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☆ Motswedi Modiba: South African singer a hit on Chinese reality TV
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Tom Page | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A fortnight ago, Motswedi Modiba was a South African singer showing signs of a promising career in her home country. Now she’s a breakout hit on one of China’s largest reality TV shows after wowing millions with her performance in Mandarin. Modiba, reported to be the first Black and African contestant on “Sing! Kickstarting a careerSouth African singer Motswedi Modiba, who goes by the stage name MOE. “Right now I’m in China, and I’m doing ‘Sing!

Persons: Motswedi Modiba, ”, Karen Mok, Modiba, Wilber Pan, Joker Xue, Kickstarting, Wethu, Tebs David, “, Eli Zaleo, Modibe, she’s, ” Modibe, netizens, ” Modiba, I’m, “ I’m Organizations: CNN, Pretoria Chinese School, Yunnan Normal University, Metro FM Music, Manhattan School of Music, Rights Watch Locations: South African, China, Weibo, South, Tshwane, South Africa, Pretoria, Kunming, Manhattan School of Music , New York, TikTok, ”, Africa, Douyin, African

☆ Russia, expansion and Western relations in the spotlight as leaders gather for pivotal BRICS summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

South African police officers walk in front of an event banner outside the venue for the BRICS summit at the Sandton Convention Center in the Sandton district of Johannesburg, South Africa, on Monday, Aug. 21, 2023. Ramaphosa invited 67 leaders from across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia and the Caribbean to attend the summit, but no Western leaders received an invitation. watch nowBilateral deals and cooperation is common among BRICS members, but de Carvalho challenged the idea that there is a unanimous desire to compete with the G7. He added that the BRICS members do not always agree and do not see the group as a "panacea," but simply a "vehicle to become more influential in global discussions." "The G7 contains the rich Western economies, while BRICS contains the two most populous countries and the leading countries on three continents.

Persons: Michele Spatari, Cyril Ramaphosa, Xi Jinping, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Narendra Modi, Sergei Lavrov, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Ramaphosa, Gustavo de Carvalho, de Carvalho, Lula, BRICS, It's, it's, Steven Gruzd, Gruzd Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, West, South, Indian, Russian, International, Court, ICC, Western, African Union Commission, New Development Bank, South African Institute of International Affairs, CNBC Locations: Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa, Ukraine, Africa, Latin America, East, Asia, Caribbean, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE, Argentina, Indonesia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, BRICS, Russia, Brazil, China

☆ Chinese President Xi's state visit to S. Africa
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsChinese President Xi's state visit to S. AfricaPostedChinese President Xi Jinping was welcomed to South Africa's capital, Pretoria on Tuesday (August 22) during an official ceremony.

Persons: Xi's, Xi Jinping Locations: Africa, Pretoria

☆ BRICS Meeting Attracts Global Interest Not Seen in Years
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Lynsey Chutel | More About Lynsey Chutel | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The latest gathering of leaders has garnered a level of international interest rarely seen since the group was first formed 14 years ago. Dozens of countries have expressed interest in joining, including Argentina, Nigeria, Iran, Belarus, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. The candidates are as diverse as the BRICS bloc, which represents 40 percent of the world’s population and a quarter of its economy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India arrived in Johannesburg in the afternoon, The Times of India reported. President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia will appear virtually, to avoid an international arrest warrant for crimes against humanity committed during the war in Ukraine.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Cyril Ramaphosa of, Narendra Modi, Vladimir V, Putin Organizations: India Locations: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Johannesburg, Ukraine, Beijing, Washington, Argentina, Nigeria, Iran, Belarus, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Pretoria, Times

☆ China's Xi tells BRICS summit that Chinese economy is resilient
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] China's President Xi Jinping speaks, as South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa listens, at the Union Buildings ahead of the opening remarks of the BRICS emerging economies meeting, in Pretoria, South Africa August 22, 2023. REUTERS/Alet Pretorius Acquire Licensing RightsAug 22 (Reuters) - China's leader Xi Jinping told the BRICS group on Tuesday that China's economy was resilient and that the fundamentals for its long-term growth remained unchanged. Xi, who is in South Africa for a summit of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS), made the remarks in a prepared statement read by Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao at a business forum. "The Chinese economy has strong resilience, tremendous potential and great vitality," Xi said through Wang. "The giant ship of the Chinese economy will continue to ride the wind, cleave waves, and forge ahead," Xi said.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Cyril Ramaphosa, Alet Pretorius, Xi, Wang Wentao, Wang, Michael Martina, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, Chinese Commerce, Thomson Locations: Pretoria, South Africa, Brazil, Russia, India, China, U.S

REUTERS/Alet Pretorius Acquire Licensing RightsJOHANNESBURG, Aug 22 (Reuters) - African countries want China to shift its focus from building infrastructure on the continent to local industrialisation, China's top Africa diplomat said on Tuesday at a briefing on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in South Africa. "African integration is already escalating and many African countries (have) asked China to consider (a) shift (of) our focus," Wu Peng, director-general of China's department of African affairs at its foreign ministry, said. China will talk through its plans for African industrialisation with African leaders on Thursday at a special roundtable on the sidelines of the Aug. 22-24 meeting of the BRICS bloc - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Between 2000 and 2020, Chinese lenders - mostly state-owned banks - agreed to lend $160 billion to African countries, according to Boston University. He also said that investments by Chinese companies in Africa, especially from small and medium-sized companies, would increase.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Alet Pretorius, Wu Peng, Wu, Xi, Carien du Plessis, Tannur Anders, Emelia Sithole Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Africa Continental Free Trade, Boston University, for, Africa Cooperation, Thomson Locations: Pretoria, South Africa, Rights JOHANNESBURG, China, China's, Africa, Brazil, Russia, India, for China

☆ Morning Bid: World markets bounce at last
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., August 15, 2023. The onshore yuan steadied amid supportive action by China's state banks in the swaps market, and Chinese stocks (.CSI300) perked up from the year's lows. Overall, MSCI's all-country index (.MIWD00000PUS) was on course on Tuesday for its first back-to-back daily gains of August so far. There were background concerns about the impact on U.S. banks of this latest hit to bond prices and borrowing rates. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Mike Dolan, Xi Jinping, MSCI's, Jackson, Jerome Powell's, Moody's, Thomas Barkin, Austan Goolsbee, Michelle Bowman, Cyril Ramaphosa, Christina Fincher Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Treasury, Federal Reserve, Nasdaq, P, Activision, Ubisoft Entertainment, Microsoft, Richmond Fed, Philadelphia Fed, Richmond Federal, Chicago Fed, China's, Reuters Graphics, Thomson, Reuters Locations: New York City, U.S, Wyoming, Jackson, China, South Africa, Asia, Johannesburg, Pretoria

[1/2] China's President Xi Jinping takes his seat at the first closed session of the leaders of the BRICS summit meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, July 26, 2018. China's interactions with African leaders will follow last month's Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg, where Russian President Vladimir Putin held court with the 17 African heads of state who attended out of the 54 African countries invited. Chen said Xi and African leaders will draw up a blueprint for cooperation to create jobs and improve livelihoods in Africa. It is not clear yet how many heads of state will attend the Aug. 22-24 BRICS summit, but South African officials said more than 70 had been invited. Between 2000 and 2020, Chinese lenders, mostly state-owned banks, agreed to lend $160 billion to African countries, according to Boston University, and Chinese companies have also invested heavily in mining on the continent.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Gianluigi, Chen Xiaodong, Xi, Cyril Ramaphosa, Vladimir Putin, Chen, Macky Sall, Azali Assoumani, Carien du Plessis, Rachel Savage, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Rights, Forum for China Africa Cooperation, Union, Boston University, Thomson Locations: Johannesburg, South Africa, Rights PRETORIA, China, Africa, Brazil, Russia, India, South, Pretoria, St Petersburg, Comoros

☆ Springboks delighted to have captain Kolisi back after injury
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Bok captain Kolisi suffered a serious knee injury in April, casting major doubt over his availability for the team's title defence, but he has been selected for the first time this year against Wales in a warm-up fixture in Cardiff on Saturday. "It's massive for us as a team to have Siya back in the mix," Kolbe told reporters on Wednesday. "He means a lot to us as players with his experience and the energy he brings. Even when he was not playing, he was on the sidelines giving input, helping a lot of the guys." If someone gets injured, we know the next guy coming in will fill that role and is capable of doing even better."

Persons: Siphiwe, Siya Kolisi, Cheslin Kolbe, Bok, Kolisi, Kolbe, Wales flyhalf Dan Biggar, Nick Said, Devika Organizations: Rugby Union, Rugby, International, Springboks REUTERS, Rights, Springboks, Wales, Wales flyhalf, Toulon, Thomson Locations: South Africa, France, Johannesburg, Japan, Cardiff, Pretoria

☆ S. African mother found guilty of murdering three daughters in New Zealand
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A teddy bear is seen among flowers placed outside where Lauren Anne Dickason, a woman charged with murdering her three young daughters just weeks after arriving in New Zealand from South Africa, used to live, in Pretoria, South Africa, September 24, 2021. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWELLINGTON, Aug 16 (Reuters) - A jury in New Zealand found a South African woman guilty on Wednesday of murdering her three young daughters, with media saying she faced a life sentence for each killing. Her husband Graham had found the three children dead and his wife in a serious condition upon arriving home after a dinner with colleagues, New Zealand media have previously said. The prosecution said Dickason knew when she killed her daughters that what she was doing was morally wrong and the act was murder, according to broadcaster Radio New Zealand. Some of the jury were heard crying as they left the courtroom, media said.

Persons: Lauren Anne Dickason, Siphiwe, Dickason, Graham, Cameron Mander, Lucy Craymer, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Media, Radio New Zealand, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, South Africa, Pretoria, African, Timaru, Christchurch

☆ South Africa's recognition of sign language signals new hope for the deaf
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Thando Hlophe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Before it was an official language... there was absolutely no access" to communicating with other people, he signed. Still, South Africa only has about 40 deaf schools and one tertiary institution that is fully accessible to deaf people, meaning there is still work to be done to improve that access. "It is a very rich, beautiful language but we need people who are going to be equipped enough to develop it even more," said Andiswa Gebashe, a South African Sign Language activist and former interpreter for Ramaphosa. World Atlas, an online site that studies demographics, says only 41 countries recognise sign language as an official language, just four of them in Africa - Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe. "Now that it's an official language, I know that I can go to university and I can make my dreams come true," he said in sign.

Persons: Cyril Ramaphosa, Manana, Andiswa Gebashe, Wilma Newhoudt, Thando, Tannur Anders, Alexander Winning, Nick Macfie Organizations: inclusivity, Sizwile School, Thomson Locations: Pretoria, Read, JOHANNESBURG, Johannesburg, Dobsonville, Soweto, South Africa, Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe

☆ ‘Kill the Boer’ Song Fuels Backlash in South Africa and U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( John Eligon | More About John Eligon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mr. Malema leads the Economic Freedom Fighters, a party that advocates taking white-owned land to give to Black South Africans. That has made his embrace of the chant all the more disturbing to some whites. Despite the words, the song should not be taken as a literal call to violence, according to Mr. Malema and veterans and historians of the anti-apartheid struggle. But the A.N.C., the liberation party that has governed South Africa since the beginning of multiracial democracy nearly 30 years ago, distanced itself from the song in 2012 — the same year it expelled Mr. Malema for his incendiary statements. The people singing those songs were not actually planning to march to Pretoria, nor did they really think that Mr. Mandela was about to be released, he said.

Persons: Donald J, Malema, Peter Mokaba, Bongani Ngqulunga, Nelson Mandela, Mandela Organizations: Trump, Economic, Fighters, Black, African National Congress, University of Johannesburg Locations: South Africa, United States, Pretoria

The South African Reserve Bank's (SARB) monetary policy committee (MPC) kept rates at 8.25% as inflation forecasts came in lower than previous ones and economic conditions improved. Kganyago said future rate decisions would continue to depend on economic data and risks to the inflation outlook. The bank expects inflation to fall back to the midpoint of the target range sustainably only by the third quarter of 2025. Jason Tuvey, deputy chief emerging markets economist at Capital Economics, said in a note that rate cuts were likely to materialise only early next year. "The split vote suggests that inflation concerns continue to linger and it is likely to take some time before a majority on the MPC are in favour of rate cuts," Tuvey said.

Persons: Lesetja Kganyago, Kganyago, Jason Tuvey, Tuvey, Kuben Naidoo, Nellie Peyton, Tannur Anders, Kopano, Anait Miridzhanian, Promit Mukherjee, Rachel Savage, Alexander Winning, Olivia Kumwenda, Frances Kerry Organizations: South, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Capital Economics, MPC, Thomson Locations: PRETORIA

☆ Johannesburg residents stunned by once-in-a-decade snowfall
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Children play in the snow at Laerskool Orion, a school located in Brackenhurst, a suburb south of Johannesburg in South Africa, July 10, 2023. REUTERS/Siphiwe SibekoJOHANNESBURG, July 10 (Reuters) - Residents of South Africa's biggest city Johannesburg were stunned by the first snowfall in over a decade on Monday, with some children seeing snow for the first time. While parts of South Africa regularly receive snowfall over the southern hemisphere winter months around June to August, Johannesburg last saw snow in August 2012. South of the city in Brackenhurst, a Reuters photographer saw children making snowballs and snow angels in a school's grounds. But for others, like delivery driver Chenjerai Murape whose motorbike would not start, the snow made life difficult.

Persons: Jennifer Banda, Chenjerai, Snow, Tannur Anders, Thando Hlophe, Catherine Schenck, Shafiek, Alexander Winning Organizations: REUTERS, Nelson, Reuters, African Weather Service, Thomson Locations: Brackenhurst, Johannesburg, South Africa, Siphiwe, JOHANNESBURG, South Africa's, Gauteng, Pretoria, Mpumalanga province

☆ South Africa deputy president's police escorts face charges after being filmed attacking motorists
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Nimi Princewill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The plainclothes officers then proceeded to kick and stomp on the two men. “One of the occupants in the SUV was pointing a firearm at the victims’ vehicle. The victims’ vehicle was subsequently boxed in by more SUVs and forced, in formation, to the left side of the N1 highway,” the statement said. “The occupants of the SUVs exited their vehicles surrounding the victims’ vehicle and attempted to smash the windscreen of the victims’ vehicle. Upon not being successful in that attempt, the assailants proceeded to smash the back window of the victims’ vehicle and assault the occupants of that vehicle,” it continued.

Persons: Paul Mashatile’s, It’s, Mashatile, “, abhors, Athlenda Mathe, ” Mathe, ”, Bheki Cele Organizations: CNN, South, South African National Defence Force, VIP, National, Independent Police, Directorate, South Africa . Police Locations: Johannesburg, Pretoria, South Africa, Africa’s

☆ Ukraine’s cross-border tactics are aimed at destabilizing Russia. Judging by the response, they’re working
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Sam Kiley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The operations of Russian citizens, carrying Ukrainian military ID, wearing Ukrainian uniforms and attacking from Ukraine, remain officially opaque. Back then, “Little Green Men” in peculiar two-tone sport-hunting uniforms – and Russian military fatigues – appeared in Crimea. The Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom for Russia Legion – which fall under Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence structure – have been conducting short cross-border raids into Russia. Russia rattledIn Ukraine, it suits Kyiv to have Russians invade Russia on its behalf. Previous days with all the shelling - there was almost no response, no (Russian) military.

Persons: coy, what’s, “, fatigues –, Vladimir Putin, Moscow, Sergey Bobok, for Russia Legion –, –, Putin, it’s, ”, ” Putin, Prigozhin, Wagner, “ Wagner, Yulia Morozova, you’ve, ” Dmitry Medvedev, Medvedev, Vyacheslav Gladkov, Shebekino Organizations: CNN, Fighters, Russian Volunteer Corps, of Russia Legion, Getty, for Russia Legion, Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence, Frontline, Kremlin, Russian, Russian Federation, “ Wagner PMC, Russia, Kyiv, Reuters, Russian Telegram Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Crimea, Simferopol, Soviet, AFP, South, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Pretoria, destabilization, Belgorod –, Moscow, Kursk, Smelensk, Russian, St Petersburg, Soviet Union, Belgorod, Shebekino, “

☆ BRICS meet with 'friends' seeking closer ties amid push to expand bloc
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Wendell Roelf | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Foreign ministers of BRICS nations pose for a family photo with representatives from Africa and the global South during a summit in Cape Town, South Africa, June 2, 2023. BRICS, which now consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is considering expanding its membership, and a growing number of countries, mostly from the global South, have expressed interest in joining. Developed countries have never met their commitments to the developing world and are trying to shift all responsibility to the global South," Pandor said. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said Thursday's talks had included deliberations on the guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedures of what an expanded BRICS bloc would look like. As an ICC member, South Africa would face pressure to arrest Putin were he to travel to the summit.

Persons: Naledi Pandor, Pandor, Mauro Vieira, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Thursday's, Africa's Pandor, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Carien du, Krishn Kaushik, Joe Bavier, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Russian Foreign Ministry, REUTERS, South Africa's, United Arab, Democratic, Cape Town, International Criminal Court, ICC, Thomson Locations: Africa, Cape Town , South Africa, REUTERS CAPE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Comoros, Gabon, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Argentina, Bangladesh, Guinea, Bissau, Indonesia, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Carien du Plessis

☆ BRICS ministers meet in push to establish group as counterweight to West
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Wendell Roelf | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

South African authorities confirmed that foreign ministers from Brazil, Russia, India, and South Africa are attending Thursday's meeting in Cape Town. Amid the growing geopolitical polarisation resulting from the war in Ukraine, BRICS leaders have said they are open to admitting new members, including oil producing countries. South Africa, though the bloc's smallest member, is among its biggest champions. As an ICC member South Africa would face pressure to arrest Putin, were he to attend the meeting in Johannesburg. "Obviously, the best solution for South Africa is if Putin decided not to come."

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, van Staden, William Gumede, Nic Borain, Wendell Roelf, Carien du, Joe Bavier, Grant McCool Organizations: BRICS, Criminal Court, South African Institute of International Affairs, New Development Bank, South, United, ICC, Independent, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, August CAPE, South Africa, Johannesburg, Moscow, Brazil, Russia, India, Cape Town, China, Beijing, South African, Venezuela, Argentina, Iran, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, African, . South Africa, Africa, Pretoria, Carien du Plessis

☆ South Africa mulls options on ICC arrest warrant for potential visitor Putin
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Carien Du Plessis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

However, South Africa had on Jan. 25 already invited Putin to the Aug. 22-24 meeting in Johannesburg of BRICS leaders of emerging economies, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. "Because of our legal obligations, we have to arrest President Putin, but we can't do that," Mbeki said. South Africa on Monday issued diplomatic immunity to all leaders attending the meeting and a gathering of BRICS foreign ministers in Cape Town this week. The international relations department said this was standard procedure, however, for all international conferences in South Africa. The governing African National Congress decided in December that South Africa should abandon the process and try to effect changes to the ICC from within.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Zane Dangor, Thabo Mbeki, Mbeki, Obed Bapela, Britain's, Bapela, Clayson Monyela, Omar al, Bashir, Carien du Plessis, Olivia Kumwenda, Alexandra Zavis, Grant McCool Organizations: Criminal Court, ICC, South, Kremlin, Britain's BBC, African National Congress, Thomson Locations: JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Ukraine, Moscow, Johannesburg, Brazil, Russia, India, China, Africa, Pretoria, Cape Town, African

☆ Cholera outbreak claims ten more lives in South Africa
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

JOHANNESBURG, May 21 (Reuters) - The provincial health department in the South African province of Gauteng on Sunday announced 19 new cases of Cholera in Hammanskraal, including 10 deaths. South Africa reported its first cholera death in February, after the virus arrived in the country from Malawi. It was unclear how many cholera cases there was nationally as of Sunday, but the most populous province of Gauteng, where Johannesburg and Pretoria are situated, has been hardest hit. Cholera can cause acute diarrhoea, vomiting and weakness and is mainly spread by contaminated food or water. The last outbreak in South Africa was in 2008/2009 when about 12,000 cases were reported following an outbreak in neighbouring Zimbabwe, which led to a surge of imported cases and subsequent local transmission.

☆ How the U.S. and South Africa ended up in a dispute over Russian gunrunning allegations
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

WASHINGTON, D.C - Sep. 16, 2022: U.S. President Joe Biden meets with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (L) in the Oval Office of the White House. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty ImagesRelations between the U.S. and South Africa frayed last week, when U.S. South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), released a rather different interpretation of the conversation in its readout. RICHARDS BAY, South Africa - Feb. 22, 2023: Russian military frigate "Admiral Gorshkov" docked at the port in Richards Bay on February 22, 2023. South Africa drew criticism from the U.S. and Europe for holding 10 days of joint naval exercises with Russia and China.

☆ Russia, Ukraine to receive African mission on potential peace plan, Pretoria says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Wendell Roelf | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Details of the plan have not been publicly divulged, although Ukraine's stated position for any peace deal is that all Russian troops must withdraw from its territory. Putin and Zelenskiy had agreed to receive the mission in their respective capitals Moscow and Kyiv, a South African Presidency statement said. The peace plan is also backed by African leaders of Senegal, Uganda, Egypt, the Republic of the Congo, and Zambia. Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year but the war has largely stalemated, although Ukraine is expected to start a counteroffensive soon to try to take back land occupied by Russia. Reporting by Wendell Roelf; Writing by Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Olivia Kumwenda-MtamboOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ South African rand regains some ground against the dollar
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

JOHANNESBURG, May 15 (Reuters) - South Africa's rand firmed on Monday, recovering from an all-time low hit against the dollar last week as investors were spooked by possible sanctions amid U.S. allegations, rejected by Pretoria, that South Africa had shipped arms to Russia. At 1543 GMT, the rand traded at 19.0325 against the dollar , 1.54% stronger than its previous close. South African officials swiftly rejected the U.S. claims and said the country had not approved any arms shipment to Russia in December. "Investors, it seems, simply do not see value in South African economy, and we do not think this situation will change until there is material progress towards resolving energy or fiscal issues," Barclays said. South Africa's benchmark 2030 government bond was stronger in afternoon deals, with the yield down 19.5 basis points at 10.745%.

☆ Russia's navy is flexing its muscles around the world, but it may end up paying for Moscow's losses in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Russia's navy has had little involvement in Ukraine, losing only one major warship so far. Russia's military closed off parts of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan to practice firing torpedoes, missiles, and artillery. Russia's navy received heavy investment in the 2000s, as President Vladimir Putin rebuilt the military after a decade of post-Soviet decay. While it still struggles with its larger ships, Russia's navy now has dozens of frigates and corvettes armed with effective long-range weapons. Russian navy corvette Gremyashchiy, front, and the frigate Admiral Kasatonov in St Petersburg in July 2019.

☆ South Africa Allowed Russian Plane Under U.S. Sanctions to Land at Base
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Lynsey Chutel | John Eligon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

JOHANNESBURG — South African officials allowed a cargo plane targeted by U.S. sanctions for supporting Russia’s military efforts to land at an air force base near the capital, Pretoria, last week, a move that could further increase tensions with the United States. U.S. officials previously said the plane has been known to ship weapons for Russia’s defense forces. South Africa’s Department of Defense said in a statement on Wednesday that the plane had been delivering diplomatic mail for the Russian Embassy. South African officials have declined to say precisely what was loaded on to and taken off the plane. South Africa’s decision to let the aircraft land runs counter to American efforts to isolate Russia because of its invasion of Ukraine.

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