Latest Antony Blinken News

Israel is falling far short of a US ultimatum to surge aid to Gaza

Nov. 01, 2024 17:38 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Halfway through the Biden administration's 30-day ultimatum for Israel to surge the level of humanitarian assistance allowed into Gaza or risk possible restrictions on U.S. military funding, Israel is falling far short, an Associated Press review of U.N. and Israeli data shows. ...

Middle East latest: 7 people killed in Israel by rocket fire from Lebanon

Oct. 31, 2024 23:43 PM EDT

A series of rocket barrages from Lebanon struck northern Israel on Thursday, killing a total of seven people, including four Thai workers. The attacks marked the deadliest strikes to hit Israel since its military invaded southern Lebanon at the beginning of October. The Israeli...

US calls on a silent China to use its sway over Russia and North Korea

Oct. 31, 2024 21:04 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and South Korea have called on China to use its influence over Russia and North Korea to prevent escalation after Pyongyang sent thousands of troops to Russia to aid Moscow's war against Ukraine. Beijing has so far stayed quiet. In a rare meeting earlier...

North Korea sends foreign minister to Russia as its troops train to fight against Ukraine

Oct. 29, 2024 15:19 PM EDT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Tuesday its top diplomat is visiting Russia, in another sign of their deepening relations as rival South Korea and Western nations say the North has sent thousands of troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine. North Korea’s official...

US warns of visa restrictions for people who undermine Ghana's democracy

Oct. 28, 2024 15:30 PM EDT

ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — The U.S. State Department warned Monday that it would restrict U.S. visas for people who undermine Ghana's democracy, ahead of the West African country’s general election in December. Ghana has held peaceful, free, fair and transparent elections for nearly two...

Here's a look at what came out of Blinken's 11th trip to the Middle East

Oct. 26, 2024 08:07 AM EDT

LONDON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken's weeklong trip to the Middle East ended unexpectedly in London on Friday, but the lack of a cease-fire breakthrough for Gaza came as no surprise to U.S. and Arab officials, who described the growing regional conflicts as a “nightmare.” ...

Middle East latest: Israeli strikes on Lebanon and Gaza leave dozens dead

Oct. 25, 2024 23:43 PM EDT

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said an Israeli airstrike hit guesthouses where journalists were staying in southeast Lebanon, killing three media staffers from two different news agencies Friday. In the southern Gaza Strip, an Israeli attack left 38 people dead. Several...

Middle East latest: Blinken in Doha to discuss Gaza cease-fire with Qatari officials

Oct. 24, 2024 18:09 PM EDT

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Doha on Thursday to meet with Qatari officials who have been key mediators for Hamas, as the U.S. struggles to break the logjam of cease-fire negotiations between Israel and the militant group. Blinken is on his 11th trip to the Middle...

Israeli strike on Gaza shelter kills 17 as Blinken says cease-fire talks will resume

Oct. 24, 2024 16:59 PM EDT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An Israeli strike on a school where displaced people were sheltering in the central Gaza Strip killed at least 17 people on Thursday, nearly all women and children, Palestinian medical officials said. The strike came as U.S. Secretary of State...

Israeli strikes pound Lebanese coastal city after residents evacuate

Oct. 23, 2024 19:21 PM EDT

TYRE, Lebanon (AP) — Israeli jets struck multiple buildings in Lebanon's southern coastal city of Tyre on Wednesday, sending up large clouds of black smoke, while Hezbollah confirmed that a top official widely expected to be the militant group's next leader had been killed in an Israeli strike. ...