Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is urging the Senate to confirm ambassadors more quickly.

NPR's Michelle Kalamann reports Blinken is singling out Kentucky Republican Rand Paul

for holding up dozens of nominees.

Secretary Blinken says he sent a letter to all U.S. Senators raising concerns about the

delay in the confirmation process for U.S. diplomats.

As I made clear in the letter, these delays are undermining our national security and

their weakening our ability to deliver for the American people.

He says there are 38 nominees who are awaiting a floor vote.

35 of them are career diplomats and some have been waiting for over a year.

Blinken says a handful of senators are holding up the process to get leverage on unrelated

issues.

He pointed to Senator Rand Paul who has been seeking more information about the origins

of COVID-19.

Michelle Kalamann in NPR News, the State Department.

A presidential hopeful in Taiwan says he's planning to travel to the United States next

month.

NPR's Emily Fang reports the Taiwanese Vice President will visit the U.S. on his way

to Paraguay.

William Lai, or Lai Qingda, as he's called in Taiwan, is running for President in Taiwan's

upcoming January elections.

In next month, he'll be the first Taiwanese presidential candidate so far to transit through

...