Shaun Tandon
@shauntandon
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State Dept Correspondent @AFP . Prez of Correspondents’ Association on side. Covered Japan, India, Middle East, Wisconsin -- and music! Competitive nut eater.
Washington, DC
Joined June 2009
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オーロラ
• 341828 Tweets
Joost
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CHAWARIN ON STAGE
• 179982 Tweets
FOURTH SINGING TIME
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#withMUSIC
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自分これ
• 59310 Tweets
Fulham
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#不破湊3Dライブ
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#العين_يوكوهاما
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太陽フレアのせい
• 30241 Tweets
カクレンジャー
• 27304 Tweets
PERTHCHIMON LIVE x TARO
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Gvardiol
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マリノス
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Buju
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#FULMCI
• 16235 Tweets
自分の魚
• 15328 Tweets
HeavenlyVoice WithMrC
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わたしの誕生魚
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Dremo
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ホールツアー
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New Kenyan President Ruto upgrading Biden-speak at UNGA. Calls in speech for "Building Back Better from the Bottom Up"
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Blinken tells Senate that sending requested military equipment to Ukrainians now happening within 72 hours
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Biden winning with Xi's wife. From US official, per pool note: "Biden wished Xi’s wife a happy birthday-- (she) and Biden share the same birthday. Xi said he was embarrassed, had been working so hard and had forgotten that his wife’s birthday was next week."
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Reza Pahlavi, son of late shah, voices solidarity with Ukrainians hit by Iranian drones. Islamic Republic "completely destroyed our freedom" and is now "cooperating with those who are putting at risk another nation's sovereignty."
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Reza Pahlavi, son of late shah, tells
@AFP
that
#MahsaAmini
protests are "the first revolution for the women, by the women"
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Less than an hour after
#Brazilelections
results, Biden, Trudeau and Macron have all congratulated Lula, with Biden saying vote ‘free, fair and credible.” Coordinated international campaign to preempt any Bolsonaro mischief
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Son of late Shah
@PahlaviReza
tells
@AFP
that foreign attendance at Raisi inauguration a 'slap in the face' and that people of Iran need Western help
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Strong words from
@IlhanMN
at House hearing- and rare US lawmaker to break sharply with India. Denounces 'larger BJP project' against Muslims and says of Assam citizenship drive, "This is how the Rohingya genocide started. At what point do we no longer share values with India?"
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Blinken tours donation center in Tel Aviv for attack victims. In scene rarely on his travels, crowd chants “USA!”
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Canada will take in 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled kingdom in fear after renouncing Islam, Thai official says, according to
@AFP
. Canada again more willing to stand up to Saudis on human rights than US and most other Western nations.
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Pompeo has taken to calling the
#coronavirus
the "Wuhan virus" -- a term that China isn't happy about
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Here's where we're at. Atlanta election worker in hiding after death threats, with his license plate number released online, after falsely being accused of throwing out ballot. (Video showed him tossing instruction paper voter had sent back)
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Senator Menendez says McConnell will allow votes in Senate to oppose Trump "emergency" sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia. But still long haul to overcome a veto.
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Merry Christmas. US fingerprinting parents when they seek custody of their children so they can deport them.
Breaking news: Under secret Stephen Miller plan, ICE to use data on migrant children to expand deportation efforts
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It’s 1:30 am at the defense ministry in Tel Aviv and Blinken has been in talks with Netanyahu for seven hours, along with another hour earlier Monday in Jerusalem
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US Ambassador to UN Thomas-Greenfield tells students that Prince Harry sent an email to her personal account — that read “From Prince Harry” — and she deleted it, believing it was “definitely spam.” He eventually found her work account.
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Blinken back in Jordan just before 5 am. Still in suit and welcomed by the US ambassador, Yael Lempert
After 4 am and after making announcement on Biden’s visit to Israel, Blinken is again wheels up back to Amman, where he’ll hold talks Tuesday to prepare for Biden’s visit there
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After 4 am and after making announcement on Biden’s visit to Israel, Blinken is again wheels up back to Amman, where he’ll hold talks Tuesday to prepare for Biden’s visit there
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Blinken drops by Beijing record store whose owner plays him vinyl by classic Chinese rocker Dou Wei. Blinken buys it — and Taylor Swift’s “Midnights,” which he describes as a successful American export
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US steps up wording on Pakistan internet disruptions. "We continue to call on Pakistan to respect freedom of expression and restore access to social media that has been restricted including Twitter, now known as X,"
@StateDeptSpox
says
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.
@IlhanMN
as usual asking questions others don't at House hearing. Asks if Afghan govt can tackle war crimes in light of US opposition to ICC probe and whether Trump pardons undercut calls for accountability
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Among effects of Hungary law against LGBTQ 'promotion'-- Movies including "Harry Potter" may only be allowed at night and with an 18-plus classification in the EU member
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Ukraine expected to export up to four million tons of grain this month, nearing pre-war levels, after international efforts, State Dept official tells
@AFP
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Romney on Senate floor: Senators who still question Biden's election will "forever be seen as complicit in an unprecedented attack on our democracy"
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Zelensky maybe the most popular politician in US right now
.
@NBCNews
Poll:
Your feelings toward…
Volodomyr Zelenskyy
Very positive 39%
Somewhat positive 23%
Somewhat negative 3%
Very negative 6%
Total Positive 62%
Total Negative 9%
May 5-7, 9-10, 2022
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Sign of pop culture shifting even further left? In 2016, Taylor Swift -- who enjoys fan base in red America -- conspicuously silent on how she voted. Now "appall(ed)" and "terrifie(d)" by Republican Blackburn
Taylor Swift isn't known for making political statements, but the "Bad Blood" singer is no longer holding back ahead of the US mid-term elections
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.
@IlhanMN
offers different perspective in questioning Blinken on "stalemate" in diplomacy on Iran: "If we aren't re-entering the deal, how do we expect them to be in compliance?" Blinken says it's not like "flipping a switch"
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Here we go. Pompeo, asked on Fox about how Trump is now criticizing him, smiles and promises he'll put out Hillary Clinton emails. "I certainly think there will be more to see before the election."
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.
@Tsihanouskaya
tells
@afp
she spoke to Biden about “multiple points of pressure” on Lukashenko but wasn’t looking to be recognized as president in exile
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The trip gets more interesting by the minute.
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White House says special envoy Mike Hammer will head to
#Ethiopia
to seek end to renewed fighting and confirms and condemns Eritrea's re-entry into conflict
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Germany's foreign minister says Trump supporters' storming of Capitol will please the world's "enemies of democracy"
Die Feinde der Demokratie werden sich über diese unfassbaren Bilder aus
#WashingtonDC
freuen. Aus aufrührerischen Worten werden gewaltsame Taten - auf den Stufen des Reichstages, und jetzt im
#Capitol
. Die Verachtung demokratischer Institutionen hat verheerende Auswirkungen. (1)
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GOP Rep.
@michaelgwaltz
urges Biden to fire
#Afghanistan
negotiator Khalilzad, a Trump and Bush appointee. He "has convinced multiple administrations that the Taliban is interested in governing and peace. It is clear that the Taliban is only interested in brutality and power."
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At 11 pm, Blinken has arrived in country number four of the day on Mideast crisis tour — Saudi Arabia
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Not surprised by Obama's great ear for music (Fatoumata Diawara!) but interesting he chose among books Patrick Deneen's 'Why Liberalism Failed.' Much of Deneen's argument could be seen as faulting Obama - calling liberalism an 'anti-culture' hostile to local religious belief
As 2018 draws to a close, I’m continuing the tradition of sharing my year-end lists. It gives me a moment to reflect on the year through the books, movies, and music that I found most thought-provoking, inspiring, or just plain loved. I hope you enjoy it:
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Obama’s passionate section on 2010 India trip is full of foreboding on rise of BJP. Writes that Manmohan Singh, “a man of uncommon wisdom and decency,” warned him of how in uncertain times, “the call of religious and ethnic solidarity can be intoxicating”
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Blinken offers “unwavering support” for journalism but no explicit condemnation of Israeli strike that leveled AP and Al-Jazeera offices in Gaza
Today,
@SecBlinken
spoke with
@AP
's President and CEO Gary Pruitt and offered his unwavering support for independent journalists and media organizations around the world. The Secretary noted the indispensability of their reporting in conflict zones.
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US allies acting with no hesitation after networks call race. France, UK, Germany, EU leadership, Ireland have all quickly congratulated Biden on win over Trump
The Americans have chosen their President. Congratulations
@JoeBiden
and
@KamalaHarris
! We have a lot to do to overcome today’s challenges. Let's work together!
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It's the G20 of health scares. Russian FM Lavrov checked in twice at Bali hospital, Cambodian PM Hun Sen tested positive for Covid and Argentina's President Fernández missed meetings today due to dizziness, per my
@AFP
colleagues
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"Um, none," David Schenker, top State Dept official on Middle East, when asked how much he's contributed to peace plan. Asked at
@HouseForeign
hearing if he's at least aware of details, he says, "No," other than public statements by Jared Kushner
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One Iowa voter’s take on deciding among Democratic candidates
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From Afghan vet running for Senate in Missouri
For the people calling this Vietnam Part 2… do they think we should have stayed in Vietnam?
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Rare standing ovation after Zelensky addresses UNGA in video address. He denounces seven nations that voted against his address -- "they respond to principles with a red button"
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Blinken plays Muddy Waters in surprise performance at his music diplomacy launch at the State Dept
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A move that would definitely get Putin’s attention
#BREAKING
FIFA in 'advanced discussions' to expel Russia from World Cup - source close to talks
#AFPSports
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Blinken on Putin's meetings with Xi and Modi. "I think what you're hearing from China, from India, is reflective of concerns around the world... I think it increases the pressure on Russia to end the aggression" in Ukraine.
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David J. Kramer, an asst sec of state under George W. Bush, calls on Pompeo to resign. “His arrogant and bullying behavior sets a terrible example as the nation’s top diploma”
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Meeting has broken at around 2:30 am after nearly eight hours. Blinken expected to make late-night announcement.
It’s 1:30 am at the defense ministry in Tel Aviv and Blinken has been in talks with Netanyahu for seven hours, along with another hour earlier Monday in Jerusalem
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Biden White House review on withdrawal: "The speed and ease with which the Taliban took control of Afghanistan suggests that there was no scenario -- except a permanent and significantly expanded U.S. military presence -- that would have changed the trajectory."
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Within three days, Australia had an election, concession and new PM flying overseas to meet most important ally. What a difference with US.
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"The world should take note that it is the free press, not the Saudi government or the White House, that has doggedly searched for the truth about what happened to Mr. Khashoggi."
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Jamal Khashoggi:
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Chairing Senate hearing,
@ChrisMurphyCT
asks on US sales to Saudis, UAE: "If our interest is in ultimately getting the Iranians to give up their ballistic missile program, how do we defend a continued build-up of arms on the other side of that contest for regional hegemony?"
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No questions taken by Biden and Finnish and Swedish leaders in what was streamed by White House as "trilateral press conference"
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Meeting G7 leaders, Biden was asked if he can give details on what happened in Poland. His answer, simply, “No.”
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US also quick with Portuguese-language congrats to Lula just after Brazil results announced
.
@SecBlinken
: Parabéns ao povo brasileiro por exercer seu direito de voto e reafirmar a força de sua democracia. Estamos ansiosos para continuar nossa forte parceria com o presidente eleito
@LulaOficial
enquanto construímos um hemisfério democrático, próspero e equitativo.
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.
@StateDeptSpox
takes distance from top US diplomat for Afghanistan's tweets on
#BlackGirlMagic
. "There's sentiments in her tweet thread that one can appreciate. I think the messaging in this context is rather inappropriate and ineffective."
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Blinken lands in Beijing. Among first sights on tarmac was plane of Iran’s Mahan Air, sanctioned by US
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“I’m a Hoochie Coochie Man.” Secretary Blinken becomes
@ABlinken
again for State Dept music diplomacy launch
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Palestinian FM to UN Security Council meeting accuses Israel of war crimes. "Israel always says put yourselves in our shoes. But Israel is not wearing shoes. It is wearing military boots"
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Ever the diplomat. Blinken congratulates US team but also salutes "the performance of the Iranian team, which played with so much heart during this tournament."
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After criticizing India on Kashmir, Imran Khan declines comment on China's internment of million Uighurs. "With the Chinese we have a special relationship and any issues like this we talk to them privately." Jokes Pakistan already has enough problems with neighbors
@CFR_org
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Senate has confirmed Lynne Tracy as US ambassador to Russia, filling position after three months+, with only Rand Paul and Mike Lee voting no
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Blinken says Israel has made "commitment" to work on aid plan and that if Hamas blocks aid, "we'll be the first to condemn it and we will work to prevent it from happening again."
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On Blinken's whirlwind Mideast tour, Palestinian president Abbas meets him again in Amman and jokes, "You should have a house here." "I'm thinking about it," Blinken replies.
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Senator
@ChrisVanHollen
to Blinken after State Dept criticism of Netanyahu govt on settlements. "It seems to me that we look very weak when we continually make statements without any kind of consequence."
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From Michelle Obama statement on Supreme Court ruling: "So often, we just accept that money, power and privilege are perfectly justifiable forms of affirmative action, while kids growing up like I did are expected to compete when the ground is anything but level."
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Jared Kushner says at Washington Institute that 'two-state' solution means 'one thing to Israelis and one thing to the Palestinians' and so the Trump team decided 'let's not say it' in peace plan
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Ukraine in turn gave up nukes. Like Kadhafi example in Libya, the lesson will not be lost on other nations being pressed to give up nuclear programs.
Reminder: Russia signed a binding international agreement in 1994 committing "to respect the independence and sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine” and “to refrain from the threat or use of force” against the country.
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Blinken is wheels down in Geneva for
#Ukraine
crisis talks with Russia, the third country today for Blinken who woke up in Kyiv.
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Lula says Bolsonaro (“the former president”) bears responsibility for attacks on Brazil democratic institutions after encouraging this in speeches
"Aproveitaram o silêncio do domingo, quando ainda estamos montando o governo, para fazer o que fizeram. E vocês sabem que existem vários discursos do ex-presidente estimulando isso. E isso também é responsabilidade dele e dos partidos que sustentaram ele",
@LulaOficial
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Albanian PM Rama, chairing session, tells Russia: "There is a solution here -- you stop the war and President Zelensky will not take the floor"
Russian Ambassador Nebenzia, speaking at filibuster-length as Zelensky waits, says inviting Ukrainian president to speak first "risks undermining the authority of the Security Council" and turning it into a "one-man stand-up show."
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Obama in book describes Germany as seeking "to apply some of that Old Testament justice" to Greece and voices alarm that northern Europeans "would sometimes veer beyond disapproval of the Greek government's policies and venture into a broader indictment of the Greek people"
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Senior US official says US leaning on UAE over Sudan, believing Emiratis have power to influence General Burhan and that they contributed to decision to free deposed civilian PM Hamdok
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Senior US official estimates 20-30 have died in
#Sudan
since coup, higher than toll provided by health authorities
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.
@Tsihanouskaya
tells State Dept press corps she gave the US a list of Belarus companies for further sanctions. They should "understand that Lukashenko is over"
#Belarus
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New
@PrimeministerGR
Mitsotakis tells
@RNicholasBurns
that he’s a “rational optimist” on Greece’s prospects in an era of populism. “The last thing you want to do is play the populists’ game. You overpromise, you lose.”
@CFR_org
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Senior Democrat
@SenatorCardin
on Trump rationale to kill
#Soleimani
: “There is no imminent threat aside from that which the president has provoked.”
#Iraq
#Iran
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Pompeo on Friday met Netanyahu (as well as the Mossad chief and US ambassador) in Jerusalem but didn't see Benny Gantz, who is now tasked with forming Israel's government
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An Albanian scholar skeptical of Western 'fake news' on
#Uighur
incarceration camps was invited to visit by China. The result -- he now believes China's policies are 'really horrific'
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Blinken's calm and years of Senate experience pay off at hearings. As Cruz shouts whether US gave names to Taliban to torture, Blinken says these were manifests for airport. "By definition, these were in limited instances... They got through the checkpoint"
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Blinken after meeting Prime Minister Kishida in Tokyo to offer condolences for Abe: "I'm here because the United States and Japan are more than allies; we are friends. And when one friend is hurting, the other friend shows up."
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.
@StateDeptSpox
calls travel ban by Russia an "honor." Did he cancel plans? "Unfortunately I had no rubles and even if I did they would be worthless by now anyway."
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Blinken voices hope at Senate hearing that Kosovo/Serbia progress will have "very positive effects" in persuading five EU holdouts that do not recognize Kosovo including Spain and Greece
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At UN Security Council as Russia attacks Ukraine, rare gathering of ambassadors of the other four permanent members — US, UK, France with China
Juste avant, un P4 rare (France, Chine, Etats-Unis et de dos Royaume-Uni) au Conseil de sécurité de l’
#ONU
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No more of a president talking of "kung flu" or a "China virus"
NEW: Pres. Biden: "Today, I'm directing federal agencies to combat the resurgence of xenophobia, particularly against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, that we've seen skyrocket during this pandemic."
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Ambassador Jeffrey also confirms that 100+ ISIS prisoners have gone missing in Syria since the Turkish incursion. "We do not know where they are," he tells
@HouseForeign
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Pence, whose administration banned virtually all immigration from Iran, was treated by an Iranian-American doctor when he had a pacemaker implanted. In his statement, thanks his doctors' "swift professionalism and care"
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Not sure what Modi said to Trump, but very, very doubtful he asked for mediation on Kashmir, as Trump just publicly told Imran Khan, which would fly in the face of decades of Indian policy
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US raises tone on Israel after Netanyahu fires defense minister. For weeks it was just general calls fo seek consensus.
We are deeply concerned by today’s developments out of Israel, which further underscore the urgent need for compromise. As the President recently discussed with Prime Minister Netanyahu, democratic values have always been and must remain a hallmark of the US-Israel relationship.
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Revelry one block from White House right now. Inflatable Trump, go-go band and crowd dancing with CNN on screen
#Election2020
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Pleased to share that I'm moving between two of the best jobs I can imagine to cover the State Dept for
@AFP
. I'll of course miss New York and music coverage, but who wouldn't prefer covering Mike Pompeo to Beyonce?
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Pertinent message right now from Trump admin official. "Much evil is perpetuated by good people not speaking out," Sam Brownback, US envoy on international religious freedom, says as he opens ministerial at State Dept
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Blinken in China speech again says there's 'genocide' against Uyghurs but also quick to include criticism on Tibet. Says Beijing continues to "wage a brutal campaign against Tibetans and their language and religious traditions."
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Awful news that Fox News cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski was killed in Ukraine as he worked with Ben Hall. Fox last year presented him an award as an “unsung hero,” saying he “risks his life in war zones to get the story” and helped Afghan partners leave.
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Pompeo says in pre-midnight statement that US designation of Yemen Huthis as terrorists to take effect January 19, day before Biden takes oath. Under US law, Congress -- now of course otherwise focused -- has seven days to block it.
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