Inhaltsverzeichnis für 2023-07-10 in Cape Times

This comes as the US Federal Reserve signalled intention to resume interest rate increases DEBT-LADEN consumers in South Africa will be facing yet more hardship as the cost of borrowing looks likely to increase later this month and remain elevated for at least another 2 months on the back of stubborn consumer inflation. This comes as the US Federal Reserve signalled its intention to resume interest rate increases amid a growing consensus that more tightening was needed to stamp out high inflation in the world’s largest economy, in spite of leaving rates unchanged for now, at 5% to 5.25%. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) this week gave the strongest indication yet that it would probably tighten its monetary policy further and implement another rate hike, though most experts predict…

THE FINANCIALS submitted to the JSE-listed and debt-laden Nampak by its Zimbabwean unit, which has forecast persistent economic and monetary challenges ahead of elections next month, are different from those that it reported to the Zimbabwean Stock Exchange as a result of monetary and exchange rate distortions. Shares in Nampak on the JSE have been 16.6% firmer during the past seven days and 10.5% stronger during the past month after the regional packaging manufacturer’s shareholders approved a R1 billion rights offer. The share price of Nampak, which is saddled with debt of R5.2bn closed Friday’s trade session on the JSE 1.1% weaker. For Nampak Zimbabwe, the rapid changes in currency regulations in Zimbabwe resulted “in the differences between the reported financial information and the numbers submitted to the parent”…

WOMEN can’t earn the same salaries as men because men will provide for them. Isn’t this the attitude behind the gender pay-gap epidemic? Gender remuneration disparities or pay-gap is a global problem that is more nuanced in South Africa because of all other layering social ills. According to information from the Borgen Project, a non-profit organisation addressing poverty and hunger, the median gender pay-gap in South Africa is between 23% and 35%, which is larger than the global average of 20%. In the US for instance, the average annual salary of a woman is 83% that of a man, which translates to 83 cents on the dollar. While in the EU women earned 13% less on average per working hour than men. These differences are driven by nothing other…

SINCE taking office in 2017, President João Lourenço has maintained a positive bearing on strengthening and enhancing Angola’s oil and gas sector and focusing on enriching its population. From exploration to production and export, the Angolan oil and natural gas industry is bustling with new initiatives. This past year alone, international oil companies and the Angolan government partnered to award numerous regional operators with service contracts worth billions of dollars in combined value. The Right Approach This success story, just one among many in Angola, wouldn’t be possible without the welcoming and investment-friendly environment that Angolan leadership has worked to cultivate in recent years. Despite its status as sub-Saharan Africa’s second-largest oil producer, boasting an approximate output of 1.55 million barrels of oil per day (bpd), Angola rejects complacency and…

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has ruled that the eThekwini Municipality cannot impose an 18.49% tariff increase for electricity and instead must stick to the 15.1% increase that the body had recommended. Nersa spokesperson Charles Hlebela confirmed that the regulator had approved a 15.1% electricity tariff increase for eThekwini Municipality. “The 15.1% is in line with the municipal tariff guideline increase and tariff benchmarks for the 2023/24 financial year.” This comes after the City had been allowed to make a submission to Nersa last month on its proposed 18.49% increase. Ratepayers cried foul over the City’s tariff increases for electricity, water and property rates, and some ratepayer groups lodged a dispute. The municipality’s head of communications, Lindiwe Khuzwayo, said the City had accepted Nersa’s benchmark ruling. However,…

Users encouraged to ensure alternative systems are compliant INCREASED risks associated with the installation of alternative energy sources have led to mounting calls for consumers not to take short cuts when installing inverters and other items powered by rechargeable batteries, solar installations or when using generators. The City's Fire and Rescue Service said the increased use of inverters and other systems compelled it to revisit its incident management playbook. The City was alerted to a number of incidents, including four people overcome by fumes from a generator in Parow where one person died. Also, a gas explosion at a home in Hout Bay caused by the gas source not being switched off resulted in a resident sustaining burn wounds. In another incident, solar panels on the roof of a factory…

WE JOIN the many people, especially Irish, who are mourning the tragic accident that killed Irishman Greig Oliver in a paragliding collision. Recently, we spent time at a hotel in Sea Point and every day would watch in awe as these tandem paragliders fly down from Signal Hill. It is obviously a lucrative business as there were many of them throughout the day, flying over the rooftops of Sea Point high level houses and blocks of apartments and hotels lining the beachfront. They landed on the fairly small strip of lawn along the esplanade, and were obviously led by a professional who was able to manoeuvre the paraglider in different directions before coming in to do the landing. I even joked that it was something on my “bucket list” –…

THE City says it is reviewing evidence before it to determine the next course of action, if any is required, following allegations of nepotism and abuse of public money levelled against the Montague Gardens-Marconi Beam Improvement District. This after the district’s ex-office manager, Lianne Lippert, blew the whistle on alleged maladministration and unethical behaviour. According to Lippert, the issues were reported to the City in January last year, and earlier this year complaints were escalated to various officials, however nothing had been done. The board has since denied the allegations. “Last year the board initiated a retrenchment process where two people lost their jobs, however one position was filled immediately by a 69-year-old white male on the recommendation of one director. “The second position has been filled by hiring a…

FOLLOWING a plea for donations, welfare organisation Baboon Matters, has managed to raise enough funds to pay the salaries of six baboon monitors until mid-September. Baboon Matters said this had been made possible through the support of baboon lovers who had dug deep in their pockets. Its founder Jenni Trethowan said they were overwhelmed by donations from people around South Africa and internationally. “This little troop and their rangers have crept into all of our hearts and we are just so relieved that, for now, the guys will be employed, the troop as safe as possible and conflict with residents mitigated. We will continue to raise money for the months ahead, but are relieved that the immediate threat is over. I would like to reassure everyone who has contributed that…

THE trust gap between the government and communities has become so widened that this breakdown can be attributed to preventable loss of lives. The tragedy that befell the community of Angelo Informal Settlement in Ekurhuleni where 17 people died from a suspected gas leak could have been averted had the community had faith in the police and government in general. Among them were two minors who died after inhaling nitrate oxide gas stored in cylinders in a shack apparently used by illegal miners. That no one knew about these activities in that shack is highly improbable. In fact, the testimony of Judith Manyisa, whose 19-year-old son, her 20-year-old daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren were among the 17 victims who died, indicates that as early as last year, residents became aware…

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said 10 hours of meetings with senior Chinese officials in recent days were “direct” and “productive”, helping stabilise the superpowers’ often rocky relationship as her four-day Beijing trip ended. Before departing from China yesterday, Yellen said the US and China remained at odds on a number of issues but expressed confidence that her visit had advanced efforts to put the relationship on a “surer footing”. “The US and China have significant disagreements,” Yellen said at the US embassy in Beijing, citing Washington’s concerns about what she called “unfair economic practices” and recent punitive actions against US firms. “But President (Joe) Biden and I do not see the relationship between the US and China through the frame of great power conflict. We believe the world is…

Pope Francis announced yesterday that he would elevate 21 churchmen to the high rank of cardinal, again putting his mark on the group that will one day choose his successor after his death or resignation. The ceremony to install them, known as a consistory, will be held on September 30, the 86-year-old pope announced during his noon prayer in St Peter’s Square. The new cardinals come from countries including the US, Italy, Argentina, Switzerland, South Africa, Spain, Colombia, South Sudan, Hong Kong, Poland, Malaysia, Tanzania and Portugal. Eighteen of the 21 are under 80 and will be able to enter a secret conclave to choose the next pope. They are known as cardinal electors. After the September consistory, there will be 137 cardinal electors, about 73% of them chosen by…

Paris: Paloma Ruiz-Picasso, the last of Pablo Picasso’s four children, has been appointed administrator of the estate managing rights linked to the artist and his work, replacing her brother Claude, their lawyer said. A businesswoman, fashionista, and perfume, accessories and jewellery designer, Paloma Picasso, 74, is the daughter of the Spanish painter and French artist Francoise Gilot, who died in June. The Picasso estate is owned by Claude and Paloma Picasso and the five grandchildren of the painter. The organisation holds a monopoly on the copyright and reproduction rights of Picasso’s works, as well as trademark rights. It issues authentication certificates and fights forgeries. Claude Ruiz-Picasso, 76, who had been the director since 1989, wanted to step aside in favour of his sister, the lawyer Jean-Jacques Neuer, said. Fifty years…

Los Angeles: A small private plane crashed in California early on Saturday, killing all six people aboard, authorities said. The plane, a Cessna C550, crashed near Murrieta airport, south-east of Los Angeles, the Federal Aviation Administration said. Police officers at the site discovered a plane engulfed in flames in a field; the six people on board were pronounced dead at the scene, the local sherrif said. The crash caused a small brush fire, which was quickly contained. Heavy fog blanketed the area on Saturday morning, local media reported, which may have caused the aircraft to miss the runway and crash. | AFP…

Bafana Bafana head coach for the Cosafa Cup Morena Ramoreboli has waved away any concerns about the team's wastefulness in front of goal after their narrow win over Botswana. The national men's football team was required to come back from a goal down for the second game running as they scraped past the Zebras 2-1 in their second group match of the tournament. Before Thatayaone Kgamanye gave the visitors the lead in the 63rd minute, Bafana were guilty of spurning plenty of chances, including an empty net in the first half. The hosts were able to hit back by scoring two goals in two minutes after Botswana had gone a man down and they would go on to create several more chances with the extra space their were afforded. Victor…

Banyana Banyana left-back Bongeka Gamede is eager to play in her second World Cup, saying she’ll use the opportunity to market herself to international scouts. Gamede was an unused substitute during Banyana's debut appearance at the global showpiece four years ago in France but since then she’s been a regular in coach Desiree Ellis’ team. The 24-year-old Ixopo-born footballer was part of the Banyana team that rewrote the history books by winning the first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco last year. With that triumph Banyana sealed their qualification for the World Cup finals for the second time - this time in Australia and New Zealand. Gamede is looking forward to the event saying she’ll use the opportunity to show her talents to the world, having been plying her…

South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis set the world alight at UFC 290 when he stopped former Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in the second round of their main bout in Las Vegas yesterday morning (SA time). Despite landing one or two well-selected and clean shots, the Australian battled to find his rhythm and failed to figure out Du Plessis’ unorthodox style. In the first round, the South African delivered good combinations on attack and defence, cutting Whittaker with an elbow. Close to the end of the first five minutes, Du Plessis secured a headlock and a takedown, where he went to work and finished the round strong, as he rained down punches to the head and body just before the buzzer. During the break, Whittaker’s corner warned him not to grapple…

Jonas Vingegaard held on to the Tour de France overall lead on the Puy de Dome volcano yesterday as Canada's Michael Woods took a prestigious stage win for his Israel Premier-Tech team. France's Pierre Latour crossed in second place with Slovenian Matej Mohoric rounding out the podium as the attention switched to the key fight between the favourites several minutes down the steep slopes. "I didn't think I could make it, it was so silent up there," said the 36-year-old Woods who overtook American Matteo Jorgenson in the home straight with the Movistar rider wilting. Two-time Tour champion Tadej Pogacar launched an attack from 600m on the baking slopes but defending champion Vingegaard followed him over the summit finish line just seconds adrift. Dane Vingegaard still leads ahead of today's…

MINISTER of Electricity Dr Kgosien- tsho Ramokgopa has warned that the delays being experienced in returning the 920MW Unit 1 of Koeberg Nuclear Power Station to the national grid posed a significant risk that could undermine the progress being made in implementing the Energy Action Plan. In December 2022, Eskom belatedly took Unit 1 Koeberg off line for at least six months to replace three steam generators in a bid to extend the life of the power station for an additional 20 years at an estimated cost of R20 billion. However, the power utility has pushed the deadline for returning Unit 1 to the grid twice, moving it by 45 days from the scheduled July 23, due to numerous reasons, including resource utilisation, safety incidents, physical…

THE TELKOM board has decided to walk away from talks of an unsolici- ted non-binding indicative bid with a consortium proposing to acquire its controlling stake, as the offer was “not in the best interest of shareholders”. This came after the group received an unsolicited non-binding indicative letter from the consortium which is led by its former CEO, Sipho Maseko, Afrifund Investments, comprising Axian Telecom, and the Government Employees Pension Fund, managed by the Public Investment Corporation. “The Telkom board of directors, having considered the indicative proposal, decided not to continue discussions with the consortium as the board was of the view that the indicative proposal was not in the best interest of shareholders and that the current Telkom strategy would yield better value for shareholders. “Accordingly, caution is no…

SNOW made landfall in the province at the weekend, with icy cold temperatures expected in most parts of the country over the next few days. The South African Weather Services (Saws) said the cold, wet and windy weather was expected to spread eastwards across South Africa. “The much-anticipated cold front has made landfall over the western parts of South Africa, resulting in significant cooling in daytime temperatures as well as showers and rain,” Saws said on Saturday. “Snow started to fall (Saturday) morning over the high lying areas of the Western and Northern Cape and is expected to spread to the high lying areas of the Eastern Cape later, where it could become disruptive in places. Snow will spread to the southern Drakensberg (Sunday), with light snowfall possible along the…

BY NOW the ANC should realise that if you don't stop something in its tracks! (Excuse the pun) you are on a hiding to nothing. Railway lines that used to have trains taking commuters to and from work have been taken over by squatters, who have put up their shacks. How was this allowed to happen? How were perfectly good railway stations allowed to be vandalised to the extent that there is not a brick left? It’s very easy to allow things to disintegrate, but as the ANC is finding out now to get the lines up and running is not an easy task. Apparently 45% of the central line has been closed since 2019 due to extensive vandalism. Why were the railway police retrenched? So far millions have been…

‘Aspiration to create an equitable health system is part of the Struggle’ JULY 5 and June 14, 2023, were iconic dates that literally could determine the future health prospects if not the fate of two countries – the UK and South Africa – over the next decade or so. In terms of health system dynamics, the two are far more interlinked than their promoters and detractors would deign to admit. Last Wednesday the UK marked the 75th anniversary of its globally-admired National Health Service (NHS). It was more an acknowledgement of the fact that in the ruins of World War II, a universal health service free at the point of need to all citizens and permanent residents regardless of wealth and status, was launched by Clement Attlee’s post-war Labour government…

Israel and Saudi Arabia are a long way from a normalisation agreement that would involve a defence treaty and a civilian nuclear programme from the US, President Joe Biden said in a CNN interview broadcast yesterday. US officials have been negotiating to reach an elusive normalisation deal between the two countries. “We’re a long way from there. We have a lot to talk about,” Biden said. Israel’s energy minister voiced opposition last month to the idea of Saudi Arabia developing a civilian nuclear programme as part of any US-mediated forging of relations between the countries. Biden pointed to Saudi Arabia’s decision to open its airspace to all air carriers, paving the way for more overflights to and from Israel. “I don’t think they have much of a problem with Israel.…

Democratic US Senator Tim Kaine and Representative Barbara Lee raised concerns yesterday over the decision by President Joe Biden’s administration to send cluster bombs to Ukraine to combat the Russian invasion. The US said on Friday it would supply Kyiv with the widely banned bombs as part of a new $800 million security package that brings total US military aid to more than $40 billion since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Rights groups and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have questioned Washington’s decision on the munitions. Kaine said he had “some real qualms” about the US decision to send cluster bombs to Ukraine because it could inspire other countries to sidestep an international convention barring the munitions. “It could give a green light to other nations to…

TUNIS: At least 10 Tunisian migrants were missing and one died after their boat sank off Tunisia as they tried to cross the Mediterranean to Italy, a judicial official said yesterday. Tunisia is facing an unprecedented migration crisis and has replaced Libya as a main departure point for people fleeing poverty and conflict in Africa and the Middle East in the hope of a better life in Europe. The latest tragedy raises the number of dead and missing off the North African country’s coasts to more than 600 in the first half of 2023. Tunisia’s coastguard rescued 11 people from the boat, which set off from the coast off the town of Zarzis, Faouzi Masmoudi, a judge in the city of Sfax, said. | Reuters…

BINDURA: A Zimbabwean court yesterday upheld a ban on the planned campaign launch by main opposition party Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), the third of its rallies to be banned as its leader Nelson Chamisa faced hurdles on his campaign trail. CCC was scheduled to hold its campaign launch yesterday in Bindura, but police banned the gathering citing problems with the venue. CCC lawyers filed an urgent application at the high court on Friday challenging the police decision, but a judge yesterday referred the matter back to the lower court. Bindura Magistrate Mary Musika then upheld the ban, saying CCC had failed to notify the police on time. | Reuters…

A MAJOR corporate stand-off is brewing between one of South Africa’s largest fishing groups, I&J Ltd, and its empowerment partners over lucrative fishing rights. AVI, parent company of I&J, has abruptly terminated a long-standing BBBEE partnership with a consortium led by prominent entrepreneur and former anti-apartheid activist Khusta Jack. Jack, chairperson of Main Street 198 Ltd, was asked to resign voluntarily or face removal from the board as I&J starts a new partnership with a different group of BEE partners. Jack has slammed AVI for adopting what he says is a revolving door approach to dealing with its BEE partners. “I told them I will not resign under duress. This is a vile perversion of the spirit and principles that underpin the policy of broad-based black economic empowerment and endeavours…

THE FOSCHINI Group board has appointed Jan Potgieter and Nkululeko Sowazi as independent non-executive directors with effect from July 10, 2023, and January 1, 2024, respectively. In a statement, the group said Potgieter will also serve as a member of the Audit and Risk Committees. “Potgieter is a Chartered Accountant (SA) and has extensive senior-level experience in the manufacturing, retail, and supply chain sectors, having most recently served as CEO of Italtile and formerly CEO of Massdiscounters, a division of Massmart. “He also served as a business manager at Clover and spent eight years at SABMiller in senior financial roles. Jan currently serves as a non-executive director on the boards of Italtile Limited and Fortress Real Estate Investments Limited. He is also chairperson of Janette Media Consulting,” it said. Sowazi…

WHILE Virgin Active’s main shareholder is preparing the multinational gym group for a listing, a small South Africa gym owner’s complaint at the Competition Commission may impact the overall market’s valuation of South Africa’s biggest gym. Body Action Gym’s complaint of anti-competitive behaviour against Discovery Vitality and the two biggest gym groups Virgin Active and Planet Fitness, on behalf of independent and smaller fitness facilities, had been referred to the Competition Tribunal, although an outcome might only be in eight months, Body Action CEO Antonio Iozzo said on Friday. He said in a telephone interview their action was initiated in September 2021 after Body Action Gym lodged a complaint with the Competition Commission. “Discovery Vitality subsidises up to 75% of their members’ gym membership fees when they sign up with…

THE PUBLISHING of the US Federal Reserve’s minutes of their previous meeting in June echoed the hawkish stance of the US Fed on interest rates as was announced by its chairperson, Jeremy Powell, during a press conference on June 14, 2023. He emphasised that in determining the extent of additional policy firming that may be appropriate to return inflation to 2% over time, the committee will take into account the cumulative tightening of monetary policy. The release of the minutes of the meeting last Wednesday afternoon showed that all the members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) indicated that further interest rate hikes could lie ahead. The minutes led to share prices contracting on Wall Street since last Wednesday. The release of the US non-farm payrolls for June…

HEALTH Minister Joe Phaahla has revealed that there were 1777 unclaimed bodies at state mortuaries in five of the country’s nine provinces. Responding to parliamentary questions from Freedom Front MP Philip van Staden, Phaahla said records showed that KwaZulu-Natal had 1362 unclaimed bodies, followed by the North West with 174, Limpopo 136, Mpumalanga 54, and Northern Cape 51. “Responses are still awaited from the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng and Western Cape provinces. The updated information will be submitted as soon as it is received from these provinces,” he said. Phaahla also said there were ongoing discussions between the forensic pathology service, local municipalities and police regarding unclaimed bodies. Phaahla was asked by IFP MP Duduzile Hlengwa whether his department had put any measures in place to ensure that…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday said he held a meeting with his deputy Paul Mashatile and assured him that there was no plan to “de-appoint” him as his second-in-command. Speaking on the sidelines of the ANC national executive committee (NEC) meeting, Ramaphosa said he had seen a report where Mashatile was quoted as saying there was a plot to remove him from office by August. “I saw the report. I had a discussion with the Deputy President and said what is this?” he said, adding that he and Mashatile would have a further discussion. “I said I appointed you and I am the only person who can de-appoint you and there is no thought, no plan and no inkling whatsoever that something like that could be in the works,” the president…

YOUR July 5 edition “College of Cape town lectures still unpaid after wage grievance” refers. The ongoing wage dispute with seven lecturers seems to have produced no middle ground whatsoever. It must be said that the lecturers should not miss the 30-day window of opportunity to refer their dispute to a dispute resolution body. The default of such disputes is always to complete an application to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration. Over and above this, the lecturers all belong to Naptosa, which is not only fully aware of this dispute, but has managed dozens of disputes of this very nature.…

I RECENTLY went to the Athlone stadium. I’m ashamed to say it was for the first time, having lived in Cape Town for almost 20 years. I am not a keen football supporter, but I love rugby. I went along with three friends to watch the World Rugby Under-20 Championship games being played there, and I must say I was very impressed with the stadium’s facilities, the very friendly staff and police security set-up. The pitch, too, was in great shape, especially considering quite a few of the pool matches were played there. Sadly this tournament has perhaps not had the press coverage it should have had since it started, which is sad as I think many of these young, strong, skilful players will go on to represent their national…

IN the past five years, libraries in the province have incurred over R20 million in damages as a result of robberies and vandalism. This came to light following a parliamentary question by DA MPP Gillion Bosman who asked Culture Affairs and Sport MEC, Anroux Marais, how many libraries have been vandalised and robbed over the past five years, what the costs of the damages were and what was being done to reduce incidents. In total, 416 incidents were recorded across the province. The total cost incurred amounted to R27 636 476 in damages. Incidents included alarms and camera systems being vandalised; electrical equipment and computers stolen; damaged books; broken windows; stolen lights; vandalised air-con pipes; building set alight and more. In her response, Marais said in instances of vandalism, notifications…

THE EFF has defended inviting Kenyan academic Professor Patrick Lumumba to address a public lecture at the party’s 10th-anniversary celebrations at the Sarah Baartman Hall at UCT later this month. This amid outcry from some of the university’s staff and students over Lumumba’s controversial views on the LGBTQ+ community. A petition has also been launched to prevent Lumumba from addressing the lecture. Lumumba has been a vocal supporter of an anti-homosexuality bill recently passed in Uganda. The bill recommends heavy sentences, including the death penalty for homosexuality. In a recent interview, Lumumba said he was homophobic and believed homosexuality “could be cured”. EFF national spokesperson Sinawo Tambo said they were not surprised by the backlash. “The EFF has nothing to respond to as our position on the anti-homosexuality bill…

ON JUNE 1, the Standalone BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Relations Meeting was held in Cape Town, followed the next day by a meeting of the core of BRICS with representatives of a number of other states commonly called the BRICS Plus format. The group was founded in June 2006 on the margins of the St Petersburg Economic Forum and initially included leading developing countries – Brazil, Russia, India and China. South Africa joined the association in 2011. According to Bloomberg agency statistics based on the IMF data, BRICS countries will have a share of more than 33% in global economic growth by 2028, while G7 countries will contribute less than 28%. However, taking into consideration this indicator, BRICS countries have already surpassed the association of seven largest…

Suspected jihadists killed 22 civilians in two attacks in the north and west of Burkina Faso, security and local sources have said. Sixteen civilians from volunteer auxiliaries backing up the army were killed on Friday, in the north, a security source said, adding that some of the attackers had also suffered “losses”. A resident said two other civilians were also killed in the attack in a village near Boulsa, the main town in the Namentenga province, adding that the attackers also torched homes, motorcycles and the local market. A second security source said four civilians from another volunteer auxiliary group were killed, on Friday, in an attack in the town of Fo in the west. Fo has been repeatedly targeted by jihadists in the past weeks and most of the…

BANGKOK: Hundreds of supporters of Thailand’s leading prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat rallied in the capital yesterday before a parliamentary vote for a new prime minister next week. Pita, the leader of the progressive Move Forward Party, faces an uncertain path to the premiership despite a victory in May’s election in which Thais rejected nearly nine years of military-backed government. He needs support from an unelected Senate to become the premier to replace incumbent Prayuth Chan-ocha in the vote set for July 13. | Reuters…

Dakar: Mali has freed at least two jihadists from the Sahel affiliate of the Islamic State group in a prisoner exchange, a security official and two politicians said. The Sahel country’s military had in recent days released Oumeya Ould Albakaye and Dadi Ould Cheghoub, both members of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), flying them from Bamako to the Gao region in the north, the security official said. One of the politicians, an elected official in Gao, said that at least three jihadists were brought there on a military plane from Bamako. All three sources said the operation was part of a prisoner exchange. | AFP…

CAIRO: Egypt says it will host a summit of Sudan’s neighbours on Thursday to discuss ways to end a 12-week conflict between rival Sudanese military factions that has triggered a major humanitarian crisis in the region. Diplomatic efforts to halt fighting between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces have proved ineffective, with competing initiatives creating confusion over how the warring parties might be brought to negotiate. The summit, in Cairo, aims to “develop effective mechanisms” with neighbouring states to settle the conflict peacefully, in co-ordination with other regional or international efforts, Egypt’s presidency said in a statement. | Reuters…