Tag Archives: South Africa

The New York Times reports: President Trump’s administration has officially expelled South Africa’s ambassador to the United States, a spokesman for the South African president said on Saturday, calling the decision “regrettable.” The ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, received an expulsion letter from the State Department, said Vincent Magwenya, the spokesman for President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa. The move comes during …

Mamba Online reports: Delivering his State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised that South Africa must stay true to its values to navigate an increasingly uncertain world. Ramaphosa warned that “fundamental shifts are underway” that will affect every aspect of human life. “In the face of these challenges, we are witnessing the rise of nationalism and protectionism, the …

CBS News reports: President Trump on Friday directed government officials to prioritize the resettlement of South Africans of European descent through the U.S. refugee program, which he suspended during his first day in office. In an executive order, Mr. Trump accused the South African government of discriminating against Afrikaners, an ethnic group in South Africa made up of descendants of European …

Reuters reports: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he won’t attend a Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg later this month, citing among his reasons South Africa’s efforts to address inequality. “South Africa is doing very bad things. Expropriating private property. Using G20 to promote ‘solidarity, equality, & sustainability.’ In other words: DEI and climate change,” Rubio said in a …

The Daily Beast reports: Elon Musk has appeared to endorse a message about race-based emigration from his native South Africa, after President Donald Trump threatened the country over new land expropriation laws. Trump railed against the new law, calling it a “human rights VIOLATION” and threatening to cut funding to the country in response. Musk quoted an X message by …

CNN reports: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa responded on Monday to US President Donald Trump’s threat to cut off aid over the alleged mistreatment of White farmers, denying Trump’s claim that authorities were “confiscating land.” “South Africa is a constitutional democracy that is deeply rooted in the rule of law, justice and equality. The South African government has not confiscated …

Reuters reports: Some South Africans are calling for Britain to return the world’s largest diamond, known as the Star of Africa, which is set in the royal sceptre that King Charles III will hold at his coronation on Saturday. The diamond, which weighs 530 carats, was discovered in South Africa in 1905 and presented to the British monarchy by the …

Global News reports: A trophy hunter who was known for killing large animals and helping others do the same was shot and left for dead on the side of the road in South Africa, police have confirmed. Riaan Naude, 55, was the owner and founder of Pro Hunt Africa, a tour group that facilitates paid wildlife hunting trips in the …

Reuters reports: A fire at the South African parliament caused extensive damage on Sunday, collapsing the roof and gutting an entire floor in one building and a man in his 50s was arrested in connection with the blaze. The fire broke out in the early morning and authorities said the sprinkler system appeared to have been tampered with and so …

Reuters reports: Research by South African scientists suggests that Omicron could displace the Delta variant of the coronavirus because infection with the new variant boosts immunity to the older one. The study only covered a small group of people and has not been peer-reviewed, but it found that people who were infected with Omicron, especially those who were vaccinated, developed …

The New York Times reports: Desmond M. Tutu, the cleric who used his pulpit and spirited oratory to help bring down apartheid in South Africa and then became the leading advocate of peaceful reconciliation under Black majority rule, died on Sunday in Cape Town. He was 90. The cause of death was cancer, the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation …

The New York Times reports: Underscoring growing concerns about Omicron, scientists in South Africa said on Friday that the newest coronavirus variant appears to spread more than twice as quickly as Delta, until now the most contagious version of the virus. Omicron’s rapid spread results from a combination of contagiousness and an ability to dodge the body’s immune defenses, the …

The Washington Post reports: South Africa’s new daily coronavirus cases have almost tripled in three days, according to new figures released Thursday, raising alarms over the possible spread of the new omicron variant recently detected by the country’s scientists. New daily confirmed cases rose to 11,535 on Thursday from 8,561 on Wednesday and 4,373 the previous day, according to official …

CNBC reports: U.S. stocks dropped sharply on Friday as a new Covid variant found in South Africa triggered a global shift away from risk assets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1000 points, or 2.8%, for its worst day of the year, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite slid 2.3% and 2.2%, respectively. Friday is a shortened trading day …

Axios reports: U.S. public health officials were set to speak Friday with their South Africa counterparts as they sought scientific details about a new COVID-19 variant already prompting European and Asian countries to enact new travel restrictions. Driving the news: Anthony Fauci, President Biden’s chief medical adviser, told CNN Friday “we’re rushing now to get that scientific data to try …

Euronews reports: Concerns over a new COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa have prompted fresh travel restrictions in Italy and Germany on Friday as Brussels mulls EU-wide flight restrictions. The European Commission will propose to suspend air travel from southern Africa amid concerns over the variant, EC President Ursula Von der Leyen [photo] said on Friday. The proposal could be …

The Associated Press reports: A new coronavirus variant has been detected in South Africa that scientists say is a concern because of its high number of mutations and rapid spread among young people in Gauteng, the country’s most populous province, Health Minister Joe Phaahla announced Thursday. The coronavirus evolves as it spreads and many new variants, including those with worrying …

The BBC reports: FW de Klerk, the former president of South Africa and the last white person to lead the country, has died at the age of 85. Mr de Klerk, who was also a key figure in the nation’s transition to democracy, had been diagnosed with cancer this year, a spokesman said. He was head of state between September …

ABC News reports: A suspected poacher found dead in a South African national park is believed to have been killed by an elephant, park officials said. Rangers in Kruger National Park discovered the body on Thursday after following tracks in the Stolznek section of the giant game reserve, a spokesperson for the park said in a statement on Twitter. “Initial …

USA Today reports: A herd of breeding elephants trampled a suspected poacher to death while he tried to flee from South African park rangers. The encounter happened April 17 after three people ran from the rangers in Kruger National Park, one of Africa’s largest game preserves, according to park officials. Rangers, using dogs and aircraft, captured one of the suspects, …