Antony Blinken: Last News

Michaela Zee editor President Joe Biden’s turbulent first year in office is the focus of HBO’s forthcoming documentary, “Year One: A Political Odyssey.” In the trailer, which Variety can exclusively reveal, the documentary chronicles Biden’s first year as president, from his inauguration in 2021 to the State of the Union speech in March. Directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker John Maggio, “Year One” explores the dynamics of the President’s inner circle, featuring archival news footage and insider interviews with secretary of state Antony Blinken, national security advisor Jake Sullivan, secretary of defense Lloyd Austin, CIA director William Burns and White House chief of staff Ron Klain, among other members of Biden’s cabinet.

Dennis Rodman is going to take his shot at freeing Brittney Griner.The NBA legend recently revealed his plans to travel to Russian in an effort to seek release for Griner, who was sentenced to nine years in prison for alleged drug possession charges.«I got permission to go to Russia to help that girl,» Rodman, 61, told NBC News over the weekend. «I'm trying to go this week.»Rodman added, «I know Putin too well.»Despite Rodman's confidence — and his past independent unsanctioned diplomatic visits with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un — the US State Department and White House officials are strongly against the idea.An unnamed senior Biden administration official told NBC News that Rodman's visit is more likely to complicate and already tenuous situation, explaining, «It’s public information that the administration has made a significant offer to the Russians and anything other than negotiating further through the established channel is likely to complicate and hinder release efforts.»However, Rodman does not need permission from the United States to travel to Russia.

Brittney Griner's legal team has appealed against the American basketball star's guilty verdict and nine-year prison sentence on drug smuggling charges in Russia, the lawyers said on Monday.Griner was arrested for carrying vape cartridges containing with marijuana in a Moscow airport in February amid soaring tension between Washington and Moscow, and just before Russian leader Vladimir Putin launched his ongoing assault on Ukraine.The athlete was on her way to Yekaterinburg, in western Russia, to play for a local team during the WNBA's off-season.Griner pleaded guilty to the charge but sought leniency, saying that she packed the cartridges inadvertently and marijuana was prescribed to her by a doctor in the U.S. to help her cope with pain from injuries sustained during her basketball career. In early August, a court in the Moscow region found her guilty.Before her trial began in July, the State Department designated her as being «wrongfully detained,» moving her case under the supervision of its special presidential envoy for hostage affairs — effectively the U.S.

Brittney Griner have filed an appeal against her prison sentence, Russian news agencies reported on Monday. Griner, an American basketball star for the Phoenix Mercury and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, was sentenced to nine years in Russian prison after being found guilty for drug possession. Griner was detained by Russian police at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport on February 17 with vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage.

pleaded guilty to the charge against her, admitting to possessing the cartridges but saying they were left in her luggage as part of an oversight while she was packing in a hurry. The U.S. State Department has floated the idea of a prisoner swap, in which the United States would release a convicted arms dealer in exchange for Griner and Paul Whelan, a former U.S.

pleaded guilty to the charge, but insisted she had never intended to break Russian law, and that the vape cartridges were in her luggage due to an oversight while packing in a hurry.The judge also fined Griner 1 million rubles, or about $16,300, as part of her sentence. According to The New York Times, Griner’s lawyers had asked the court to take into account Griner’s personality and the role she has played in the development of Russian basketball playing for EMMC Ekaterinburg in the WNBA off-season, asking for a “milder” penalty.Addressing the court, Griner talked about her upbringing in Houston and the values her parents instilled in her, including to “take ownership for your responsibilities.”“That’s why I pleaded guilty to my charges; I understand everything that has been said against me in the charges against me, but I had no intent to break Russian law,” she said.

WNBA star Brittney Griner has been sentenced to nine years behind bars in a Russian prison on charges of smuggling drugs into the country. Wow.

pleaded guilty to the charge, but insisted she had never intended to break Russian law, and that the vape cartridges were in her luggage due to an oversight while packing in a hurry.The judge also fined Griner 1 million rubles, or about $16,300, as part of her sentence. According to The New York Times, Griner’s lawyers had asked the court to take into account Griner’s personality and the role she has played in the development of Russian basketball playing for EMMC Ekaterinburg in the WNBA off-season, asking for a “milder” penalty.Addressing the court, Griner talked about her upbringing in Houston and the values her parents instilled in her, including to “take ownership for your responsibilities.”“That’s why I pleaded guilty to my charges; I understand everything that has been said against me in the charges against me, but I had no intent to break Russian law,” she said.

CNN.Labeled the “Merchant of Death,” Bout is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence after being arrested during a federal sting operation in 2008. Bout, who was accused with conspiring to sell weapons to people who intended to kill Americans, was convicted of offering to sell weapons, including anti-aircraft missiles, to federal agents posing as members of the guerrilla group the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.In exchange for Bout’s release, Russia would release Griner and Paul Whelan, a former U.S.

The United States government has proposed a prisoner swap with Russia that would see the return of Brittney Griner, CNN reports. Griner is an American basketball player with the Phoenix Mercury currently facing 10 years in prison in Russia for possession of cannabis – Griner has said during her trial that the cannabis was prescribed for chronic pain and that she brought it into Russia by accident.

Brittney Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday, offering the first public glimpse at U.S.

video of a traveler who looked like Griner going through airport security, followed by footage of someone examining a package that appeared to be from a traveler’s bag. Due to Russian laws prohibiting illicit substances, Griner was subsequently charged with “large-scale transportation of drugs.”The U.S. has alleged that Griner is being wrongfully detained — a charge which Russian officials have denied. Some security experts have speculated that the WNBA player was scapegoated in retaliation for the United States’ vocal opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year. Last week, Griner’s trial began, but for all intents, it has been deemed by many human rights observers, and the U.S.

Dr. Anthony Fauci has tested positive for Covid, according to the National Institutes of Health. Fauci has, for many, been the face of the fight against Covid-19 in the United States over the past two years, playing a leading role in the country’s response as well as being its face on TV and online via streamed semi-regular WH Covid Response Team meetings.

Morgan Freeman is among 963 Americans who have been ‘permanently banned’ from entering Russia.The Shawshank Redemption actor, 84, joins a bumper list of celebrities who are forbidden to set foot in the country, including Mark Zuckerberg and the former first lady Hilary Clinton.The move comes in response to US sanctions imposed on the country for its invasion of Ukraine.Freeman was reportedly added to the list after appearing in a video clip in 2017 that accused the Russian government of meddling with American democracy.The Hollywood A-lister narrated the promotional video for an organisation named The Committee to Investigate Russia, according to CNN.The clip was directed by filmmaker Rob Reiner, best known for movies including The Princess Bride and When Harry Met Sally, and he has also been added to the Kremlin’s list.‘We emphasise that the hostile actions taken by Washington, which boomerang against the United States itself, will continue to receive a proper rebuff,’ Kremlin officials said.‘Russian counter-sanctions are forced and aimed at forcing the ruling American regime… to change its behaviour, recognising new geopolitical realities.’Democratic lawmaker Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was also listed, alongside the late US senator John McCain, who died in 2018.Russia previously banned US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris from entering the country.Secretary of State Antony Blinken, CIA chief William Burns, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, and national security adviser Jake Sullivan were also among the names.The updated list comes after reports that Vladimir Putin’s health has been deteriorating for the past five years.Independent Russian media outlet Proekt scrutinised the Russian President’s absences,

The Biden administration on Tuesday publicly acknowledged the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.

Stephen Colbert is back.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has tested positive for Covid and is experiencing “only mild symptoms,” the State Department announced.

Madeleine Albright, the first woman to serve as secretary of state who died last month at the age of 84, was remembered as a tenacious defender of American ideals and freedom around the globe during a funeral service honoring her legacy on Wednesday.More than 1,400 dignitaries, current and former U.S. officials and top lawmakers were in attendance for the ceremony at the Washington National Cathedral. President Biden, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hailed Albright's decades-long influence on U.S.

David Muir has constantly endeavored to go above and beyond for his role as a journalist and took the time to highlight the challenges that others of the profession were facing in a much scarier part of the world.MORE: David Muir and Kelly Ripa are friendship goals in candid backstage photoThe ABC star took to his Instagram Stories to share a picture of Ukrainian journalists who had taken refuge in a parking garage due to the looming threat of bombardment.WATCH: GMA's Amy Robach enjoys surprise from David MuirThe shot comprised of two anchors who sat with their devices in the garage as they tried to keep themselves hidden and protected in the best possible manner.He wrote: "Ukrainian journalists anchoring from parking garage as threat of Russian bombardment looms - they're preparing to stay on the air as long as possible."MORE: David Muir's dashing dad Ronald Muir is his double in remarkable throwback photoThe World News Tonight star has been actively covering the developments of the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine over the past couple of weeks.

according to NATO officials. The late-night attack began moments after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he had «decided to conduct a special military operation» to protect eastern Ukraine's Donbas region.CBS News correspondents reported hearing loud blasts in the capital city, Kyiv, and in the eastern city of Kharkiv.In his speech on Russian state TV, Putin said his plans did not include an occupation of Ukraine.The attack came just two days after Putin recognized the self-declared «People's Republics» of Donetsk and Luhansk, in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region, as independent, sending shockwaves across the globe and a new round of sanctions from the West.

Broadcast and cable networks have news teams in place in Ukraine as attention focuses on the possibility of an invasion, perhaps as soon as this week.