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☆ Naspers/Prosus CEO steps down, M&A chief Tu takes the helm
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Tosterling Tannur Anders | Tannur Anders | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

But it coincides with a restructuring in Naspers/Prosus relations, with Prosus no longer holding shares in Naspers. Analysts said he was the most likely candidate to succeed Van Dijk permanently. At 0910 GMT, Prosus shares were trading down 0.9% in Amsterdam, while Naspers' shares were 1.5% lower in Johannesburg. Tencent shares closed down 1.6% in China. Van Dijk oversaw Prosus's 2019 IPO and the company's stock boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Persons: Bob van Dijk, Siphiwe, Ervin Tu, Naspers, Prosus, Van Dijk's, Van Dijk, Koos Bekker, Tannur Anders, Promit Mukherjee, Toby Sterling, Radhika Anilkumar, Louise Heavens, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, HK, Vision, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Johannesburg, South Africa, Tencent, JOHANNESBURG, AMSTERDAM, Naspers, Naspers ., Amsterdam, China, Prosus, Bengaluru

☆ Prosus CEO exit leaves Tencent elephant in room
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Karen Kwok | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 18 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Bob van Dijk is passing an unsolved problem to his successor. The Tencent stake that it owns made up about 75% of the group’s $130 billion portfolio value as of Sept. 15. His workaround was to instead sell little chunks of Tencent shares, and use the proceeds to buy back Prosus stock. Still, the gap reflects shareholders’ ongoing struggles to value Prosus. Neither Prosus nor the 50-year-old van Dijk gave a reason for his exit, but the persistence of the discount won’t have helped.

Persons: Bob van Dijk, Siphiwe, Ervin Tu, Africa’s, Van, van Dijk, It’s, Goldman Sachs, Prosus, Naspers, van Dijk’s, George Hay, Streisand Neto, Oliver Taslic Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Prosus, HK, Interim, Vision, Thomson Locations: Johannesburg, South Africa, Amsterdam, India, Brazil, Tencent

For developing countries, the top priority is the U.N.’s two-day summit starting Monday aimed at generating action by world leaders to achieve 17 wide-ranging and badly lagging global goals by 2030. With the four leaders sending lower-ranking ministers, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is certain to grab even more attention, with the war in its 19th month and no end in sight. Guterres, who says the Ukraine war has aggravated divisions, said the current shift to a fragmented “multipolar world” isn’t going to solve the planet's myriad issues. Switzerland’s U.N. ambassador, Pascale Baeriswyl, said the summit on the 17 U.N. goals is the most important event this week apart from one-on-one meetings between world leaders. Gowan said Zelensky’s visit to New York is an opportunity for him to engage leaders from the global South and others he hasn’t met.

Persons: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, didn’t, Emmanuel Macron, Britain’s King Charles, Rishi Sunak, Antonio Guterres, ”, Richard Gowan, U.N, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Biden, Zelenskyy, Sergey Lavrov, Guterres, Pascale Baeriswyl, Gowan, hasn’t, ” Guterres, “, Edith M, Lederer Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, United, General, Liberian, . Security, International, Crisis, United Nations, Russian, Security Council, World Bank, International Monetary, The Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, United Nations, Johannesburg, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Russian, New York, Paris, New Delhi, U.N, West

Newly installed Foreign Minister Qin Gang vanished with scant explanation in July, the same month as an abrupt shake-up of the military's elite Rocket Force, which oversees China's nuclear arsenal. China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday. PROXIMITY ISN'T PATRONAGERegarding Defence Minister Li's disappearance and investigation, a ministry spokeswoman told reporters on Friday she was not aware of the situation. With corruption long permeating China's military and state institutions, some analysts and diplomats believe Xi's anti-graft crackdowns mark political purges across the Communist Party. If Li's fate "reflects Xi's increasingly inward focus, it is not good for those of us who want greater openness and lines of communications with China's military," said one Asian diplomat.

Persons: Xi Jinping, GIANLUIGI, Xi Jinping's, Li Shangfu, Qin Gang, Drew Thompson, Thompson, Li's, Li, Helena Legarda, Alexander Neill, Zhang Youxia, Lloyd Austin, Austin, Ja Ian Chong, Chong, Greg Torode, Martin Quin Pollard, William Mallard Organizations: Rights, Reuters, Foreign, Rocket Force, Pentagon, National University of Singapore, State Council and Defence Ministry, People's Liberation Army, PLA, Communist Party, Mercator Institute for China Studies, Hawaii's, Military Commission, Washington, U.S . Defence, Pacific ., East, South China Seas, Thomson Locations: Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa, Rights BEIJING, India, China, Russia, Belarus, Beijing, Jakarta, Berlin, Singapore, Washington, Asia, Pacific, Taiwan, South, East China, South China, Hong Kong

☆ Klaasen guides South Africa to one-sided win over Australia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PRETORIA, Sept 15 - Heinrich Klaasen bludgeoned the ball to all corners in a blistering knock of 174 to lead South Africa to a comprehensive 164-run victory over Australia and level the five-match one-day series to 2-2 on Friday. Klaasen hit 13 sixes in an awe-inspiring display of power hitting to help South Africa to a total of 416-5 – their second highest against Australia – after they had been put into bat. Australia were always going to be up against it after Klaasen’s innings had ensured a mammoth tally after a tepid start by the home side. South Africa had scored 120-3 halfway through their innings, on an unusually slow wicket, and were looking at mediocre total when Klaasen came to the crease. It ended with the last ball of the innings when Klaasen was caught in the deep.

Persons: Heinrich Klaasen bludgeoned, Klaasen, Travis, Head, Gerald Coetzee, Kapil Dev’s, Rassie van der, David Miller, Miller, Josh Hazelwood, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Tim David, Carey, Quinton de, Mark Gleeson, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Australia, Zimbabwe, Tunbridge, Warner, Wanderers, Thomson Locations: PRETORIA, South Africa, Australia, Tunbridge Wells, Quinton de Kock, Johannesburg, Cape Town

☆ Drone Video Shows Widespread Destruction in Derna, Libya
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Reuters | The Associated Press | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

NOW PLAYINGDrone Video Shows Widespread Destruction in Derna, Libya1:57A Moroccan Village Waited Days for Aid. Residents Say There’s No One Left to Save. 1:11Rescuers From Spain Search for Survivors in Morocco1:37‘No One Has Come to Help Us’: A Moroccan Father Mourns His Children0:48‘We Lost Everything’: Moroccan Man’s House Damaged by Quake1:29Devastating Earthquake in Morocco Kills More Than 2,000 People0:41Powerful Earthquake Rocks Morocco0:22Building Fire in Johannesburg Kills Dozens0:43Coup Supporters Attack the French Embassy in Niger0:42

Organizations: Survivors, Embassy Locations: Derna, Libya, Spain, Morocco, Johannesburg, Niger

☆ Maharaj bouncing back to World Cup after horror injury
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The 33-year-old suffered the injury while celebrating a wicket in a test against the West Indies in Johannesburg and had to be taken off the pitch on a stretcher. "I put my head down and sacrificed a lot, from a diet point of view, from a rehab point of view, from a recovery point of view, making sure I was getting eight to 10 hours of sleep every night. Maharaj was still in a 'moon boot' hobbling around four months after surgery. "Then at five months, I started to believe once I started to run again. Maharaj was one of the stars on Tuesday as South Africa beat Australia by 111 runs in Potchefstroom to reduce the deficit in the series to 2-1.

Persons: Keshav Maharaj, rupturing, Maharaj, Mark Gleeson, Toby Davis Organizations: West, Australia, Thomson Locations: PRETORIA, South Africa, India, West Indies, Johannesburg, Africa, Potchefstroom, Pretoria

LAUNCESTON, Australia, Sept 14 (Reuters) - The spot price of iron ore has climbed to a five-month high amid improving sentiment and some supportive fundamentals in China, the world's top buyer of the steel raw material. China, which buys about 70% of global seaborne iron ore, imported 106.42 million metric tons in August, the most since October 2020, according to customs data. For the first eight months of the year, imports were 775.66 million metric tons, up 7.4% on the same period in 2022. The need to rebuild stockpiles and nascent signs of a recovery in the property sector do support the recent rally in iron ore prices. This works out at around 76.7 million metric tons a month, which is well below the 90.8 million produced in July.

Persons: It's, it's, SteelHome, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: Dalian Commodity Exchange, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, China, Singapore, July's, Beijing

☆ A Moroccan Village Waited Days for Aid. Residents Say There’s No One Left to Save.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Michael Downey | Aladine Zaiane | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

2:16Libya Flood Victims: ‘I Survived by a Miracle’0:36Drone Video Shows Widespread Destruction in Derna, LibyaNOW PLAYINGA Moroccan Village Waited Days for Aid. Residents Say There’s No One Left to Save. 1:11Rescuers From Spain Search for Survivors in Morocco1:37‘No One Has Come to Help Us’: A Moroccan Father Mourns His Children0:48‘We Lost Everything’: Moroccan Man’s House Damaged by Quake1:29Devastating Earthquake in Morocco Kills More Than 2,000 People0:41Powerful Earthquake Rocks Morocco0:22Building Fire in Johannesburg Kills Dozens0:43

Organizations: Survivors Locations: Libya, Derna, Spain, Morocco, Johannesburg

☆ Markram ton and spin twins see South Africa to ODI win over Australia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Aiden Markram's century and a successful spin attack saw South Africa beat Australia by 111 runs in the third One Day International at the JB Marks Oval on Tuesday to win their first match of the five-game series. However, South Africa did get lucky when David Warner was run out and Tim David then given out after a review of a catch that looked to have been dropped but was ruled fair by the fourth umpire after a TV review. Markram also had a touch of fortune about reaching his second ODI century, dropped in the deep on 95 which allowed him to reach the three-figure milestone. But it was a vital innings that propelled South Africa to a formidable total after they lost their way mid-innings. Bavuma went quickly thereafter for 57 and the home team’s run rate slowed markedly as Australia pinned them back.

Persons: Aiden Markram's, Markram, Tabraiz Shamsi, David Warner, Tim David, Quinton de Kock, Temba Bavuma, De Kock, Travis Head, Bavuma, David Miler, Warner, Maharaj’s, Marnus Labuschagne, David, Bjorn Fortuin, George Coetzee’s, Seamer Coetzee, Mark Gleeson, Ken Ferris Organizations: South Africa, Australia, JB, Warner, Wanderers, Thomson Locations: POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa, South, Australia, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town

A general view of a crude oil importing port in Qingdao, Shandong province, November 9, 2008. Many of the newer, complex refineries in Asia prefer medium sour crude as it offers a higher yield of middle distillates such as diesel and jet fuel. ALTERED FLOWSThe higher prices for medium crude grades is impacting the ways in which crude is flowing around the world. China's imports from Brazil are expected to reach 29.07 million barrels in September, which would be the highest in three years, according to Kpler. While Saudi Arabia may have been successful in boosting oil prices, it is also disrupting the markets and altering physical crude flows.

Persons: Brent, China doesn't, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: United Arab Emirates, Moscow, Kpler, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Qingdao, Shandong province, LAUNCESTON, Australia, Asia, Saudi Arabia, OPEC, Russia, East, Kuwait, Brent, Dubai, Ukraine, India, Iraq, China, Iran, Islamic Republic, United States, Brazil

☆ Elon Musk really was telling the truth by saying his father Errol never owned an emerald mine, biographer says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Jyoti Mann | Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk's biographer set the record straight on whether Errol Musk ever owned an emerald mine. Advertisement Advertisement Watch: How Tesla CEO Elon Musk makes and spends his $19.2 billionWell, it turns out that Elon Musk was telling the truth. Walter Isaacson revealed in Elon Musk's biography, released this week, that Errol Musk never owned a mine. "Many people came to me with stolen parcels," Errol Musk told the writer. The biography also said Errol Musk's emerald business eventually caved in during the 1980s and that he subsequently lost his earnings from it.

Persons: Elon Musk's, Errol Musk, Walter Isaacson, Musk's, Errol, Elon Musk, Maye Musk, Isaacson, Errol Musk's, Errol Musk didn't Organizations: Service, Twitter, CBS Locations: South Africa, Johannesburg, Wall, Silicon, Zambia

While domestic travel has rebounded, thereby lifting demand for gasoline and jet fuel, there are other factors at work driving China's crude imports. The question then becomes why did crude imports drop in July even though refinery processing rates remained robust? This means that China's crude imports in September may be robust, but arrivals from October onwards would have been bought at higher prices. The strength in coal imports is being driven by factors largely unrelated to the state of the economy. With crude oil, coal and iron ore all having dynamics separate to the overall state of China's economy, the commodity that appears most correlated with the outlook is copper.

Persons: Aly, Refiners, refiners, Brent, China's, Russia's, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Administration of Customs, Imports, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Zhuhai, China, Rights LAUNCESTON, Australia, COVID, Saudi Arabia, OPEC, Russia, Ukraine, Beijing

☆ Western sanctions on Russia could push the BRICS alliance closer
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Michele Spatari | Afp | Getty ImagesSINGAPORE — Sanctions imposed by the West on Russia are pushing the BRICS nations closer, said oil executives at the recent APPEC conference in Singapore. "Looking at the oil markets today ... the Western sanctions on Russia are working. The BRICS alliance includes Russia, as well as Brazil, India, China and South Africa. The BRICS nations have had different brushes in their relationships with the West. BRICS is the candidate," Fereidun Fesharaki, chairman of energy consultancy Facts Global Energy, said at a panel discussion during the event.

Persons: Michele Spatari, Russell Hardy, Hardy, Argentina —, Fereidun Fesharaki, Moscow leapfrogging, Fesharaki Organizations: Afp, Getty, SINGAPORE —, West, European Union, UAE, U.S ., U.S, Treasury, Global Energy Locations: South Africa, Brazil, Russia, India, China, Sandton, Johannesburg, SINGAPORE, Singapore, Ukraine, European, Western, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, Moscow

☆ Powerful Earthquake Rocks Morocco
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

1:57A Moroccan Village Waited Days for Aid. Residents Say There’s No One Left to Save. 1:11Rescuers From Spain Search for Survivors in Morocco1:37‘No One Has Come to Help Us’: A Moroccan Father Mourns His Children0:48‘We Lost Everything’: Moroccan Man’s House Damaged by Quake1:29Devastating Earthquake in Morocco Kills More Than 2,000 PeopleNOW PLAYINGPowerful Earthquake Rocks Morocco0:22Building Fire in Johannesburg Kills Dozens0:43Coup Supporters Attack the French Embassy in Niger0:42Niger Military Officers Announce Coup d’État on Television0:50Dozens of Students Killed in Terrorist Attack on Ugandan School0:58

Organizations: Survivors, Embassy, Ugandan Locations: Spain, Morocco, Johannesburg, Niger

☆ Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Zulu Prince Who Roiled South African Politics, Dead at 95
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

(Reuters) -Mangosuthu Buthelezi, a veteran South African politician, Zulu prince and controversial figure during the apartheid liberation struggle, has died, the presidency said on Saturday. Critics dubbed Buthelezi a war lord but to his legion of followers in the rural Zulu heartland, he was a visionary. A Zulu chief, Buthelezi became KwaZulu's chief minister in the 1970s, where he tried a delicate balancing act: refusing outright independence and criticising Pretoria's racial policies while still playing a role in the homeland farce. Ashpenaz Nathan Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi was born on Aug. 27, 1928, in Mahlabathini, the son and heir of Chief Matoli Buthelezi and Princess Constance Magago Dinuzulu. In 1953 he was installed as acting chief of the prominent Buthelezi clan and four years later was confirmed as chief.

Persons: Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Prince, KwaPhindangene, Cyril Ramaphosa, Buthelezi, Nelson Mandela, Critics, Inkatha, Thabo Mbeki, King Cetshwayo, Henry Kissinger, Peter Carrington, Ashpenaz Nathan Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi, Matoli Buthelezi, Princess Constance Magago Dinuzulu, Irene Mzila, Bhargav Acharya, Nelson BanyaEditing, Angus MacSwan, Frances Kerry Organizations: Reuters, South, Freedom Party, Home Affairs, African National Congress, Zulu Monarch, IFP, ANC, British, Black University of Fort, ANC Youth League, U.S Locations: KwaZulu, Natal, South Africa, Zulu, Johannesburg, Black University of Fort Hare, Lesotho, Mahlabathini

☆ Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Zulu prince who roiled South African politics, dead at 95
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

South Africa's leader of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) Mangosuthu Buthelezi speaks to supporters ahead of the national elections, in Richards Bay, north of Durban, in South Africa, April 19, 2009. REUTERS/Rogan Ward Acquire Licensing RightsSept 9 (Reuters) - Mangosuthu Buthelezi, a veteran South African politician, Zulu prince and controversial figure during the apartheid liberation struggle, has died, the presidency said on Saturday. South Africa's main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party described Buthelezi as a "great leader". "Prince Buthelezi was a giant on South Africa's political landscape," DA leader John Steenhuisen said. Critics dubbed Buthelezi a war lord but to his legion of followers in the rural Zulu heartland, he was a visionary.

Persons: Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Rogan Ward, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Prince, KwaPhindangene, Cyril Ramaphosa, Buthelezi, Nelson Mandela, Prince Buthelezi, John Steenhuisen, ANC Buthelezi, Critics, Inkatha, Thabo Mbeki, King Cetshwayo, Henry Kissinger, Peter Carrington, Ashpenaz Nathan Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi, Matoli Buthelezi, Princess Constance Magago Dinuzulu, Irene Mzila, Bhargav Acharya, Nelson, Angus MacSwan, Frances Kerry Organizations: Freedom Party, IFP, REUTERS, South, Home Affairs, African National Congress, Zulu Monarch, ANC, Nelson, Nelson Mandela Foundation, Mandela's, Democratic Alliance, Reuters, British, Black University of Fort, ANC Youth League, U.S, Thomson Locations: Richards Bay, Durban, South Africa, KwaZulu, Natal, Zulu, Johannesburg, Black University of Fort Hare, Lesotho, Mahlabathini

☆ It is for China to explain Xi's absence from G20 summit, US official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Nandita Bose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the plenary session of the 2023 BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa on August 23, 2023. GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Only China can explain the reason for the absence of President Xi Jinping from the annual G20 summit in New Delhi this weekend, a U.S. official said on Saturday. "Some have speculated China's absence indicates that it is giving up on the G20, building an alternative world order, that it will privilege groupings like the BRICS," Finer said. Also absent from the summit is President Vladimir Putin of Russia, which is being represented instead by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Last Sunday, reacting to news that Xi would not attend the G20 summit, Biden said he was "disappointed" but would "get to see him".

Persons: Xi Jinping, GIANLUIGI, Joe Biden, Jon, Li Qiang, Vladimir Putin of, Sergei Lavrov, Biden, Xi, Sudipto Ganguly, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, U.S, Thomson Locations: Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa, DELHI, China, New Delhi, U.S, United States, Vladimir Putin of Russia, India, Brazil

☆ Opinion: Johannesburg’s hijacked souls
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Eleni Giokos | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Born in Greece and raised in South Africa, she presents the network’s Connecting Africa and Marketplace Middle East feature shows. Either abandoned by their owners or surrendered to gangs, these “hijacked” buildings typically house migrants or poverty-stricken locals in downtown Johannesburg. The first time I visited one of these buildings I was based in South Africa as a correspondent, and what I found was shocking. “I can take you to buildings 10 times worse than this,” the mayor told me. Some of the gangs were not even from South Africa, we were told.

Persons: Eleni Giokos, Read, Herman Mashaba, “, Renney Plit, Plit, Afhco, Becky Anderson, ” Mashaba, ”, Anderson, Cyril Ramaphosa Organizations: CNN, Afhco Holdings, Twitter, Facebook South Locations: Dubai, Greece, South Africa, Johannesburg, Zimbabwe, ”

☆ Analysis: China's Xi Jinping skipping G20 may be part of his plan to reshape global governance
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Since its first leaders’ summit in 2008, China’s top leader has always attended the gathering – including by video link during the Covid pandemic. Now, “China sees the G20 space as increasingly oriented toward the US and its agenda, which Xi Jinping regards as hostile to China,” Werner said. Alternative governance structureXi last attended the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, in November last year, when he emerged from China’s Covid isolation and declared his return to the world stage. All the while, Xi has only made two trips abroad this year – and both are central to his attempt to reshape the global world order. Next month, the Chinese leader is expected to host the Belt and Road Forum to mark the 10th anniversary of his global infrastructure and trade initiative – a key element in Beijing’s new global governance structure.

Persons: Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, Beijing’s reticence, Xi, ”, George Magnus, I’m, I’ve, Jake Werner, ” Werner, Biden, Werner, Happymon Jacob, China’s, Shi Yinhong, Joe Biden –, Antony Blinken, Vladimir Putin –, Magnus, they’re, ” Magnus, –, “ It’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Premier, China Center, Oxford University, “, Quincy Institute in, Quincy Institute in Washington DC, Pacific NATO, ”, India, New, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Divisions, Renmin University, EU, Beijing, Global Security Initiative, Global Development Initiative, Civilization Initiative, Forum, Shanghai Cooperation Organization – Locations: Hong Kong, New Delhi, China, Xi’s, India, United States, Quincy Institute in Washington, Beijing, New, Washington, Pacific, Ukraine, Moscow, Bali , Indonesia, Germany, France, Brazil, Indonesia, Johannesburg, South Africa, BRICS

This episode contains descriptions of severe injuries. Last week, a devastating fire swept through a derelict building in Johannesburg that housed desperate families with no place else to go. The authorities had been repeatedly warned that it was a potential firetrap. Nothing was done, and at least 76 people died. Lynsey Chutel, who covers southern Africa for The Times, explains how Johannesburg, once a symbol of the hope of post-apartheid South Africa, became an emblem of just how bad the country’s breakdown has become.

Persons: Lynsey Chutel Organizations: The Times Locations: Johannesburg, Africa

Landing feet first on the ground, Mnqandi felt his right leg crack. His son seemed OK, and there was his wife, dazed, but alive. But there was no sign of his stepdaughter, Melita. The 16-year-old had turned back to fetch some blankets to use as ropes to shorten the terrifying distance to the bottom.

Persons: Mnqandi, Melita

☆ Raymond Ackerman, founder of South African grocer Pick n Pay, dies at 92
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

JOHANNESBURG, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Raymond Ackerman, who founded Pick n Pay (PIKJ.J) from just four stores 56 years ago and turned them into one of South Africa's leading grocery retailers, has died aged 92, the company said on Thursday. "It is with profound sadness that we announce the death at the age of 92 of visionary South African, and founder of Pick n Pay, Raymond Ackerman," the company said. The Ackermans retail group was later sold to competitor Greatermans, which started the supermarket group Checkers, now part of bigger rival Shoprite (SHPJ.J). After leaving Greatermans, Ackerman bought four small stores in Cape Town trading under the name Pick 'n Pay. Today it generates 106 billion rand in annual turnover and owns more than 2,000 stores across South Africa and seven other African countries.

Persons: Raymond Ackerman, Gus, Ackerman, Gareth, Pick, Nqobile Dludla, Christina Fincher Organizations: Greatermans, Thomson Locations: JOHANNESBURG, Greatermans, Cape Town, South Africa

☆ G20 set to grant membership to African Union - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Carien Du Plessis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A man walks past a model of the G20 logo outside a metro station ahead of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India, September 4, 2023. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsJOHANNESBURG/NEW DELHI, Sept 7 (Reuters) - The Group of 20, comprising the world's richest and most powerful countries, will grant membership to the African Union, sources said on Thursday. The South African official, who did not want to be named before the decision was made public, however said that there was still a possibility that someone might veto the resolution. South African presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said: "We wouldn't comment now until the official announcement or post the summit." Countries including Germany, Brazil, South Africa and Canada have also voiced support for African Union membership.

Persons: Anushree, Narendra Modi, Modi, Vincent Magwenya, Carien du, Clarence Fernandez, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Alex Richardson Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, African Union, African, European Union, AU, Reuters, South, Indian, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, Rights JOHANNESBURG, DELHI, African Union, South Africa, Brazil, Delhi, Germany, Canada, Carien du Plessis, Johannesburg, Akanksha, Bengaluru

He will have at least one advantage: Chinese President Xi Jinping will not be at the meetings. "But the question ... is whether the United States will be able to step up." FAST GROWTH, HIGH DEBTChinese Premier Li Qiang will represent China at the G20 as its leaders cope with sagging growth and a possible property debt crisis. For his part, Xi is also finding new ways to engage the developing world, hosting a gathering of Central Asian leaders and discussing development in May. Xi is also expected to attend an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco in November, where he may meet with Biden.

Persons: Joe Biden, Leah Millis, Biden, Xi Jinping, Zack Cooper, Li Qiang, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Lavrov, Jake Sullivan, Donald Trump's, Sullivan, White, Khulu Mbatha, Cyril Ramaphosa, Trevor Hunnicutt, Nandita Bose, Michael Martina, Carien du, Don Durfee, Grant McCool Organizations: Warehouse Union, Pacific Maritime Association, White, REUTERS, Rights, World Bank, Bank, U.S, Partnership for Global Infrastructure, Investment, American Enterprise Institute, IMF, Global, White House, Trump, Republican, South, Central Asian, United, United Arab Emirates, Economic Cooperation, Biden, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, India, United States, Africa, Latin America, Asia, Washington, China, Russian, East, Central Asia, Saharan Africa, People's Republic, Ukraine, Brazil, South Africa, Beijing, Moscow, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, United Arab, San Francisco, Carien du Plessis, Johannesburg

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