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MUNICH (AP) — Top diplomats from the U.S. and China on Friday held a “candid and constructive” discussion on issues vexing their strained relations over Taiwan, the situation in the South China Sea, Russia’s war against Ukraine and synthetic opioids, the State Department said. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Blinken had emphasized the importance of maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait as well as expanding on nascent counternarcotics efforts. Blinken also raised concerns about China's support for Russia’s defense industrial base that Washington sees as helping Moscow’s military operations against Ukraine. “The two sides had a candid and constructive discussion on a range of bilateral, regional and global issues as part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication and responsibly manage competition in the relationship,” Miller said. Photos You Should See View All 33 Images“Both sides recognized the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between the United States and (China) across a range of strategic issues, including consultations and high-level meetings in key areas in the coming months,” he said.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Wang Yi, Joe Biden, Matthew Miller, Blinken, ” Miller, Blinken “, ” Organizations: —, State Department, Foreign, Munich, California . State Department, Washington, Ukraine, North Locations: MUNICH, U.S, China, Taiwan, South China, Ukraine, California ., Taiwan Strait, United States, North Korea

☆ Blinken spoke with detained American Paul Whelan on Monday
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Monday with Paul Whelan, an American who has been detained in Russia for more than five years, the top US diplomat said Tuesday. And they will until he and Evan Gershkovich and every other American wrongfully detained is back with their loved ones,” Blinken said at an event on hostage diplomacy at the Wilson Center. State Department spokesperson Matt Miller said Tuesday that Blinken “assured Paul Whelan, as he has in his previous calls, that we’re with you. The time is now to take decisive action and bring this debacle to a close,” Whelan told CNN from his prison camp in Mordovia. Miller reiterated on Monday that the US has “put a significant offer on the table” to try to secure Whelan and Gershkovich’s release.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Paul Whelan, Paul, Evan Gershkovich, ” Blinken, Matt Miller, “, Biden, ” Miller, Whelan, Blinken, ” Whelan, Joe Biden, ”, Miller Organizations: CNN, Wilson Center . State, US State Department Locations: American, Russia, Mordovia

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken began a diplomatic push in the Middle East on Monday for a deal that would pause the war in the Gaza Strip and release the hostages there, even as a drone struck a military base used by American troops and allied forces in eastern Syria. Mr. Blinken, making his fifth trip to the region since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, met in Riyadh with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, in the first stop on a trip that will also include meetings in Egypt, Qatar, Israel and the West Bank. Speaking with the crown prince, the kingdom’s de facto ruler, Mr. Blinken “underscored the importance of addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza and preventing further spread of the conflict,” the State Department said. It added that they discussed “an enduring end to the crisis in Gaza that provides lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”

Persons: Antony J, Blinken, Mohammed bin Salman, Blinken “, ” Organizations: West Bank, State Department Locations: Gaza, Syria, Israel, Riyadh, Saudi, Egypt, Qatar

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday stepped up calls for Israel to comply with international law as it wages its war against Hamas in Gaza. But he also said it is imperative that Israel protect civilians if it starts major military operations in southern Gaza. Netanyahu said he told Blinken, “This is the same Hamas that carried out the terrible massacre on Oct. 7, the same Hamas that tries to murder us everywhere. Blinken told Abbas "he would continue to insist on full accountability for those responsible,” the State Department said. Blinken also told Abbas that “the United States remains committed to advancing tangible steps for a Palestinian state,” it said.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Biden, Joe Biden's, Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken “, West Bank ”, Netanyahu, ”, —, ” Netanyahu, Mahmoud Abbas, Abbas Organizations: —, Joe Biden's Democratic Party, Israeli, State Department, West Bank, United Arab Emirates Locations: TEL AVIV, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Jerusalem, Palestinian, United States, Dubai

Hamas freed two Israeli hostages Thursday afternoon and they were brought back into Israel, with more expected to follow, the Israeli military said. Israel had agreed to extend the truce by one day for every 10 militant-held hostages who are freed. Roughly 240 hostages were captured by Hamas in its Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel that ignited the war. ISRAEL SAYS 2 MORE HOSTAGES RELEASED FROM GAZAJERUSALEM — The Israeli military said Thursday that two Israeli hostages were released from captivity in the Gaza Strip. The two hostages are among a larger group of Israelis expected to be released Thursday as part of the latest extension of a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.

Persons: Israel, — Jake Sullivan, — Israel, Schumer, Pedro Sánchez, Eli Cohen, Sánchez “, ” Cohen, “, Sánchez, ” Sánchez, Israel ´, Karim Khan, Israel “, Khan, ISRAEL, BLINKEN, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Biden, Blinken “, Mahmoud Abbas, Tzarfati, Israel —, ”, David Adom, Zaki Heller, Doron Turgeman, AHED TAMIMI Organizations: Qatar, Health Ministry, Islamic, U.S, MADRID —, Spanish, Spanish National Television, “, Belgian, ICC, Cross, HAMAS TEL, Israel — U.S, State Department, West Bank, MAN, Jerusalem police, Army, JERUSALEM, Qatari Foreign Ministry, Hamas Locations: Israel, Gaza, —, israel, MADRID — Israel, Spain, Palestinian, Egypt, Belgian, Spanish, HAGUE, Netherlands, Ramallah, GAZA JERUSALEM, ISRAEL, HAMAS TEL AVIV, U.S, Jerusalem, JERUSALEM, TEL AVIV, Qatar, AHED TAMIMI Israel

☆ Paul Whelan tells CNN he asked Blinken to ensure he's not left behind again
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Paul Whelan, an American who has been imprisoned in Russia for nearly five years, pressed Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a phone call in August to ensure that he is not left behind again, Whelan told CNN. He has been designated as wrongfully detained by the US State Department. Whelan was not included in prisoner swaps that freed fellow wrongfully detained Americans Trevor Reed and Brittney Griner last year. “Secretary Blinken remains committed to bringing Paul home,” a State Department spokesperson told CNN on Monday. They’ll spin it out as long as they can, to try to pressure on him, as well as on the US government to do something,” he told CNN.

Persons: CNN — Paul Whelan, Antony Blinken, Whelan, “, ”, Blinken, Joe Biden “, he’s, Blinken “, ” Whelan, I’m, Whelan –, –, Trevor Reed, Brittney Griner, Konstantin Yaroshenko, Viktor Bout, Biden, Vadim Krasikov, Paul, Paul Whelan, ’ Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva, Evan Gershkovich, “ We’re Organizations: CNN, Marine, US State Department, “, State Department, Blinken Locations: American, Russia, Mordovia, Irish, Moscow, Russian, Germany, ”, United States, “

CAIRO (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return to Israel this week after completing a frantic six-country rush through Arab nations aimed at preventing the Israel-Hamas war from igniting a broader regional conflict. It was the last of Blinken's meetings with Arab leaders amid increasing fears that an impending Israeli ground offensive into Gaza could spark a wider war with devastating humanitarian consequences. In his talks with Arab leaders Blinken has stressed the importance of not allowing that to happen. The Arab leaders have also said the current situation cannot be resolved without an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal that gives the Palestinians an independent state. After the attacks, Blinken changed his plans so he could get to Israel quickly to show solidarity.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Israel —, Abdel Fattah al, Matthew Miller, ” Miller, Blinken, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Wang Yi, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mahmoud Abbas, Israel, Prince Mohammed, “, ” Organizations: —, U.S . State Department, Saudi Crown, United Arab, Palestinian Authority, Foreign, U.S ., Saturday, Hezbollah, Israeli, Saudi, State Department, Saudi Press Agency Locations: CAIRO, Israel, Cairo, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Egypt, Riyadh, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Iran, Syria, States, Saudi, Saudi Arabia

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Niger’s deposed President Mohamed Bazoum on Monday ahead of an expected decision by the Biden administration to formally declare that his overthrow was a coup d’etat. “The United States calls for the immediate release of all those unjustly detained following the military takeover,” the department said. The administration had been delaying a coup decision because Niger plays a critical role in U.S. counterterrorism activity in Africa's Sahel region. The officials could not say if the expected coup determination would result in the withdrawal of any U.S. personnel from Niger. The U.S., France and other European countries had poured hundreds of millions of dollars into shoring up the Nigerien military.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Mohamed Bazoum, Biden, Blinken, Blinken “, Blinken's, —, Emmanuel Macron Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, The State Department, State Department, Pentagon, Islamic, Nigerien Locations: Niger, United States, Sahel, The U.S, France

The administration said it would redirect $55 million worth of that funding to Taiwan and $30 million to Lebanon, the sources said. However, the administration will allow Cairo to access $235 million of the total of $320 million in foreign military financing that is conditioned on human rights issues, a senior State Department official said Thursday. The US provides more than $1 billion in foreign military financing to Egypt and the vast majority of it is not conditional. “Our position on the very serious human rights situation in Egypt absolutely has not changed and we’re going to continue to raise those issues in Egypt consistently and at the most senior levels,” they added. “The Secretary is determined that Egypt has not fulfilled his conditions and therefore we are reprogramming that 85 million,” the official said.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Antony Blinken “, ”, Antony Blinken, “, Gregory Meeks Organizations: CNN, State Department, Street Journal, Foreign Affairs, House Foreign, Administration Locations: Egypt, Taiwan, Lebanon, Cairo, U.S, China

☆ Russian Missile Strike in Ukraine Kills 1: Live Updates
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Victoria Kim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Mr. Blinken “affirmed our unwavering support to Romania, our NATO ally,” according to a State Department summary of the call. American military officials did not respond to requests for comment on Friday. Russian drones have struck the port city repeatedly in recent weeks as Moscow targets what has been a shipping lifeline for Ukraine. Throughout the war, NATO aircraft have frequently intercepted Russian fighter jets that have flown too close to allied nations’ airspace. Three weeks ago, British and Danish fighter jets were scrambled to confront Russian bombers that officials said were heading toward Scotland and the Netherlands.

Persons: Antony J, Blinken, Luminita, Blinken “, ”, Klaus Iohannis, Andrew Higgins Organizations: NATO, Department Locations: Ukraine, United States, Ukrainian, Russian, Romania, Kyiv, United, Bucharest, Eastern Europe, Izmail, Moscow, Danish, Scotland, Netherlands

☆ Biden admin believes hack gave China insights into US thinking ahead of Blinken’s crucial Beijing visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The hack – which Microsoft said was launched in mid-May – was discovered by the State Department right around the time of Blinken’s visit to Beijing, officials said. Still, it provided the Chinese government with additional knowledge from the private discussions of US officials heading into Blinken’s visit. Another target of the hack, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is also expected to soon visit China. Blinken “raised” the issue of the hack in a meeting with top Chinese official Wang Yi in Indonesia on Thursday, a senior State Department official said. On Wednesday State Department Spokesperson Matt Miller said that the department had “detected anomalous activity” in June.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Antony Blinken’s, –, Edward Snowden, Charlie Bell, Blinken, Gina Raimondo, Blinken “, Wang Yi, “, Wang, Matt Miller, ” Miller Organizations: CNN, State Department, Microsoft, FBI, National Security Agency, NSA, The State Department, Wednesday State Locations: Beijing, China, Blinken’s, Indonesia

Stringer/ReutersThe RSF denied those reports, telling CNN in a statement that it “will never assault any UN staff or employees. Meanwhile, tense efforts to establish a ceasefire have ramped up, with the UN calling for rival factions to end their hostilities. Satellite imagery of the smoke plume at Khartoum International Airport on Sunday. The Sudanese Armed Forces later issued conflicting statements on a proposed 24-hour ceasefire, intended to go into effect later on Tuesday. Both sides had previously agreed to a three-hour ceasefire on Sunday, and again on Monday, with fighting resuming afterward, Perthes said.

CNN —The US State Department said Thursday it is “disappointed” by a Chinese court’s decision to uphold the death sentence for American citizen Mark Swidan and called for his immediate release. “Today the People’s Republic of China’s Jiangmen Intermediate Court denied wrongfully detained US national Mark Swidan’s appeal, and upheld his death penalty with a two-year suspended death sentence,” State Department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a statement. “We are disappointed by this decision and will continue to press for his immediate release and return to the United States,” Patel said. He was convicted of manufacturing and trafficking drugs in 2019 by the Jiangmen Intermediate People’s Court in southern Guangdong province and given a death sentence with a two-year reprieve. Under Chinese law, the reprieve means Swidan’s sentence may be commuted to life imprisonment after two years, subject to his conduct during this period.

☆ With GOP Ukraine skeptics poised to gain in Congress, lawmakers look to lock in billions in military aid
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Dan De Luce | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Julie-Tsirkin-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

Congress last month approved $12 billion in military and economic aid to Ukraine, but the package being contemplated would be dramatically larger, the sources said. The amount would be enough “to make sure [Ukraine] can get through the year,” a Republican senator with knowledge of the matter told NBC News. Congress has allocated a total of $65 billion in funding to Ukraine since Russia attacked the country in February. “They don’t want to deal with it next year,” said Vajdich, a former Republican congressional staffer. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a staunch supporter of military aid to Ukraine, said last month that he had discussed the issue with McCarthy and that he agreed other countries need to do more to assist Ukraine.

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