Page 11 - South Africa

Women's Reservation Bill: Where else have seats been reserved for women?

Parliament special session: In 2018, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) report, only 24 per cent of parliamentarians were women

Project Cheetah: The second phase to commence in shadow of deaths

As the first lot of eight cheetahs completes one year on Indian soil, only six of them are alive to celebrate their journey. Two female cheetahs lost their lives to the new habitat

Voice of Africa to grow stronger with AU inclusion in G20: SA top official

The voice of Africa and the Global South will "grow stronger" after the African Union's inclusion in the G20, a top South African official said on Saturday. Vincent Magwenya, a spokesperson for South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa said, the African Union joining the bloc signals a "very positive step" towards the reforms that have been sought in the United Nations Security Council and various global multilateral institutions. The voice of the continent and the Global South will "grow stronger" globally, he told reporters on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. "We are very thankful and delighted about the leadership Prime Minister Narendra Modi has demonstrated," Magwenya said when asked about India's role in the inclusion of the 55-nation grouping in the G20. Modi has sought to "define this summit around the inclusion of the Global South, smaller developing countries," he said. The inclusion of the African Union also signals a "very positive step towards the kind of reforms we have

Post-Covid global reconstruction unique opportunity: S African President

As the African Union became a permanent member of the G20 on Saturday, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa called for accelerating the transition to low carbon, climate resilient, sustainable societies. In a post on X, he also said that South Africa calls for an enhanced and expanded "Global Partnership for Sustainable Development" backed by the suggestions outlined in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA) on Financing for Development. Ramaphosa expressed delight over the African Union becoming a member of the G20. Responding to Ramaphosa's post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "With the African Union strengthening the G20 family, we will cement partnerships that prioritise all-round development, leading to a better planet". In a significant milestone under India's G20 presidency, the 55-member African Union on Saturday became a new permanent member of the grouping of the largest economies of the world. It is the first expansion of the influential bloc since its inceptio

'Post Covid global reconstruction chance to create sustainable societies'

As the African Union became a permanent member of the G20, President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosaon Saturday said the "global reconstruction" post the Covid 19 pandemic has brought a unique opportunity to accelerate transition to low carbon, climate resilient, sustainable societies. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the South African President expressed delight over the African Union becoming a member of the G20. "Global reconstruction in the wake of the COVID 19 pandemic presents a unique opportunity to accelerate the transition to low-carbon, climate resilient, sustainable societies. Developing economies are bearing the brunt of climate change, despite carrying the least responsibility for this crisis," Ramaphosaon said on Saturday. "As African and other developing economy countries, we face the task of meeting our climate commitments in the midst of significant developmental challenges like poverty, inequality and unemployment. "Climate change, environmental degradation, ...

Voice of Africa, Global south will grow with AU inclusion: SA delegate

Hours after the African Union joined the G20 on Saturday, a senior delegate from South Africa said the voice of the continent and the Global South will "grow stronger" globally after the AU's inclusion. Speaking to PTI, the delegate who is in New Delhi currently for the G20 Summit, said that South Africa always expected that AU's inclusion will happen. "We are very happy, especially considering that South Africa has always supported the inclusion of AU in the G20, which would give our continent a voice on a bigger platform globally, not only for the African continent but the Global South [as well]," she told PTI, on the condition of anonymity. On India's Presidency of the G20, she said it was heartening to see AU's permanent membership of the G20 happen at the New Delhi Leaders' Summit. The African Union became a new permanent member of the G20 on the first day of the summit being held in New Delhi. It is the first expansion of the influential bloc since its inception in 1999. The

Cipla plans acquisitions to take top spot in South African drug market

Cipla has a strong presence in both private and tender markets in South Africa

New Zee-TV Zulu channel will be catalyst for social cohesion: Zulu King

A new channel launched by Indian media conglomerate Zee Enterprises which will feature programmes dubbed into South Africa's largest language, isiZulu, will be a catalyst for social cohesion, Zulu King Misizulu Ka Zwelithini has said. The Zee Zonke (Zee for All' in isiZulu) started broadcasting last week on the DSTV satellite platform in all its different bouquets. The channel will offer drama series and novellas fully dubbed in isiZulu, catering for South African audiences. "We support the good decision by Zee Enterprises to launch Zee-Zonke. We view this not only as promoting isiZulu but also as a catalyst for social cohesion between Zulus, Ngunis (the second largest indigenous population in South Africa after the Zulu nation) and Indians in our country and the world, the King said in an address delivered on his behalf by Prince Ishwar Mabheka Zulu Ramlutchman at the official launch of the channel last week. Ramlutchman, who is also the president of the Sivananda World Peace ...

At least 73 people killed in fire in multi-storey building in Johannesburg

At least 73 people were killed and 52 others injured after a massive fire broke out on Thursday in a multi-storey building occupied by migrants in the central business district here in South Africa's biggest city, emergency services said. Authorities said it was unclear what sparked the blaze at the five-storey building in the city centre. City of Johannesburg emergency services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said firefighters were alerted to the fire in a building on the corner of Delvers and Alberts streets at about 1:30 a.m. Dozens of emergency and rescue workers are still on the scene as bodies continue to be brought out. We managed to evacuate the people who were inside the building as soon as we arrived while we were conducting firefighting operations, Mulaudzi said, adding that most of those treated for injuries had suffered smoke inhalation or minor injuries. Mulaudzi said arrangements were being made to accommodate those who had been left homeless by the incident. The fire

INS Sunayna concludes its visit to Port of Durban in S Africa to boost ties

This visit aimed to bolster India's maritime relationships with its partners and align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "Security and Growth for All in the Region" (SAGAR)

Brics should prepare for any future pandemics: S African Health Minister

The BRICS nations should cooperate to prepare for any future pandemics, South African Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla has said, emphasising that the period of COVID-19 has highlighted weaknesses in health systems. Addressing a seminar titled "Pandemic Preparedness Prevention and Response for Health Security: Closing the Gap in Preparation for Future Pandemics" that was organised by the BRICS Business Council SA Chapter on the sidelines of the 15th Brics Summit hosted this week, Phaahla said that the Covid-19 outbreak has caught the world off-guard in terms of preparedness. The BRICS Business Council SA Chapter and other stakeholders involved have created this platform to discuss pandemic preparedness, prevention, and response for health security. This is borne out of the devastating experience the world went through with the outbreak of COVID-19, said Phaahla during the seminar that was attended by his counterparts from the BRICS partners, representatives of the World Health ...

PM Modi gifts 'surahi' to S African prez, Gond painting to Brazil leader

Artworks and traditional items reflecting the diversity and richness of Indian heritage were the gifts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's choice for a number of world leaders during his visit to Johannesburg for the BRICS summit and then to Greece. He presented a pair of 'surahi' from Telangana to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and a Nagaland shawl to his wife and first lady of the host country, officials said. They noted that the 'bidri vase' is a purely Indian innovation exclusive to Bidar, a Karnataka city. It is cast with an alloy of zinc, copper and other non-ferrous metals. Pretty patterns are engraved on the casting and inlaid with pure silver wire. The casting is then soaked in a solution mixed with the special soil of Bidar Fort which has special oxidising properties, they noted. This causes the zinc alloy to turn into a lustrous black, leaving the silver inlay intact to contrast stunningly with the black background, they added. The gift also carried silver ...

Brics' latest summit shows it's little more than a meaningless acronym

To be sure, the current rebalancing of the West's geopolitical and economic power has been overdue for more than a century, ever since Europe plunged into the first of its continental wars

Brics: All you need to know about the global partnership and latest updates

The members countries announced the expansion of the grouping by adding six new countries - Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - into the fold

Brics' bank can finance African countries to tackle urgent challenges

Bank's president Dilma Rousseff also pointed to the need for joint infrastructure projects between several countries, noting that Africa has the world's greatest untapped hydroelectric potential

Enthusiasm of diaspora in S Africa for India's achievements gladdening: PM

Chandryaan-3 on Wednesday successfully performed a soft landing on the moon

LIVE: Wagner chief, who led revolt against Putin, dies in plane crash

Catch all the latest news updates LIVE from across the globe here

Brics Summit to advance cause of common prosperity: S Africa Prez Ramaphosa

The BRICS Summit will advance the cause of common prosperity and progress, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Wednesday afternoon as he welcomed the leaders from Brazil, Russia, India and China at the opening of the 15th BRICS Summit. Ramaphosa said the BRICS partnership that straddles four continents and five countries that are home to almost three-and-a-half billion people has over the past decades been a major driver of global growth, trade and investment. We are confident that this 15th BRICS Summit will advance the cause of common prosperity and progress. We are confident that (it) will enrich and inspire our work towards the achievement of a more humane global community, he said. Underlining that BRICS stands for solidarity, progress, sustainable development, inclusiveness and a "more just, equitable world order", the president said, We are an inclusive formation of developing and emerging economies that are working together to benefit from our rich histories, ...

Hope African Union gets support from Brics for G20 membership: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hoped that India's proposal to accord permanent membership of the G20 to the African Union will be supported by all the BRICS nations. In his address at the BRICS ((Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) summit in Johannesburg, Modi said India is according "highest priority" to the issues of countries of the Global South under its G20 presidency. India is hosting the G20 summit on September 9 and 10. All the BRICS nations are permanent members of the G20. "We have also proposed to give permanent membership of G20 to the African Union. I am sure all the BRICS partners are also together in the G20 and all will support our proposal," Modi said. The African Union (AU) is an influential organisation consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African continent. In June, Modi wrote to the leaders of the G20 countries pitching for giving the African Union full membership of the grouping at its upcoming summit in New ...

Brics Summit: Modi meets South African president, addresses plenary session

During the Plenary Session I of the summit, PM Modi said that BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) embarked on a long and amazing journey in the last two decades