Latest news with #Azerbaijan
Mail & Guardian
4 hours ago
- General
- Mail & Guardian
The Launch of ‘The Diplomat'
The team: The M&G's Luke Feltham, Wendy Mosetlhi, Hoosain Karjieker and Marion Smith flank the ambassador of Azerbaijan Dr Huseyn Rahmili (centre). The launch of The Diplomat, which took place on 16 May at the University of Pretoria's Javett Art Centre, was attended by the ambassadors and embassy staff of more than 45 embassies. Hoosain Karjieker, chief executive of the Mail & Guardian, opened the event by reaffirming the publication's values. 'For nearly four decades, the Mail & Guardian has maintained an unwavering commitment to investigative journalism, thoughtful analysis and coverage that matters,' he said. The keynote address was delivered by the mayor of the City of Tshwane, Nasiphi Moya, who welcomed the diplomatic community and acknowledged their contribution to international relations. 'The City of Tshwane values the presence of these diverse diplomatic missions. The role played by embassies in building relations between countries does not go unnoticed,' she said. Editor-in-chief of the M&G Luke Feltham explained the vision behind the platform. 'This is an attempt to be part of the solution instead of the noise. By working with you — diplomats — by opening our pages and our platform, we want to bring those dinner-table conversations to a wider audience. We want this to be a space for honest, nuanced and respectful dialogue.' The goal of The Diplomat is to spotlight projects and initiatives that reshape public perception and highlight the work of embassies in South Africa. In his closing remarks, M&G chairperson Roger Latchman reminded guests of the broader responsibility that media and diplomacy share. 'We must resist sensationalism, restore public confidence and recommit ourselves to accuracy, fairness, and informed discourse.' Other guest speakers included Elelwani Pandelani, the head of Nedbank diplomatic and non-resident banking, who spoke about the importance of building strong, lasting relationships beyond financial transactions. Keynote speaker: Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya. Laurie James, a forensic profiler at Cybareti, addressed the rapidly evolving cyber landscape, noting that no corner of the world is untouched by digital threats. Karjieker noted that The Diplomat aligns with the core mission of diplomatic work and thanked Wendy Mosetlhi and Marion Smith for bringing the event to life. 'Their efforts and insight have been instrumental in shaping this initiative,' he said. Smith, who leads The Diplomat section and brings years of experience in diplomatic engagement, spoke about her motivation for taking on this work. 'I have a love for learning and diplomacy. I'd like to use some of my global experience and expertise to contribute meaningfully in this space,' she said. 'I also look forward to using The Diplomat to raise awareness of the importance of identifying and countering disinformation.' Smith said a diplomat's first responsibility is to understand, then to share that understanding — 'and that's what The Diplomat aims to do'. View: The ambassadors and other staff of 45 embassies attend the launch of The Diplomat. Lebanon Golf Championship Expressing gratitude: Ambassador Kabalan Frangieh of Lebanon The Fifth Annual South African Lebanese Golf Championship, hosted by the Embassy of Lebanon, took place on Sunday, 25 May 2025, at the Wanderers Golf Club in Johannesburg. The tournament welcomed a distinguished group of participants, including the ambassadors of Austria and India, the chargé d'affaires of Thailand, the military attaché of Argentina, and the representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation. Professional South African Lebanese golfer Lora Assad competed, alongside members of the Cedars and Phoenicians golf clubs. Ambassador Kabalan Frangieh of Lebanon expressed his gratitude to all participants. As his tour of duty in South Africa comes to an end, he spoke of his hope that this annual event remains a fixture on the embassy's calendar. Tournament Results A Division winner: Damon Zoghby – 2025 Champion B Division winner: Vincent Shahim C Division winner: Terence Joseph Best guest: Lora Assad – with an outstanding 67 shots. Yemen marks 35th National Day anniversary in South Africa On 22 May, the Embassy of the Republic of Yemen marked the 35th anniversary of Yemen's National Day — commemorating the unification of the country's northern and southern regions. To honour the occasion, the embassy, its staff and the broader Yemeni community in South Africa extended congratulations to His Excellency President Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi, chairperson of the Presidential Leadership Council, its members, the Yemeni people and the country's armed forces. A small gathering was held at the ambassador's residence in Pretoria, where members of the local Yemeni community and students studying in South Africa came together. The event reflected on the significance of the unification and Yemen's continued path toward peace and stability. The embassy reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Yemeni citizens in South Africa and strengthening ties between the two nations. Celebration: The Yemeni community in South Africa came together to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Yemen's National Day.
LBCI
19 hours ago
- General
- LBCI
Erdogan says Kurdish SDF 'stalling' despite integration deal with Damascus
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said the Kurdish-dominated and U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were using "stalling tactics" despite an agreement with the new Syrian government for the group's integration into Syrian armed forces. Speaking to reporters on a flight from Azerbaijan, Erdogan reiterated Turkey's position that Syria's unity and territorial integrity must be preserved, stating that the SDF-Damascus deal must be implemented within the agreed-upon and planned timeline. "We had said before we welcomed the agreement. But we see that the Syrian Democratic Forces are continuing their stalling tactics. They must stop this," he was cited as saying by his office on Thursday. AFP
Arab News
21 hours ago
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan PM arrives in Tajikistan on final leg of five-day regional diplomacy tour
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe on Thursday, the final stop in a five-day regional diplomacy tour that earlier took him to Türkiye, Iran and Azerbaijan, following a recent military confrontation with archrival India. The tour has seen Sharif engage with regional allies to reaffirm diplomatic ties and economic cooperation, while also garnering support in the wake of heightened tensions with India. Sharif was received at the Dushanbe airport by Tajik Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda. 'Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, on a two-day visit,' his office said in a statement. 'During the visit, he will hold a bilateral meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to discuss cooperation in various sectors and thank the Tajik leader for his strong support during the recent India-Pakistan tensions,' it continued. Earlier in the day, Sharif concluded his visit to Azerbaijan, where he announced that the Azeri leadership had reaffirmed plans to invest $2 billion in Pakistan and deepen collaboration in commerce, defense, education and health. On Wednesday, Sharif attended a trilateral summit in the Lachin district with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The three leaders pledged to expand cooperation and turn their longstanding fraternal ties into a strategic partnership for regional prosperity. During his previous stops, Sharif also met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran to discuss trade, energy and regional connectivity. In Türkiye, from where he kicked off his regional tour, the Pakistani prime minister held talks with Erdoğan on defense, infrastructure and intelligence cooperation. Pakistan has long sought to strengthen ties with landlocked Central Asian nations by offering them access to its Arabian Sea ports, part of its broader push for regional connectivity and economic integration. The Prime Minister's Office said in its statement Sharif will also participate in a high-level international conference on glacier preservation in Tajikistan, where he is expected to brief participants on the impact of climate change on Pakistan and reaffirm the country's commitment to environmental protection.
Arab News
a day ago
- General
- Arab News
Jailed ex-aide to Georgia kingpin claims he was snatched abroad
TBILISI: An ex-aide to Georgia's powerful tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili said on Thursday that he had been snatched while abroad, forcibly flown back to Georgia, and arrested on his former boss's orders. Giorgi Bachiashvili, the former head of Ivanishvili's Co-Investment Fund, fled Georgia in March amid mounting legal troubles following a falling out with the country's most powerful man. The case has intensified scrutiny of the role of Ivanishvili — who wields enormous influence behind the scenes — in Georgian politics. Georgia's state security service said Tuesday it had arrested Bachiashvili, a dual Georgian-Russian national, inside Georgia, near the border with Azerbaijan, following an anonymous tip. But speaking at a court hearing Thursday, Bachiashvii said he had been blindfolded and held incommunicado for two days in an undisclosed country before being forced onto a plane and flown back to Georgia 'in complete violation of the law.' 'Acting on Bidzina Ivanishvili's orders, Georgian officials resorted to banditry and brought me back to Georgia through abduction,' he said. While abroad Bachiashvili, had been sentenced in absentia to 11 years in prison for alleged embezzlement and money laundering. 'I consider myself absolutely innocent of all charges. Today it became clear that I am a personal prisoner of Ivanishvili,' he told the court. His lawyer Robert Amsterdam has denounced the case as politically motivated and accused the Georgian authorities of abusing international legal tools to persecute dissenters. Widely seen as Georgia's key power broker, billionaire Ivanishvili is the founder and honorary chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party. He holds enormous sway over the party and the government, including the formal power to nominate its choice of prime minister. Georgian Dream, in power for more than a decade, has been accused by critics of steering the country away from the West and toward Russia — a claim it denies. Georgia was gripped by mass protests for weeks last year following a disputed parliamentary election in October and the government's subsequent decision to freeze its EU membership bid.
Asharq Al-Awsat
a day ago
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Erdogan Says Kurdish SDF ‘Stalling' Despite Integration Deal with Damascus
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the Kurdish-dominated and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were using "stalling tactics" despite an agreement with the new Syrian government for the group's integration into Syrian armed forces. Speaking to reporters on a flight from Azerbaijan, Erdogan repeated Türkiye's position that Syria's unity and territorial integrity must be preserved, saying the SDF-Damascus deal must be implemented in the agreed and planned timeline. "We had said before we welcomed the agreement. But we see that the Syrian Democratic Forces are still continuing their stalling tactics. They must stop this," he was cited as saying by his office on Thursday.
