Antony Blinken
America’s top priority is to help Ukraine ‘defend itself’ as a sovereign nation, Blinken adviser says
What are Washington's current strategic goals and limitations in Ukraine? And how do they align with Kyiv? Derek Chollet, a counselor at the US State Department who advises Secretary of State Antony Blinken, joined The World's host Marco Werman to shed some light.
US senators demand full White House investigation into shooting of Palestinian American journalist
New US ambassador to Kenya arrives ahead of Tuesday's election
Blinken pushes back against lawmakers' criticism of Afghanistan withdrawal.
US top diplomats visit Persian Gulf to reassure allies
US military flies out evacuees in waning hours of withdrawal
The steady stream of US military jets taking off and landing at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan's capital continued Monday even after rocket fire targeted the airport and rockets hit a nearby neighborhood.
China holds high-level talks with the Taliban
Top of The World: China Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks on Wednesday with high-level Taliban officials. And, a vital roadway and lifeline that supplies humanitarian aid to the war-torn Tigray region in northern Ethiopia is blocked. Also, one of the world’s largest container ships that blocked the Suez Canal for six days in March — causing global supply chain havoc — has reached the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands
Riots in Lebanon as West calls for quick Cabinet formation
Tension intensified in Lebanon on Friday, with riots leaving more than two dozen people injured in the northern city of Tripoli, including five soldiers who were attacked with a hand grenade.
Report: UN rights chief Bachelet calls for states to ‘stop denying and start dismantling racism’
A report from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, sparked by George Floyd’s death, shows that police brutality against Black people around the world has been allowed to continue with impunity.
Activists look to Congress after Biden requests military aid for Egypt without human rights conditions
Egypt has been the second-largest recipient of US military aid since the Camp David Accords in 1978.
Blinken continues diplomatic mission in the Middle East
Top of The World: Sec. Blinken announced plans to reopen a diplomatic office in Jerusalem that oversees outreach to the Palestinians. And, Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko is defending his decision to divert a passenger jet. Also, Syrians living in government-held areas are heading to the polls on Wednesday, for the second presidential election since the uprising-turned-war started in the country 10 years ago.
EU imposes sanctions on Belarus over Protasevich arrest
Top of The World: The EU has agreed to impose sanctions on Belarus, in response to the forced diversion of a commercial flight to detain activist and opposition journalist Roman Protasevich. And, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the Middle East following a deadly 11-day war between Israel and Hamas and vowed to aid Gaza. Also, Tuesday marks one year since the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Blinken off to Mideast to push peace talks after Gaza truce
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is heading to the Middle East to press the Israelis, Palestinians and regional players to build on last week's Gaza cease-fire by laying the groundwork for an eventual resumption in long-stalled peace talks.
Belarus opposition figure detained after flight diverted
Top of The World: Outrage and condemnation grew more intense on Monday from Western countries over the arrest of 26-year-old Belarusian activist. And, a ceasefire after 11 days of deadly airstrikes and rocket attacks between Israel and Hamas is holding. Also, Samoa’s first and newly elected woman prime minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, was locked out of Parliament on Monday.
Israel launches deadly airstrikes on Gaza following rocket attacks by Hamas
Top of The World: At least 24 Palestinians, including nine children, were killed overnight and 122 others were wounded in Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip in a new round of escalating tensions. And, the COVID-19 variant first identified in India has been designated a global concern by the World Health Organization. Also, the FDA has expanded the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 jab to children as young as 12.