Most senior US career diplomat to retire

The most senior career diplomat in the US State Department has decided to retire, exactly one year after he oversaw the transition to President Donald Trump's administration, he said Thursday. Thomas Shannon will retire as undersecretary of state for political affairs, after 35 years in service. In a retirement letter to colleagues, the 60-year-old gave no hint of political dissatisfaction, describing his decision as "personal, and driven by a desire to attend to my family”.