Reuters cited a source as saying that Antony Blinken will visit Israel and the West Bank on Wednesday and Thursday. The secretary of state’s trip will also reportedly include stops in Egypt – which mediated the truce between Tel Aviv and the Gaza-based Palestinian militant group Hamas – and Jordan. …
Read More »Secretary of State Blinken says US working ‘behind the scenes’ to end Israel/Palestine violence… despite new $735mn arms deal
Amid global calls for restraint, Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas have continued to trade rockets and missiles for the past week. 10 Israelis have been killed, and around 200 Palestinians, including at least 58 children, have lost their lives, according to Palestinian sources. Blinken announced on Monday that the …
Read More »US Secretary of State Blinken & Russian FM Lavrov to meet in person for first time this week, may discuss Nord Stream 2 pipeline
That’s according to a senior American State Department official, who noted that the subject could come up in bilateral discussions between Antony Blinken and Sergey Lavrov, in what will be the first face-to-face meeting between the two. Blinken is currently in Denmark and will head to Iceland for the Arctic …
Read More »UK Health Secretary says it was ‘absolutely appropriate’ to help ex-minister secure £178mn PPE contract during pandemic shortage
The Times reported on Sunday that Hancock helped a former minister for civil society, Brooks Newmark, secure a £178 million ($250 million) deal for personal protection equipment (PPE) after Newmark partnered with a dog food company owner to “broker PPE deals for international suppliers,” including a business in Hong Kong. …
Read More »UK Health Secretary says Indian variant of Covid-19 could ‘spread like wildfire among the unvaccinated’
In a Sunday interview with Sky News, Hancock said the Indian variant is “becoming the dominant strain in some parts of the country,” such as Bolton and Blackburn, but early data gives the government “a degree of confidence that the vaccines work against” it. “We’re in a race between the …
Read More »Moscow decides to expel vocal US Embassy press secretary, as part of tit-for-tat response to American purge of Russian diplomats
Russian Foreign Ministry sources said on Wednesday morning that Ross, who has been a vocal critic of the country’s policy, was among 10 US officials who would be henceforth designated personae non gratae. The diplomat herself later revealed to TASS that she had received notification confirming the decision. Moscow daily …
Read More »Woman who fell from Tehran tower was Swiss embassy’s first secretary
“The FDFA [Swiss foreign ministry] confirms that a Swiss employee of the Swiss Embassy in Tehran died in a fatal accident on Tuesday,” the ministry in Bern said in a statement. “The FDFA and its head Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis are shocked by the tragic death and express their deepest …
Read More »‘GET THE F**K OUT’: Philippines foreign secretary issues not-so-diplomatic request to China amid maritime dispute
On Monday, the Philippines issued a protest against the “belligerent” actions of Chinese vessels in waters claimed by Manila. But it appears that the country’s top diplomat felt the need to reiterate his government’s position – without the typical formalities. “China, my friend, how politely can I put it? Let …
Read More »Biden’s Commerce secretary says Trump tariffs ‘helped save American jobs’ & indicates she’ll keep them
“There is a place for tariffs” in Commerce’s policy toolkit, Raimondo told the White House press corps during a briefing on Wednesday, adding that “the 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum have in fact helped save American jobs in the steel and aluminum industries.” This was a reference to Section …
Read More »White House press secretary says Biden ‘100% fine’ after viral triple fall, blames Air Force One’s ‘tricky’ stairs
Asked at Monday’s White House press briefing whether Biden is well following his fall on Friday, Psaki defended the president, saying, “He’s 100 percent fine. I don’t know if you’ve been up those steps. They’re a little tricky sometimes.” Psaki added that she wasn’t aware of Biden needing “extensive medical …
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