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☆ Dyson, Everlane and AirPods Pro 2: Best online sales right now
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Caroline Curran | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Lowest Price AirPods Pro 2 $249 $199 at Amazon Apple Three years after debuting — and landing in the ears of seemingly everyone you know — Apple’s mega-popular AirPods Pro have finally gotten a refresh. Available now, the AirPods Pro 2 offer major upgrades like improved active noise cancellation (ANC), a wider range of fit options, more expansive touch controls and longer battery life. Right now, the second-gen AirPods Pro are at their lowest price yet of $199, so order now at Amazon to save on these pricey earbuds. Lowest Price Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer $460 $400 at Amazon Dyson In addition to making your floors spotless, Dyson is a pro at styling your strands with its range of hair tools. And right now, you can snap up a brand-new Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer for under $400, the lowest price we’ve seen at Amazon.

☆ Yellen to meet with donors, private sector on South Africa's energy transition
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen attends media briefing ahead of bilateral talks with South Africa's Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana (not pictured), at the treasury offices in Pretoria, South Africa, January 26, 2023. The United States, Britain, France, Germany and the European Union backed South Africa's "Just Energy Transition Partnership," or JETP, in late 2021 with a combined $8.5 billion, but the total cost could be ten times that high. "The United States' commitment to the energy transition being 'just' is firm. That is why President Biden made an additional commitment to President Ramaphosa of $45 million in grant funding to support South Africa’s efforts," Yellen said. But President Cyril Ramaphosa's plan to transition South Africa away from coal and towards renewable energy has divided the governing African National Congress (ANC).

☆ Yellen says South Africa needs action to maintain energy transition momentum
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen attends media briefing ahead of bilateral talks with South Africa's Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana (not pictured), at the treasury offices in Pretoria, South Africa, January 26, 2023. REUTERS/Siphiwe SibekoJOHANNESBURG, Jan 27 (Reuters) - South Africa needs concrete action soon if it is to maintain momentum on an energy transition program backed by the United States and other countries, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Friday after visiting the coal mining region of Mpumalanga. She expressed hope that Washington's focus on a just energy transition would underpin donor interest in backing the nearly $100 billion project aimed at supporting South Africa's gradual phasing out of fossil fuels. The United States, Britain, France, Germany and the European Union have backed South Africa's "Just Energy Transition Partnership" with a combined $8.5 billion, which Yellen called a "substantial down payment" designed to mobilise additional money. "An energy transition that is not just will simply not work.

☆ ICC prosecutor gets approval to reopen Philippines drug war probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The ICC on Thursday said it had granted its prosecutor's request to reopen an investigation into drug war killings and other suspected rights abuses. The court suspended the probe in November 2021 at Manila's request after the country said it was implementing its own investigations and prosecutions. In a statement, the ICC said it was "not satisfied that the Philippines is undertaking relevant investigations that would warrant a deferral of the investigation." Human Rights Watch said the ICC investigation was the only credible path to justice for victims and their families. Meanwhile, the families of many drug war victims are still seeking justice in long, drawn-out cases.

☆ Russia, South Africa and a 'redesigned global order': The Kremlin's hearts and minds machine is steaming ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Pretoria as part of an African tour, his second since the invasion, which will also reportedly take him to Botswana, Angola and Eswatini. On Feb. 24 2022, shortly after the Ukraine invasion, South Africa urged Russia to immediately withdraw its forces from Ukraine. South Africa was one of 15 African nations to abstain from the subsequent U.N. vote in March to condemn Russia's war of aggression. watch nowShe emphasized the multilateral responsibilities of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) bloc of leading emerging economies in a changing global landscape. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday that "the United States has concerns about any country … exercising with Russia as Russia wages a brutal war against Ukraine."

☆ South Africa's Eskom says worst power cuts over for now but urges less use
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Tim Cocks | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

But outgoing CEO Andre De Ruyter also re-affirmed that power cuts would continue for two more years at least. South Africans were braced for worse, with the risk of "stage 8 load shedding" - more than half a day with no power. "We would really urge South Africans to plan (evening) consumption such that ... we have reduced demand," he said. Creaking coal-fire power stations, corruption in coal supply contracts, criminal sabotage and failure to ease up regulation to enable private providers to swiftly bring renewable energy on tap have all left South Africa in a deep power deficit. Eskom's Chief Operating Officer Jan Oberholzer said that by the end of March the firm should be able to bring 1,862 megawatts back online, and that it would focus on keeping its top six power stations running smoothly.

☆ South Africa's president to skip WEF to deal with crippling power cuts at home
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 15 (Reuters) - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will no longer attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos due to the ongoing energy crisis in the country, his spokesman said on Sunday. Power cuts have worsened since Tuesday when struggling state utility Eskom said it would implement its worst-ever outages until further notice. The power cuts are a major source of public frustration with the governing African National Congress (ANC) and a brake on economic growth in Africa's most industrialised nation. "Currently the President is convening a meeting with leaders of political parties represented in parliament, NECCOM (National Energy Crisis Committee) and the Eskom board," Vincent Magwenya, presidential spokesman said. The beleaguered utility supplies the vast majority of South Africa's electricity, relying mainly on an ageing fleet of coal-fired power stations that are unreliable and prone to faults.

☆ The CEO of an African energy giant was poisoned with cyanide slipped into his coffee, just days after he resigned
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The CEO of South Africa's biggest energy company, Eskom, was poisoned in December, the firm said. Numerous reports say CEO Andre De Ruyter had cyanide slipped into his coffee at the company's HQ. After drinking the coffee, De Ruyter became "weak, dizzy, and confused," EE Business Intelligence reported, citing an unnamed source. "This attempt on his life will be thoroughly investigated and those responsible must be charged," Pravin Gordhan, the government minister overseeing South Africa's energy sector told the Financial Times. Since taking over as CEO of Eskom, De Ruyter has attempted to crack down on corruption within South Africa's energy sector, EE Business Intelligence reported.

☆ Philippines main airport scrambles to restore normalcy after power cut
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A passenger wearing a face mask and face shield for protection against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) walks towards a counter in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Paranaque, Metro Manila, Philippines, January 14, 2021. The ageing Ninoy Aquino international airport was early on Monday handling a maximum 15 arrivals per hour compared to 20 during normal operations, said Cesar Chiong, general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority. The outage was the result of the unprecedented failure of both primary and secondary power supplies, he said. Chiong said the airport had introduced its own power system in 2018 but on Sunday, both the main and backup systems failed. The Ninoy Aquino International Airport has previously been ranked among the world's worst international gateways, with flight delays a regular occurrence, and a history of upgrades being delayed or abandoned due to disputes between the airport and contractors.

☆ Dollar slips vs euro on upbeat German business morale data
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Saqib Iqbal Ahmed | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Banknotes of Japanese yen and U.S. dollar are seen in this illustration picture taken September 23, 2022. REUTERS/Florence Lo/IllustrationNEW YORK, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The dollar edged down against the euro as upbeat German business morale data supported the common currency, while a modest improvement in investors' appetite for riskier currencies weighed on the safe-haven dollar. German business morale rose more than expected in December as the outlook for Europe's largest economy improved despite the energy crisis and high inflation, a survey showed on Monday. The euro rose 0.2 % to $ 1.06085 , not far from the six-month high of $1.0737 touched last week. "I think the dollar is generally softer on slightly higher risk-on trading," said John Doyle, vice president of dealing and trading at Monex USA.

☆ South African President Ramaphosa Is Re-Elected as Party Leader
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Gabriele Steinhauser | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

JOHANNESBURG—South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was resoundingly re-elected as the leader of the ruling African National Congress on Monday, shrugging off a parliamentary investigation that found he may have violated the country’s constitution, as well as a forceful challenge by allies of his disgraced predecessor. Mr. Ramaphosa, who has been president of Africa’s most developed economy since 2018, beat his former health minister, Zweli Mkhize, gaining 2,476 votes out of 4,384 cast at the ANC’s elective conference that sets the party’s direction for the coming five years. Perhaps more important, officials backed by Mr. Ramaphosa won four out of the other six positions in the party’s leadership team, giving him a stronger hand in picking his cabinet and pushing through his chosen economic policies.

☆ Ramaphosa re-elected as leader of South Africa's ruling party
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa waves outside the NASREC Centre in Johannesburg, on December 05, 2022 after a meeting of the Africa National Congress. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been re-elected leader of the governing African National Congress (ANC) at a party leadership contest, an ANC official said on Monday. Ramaphosa had been widely tipped to secure re-election for a second five-year term as ANC leader at the five-day gathering being held in the country's biggest city Johannesburg. He secured the most nominations from rank-and-file ANC members and is widely viewed as the country's most popular politician. Ramaphosa has denied wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crimes over the scandal, but it has raised questions about how he acquired the money and whether he declared it.

☆ South African rand weakens as ruling ANC picks new leader
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 19 (Reuters) - South Africa's rand weakened early on Monday as investors awaited the outcome of voting for the new leader of South Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC). At 0707 GMT the rand traded at 17.6875 against the dollar, 0.43% weaker than its previous close. Voting for the ANC's new leader was almost complete on Monday as the race pitting President Cyril Ramaphosa against former health minister Zweli Mkhize entered the final stretch. "Anything short of that will likely see the USD-ZAR spike, with thin liquidity conditions amplifying the move," ETM said. The government's benchmark 2030 bond was weaker in early deals, with the yield up 11.5 basis points at 10.330%.

☆ South Africa's ANC gathers to vote on new leader
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] South African President Cyril Ramaphosa attends the nomination process of the top African National Congress (ANC) officials in the 55th National Conference of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, December 18, 2022. REUTERS/Sumaya HishamJOHANNESBURG, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Delegates of South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) gathered on Sunday to choose a new party leader, pitting President Cyril Ramaphosa against former health minister Zweli Mkhize. They will vote on Sunday after the ANC nominated the two candidates late on Saturday. Ramaphosa's backers were singing songs in support of him and were holding up two fingers signalling a second term as leader. Former president Jacob Zuma's supporters are seeking to use the scandal to oust Ramaphosa.

☆ Liberians protest over economic hardship and president's absence
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Alphonso Toweh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] President of Liberia George Weah arrives to address the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters in New York City, U.S., September 22, 2022. REUTERS/Mike SegarPAYNESVILLE, Liberia, Dec 17 (Reuters) - More than a thousand people joined a demonstration in a suburb of Liberia's capital on Saturday, protesting over economic hardships and President George Weah's prolonged absence from the country. Lewis Brown, a prominent Liberian politician who served in the cabinets of former presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Charles Taylor, was the event's main organiser. "Too many people in this country are suffering, cannot pay rent, cannot pay school fees," Brown said as she addressed the crowd. Reporting by Alphonso Toweh; Additional reporting by Carielle Doe; Writing by Cooper Inveen;Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[1/2] South African President Cyril Ramaphosa attends the 55th National Conference of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg. REUTERS/Sumaya HishamJOHANNESBURG, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Party allies, and even some rivals, of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday condemned opponents who disrupted his opening speech with chants and shouting at a conference of the ruling ANC on Friday. Ramaphosa, who was speaking at a five-day gathering of the African National Congress (ANC) to elect candidates for 2024 national elections, is seeking a second term and is widely seen as the party's strongest candidate. We are all interested to emerge here with a very solid, strong leadership," ANC deputy presidential hopeful and Eastern Cape ANC Chairperson Oscar Mabuyane told reporters. What they did yesterday soiled (their) campaign," Zamani Saul, Northern Cape ANC chairperson told SABC news.

☆ South African Parliament votes against Ramaphosa impeachment investigation
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( David Mckenzie | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Johannesburg CNN —South African President Ramaphosa survived a move to start impeachment proceedings against him in a vote in parliament on Tuesday. The move was widely expected, after the top leadership ruling African National Congress (ANC) called on their parliamentary caucus to block the investigation. There were a few ‘yes’ votes from ANC members, and a couple of no-shows, but their caucus largely held together. The president has repeatedly denied the allegations saying the money was from the sale of wildlife at his Phala Phala farm. ANC members said that the report did not provide enough evidence to move towards an impeachment proceeding.

☆ South Africa's Ramaphosa hits back as party backs him over 'Farmgate' scandal
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Kopano Gumbi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A copy of court papers filed by Ramaphosa's lawyers in the Constitutional Court showed Ramaphosa wanted the panel report "reviewed, declared unlawful and set aside." Ramaphosa also wants any steps taken by the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, over the panel report to be declared unlawful and invalid, the papers showed. South Africa's parliament postponed by a week to Dec. 13 a debate that had been scheduled for Tuesday on the report. [1/5] South African President Cyril Ramaphosa leaves the African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, December 5, 2022. That we will not support this report," Mashatile told reporters.

☆ South Africa's Ramaphosa awaits ANC panel decision on his fate
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

He has said the money stolen was the proceeds of the sale of buffaloes and far less than the millions of dollars alleged when the theft came to light in June. Ramaphosa said on Sunday he would attend the meeting of the African National Congress National Executive Committee (NEC) and would accept its decision. Party leaders and supporters of Ramaphosa clad in the colours of the ANC party were seen arriving at the venue of the meeting on Monday. Having received firm backing from his allies within the party, Ramaphosa has vowed to fight on, with his spokesman saying the panel's findings would be challenged. Reporting by Kopano Gumbi; Writing by Bhargav Acharya; Editing by James Macharia Chege and Nick MacfieOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ South Africa's Ramaphosa: ANC executive to decide my fate
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 4 (Reuters) - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday it was up to the governing party's National Executive Committee (NEC) to decide his future in the face of allegations of misconduct against him. Ramaphosa has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crimes. The president's allies have rallied around him and on Saturday his spokesman said he would not resign. The governing African National Congress (ANC) party's National Working Committee (NWC) was meeting in Johannesburg on Sunday to discuss the panel's report. "It is up to the National Executive Committee, to which I am accountable, to take whatever decision (it deems fit)."

☆ South Africa's ruling ANC to meet on Sunday to discuss president's fate
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 3 (Reuters) - South Africa's African National Congress will meet on Sunday, it said on Saturday, to continue a meeting it halted midway on Friday to discuss the future of President Cyril Ramaphosa who has been suspected of misconduct. An enquiry by an independent parliamentary panel found that Ramaphosa might have committed misconduct when investigations revealed that he kept millions of dollars in cash at his private game farm. The president has denied any wrongdoing. Reporting by Promit Mukherjee, Editing by William MacleanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ South Africa's Ramaphosa will not resign, spokesperson says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 3 (Reuters) - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will not resign and will seek a second term as leader of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) after allies rallied behind him to stay on, a spokesperson from the president's office said on Saturday. "President Ramaphosa is not resigning based on a flawed report, neither is he stepping aside," Ramaphosa's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya told journalists by text message. Ramaphosa has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crimes. The president would challenge the report and its findings, the spokesperson said. "It is in the long term interest and sustainability of our constitutional democracy... that such a clearly flawed report is challenged."

☆ Calls intensify for South Africa leader to quit over theft probe
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Lawmakers are expected to debate the report on Tuesday, and they will vote on whether further action should be taken, including whether to proceed with impeachment proceedings. According to the parliamentary report, Ramaphosa claimed the stolen money amounted to $580,000, disputing the initial amount of $4 million that Fraser alleged was stolen. The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, is among those calling for Ramaphosa’s impeachment. “President Ramaphosa most likely did breach a number of constitutional provisions and has a case to answer. Impeachment proceedings into his conduct must go ahead, and he will have to offer far better, more comprehensive explanations than we have been given so far,” Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen said.

☆ South Africa's ruling party to decide Ramaphosa's fate over 'Farmgate' scandal
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Senior officials in South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) were gathering on Friday to decide whether President Cyril Ramaphosa should stay on after an inquiry found evidence of misconduct over cash hidden at his farm. The president's future has been in doubt since a report by a panel of experts was made public on Wednesday. The South African rand stabilised on Friday, after closing 2% weaker against the dollar on Thursday on speculation that Ramaphosa was going to resign. Local media reported widely that he was considering quitting on Thursday but was then convinced by his own supporters within the NEC to stay. "We are quite determined that the president has to stay," Mathole Motshekga, an NEC member, told local Radio 786.

☆ Explainer: The Phala Phala farmgate scandal hanging over South Africa's Ramaphosa
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Wendell Roelf | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Ramaphosa has denied any wrongdoing. But with less than a month to go before the party chooses its next candidate, he is battling for political survival. HOW IT ALL STARTEDEverything changed for Ramaphosa when South Africa's former spy chief, Arthur Fraser, walked into a police station in June and accused him of money laundering and covering up a large theft of cash. Ramaphosa, acknowledged there had been a break-in and said that cash proceeds from the sale of game had been stolen. RAMIFICATIONSThe affair has been a huge embarrassment for Ramaphosa who has repeatedly spoken about taking a tough line on graft.

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