Two white South African farmers who were filmed pushed a wailing black man into a coffin were sentenced to jail on Friday for attempted murder, assault and kidnapping.

The 20-second video, widely circulated on social media, shows the victim Victor Mlotshwa cowering inside a coffin as one man pushes the lid down and the other threatens to put petrol and a snake inside.

The defendants Theo Jackson, sentenced to 14 years, and Willem Oosthuizen, sentenced to 11 years, had pleaded not guilty.

The two said they had caught Mlotshwa trespassing on their farm in possession of stolen copper cables.

The case, heard at a court in Middelburg, about 160 km (100 miles) east of the capital Pretoria, has caused outrage in a country where deep racial divides persist 23 years after the fall of apartheid.

Black people make up 80 percent of South Africa&rsquo;s 54 million population yet most its wealth remains in the hands of white people who account for about 8 percent of the population.

The defence immediately requested to be allowed to appeal against the sentence, but it was not clear whether they would be granted the right to lodge a formal appeal.

Two white South African farmers who were filmed pushed a wailing black man into a coffin were sentenced to jail on Friday for attempted murder, assault and kidnapping.

Two white South African farmers who were filmed pushed a wailing black man into a coffin were sentenced to jail on Friday for attempted murder, assault and kidnapping. The 20-second video, widely circulated on social media, shows the victim Victor Mlotshwa cowering inside a coffin as one man pushes the lid down and the other threatens to put petrol and a snake inside. The defendants Theo Jackson, sentenced to 14 years, and Willem Oosthuizen, sentenced to 11 years, had pleaded not guilty. The two said they had caught Mlotshwa trespassing on their farm in possession of stolen copper cables. The case, heard at a court in Middelburg, about 160 km (100 miles) east of the capital Pretoria, has caused outrage in a country where deep racial divides persist 23 years after the fall of apartheid. Black people make up 80 percent of South Africa’s 54 million population yet most its wealth remains in the hands of white people who account for about 8 percent of the population. The defence immediately requested to be allowed to appeal against the sentence, but it was not clear whether they would be granted the right to lodge a formal appeal.

South African farmers jailed for forcing black man into coffin

The Bloodhound Supersonic Car, effectively a fighter jet on wheels, on Thursday kicked off a bid to roar into the record books by eventually reaching 1,000 mph (1,610 kmph).

Before a crowd of spectators, the blue and orange, a spacecraft-like vehicle with a high tail and long, rocket-shaped nose made two test runs down a 1.7-mile (2.7 km) track, attaining 200 mph (320 kmph) in about nine seconds.

&nbsp;It was the first public trial of the vehicle, powered by an EJ200 jet engine from a Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet, ahead of a world record bid in South Africa in the next few years.&nbsp;

Twenty years after setting the current world land speed record of 763 mph in the Bloodhound&#39;s predecessor, Andy Green, a British air force pilot, will aim to surpass his achievement.&nbsp;

&quot;We came here to say Bloodhound is Go! And that&#39;s exactly what we managed to demonstrate today,&quot; Green said after the test run in Newquay in the southwest of England.

&quot;The performance, the handling, the stability of it - I can&#39;t fault the car at all, it just worked brilliantly.&quot;

The Bloodhound project was launched in 2008 in London with the objective of designing a car able to reach speeds of 1,000 mph. About 30 million pounds ($39.49 million) has been invested in the project thanks for the support from the&nbsp;public and sponsors including Chinese auto group Geely and Rolls Royce among others.

The overall price tag could reach 60 million pounds.&nbsp;

If the roughly 13-meter(39-foot)-long vehicle achieves its target 1,000 mph, that would surpass the low-altitude speed record for aircraft of 994 mph, according to the Bloodhound project website.&nbsp; 
At 1,000 mph, it would cover a distance equivalent to over four football pitches every second.

The Bloodhound Supersonic Car, effectively a fighter jet on wheels, on Thursday kicked off a bid to roar into the record books by eventually reaching 1,000 mph (1,610 kmph)

The Bloodhound Supersonic Car, effectively a fighter jet on wheels, on Thursday kicked off a bid to roar into the record books by eventually reaching 1,000 mph (1,610 kmph). Before a crowd of spectators, the blue and orange, a spacecraft-like vehicle with a high tail and long, rocket-shaped nose made two test runs down a 1.7-mile (2.7 km) track, attaining 200 mph (320 kmph) in about nine seconds. It was the first public trial of the vehicle, powered by an EJ200 jet engine from a Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet, ahead of a world record bid in South Africa in the next few years. Twenty years after setting the current world land speed record of 763 mph in the Bloodhound's predecessor, Andy Green, a British air force pilot, will aim to surpass his achievement. "We came here to say Bloodhound is Go! And that's exactly what we managed to demonstrate today," Green said after the test run in Newquay in the southwest of England. "The performance, the handling, the stability of it - I can't fault the car at all, it just worked brilliantly." The Bloodhound project was launched in 2008 in London with the objective of designing a car able to reach speeds of 1,000 mph. About 30 million pounds ($39.49 million) has been invested in the project thanks for the support from the public and sponsors including Chinese auto group Geely and Rolls Royce among others. The overall price tag could reach 60 million pounds. If the roughly 13-meter(39-foot)-long vehicle achieves its target 1,000 mph, that would surpass the low-altitude speed record for aircraft of 994 mph, according to the Bloodhound project website. At 1,000 mph, it would cover a distance equivalent to over four football pitches every second.

'Bloodhound' car kicks off bid to speed into record books

Even after implementing international laws and regulations, animal trafficking is continuously increasing. Illegal trade of wild animals is a very lucrative business. Tiger, elephant, and rhino, leopard, lizard, marine turtles, and pangolins, as well as, many species of snakes are poached for animal parts, such as ivory, horn, teeth, venom, skin, scales and bone.

Wildlife trafficking is popular in regions like South Africa, Europe, China, Japan. Smuggling is not limited to living animals but even carcass are very important in many ways, such as skins tissues, bones or meat. It is sold at considerably high prices.

<div class="ui-state-default"><img alt="" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/rhino-20171004104523.jpg" />
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The rhino horn is used to create valuable carvings and, also, traditional medicines in China (Others)
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South Africa has the largest population of rhinos in the world, also, stands at number one when it comes to the hunting and killing of rhinos. Till 2014, the recorded number of rhinos poached in South Africa increased continuously.

In 2010, it was 333 and in 2014 it raised to 1215. This immense rate advocates utmost importance to conserve these extremely endangered species. The rhino horns are exported mostly to China and Vietnam. It is used to create valuable carvings and is also used in traditional medicines.&nbsp;

Areas like Kruger National Park (South Africa) and parts of Mozambique experienced most illegal poaching in past few decades. The government has taken additional measures to strengthen security that showed a dip in rhino deaths in the year 2015 and 2016. Even after the decline in poaching, 1054 Rhinos died in 2016.&nbsp;

Recently, the High Courts of South Africa said that they will make rhino horn trade legal within the country, that may worsen the crisis situation.

Same as rhino horns, elephant tusks are also smuggled from eastern Africa to Asia. Poachers nowadays are highly equipped. They use night vision goggles, automatic weapons and chainsaws to kill rhinos and elephants. After killing them they quickly remove the horns and tusks.

The African elephants are continuously wiped out as terrorist groups of South Africa are also dealing illegally in elephant tusks to buy arms and ammunition. Al Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabab in Somalia, Joseph Kony&rsquo;s Lord&rsquo;s Resistance Army in central Africa and Boko Haram in Nigeria involved majorly in ivory trafficking.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/the-first-ladies-of-conservation-how-the-black-mambas-are-protecting-wildlife-in-south-africa-13178">Also Read: How women are protecting wildlife in South Africa</a>

Ivory is sold at an average of $850 per kilo.

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Snakeskin business is very popular in the fashion industry. It is used in making shoes, belts, purses etc (Others)
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Snakeskin business is very popular in the fashion industry, as it is a source of pure leather. Annually, half a million python skins are exported legally from south-east Asia in a trade worth $1 billion that is almost equal to illegal trade figures.

Along with snakeskin, alligator and crocodile skins are also very popular among fashion brands. The Paris based company &quot;Kering&quot;, that is behind big luxury brands like Gucci, Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen etc, has built its own python farm in Thailand to avoid illicit trade of python skin. They provide a healthy environment to farm snakes and focuses on the sustainable source of snakeskin. But monitoring and tracking of wild python skin trade still have insufficient control.

<div class="ui-state-default"><img alt="" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/pangolin-20171004104356.jpg" />
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Pangolin fetuses, scales, and blood are used in traditional medicine (Others)
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Along with rhino, elephants and python, pangolins are famous among fauna smugglers. Pangolin, a small-headed, thick-tailed mammal, covered with tough overlapping scales. These scales are made up of keratin.

With growing population of China, the demand for traditional medicines also increased. Pangolin fetuses, scales, and blood are used in traditional medicine. The meat is considered as a delicacy and stuffed pangolins are sold as souvenirs. This continuous rising demand of pangolins is forcing these endangered animals closer to extinction.

On an average, 1 kilogram of pangolin scales is available at $3000.

Despite giving several laws by CITES ( Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), hunting, killing and black marketing of endangered species is prospering at a very alarming rate. Despite being a member of CITES, China has permitted pangolin consumption to respect their medicinal traditions.

Terrorism is financially flourishing on the poaching of endangered animals.

Even after implementing international laws and regulations, animal trafficking is continuously increasing. Illegal trade of wild animals is a very lucrative business. Tiger, elephant, and rhino, leopard, lizard, marine turtles, and pangolins, as well as, many species of snakes are poached for animal parts, such as ivory, horn, teeth, venom, skin, scales and bone. Wildlife trafficking is popular in regions like South Africa, Europe, China, Japan. Smuggling is not limited to living animals but even carcass are very important in many ways, such as skins tissues, bones or meat. It is sold at considerably high prices. The rhino horn is used to create valuable carvings and, also, traditional medicines in China (Others) × South Africa has the largest population of rhinos in the world, also, stands at number one when it comes to the hunting and killing of rhinos. Till 2014, the recorded number of rhinos poached in South Africa increased continuously. In 2010, it was 333 and in 2014 it raised to 1215. This immense rate advocates utmost importance to conserve these extremely endangered species. The rhino horns are exported mostly to China and Vietnam. It is used to create valuable carvings and is also used in traditional medicines. Areas like Kruger National Park (South Africa) and parts of Mozambique experienced most illegal poaching in past few decades. The government has taken additional measures to strengthen security that showed a dip in rhino deaths in the year 2015 and 2016. Even after the decline in poaching, 1054 Rhinos died in 2016. Recently, the High Courts of South Africa said that they will make rhino horn trade legal within the country, that may worsen the crisis situation. Same as rhino horns, elephant tusks are also smuggled from eastern Africa to Asia. Poachers nowadays are highly equipped. They use night vision goggles, automatic weapons and chainsaws to kill rhinos and elephants. After killing them they quickly remove the horns and tusks. The African elephants are continuously wiped out as terrorist groups of South Africa are also dealing illegally in elephant tusks to buy arms and ammunition. Al Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabab in Somalia, Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army in central Africa and Boko Haram in Nigeria involved majorly in ivory trafficking. Also Read: How women are protecting wildlife in South Africa Ivory is sold at an average of $850 per kilo. Snakeskin business is very popular in the fashion industry. It is used in making shoes, belts, purses etc (Others) × Snakeskin business is very popular in the fashion industry, as it is a source of pure leather. Annually, half a million python skins are exported legally from south-east Asia in a trade worth $1 billion that is almost equal to illegal trade figures. Along with snakeskin, alligator and crocodile skins are also very popular among fashion brands. The Paris based company "Kering", that is behind big luxury brands like Gucci, Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen etc, has built its own python farm in Thailand to avoid illicit trade of python skin. They provide a healthy environment to farm snakes and focuses on the sustainable source of snakeskin. But monitoring and tracking of wild python skin trade still have insufficient control. Pangolin fetuses, scales, and blood are used in traditional medicine (Others) × Along with rhino, elephants and python, pangolins are famous among fauna smugglers. Pangolin, a small-headed, thick-tailed mammal, covered with tough overlapping scales. These scales are made up of keratin. With growing population of China, the demand for traditional medicines also increased. Pangolin fetuses, scales, and blood are used in traditional medicine. The meat is considered as a delicacy and stuffed pangolins are sold as souvenirs. This continuous rising demand of pangolins is forcing these endangered animals closer to extinction. On an average, 1 kilogram of pangolin scales is available at $3000. Despite giving several laws by CITES ( Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), hunting, killing and black marketing of endangered species is prospering at a very alarming rate. Despite being a member of CITES, China has permitted pangolin consumption to respect their medicinal traditions.

Terrorism, fashion and Illegal animal trafficking

Chinese President Xi Jinping today asked BRICS members to shelve their differences and accommodate each other&#39;s concerns by enhancing mutual trust and strategic communication, as he opened the 9th annual summit of the five member emerging economies here.

The opening ceremony of the three-day BRICS summit started with BRICS Business Council in this southeastern Chinese city in Fujian province amid a downpour triggered by typhoon Mawar which had caused widespread disruption to the summit preparations and the city&#39;s traffic. The typhoon also caused considerable disruption to the flights.

BRICS - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - is a grouping of the five emerging economies. The BRICS summit brings together the leaders of these countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazilian President Michel Temer, South African President Jacob Zuma and Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the summit.

In his speech broadly focusing on enhancing cooperation between the BRICS members, Xi said, &quot;Construction of a tall building starts with foundation. We have laid the foundation and put in place the framework for BRICS cooperation.&quot;

Outlining BRICS cooperation in the last 10 years, he said treating each other as equals and seeking common ground while shelving differences is important part of cooperation.

&quot;In terms of BRICS cooperation, decisions are made through consultation (and) not by one country. We respect each other?s model of development, accommodate each other?s concern and work to enhance strategic communication and mutual trust,&quot; he told about 1000 delegates from different countries.

&quot;Given difference in national conditions, history and cultures, it is only natural we may have some differences in pursuing our cooperation,&quot; he said.

&quot;However with strong faith in cooperation and enhancing collaboration the BRICS countries can achieve steady progress in our cooperation,&quot; he added.

The summit comes days after India and China last week ended a 73-day standoff in Dokalam by withdrawing troops from the area. The two sides were locked in a face-off after Indian troops stopped the Chinese People&#39;s Liberation Army from building a road in the area.

In a candid speech without directly referring to differences, Xi referred to his multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in which the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a crucial component.

India had protested to CPEC as it passes through Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. India also boycotted the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) hosted by China in May.

Xi said BRI is not a tool to advance any geopolitical agenda, but a platform for practical cooperation.

It is not a foreign aid scheme, but an initiative for interconnected development which calls for extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, he said.

&quot;I am convinced that the BRI will serve as a new platform for all countries to achieve win-win cooperation and that it will create new opportunities for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,&quot; he said.

He also said BRICS should promote the &quot;BRICS Plus&quot; approach to build an open and diversified network of development partners.

China has invited Egypt, Kenya, Tajikistan, Mexico and Thailand as guest countries for the Xiamen BRICS summit as special guests like India invited BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic) leaders for last year&#39;s BRICS summit at Goa.

&quot;We should get more emerging market and developing countries involved in our concerted endeavours for cooperation and mutual benefits,&quot; he said.

Xi said as a cooperation platform with global influence, BRICS cooperation is more than about five countries.

&quot;BRICS places high premium on cooperation with other emerging market and developing countries and have established effective dialogue mechanisms with them,&quot; Xi said.

Xi also said that BRICS cooperation has reached a crucial stage of development.

In assessing the performance of BRICS cooperation, it is important to bear two things in mind -- the historical course of global development and evolving international landscape; the historical process of development of BRICS countries, both individually and collectively, he said.

He said the development of the BRICS countries has delivered tangible benefits to more than three billion people.

Xi said that in the past decade, combined GDP of the bloc has grown 179 percent, trade increased 94 percent while urban population expanded 28 percent, contributing significantly to stabilising the global economy and returning it to growth.

He also said the BRICS countries have been committed to multilateralism, fairness and justice in the past decade.

BRICS countries have endeavoured to fulfil their international responsibility, and have staked out their positions on major regional and international issues and made proposals for addressing them during the past decade, Xi said.

The countries have promoted reform of economic governance to increase the representation and say of emerging market and developing countries, according to the president.

The bloc has also taken the lead in implementing the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals, and engaged in close dialogue and cooperation with other developing countries to pursue development through unity, the Chinese president said.

He said the BRICS countries should work to usher in second golden decade. Going forward BRICS countries have major tasks to accomplish, which are to grow economies and to strengthen cooperation, he said.

&quot;It is time to set sail when the tide rises,&quot; Xi said, adding that countries should work to let their economic cooperation have more substance.

&quot;Economic cooperation is the foundation of the BRICS mechanism,&quot; Xi said, referring to the progress in the operation of the New Development Bank and Contingent Reserve Arrangement and in e-commerce, trade and investment facilitation, trade in services, local currency bond issuance, scientific and technological innovation, industrial cooperation and public-private partnership.

He also said BRICS countries should implement agreements and consensus already reached while actively exploring new ways and areas of practical cooperation.&nbsp;

&quot;Leveraging our respective strengths and converging interests, we have put in place a leaders-driven cooperation framework that covers wide-ranging areas and multiple levels,&quot; Xi said.

The NDB floated by the BRICS countries and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement have provided financing support for BRICS infrastructure building and sustainable development, contributing to enhanced global economic governance and the building of an international financial safety net, he said.

BRICS countries should improve macroeconomic policy coordination, synergize development strategies, leverage strengths in industrial structure and resources endowment, and create value chains and a big market for shared interests to achieve interconnected development, he said.

&quot;We should blaze a new path which may also help other emerging market and developing countries to seize opportunities and meet challenges,&quot; Xi said.

He said economic globalization is facing more uncertainties, noting that emerging markets and developing nations find themselves in a more complex external environment.

&quot;The long road to global peace and development will not be a smooth one,&quot; said the president.

More than 700 million people are still living in hunger, tens of millions of people have been displaced and become refugees, while many people, including innocent children, have been killed in conflicts, Xi said.

He also said global economy has resumed growth, with emerging markets and developing countries delivering a strong performance.

A new round of technological and industrial revolution is in the making, and reform and innovation are gaining momentum, he said.

&quot;We have enough reason to believe that our world will be a better place,&quot; Xi said.&nbsp;

'Construction of a tall building starts with foundation. We have laid the foundation and put in place the framework for BRICS cooperation,' Xi said

Chinese President Xi Jinping today asked BRICS members to shelve their differences and accommodate each other's concerns by enhancing mutual trust and strategic communication, as he opened the 9th annual summit of the five member emerging economies here. The opening ceremony of the three-day BRICS summit started with BRICS Business Council in this southeastern Chinese city in Fujian province amid a downpour triggered by typhoon Mawar which had caused widespread disruption to the summit preparations and the city's traffic. The typhoon also caused considerable disruption to the flights. BRICS - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - is a grouping of the five emerging economies. The BRICS summit brings together the leaders of these countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazilian President Michel Temer, South African President Jacob Zuma and Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the summit. In his speech broadly focusing on enhancing cooperation between the BRICS members, Xi said, "Construction of a tall building starts with foundation. We have laid the foundation and put in place the framework for BRICS cooperation." Outlining BRICS cooperation in the last 10 years, he said treating each other as equals and seeking common ground while shelving differences is important part of cooperation. "In terms of BRICS cooperation, decisions are made through consultation (and) not by one country. We respect each other?s model of development, accommodate each other?s concern and work to enhance strategic communication and mutual trust," he told about 1000 delegates from different countries. "Given difference in national conditions, history and cultures, it is only natural we may have some differences in pursuing our cooperation," he said. "However with strong faith in cooperation and enhancing collaboration the BRICS countries can achieve steady progress in our cooperation," he added. The summit comes days after India and China last week ended a 73-day standoff in Dokalam by withdrawing troops from the area. The two sides were locked in a face-off after Indian troops stopped the Chinese People's Liberation Army from building a road in the area. In a candid speech without directly referring to differences, Xi referred to his multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in which the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a crucial component. India had protested to CPEC as it passes through Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. India also boycotted the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) hosted by China in May. Xi said BRI is not a tool to advance any geopolitical agenda, but a platform for practical cooperation. It is not a foreign aid scheme, but an initiative for interconnected development which calls for extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, he said. "I am convinced that the BRI will serve as a new platform for all countries to achieve win-win cooperation and that it will create new opportunities for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," he said. He also said BRICS should promote the "BRICS Plus" approach to build an open and diversified network of development partners. China has invited Egypt, Kenya, Tajikistan, Mexico and Thailand as guest countries for the Xiamen BRICS summit as special guests like India invited BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic) leaders for last year's BRICS summit at Goa. "We should get more emerging market and developing countries involved in our concerted endeavours for cooperation and mutual benefits," he said. Xi said as a cooperation platform with global influence, BRICS cooperation is more than about five countries. "BRICS places high premium on cooperation with other emerging market and developing countries and have established effective dialogue mechanisms with them," Xi said. Xi also said that BRICS cooperation has reached a crucial stage of development. In assessing the performance of BRICS cooperation, it is important to bear two things in mind -- the historical course of global development and evolving international landscape; the historical process of development of BRICS countries, both individually and collectively, he said. He said the development of the BRICS countries has delivered tangible benefits to more than three billion people. Xi said that in the past decade, combined GDP of the bloc has grown 179 percent, trade increased 94 percent while urban population expanded 28 percent, contributing significantly to stabilising the global economy and returning it to growth. He also said the BRICS countries have been committed to multilateralism, fairness and justice in the past decade. BRICS countries have endeavoured to fulfil their international responsibility, and have staked out their positions on major regional and international issues and made proposals for addressing them during the past decade, Xi said. The countries have promoted reform of economic governance to increase the representation and say of emerging market and developing countries, according to the president. The bloc has also taken the lead in implementing the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals, and engaged in close dialogue and cooperation with other developing countries to pursue development through unity, the Chinese president said. He said the BRICS countries should work to usher in second golden decade. Going forward BRICS countries have major tasks to accomplish, which are to grow economies and to strengthen cooperation, he said. "It is time to set sail when the tide rises," Xi said, adding that countries should work to let their economic cooperation have more substance. "Economic cooperation is the foundation of the BRICS mechanism," Xi said, referring to the progress in the operation of the New Development Bank and Contingent Reserve Arrangement and in e-commerce, trade and investment facilitation, trade in services, local currency bond issuance, scientific and technological innovation, industrial cooperation and public-private partnership. He also said BRICS countries should implement agreements and consensus already reached while actively exploring new ways and areas of practical cooperation. "Leveraging our respective strengths and converging interests, we have put in place a leaders-driven cooperation framework that covers wide-ranging areas and multiple levels," Xi said. The NDB floated by the BRICS countries and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement have provided financing support for BRICS infrastructure building and sustainable development, contributing to enhanced global economic governance and the building of an international financial safety net, he said. BRICS countries should improve macroeconomic policy coordination, synergize development strategies, leverage strengths in industrial structure and resources endowment, and create value chains and a big market for shared interests to achieve interconnected development, he said. "We should blaze a new path which may also help other emerging market and developing countries to seize opportunities and meet challenges," Xi said. He said economic globalization is facing more uncertainties, noting that emerging markets and developing nations find themselves in a more complex external environment. "The long road to global peace and development will not be a smooth one," said the president. More than 700 million people are still living in hunger, tens of millions of people have been displaced and become refugees, while many people, including innocent children, have been killed in conflicts, Xi said. He also said global economy has resumed growth, with emerging markets and developing countries delivering a strong performance. A new round of technological and industrial revolution is in the making, and reform and innovation are gaining momentum, he said. "We have enough reason to believe that our world will be a better place," Xi said.

Xi opens BRICS summit, asks members to shelve differences

South African veteran politician and anti-apartheid activist Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said on Tuesday it was &quot;offensive&quot; to suggest her ex-husband, President Jacob Zuma, would have a hand in promoting her political career.

Zuma, 75, will step down as head of the ruling African National Congress at a conference in December. He can remain head of state until a 2019 election, although some analysts think he will hand over before then to whoever becomes the new ANC leader.

Dlamini-Zuma, 68, former head of the African Union and a cabinet minister under Nelson Mandela, has not officially said she will run for the ANC presidency, but she has not denied it.

And she increasingly acts like a leadership contender even though the ANC bans campaigning until candidates have been officially nominated next month.

The former health and foreign affairs minister, who does not currently hold a top position, spoke to business leaders in Johannesburg about her vision for South Africa, calling for changes to fix everything from the economy to inequality.

Flanked by bodyguards, she avoided questions about the prospect of running for the ANC presidency and reacted angrily when asked if Zuma would give her chances a boost.

&quot;I find it offensive,&quot; she said, in reply to a reporter`s question.

&quot;I will not be elected by President Jacob Zuma. If I`m elected, I will be elected by South Africans.&quot;

Zuma, who has four children with his former wife, has endorsed her to lead the ANC and she is therefore expected to benefit from his powerful party base.

Dlamini-Zuma`s main opponent is expected to be Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, a trade unionist-turned-business tycoon who many investors would prefer to see running a country in economic turmoil.

Ramaphosa, who was once Mandela`s chosen successor, has spoken of the need for the ANC to clean up its image so it can win back millions of voters who have switched allegiance during Zuma`s scandal-plagued decade in power.

Dlamini-Zuma is pushing for a more radical redistribution of wealth from whites to blacks, a policy that appeals to many poor people who resent the stark racial inequality that still persists 23 years after the end of apartheid.

The ANC has won every election since the end of white-minority rule in 1994. But analysts say unless its next leader mends party divides and turns around the economy, the party could lose to an opposition coalition in 2019.

South African veteran politician and anti-apartheid activist Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said on Tuesday it was "offensive" to suggest her ex-husband, President Jacob Zuma, would have a hand in promoting her political career

South African veteran politician and anti-apartheid activist Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said on Tuesday it was "offensive" to suggest her ex-husband, President Jacob Zuma, would have a hand in promoting her political career. Zuma, 75, will step down as head of the ruling African National Congress at a conference in December. He can remain head of state until a 2019 election, although some analysts think he will hand over before then to whoever becomes the new ANC leader. Dlamini-Zuma, 68, former head of the African Union and a cabinet minister under Nelson Mandela, has not officially said she will run for the ANC presidency, but she has not denied it. And she increasingly acts like a leadership contender even though the ANC bans campaigning until candidates have been officially nominated next month. The former health and foreign affairs minister, who does not currently hold a top position, spoke to business leaders in Johannesburg about her vision for South Africa, calling for changes to fix everything from the economy to inequality. Flanked by bodyguards, she avoided questions about the prospect of running for the ANC presidency and reacted angrily when asked if Zuma would give her chances a boost. "I find it offensive," she said, in reply to a reporter`s question. "I will not be elected by President Jacob Zuma. If I`m elected, I will be elected by South Africans." Zuma, who has four children with his former wife, has endorsed her to lead the ANC and she is therefore expected to benefit from his powerful party base. Dlamini-Zuma`s main opponent is expected to be Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, a trade unionist-turned-business tycoon who many investors would prefer to see running a country in economic turmoil. Ramaphosa, who was once Mandela`s chosen successor, has spoken of the need for the ANC to clean up its image so it can win back millions of voters who have switched allegiance during Zuma`s scandal-plagued decade in power. Dlamini-Zuma is pushing for a more radical redistribution of wealth from whites to blacks, a policy that appeals to many poor people who resent the stark racial inequality that still persists 23 years after the end of apartheid. The ANC has won every election since the end of white-minority rule in 1994. But analysts say unless its next leader mends party divides and turns around the economy, the party could lose to an opposition coalition in 2019.

South Africa's Dlamini-Zuma bristles at claims of inside help from Zuma

&nbsp;South African police have put a &quot;red alert&quot; on the country&#39;s borders to prevent any attempted flight by Zimbabwean first lady Grace&nbsp;Mugabe, who is accused of assaulting a model in a Johannesburg hotel with an electric cable.

Her 93-year-old husband, President Robert&nbsp;Mugabe, is also in South Africa for a regional summit, complicating the diplomatic dilemma confronting Pretoria, which already has a difficult relationship with its troubled northern neighbour.

South Africa is home to an estimated three million Zimbabweans who accuse&nbsp;Mugabe&nbsp;of trashing a promising African democracy but Pretoria has been powerless to prevent Zimbabwe&#39;s economic and political decline over the last two decades.

Grace&nbsp;Mugabe, 52, has asked for diplomatic immunity in the case but has not been charged. Her whereabouts were not known on Thursday although police minister Fikile Mbalula said she remained in the country.

The alleged victim, 20-year-old Gabriella Engels, has accused&nbsp;Mugabe&nbsp;of barging into a hotel room on Sunday where Engels was waiting to meet one of&nbsp;Mugabe&#39;s sons, and whipping her with an electric extension cable.

Mugabe&nbsp;had been due to appear in court on Tuesday afternoon under a deal struck with authorities but failed to turn up, police said.

On Thursday, Mbalula said a &quot;red alert&quot; had been issued to South African border posts to prevent Grace&nbsp;Mugabe&nbsp;fleeing.

&quot;We had already put tabs on the borders, in relation to her leaving the country, so there&#39;s no question about that,&quot; he said. So far she had made no attempt to flee, he added.

The South African government has made no official comment on the case and foreign ministry spokesmen have not answered their phones for two days but the issue is causing waves at the highest level.

Justice Minister Michael Masutha told Reuters he was attending a meeting on Wednesday evening to discuss the matter but declined to give details.

Police have said Grace will get no special treatment, and Engels&#39; mother, Debbie, is cranking up the public pressure, including releasing graphic pictures of her daughter&#39;s head injuries that required 14 stitches.

On Thursday, it emerged that she had also enlisted the legal help of Gerrie Nel, the former state prosecutor who secured a murder conviction against track star Oscar Pistorius.

At a news conference, Nel said the Engels family had been offered cash to drop the case but had turned it down.

&quot;It&#39;s not about money. It&#39;s about justice,&quot; he said.

Nicknamed &quot;The Pitbull&quot; for his combative style in the blockbuster Pistorius trial, he also said detectives had told Engels they were seeking an arrest warrant for&nbsp;Mugabe.

&#39;Diplomatic immunity&#39;

However, a senior police source said Nel was jumping the gun because of&nbsp;Mugabe&#39;s application for diplomatic immunity.

&quot;We are not preparing an arrest warrant yet,&quot; the source said. &quot;Our investigations were completed but before we could take the next step, the suspect applied to invoke diplomatic immunity. We are waiting the outcome before we can move on to the next step.&quot;

Mugabe&nbsp;came to South Africa for medical treatment to an injured foot, almost certainly invalidating her claims to diplomatic immunity, legal experts said.

However, given the potential diplomatic fallout, prosecutors could decide not to pursue the case if they thought the injuries to the alleged victim were not too severe, criminal attorney Riaan Louw said.

Harare has made no official comment and requests for comment from Zimbabwean government officials have gone unanswered.

A lawyer identified to Reuters as Mrs&nbsp;Mugabe&#39;s representative declined to answer any questions. Zimbabwe&#39;s ambassador to Pretoria, Isaac Moyo, did not answer his phone.

Reporting Robert&nbsp;Mugabe&#39;s visit to South Africa, Zimbabwe&#39;s Herald newspaper, the government&#39;s main mouthpiece, made no mention of the controversy swirling around his wife, which puts Pretoria in a diplomatic bind.

Mugabe&nbsp;is seen by many Africans as the continent&#39;s elder statesman and a hero of its anti-colonial struggles but Nelson Mandela accused him in 2008 of a &quot;tragic failure of leadership&quot; and Mugabe&#39;s relationship with President Jacob Zuma has been testy at times.

For Debbie Engels, the only issue is getting Grace&nbsp;Mugabe&nbsp;to face the law.

&quot;She had an electric cord wrapped around her hand and she started attacking them. She hit my daughter with a plug socket,&quot; Engels told Reuters. &quot;I just want justice for my daughter. It&#39;s not about money. It&#39;s about justice.

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20-year-old model, Gabriella Engels, has accused?the first lady of Zimbabwe?of barging into a hotel room on Sunday where Engels was waiting to meet one of?Mugabe's sons, and whipping her with an electric extension cable

South African police have put a "red alert" on the country's borders to prevent any attempted flight by Zimbabwean first lady Grace Mugabe, who is accused of assaulting a model in a Johannesburg hotel with an electric cable. Her 93-year-old husband, President Robert Mugabe, is also in South Africa for a regional summit, complicating the diplomatic dilemma confronting Pretoria, which already has a difficult relationship with its troubled northern neighbour. South Africa is home to an estimated three million Zimbabweans who accuse Mugabe of trashing a promising African democracy but Pretoria has been powerless to prevent Zimbabwe's economic and political decline over the last two decades. Grace Mugabe, 52, has asked for diplomatic immunity in the case but has not been charged. Her whereabouts were not known on Thursday although police minister Fikile Mbalula said she remained in the country. The alleged victim, 20-year-old Gabriella Engels, has accused Mugabe of barging into a hotel room on Sunday where Engels was waiting to meet one of Mugabe's sons, and whipping her with an electric extension cable. Mugabe had been due to appear in court on Tuesday afternoon under a deal struck with authorities but failed to turn up, police said. On Thursday, Mbalula said a "red alert" had been issued to South African border posts to prevent Grace Mugabe fleeing. "We had already put tabs on the borders, in relation to her leaving the country, so there's no question about that," he said. So far she had made no attempt to flee, he added. The South African government has made no official comment on the case and foreign ministry spokesmen have not answered their phones for two days but the issue is causing waves at the highest level. Justice Minister Michael Masutha told Reuters he was attending a meeting on Wednesday evening to discuss the matter but declined to give details. Police have said Grace will get no special treatment, and Engels' mother, Debbie, is cranking up the public pressure, including releasing graphic pictures of her daughter's head injuries that required 14 stitches. On Thursday, it emerged that she had also enlisted the legal help of Gerrie Nel, the former state prosecutor who secured a murder conviction against track star Oscar Pistorius. At a news conference, Nel said the Engels family had been offered cash to drop the case but had turned it down. "It's not about money. It's about justice," he said. Nicknamed "The Pitbull" for his combative style in the blockbuster Pistorius trial, he also said detectives had told Engels they were seeking an arrest warrant for Mugabe. 'Diplomatic immunity' However, a senior police source said Nel was jumping the gun because of Mugabe's application for diplomatic immunity. "We are not preparing an arrest warrant yet," the source said. "Our investigations were completed but before we could take the next step, the suspect applied to invoke diplomatic immunity. We are waiting the outcome before we can move on to the next step." Mugabe came to South Africa for medical treatment to an injured foot, almost certainly invalidating her claims to diplomatic immunity, legal experts said. However, given the potential diplomatic fallout, prosecutors could decide not to pursue the case if they thought the injuries to the alleged victim were not too severe, criminal attorney Riaan Louw said. Harare has made no official comment and requests for comment from Zimbabwean government officials have gone unanswered. A lawyer identified to Reuters as Mrs Mugabe's representative declined to answer any questions. Zimbabwe's ambassador to Pretoria, Isaac Moyo, did not answer his phone. Reporting Robert Mugabe's visit to South Africa, Zimbabwe's Herald newspaper, the government's main mouthpiece, made no mention of the controversy swirling around his wife, which puts Pretoria in a diplomatic bind. Mugabe is seen by many Africans as the continent's elder statesman and a hero of its anti-colonial struggles but Nelson Mandela accused him in 2008 of a "tragic failure of leadership" and Mugabe's relationship with President Jacob Zuma has been testy at times. For Debbie Engels, the only issue is getting Grace Mugabe to face the law. "She had an electric cord wrapped around her hand and she started attacking them. She hit my daughter with a plug socket," Engels told Reuters. "I just want justice for my daughter. It's not about money. It's about justice.

South Africa borders on 'red alert' for Grace Mugabe

&nbsp;Zimbabwe&#39;s first lady Grace Mugabe returned home on Tuesday from South Africa after failing to turn herself in to police in Johannesburg to face accusations of assaulting a model in a hotel room.

There was no immediate public comment on the case from Grace, 52, a possible successor to her husband President Robert Mugabe, 93, who has ruled Zimbabwe since 1980. But Zimbabwe government sources confirmed she had returned home.

&quot;Yes, she is back in the country. We don&#39;t know where this issue of assault charges is coming from,&quot; said a senior government official, who declined to be named because they were not authorised to speak to the press.

A second official also confirmed that Grace had returned, saying &quot;she is around now&quot; and accused the media of a plot to tarnish the first family&#39;s name.

Earlier, South African police had been negotiating with Grace&#39;s lawyers to get her to turn herself in to face charges of assault in a court room, a senior police source said.

Twenty-year-old Gabriella Engels told South African media Grace had attacked her after the model had gone to see the Mugabes&#39; sons Robert and Chatunga at a hotel in Johannesburg&#39;s upmarket Sandton district on Sunday.

Confusion surrounded the case on Tuesday. South African police minister Fikile Mbalula said early in the day that Grace had already handed herself in to police and would appear in court shortly.

But in the afternoon, the magistrates&#39; court where police said Grace would be formally charged closed for the day without her appearing.

The police source said Grace had earlier agreed to hand herself over at 10 a.m. but failed to do so.

The source said police were investigating allegations of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

The source said Grace Mugabe was not being considered a fugitive because no arrest warrant had been issued.

&quot;One cannot be a fugitive for not appearing at a court to which they have not been summoned &amp; when they have not been charged of any crime!&quot; Jonathan Moyo, Zimbabwe&#39;s higher education minister and a close ally of Grace tweeted.

South African media said Grace had been in the country to have an injured foot examined. It was unclear whether she was travelling on a diplomatic passport.

Forehead gashed

A Zimbabwean intelligence source said Grace had been travelling on an ordinary non-diplomatic passport and was in South Africa on personal business.

The News24 website quoted Engels&#39; version of events in the hotel room. &quot;When Grace entered, I had no idea who she was. She walked in with an extension cord and just started beating me with it,&quot; the model said.

&quot;She flipped and just kept beating me with the plug. Over and over. I had no idea what was going on. I was surprised ... I needed to crawl out of the room before I could run away.&quot;

News24 published a picture of what it said was Engels with a large gash in her forehead. &quot;I am a model, with this scar over my face my whole career is ruined,&quot; she said.

It was unclear what triggered the incident.

&quot;I just want justice,&quot; Engels told Talk Radio 702.

&quot;She just completely lost it. I was hit all over my body. I have bruises all over my body ... I have two open wounds at the back of my head as well.&quot;

Mugabe&#39;s two sons were asked to leave the Regent luxury apartment complex in Sandton last month after an incident in the middle of the night, staff at the complex told Reuters.

Regent manager Imelda Fincham did not elaborate but confirmed the pair had left. &quot;They&#39;re no longer here,&quot; she said.

In 2009, a press photographer in Hong Kong said Grace and her bodyguard had assaulted him. Police there said the incident was reported but that no charges were brought.

President Mugabe spoke at a public event marking Defence Forces Day in Harare on Tuesday, but did not mention Grace.

Grace was in the news in late July when she challenged her husband to name his preferred successor.

The issue of who will succeed Mugabe has deeply divided Zimbabwe&#39;s ruling ZANU-PF party. One faction supports Grace and the other Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is recovering in a South African hospital after he fell ill and was airlifted from Zimbabwe.

Twenty-year-old Gabriella Engels told South African media Grace had attacked her after the model had gone to see the Mugabes' sons Robert and Chatunga at a hotel in Johannesburg's upmarket Sandton district on Sunday

Zimbabwe's first lady Grace Mugabe returned home on Tuesday from South Africa after failing to turn herself in to police in Johannesburg to face accusations of assaulting a model in a hotel room. There was no immediate public comment on the case from Grace, 52, a possible successor to her husband President Robert Mugabe, 93, who has ruled Zimbabwe since 1980. But Zimbabwe government sources confirmed she had returned home. "Yes, she is back in the country. We don't know where this issue of assault charges is coming from," said a senior government official, who declined to be named because they were not authorised to speak to the press. A second official also confirmed that Grace had returned, saying "she is around now" and accused the media of a plot to tarnish the first family's name. Earlier, South African police had been negotiating with Grace's lawyers to get her to turn herself in to face charges of assault in a court room, a senior police source said. Twenty-year-old Gabriella Engels told South African media Grace had attacked her after the model had gone to see the Mugabes' sons Robert and Chatunga at a hotel in Johannesburg's upmarket Sandton district on Sunday. Confusion surrounded the case on Tuesday. South African police minister Fikile Mbalula said early in the day that Grace had already handed herself in to police and would appear in court shortly. But in the afternoon, the magistrates' court where police said Grace would be formally charged closed for the day without her appearing. The police source said Grace had earlier agreed to hand herself over at 10 a.m. but failed to do so. The source said police were investigating allegations of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. The source said Grace Mugabe was not being considered a fugitive because no arrest warrant had been issued. "One cannot be a fugitive for not appearing at a court to which they have not been summoned & when they have not been charged of any crime!" Jonathan Moyo, Zimbabwe's higher education minister and a close ally of Grace tweeted. South African media said Grace had been in the country to have an injured foot examined. It was unclear whether she was travelling on a diplomatic passport. Forehead gashed A Zimbabwean intelligence source said Grace had been travelling on an ordinary non-diplomatic passport and was in South Africa on personal business. The News24 website quoted Engels' version of events in the hotel room. "When Grace entered, I had no idea who she was. She walked in with an extension cord and just started beating me with it," the model said. "She flipped and just kept beating me with the plug. Over and over. I had no idea what was going on. I was surprised ... I needed to crawl out of the room before I could run away." News24 published a picture of what it said was Engels with a large gash in her forehead. "I am a model, with this scar over my face my whole career is ruined," she said. It was unclear what triggered the incident. "I just want justice," Engels told Talk Radio 702. "She just completely lost it. I was hit all over my body. I have bruises all over my body ... I have two open wounds at the back of my head as well." Mugabe's two sons were asked to leave the Regent luxury apartment complex in Sandton last month after an incident in the middle of the night, staff at the complex told Reuters. Regent manager Imelda Fincham did not elaborate but confirmed the pair had left. "They're no longer here," she said. In 2009, a press photographer in Hong Kong said Grace and her bodyguard had assaulted him. Police there said the incident was reported but that no charges were brought. President Mugabe spoke at a public event marking Defence Forces Day in Harare on Tuesday, but did not mention Grace. Grace was in the news in late July when she challenged her husband to name his preferred successor. The issue of who will succeed Mugabe has deeply divided Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party. One faction supports Grace and the other Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is recovering in a South African hospital after he fell ill and was airlifted from Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe: First lady Grace Mugabe returns home after being accused of assault in South Africa

Having survived eight motions of no confidence, South Africa&#39;s president Jacob Gezedleyihlekisa Zuma has emerged as a political survivor. From his rise to power&nbsp;to the eighth time attempt at removing him from the power and with all the corruption scandals, President Zuma&#39;s political career has been a rollercoaster ride.

Things, however, are different this time. Zuma might have survived this eighth no confidence vote by 198 votes, but&nbsp;the results have proved his victory to be narrow. Worst still, 29 of Zuma&#39;s own MPs voted to oust him. This brings to light that Zuma&nbsp;may not be enjoying full support within The African National Congress (ANC) after all.

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<h5>29 of Zuma&#39;s own MPs voted to oust him.</h5>
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ANC which enjoys 62.15 per cent of votes saw the majority of its MPs&nbsp;united to save the party. Despite the rift among partners of the ANC&#39;s tripartite alliance, the victory was not for Zuma but for the ANC, and here is how it happened. Ahead of the vote, the ANC factions failed to reach a consensus on who will lead the party should the no confidence vote succeed.

Addressing the media few days before the vote, the &nbsp;ANC Chief Whip Jackson Mthembu said that the ANC is not ready for a new leader, and voting president Jacob Zuma out would be like a nuclear bomb. Zuma&#39;s deputy Cyril Ramaphosa Blade as well as Ndzimande, the leader of the South African Communist Party ( SACP), added to the explosive words of the chief whip by calling for the resignation of Zuma.

The SACP holds a majority of 80 MPs&nbsp;out of the 249 ANC tripartite alliance. The majority of ministers in the Zuma cabinet are SACP members, including Zuma&#39;s deputy Ramaphosa. The communists publicly supported calls for the president to resign since the Finance Minister Pravin Godharnthe was fired in an overnight cabinet reshuffle.

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<h5>the failure of ANCs&#39;&nbsp;MPs to remove president Jacob Zuma&nbsp;from power in spite of corruption charges against him further weakens the ANC ahead of the general election.</h5>
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Although the Opposition which championed the no confidence vote fell short of the requisite&nbsp;number of MPs to support the motion, the failure of ANCs&#39;&nbsp;MPs to remove president Jacob Zuma&nbsp;from power in spite of corruption charges against him further weakens ANC, the &quot;liberator party&quot;, ahead of the general election in 2019.

This has been the dream of the main Opposition: to collapse the once resilient structure of ANC through exposing its flaws and rift. Already the Democratic Alliance (DA)&nbsp;is sharing power in some of the ANC&#39;s&nbsp;key metro municipalities and there has been a complete ouster of the ANC in 2 metros.

The outcome of the no-confidence motion has further depreciated the South African Rand and many of the problems raised during the debate remain&nbsp;unresolved. As the party goes to an elective conference in December, it is still unclear as to who will lead the ANC to the 2019 polls, and turn around Africa&#39;s most advanced&nbsp;economy by bringing about a change in the devastating unemployment rate of 27 per cent. &nbsp;

The failure of ANCs'?MPs to remove president Jacob Zuma?from power in spite of corruption charges against him further weakens ANC

Having survived eight motions of no confidence, South Africa's president Jacob Gezedleyihlekisa Zuma has emerged as a political survivor. From his rise to power to the eighth time attempt at removing him from the power and with all the corruption scandals, President Zuma's political career has been a rollercoaster ride. Things, however, are different this time. Zuma might have survived this eighth no confidence vote by 198 votes, but the results have proved his victory to be narrow. Worst still, 29 of Zuma's own MPs voted to oust him. This brings to light that Zuma may not be enjoying full support within The African National Congress (ANC) after all. 29 of Zuma's own MPs voted to oust him. × ANC which enjoys 62.15 per cent of votes saw the majority of its MPs united to save the party. Despite the rift among partners of the ANC's tripartite alliance, the victory was not for Zuma but for the ANC, and here is how it happened. Ahead of the vote, the ANC factions failed to reach a consensus on who will lead the party should the no confidence vote succeed. Addressing the media few days before the vote, the ANC Chief Whip Jackson Mthembu said that the ANC is not ready for a new leader, and voting president Jacob Zuma out would be like a nuclear bomb. Zuma's deputy Cyril Ramaphosa Blade as well as Ndzimande, the leader of the South African Communist Party ( SACP), added to the explosive words of the chief whip by calling for the resignation of Zuma. The SACP holds a majority of 80 MPs out of the 249 ANC tripartite alliance. The majority of ministers in the Zuma cabinet are SACP members, including Zuma's deputy Ramaphosa. The communists publicly supported calls for the president to resign since the Finance Minister Pravin Godharnthe was fired in an overnight cabinet reshuffle. the failure of ANCs' MPs to remove president Jacob Zuma from power in spite of corruption charges against him further weakens the ANC ahead of the general election. × Although the Opposition which championed the no confidence vote fell short of the requisite number of MPs to support the motion, the failure of ANCs' MPs to remove president Jacob Zuma from power in spite of corruption charges against him further weakens ANC, the "liberator party", ahead of the general election in 2019. This has been the dream of the main Opposition: to collapse the once resilient structure of ANC through exposing its flaws and rift. Already the Democratic Alliance (DA) is sharing power in some of the ANC's key metro municipalities and there has been a complete ouster of the ANC in 2 metros. The outcome of the no-confidence motion has further depreciated the South African Rand and many of the problems raised during the debate remain unresolved. As the party goes to an elective conference in December, it is still unclear as to who will lead the ANC to the 2019 polls, and turn around Africa's most advanced economy by bringing about a change in the devastating unemployment rate of 27 per cent.

A victory for African National Congress but a defeat for Jacob Zuma

If South African lawmakers vote in favour of Tuesday&#39;s no-confidence motion in President Jacob Zuma, he will be forced to resign along with his entire cabinet.

But the process has no precedent in South Africa, and it throws up thorny questions about the constitution and the political turmoil that would be triggered by a shock victory for his opponents.

After the president resigns, the parliamentary Speaker would become acting president and the national assembly would then have to elect a new president from its members within 30 days.

The ruling ANC party has a large majority in the house, and would choose the incoming national leader. But the party could be torn apart by the ousting of Zuma and the debate over who should succeed him.

Analysts say that MPs might back deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa -- while the party&#39;s executive might go for another candidate such as the Speaker herself, Baleka Mbete.

Ramaphosa&#39;s main rival Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Zuma&#39;s former wife, would not be eligible as she is not a lawmaker at present.

&quot;Passing a vote of no confidence may create chaos within the governing ANC,&quot; constitutional law expert Pierre de Vos wrote in the Daily Maverick online news site.

Divisions between MPs and the party executive &quot;could lead to instability and even open warfare,&quot; he said.

&#39;All hell would break out&#39; 
A long power struggle could also ensue if the ANC executive tried to ensure victory for its preferred candidate by replacing current MPs with new loyal members.

&quot;ANC MPs against whom action is taken would be able to approach the courts to challenge the expulsion. The process could drag on for years,&quot; said de Vos.

The timing of the vote adds to the uncertainty, as the ANC is already entering a period of change.

Zuma is due to resign as ANC party chief in December, and he must step down as national president ahead of the 2019 general election.

If he is ousted on Tuesday, &quot;all hell would break out within the party ahead of its conference in December,&quot; said Roger Southall, a professor at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.

&quot;The ANC would be at war with itself, with little or no prospect of it facing the electorate in 2019 in one piece.&quot;

Zuma is widely seen as preparing the ground for his ex-wife Dlamini-Zuma to succeed him as party chief in December and then as national president.

But if -- against the odds -- he was forced out of the office by the vote, all bets would be off.

Opposition parties, led by the centrist Democratic Alliance and the radical Economic Freedom Fighters, hope the turmoil could mean the once all-powerful ANC is defeated or forced into coalition in the 2019 election.

Zuma is due to resign as ANC party chief in December, and he must step down as national president ahead of the 2019 general election

If South African lawmakers vote in favour of Tuesday's no-confidence motion in President Jacob Zuma, he will be forced to resign along with his entire cabinet. But the process has no precedent in South Africa, and it throws up thorny questions about the constitution and the political turmoil that would be triggered by a shock victory for his opponents. After the president resigns, the parliamentary Speaker would become acting president and the national assembly would then have to elect a new president from its members within 30 days. The ruling ANC party has a large majority in the house, and would choose the incoming national leader. But the party could be torn apart by the ousting of Zuma and the debate over who should succeed him. Analysts say that MPs might back deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa -- while the party's executive might go for another candidate such as the Speaker herself, Baleka Mbete. Ramaphosa's main rival Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Zuma's former wife, would not be eligible as she is not a lawmaker at present. "Passing a vote of no confidence may create chaos within the governing ANC," constitutional law expert Pierre de Vos wrote in the Daily Maverick online news site. Divisions between MPs and the party executive "could lead to instability and even open warfare," he said. 'All hell would break out' A long power struggle could also ensue if the ANC executive tried to ensure victory for its preferred candidate by replacing current MPs with new loyal members. "ANC MPs against whom action is taken would be able to approach the courts to challenge the expulsion. The process could drag on for years," said de Vos. The timing of the vote adds to the uncertainty, as the ANC is already entering a period of change. Zuma is due to resign as ANC party chief in December, and he must step down as national president ahead of the 2019 general election. If he is ousted on Tuesday, "all hell would break out within the party ahead of its conference in December," said Roger Southall, a professor at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. "The ANC would be at war with itself, with little or no prospect of it facing the electorate in 2019 in one piece." Zuma is widely seen as preparing the ground for his ex-wife Dlamini-Zuma to succeed him as party chief in December and then as national president. But if -- against the odds -- he was forced out of the office by the vote, all bets would be off. Opposition parties, led by the centrist Democratic Alliance and the radical Economic Freedom Fighters, hope the turmoil could mean the once all-powerful ANC is defeated or forced into coalition in the 2019 election.

What happens if Zuma loses South Africa parliament vote?

The towns of South Africa are relics of the country&#39;s apartheid regime. Townships and informal settlements are home to 31 per cent of employed South Africans and 60 per cent of unemployed working age people who are desperate for the economic opportunity the places provide. Although the settlements are spatially disconnected from urban centers that offer economic prospects, there have always been entrepreneurial activity.

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<h5>A recent study by the First National Bank of South Africa shows that the historic township of Soweto has about 4 billion dollars consumer spending power.</h5>
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The township economy in South Africa is characterised by enterprises and markets to meet primarily the needs of township communities. These are enterprises operated by township entrepreneurs, as opposed to business operated by owners outside the townships. Revolving around local food stores, clothing outlets, and small farmers, township enterprises carry lots of potential but have remained neglected for years. A recent study by the First National Bank of South Africa shows that the historic township of Soweto has about 4 billion dollars consumer spending power. However, only 25 per cent of the money is spent in the township. Much of the residents&rsquo; purchasing potential is being poured directly into big companies in the big cities, such as the Sandton-City.

In his state of the province address, premier David Makhura of the Gauteng province highlighted the Gauteng government&#39;s focus on the growth and stability of black-owned township enterprises. This includes money that will be spent on building expertise in various fields, such as retail to waste management. In its report on the state of township economy (2016), the government aims to ensure that benefits aimed at township businesses are delivered to the right businesses so that Gauteng province can create sustainable jobs, reduce inequality and defeat poverty.&nbsp;

In the financial year of 2015-16, Gauteng government, which has been the champion of this initiative, allocated more than 20 million dollars in support of township enterprises and cooperatives. Moreover, the private sector has invested 150 million dollars in small-business mentorship funds.&nbsp;

As of January this year, up to 2800 Township businesses were benefiting directly from government expenditure. This focus on the township economy is not limited to Gauteng only &ndash; other provinces have benefited too. Western Cape, for example, has partnered with established businesses, such as Neotel to ensure the successful delivery of broadband service to the city of Cape Town and in other municipalities in the province.&nbsp;

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<h5>With the revitalisation of the townships, business unemployment dropped from 27.1 per cent to 26.5 per cent in the third quarter of 2016.</h5>
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This year the Gauteng government which has been championing the revitalisation of Township economy has invested millions of dollars to build and improve the infrastructure of these areas in the next five years, says Premier David Makhura. With the revitalisation of the townships, business unemployment dropped from 27.1 per cent to 26.5 per cent in the third quarter of 2016. This positive outcome sends out a significant signal as to what a township economy could do to turn the tables for the benefit of poor South Africans.

One striking example of the positive changes brought about the revitalisation programme is Mandisa Zwane, a business owner in Soweto Township. Since the launching of the Township revitalisation initiative, Zwane has signed up 80 small-scale entrepreneurs who make locally inspired designs for her. Opened in 2016, Zwane&#39;s fashion design business makes around 7,800 dollars in sales per month. Zwane employs four workers and sells her designs to far away places like Atlanta in the US and in London.

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<h5>The Infrastructure Dialogues of South Africa, a platform which discusses the infrastructure sector of the region, found that South Africa&rsquo;s township economy has been failing to prosper because of lack&nbsp;infrastructure, ease of access to products, and lack of skills.</h5>
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In spite of the occasional successes, however, the township revitalisation programme faces some serious challenges. The Infrastructure Dialogues of South Africa, a platform which discusses the infrastructure sector of the region, found that South Africa&rsquo;s township economy has been failing to prosper because of lack&nbsp;infrastructure, ease of access to products, and lack of skills. Therefore, to fuel the growth of township economy at the pace the government hopes for, city services and public amenities need to be in place. Such factors are indispensable to support trading conditions of the area. While large retail companies take advantage of the buying power of residents living in townships, the supply of additional products or access to other markets is required for small businesses to grow. There is a substantial difference in skills levels within the municipal sphere and between metros which needs to be immediately addressed too.

If the provincial government of Gauging can successfully revitalise the economy of the area, it will not only mean more jobs for the township residents. More importantly, it will do away with the apartheid geography of the past years when townships, such as Gauteng existed to serve as mere dormitories and suppliers of cheap labour to the white dominated mainstream economy.&nbsp;

(WION)

The towns of South Africa are relics of the country's apartheid regime but all that is set to change, hopefully

The towns of South Africa are relics of the country's apartheid regime. Townships and informal settlements are home to 31 per cent of employed South Africans and 60 per cent of unemployed working age people who are desperate for the economic opportunity the places provide. Although the settlements are spatially disconnected from urban centers that offer economic prospects, there have always been entrepreneurial activity. A recent study by the First National Bank of South Africa shows that the historic township of Soweto has about 4 billion dollars consumer spending power. × The township economy in South Africa is characterised by enterprises and markets to meet primarily the needs of township communities. These are enterprises operated by township entrepreneurs, as opposed to business operated by owners outside the townships. Revolving around local food stores, clothing outlets, and small farmers, township enterprises carry lots of potential but have remained neglected for years. A recent study by the First National Bank of South Africa shows that the historic township of Soweto has about 4 billion dollars consumer spending power. However, only 25 per cent of the money is spent in the township. Much of the residents’ purchasing potential is being poured directly into big companies in the big cities, such as the Sandton-City. In his state of the province address, premier David Makhura of the Gauteng province highlighted the Gauteng government's focus on the growth and stability of black-owned township enterprises. This includes money that will be spent on building expertise in various fields, such as retail to waste management. In its report on the state of township economy (2016), the government aims to ensure that benefits aimed at township businesses are delivered to the right businesses so that Gauteng province can create sustainable jobs, reduce inequality and defeat poverty. In the financial year of 2015-16, Gauteng government, which has been the champion of this initiative, allocated more than 20 million dollars in support of township enterprises and cooperatives. Moreover, the private sector has invested 150 million dollars in small-business mentorship funds. As of January this year, up to 2800 Township businesses were benefiting directly from government expenditure. This focus on the township economy is not limited to Gauteng only – other provinces have benefited too. Western Cape, for example, has partnered with established businesses, such as Neotel to ensure the successful delivery of broadband service to the city of Cape Town and in other municipalities in the province. With the revitalisation of the townships, business unemployment dropped from 27.1 per cent to 26.5 per cent in the third quarter of 2016. × This year the Gauteng government which has been championing the revitalisation of Township economy has invested millions of dollars to build and improve the infrastructure of these areas in the next five years, says Premier David Makhura. With the revitalisation of the townships, business unemployment dropped from 27.1 per cent to 26.5 per cent in the third quarter of 2016. This positive outcome sends out a significant signal as to what a township economy could do to turn the tables for the benefit of poor South Africans. One striking example of the positive changes brought about the revitalisation programme is Mandisa Zwane, a business owner in Soweto Township. Since the launching of the Township revitalisation initiative, Zwane has signed up 80 small-scale entrepreneurs who make locally inspired designs for her. Opened in 2016, Zwane's fashion design business makes around 7,800 dollars in sales per month. Zwane employs four workers and sells her designs to far away places like Atlanta in the US and in London. The Infrastructure Dialogues of South Africa, a platform which discusses the infrastructure sector of the region, found that South Africa’s township economy has been failing to prosper because of lack infrastructure, ease of access to products, and lack of skills. × In spite of the occasional successes, however, the township revitalisation programme faces some serious challenges. The Infrastructure Dialogues of South Africa, a platform which discusses the infrastructure sector of the region, found that South Africa’s township economy has been failing to prosper because of lack infrastructure, ease of access to products, and lack of skills. Therefore, to fuel the growth of township economy at the pace the government hopes for, city services and public amenities need to be in place. Such factors are indispensable to support trading conditions of the area. While large retail companies take advantage of the buying power of residents living in townships, the supply of additional products or access to other markets is required for small businesses to grow. There is a substantial difference in skills levels within the municipal sphere and between metros which needs to be immediately addressed too. If the provincial government of Gauging can successfully revitalise the economy of the area, it will not only mean more jobs for the township residents. More importantly, it will do away with the apartheid geography of the past years when townships, such as Gauteng existed to serve as mere dormitories and suppliers of cheap labour to the white dominated mainstream economy. (WION)

Can developing the economy of towns bring prosperity to South Africans?

Vernon Philander&#39;s unbeaten fifty revived South Africa,&nbsp;after Stuart Broad sparked a collapse that saw the Proteas lose four wickets in the last session of a see-saw first day of the second Test at Trent Bridge on Friday.

South Africa were 309 for six at stumps after returning captain Faf du Plessis won the toss.

Philander was 54 not out and recalled all-rounder Chris Morris,&nbsp;one of three changes to the side that lost the first of a four-Test campaign by 211 runs at Lord&#39;s last week, 23 not out.

Their unbroken seventh-wicket partnership was worth 74 runs with Philander, primarily a pace bowler, making his second fifty of the series.

South Africa had been 179 for two at tea, but they soon slumped to 235 for six.

The previously well set Quinton de Kock (68) and Hashim Amla (78) both fell to Broad as the fast bowler, who led England&#39;s attack with three wickets for 47 runs in 19 overs, struck on his Nottinghamshire home ground.

But conditions for batting improved as the day wore on, with grey clouds replaced by sunny blue skies at stumps.

&quot;The sun came out at the wrong time,&quot; Broad told Sky Sports.&nbsp;

&quot;It&#39;s a pretty good pitch to bat on, but when there&#39;s cloud you feel in the game a little bit.&quot;

To the very first ball after tea, left-hander de Kock -- whose tally of 11 Test fifties but just three hundreds is an indication of a sometimes frustrating talent -- chased a wide Broad delivery and edged to former England captain Alastair Cook at first slip.

Amla eventually paid the price for repeatedly mis-hooking when such a shot off Broad found Mark Wood at long leg.

It was a careless way for an experienced batsman - this innings saw Amla become just the fourth South African to score 8,000 Test runs -- to get out.

Broad had now taken two wickets for three runs in 22 balls - some way short of his stunning eight for 15 in Australia&#39;s 60 all out when England clinched the Ashes in their last Test at Trent Bridge two years ago, but important all the same.

All-rounder Ben Stokes then took two for four in 11 balls.

Du Plessis (19) was well-caught left-handed down the legside by diving wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow off a thin glove.

The skipper reviewed but replays upheld the fine decision of on-field umpire Paul Reiffel.

But there was no doubt when Temba Bavuma (20) was caught behind off Stokes trying to leave the ball.

&#39;Fill a gap&#39;

De Kock had at least justified his promotion to number four in place of the dropped JP Duminy.

&quot;Faf asked where I would like to bat and I said that I would like to bat at four,&quot; wicket-keeper de Kock told reporters after what he said was an &quot;up and down day&quot;.

&quot;I&#39;ve always liked to bat high up but the team make-up has never allowed me to.

&quot;With this Test there were a few selection things that came up so I thought there was a gap there they might need me for.&quot;

Du Plessis, by his own admission, faced a &quot;tricky decision&quot; after winning the toss after not playing at Lord&#39;s following the birth of his first child.

Yet despite grey skies overhead and Trent Bridge&#39;s reputation for aiding swing bowling, he opted to bat first in the hope his top order could overcome a difficult first hour.

It looked a sound plan as South Africa lost just Dean Elgar, the stand-in skipper at Lord&#39;s, before lunch.

Amla went to a 93-ball fifty by driving left-arm spinner Liam Dawson for six.

Philander, again demonstrating his batting ability, pulled Broad for a resounding four that raised a fifty stand with Morris.

England were unchanged from the XI that marked Joe Root&#39;s first match as captain with a thumping win where the new skipper made 190 in the first innings.

All South Africa&#39;s batsmen wore black armbands in memory of the late mother of Proteas coach Russell Domingo, after she died recently following injuries sustained in a car crash.&nbsp;

Match report

Scoreboard at stumps on the first day of the second Test between England and South Africa at Trent Bridge on Friday:

South Africa 1st Innings

D. Elgar c Dawson b Anderson &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 6

H. Kuhn b Broad &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 34

H. Amla c Wood b Broad &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;78

Q. de Kock c Cook b Broad &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 68

F. du Plessis c Bairstow b Stokes &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 19

T. Bavuma c Bairstow b Stokes &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 20

V. Philander ot out &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;54

C. Morris not out &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 23

Extras (lb7) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 7&nbsp;

Total (6 wkts, 90 overs, 384 mins) &nbsp; &nbsp; 309

To bat: K Maharaj, M Morkel, D Olivier

Fall of wickets: 1-42 (Elgar), 2-66 (Kuhn), 3-179 (De Kock), 4-194 (Amla), 5-220 (Du Plessis), 6-235 (Bavuma)

Bowling: Anderson 20-4-68-1; Broad 19-4-47-3; Wood 17-3-61-0; Stokes 18-3-77-2; Dawson 7-1-26-0; Ali 8-1-21-0; Jennings 1-0-2-0

England: Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Gary Ballance, Joe Root (capt), Jonny Bairstow (wkt), Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Liam Dawson, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Mark Wood

Toss: South Africa

Umpires: Simon Fry (AUS), Paul Reiffel (AUS)

TV umpire: S Ravi (IND)

Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL) 
&nbsp;

Vernon Philander's unbeaten 50 revived South Africa,?after Stuart Broad sparked a collapse that saw the Proteas lose 4 wickets

Vernon Philander's unbeaten fifty revived South Africa, after Stuart Broad sparked a collapse that saw the Proteas lose four wickets in the last session of a see-saw first day of the second Test at Trent Bridge on Friday. South Africa were 309 for six at stumps after returning captain Faf du Plessis won the toss. Philander was 54 not out and recalled all-rounder Chris Morris, one of three changes to the side that lost the first of a four-Test campaign by 211 runs at Lord's last week, 23 not out. Their unbroken seventh-wicket partnership was worth 74 runs with Philander, primarily a pace bowler, making his second fifty of the series. South Africa had been 179 for two at tea, but they soon slumped to 235 for six. The previously well set Quinton de Kock (68) and Hashim Amla (78) both fell to Broad as the fast bowler, who led England's attack with three wickets for 47 runs in 19 overs, struck on his Nottinghamshire home ground. But conditions for batting improved as the day wore on, with grey clouds replaced by sunny blue skies at stumps. "The sun came out at the wrong time," Broad told Sky Sports. "It's a pretty good pitch to bat on, but when there's cloud you feel in the game a little bit." To the very first ball after tea, left-hander de Kock -- whose tally of 11 Test fifties but just three hundreds is an indication of a sometimes frustrating talent -- chased a wide Broad delivery and edged to former England captain Alastair Cook at first slip. Amla eventually paid the price for repeatedly mis-hooking when such a shot off Broad found Mark Wood at long leg. It was a careless way for an experienced batsman - this innings saw Amla become just the fourth South African to score 8,000 Test runs -- to get out. Broad had now taken two wickets for three runs in 22 balls - some way short of his stunning eight for 15 in Australia's 60 all out when England clinched the Ashes in their last Test at Trent Bridge two years ago, but important all the same. All-rounder Ben Stokes then took two for four in 11 balls. Du Plessis (19) was well-caught left-handed down the legside by diving wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow off a thin glove. The skipper reviewed but replays upheld the fine decision of on-field umpire Paul Reiffel. But there was no doubt when Temba Bavuma (20) was caught behind off Stokes trying to leave the ball. 'Fill a gap' De Kock had at least justified his promotion to number four in place of the dropped JP Duminy. "Faf asked where I would like to bat and I said that I would like to bat at four," wicket-keeper de Kock told reporters after what he said was an "up and down day". "I've always liked to bat high up but the team make-up has never allowed me to. "With this Test there were a few selection things that came up so I thought there was a gap there they might need me for." Du Plessis, by his own admission, faced a "tricky decision" after winning the toss after not playing at Lord's following the birth of his first child. Yet despite grey skies overhead and Trent Bridge's reputation for aiding swing bowling, he opted to bat first in the hope his top order could overcome a difficult first hour. It looked a sound plan as South Africa lost just Dean Elgar, the stand-in skipper at Lord's, before lunch. Amla went to a 93-ball fifty by driving left-arm spinner Liam Dawson for six. Philander, again demonstrating his batting ability, pulled Broad for a resounding four that raised a fifty stand with Morris. England were unchanged from the XI that marked Joe Root's first match as captain with a thumping win where the new skipper made 190 in the first innings. All South Africa's batsmen wore black armbands in memory of the late mother of Proteas coach Russell Domingo, after she died recently following injuries sustained in a car crash. Match report Scoreboard at stumps on the first day of the second Test between England and South Africa at Trent Bridge on Friday: South Africa 1st Innings D. Elgar c Dawson b Anderson 6 H. Kuhn b Broad 34 H. Amla c Wood b Broad 78 Q. de Kock c Cook b Broad 68 F. du Plessis c Bairstow b Stokes 19 T. Bavuma c Bairstow b Stokes 20 V. Philander ot out 54 C. Morris not out 23 Extras (lb7) 7 Total (6 wkts, 90 overs, 384 mins) 309 To bat: K Maharaj, M Morkel, D Olivier Fall of wickets: 1-42 (Elgar), 2-66 (Kuhn), 3-179 (De Kock), 4-194 (Amla), 5-220 (Du Plessis), 6-235 (Bavuma) Bowling: Anderson 20-4-68-1; Broad 19-4-47-3; Wood 17-3-61-0; Stokes 18-3-77-2; Dawson 7-1-26-0; Ali 8-1-21-0; Jennings 1-0-2-0 England: Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Gary Ballance, Joe Root (capt), Jonny Bairstow (wkt), Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Liam Dawson, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Mark Wood Toss: South Africa Umpires: Simon Fry (AUS), Paul Reiffel (AUS) TV umpire: S Ravi (IND) Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)

Philander rallies South Africa after Broad double on Day 1 of second Test

The G-20 (Group of 20)&nbsp;is an international forum which was formed with the purpose of establishing international cooperation on global economic and financial&nbsp;issues. The forum plays an important role in decision making on issues of international relevance.

G20 countries account for three-quarters of global trade. The G-20 countries produce more than&nbsp;80 per cent of the global economic&nbsp;output.&nbsp;

Around two-third&nbsp;of the global population lives in G-20 member countries.&nbsp;

The G-20 started in 1999 as a meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis that sent shockwaves through the global economic community.

In 2008, the first G-20 Leaders&rsquo; Summit was held, and the group played a key role in responding to the global financial crisis that rattled world markets causing massive financial instabilty and leading to the collapse of financial institutions.&nbsp;Its decisive and coordinated actions boosted consumer and business confidence and supported the global&nbsp;economic recovery.&nbsp;

How it works 
Each year in December&nbsp;a different G-20 member country assumes presidency of the forum. To ensure continuity, the presidency is supported by a &ldquo;troika&rdquo; (Trio) made up of the current, immediate past and next host countries. Being an informal group, the group has no permanent secretariat.&nbsp;

The G-20 president is responsible for bringing together the G-20 agenda in consultation with other members and in response to developments in the global economy. The summit and the preparatory processes &ndash; often including more than 60 ministerial and working group meetings per year &ndash; are coordinated by the respective host country.

Members of G20 
The twenty members of the forum are :

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				<li>Argentina</li>
				<li>Australia</li>
				<li>Brazil</li>
				<li>Canada</li>
				<li>China</li>
				<li>France</li>
				<li>Germany</li>
			</ul>
			</td>
			<td>
			<ul>
				<li>India</li>
				<li>Indonesia</li>
				<li>Italy</li>
				<li>Japan</li>
				<li>Republic of Korea</li>
				<li>Mexico</li>
				<li>Russia</li>
			</ul>
			</td>
			<td>
			<ul>
				<li>Saudi Arabia</li>
				<li>South Africa</li>
				<li>Turkey</li>
				<li>The United Kingdom</li>
				<li>The united States</li>
				<li>The European Union</li>
			</ul>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

 
&nbsp;

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The map displays the member countries, which represent two-thirds of the world population (Image source: g20.org) (Others)
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At the invitation of each Presidency, international organisations also regularly attend the G20 meetings. These organisations include the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Financial Stability Board (FSB), the World Bank (WB), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations (UN). The German G20 Presidency has also invited the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2017.

Spain attends the G-20 Summits as a permanent guest. The Presidency can also invite representatives of regional organisations and guests to the G-20 Summit.&nbsp;

India and G20

India has enacted a number of legislations and taken steps to tackle issues like black money, terror financing and food security which can be traced back to G-20. &nbsp;

For instance, India enacted the&nbsp;National Food Security Act with the objective to provide food and nutritional security by ensuring access to adequate quantity of food at affordable prices to people.&nbsp;

India stands to gain from G-20 knowledge sharing and best practices of improving food security without increasing water consumption to unsustainable levels. The same can then also form part of implementation under the National Water Policy of India.

G-20 has emerged as an important forum where global leaders come together to discuss issues of international significance. At a time, when countries like US are turning inwards and showing signs of protectionism, forums like G-20 have assumed all the more importance to steer the global economic community.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

G20 is an international informal forum where India has made the mark of an emerging economy which aspires to take the world along with it towards development

The G-20 (Group of 20) is an international forum which was formed with the purpose of establishing international cooperation on global economic and financial issues. The forum plays an important role in decision making on issues of international relevance. G20 countries account for three-quarters of global trade. The G-20 countries produce more than 80 per cent of the global economic output. Around two-third of the global population lives in G-20 member countries. The G-20 started in 1999 as a meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis that sent shockwaves through the global economic community. In 2008, the first G-20 Leaders’ Summit was held, and the group played a key role in responding to the global financial crisis that rattled world markets causing massive financial instabilty and leading to the collapse of financial institutions. Its decisive and coordinated actions boosted consumer and business confidence and supported the global economic recovery. How it works Each year in December a different G-20 member country assumes presidency of the forum. To ensure continuity, the presidency is supported by a “troika” (Trio) made up of the current, immediate past and next host countries. Being an informal group, the group has no permanent secretariat. The G-20 president is responsible for bringing together the G-20 agenda in consultation with other members and in response to developments in the global economy. The summit and the preparatory processes – often including more than 60 ministerial and working group meetings per year – are coordinated by the respective host country. Members of G20 The twenty members of the forum are : Argentina Australia Brazil Canada China France Germany India Indonesia Italy Japan Republic of Korea Mexico Russia Saudi Arabia South Africa Turkey The United Kingdom The united States The European Union The map displays the member countries, which represent two-thirds of the world population (Image source: g20.org) (Others) × At the invitation of each Presidency, international organisations also regularly attend the G20 meetings. These organisations include the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Financial Stability Board (FSB), the World Bank (WB), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations (UN). The German G20 Presidency has also invited the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2017. Spain attends the G-20 Summits as a permanent guest. The Presidency can also invite representatives of regional organisations and guests to the G-20 Summit. India and G20 India has enacted a number of legislations and taken steps to tackle issues like black money, terror financing and food security which can be traced back to G-20. For instance, India enacted the National Food Security Act with the objective to provide food and nutritional security by ensuring access to adequate quantity of food at affordable prices to people. India stands to gain from G-20 knowledge sharing and best practices of improving food security without increasing water consumption to unsustainable levels. The same can then also form part of implementation under the National Water Policy of India. G-20 has emerged as an important forum where global leaders come together to discuss issues of international significance. At a time, when countries like US are turning inwards and showing signs of protectionism, forums like G-20 have assumed all the more importance to steer the global economic community.

All you need to know about G-20

India and Pakistan take each other on today at the ICC Women&#39;s Cricket World Cup being played in England. &nbsp;

India has so far won their two opening games.&nbsp;

They beat&nbsp;England in the opening game by 35 runs and then beat the West Indies by seven wickets.

Pakistan on the other hand lost both their opening games -- to South Africa and England.&nbsp;

So the pressure will be on Pakistan; they need to win.&nbsp;

Furthermore, the two countries have so far played each other nine times at the World Cup -- with India winning every single time. Which is not going to help ease the pressure.&nbsp;

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The Indian women&#39;s cricket team. (Instagram)
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The Pakistan women&#39;s cricket team. (Instagram)
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Pakistan understands that.&nbsp;

&quot;Playing against India there is always pressure. It is a big game but I am very hopeful of doing much better against India. We beat India in India in the last T20. I believe in my spinners that they will bounce back and take wickets, and we will win the match. Ayesha batted well and gained confidence, which is important before the game against India,&quot; said Pakistan all-rounder Asmavia.

&quot;We are looking forward to the next game, whole Pakistan. In Pakistan they say that you have to win against India, it is very important. We took some positives (from the game against England). Our fast bowling did well, Ayesha played well. But there are many areas to improve, especially fielding, which is letting us down. If we field well, we can beat any team,&quot; she added.

The Indian skipper Mithali Raj responded to that with: &quot;We need to work on our catching, fielding is very crucial and it can win us matches. I&#39;m very pleased with the way the girls responded with crucial run-outs against the West Indies even though there were a couple of lapses in the field (drops). We still have a couple of games more before we can look to the semi-finals and looking at how Sri Lanka has played and how Pakistan has played, every match is going to be crucial for us.&quot;

Social media meanwhile has been abuzz with excitement. See tweets below:&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CT17?src=hash">#CT17</a> has come to an end past week. Now its another big event for women&#39;s cricket <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ICCWomensWorldCup?src=hash">#ICCWomensWorldCup</a> starting today with the group stages. <a href="https://t.co/C7UDDdWtaY">pic.twitter.com/C7UDDdWtaY</a>
&mdash; Hari Charan (@H_Charan03) <a href="https://twitter.com/H_Charan03/status/878440609849032704">June 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MitaliRaj?src=hash">#MitaliRaj</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BestOfLuck?src=hash">#BestOfLuck</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash">#TeamIndia</a> for today&#39;s match against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash">#Pakistan</a>-<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ICCWomen?src=hash">#ICCWomen</a>&#39;s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCup2017?src=hash">#WorldCup2017</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ICCWomensWorldCup?src=hash">#ICCWomensWorldCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/DQ8g99tyOc">pic.twitter.com/DQ8g99tyOc</a>
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Wishes to the <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCIWomen">@BCCIWomen</a> fr the world cup. Hope they will do their best nd bring the cup 2 our country. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ICCWomensWorldCup?src=hash">#ICCWomensWorldCup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BleedBlue?src=hash">#BleedBlue</a> ????????
&mdash; Agilan Agilselvam (@Agilselvam) <a href="https://twitter.com/Agilselvam/status/878447839524732928">June 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The two teams face off at 2.30 pm&nbsp;in Derby.

India and Pakistan have played each other nine times at the World Cup. India has won every single time

India and Pakistan take each other on today at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup being played in England. India has so far won their two opening games. They beat England in the opening game by 35 runs and then beat the West Indies by seven wickets. Pakistan on the other hand lost both their opening games -- to South Africa and England. So the pressure will be on Pakistan; they need to win. Furthermore, the two countries have so far played each other nine times at the World Cup -- with India winning every single time. Which is not going to help ease the pressure. The Indian women's cricket team. (Instagram) × The Pakistan women's cricket team. (Instagram) × Pakistan understands that. "Playing against India there is always pressure. It is a big game but I am very hopeful of doing much better against India. We beat India in India in the last T20. I believe in my spinners that they will bounce back and take wickets, and we will win the match. Ayesha batted well and gained confidence, which is important before the game against India," said Pakistan all-rounder Asmavia. "We are looking forward to the next game, whole Pakistan. In Pakistan they say that you have to win against India, it is very important. We took some positives (from the game against England). Our fast bowling did well, Ayesha played well. But there are many areas to improve, especially fielding, which is letting us down. If we field well, we can beat any team," she added. The Indian skipper Mithali Raj responded to that with: "We need to work on our catching, fielding is very crucial and it can win us matches. I'm very pleased with the way the girls responded with crucial run-outs against the West Indies even though there were a couple of lapses in the field (drops). We still have a couple of games more before we can look to the semi-finals and looking at how Sri Lanka has played and how Pakistan has played, every match is going to be crucial for us." Social media meanwhile has been abuzz with excitement. See tweets below: #CT17 has come to an end past week. Now its another big event for women's cricket #ICCWomensWorldCup starting today with the group stages. pic.twitter.com/C7UDDdWtaY — Hari Charan (@H_Charan03) June 24, 2017 × #MitaliRaj #BestOfLuck #TeamIndia for today's match against #Pakistan-#ICCWomen's #WorldCup2017#ICCWomensWorldCup pic.twitter.com/DQ8g99tyOc — @Swti (@swati_aku_) July 2, 2017 × Wishes to the @BCCIWomen fr the world cup. Hope they will do their best nd bring the cup 2 our country. #ICCWomensWorldCup #BleedBlue ???????? — Agilan Agilselvam (@Agilselvam) June 24, 2017 × The two teams face off at 2.30 pm in Derby.

ICC Women's World Cup: India take on Pakistan today

Angolan soldiers recruited by South Africa&#39;s apartheid government to fight against their homeland now live in squalor, forgotten and unwanted.

Without healthcare, jobs or basic services, some 3,000 Angolan-born men call home the town of Pomfret in a far-flung northern corner of South Africa on the edge of the Kalahari Desert.

Dilapidated buildings crumble by the side of the town&#39;s sun-baked main road, water and power are cut off, and the asbestos factory that once sustained the region was abandoned long ago.

Former soldier Jose Lourenco, 69, a black Angolan, pointed to yellowing photos of &quot;32 Battalion&quot; -- his elite and much-feared South African unit -- in action in Angola against communist government forces.

&quot;We didn&#39;t fear anyone, we were the best unit in the world,&quot; he said in his shabby home, one of the few still standing in the town.

In the 1980s, while still living in Angola, he joined the apartheid-era unit that had been formed to fight communism across southern Africa, including in Namibia and Zambia.

It was a cause that meant taking up arms against his mother country, but Lourenco remembers that time with pride, saying he fought in a close-knit, professional unit that won great battlefield honours.

Souvenirs of those years cover the walls and a sniper rifle rests on his dining table &quot;to hunt birds&quot;.

A television sits unused in the corner, covered in a white sheet -- a reminder that Pomfret is cut off from the rest of the rainbow nation.

&nbsp;

&#39;Why are they punishing us?&#39;&nbsp; 
&quot;The government should tell us what we did wrong? Why are they punishing us like this?&quot; he said, speaking in Angolan Portuguese.

&quot;There was no apartheid in 32 Battalion. Where the whites drank, we drank, where the whites slept, we slept,&quot; said Lourenco as he gestured to the unit&#39;s uniform patches, emblazoned with a stylised black and white buffalo.

When the Cold War ended and as Pretoria ceased its shadowy regional wars against supposed communist threats, 32 Battalion was relocated to Pomfret with the promise that its members would be integrated into the regular South African army.

Life was initially good in the extreme northern outpost.

The town had its own public swimming pool, tennis courts and a large, well-stocked supermarket. Despite its remote location, the community functioned well.

&quot;Here there was a club where the senior men partied. There was even a ballroom,&quot; said Makamba Tchimoco, the son of a former battalion member, pointing to a derelict complex of buildings.

&nbsp;

Disbanded&nbsp; 
But the whirlwind political change of the 1990s swept away the white-minority government, brought Nelson Mandela&#39;s ANC to power and shattered the town&#39;s sheltered existence.

The battalion was disbanded in 1993 and a number of the soldiers left Pomfret along with their families.

Many of the men of Angolan heritage waived their right to be incorporated into the reformed army in return for a significant cash handout worth $32,000 (30,000 euros) in today&#39;s terms.

Gradually families who had contributed to the small community began to drift away and the town started its slide into decline.

By the 2000s, the government signalled its intention to close the base in Pomfret and to relocate the remaining families. But a hard core of ex-servicemen refused to budge.

&quot;We arrived here with many promises. Then the new government wanted us to go, leaving us without a future. Why should we leave our homes?&quot; asked Lourenco.

The police service left the town, homes were ransacked and the hospital was trashed.

The modest graveyard, which stood as a reminder to the men of 32 Battalion lost in South Africa&#39;s &quot;border wars&quot;, became overgrown.

&nbsp;

&#39;Staying is useless&#39; 
Finally in 2014, authorities cut the power to the town. Water is only supplied once a week.

&quot;The biggest challenge for Pomfret is that it&#39;s 200 kilometres (124 miles) from the first city,&quot; said a white South African, who served in 32 Battalion and now helps Pomfret&#39;s remaining residents.

&quot;There&#39;s no economy,&quot; he said, declining to be named. &quot;Most of the shops have closed and buildings have been destroyed to prevent people from staying there.&quot;

Just one school remains open to serve the entire town, educating students up to the age of 18.

Antonio Isaac, an 18-year-old relative of a 32 Battalion fighter, said: &quot;Staying here is useless for me. It&#39;s not a good place; after school, I will go.&quot;&nbsp;

Many of those who opted to remain feel stranded between South Africa, where their service is scorned, and Angola, where they are seen as traitors.

&quot;Angolans say we killed them. The ANC here think that we killed their fighters,&quot; said Alexander Joaquim, a 74-year-old veteran of 32 Battalion. &quot;What are we supposed to do?&quot;

(AFP)

Without healthcare, jobs or basic services, some 3,000 Angolan-born men still call home the remote South African town of Pomfret

Angolan soldiers recruited by South Africa's apartheid government to fight against their homeland now live in squalor, forgotten and unwanted. Without healthcare, jobs or basic services, some 3,000 Angolan-born men call home the town of Pomfret in a far-flung northern corner of South Africa on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. Dilapidated buildings crumble by the side of the town's sun-baked main road, water and power are cut off, and the asbestos factory that once sustained the region was abandoned long ago. Former soldier Jose Lourenco, 69, a black Angolan, pointed to yellowing photos of "32 Battalion" -- his elite and much-feared South African unit -- in action in Angola against communist government forces. "We didn't fear anyone, we were the best unit in the world," he said in his shabby home, one of the few still standing in the town. In the 1980s, while still living in Angola, he joined the apartheid-era unit that had been formed to fight communism across southern Africa, including in Namibia and Zambia. It was a cause that meant taking up arms against his mother country, but Lourenco remembers that time with pride, saying he fought in a close-knit, professional unit that won great battlefield honours. Souvenirs of those years cover the walls and a sniper rifle rests on his dining table "to hunt birds". A television sits unused in the corner, covered in a white sheet -- a reminder that Pomfret is cut off from the rest of the rainbow nation. 'Why are they punishing us?' "The government should tell us what we did wrong? Why are they punishing us like this?" he said, speaking in Angolan Portuguese. "There was no apartheid in 32 Battalion. Where the whites drank, we drank, where the whites slept, we slept," said Lourenco as he gestured to the unit's uniform patches, emblazoned with a stylised black and white buffalo. When the Cold War ended and as Pretoria ceased its shadowy regional wars against supposed communist threats, 32 Battalion was relocated to Pomfret with the promise that its members would be integrated into the regular South African army. Life was initially good in the extreme northern outpost. The town had its own public swimming pool, tennis courts and a large, well-stocked supermarket. Despite its remote location, the community functioned well. "Here there was a club where the senior men partied. There was even a ballroom," said Makamba Tchimoco, the son of a former battalion member, pointing to a derelict complex of buildings. Disbanded But the whirlwind political change of the 1990s swept away the white-minority government, brought Nelson Mandela's ANC to power and shattered the town's sheltered existence. The battalion was disbanded in 1993 and a number of the soldiers left Pomfret along with their families. Many of the men of Angolan heritage waived their right to be incorporated into the reformed army in return for a significant cash handout worth $32,000 (30,000 euros) in today's terms. Gradually families who had contributed to the small community began to drift away and the town started its slide into decline. By the 2000s, the government signalled its intention to close the base in Pomfret and to relocate the remaining families. But a hard core of ex-servicemen refused to budge. "We arrived here with many promises. Then the new government wanted us to go, leaving us without a future. Why should we leave our homes?" asked Lourenco. The police service left the town, homes were ransacked and the hospital was trashed. The modest graveyard, which stood as a reminder to the men of 32 Battalion lost in South Africa's "border wars", became overgrown. 'Staying is useless' Finally in 2014, authorities cut the power to the town. Water is only supplied once a week. "The biggest challenge for Pomfret is that it's 200 kilometres (124 miles) from the first city," said a white South African, who served in 32 Battalion and now helps Pomfret's remaining residents. "There's no economy," he said, declining to be named. "Most of the shops have closed and buildings have been destroyed to prevent people from staying there." Just one school remains open to serve the entire town, educating students up to the age of 18. Antonio Isaac, an 18-year-old relative of a 32 Battalion fighter, said: "Staying here is useless for me. It's not a good place; after school, I will go." Many of those who opted to remain feel stranded between South Africa, where their service is scorned, and Angola, where they are seen as traitors. "Angolans say we killed them. The ANC here think that we killed their fighters," said Alexander Joaquim, a 74-year-old veteran of 32 Battalion. "What are we supposed to do?" (AFP)

Angolan apartheid troops battle to survive in South Africa

A rejuvenated Tom Latham ensured a positive start to New Zealand&#39;s reply after Quinton de Kock bolstered South Africa with a defiant 90 on another wet day in the third Test in Hamilton.

When bad light ended play four overs early on Sunday, New Zealand were 67 without loss in reply to South Africa&#39;s 314.&nbsp;

Latham, who managed 24 in total in three previous innings in the series, was unbeaten on 42 after coming out on the right side of two reviews, with Jeet Raval on 25.

With New Zealand needing to win to square the series, it proved a successful day for Latham who had a standout performance in the field highlighted by an instinctive catch at short leg to remove Faf du Plessis.&nbsp;

But de Kock proved a much tougher obstacle on a frustrating day for the players when only 26 balls were possible between lunch and tea after rain also cost nearly three hours of play the previous day.&nbsp;

Just as his 91 in the first innings in Wellington set up South Africa up for an eight-wicket victory, de Kock again tormented New Zealand with his trouble-free approach.

Smart fielding&nbsp;

When he went to the middle with the fall of Temba Bavuma&#39;s wicket, South Africa were 148 for five and he held the innings together while the bottom half of the batting order added a further 166.&nbsp;

De Kock&#39;s 90 came off only 118 balls, highlighting why captain Faf du Plessis was determined to have him play despite the wicketkeeper-batsman suffering ligament damage to his right index finger.

He hit 11 fours and two huge sixes, one off New Zealand&#39;s best performed bowler Matt Henry and one off Jeetan Patel, as he dominated the off-spinner who had claimed his wicket cheaply in the drawn first Test.

But 10 runs short of his century he played across the line to Neil Wagner and was out lbw.

South Africa resumed the day at 123 for four and after Henry removed Bavuma for 29, du Plessis progressed to 53 before a smart piece of fielding by Latham at short leg.

On the third ball of Mitch Santner&#39;s opening over, Latham anticipated du Plessis was going to sweep and before the shot was played he was moving to his right where he flung out an arm to take the close-range catch.

Latham took another classy catch, just above ground level to his right at second slip to remove Vernon Philander for 11 off Henry.

Henry equalled his career best figures with four for 93, while Neil Wagner, who took three for an expensive 104, ended the South Africa innings with the wicket of the hard-hitting Kagiso Rabada who scored 34 off 31 deliveries.

(AFP)

South Africa were five down for 148 before Quonton de Kock's 80 ensured the Proteas reached 300

A rejuvenated Tom Latham ensured a positive start to New Zealand's reply after Quinton de Kock bolstered South Africa with a defiant 90 on another wet day in the third Test in Hamilton. When bad light ended play four overs early on Sunday, New Zealand were 67 without loss in reply to South Africa's 314. Latham, who managed 24 in total in three previous innings in the series, was unbeaten on 42 after coming out on the right side of two reviews, with Jeet Raval on 25. With New Zealand needing to win to square the series, it proved a successful day for Latham who had a standout performance in the field highlighted by an instinctive catch at short leg to remove Faf du Plessis. But de Kock proved a much tougher obstacle on a frustrating day for the players when only 26 balls were possible between lunch and tea after rain also cost nearly three hours of play the previous day. Just as his 91 in the first innings in Wellington set up South Africa up for an eight-wicket victory, de Kock again tormented New Zealand with his trouble-free approach. Smart fielding When he went to the middle with the fall of Temba Bavuma's wicket, South Africa were 148 for five and he held the innings together while the bottom half of the batting order added a further 166. De Kock's 90 came off only 118 balls, highlighting why captain Faf du Plessis was determined to have him play despite the wicketkeeper-batsman suffering ligament damage to his right index finger. He hit 11 fours and two huge sixes, one off New Zealand's best performed bowler Matt Henry and one off Jeetan Patel, as he dominated the off-spinner who had claimed his wicket cheaply in the drawn first Test. But 10 runs short of his century he played across the line to Neil Wagner and was out lbw. South Africa resumed the day at 123 for four and after Henry removed Bavuma for 29, du Plessis progressed to 53 before a smart piece of fielding by Latham at short leg. On the third ball of Mitch Santner's opening over, Latham anticipated du Plessis was going to sweep and before the shot was played he was moving to his right where he flung out an arm to take the close-range catch. Latham took another classy catch, just above ground level to his right at second slip to remove Vernon Philander for 11 off Henry. Henry equalled his career best figures with four for 93, while Neil Wagner, who took three for an expensive 104, ended the South Africa innings with the wicket of the hard-hitting Kagiso Rabada who scored 34 off 31 deliveries. (AFP)

New Zealand start strong after de Kock's blitzkrieg

Century maker Dean Elgar described the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand Wednesday as one of the toughest of his career after he rescued South Africa from a woeful start.

After batting throughout the day at Dunedin&#39;s University oval, the opener was unbeaten on 128 with South Africa 229 for four at stumps.&nbsp;

His unbeaten 81-run stand for the fifth wicket with Temba Bavuma (not out 38) put South Africa in a position of relative strength after losing three quick wickets in the morning session.&nbsp;

&quot;It was one of the tougher days of Test cricket so far in my career,&quot; said the 29-year-old left-hander who was dropped by wicketkeeper BJ Watling on 36 before going on to complete his seventh Test century.&nbsp;

&quot;I nicked it and BJ dropped it and happy days. I&#39;m sitting with a smile on my face at the end of day one.

&quot;We were looking at (a total of) about 250-280 at tea time and now, being in a good position of not losing a wicket in the last session, we can re-adjust. I think maybe 450 on that wicket.&quot;&nbsp;

Elgar, who went into the match with an average of 38.60 from 50 Test innings, said he had to rely on his stubbornness at the crease to get through the day.&nbsp;

&quot;I&#39;m not very talented and free-scoring like others guys are, so you&#39;ve got to use your advantages and that&#39;s obviously my ability to guts it out and grind it,&quot; he said.

Elgar admitted to being surprised New Zealand had dropped &quot;their trump card&quot; in strike bowler Tim Southee to make room for an extra spinner.

It was a decision which New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said was not taken lightly but with the state of the wicket he was hoping to have batted first and have two spinners available in the fourth innings.

&quot;I think South Africa&#39;s slightly ahead. Four down in a day&#39;s Test cricket is a pretty good effort,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

&quot;When you play two spinners you obviously want to bowl last but I thought the spinners did a good&nbsp;job&nbsp;on day one of the Test match in terms of a holding role.&quot;

Wavering fortunes&nbsp;

After South Africa&#39;s early slump, Elgar set the tone for the revival with a 126-run stand for the fourth wicket with captain Faf du Plessis before being joined by Bavuma just before tea.

On a day of wavering fortunes, there was nothing normal about the start of the Test where even the brown-green wicket was not the customary emerald top expected in New Zealand.&nbsp;

When du Plessis won the toss he became the first captain in 23 Tests to bat first.

New Zealand dropped regular bowling spearhead Southee for the first time in five years to make way for Jeetan Patel.

It was the first time in seven years they had fielded two spinners on a home wicket.&nbsp;

The miserly Patel was brought into the attack in the sixth over and conceded only eight runs in his first 10 overs with South Africa restricted to 63 for three in the first session.&nbsp;

But as the New Zealand bowlers tired, South Africa added 90 for the loss of one wicket in the middle session and 76 without loss after tea.&nbsp;

Left-armers Trent Boult and Wagner did the early damage for New Zealand with Boult&#39;s first nine overs claiming the wicket of Stephen Cook and yielding only eight runs.&nbsp;

South African-born Wagner, returning to top level cricket for the first time since breaking a finger on his bowling hand five weeks ago, removed Hashim Amla and JP Duminy in one over on his adopted home ground.&nbsp;

Jimmy Neesham was New Zealand&#39;s other successful bowler taking the valuable wicket of du Plessis for 52.

Although the pitch offered little support for the bowlers, for the batsmen it was a constant struggle to score with 30 maidens among the 90 overs bowled.&nbsp;

(AFP)

The Proteas were reduced to 22 for three before Elgar and skipper Faf du Plessis stitched a century-run partnership

Century maker Dean Elgar described the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand Wednesday as one of the toughest of his career after he rescued South Africa from a woeful start. After batting throughout the day at Dunedin's University oval, the opener was unbeaten on 128 with South Africa 229 for four at stumps. His unbeaten 81-run stand for the fifth wicket with Temba Bavuma (not out 38) put South Africa in a position of relative strength after losing three quick wickets in the morning session. "It was one of the tougher days of Test cricket so far in my career," said the 29-year-old left-hander who was dropped by wicketkeeper BJ Watling on 36 before going on to complete his seventh Test century. "I nicked it and BJ dropped it and happy days. I'm sitting with a smile on my face at the end of day one. "We were looking at (a total of) about 250-280 at tea time and now, being in a good position of not losing a wicket in the last session, we can re-adjust. I think maybe 450 on that wicket." Elgar, who went into the match with an average of 38.60 from 50 Test innings, said he had to rely on his stubbornness at the crease to get through the day. "I'm not very talented and free-scoring like others guys are, so you've got to use your advantages and that's obviously my ability to guts it out and grind it," he said. Elgar admitted to being surprised New Zealand had dropped "their trump card" in strike bowler Tim Southee to make room for an extra spinner. It was a decision which New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said was not taken lightly but with the state of the wicket he was hoping to have batted first and have two spinners available in the fourth innings. "I think South Africa's slightly ahead. Four down in a day's Test cricket is a pretty good effort," he said. "When you play two spinners you obviously want to bowl last but I thought the spinners did a good job on day one of the Test match in terms of a holding role." Wavering fortunes After South Africa's early slump, Elgar set the tone for the revival with a 126-run stand for the fourth wicket with captain Faf du Plessis before being joined by Bavuma just before tea. On a day of wavering fortunes, there was nothing normal about the start of the Test where even the brown-green wicket was not the customary emerald top expected in New Zealand. When du Plessis won the toss he became the first captain in 23 Tests to bat first. New Zealand dropped regular bowling spearhead Southee for the first time in five years to make way for Jeetan Patel. It was the first time in seven years they had fielded two spinners on a home wicket. The miserly Patel was brought into the attack in the sixth over and conceded only eight runs in his first 10 overs with South Africa restricted to 63 for three in the first session. But as the New Zealand bowlers tired, South Africa added 90 for the loss of one wicket in the middle session and 76 without loss after tea. Left-armers Trent Boult and Wagner did the early damage for New Zealand with Boult's first nine overs claiming the wicket of Stephen Cook and yielding only eight runs. South African-born Wagner, returning to top level cricket for the first time since breaking a finger on his bowling hand five weeks ago, removed Hashim Amla and JP Duminy in one over on his adopted home ground. Jimmy Neesham was New Zealand's other successful bowler taking the valuable wicket of du Plessis for 52. Although the pitch offered little support for the bowlers, for the batsmen it was a constant struggle to score with 30 maidens among the 90 overs bowled. (AFP)

Dean Elgar ton rescues South Africa in New Zealand

For the first time in South African history, more than 400 soldiers will join the security team in Parliament during the annual state of the nation address (SONA) by President Jacob Zuma. According to a statement released by the presidency, the deployment of troops is to maintain order during the address. 
&nbsp; 
The democratic nation has enjoyed peaceful proceedings in the national assembly since its first sitting in 2008. But, for the past two years the ruling party has been involved in a brawl with the opposition MPs during the proceedings. 
&nbsp; 
Use of excessive force against MPs

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) since they won Parliamentary seats during the general elections in 2014 has proved Zuma&rsquo;s opening of the national assembly a chaotic affair, with the &#39;red barrettes&#39; as they are known in South Africa chanting and jeering at the President over corruption scandals. 
&nbsp; 
During the 2015 address, the new comers - EFF- were physically removed out of the assembly by security officers disguised as waiters. 
&nbsp; 
IN 2016, as soon as Zuma took the stand, the EFF led by the former President of the ruling party&rsquo;s youth league which broke away from the party (ANC), shouted &ldquo;pay back the money&rdquo; referring to the public protectors report that the President unduly benefited over 1,70,000 dollars of taxpayers money during the upgrade of his private residence, and that he should pay back some of the money.&nbsp;

Zuma has refused to do so until the constitutional court orders the president to pay back the money. 
&nbsp; 
Is security allowed inside South African Parliamentary gatherings?

Security services are allowed in Parliament under two circumstances - with the permission of the Speaker or Chairperson and when there is life threatening danger or destruction of property.

The main opposition Democratic Alliance has condemned the deployment of soldiers, calling for the House Speaker to explain the move of excessive force. 
&nbsp; 
The Speaker Baleka Mbether who also holds a high office within the ruling party has come under criticism for allowing excessive force against elected members of Parliament to protect the president against accountability.

She has been quoted as using the term &ldquo;security forces&rdquo; which is often used in reference to defence force to remove MPs who disrupt the President&rsquo;s speech. 
&nbsp; 
The state of the nation address (SONA) is an annual joint sitting of Parliament in which the president of the Republic reports on the state of the nation. The annual event marks the opening of the Parliamentary year and is usually attended by important governmental figures of South Africa which include former presidents, chief justice of the constitutional court and other members of the judiciary, including the governor of the Reserve Bank and diplomats.

South Africans also participate though not directly but from the comfort of their homes as the event is broadcast live on state TV.

(WION)

For the first time in South African history, more than 400 soldiers will join the security team in Parliament during the annual state of the

For the first time in South African history, more than 400 soldiers will join the security team in Parliament during the annual state of the nation address (SONA) by President Jacob Zuma. According to a statement released by the presidency, the deployment of troops is to maintain order during the address. The democratic nation has enjoyed peaceful proceedings in the national assembly since its first sitting in 2008. But, for the past two years the ruling party has been involved in a brawl with the opposition MPs during the proceedings. Use of excessive force against MPs The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) since they won Parliamentary seats during the general elections in 2014 has proved Zuma’s opening of the national assembly a chaotic affair, with the 'red barrettes' as they are known in South Africa chanting and jeering at the President over corruption scandals. During the 2015 address, the new comers - EFF- were physically removed out of the assembly by security officers disguised as waiters. IN 2016, as soon as Zuma took the stand, the EFF led by the former President of the ruling party’s youth league which broke away from the party (ANC), shouted “pay back the money” referring to the public protectors report that the President unduly benefited over 1,70,000 dollars of taxpayers money during the upgrade of his private residence, and that he should pay back some of the money. Zuma has refused to do so until the constitutional court orders the president to pay back the money. Is security allowed inside South African Parliamentary gatherings? Security services are allowed in Parliament under two circumstances - with the permission of the Speaker or Chairperson and when there is life threatening danger or destruction of property. The main opposition Democratic Alliance has condemned the deployment of soldiers, calling for the House Speaker to explain the move of excessive force. The Speaker Baleka Mbether who also holds a high office within the ruling party has come under criticism for allowing excessive force against elected members of Parliament to protect the president against accountability. She has been quoted as using the term “security forces” which is often used in reference to defence force to remove MPs who disrupt the President’s speech. The state of the nation address (SONA) is an annual joint sitting of Parliament in which the president of the Republic reports on the state of the nation. The annual event marks the opening of the Parliamentary year and is usually attended by important governmental figures of South Africa which include former presidents, chief justice of the constitutional court and other members of the judiciary, including the governor of the Reserve Bank and diplomats. South Africans also participate though not directly but from the comfort of their homes as the event is broadcast live on state TV. (WION)

Troops to be deployed inside Parliament during President Zuma's address

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has lost his appeal against a ball-tampering conviction, but will be free to play in the first test against Sri Lanka starting on Boxing Day.

Du Plessis was found guilty by match referee Andy Pycroft of changing the condition of the ball after appearing to use saliva tainted by a mint in his mouth to shine it during the second test against Australia in Hobart last month.

South Africa won the test and the series 2-1, but the victory was overshadowed by what Du Plessis felt was an unjust targeting of him.

The skipper was fined his entire match fee and had three demerit points added to his record.

If a player accumulates four-to-seven demerit points within a two-year period they are converted into two suspension points, which brings a ban for one test or two one-day internationals or Twenty20s.

Du Plessis appealed against his punishment on Monday, questioning whether his actions changed the condition of the ball at all.

The Chair of the ICC&rsquo;s Code of Conduct Commission, Michael Beloff, upheld the verdict, but stopped short of increasing the sanction to an automatic one-match ban which would have been within his remit.

International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive officer Dave Richardson welcomed the decision.

&ldquo;It is the duty of the ICC to ensure fair play on the cricket field,&rdquo; he said in a statement on Wednesday.

&ldquo;Although it was not picked up by the umpires at the time, when the incident came to our attention subsequently, we felt it was our responsibility to lay a charge in this case because the ICC can&rsquo;t let such an obvious breach of this Law pass without taking any action.

&ldquo;We are pleased that both the match referee and Mr Beloff QC have agreed with our interpretation of the Laws and hope that this serves as a deterrent to all players not to engage in this sort of unfair practice in the future.&rdquo;

Du Plessis, 32, was last week confirmed as South Africa&rsquo;s new permanent captain after AB de Villiers resigned having missed three test series in a row due to an elbow injury.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) accepted the decision.

&quot;We are satisfied with the matter being given due consideration,&rdquo; it said.

(Reuters)

du Plessis was found guilty of changing the condition of the ball in a Test match against Australia last month

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has lost his appeal against a ball-tampering conviction, but will be free to play in the first test against Sri Lanka starting on Boxing Day. Du Plessis was found guilty by match referee Andy Pycroft of changing the condition of the ball after appearing to use saliva tainted by a mint in his mouth to shine it during the second test against Australia in Hobart last month. South Africa won the test and the series 2-1, but the victory was overshadowed by what Du Plessis felt was an unjust targeting of him. The skipper was fined his entire match fee and had three demerit points added to his record. If a player accumulates four-to-seven demerit points within a two-year period they are converted into two suspension points, which brings a ban for one test or two one-day internationals or Twenty20s. Du Plessis appealed against his punishment on Monday, questioning whether his actions changed the condition of the ball at all. The Chair of the ICC’s Code of Conduct Commission, Michael Beloff, upheld the verdict, but stopped short of increasing the sanction to an automatic one-match ban which would have been within his remit. International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive officer Dave Richardson welcomed the decision. “It is the duty of the ICC to ensure fair play on the cricket field,” he said in a statement on Wednesday. “Although it was not picked up by the umpires at the time, when the incident came to our attention subsequently, we felt it was our responsibility to lay a charge in this case because the ICC can’t let such an obvious breach of this Law pass without taking any action. “We are pleased that both the match referee and Mr Beloff QC have agreed with our interpretation of the Laws and hope that this serves as a deterrent to all players not to engage in this sort of unfair practice in the future.” Du Plessis, 32, was last week confirmed as South Africa’s new permanent captain after AB de Villiers resigned having missed three test series in a row due to an elbow injury. Cricket South Africa (CSA) accepted the decision. "We are satisfied with the matter being given due consideration,” it said. (Reuters)

Ball-tampering case: South Africa captain Faf du Plessis loses appeal

South Africa&#39;s ruling ANC party rejected a call for scandal-tainted President Jacob Zuma to resign after a &quot;difficult&quot; debate, a party official said Tuesday.

Zuma has been weakened by corruption scandals, but his supporters were taken by surprise at an attempt to oust him at a weekend meeting of the African National Congress&#39;s executive committee.

The rebellion, led by at least four ministers, was the most serious threat to Zuma&#39;s hold on power since he became president in 2009.

It also shook the ANC party, which has ruled since the end of apartheid in 1994 but recently suffered a sharp setback in local elections.

&quot;Following robust, honest, candid and at times difficult discussions, the (ANC executive committee) did not support the call for the president to step down,&quot; Gwede Mantashe, the ANC secretary general, told reporters.

&quot;All members of the (executive committee) had an opportunity to raise, in the meeting, the issues they feel are hurting the movement and the country. All these are very important.&quot;

Local media said the meeting -- which was extended into Monday -- was tense, with tempers flaring and some ministers threatening to resign if Zuma stayed.

But the president and his loyalists eventually headed off the attempt to oust him.

Zuma left South Africa early on Tuesday to attend the funeral of Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

(AFP)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The rebellion, led by at least four ministers, was the most serious threat to scandal-tainted Zuma's hold on power

South Africa's ruling ANC party rejected a call for scandal-tainted President Jacob Zuma to resign after a "difficult" debate, a party official said Tuesday. Zuma has been weakened by corruption scandals, but his supporters were taken by surprise at an attempt to oust him at a weekend meeting of the African National Congress's executive committee. The rebellion, led by at least four ministers, was the most serious threat to Zuma's hold on power since he became president in 2009. It also shook the ANC party, which has ruled since the end of apartheid in 1994 but recently suffered a sharp setback in local elections. "Following robust, honest, candid and at times difficult discussions, the (ANC executive committee) did not support the call for the president to step down," Gwede Mantashe, the ANC secretary general, told reporters. "All members of the (executive committee) had an opportunity to raise, in the meeting, the issues they feel are hurting the movement and the country. All these are very important." Local media said the meeting -- which was extended into Monday -- was tense, with tempers flaring and some ministers threatening to resign if Zuma stayed. But the president and his loyalists eventually headed off the attempt to oust him. Zuma left South Africa early on Tuesday to attend the funeral of Cuban leader Fidel Castro. (AFP)

South Africa's President Zuma survives no-confidence vote

Two white South African farmers briefly appeared in court on Wednesday on assault charges after an online video emerged showing them pushing a black man into a coffin and threatening to burn him alive.

Willem Oosthuizen and Theo Martins Jackson, both 28, were remanded in custody after their lawyer decided not to apply for bail.

Magistrate Jongilizwe Dumehleli said the pair should return for another court hearing on January 25.

The men face charges of kidnapping and assaulting 27-year-old Victor Mlotshwa over an incident that occurred in August at a farm near the town of Middelburg in the eastern province of Mpumalanga.

They were arrested on Monday after the video, apparently shot on a mobile phone by one of the two white men involved, went viral last week.&nbsp;

The 20-second clip shows one of the assailants shoving a black man, clearly in distress, into the wooden coffin and trying to force down the lid.

&quot;Come, come. We want to throw the petrol on,&quot; said one of the men, speaking Afrikaans, according to the News24 website.

They are also accused of threatening to put a snake in the coffin.

Mlotshwa told ENCA television he was walking to the town of Middelburg and decided to use a short cut when the two men spotted him.

&quot;I was in a hurry I had to use some path, a footpath, that was the shortest to go to Middelburg,&quot; he said.

&quot;They accused me of trespassing. Then they beat me up and I had to run away,&quot; he said, adding he tried to flee but they caught him.

&quot;They tied me with cable tie and took me to the nearest farm. They beat me up and forced me into the coffin.&quot;

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) opposition party and the ruling African National Congress held separate rallies outside the court to protest at the alleged assault and racism in South Africa.

Racial controversies have erupted regularly on social media in recent years in South Africa, which is still beset by deep-rooted inequality 22 years after the end of white-minority apartheid rule.

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

The video showing the two men assaulting a black man and threatening to burn him alive has highlighted the regular racial attacks in S Afric

Two white South African farmers briefly appeared in court on Wednesday on assault charges after an online video emerged showing them pushing a black man into a coffin and threatening to burn him alive. Willem Oosthuizen and Theo Martins Jackson, both 28, were remanded in custody after their lawyer decided not to apply for bail. Magistrate Jongilizwe Dumehleli said the pair should return for another court hearing on January 25. The men face charges of kidnapping and assaulting 27-year-old Victor Mlotshwa over an incident that occurred in August at a farm near the town of Middelburg in the eastern province of Mpumalanga. They were arrested on Monday after the video, apparently shot on a mobile phone by one of the two white men involved, went viral last week. The 20-second clip shows one of the assailants shoving a black man, clearly in distress, into the wooden coffin and trying to force down the lid. "Come, come. We want to throw the petrol on," said one of the men, speaking Afrikaans, according to the News24 website. They are also accused of threatening to put a snake in the coffin. Mlotshwa told ENCA television he was walking to the town of Middelburg and decided to use a short cut when the two men spotted him. "I was in a hurry I had to use some path, a footpath, that was the shortest to go to Middelburg," he said. "They accused me of trespassing. Then they beat me up and I had to run away," he said, adding he tried to flee but they caught him. "They tied me with cable tie and took me to the nearest farm. They beat me up and forced me into the coffin." The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) opposition party and the ruling African National Congress held separate rallies outside the court to protest at the alleged assault and racism in South Africa. Racial controversies have erupted regularly on social media in recent years in South Africa, which is still beset by deep-rooted inequality 22 years after the end of white-minority apartheid rule. (AFP)

South African farmers in court for shoving black man into coffin

President Zuma has been accused of offering key government jpbs to those who might help the business interests of the Gupta family

Political drama, corruption allegations and even wedding party controversies, the Gupta family, one of South Africa's wealthiest, has been accused of wielding undue influence behind the scenes. Now the immigrant family is at the centre of a row battering President Jacob Zuma after allegedly offering key government jobs to those who might help the Gupta family's business interests. The corruption scandal has renewed scrutiny about Zuma's ties with Ajay, Atul and Rajesh Gupta, three brothers from the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Led by Atul, they arrived in South Africa in 1993 as white-minority apartheid rule crumbled and a year before Nelson Mandela won the country's first democratic elections. As the country opened up to foreign investment, the Guptas, previously small-scale businessmen in India, built a sprawling empire in computers, mining, media, technology and engineering. The New Age, a pro-government newspaper, was launched in 2010, and the 24-hour news channel ANN7 started broadcasting in 2013. They also developed close links with the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, and particularly with Zuma, well before he became president in 2009. Zuma's son Duduzane is a director of the Gupta's Sahara Computers, named after their hometown of Saharanpur, and has been a director of several other Gupta companies. Zuma's third wife Bongi Ngema and one of his daughters have also been Gupta employees. Deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas claimed in March that the Guptas had offered him the post of finance minister, providing the first public testimony of their alleged involvement in cabinet appointments. Last week the BBC reported that little-known ANC lawmaker David van Rooyen visited the Guptas' home the night before his appointment as finance minister in December. Mines Minister Mosebenzi Zwane is also seen as close to the Guptas.,Both the Guptas and Zuma, who has described the brothers as friends, deny any wrongdoing. Now in their 40s, the Guptas hold court at their residential and business headquarters in a huge high-security compound in Saxonwold, an upmarket district of Johannesburg. It has a helicopter pad and they reportedly travel with their own chefs and bodyguards. But as pressure has increased on them this year, they were reported to be moving their base to Dubai and to have bought a large residence in the city. They said in August that they plan to sell their South African assets. Public anger towards the family soared in 2013, when a jet carrying 217 foreign guests to a Gupta wedding landed at Waterkloof Air Force base, outside Pretoria. The airport is a military facility normally used to receive heads of state.The Guptas complained voraciously when South Africa's largest banks closed their accounts earlier this year. The family lobbied unsuccessfully for Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, who is at loggerheads with Zuma, to intervene. But on Friday Gordhan disclosed in a court affidavit that the Gupta family and associated companies were implicated in "suspicious transactions" worth $480 million over four years. On Monday the family denied reports that money had been removed from the rehabilitation fund of a mine they bought, saying the claim was "another example of groundless innuendo". They also vowed to respond this week to Gordhan's affidavit. Zuma last week blocked the release of a watchdog's report into his relationship with the Guptas. A court hearing into the case is due next month. (AFP)

Indian immigrant business family at the heart of South Africa's graft scandal

A South African judge said today she would not grant permission to state prosecutors to appeal Oscar Pistorius&#39; six-year murder sentence, saying their petition had no reasonable prospects of success. 
 
Judge Thokozile Masipa Masipa had sentenced the Paralympic gold medallist in July for murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in 2013, but the prosecution had said the decision was too lenient. 
 
Pistorius&#39; defence had earlier argued the state was prejudiced and had dragged the case on for too long 
 
&quot;I&#39;m not persuaded that there are reasonable prospects of success on appeal or that another court may find differently,&quot; she said in her ruling. 
 
&quot;For that reason, I grant the following order: The application for leave to appeal is dismissed with costs.&quot; 
 
Pistorius did not attend today&#39;s hearing. Prosecutor Gerrie Nel, who had sought 15 years for Pistorius for the murder conviction, said he could not comment. 
 
It was not immediately clear whether the state would now directly petition the Supreme Court of Appeal. 
 
Nel has said Pistorius had not shown any remorse and had yet to explain why he fired the fatal shots. 
 
Women&#39;s rights groups say Pistorius has received preferential treatment compared to non-whites and those without his wealth or international celebrity status. His backers say he did not intend to kill Steenkamp. 
 
Pistorius, who had the lower part of his legs amputated when he was a baby, says he fired four shots into the toilet door at his luxury Pretoria home in the mistaken belief that an intruder was hiding behind it. 
 
His defence has argued that his disability and mental stress that occurred in the aftermath of the killing should be considered as mitigating circumstances. 
 
(Reuters)

She said their petition had no reasonable prospects of success

A South African judge said today she would not grant permission to state prosecutors to appeal Oscar Pistorius' six-year murder sentence, saying their petition had no reasonable prospects of success. Judge Thokozile Masipa Masipa had sentenced the Paralympic gold medallist in July for murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in 2013, but the prosecution had said the decision was too lenient. Pistorius' defence had earlier argued the state was prejudiced and had dragged the case on for too long "I'm not persuaded that there are reasonable prospects of success on appeal or that another court may find differently," she said in her ruling. "For that reason, I grant the following order: The application for leave to appeal is dismissed with costs." Pistorius did not attend today's hearing. Prosecutor Gerrie Nel, who had sought 15 years for Pistorius for the murder conviction, said he could not comment. It was not immediately clear whether the state would now directly petition the Supreme Court of Appeal. Nel has said Pistorius had not shown any remorse and had yet to explain why he fired the fatal shots. Women's rights groups say Pistorius has received preferential treatment compared to non-whites and those without his wealth or international celebrity status. His backers say he did not intend to kill Steenkamp. Pistorius, who had the lower part of his legs amputated when he was a baby, says he fired four shots into the toilet door at his luxury Pretoria home in the mistaken belief that an intruder was hiding behind it. His defence has argued that his disability and mental stress that occurred in the aftermath of the killing should be considered as mitigating circumstances. (Reuters)

Judge rejects prosecutor request to appeal Pistorius sentence

Indian sprinter Dutee Chand made the cut for the women&#39;s 100m at the Rio Olympics today, less than a year after she was cleared to race following the Court of Arbitration for Sport&#39;s (CAS) ruling on gender testing guidelines. 
 
The Lausanne-based court suspended the governing International Association of Athletics Federations&#39; (IAAF) regulations regarding hyperandrogenism, a condition which produces high testosterone levels, for two years. 
 
It cleared the way for Chand to compete again in both domestic and international events after she was forced to sit out about a year of competition. 
 
She clocked a national record 11.30 seconds in the 100m heats at the G. Kosanov Memorial Meet in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to qualify for the Rio Games, the qualifying mark for which was set at 11.32. 
 
&quot;I am really happy at the moment,&quot; she said in a statement. &quot;It has been a tough year for me and I am so happy that my coach ... and my hard work has paid off.&nbsp;I would like to thank all the people in India who were praying for me to qualify. Your wishes have paid off.&quot; 
 
The daughter of weavers from Odisha, Chand was dropped from India&#39;s contingent for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in Incheon after her naturally-occurring testosterone levels were found to be in breach of IAAF&#39;s guidelines. 
 
She was advised to have surgery and take medication, but instead decided to challenge the guidelines at CAS, who asked the IAAF to present scientific evidence proving enhanced testosterone levels improved performance in hyperandrogenic athletes. 
 
South Africa&#39;s former world champion 800m runner Caster Semenya was also subjected to gender testing by the IAAF before being cleared to compete as a woman. 
 
The Rio Olympics take place from August 5-21. 
 
(Reuters)

Chand was dropped from Glasgow Commonwealth Games and Asian Games after her high testosterone levels were found

Indian sprinter Dutee Chand made the cut for the women's 100m at the Rio Olympics today, less than a year after she was cleared to race following the Court of Arbitration for Sport's (CAS) ruling on gender testing guidelines. The Lausanne-based court suspended the governing International Association of Athletics Federations' (IAAF) regulations regarding hyperandrogenism, a condition which produces high testosterone levels, for two years. It cleared the way for Chand to compete again in both domestic and international events after she was forced to sit out about a year of competition. She clocked a national record 11.30 seconds in the 100m heats at the G. Kosanov Memorial Meet in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to qualify for the Rio Games, the qualifying mark for which was set at 11.32. "I am really happy at the moment," she said in a statement. "It has been a tough year for me and I am so happy that my coach ... and my hard work has paid off. I would like to thank all the people in India who were praying for me to qualify. Your wishes have paid off." The daughter of weavers from Odisha, Chand was dropped from India's contingent for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in Incheon after her naturally-occurring testosterone levels were found to be in breach of IAAF's guidelines. She was advised to have surgery and take medication, but instead decided to challenge the guidelines at CAS, who asked the IAAF to present scientific evidence proving enhanced testosterone levels improved performance in hyperandrogenic athletes. South Africa's former world champion 800m runner Caster Semenya was also subjected to gender testing by the IAAF before being cleared to compete as a woman. The Rio Olympics take place from August 5-21. (Reuters)

Indian sprinter Dutee Chand qualifies for Rio Olympics following ruling on gender testing

The African National Congress (ANC) lost its grip on local government in Tshwane, home of the South African capital Pretoria, as results yesterday gave the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) a second big win in the ANC&#39;s worst election since the end of apartheid. 
 
The results of Wednesday&#39;s voting have reshaped the political landscape in South Africa, where the ANC has ruled virtually unopposed since it ended white-minority rule in 1994, led by Nelson Mandela. 
 
Unemployment, economic stagnation and scandals around President Jacob Zuma led voters to punish the ANC, changing the outlook for national elections in 2019 and potentially emboldening Zuma&#39;s rivals within the ANC to challenge him. 
 
Saving some pride, the ANC won in Johannesburg, South Africa&#39;s economic and financial hub, taking 45 per cent of the vote to the DA&#39;s 38 per cent, but will have to form a coalition to govern. 
 
Wins in Tshwane and in Nelson Mandela Bay, which includes the manufacturing hub Port Elizabeth, are a watershed for the DA, which also held Cape Town, a municipality that it has controlled since 2006. 
 
Last year it elected its first black leader, Mmusi Maimane, as it tries to shake off an image of a party mainly serving white interests. 
 
&quot;It signals to everyone that the tide in our country is turning,&quot; Maimane told reporters on yesterday. 
 
The ANC still won the most votes overall&nbsp;and was working to form coalitions in the municipalities where it lost its majority. 
 
&quot;We are into negotiations as we speak,&quot; said Paul Mashatile, the ANC chairman in Gauteng province, which includes Tshwane and Johannesburg. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s quite clear that our people, our traditional supporters, are still with us but maybe not too many people came out to vote so we need to go back and find out why.&quot; 
 
The DA will also need to form coalitions to govern in both Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay. 
 
In his first public remarks since the vote&#39;s outcome, Zuma said South Africa was a &quot;democracy where differences of political opinion and diverse political preferences are allowed to flourish&quot;. 
 
Mismanagement 
 
The ANC has lost support among voters who feel their lives have not improved, and the opposition has accused Zuma of mismanaging the economy. Millions of urban voters are now looking beyond its liberation struggle credentials and focusing on an economy teetering on the edge of a recession. 
 
Zuma rattled investors in December by changing finance ministers twice in a week, sending the rand plummeting. The currency has since recovered and received a boost from the lack of violence during the local elections. 
 
The president survived an impeachment vote in April after the Constitutional Court said he had broken the law by ignoring an order to repay some of $16 million in state funds spent on renovating his private home. Zuma has since said he will repay some of the money, as ordered by the court. 
 
&quot;The ANC may just become a rural party,&quot; said William Gumede, head of the Democracy Works Foundation think-tank. 
 
The radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party led by Julius Malema, Zuma&#39;s one-time protege but now arch-foe, came a distant third in the local elections, with about 10 percent of the vote. 
 
Malema has drawn support with promises to nationalise banks and land and redistribute among poor black people wealth still mostly in white hands - policies that both the DA and the ANC have not found palatable. 
 
With the ANC and DA both seeking to rule in Johannesburg and Tshwane, the EFF could be courted where coalitions are needed. 
 
Malema has not revealed who he would back, saying: &quot;If anyone comes to us, we&#39;ll talk.&quot; 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

President Jacob Zuma's mismanagement and scandals have led voters to punish the ANC, emboldening rivals Democratic Alliance

The African National Congress (ANC) lost its grip on local government in Tshwane, home of the South African capital Pretoria, as results yesterday gave the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) a second big win in the ANC's worst election since the end of apartheid. The results of Wednesday's voting have reshaped the political landscape in South Africa, where the ANC has ruled virtually unopposed since it ended white-minority rule in 1994, led by Nelson Mandela. Unemployment, economic stagnation and scandals around President Jacob Zuma led voters to punish the ANC, changing the outlook for national elections in 2019 and potentially emboldening Zuma's rivals within the ANC to challenge him. Saving some pride, the ANC won in Johannesburg, South Africa's economic and financial hub, taking 45 per cent of the vote to the DA's 38 per cent, but will have to form a coalition to govern. Wins in Tshwane and in Nelson Mandela Bay, which includes the manufacturing hub Port Elizabeth, are a watershed for the DA, which also held Cape Town, a municipality that it has controlled since 2006. Last year it elected its first black leader, Mmusi Maimane, as it tries to shake off an image of a party mainly serving white interests. "It signals to everyone that the tide in our country is turning," Maimane told reporters on yesterday. The ANC still won the most votes overall and was working to form coalitions in the municipalities where it lost its majority. "We are into negotiations as we speak," said Paul Mashatile, the ANC chairman in Gauteng province, which includes Tshwane and Johannesburg. "It's quite clear that our people, our traditional supporters, are still with us but maybe not too many people came out to vote so we need to go back and find out why." The DA will also need to form coalitions to govern in both Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay. In his first public remarks since the vote's outcome, Zuma said South Africa was a "democracy where differences of political opinion and diverse political preferences are allowed to flourish". Mismanagement The ANC has lost support among voters who feel their lives have not improved, and the opposition has accused Zuma of mismanaging the economy. Millions of urban voters are now looking beyond its liberation struggle credentials and focusing on an economy teetering on the edge of a recession. Zuma rattled investors in December by changing finance ministers twice in a week, sending the rand plummeting. The currency has since recovered and received a boost from the lack of violence during the local elections. The president survived an impeachment vote in April after the Constitutional Court said he had broken the law by ignoring an order to repay some of $16 million in state funds spent on renovating his private home. Zuma has since said he will repay some of the money, as ordered by the court. "The ANC may just become a rural party," said William Gumede, head of the Democracy Works Foundation think-tank. The radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party led by Julius Malema, Zuma's one-time protege but now arch-foe, came a distant third in the local elections, with about 10 percent of the vote. Malema has drawn support with promises to nationalise banks and land and redistribute among poor black people wealth still mostly in white hands - policies that both the DA and the ANC have not found palatable. With the ANC and DA both seeking to rule in Johannesburg and Tshwane, the EFF could be courted where coalitions are needed. Malema has not revealed who he would back, saying: "If anyone comes to us, we'll talk." (Reuters)

South Africa's ANC suffers worst election since taking power

South Africa&#39;s opposition Democratic Alliance led in three major cities on Thursday as votes were counted in local elections, threatening to deal the biggest electoral blow to the African National Congress (ANC) since the end of apartheid two decades ago. 
 
The ANC, which ended white-minority rule when it swept to power in the country&#39;s first democratic elections in 1994, &nbsp;held a big lead in the national count. 
 
But it was behind the opposition DA in the municipalities that include the cities of Pretoria, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth, areas which it has held virtually unopposed since the end of apartheid. 
 
A significant loss of support for the ruling party in these areas could reshape the political playing field ahead of the 2019 national election, and may also embolden President Jacob Zuma&#39;s rivals within the ANC to challenge him. 
 
The vote comes against the backdrop of increasing anger among voters at high unemployment and a lack of basic services as Africa&#39;s most industrialised country teeters on the edge of a recession, as well as a string of corruption scandals surrounding Zuma. 
 
Many ANC supporters are switching allegiances to the DA, bolstering its attempts to attract black voters and shake off its image of a party that chiefly serves the interests of the minority white community. 
 
With about half of the vote counted in the national count, the ANC held a 52 per cent lead, against 31 per cent for the DA and 9 per cent for the radical left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters. Final results are expected by Friday. 
 
The DA, which last year elected its first black leader Mmusi Maimane, was leading the ANC in Tshwane municipality, home to the capital Pretoria, in Johannesburg and in Nelson Mandela Bay, the area named after the anti-apartheid hero who led the ANC to power and which includes the city of Port Elizabeth. 
 
The DA is expected to maintain its control of Cape Town, the only big city currently not run by the ANC, where it had a large lead over the ruling party. 
 
The DA said it was &quot;buoyant&quot; about the growth in support across the country. &quot;It looks like we are going to be in government in a whole lot of places where we weren&#39;t in government before,&quot; said James Selfe, a senior DA executive. 
 
The ANC said it expected to retain Tshwane municipality but was not so sure about Johannesburg or Nelson Mandela Bay. 
 
Frustration 
 
The DA had 45 per cent of the votes in Tshwane municipality against the ANC&#39;s 40 per cent although only 40 per cent of the votes had been counted. In Johannesburg, the opposition party led with 44 per cent to 40 per cent for the ANC, with 23 per cent of the votes tallied, while in Nelson Mandela Bay it led with 55 per cent versus 35 per cent, with 59 of the votes in. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s becoming increasingly clear that we will be the majority party here,&quot; said the DA&#39;s Nelson Mandela Bay mayoral candidate, Athol Trollip. 
 
&quot;It is not yet clear if we will win an outright majority.&quot; 
 
Opponents say defeat in a region named after the ANC&#39;s liberation hero would be a major embarrassment for the ruling party. 
 
Analysts said it was still too early to call the vote. 
 
&quot;The projections that I give most credence to is that the DA will be the biggest single party in Nelson Mandela Bay but won&rsquo;t get 50 per cent,&quot; 
 
Daryl Glaser, lecturer in political studies department at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg said. &quot;In the case of Tshwane and Johannesburg the ANC will be the biggest party, but very significantly, it will fall below 50 per cent, so we are looking at a major setback for the ANC and we are into an era of coalition politics.&quot; 
 
The DA had 69 per cent of the vote in Cape Town against the ANC&#39;s 22 per cent, with 60 per cent of the votes in. 
 
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which is led by firebrand Julius Malema, Zuma&#39;s one-time protege and former ANC youth leader is participating in only its second election and was running a distant third in the national count. 
 
It is, however, winning some support from voters frustrated about inequality in country where black people make up 80 per cent of the 54 million population, yet most of the economy in terms of ownership of land and companies remains in the hands of white people, who account for about 8 per cent of the population. 
 
Many South Africans who queued up to vote across the country said they were worried about Zuma&#39;s performance and the state of the economy, where one in four in the labour force is unemployed. 
 
Zuma survived an impeachment vote in April after the Constitutional Court said he breached the law by ignoring an order to repay some of the $16 million in state funds spent on renovating his private home. 
 
In December, he rattled investors after changing his finance minister twice in a week, sending the rand plummeting. The currency has since recovered. Zuma has said he would repay some of the funds spent on his home and rejected criticism of his conduct.. 
 
(Reuters)

The voting comes at time when there is an increasing anger among people at high unemployment and a lack of basic services in the country

South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance led in three major cities on Thursday as votes were counted in local elections, threatening to deal the biggest electoral blow to the African National Congress (ANC) since the end of apartheid two decades ago. The ANC, which ended white-minority rule when it swept to power in the country's first democratic elections in 1994, held a big lead in the national count. But it was behind the opposition DA in the municipalities that include the cities of Pretoria, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth, areas which it has held virtually unopposed since the end of apartheid. A significant loss of support for the ruling party in these areas could reshape the political playing field ahead of the 2019 national election, and may also embolden President Jacob Zuma's rivals within the ANC to challenge him. The vote comes against the backdrop of increasing anger among voters at high unemployment and a lack of basic services as Africa's most industrialised country teeters on the edge of a recession, as well as a string of corruption scandals surrounding Zuma. Many ANC supporters are switching allegiances to the DA, bolstering its attempts to attract black voters and shake off its image of a party that chiefly serves the interests of the minority white community. With about half of the vote counted in the national count, the ANC held a 52 per cent lead, against 31 per cent for the DA and 9 per cent for the radical left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters. Final results are expected by Friday. The DA, which last year elected its first black leader Mmusi Maimane, was leading the ANC in Tshwane municipality, home to the capital Pretoria, in Johannesburg and in Nelson Mandela Bay, the area named after the anti-apartheid hero who led the ANC to power and which includes the city of Port Elizabeth. The DA is expected to maintain its control of Cape Town, the only big city currently not run by the ANC, where it had a large lead over the ruling party. The DA said it was "buoyant" about the growth in support across the country. "It looks like we are going to be in government in a whole lot of places where we weren't in government before," said James Selfe, a senior DA executive. The ANC said it expected to retain Tshwane municipality but was not so sure about Johannesburg or Nelson Mandela Bay. Frustration The DA had 45 per cent of the votes in Tshwane municipality against the ANC's 40 per cent although only 40 per cent of the votes had been counted. In Johannesburg, the opposition party led with 44 per cent to 40 per cent for the ANC, with 23 per cent of the votes tallied, while in Nelson Mandela Bay it led with 55 per cent versus 35 per cent, with 59 of the votes in. "It's becoming increasingly clear that we will be the majority party here," said the DA's Nelson Mandela Bay mayoral candidate, Athol Trollip. "It is not yet clear if we will win an outright majority." Opponents say defeat in a region named after the ANC's liberation hero would be a major embarrassment for the ruling party. Analysts said it was still too early to call the vote. "The projections that I give most credence to is that the DA will be the biggest single party in Nelson Mandela Bay but won’t get 50 per cent," Daryl Glaser, lecturer in political studies department at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg said. "In the case of Tshwane and Johannesburg the ANC will be the biggest party, but very significantly, it will fall below 50 per cent, so we are looking at a major setback for the ANC and we are into an era of coalition politics." The DA had 69 per cent of the vote in Cape Town against the ANC's 22 per cent, with 60 per cent of the votes in. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which is led by firebrand Julius Malema, Zuma's one-time protege and former ANC youth leader is participating in only its second election and was running a distant third in the national count. It is, however, winning some support from voters frustrated about inequality in country where black people make up 80 per cent of the 54 million population, yet most of the economy in terms of ownership of land and companies remains in the hands of white people, who account for about 8 per cent of the population. Many South Africans who queued up to vote across the country said they were worried about Zuma's performance and the state of the economy, where one in four in the labour force is unemployed. Zuma survived an impeachment vote in April after the Constitutional Court said he breached the law by ignoring an order to repay some of the $16 million in state funds spent on renovating his private home. In December, he rattled investors after changing his finance minister twice in a week, sending the rand plummeting. The currency has since recovered. Zuma has said he would repay some of the funds spent on his home and rejected criticism of his conduct.. (Reuters)

South Africa: Opposition takes election lead in major cities

Cricket South Africa (CSA) will formally introduce racial quotas at national team level, the board said today. 
 
The organisation has come under fire from the South African government for a lack of transformation in its national teams, leading to a ban on bidding for international tournaments that will be reviewed next year. 
 
President Chris Nenzani said in a statement CSA will seek to &quot;move with the times&quot; and set a minimum number of black players to be selected in all their national teams. 
 
He added that these &quot;targets&quot; would be calculated over a year and not apply on a match-by-match basis. 
 
&quot;In the past, we had never set targets in our national teams but with changing circumstances we feel it is essential to move with the times,&quot; Nenzani said. 
 
&quot;The precise targets will depend on work to be undertaken by relevant committees to determine what is realistic and sustainable. This will be announced in due course.&quot; 
 
&#39;Greater participation among black players&#39;&nbsp; 
 
The Proteas had already been seeking to introduce more black players into the national teams in all formats and have done so with some success. 
 
The one-day international side that defeated Australia by 47 runs in the tri-series competition in the West Indies in June had eight players of colour for the first time ever. 
 
CSA have already introduced quotas for the country&#39;s domestic franchise competitions where teams must field at least six players of colour, including three black African players. 
 
South Africa&#39;s sports minister Fikile Mbalula has been critical of what he says is the slow rate of transformation in the country&#39;s major sporting codes, bar football. 
 
The country has seen greater participation among black players across most sports at junior level despite the challenge of providing adequate school facilities in poorer districts. 
 
But Mbalula wants to see this reflected quicker at national team level and in April slammed the federations from rugby, cricket, netball and athletics for failing to meet what he says were agreed to targets on transformation. 
 
He banned them from bidding for or hosting international events until they met their targets, with a review of this decision scheduled for this coming April. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

Cricket South Africa President said these 'targets' would be calculated over a year and not apply on a match-by-match basis

Cricket South Africa (CSA) will formally introduce racial quotas at national team level, the board said today. The organisation has come under fire from the South African government for a lack of transformation in its national teams, leading to a ban on bidding for international tournaments that will be reviewed next year. President Chris Nenzani said in a statement CSA will seek to "move with the times" and set a minimum number of black players to be selected in all their national teams. He added that these "targets" would be calculated over a year and not apply on a match-by-match basis. "In the past, we had never set targets in our national teams but with changing circumstances we feel it is essential to move with the times," Nenzani said. "The precise targets will depend on work to be undertaken by relevant committees to determine what is realistic and sustainable. This will be announced in due course." 'Greater participation among black players' The Proteas had already been seeking to introduce more black players into the national teams in all formats and have done so with some success. The one-day international side that defeated Australia by 47 runs in the tri-series competition in the West Indies in June had eight players of colour for the first time ever. CSA have already introduced quotas for the country's domestic franchise competitions where teams must field at least six players of colour, including three black African players. South Africa's sports minister Fikile Mbalula has been critical of what he says is the slow rate of transformation in the country's major sporting codes, bar football. The country has seen greater participation among black players across most sports at junior level despite the challenge of providing adequate school facilities in poorer districts. But Mbalula wants to see this reflected quicker at national team level and in April slammed the federations from rugby, cricket, netball and athletics for failing to meet what he says were agreed to targets on transformation. He banned them from bidding for or hosting international events until they met their targets, with a review of this decision scheduled for this coming April. (Reuters)

South Africa national teams to have 'minimum number of black players' in national teams

South Africa&rsquo;s great white sharks could die out due to human interference, ocean pollution and a limited gene pool, a new study released on Wednesday showed. 
 
There are 350-520 great white sharks left off the South African coast, 50 per cent fewer than previously thought, according to a six-year study carried out mainly in Gansbaai, a shark hotspot 160 kilometres from Cape Town. 
 
&quot;South Africa&rsquo;s white sharks faced a rapid decline in the last generation, and their numbers might already be too low to ensure their survival,&rdquo; said Sara Andreotti, research leader and marine biologist at the University of Stellenbosch. 
 
Scientists say there are still thousands of great white sharks off the coast of Australia, Canada and the east coast of the United States. 
 
Thousands of tourists travel to South Africa&#39;s Western Cape each year to catch a glimpse of the ocean&#39;s top predator from underwater cages, but human interaction has made the largest contribution to declining local shark numbers.&nbsp;Shark nets used to protect swimmers and surfers killed more than 1,000 great whites off the Durban coast in the 30 years up to 2008, while trophy hunting and pollution also killed off large numbers of a species which can trace its lineage back 14 million years. 
 
South African great white sharks also have the lowest genetic diversity of all white shark populations globally, making breeding more problematic and the likelihood of illness higher, the study, which included documenting individual sharks by their dorsal fins, showed. 
 
There are only 333 great whites capable of breeding in South African waters, below the 500 usually needed to prevent &quot;inbreeding depression&quot;, the study found. 
 
&quot;We are already in a situation where our number of breeders is below the minimum level required for a population to survive,&quot; Andreotti told reporters. 
 
Losing great white sharks, which have no natural predators, would have a knock-on effect on ocean ecology. Common prey, such as the Cape fur seal, could flourish in their absence and reduce fish numbers.&nbsp;South Africa helped pioneer great white shark conservation, and in 1991 became the first in the world to declare the predator a protected species, with other countries including the US and Australia following suit. 
 
(Reuters)

Shark nets protecting swimmers and surfers, trophy hunting and pollution killed many great whites, a species 14 million-years-old

South Africa’s great white sharks could die out due to human interference, ocean pollution and a limited gene pool, a new study released on Wednesday showed. There are 350-520 great white sharks left off the South African coast, 50 per cent fewer than previously thought, according to a six-year study carried out mainly in Gansbaai, a shark hotspot 160 kilometres from Cape Town. "South Africa’s white sharks faced a rapid decline in the last generation, and their numbers might already be too low to ensure their survival,” said Sara Andreotti, research leader and marine biologist at the University of Stellenbosch. Scientists say there are still thousands of great white sharks off the coast of Australia, Canada and the east coast of the United States. Thousands of tourists travel to South Africa's Western Cape each year to catch a glimpse of the ocean's top predator from underwater cages, but human interaction has made the largest contribution to declining local shark numbers. Shark nets used to protect swimmers and surfers killed more than 1,000 great whites off the Durban coast in the 30 years up to 2008, while trophy hunting and pollution also killed off large numbers of a species which can trace its lineage back 14 million years. South African great white sharks also have the lowest genetic diversity of all white shark populations globally, making breeding more problematic and the likelihood of illness higher, the study, which included documenting individual sharks by their dorsal fins, showed. There are only 333 great whites capable of breeding in South African waters, below the 500 usually needed to prevent "inbreeding depression", the study found. "We are already in a situation where our number of breeders is below the minimum level required for a population to survive," Andreotti told reporters. Losing great white sharks, which have no natural predators, would have a knock-on effect on ocean ecology. Common prey, such as the Cape fur seal, could flourish in their absence and reduce fish numbers. South Africa helped pioneer great white shark conservation, and in 1991 became the first in the world to declare the predator a protected species, with other countries including the US and Australia following suit. (Reuters)

South Africa's great white sharks could die out: study

Some 2.5 million people are still becoming infected with HIV every year even as drugs have slashed the death rate and virus-carriers live longer than ever, a global AIDS study said today. 
 
New infections have plateaued for the past 10 years after a steep dip from the peak rate of 3.3 million in 1997, said the authors of a comprehensive analysis in The Lancet HIV journal. 
 
It was published to coincide with the International AIDS conference underway in Durban, South Africa to assess progress in stemming an outbreak that has killed more than 30 million people since the 1980s. 
 
The report paints &quot;a worrying picture of slow progress in reducing new HIV infections,&quot; according to lead author Haidong Wang from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, Seattle. 
 
This could be worsened by &quot;stagnating&quot; funding for HIV/AIDS programmes and medicines. 
 
&quot;Therefore, a massive scale-up of efforts from governments and international agencies will be required to meet the estimated $36 billion (33 billion euros) needed every year to realise the goal of ending AIDS by 2030,&quot; IHME director Christopher Murray said in a statement. 
 
Over the past 15 years, countries have contributed $110 billion in &quot;development assistance&quot; for HIV/AIDS programmes. 
 
Today, there are some 38.8 million people living with the AIDS-causing virus, a steady increase from 28 million in 2000 thanks to the advent in 1996 of life-prolonging antiretroviral therapy (ART). 
 
Annual AIDS deaths have declined from a peak of 1.8 million in 2005 to 1.2 million in 2015. 
 
There is no AIDS cure or vaccine. 
 
ART cocktails suppress the virus, enabling people to live long lives, though the drugs are expensive and can have side effects. 
 
 
Dramatic change required 
 
Use of antiretrovirals, for long the preserve of the rich, grew from 6.4 percent of infected men in 2005 to 38.6 percent ten years later, and from 3.3 percent to 42.4 percent for women over the same period, the study found. 
 
Another factor that has helped cut the death rate was education and medicines to prevent infected women passing the virus onto their unborn children, said the report. 
 
The study saw researchers collate HIV data recorded from 1980 to 2015 for 195 countries. 
 
In spite of advances, most countries are still far from achieving the UNAIDS goal of ensuring that by 2020, 90 percent of infected people will know their status, and 90 percent of those will receive ART. 
 
In 2015, 41 percent of HIV-infected people received ART, said the report. 
 
The picture varied vastly between countries and regions. 
 
In 2015, 1.8 million new HIV infections, some 75 percent, were in sub-Saharan Africa, followed by 212,500 (8.5 percent) in south Asia. 
 
&quot;The highest rates of infection were in southern Africa, with more than one percent of the population per year becoming infected in Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland,&quot; said the report. 
 
In Europe, the highest rate of new infections was in Russia (57,340) and Ukraine (13,490). 
 
&quot;Global efforts have had less impact on the incidence of new infections than on HIV mortality,&quot; concluded the report. 
 
&quot;Ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 will require a dramatic change in how HIV prevention is pursued.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

New infections have plateaued for the past 10 years after a steep dip from the peak rate of 3.3 million in 1997

Some 2.5 million people are still becoming infected with HIV every year even as drugs have slashed the death rate and virus-carriers live longer than ever, a global AIDS study said today. New infections have plateaued for the past 10 years after a steep dip from the peak rate of 3.3 million in 1997, said the authors of a comprehensive analysis in The Lancet HIV journal. It was published to coincide with the International AIDS conference underway in Durban, South Africa to assess progress in stemming an outbreak that has killed more than 30 million people since the 1980s. The report paints "a worrying picture of slow progress in reducing new HIV infections," according to lead author Haidong Wang from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, Seattle. This could be worsened by "stagnating" funding for HIV/AIDS programmes and medicines. "Therefore, a massive scale-up of efforts from governments and international agencies will be required to meet the estimated $36 billion (33 billion euros) needed every year to realise the goal of ending AIDS by 2030," IHME director Christopher Murray said in a statement. Over the past 15 years, countries have contributed $110 billion in "development assistance" for HIV/AIDS programmes. Today, there are some 38.8 million people living with the AIDS-causing virus, a steady increase from 28 million in 2000 thanks to the advent in 1996 of life-prolonging antiretroviral therapy (ART). Annual AIDS deaths have declined from a peak of 1.8 million in 2005 to 1.2 million in 2015. There is no AIDS cure or vaccine. ART cocktails suppress the virus, enabling people to live long lives, though the drugs are expensive and can have side effects. Dramatic change required Use of antiretrovirals, for long the preserve of the rich, grew from 6.4 percent of infected men in 2005 to 38.6 percent ten years later, and from 3.3 percent to 42.4 percent for women over the same period, the study found. Another factor that has helped cut the death rate was education and medicines to prevent infected women passing the virus onto their unborn children, said the report. The study saw researchers collate HIV data recorded from 1980 to 2015 for 195 countries. In spite of advances, most countries are still far from achieving the UNAIDS goal of ensuring that by 2020, 90 percent of infected people will know their status, and 90 percent of those will receive ART. In 2015, 41 percent of HIV-infected people received ART, said the report. The picture varied vastly between countries and regions. In 2015, 1.8 million new HIV infections, some 75 percent, were in sub-Saharan Africa, followed by 212,500 (8.5 percent) in south Asia. "The highest rates of infection were in southern Africa, with more than one percent of the population per year becoming infected in Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland," said the report. In Europe, the highest rate of new infections was in Russia (57,340) and Ukraine (13,490). "Global efforts have had less impact on the incidence of new infections than on HIV mortality," concluded the report. "Ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 will require a dramatic change in how HIV prevention is pursued." (AFP)

2.5 million people suffer from HIV every year

The International Cricket Council (ICC) will apply for the inclusion of women&#39;s cricket at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Durban, South Africa, said&nbsp;the governing body. 
 
Cricket has struggled to venture into new markets away from its traditional strongholds and the influential Indian board&#39;s reluctance to embrace multi-sports events as a means to increase exposure has hindered growth. 
 
Following a presentation by the Commonwealth Games Federation, the ICC board agreed to apply for a women&#39;s competition at the Durban Games during its annual conference in Edinburgh on Saturday. 
 
&quot;It will enhance the profile of the sport and create additional exposure and experiences for female cricketers,&quot; ICC chairman Shashank Manohar, a former head of the Indian board, said in a statement. 
 
South Africa won the men&#39;s event when cricket took place at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia, the only time the sport has been included in the programme. 
 
The Asian Games remains the largest multi-sports event that features cricket and the last two editions included both men&#39;s and women&#39;s competitions. 
 
The ICC has also been exploring the possibility of getting cricket added to the Olympic programme. 
 
&quot;There will be further discussions on cricket&#39;s potential participation in the Olympic Games following further meetings with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) later in the year,&quot; the governing body said. 
 
President of the Italian board Simone Gambino told ESPNcricinfo on Friday that cricket would be included in the 2024 Olympics should Rome win the bid to host the Games. 
 
(Reuters)

South Africa won the men's event when cricket took place at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia, the only time the sport has been included in the programme

The International Cricket Council (ICC) will apply for the inclusion of women's cricket at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Durban, South Africa, said the governing body. Cricket has struggled to venture into new markets away from its traditional strongholds and the influential Indian board's reluctance to embrace multi-sports events as a means to increase exposure has hindered growth. Following a presentation by the Commonwealth Games Federation, the ICC board agreed to apply for a women's competition at the Durban Games during its annual conference in Edinburgh on Saturday. "It will enhance the profile of the sport and create additional exposure and experiences for female cricketers," ICC chairman Shashank Manohar, a former head of the Indian board, said in a statement. South Africa won the men's event when cricket took place at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia, the only time the sport has been included in the programme. The Asian Games remains the largest multi-sports event that features cricket and the last two editions included both men's and women's competitions. The ICC has also been exploring the possibility of getting cricket added to the Olympic programme. "There will be further discussions on cricket's potential participation in the Olympic Games following further meetings with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) later in the year," the governing body said. President of the Italian board Simone Gambino told ESPNcricinfo on Friday that cricket would be included in the 2024 Olympics should Rome win the bid to host the Games. (Reuters)

ICC wants women's cricket at 2022 Commonwealth Games

South Africa&#39;s President Jacob Zuma should pay 7.8 million rand ($510,074) for non-security upgrades to his private Nkandla home, the National Treasury said on Monday. 
 
In a stinging rebuke that hit the scandal-plagued leader financially and politically, the top court in Africa&#39;s most industrialised country in March ordered Zuma to pay back some of the $16 million of state money spent upgrading his private home. 
 
Record unemployment and a looming recession have exacerbated discontent with Zuma&#39;s leadership, ahead of local elections in August. Zuma has managed to hold on to his post with backing from the ruling African National Congress (ANC), which has been in power since the end of white-minority rule in 1994. 
 
The court gave the Treasury 60 days to work out a &quot;reasonable cost&quot;. Zuma has said he would pay back some of the money used to refurbish the Nkandla residence, which is in KwaZulu-Natal province. 
 
On Monday, Zuma&#39;s office said it would comment on the Treasury report after studying it. 
 
In 2014, it may be recalled, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, whose office is a constitutionally mandated anti-corruption watchdog, identified a swimming pool, cattle enclosure, chicken run, amphitheatre and visitor centre as non-security items that Zuma must pay for. 
 
Estimates from Madonsela&#39;s report had pegged the bill at around 10 million rand. 
 
The unanimous ruling of the 11-judge Constitutional Court also said Zuma had failed to &quot;uphold, defend and respect&quot; the constitution by ignoring Madonsela&#39;s recommendations. 
 
In April, Zuma survived an impeachment vote in parliament after the court&#39;s ruling thanks to backing from ANC lawmakers. In December he was widely criticised for changing his finance minister twice in a week, sending the rand plummeting. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

The head of state had used the money to make non-security upgrades to his private home

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma should pay 7.8 million rand ($510,074) for non-security upgrades to his private Nkandla home, the National Treasury said on Monday. In a stinging rebuke that hit the scandal-plagued leader financially and politically, the top court in Africa's most industrialised country in March ordered Zuma to pay back some of the $16 million of state money spent upgrading his private home. Record unemployment and a looming recession have exacerbated discontent with Zuma's leadership, ahead of local elections in August. Zuma has managed to hold on to his post with backing from the ruling African National Congress (ANC), which has been in power since the end of white-minority rule in 1994. The court gave the Treasury 60 days to work out a "reasonable cost". Zuma has said he would pay back some of the money used to refurbish the Nkandla residence, which is in KwaZulu-Natal province. On Monday, Zuma's office said it would comment on the Treasury report after studying it. In 2014, it may be recalled, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, whose office is a constitutionally mandated anti-corruption watchdog, identified a swimming pool, cattle enclosure, chicken run, amphitheatre and visitor centre as non-security items that Zuma must pay for. Estimates from Madonsela's report had pegged the bill at around 10 million rand. The unanimous ruling of the 11-judge Constitutional Court also said Zuma had failed to "uphold, defend and respect" the constitution by ignoring Madonsela's recommendations. In April, Zuma survived an impeachment vote in parliament after the court's ruling thanks to backing from ANC lawmakers. In December he was widely criticised for changing his finance minister twice in a week, sending the rand plummeting. (Reuters)

Give back $510,000, South African treasury tells President Zuma

Darren Bravo&#39;s third hundred and impressive fast bowling from Shannon Gabriel propelled the West Indies to a comprehensive 100-run victory over South Africa in the ninth and final preliminary match of the Tri-Nation One-Day International Series at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Friday. 
 
Bravo&#39;s stroke-filled 102 anchored an impressive recovery from 21 for four to lift the West Indies to 285 all out off 49.5 overs batting first. 
Gabriel, in just his second ODI, then tore through the Proteas&#39; vaunted top-order, taking the wickets of Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis and captain A.B. de Villiers in the space of four fearsome overs. 
 
It was a setback from which they never recovered, eventually being dismissed for 186 off 46 overs despite a last-wicket partnership of 51 between Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir. Sunil Narine ensured there would be no escape for the South Africans after Gabriel&#39;s early blast, the spinner taking three for 28 off ten overs. 
 
With their second win in three matches against the Proteas in the tournament, the hosts advance to face World Cup-holders Australia in the final on Sunday at the same venue. It is also the first time in ten years that South Africa have failed to reach the final of a tri-nation ODI series. 
 
Of concern for the West Indies looking ahead to the final though will be the fitness of Gabriel, who left the field nursing a right leg injury after claiming the impressive figures of three for 17 from five overs of extreme pace. He should have also snared the wicket of Hashim Amla but wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin missed the straightforward opportunity offered by the prolific opener. 
 
West Indies were themselves rocked back at 21 for four when pacer Kagiso Rabada led the assault after de Villiers chose to field. However Bravo&#39;s third one-day century, embellished with 12 fours and four sixes off 103 deliveries, proved invaluable. He found an able partner in Kieron Pollard, who curbed his usual all-out aggression in compiling 62 off 71 balls. 
 
Their fifth-wicket stand of 156 was a new West Indian record for the wicket against South Africa and wrested the initiative from the visitors who did not help their cause with characteristically untidy cricket in the field, fast-medium bowler Morne Morkel delivering six of the 17 wides conceded by the Proteas. 
 
Morkel&#39;s nine overs cost 68 runs yet for all that indiscipline, he should have still claimed the important wicket early on of Bravo who, on 11, top-edged an attempted hook only for Wayne Parnell to misjudge the catch at fine-leg and parry the ball over the boundary rope. 
 
Imran Tahir, who routed the West Indies in their last meeting in St Kitts with record-breaking figures of seven for 45, was kept wicketless through his ten overs for the first time in ODI cricket against these opponents. 
 
South Africa&#39;s bowling star without doubt was Rabada, whose returns of three for 31 were highlighted by a devastating opening burst after Parnell had removed Andre Fletcher in his opening over. 
 
Generating tremendous pace, Rabada induced an edge from the other opener, Johnson Charles, for Chris Morris to take a comfortable catch at second slip. He then uprooted Marlon Samuels&#39; off-stump first ball to have the West Indies tottering at 12 for three. 
 
Ramdin avoided the hat-trick but subsequently succumbed to the lethal hostility of the 21-year-old fast bowler, first ducking into a short ball to take a blow on the back of the helmet before being comprehensively bowled off the next delivery. 
 
Bravo and Pollard then countered the rampant South Africans with determination and forceful strokeplay before the big-hitting all-rounder was caught at long-on off the suffering Morkel. 
 
Morris claimed three wickets at the end of the innings with West Indies captain Jason Holder (40) and Carlos Brathwaite (33 not out) pushing the home side to a challenging final total. 
 
(AFP) 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

After their second win in three matches against the Proteas, West Indies have advanced to face Australia in the finals of the Tri-nation ODI

Darren Bravo's third hundred and impressive fast bowling from Shannon Gabriel propelled the West Indies to a comprehensive 100-run victory over South Africa in the ninth and final preliminary match of the Tri-Nation One-Day International Series at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Friday. Bravo's stroke-filled 102 anchored an impressive recovery from 21 for four to lift the West Indies to 285 all out off 49.5 overs batting first. Gabriel, in just his second ODI, then tore through the Proteas' vaunted top-order, taking the wickets of Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis and captain A.B. de Villiers in the space of four fearsome overs. It was a setback from which they never recovered, eventually being dismissed for 186 off 46 overs despite a last-wicket partnership of 51 between Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir. Sunil Narine ensured there would be no escape for the South Africans after Gabriel's early blast, the spinner taking three for 28 off ten overs. With their second win in three matches against the Proteas in the tournament, the hosts advance to face World Cup-holders Australia in the final on Sunday at the same venue. It is also the first time in ten years that South Africa have failed to reach the final of a tri-nation ODI series. Of concern for the West Indies looking ahead to the final though will be the fitness of Gabriel, who left the field nursing a right leg injury after claiming the impressive figures of three for 17 from five overs of extreme pace. He should have also snared the wicket of Hashim Amla but wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin missed the straightforward opportunity offered by the prolific opener. West Indies were themselves rocked back at 21 for four when pacer Kagiso Rabada led the assault after de Villiers chose to field. However Bravo's third one-day century, embellished with 12 fours and four sixes off 103 deliveries, proved invaluable. He found an able partner in Kieron Pollard, who curbed his usual all-out aggression in compiling 62 off 71 balls. Their fifth-wicket stand of 156 was a new West Indian record for the wicket against South Africa and wrested the initiative from the visitors who did not help their cause with characteristically untidy cricket in the field, fast-medium bowler Morne Morkel delivering six of the 17 wides conceded by the Proteas. Morkel's nine overs cost 68 runs yet for all that indiscipline, he should have still claimed the important wicket early on of Bravo who, on 11, top-edged an attempted hook only for Wayne Parnell to misjudge the catch at fine-leg and parry the ball over the boundary rope. Imran Tahir, who routed the West Indies in their last meeting in St Kitts with record-breaking figures of seven for 45, was kept wicketless through his ten overs for the first time in ODI cricket against these opponents. South Africa's bowling star without doubt was Rabada, whose returns of three for 31 were highlighted by a devastating opening burst after Parnell had removed Andre Fletcher in his opening over. Generating tremendous pace, Rabada induced an edge from the other opener, Johnson Charles, for Chris Morris to take a comfortable catch at second slip. He then uprooted Marlon Samuels' off-stump first ball to have the West Indies tottering at 12 for three. Ramdin avoided the hat-trick but subsequently succumbed to the lethal hostility of the 21-year-old fast bowler, first ducking into a short ball to take a blow on the back of the helmet before being comprehensively bowled off the next delivery. Bravo and Pollard then countered the rampant South Africans with determination and forceful strokeplay before the big-hitting all-rounder was caught at long-on off the suffering Morkel. Morris claimed three wickets at the end of the innings with West Indies captain Jason Holder (40) and Carlos Brathwaite (33 not out) pushing the home side to a challenging final total. (AFP)

West Indies topple South Africa in Tri-Nation

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