Politics

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a state of disaster to try to deal with an energy crisis. The president’s announcement on Thursday gives the government additional powers to tackle crippling electricity shortages that have worsened in recent months. He insisted South Africa would emerge with a more efficient …

American billionaire Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX, which is in charge of the Starlink satellite Internet access system, has confirmed that Kyiv can no longer use this network for the control of combat drones. Already icy, relations between Elon Musk and the Ukrainian government are likely to strain a little …

Uganda’s environmental management agency says it will start imposing fines from April on motorists driving private cars without rubbish bins. Offenders will face a maximum fine of up to 6,000,000 Ugandan shillings ($1,630; £1,350), according to a penalty scheme announced on Wednesday. Motorists who refuse to pay the fines will …

South African MPs have dropped a proposed sponsorship deal with Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur which sparked a public outcry after details leaked to the media. The country’s official tourism board had conditionally approved the proposed three-year deal worth 900m South African rand ($52.5m). But critics said the amount could …

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected in the UK on Wednesday, Downing Street confirmed in a statement released in the morning. The Ukrainian leader will meet British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and address parliament. He will also visit Ukrainian troops in training across the Channel. “President Zelensky’s visit to the …

The media regulator in Democratic Republic of Congo has ordered the local office of satellite television provider CANAL+ to remove Rwandan channels from its bouquet airing in the country. “The suspension will run for a period of 90 days and could potentially be renewed depending on circumstances,” the regulator, CSAC …

“As the risks of escalation in Ukraine increase, the world is heading with eyes wide open towards a broader war”, the UN secretary general said in alarm on Monday before the General Assembly. War in Ukraine, climate crisis, extreme poverty… “We began the year 2023 with our sights set on …

Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, has refuted reports that the families of former presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Moi were being targeted for tax evasion. Mr Mudavadi said President William Ruto had not mentioned any names in his push for tax compliance, and claimed the reports were inferences made …

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has asked his deputy, David Mabuza, to remain in his position until a transition is finalized. Mr Mabuza is reported to have told a funeral gathering on Saturday that the president had “accepted” his resignation and that an announcement on his departure was coming. He …

According to an American think tank following the evolution of the conflict on a daily basis, the Institute For the Study of War (ISW), the Russian president ordered Army Chief of Staff, Valéri Guerassimov to prepare a major offensive in Ukraine without delay. The instructions addressed to the general-in-chief of …