Tag: Antony Blinken

  • Human Rights Watch wants UN to investigate China

    Human Rights Watch asked the United Nations on Monday to look into reports of abuse against Uyghur Muslims in China’s Xinjiang region. The U.S. has said genocide is taking there, where authorities have detained over a million people in camps, instituting forced labor and forced birth control. The Associated Press has the story: Prominent human…

  • Background on the Iran nuclear talks

    Negotiations have begun to bring the U.S. back into the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. How did the deal come about, why did the U.S. leave the agreement, and what are the chances of reviving it? The Associated Press has the story: The history of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action deal with Iran over…

  • Somalia’s controversial president signs law to stay in office

    The U.S. and the European Union are alarmed that Somalian president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has signed a law extending his term in office for two years. Somalian senate leaders say the vote by the lower house of parliament was illegal. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. is “deeply disappointed.” The Associated Press…

  • Biden brings up Ukraine border aggression with Putin

    Relations between President Vladimir Putin and President Joe Biden have been tense during Biden’s initial presidency, and Biden finally spoke to Putin about Russia placing additional troops on the border with Ukraine. Biden also told Putin that the U.S. would “act firmly in defense of its national interests” in regards to cyberattacks and election in…

  • Taliban not ready for talks with U.S. and Turkey

    Proposed talks set up by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken between the U.S., Turkish leadership and the Taliban to discuss a proposed peace plan drafted by Blinken are falling apart. The Taliban has said it will not attend the conference planned for later this week. The Associated Press has the story: Peace talks scheduled…

  • Biden administration resumes UN funding of Palestinians

    As expected, the Biden administration resumes international funding in contentious areas that former President Trump had cut. On Wednesday, the administration announced it was resuming aid to the Palestinians, including to the UN agency that deals with them. The Associated Press has the story: State department resumes funding to Palestinians cut in Trump era WASHINGTON…

  • Biden undos Trump sanctions on Int. Criminal Court officials

    President Joe Biden continues to undo many of moves of the Trump era, including taking steps to rejoin five international deals or organizations Trump had pulled out of. On Friday, Biden removed sanctions Trump had placed on two officials with the International Criminal Court. Trump was punishing them for their investigations into the United States…