Latest News & Developments
antony blinken
Blinken in Paris to discuss Mideast, receive honour
Outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday began a visit to Paris in which he will receive France's highest honour and seek further coordination on the turbulent Middle East.
Blinken to visit Turkey on Friday to discuss Syria: official source
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Turkey on Friday to discuss the developments in Syria after the toppling of strongman Bashar al-Assad, a Turkish official source said Wednesday.
US envoy travels to seek journalist Austin Tice in Syria
The United States on Monday vowed to make all efforts to bring back journalist Austin Tice, who was abducted in Syria in 2012, with a US envoy heading to the region after strongman Bashar al-Assad's overthrow.
US to support efforts to hold accountable those who helped Assad - Blinken
The United States will support international efforts to hold accountable those who helped ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
Israel strikes Hezbollah strongholds after rejecting Lebanon ceasefire
At least 22 people were killed in Israeli strikes on a densely populated area of central Beirut, the Lebanese health ministry said, with a security source saying a Hezbollah figure was the target.
Israel, Hezbollah exchange fire after truce bid fails
Israel rejected a push by allies for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon and vowed to keep fighting Hezbollah militants “until victory”, ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s expected Friday address to the UN General Assembly.
Biden’s UNGA address espousing democracy and co-operation a sharp contrast with reality
Biden’s final address to the United Nations as president was riddled with falsehoods and hypocrisies typical of US foreign policy, the writer says.
Hezbollah vows to punish Israel after deadly pager blasts
Hundreds of pagers used by Hezbollah members exploded across Lebanon on September 17, killing at least nine people and wounding around 2,800 in blasts the Iran-backed militant group blamed on Israel.
Hezbollah in Lebanon hit by wave of deadly pager blasts
Among the dead were the son of a Hezbollah lawmaker and the 10-year-old daughter of a member of the group.
Zionist Manipulation of ‘Ceasefire Deal’ Rejected by Hamas
Just as it remains necessary for the world, especially civil society to not let their guard down while the genocide in Gaza continues to kill and plunder, it is equally crucial to ensure that the myth of a fake deal is exposed, writes Iqbal Jassat.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to head to Egypt on Gaza truce push
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Israel and Hamas not to derail negotiations that he said may be a “last opportunity” to secure a Gaza truce and hostage release deal.
Hamas claims Tel Aviv bombing
A man who was carrying the bomb was killed and a passer-by was injured in the incident late on Sunday, according to police at the scene in Israel’s commercial capital.
Iran holds funeral for Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh
Hamas said on Wednesday, its political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli strike in Iran, where he was attending the swearing-in of the new president, and vowed the act “will not go unanswered”.
Blinken assures Africa of a revamped Agoa trade deal
Agoa allows more than 30 African countries to export 1 835 types of goods to the US consumer market, and in turn affords the US access to critical minerals, product value chains, and investment opportunities in Africa.
Hamas proposals ‘unworkable’, says Blinken
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will not commit to end its campaign before Hamas is eliminated.
Wang Yi warns US not to suppress China's development in meeting with Blinken
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China views and develops China-US relations from the world vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
UN Security Council to vote on new Gaza ceasefire resolution
The UN Security Council will on Monday vote on an immediate ceasefire resolution in Gaza, which follows numerous ceasefire votes previously vetoed by the likes of the US, UK, Russia and China.
UN chief, at Rafah-Gaza crossing, urges end to ‘nightmare’ of war
‘Palestinians in Gaza remain stuck in a non-stop nightmare,’ António Guterres says as most of the territory's 2. 4 million people seek refuge in Rafah, where Israel has vowed to send in ground troops in its war against Hamas.
Unwilling to let go of an international system
After almost three decades of experimenting with American ‘democracy’ in Africa, countries have almost nothing to show for it but perennial strife, endemic instability, widespread poverty, and wars
Israel defence chief to visit US as Rafah pressure builds
Israeli defence chief Minister Yoav Gallant will visit Washington in the coming week, as there are growing calls from international communities for a ceasefire on Rafah.
Cuba summons US envoy as Washington denies it was 'behind' protests
Cuban authorities have called on US delegates to answer to allegations of interfering in the weekend’s protest over food and electricity security.
US names envoy for Sudan crisis
Tom Perriello, a former congressman who earlier served as special envoy for Africa's Great Lakes region, has been named as the United States’ special envoy to help quell the Sudanese conflict.
EU must double Ukraine aid, as US turns off the taps: institute
The European has doubled down on its support to Ukraine during the fight against Russia, as the American Republican party rejects a new military aid package worth $60 billion.
‘Ruling a triumph for international law, protection of human lives’
OPINION: As South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Co-operation statement in the wake of the judgment correctly points out, given now the prima facie case of genocide against Israel “this necessarily imposes an obligation on all states to cease funding and facilitating Israel’s military actions, which are plausibly genocidal,” writes Wesley Seale.
Antony Blinken meets Palestinian leader after urging Israel to spare Gaza civilians
Global concern has flared over the spiralling humanitarian crisis, and Blinken - while voicing continued US political and military support for its top regional ally Israel - has urged steps to reduce the surging civilian death toll.