Blinken to visit Saudi Arabia to discuss ‘strategic cooperation’ The trip next week will be the top US diplomat’s first to the kingdom since the Iranian-Saudi normalisation deal. Al Jazeera · Jun 2, 2023
Ahlam Tamimi’s 16th Victim Twenty-two years after the Sbarro bombing, the 16th victim of that massacre succumbed to her injuries Zenger · Jun 2, 2023
Analysis-U.S. seeks to mend frayed Saudi ties with second high-level trip With two high-level visits in less than a month, the United States is hoping to steady ties with Saudi Arabia after several years of disagreement and deepening mistrust. Reuters · Jun 2, 2023
US Secretary of State Blinken to visit Saudi Arabia June 6-8 U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Saudi Arabia June 6-8 for meetings on economic and security relations between the two countries as well as global issues, the State Department said on Friday. Reuters · Jun 2, 2023
Blinken warns against peace efforts that would reward Russian aggression U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday warned against any peace initiatives that could help legitimize Russia's seizure of Ukrainian territory, saying a "just and durable" peace effort should address accountability and reconstruction. Reuters · Jun 2, 2023
Deadly shelling strikes Russian border region of Belgorod as hundreds flee Four people died Friday in shelling in the Russian region of Belgorod near the border with Ukraine, the regional governor said. In Kyiv, authorities said air defence forces destroyed 15 missiles and 21 drones from a new wave of overnight attacks that left two people wounded. Read our live blog… France 24 · Jun 2, 2023
Watch: Antony Blinken delivers speech on Russia’s ‘failure’ in Ukraine during Finland trip Watch as Antony Blinken delivers a speech on how Russia’s aggression in Ukraine has “failed” as part of his trip to Finland on Friday, 2 June. The Independent UK · Jun 2, 2023
Watch: Antony Blinken and Finnish counterpart sign joint statement Watch as Antony Blinken and his Finnish counterpart speak in Helsinki on Friday, 2 June. The Independent UK · Jun 2, 2023
US reopens embassy in Seychelles after 27-year absence The United States has reopened its embassy in the Seychelles after a 27-year absence during which China and other U.S. rivals made significant inroads in the Indian Ocean islands The Independent UK · Jun 2, 2023
US deal could plug Turkmenistan’s colossal methane emissions The central Asian country has the worst rate of climate-heating ‘super-emitter’ events in the world The Guardian - UK · Jun 2, 2023
France, Germany urge new elections in Kosovo following flare-up in ethnic tensions The leaders of France and Germany have urged new municipal elections in northern Kosovo in the hopes that another ballot will quell a flare-up of ethnic tensions that have led to violent protests in the region The Independent UK · Jun 1, 2023
Sweden will join NATO soon, Joe Biden promises ‘It will happen,’ US president says as he underscores transatlantic alliance’s commitment to supporting Ukraine. Al Jazeera · Jun 1, 2023
US announces sanctions over 'appalling' violence in Sudan The White House on Thursday announced economic and visa sanctions against Sudanese leaders it holds responsible for breaking a ceasefire. Radio France Internationale · Jun 1, 2023
US to open northernmost diplomatic post in Norway; only mission above Arctic Circle The United States will soon open a small diplomatic mission in Norway that will be its northernmost in the world and only such facility above the Arctic Circle The Independent UK · Jun 1, 2023
Reuters · Jun 1, 2023 US to open diplomatic station in Arctic Norway, says Blinken The U.S. will open its northernmost diplomatic station in the Norwegian Arctic town of Tromsoe, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday, at a time when cooperation among the Arctic nations has been hit by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The Independent UK · Jun 1, 2023 NATO presses Turkey to drop objections to Sweden's membership as summit looms NATO is ramping up pressure on its member Turkey to drop its objections to Sweden's membership
ABC News · Jun 1, 2023 EU, US move to quickly draft AI code of conduct, as experts warn of 'extinction' risk The European Union and the United States say they expect to draft a voluntary code of conduct on artificial intelligence "within weeks" in the hope that other democracies will sign on.
Reuters · May 31, 2023 US, EU agree firm stance on China at trade, tech meeting The United States and the European Union pledged on Wednesday to join forces to counter China's non-market economic practices and disinformation, particularly over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Reuters · May 31, 2023 Blinken says "regrettable" that U.S., Chinese defense chiefs did not meet It was "regrettable" that a possible meeting between U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese defense minister Li Shangfu did not go ahead, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday.
The Independent UK · May 31, 2023 Watch: Antony Blinken holds press conference after US-EU tech council summit Watch as Antony Blinken holds a news briefing after attending an EU-US Trade and Tech council meeting in Lulea, Sweden, on Wednesday, 31 May.
Reuters · May 31, 2023 Senior US lawmaker wants change from Turkey before F-16 sale approval A senior U.S. senator who has long opposed the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey said on Tuesday he wants Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to take a “less belligerent” stance toward NATO allies and Turkey's neighbors before lifting his opposition to the deal.
Al Jazeera · May 30, 2023 ‘Time is now’ for Sweden to join NATO, Blinken says Top US diplomat urges Turkey to approve Sweden accession to alliance, says Washington committed to Stockholm’s security.
The Independent UK · May 30, 2023 US says ‘the time is now’ for Sweden to join NATO and for Turkey to get new F-16s U_S_ Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the “time is now” for Turkey to drop its objections to Sweden joining NATO but says the Biden administration also believes that Turkey should be provided with upgraded F-16 fighters “as soon as possible.”
The Guardian - UK · May 30, 2023 Kosovo: ‘fascist mobs’ guided by Serbia causing violence, says country’s PM More than 30 Nato peacekeeping soldiers were injured in clashes on Monday after ethnic Albanian mayors took office
Reuters · May 30, 2023 Blinken urges Turkey to immediately approve Sweden's NATO accession U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday urged Turkey to immediately finalize Sweden's accession to NATO, saying the Nordic country had already taken significant steps to address Ankara's objections to its membership.