Antony blinken

Sweden's governing party is dropping its opposition to joining NATO - a significant step that paves the way for the nation to join Finland in applying for membership and ending the long-standing military nonalignment of both Nordic countries. Ahead of the move, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg declared that the accession of Sweden and Finland would be a "historic moment" - additions that would enhance security and show that "aggression does not pay." Earlier on Sunday, Finland's prime minister and president announced that the nation is seeking NATO membership, with a formal application expected as soon as Tuesday. President Sauli Niinisto said in an interview Sunday on CNN that a call with Vladimir Putin was "calm and cool" and that the Russian president made no specific threats even though he called Finland's decision a "mistake." Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he was "very confident" that NATO would reach consensus on admitting Sweden and Finland to the military … [Read more...] about Sweden’s ruling party greenlights joining NATO; bloc chief calls potential adds ‘historic’

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 9 GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemala’s president reappointed to a second term Monday his attorney general who the U.S. government said is involved “in significant corruption,” disappointing many Guatemalans and foreign governments critical of her backsliding on corruption investigations. President Alejandro Giammattei said Consuelo Porras deserved another four years leading the office. “I am convinced that the Attorney General's Office must be an independent institution,” the president said, adding that the process of her selection was transparent. “It is a sovereign decision," he added, in apparent reference to international pressure. Porras, standing with Giammattei for the announcement, said she had strengthened the institution, ensuring it acted without bias or ideology. “In the past it was being used for political and ideological ends," … [Read more...] about Guatemala reappoints criticized attorney general to 2nd term

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei said Tuesday he will not attend the Summit of the Americas next month in Los Angeles, following criticism from the Biden administration for reappointing an attorney general the U.S. accuses of protecting the corrupt. During an event at the Mexican Embass, Giammattei said a country’s sovereignty must be respected. His announcement came after several other regional leader have raised the possibility of not going to the summit, which was supposed to be a key moment for the Biden administration’s diplomatic efforts in Latin America. Late Monday, Giammattei appointed Consuelo Porras to a second four-year term as Guatemala’s top prosecutor. The U.S. government, European Union and others had publicly criticized Porras’ performance, especially the opening of investigations against prosecutors and judges who had worked on … [Read more...] about Guatemala leader won’t attend summit in LA after US critique

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 The State Department said Tuesday that it still pushing to have regular contact with WNBA star Brittney Griner of the Phoenix Mercury, who has been detained in Russia for nearly three months. A consular official was able to meet with Griner last week, when her pre-trial detention in Russia was extended for one month. Griner has been detained — wrongfully, U.S. officials have said — since February, after vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis were allegedly found in her luggage at an airport in Moscow. The NBA also weighed in on the matter Tuesday, with Commissioner Adam Silver saying in a televised interview that he is working “side by side” with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to try and bring Griner home. “That consular official came away with the impression that Brittney Griner is doing as well as might be expected under conditions that can only be described … [Read more...] about State Dept pushing to see Griner; NBA Commissioner weighs in

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 24 KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Nearly 1,000 last-ditch Ukrainian fighters who had held out inside Mariupol's pulverized steel plant have surrendered, Russia said Wednesday, as the battle that turned the city into a worldwide symbol of defiance and suffering drew toward a close. Meanwhile, the first captured Russian soldier to be put on trial by Ukraine on war-crimes charges pleaded guilty to killing a civilian and could get life in prison. Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO, abandoning generations of neutrality for fear that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not stop with Ukraine. The Ukrainian fighters who emerged from the ruined Azovstal steelworks after being ordered by their military to abandon the last stronghold of resistance in the now-flattened port … [Read more...] about Interrogation, uncertainty for surrendering Mariupol troops

BONN, Germany (AP) — The U.S., several global development banks and other groups on Wednesday unveiled a multi-billion dollar plan to stave off a worldwide food security crisis worsened by Russia's war in Ukraine, a key danger facing an increasingly fragile world economy. The February invasion has touched off a sharp increase in energy and food prices that are now contributing to a slowdown in growth, prompting Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to note the risk of stagflation at a news conference. “The economic outlook globally is challenging and uncertain,” Yellen said. “And higher food and energy prices are having stagflationary effects, namely depressing output and spending and raising inflation all around the world.” Yellen added that the U.S. is “best positioned” to meet this economic challenge because of its strong jobs market, yet she noted that food shortages are a threat around the world that needs to be addressed. The Treasury Department announced that several global … [Read more...] about US, banks unveil plan to ease food crisis from Russia’s war

President Joe Biden’s top health official tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, the latest member of his Cabinet to be infected with the virus. U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra tested positive while visiting Berlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services said. Becerra, who is fully vaccinated and boosted, was experiencing mild symptoms. HHS spokeswoman Sarah Lovenheim said he will continue to work in isolation in Berlin. Becerra was last at the White House last Thursday. He is not considered a close contact of Biden. Becerra was in Berlin for a meeting of health ministers from the Group of Seven wealthy nations on Thursday and Friday. The meeting’s focus is on drawing lessons from the coronavirus pandemic, protecting the vulnerable and unvaccinated from COVID-19, and how to ease the strain on health systems. On Tuesday, Becerra met with Germany’s health minister, Karl Lauterbach. He separately met the head of Germany’s disease control agency, … [Read more...] about US health secretary tests positive for COVID on Germany trip

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Russia on Thursday of weaponizing food and holding grain for millions of people around the world hostage to help accomplish what its invasion of Ukraine has not -- “to break the spirit of the Ukrainian people.” He told a U.N. Security Council meeting called by the United States that the war has halted maritime trade in large areas of the Black Sea and made the region unsafe for navigation, trapping Ukrainian agricultural exports and jeopardizing global food supplies. Blinken said the meeting, which he chaired, was taking place “at a moment of unprecedented global hunger” fueled by climate change and COVID-19 “and made even worse by conflict.” Since Russia’s invasion on Feb. 24, he said, its naval operations have sought to control access to the northwestern Black Sea and the Sea of Azov and to block Ukrainian … [Read more...] about US accuses Russia of weaponizing food in Ukraine war

BERLIN (AP) – A senior NATO official said Sunday that Russia’s military advance in Ukraine appears to be faltering and he expressed hope that Kyiv can win the war, as Russia’s neighbour Finland announced it wants to join the Western military alliance. Top NATO diplomats are meeting Sunday in Berlin to discuss providing further support to Ukraine and moves by Finland, Sweden, and others to join NATO in the face of threats from Russia. The President and Government of Finland announced Sunday that the previously neutral Nordic country that shares a long border with Russia intends to apply for membership in NATO, paving the way for the 30-member Western military alliance to expand. President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin made the announcement at a joint news conference at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki. “This is a historic day. A new era begins,” Niinisto said. 'Guesthouses for Terrorist Organisations' – Turkey Opposes Sweden and Finland Joining NATO … [Read more...] about Finnish President, Prime Minister Confirm NATO Membership Bid

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Fresh off his country’s Eurovision win, a defiant Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed early Sunday to one day host the song contest in the embattled city of Mariupol, which is almost entirely in Russian hands aside from a stalwart group of a few hundred Ukrainian fighters who continue to hold out in a steel factory. Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra won the popular contest with its song ‘Stefania’, which has become a popular anthem among Ukrainians during the war, and its victory was a morale booster. “Our courage impresses the world, our music conquers Europe,” Zelensky said on Facebook. “Next year, Ukraine will host Eurovision!” The band made an impassioned plea during the show to help the fighters still in the Azovstal steel plant in the port city, and Zelensky said “one day” the contest would be held “in a Ukrainian Mariupol.” The president’s optimistic words come as Russian troops are retreating from Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city, … [Read more...] about ‘Our Music Conquers Europe’ – Zelensky Hails Eurovision Win