time on the challenges that we're seeing...in a sustained way," esp #Tigray , #GERD , Sudan-Ethiopia tensions—and hopes to have announcement soon

CONFIRMED: Haiti summoned top US diplomat over Trump's "shithole" comments. Currently no ambassador, so Charge d'Affaires Robin Diallo met w/ Haitian president.