A Ukrainian counteroffensive was underway near the Russian-held town of Izium, but Ukraine's military said Russian forces were advancing elsewhere in the key Donbas region.  The post IN BRIEF: Ukraine & Russia – What you need to know right now appeared first on SABC News – Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader..

NATO and the United States said on Sunday they were confident Turkey would not hold up membership of Finland and Sweden in the Western military alliance, as the two Nordic states took firm steps to join in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The post NATO expects Turkey not to hold up Finland, Sweden membership appeared first on SABC News – Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader..

Turkey's foreign minister said on Sunday that Sweden and Finland must stop supporting terrorist groups in their countries, provide clear security guarantees and lift export bans on Turkey as they seek membership in NATO. The post Turkey lays out demands as Finland, Sweden seek NATO membership appeared first on SABC News – Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader..

World leaders began descending on the United Arab Emirates on Sunday to offer condolences on the death of president Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who was succeeded by his half-brother and de facto leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed. The post World leaders pay respect after death of UAE president appeared first on SABC News – Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader..

A missile strike hit some military infrastructure in the western Ukrainian region of Lviv early on Sunday. The post Military Infrastructure destroyed in Lviv attack appeared first on SABC News – Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader..

An 18-year-old white gunman shot 10 people to death and wounded three on Saturday at a grocery store in a Black neighborhood of upstate New York, before surrendering after what authorities called an act of "racially motivated violent extremism." The post Gunman kills 10 in live-streamed racial attack on New York state supermarket appeared first on SABC News – Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader..

 Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the U.S. Senate, paid an unannounced visit to Kyiv on Saturday with other Republican senators and met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for talks. The post Top Senate Republican meets Zelenskiy, Russia says U.S. involvement dangerous appeared first on SABC News – Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader..

Desmond Tutu Trust says the scenes of members of the Israeli security forces attacking pall-bearers at the funeral of slain Aljazeera journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh in Jerusalem on Friday, were a chillingly reminiscent of the brutality meted at the funerals of anti-apartheid activists in South Africa during the struggle years. The post Attack on Shireen Abu Akleh’s funeral described as a chilling reminiscent of apartheid: Desmond Tutu Trust appeared first on SABC News – Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader..

Israeli police officers charged at Palestinian mourners carrying the coffin of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh on Friday, before thousands led her casket through Jerusalem's Old City in an outpouring of grief and anger over her killing. The post Israeli police beat mourners at funeral of slain Palestinian journalist appeared first on SABC News – Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader..