International

Gaza war: Russian minister chairs UN Security Council meeting

Published

2 years ago

July 18, 2024

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov chairs a meeting of the UN Security Council in New York City on July 17, 2024. (REUTERS)

Gaza war: Russian minister chairs UN Security Council meeting

NEW YORK CITY: Speaking on behalf of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday, his chef de cabinet, Courtenay Rattray, called for the violence in Gaza to end and all parties involved in the conflict to “reach a deal, now.”

He said the humanitarian situation in the territory has become “a moral stain on us all,” and added: “Amid continued reports of serious abuses against Palestinians in Israeli custody, I reiterate that all detainees must be treated humanely and those held without lawful cause must be released. And this terrible war must end.”

Speaking during a meeting of the Security Council to discuss Palestine, he underscored the importance of “ensuring that governance is restored in Gaza under a single, legitimate Palestinian government,” support for which is “critical.”

Riyad Mansour, Palestine’s permanent observer at the UN, accused Israel of killing those people most deserving of protection, “including children, humanitarians, doctors (and) journalists,” and of defying “every nation on earth” and “every organ ever set up to uphold the most fundamental rules.”

He said: “What is happening in Gaza will go down as the most-documented genocide in history. How cruel could you be? How criminal must you be to bomb the same population, over and over and over again?

“Israel has manufactured a humanitarian catastrophe with famine as its core, starvation, dehydration and the spread of diseases as ultimate weapons.

“(Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu does not care about Palestinian lives or even the hostages’ lives. He does not care about international law or human decency. He only cares about his own political survival. So what will you do to ensure this lunatic is not the one calling the shots, continuing this genocidal war against the Palestinian people?”

The Palestinian envoy vowed that his people would live “in freedom and dignity on their ancestral land. They will accept nothing less, they will accept nothing else but fulfilling this right.

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“Being killed, maimed, oppressed, detained, starved, displaced is not our fate. There is a path to peace and prosperity.”

Mansour called on the Security Council to “strengthen those who seek peace rather than arm those who seek extermination; sanction those who colonize rather than allowing them to punish those who oppose the uprooting and displacement of communities; protect the victims rather than the perpetrators; recognize the state of Palestine rather than witness the destruction of the two-state solution.”

In his speech to the council, Israel’s envoy to the UN, Gilad Erdan, focused solely on Iran, accusing the regime in Tehran of being “obsessed with killing Jews everywhere, not only in Israel.”

He said: “Iran has a global reach and it’s exporting its bloodshed and destruction to the four corners of Earth.

“If one looks at all of the major conflicts in the Middle East, one finds the nefarious fingers of Iran. The people of Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and many others have all suffered because of Iran’s attempts to inflame the region.”

Erdan said that since the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas last year, Israel has also come under assault from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, and that “all of the terrorist groups targeting us have one thing in common: they are directed from Tehran.”

He warned: “If we reach a situation of full-scale war in Lebanon, it is only because Hezbollah has shot thousands of rockets at Israeli civilians with the support and funding of Iran. You cannot say you didn’t know.”

Erdan also warned the regime in Tehran that if it continues to threaten the region “it will find that its days are numbered. The proud Iranian people have had enough. The good people of the Middle East have had enough and so have we.”

Russia holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council this month and the meeting was chaired by Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister. He said a “frank and honest conversation” is needed about how best to immediately stop the bloodshed in Gaza and move toward the long-term settlement of “both long-standing and relatively new conflicts in the region.”

He added: “From the outset, we have highly valued the constructive potential of the Arab Peace Initiative launched by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2002. At the same time, we respected the decision of a number of Arab states to normalize relations with Israel prior to the resolution of the Palestinian question.”

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Lavrov accused the US of becoming a direct accomplice in the conflict in Gaza “by providing diplomatic cover for Israel’s actions and supplying (it with) arms and ammunition, just as it has done with the situation in Ukraine.

“If the US were to end its support, the bloodshed would stop but the US is either unwilling or unable to do so. It seems its goal is not saving human lives but various maneuvers that would help to score more points during the election campaign.”

He highlighted the important role the Gulf states can play and said the recent Iranian elections, and initial statements by the country’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, give “hope for rapprochement among all the countries of the Gulf in the interests of overcoming long-standing differences and mistrust, and joining efforts to determine the parameters of their own mutual security without external interference, and to speak with one voice to realize the aspirations of the Palestinian people and generally build an architecture of stability and good neighbors.”

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US representative at the UN, said progress is being made on a ceasefire deal. Israel and Hamas have both agreed to the framework for an agreement, which was endorsed by the Security Council in its adoption of Resolution 2735 on June 10, although there are still gaps to be closed, she said as she called on council members to maintain pressure on Hamas to accept the deal and begin implementing it “without delay and without conditions.”

She added: “We’re hopeful that a ceasefire in Gaza would assist diplomacy aimed at deescalating the situation along the blue line, which is necessary to enable displaced people in Israel and Lebanon to return home.”

Thomas-Greenfield condemned in “the strongest terms” the significant increase in deadly violence against Palestinian civilians by extremist settlers in the West Bank, and reiterated Washington’s concern about a recent announcement by Israeli authorities of settlement expansion, which she said is “inconsistent with international law and detrimental to the two-state solution.”

Slovenia’s envoy, Samuel Zbogar, said: “There is no moral equality between Israel and Hamas. However, the conduct of both actors against civilians is deplorable and constitutes a crime.

“Neither Hamas nor Israel care about civilians. Hamas is hiding among IDPs (internally displaced persons) and thus endangering lives of their fellow Palestinians, while Israel is showing complete disregard for the suffering of civilians, in (its) pursuit of Hamas.”

Gaza war: Russian minister chairs UN Security Council meeting

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Iran Offers to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Within 48 Hours If…

Published

4 hours ago

November 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei

Iran Offers to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Within 48 Hours If US Meets Demands

Iran has offered to reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, but says the move depends on the United States accepting a series of conditions aimed at easing tensions and paving the way for renewed negotiations.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei announced the proposal on Monday, November 2, 2026, describing it as part of Tehran’s efforts to resolve the ongoing confrontation through diplomatic engagement.

Under the proposed arrangement, the United States would first have to meet Iran’s demands, after which the country could begin restoring access to the strategic waterway within two days. The proposal also provides for the resumption of negotiations between the two countries.

The offer marks a shift from an earlier seven-day framework reportedly communicated through mediators in September. Iran had previously proposed a sequence under which the Strait would reopen after certain conditions were met.

Baghaei described the shorter timeline as evidence of Tehran’s willingness to pursue a diplomatic solution. However, he made clear that the proposal would depend on Washington agreeing to the conditions.

Among Iran’s key demands is an end to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, which Tehran regards as a major obstacle to negotiations. It is also seeking the removal of sanctions targeting its oil industry and the release of Iranian assets frozen abroad.

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Iran has further called for an end to hostilities across the region, including the conflict involving Lebanon, arguing that any agreement should address the wider security situation rather than focus exclusively on the confrontation between Tehran and Washington.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has also outlined a proposed arrangement for maritime traffic through the Strait. Under the plan, ships would use a new route agreed upon by Iran and Oman, with passage taking place under Iranian supervision.

Tehran has additionally called for a reduction in the presence of US military forces in the region and the removal of sanctions imposed on Iran since August.

Qatar is among the countries involved in diplomatic efforts to ease the crisis. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has also travelled to Doha as part of the consultations surrounding the proposed framework.

However, there has been no indication that the United States has accepted Iran’s conditions. Consequently, the proposed 48-hour timeline should not be interpreted as confirmation that the waterway will reopen within that period.

The proposal comes amid continued tensions between the two countries. US President Donald Trump has warned that military action could resume if diplomatic efforts fail, while leaving room for negotiations to continue.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime energy corridors. Connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, it provides a major route for crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments from Gulf producers to international markets.

Any prolonged disruption to shipping through the passage could affect global energy supplies, increase transportation costs and put further pressure on oil prices and fuel markets.

Iran’s latest offer has therefore attracted international attention, particularly among energy-importing countries and shipping operators concerned about the security of vessels using the route.

For now, the proposed reopening remains conditional on an agreement with Washington. Whether the two sides can bridge their differences over sanctions, the naval blockade and regional security will determine whether the 48-hour proposal translates into the restoration of normal maritime traffic.

Iran Offers to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Within 48 Hours If US Meets Demands

International

Nine Killed as Learjet Crashes Into Florida Residential Area, Erupts in Flames

Published

13 hours ago

November 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Nine Killed as Learjet Crashes Into Florida Residential Area, Erupts in Flames

Nine people have been killed after a private Learjet 60 aircraft crashed into a residential area in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States, and burst into flames, triggering an emergency response and the evacuation of hundreds of residents.

The aircraft, which was travelling from Texas to the Bahamas, crashed at approximately 12:50 p.m. local time on Sunday, November 1, 2026, near Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that all nine people aboard the aircraft died in the crash, describing the incident as a horrific tragedy.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the Learjet 60 departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was heading to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when the accident occurred.

Videos recorded by motorists and other witnesses showed the aircraft descending rapidly before plunging towards the ground and exploding into a massive fireball. Thick black smoke subsequently billowed above the neighbourhood as emergency responders rushed to the scene.

The impact created a large crater beside the roadway, scattering aircraft debris across the surrounding area and damaging nearby infrastructure.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who visited the crash scene, described the incident as a catastrophic accident.

He said the aircraft appeared to have plunged towards the ground like a missile, leaving a large crater along the road.

DeSantis added that there were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries among people on the ground, apart from those aboard the aircraft.

However, the crash prompted authorities to evacuate approximately 600 residents from a nearby mobile home community as emergency teams secured the area and assessed possible dangers.

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Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel Flores said the affected residents were being assisted with temporary shelter and other emergency support at two designated locations.

The evacuation was necessary to protect residents while investigators and emergency personnel worked around the crash site.

Preliminary information from air traffic control recordings has provided some insight into the aircraft’s final moments before it crashed.

According to recordings of communications between the pilots and air traffic controllers, the crew reported ice accumulating on the aircraft while encountering moderate turbulence at high altitude.

The pilot initially described the icing as manageable but later reported worsening weather conditions and requested permission to climb to a higher altitude.

The situation deteriorated shortly afterwards as the aircraft began losing altitude rapidly.

In one of the final communications, the pilot declared an emergency and reported that the aircraft was descending at an alarming rate.

The crew initially reported a descent of about 10,000 feet per minute before indicating that the rate had increased to approximately 20,000 feet per minute.

The pilot eventually issued a distress warning, saying the aircraft was going to crash into the ground.

Flight-tracking information indicated that the jet lost approximately 27,000 feet in altitude within about a minute before tracking data stopped.

However, investigators have not established whether ice accumulation, turbulence, thunderstorms, mechanical failure or another factor caused the aircraft to lose control.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched investigations to determine the circumstances surrounding the disaster.

The NTSB is leading the investigation, with support from the FAA. Investigators are expected to examine the wreckage, flight records, aircraft systems, weather conditions and communications between the crew and air traffic controllers.

The investigation will also seek to establish whether the aircraft experienced a technical malfunction or encountered conditions that affected its ability to maintain controlled flight.

The aircraft’s manufacturer, Bombardier, has indicated its willingness to cooperate with investigators.

Authorities had not publicly released the identities of the nine victims or provided a detailed breakdown of the passengers and crew as of the latest reports.

The crash site remained subject to emergency restrictions, with authorities closing sections of Military Trail and advising motorists to avoid the area.

The Florida accident has been described as one of the deadliest aviation disasters in the United States in 2026.

According to records cited by CNN, it was the second-deadliest US plane crash of the year, following a skydiving aircraft crash in Butler, Missouri, in June that killed 12 people.

The Learjet 60 accident was also reported as the deadliest crash involving the aircraft model.

The tragedy has renewed attention on aviation safety, particularly the risks associated with severe weather conditions and the importance of determining what happened during the aircraft’s final moments.

For families of the nine victims, the immediate concern remains the confirmation of identities and the circumstances surrounding the deaths, while investigators work to establish the cause of the disaster.

Nine Killed as Learjet Crashes Into Florida Residential Area, Erupts in Flames

International

Christians Still Under Attack in Nigeria, US Lawmaker Tells Trump

Published

14 hours ago

November 2, 2026

Trends Admin

US lawmaker Riley Moore

Christians Still Under Attack in Nigeria, US Lawmaker Tells Trump

United States Congressman Riley Moore has said Christians in Nigeria continue to face severe violence and persecution, calling for renewed international efforts to protect religious communities one year after President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).

Moore made the remarks in a statement posted on his X account to mark the anniversary of the designation, which was announced by Trump in November 2025 over concerns about religious freedom and attacks on Christian communities.

“Christians in Nigeria, and around the world, continue to face unspeakable violence. On this anniversary, we must rededicate our efforts to defend Christians in Nigeria and anywhere they face persecution,” the US lawmaker said.

He also defended Trump’s decision to place Nigeria on the CPC list, describing it as the right move and praising efforts by Republican lawmakers and faith-based organisations to press for stronger action against religious persecution.

In his post, Moore credited Trump’s leadership, alongside work by Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee, for what he described as progress in addressing attacks on Christians in Nigeria.

He specifically praised efforts by House Appropriations Republicans to introduce conditions on US assistance to Nigeria, including requirements for the Nigerian government to demonstrate concrete steps towards protecting Christian communities.

According to the congressman, pressure from the US government and advocacy by religious organisations had begun to produce results.

He claimed that Nigeria experienced its first Christmas without a massacre of Christians in recent memory, although he acknowledged that much more needed to be done to address the security challenges.

Moore also commended the Nigerian government, saying it had shown signs of willingness to confront violence against Christian communities.

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His latest comments are part of an ongoing campaign by some US lawmakers to draw international attention to attacks on Christians in Nigeria and push for stronger measures against those responsible.

Nigeria’s Country of Particular Concern designation

Nigeria was first designated a Country of Particular Concern by the United States in December 2020 under Trump’s first administration over concerns about violations of religious freedom.

However, the administration of former US President Joe Biden removed Nigeria from the list in 2021, a decision that attracted criticism from some American lawmakers and religious organisations.

Trump restored the designation in November 2025 after returning to the White House, citing concerns over attacks on Christian communities, particularly in parts of northern and central Nigeria.

The CPC classification is provided under the US International Religious Freedom Act and allows Washington to consider diplomatic and policy measures, including sanctions and restrictions on certain forms of assistance, against countries identified as engaging in or tolerating particularly severe violations of religious freedom.

The renewed designation has also intensified discussions between Nigerian and American authorities over insecurity, religious freedom and the protection of vulnerable communities.

US-Nigeria disagreement over religious persecution

The Nigerian government has repeatedly rejected the characterisation of the country’s security crisis as a campaign of religious persecution targeted exclusively at Christians.

The Federal Government maintains that insecurity in Nigeria is complex and involves terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence and farmer-herder conflicts, which have affected both Christians and Muslims.

It has also pointed to ongoing security operations, cooperation with international partners and efforts to protect vulnerable communities in states including Benue, Plateau and Kaduna.

Moore’s latest statement comes amid continuing international scrutiny of Nigeria’s response to insecurity and growing pressure on the government to strengthen the protection of religious communities.

The congressman, who has previously visited Nigeria as part of a US congressional investigation into religious freedom concerns, has continued to advocate stronger American involvement in addressing the violence.

In February 2026, Moore and fellow US Congressman Chris Smith introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, seeking a comprehensive report on US efforts to address alleged religious persecution and mass atrocities against Christians in Nigeria.

The proposed legislation reflects continuing efforts by some members of the US Congress to make religious freedom and accountability central to Washington’s engagement with Nigeria.