Facing enormous pressure at home and abroad, how much longer can Israel continue its war in Gaza?

By Ian Parmeter, Australian National University Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu set a high bar for victory right at the start of the Gaza conflict: the complete destruction of Hamas and freedom for all of the approximately 250 hostages taken by the group during its raid into Israel on October 7 last year. He has doubled down several times on these objectives. During a media conference in […]

April 8, 2024 22

World

Palestinian Authority requests full membership at the UN

The Palestinian Authority will be requesting full membership at the United Nations later this month. According to UN protocol the Security Council will have to put this request to a vote before the General Assembly can approve it. Palestine is currently recognised as a permanent observer at the world body. Jody Jacobs reports from the United Nations in New York.

April 3, 2024 8

World

Malta Urges the ICC to Hurry Up Its War Crimes Probes in Palestine

Ambassador Vanessa Frazier of Malta detailed to the press her country’s plans presiding over the Security Council in April 2024. Frazier is one of five women envoys in the Council, and she successfully led a resolution calling for a pause in fighting in Gaza in November by focusing on the plight of children. “Children are affected more in Gaza, and as women, it affects us too,” she said in […]

April 2, 2024 14

South Africa

South Africans fighting for Israel in Gaza: what does the law say?

By Michelle Nel, Stellenbosch University South Africa’s foreign minister, Naledi Pandor, said the country’s citizens fighting for the Israel Defence Forces in Gaza faced prosecution upon their return. This statement followed tension between South Africa and Israel amid the “humanitarian catastrophe” resulting from Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. There is a history of South African citizens of Jewish descent fighting for Israel, but the number fighting […]

March 26, 2024 24

Uncategorized

US launches anti-trust lawsuit against Apple

The Biden administration and 16 state and district attorneys general have launched a major lawsuit against the iPhone maker accusing it of operating a monopoly.

March 22, 2024 8

World

America’s pint-sized bank robbers nabbed

Three boys aged 11, 12 and 16 – dubbed the "Little Rascals" by the FBI – have been arrested for allegedly robbing a Texas bank. The AFP news agency reports that, while the boys have not been identified because they are juveniles, the FBI had released a photo of the pint-sized suspects following their 14 March bank robbery, and two of the boys – who don't appear to have tried […]

March 22, 2024 40

Science & Technology

UN adopts first global AI resolution

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted the first global resolution on artificial intelligence which aims to encourage the protection of personal data, monitoring AI for risks, and safeguarding human rights. While it is a nonbinding resolution, according to Linda Thomas Greenfield, the US' Ambassador to the UN, it is just the first step in ensuring AI technology is used and developed responsibly.

March 22, 2024 33

World

The United States has tabled a revised Gaza ceasefire resolution

The United States yesterday tabled a revised ceasefire resolution to be voted on by the UN Security Council. Jody Jacobs reports that with the document calling for an "immediate ceasefire" tied to the release of all hostages, and Washington having blocked previous attempts to pass such a ceasefire resolution, this could mark a significant change in its approach to the conflict, though a date for the vote has yet to […]

March 22, 2024 17

Business / Economics

Morning Biznews update – 22 March 2024

With South Africa’s annual consumer price inflation increasing to 5.6% in February, exceeding economists' expectations, and rising closer to the top of the central bank's 3% to 6% target range, all hopes of an interest rate cut before the Monetary Policy Committee meeting in July have fallen. A number of economists are in fact now looking at September as the first opportunity for any easing of the country’s 8.25% repurchase rate. […]

March 22, 2024 7