The United States has tabled a revised Gaza ceasefire resolution

The United States has tabled a revised Gaza ceasefire resolution

The United States yesterday tabled a revised ceasefire resolution to be voted on by the UN Security Council. Jody Jacobs reports that with the document calling for an "immediate ceasefire" tied to the release of all hostages, and Washington having blocked previous attempts to pass such a ceasefire resolution, this could mark a significant change in its approach to the conflict, though a date for the vote has yet to […]

March 22, 2024 15

Business / Economics

Morning Biznews update – 22 March 2024

With South Africa’s annual consumer price inflation increasing to 5.6% in February, exceeding economists' expectations, and rising closer to the top of the central bank's 3% to 6% target range, all hopes of an interest rate cut before the Monetary Policy Committee meeting in July have fallen. A number of economists are in fact now looking at September as the first opportunity for any easing of the country’s 8.25% repurchase rate. […]

March 22, 2024 7

Africa

Niger has cut military ties with the US: why this is bad for the Sahel’s security

By Olayinka Ajala, Leeds Beckett University Niger – a landlocked country of 25 million people in one of the most unstable parts of the world – recently announced it was suspending military cooperation with the United States. For over a decade, Niger has been one of America’s most reliable allies in the Sahel. The Sahel region, which stretches across Africa from the Atlantic to the Red Sea, is […]

March 20, 2024 16

World

With nominations decided, Trump leads Biden in US polls; UK Labour far ahead as election approaches

By Adrian Beaumont, The University of Melbourne Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a majority of all delegates to their parties’ conventions, including delegates not yet allocated. Both Biden and Trump won their nominations easily, with Biden taking 86.4% of the national Democratic primary vote in contests so far, far ahead of […]

March 19, 2024 19

World

UNRWA’s Money Woes May Be Easing as Some Donors Return, but US Is Unlikely

Numerous donors are returning to fund UNRWA, the UN Relief and Works agency for Palestinians, reacting to preliminary results from a UN probe into Israeli accusations that agency staff participated in the Oct. 7 massacre. But it appears the United States will not be directing contributions to the organization this year. UNRWA is the main operation delivering food to Gaza, above. UNRWA/INSTAGRAM After weeks of deepening financial straits amid […]

March 15, 2024 8

Africa

Appetite from local investors fuels surge in African startup funding

By Seth Onyango, bird story agency Despite a steep downturn in startup funding in Africa since 2022, more African investors are channelling substantial investments into homegrown enterprises. This is a marked departure from the previous years, when North American investors, particularly from the U.S., led the charge in startup funding across the continent. Analysis from Africa: The Big Deal identified at least 619 unique investors who participated in […]

March 14, 2024 39

Business / Economics

World oil demand grows amid Red Sea shipping disruptions: IEA

Global oil demand is forecast to grow more than expected due to a brighter US economic outlook and rising fuel needs of ships rerouted away from the Red Sea, the International Energy Agency said Thursday. Commercial ships have been taking longer and costlier journeys around the southern tip of Africa to avoid attacks by Yemen's Huthi rebels in the Red Sea, a vital international trade route. The […]

March 14, 2024 14

World

US-Hungary relations strained over Biden’s dictatorship remark

Bilateral ties between Hungary and the US have hit another low over U.S. President Joe Biden's remarks on the state of democracy in Hungary.Biden said Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban wants to run a "dictatorship," which has sparked outrage in Budapest.

March 13, 2024 39

South Africa

SA’s Electoral Commission Responds to DA’s Appeal for Foreign Assistance in Election Observations

The South African Independent Electoral Commission acknowledges the Democratic Alliance's letter to the United States, European Union, and other countries seeking resources for independent domestic observers ahead of the 29 May elections. IEC CEO Sy Mamabolo states that while the commission believes in the importance of election observation, the DA's direct appeal to foreign executives is not in alignment with the typical process of international observation. Mamabolo highlights the unique […]

March 12, 2024 21