Risk-averse Blinken is verging on the delusional

BREAKING NEWS

21/12 16:31 - Scholz lashes out at leader of EU state over frozen-Russian-funds idea – FT 21/12 16:08 - Congress Approves Full Social Security Benefits for Public Sector Retirees 21/12 14:59 - Biden’s officials trying to destroy Trump’s push for peace – Moscow 21/12 14:40 - Amid Russian Attacks, Ukraine Seeks New Ways to Power Its Cities 21/12 14:04 - EU country’s FM rages over Russian-speaking Ukrainian taxi driver 21/12 13:18 - Hope returns to eastern Aleppo after devastating siege by Assad's forces 21/12 12:13 - Trump and the return of the National ‘Emergy’ 21/12 12:13 - Trump and the return of the National ‘Emergy’ 21/12 11:43 - Zelensky appoints ‘F-word’ diplomat as UN envoy 21/12 11:32 - EU bans Ukrainian singer for 10 years over insult to Poland 21/12 10:57 - Middle East crisis live: 14 injured after Israel fails to intercept missile from Yemen 21/12 10:53 - Strong winds warning as Christmas getaway continues 21/12 10:42 - Ukrainian drones strike deep into Russia, Russia takes village near Donetsk 21/12 10:42 - Ukrainian drones strike deep into Russia, Russia takes village near Donetsk 21/12 09:51 - Weather warnings in place across UK as millions set off for Christmas getaway 21/12 09:48 - Germany Christmas market attack: Saudi doctor arrested after two killed and 68 injured – latest 21/12 09:14 - EU state’s PM accuses Zelensky of trying to bribe him 21/12 06:55 - Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,031 21/12 06:55 - Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,031 21/12 04:59 - Sydney commuters warned of more than 350 cancelled trains due to industrial action across network 21/12 04:31 - 42 Products To Buy If You Are Winter Preparedness Barbie 21/12 03:34 - Buruli ulcer: flesh-eating bacteria spreads in Melbourne suburb amid warning about rise in cases 21/12 00:22 - US House passes spending bill hours before deadline for government shutdown – as it happened 21/12 00:05 - Russia Taps Soviet-Era Stockpiles as Armored-Vehicle Supply Dwindles 20/12 22:58 - Ukrainian gas saboteurs arrested in Slovakia – Putin 20/12 22:40 - EU divided on security guarantees for Ukraine – FT 20/12 21:39 - Palestinian Americans trapped in Gaza sue Biden administration 20/12 21:22 - 'We cannot characterise what happened in Syria as Turkey's doing': Turkish FM Fidan 20/12 21:15 - Russia’s Abrupt Setback in Syria Creates Headaches for Putin 20/12 21:11 - What are the implications of Israel’s attacks on Yemen? 20/12 21:11 - What are the implications of Israel’s attacks on Yemen? 20/12 21:00 - The Global Hunt for Putin's 'Sleeper Agents' 20/12 20:47 - Eight convicted over beheading of teacher Samuel Paty in Paris 20/12 20:31 - If You Don’t Like Being Cold But You *Do* Like Looking Cute, These 26 Wardrobe Staples Are For You 20/12 20:25 - The World This Year 2024: A look back at events 20/12 18:51 - Reeves says economic turnaround will take time and Farage ‘hasn’t got a clue’ 20/12 18:41 - Workers in Saudi Arabia say Amazon failed to compensate them for labor abuses: ‘They played a game against me’ 20/12 18:16 - UK offers to help Ukraine ‘motivate’ forced conscripts 20/12 17:45 - Six killed in strike on Russia's Kursk after deadly missile attack on Kyiv 20/12 17:44 - Russia targets Ukrainian capital with missile salvo 20/12 17:44 - Russia targets Ukrainian capital with missile salvo 20/12 17:35 - ‘A cultural shift’: drinkers hit Hull’s Low Ale Trail for alcohol-free options 20/12 17:16 - 'You need peace' to send EU troops to Ukraine: Belgian FM Quintin 20/12 16:59 - Reeves may have to U-turn over no more tax rises, warn economists 20/12 16:48 - Erasmus programme, consumer protection, online safety: What the EU gets right 20/12 16:45 - Libyan PM resists Russia’s move to reinforce military bases in country 20/12 16:34 - NATO member sent ‘gender advisors’ to Ukraine 20/12 16:20 - US universities issue advisories over potential Trump travel ban 20/12 16:01 - Middle East crisis: mediators push on with Gaza ceasefire talks amid fresh strikes – as it happened 20/12 15:52 - West has pumped over $300 billion into Ukraine – Orban 20/12 15:51 - European NATO states working on Ukraine troop deployment – WaPo 20/12 15:31 - EU aspirant threatens Telegram and TikTok ban 20/12 15:27 - Indian Ocean tsunami, 20 years on: Trauma still haunts survivors 20/12 15:00 - Russia-Ukraine war: Russia suffers worst daily losses since the start of the invasion, claims Ukraine – as it happened 20/12 14:41 - Orban reveals new details of Christmas ceasefire proposal 20/12 14:25 - Indonesia: Twenty years after tsunami, Aceh province ruled by Sharia law 20/12 14:23 - Call for extension to winter fuel payment deadline 20/12 14:22 - Russia launches missile strike on Kyiv following Putin’s ‘duel’ threat 20/12 14:12 - Britain braces for big Christmas getaway amid weather and travel warnings 20/12 14:00 - Major Trump donors who complained of immigrant ‘invasion’ used Mexican workers illegally, sources allege 20/12 13:57 - Russia bombards Kyiv with eight ballistic missiles day after Putin speech 20/12 13:38 - EU state warns of ‘serious conflict’ with Kiev 20/12 13:21 - Black anti-racism coordinator excluded from European Commission reshuffle 20/12 13:12 - ‘Many more Russian war criminals on our list’: Ukraine vows more attacks 20/12 13:12 - ‘Many more Russian war criminals on our list’: Ukraine vows more attacks 20/12 12:54 - Ukraine conflict could have been avoided – German opposition party leader 20/12 12:39 - Donald Trump tells EU to buy more US oil and gas or face tariffs 20/12 12:31 - First Thing: US Amazon workers go on their ‘largest’ strike amid holiday rush 20/12 12:25 - Just A List Of 26 "Yeah, I'd Prefer Not To Buy This In Person" Items 20/12 12:02 - Police warn UK shoppers over ‘porch pirates’ stealing parcels from doorsteps 20/12 11:42 - EU deletes ‘Ukraine must win’ mantra 20/12 10:41 - Warning of no early reform of special educational needs in England amid new inquiry 20/12 10:10 - NATO states wary about training soldiers in Ukraine – media 20/12 10:00 - Ugandan runner due to arrive in London after 516 days and 7,700 miles on the road 20/12 09:39 - EU in ‘standoff’ with Russia – Austria 20/12 09:29 - At least one killed in Russian strike on Kyiv after Ukraine targets Rostov border region 20/12 09:20 - Ukrainians Mourn the Loss of Viktoria Roshchyna and Her Stories 20/12 09:00 - Trump-Putin relations enter a new chapter and the world is at stake 20/12 08:47 - Musk far more ‘influential’ than Trump online – WaPo 20/12 08:22 - Trump Tariffs? Europe Braces but Has No Clear Strategy 20/12 08:01 - 34 “Stay Warm” Products For Anyone With A Personal Vendetta Against Jack Frost 20/12 07:56 - Russia strikes Kiev in retaliation for Ukrainian use of Western-made missiles – MOD 20/12 07:00 - Friday briefing: Will the Gisèle Pelicot case finally change how we view violence against women? 20/12 06:47 - Top US diplomats arrive in Damascus to meet new Syria leaders in first visit since Assad outing 20/12 06:39 - Fallout of Assad’s ouster in Syria ripples down the Mediterranean to Libya 20/12 06:00 - 'Danger of IS resurgence has doubled' - Syria's Kurds warn of group's comeback 20/12 05:55 - Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,030 20/12 05:55 - Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,030 20/12 05:52 - One killed in Kyiv as Russian missile attack targets Ukraine’s capital 20/12 05:52 - One killed in Kyiv as Russian missile attack targets Ukraine’s capital 20/12 05:00 - Inside Aleppo, the city Assad left to rot as a lesson in the price of rising up 20/12 01:48 - Putin says he hasn’t spoken to Trump for more than four years 20/12 01:43 - UAE tells US it won't arm Sudan paramilitaries as civil war prolongs humanitarian disaster 20/12 01:38 - Its Syrian Bases in Doubt, Russia Sends Cargo Flights to Libya 20/12 00:34 - Australia news live: Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks may be cancelled amid train strike action, NSW police commissioner warns 20/12 00:14 - Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks could be cancelled due to train strike, police commissioner says 20/12 00:11 - Don't underestimate North Korean troops in Russia, ex-soldiers tell BBC 20/12 00:07 - Myanmar military riddled with soldiers betraying their colleagues 19/12 23:12 - Inquiry launched in Peru after alleged prostitution ring uncovered in Congress 19/12 22:56 - United Arab Emirates' pledges not to arm paramilitaries 'are very thin', campaigner says