Israel lacks “credible plan” to safeguard Rafah civilians, says Blinken
Washington DC, US Reuters US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday said Israel lacked a “credible plan” to protect some 1.4 million Palestinian civilians in Rafah and warned an Israeli attack could create an insurgency by failing to kill all Hamas fighters in the southern Gaza city. “Israel is on a trajectory potentially to […]
US voices concern over killing of Palestinians; Macron urges end to bombing as Gaza reported death toll tops 11,000
GazaReuters The United States on Friday expressed growing concern about the rising Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip where health officials said the number killed in a five-week-old Israeli bombardment had topped 11,000. Fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas militants escalated near and around Gaza City’s besieged and overcrowded hospitals, which Palestinian officials said […]
Essay: State Department blacklists are only one tool to foster international religious freedom
KNOX THAMES, US State Department special adviser on religious minorities in the Obama and Trump administrations, looks, in an article first published on Religion News Service, at whether such designations help…
On Ukraine visit, Blinken, Austin pledge return of US diplomats, more security aid
Updated: 9:40am (AEST)Poland Reuters Washington’s top diplomat and its defense chief used the first official US visit to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February to announce a gradual return of US diplomats including a new ambassador and over $US300 million in new military aid to Kyiv. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense […]
Eastern Orthodox Patriarch meets with Biden, discusses climate change
Washington DC, USRNS The spiritual head of Eastern Orthodox Christians called on religious and political leaders to fight climate change during a visit to the nation’s capital on Monday, discussing environmental concerns and other issues of religious freedom in meetings with President Joe Biden and various dignitaries. Eastern Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew was briefly hospitalised after his arrival […]
China draws up list of 100 instances of US “interference” in Hong Kong
Beijing, ChinaReuters China on Friday listed more than 100 instances of what it said was US interference in Hong Kong affairs, including President Joe Biden’s show of support for a pro-democracy newspaper. US politicians and officials have denounced China over its tightening control of the former British colony of Hong Kong, especially the imposition of […]
US, EU warn of influx of Eritrean troops in Ethiopia’s Tigray
London, UKReuters The United States and European Union are raising alarm over the recent deployment of troops from Eritrea to Ethiopia’s Tigray region, where nine months of war have killed thousands of people and sparked a worsening humanitarian crisis. Forces from Ethiopia’s rebellious Tigray recaptured much of the territory in June, in a major setback […]
US to detail global distribution plan for 80 million vaccine doses
San Jose, Costa Rica Reuters The United States will announce in the next two weeks how it plans to distribute 80 million COVID-19 vaccine doses it has pledged globally, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday. Speaking at a joint news conference with Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado, Blinken said the administration of […]