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The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
South African president removes minister criticised by key coalition partner
FILE PHOTO: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa attends a press conference, after his White House meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 21, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has removed the higher education minister from her position, his office said on Monday, after his party's key coalition partner accused her of misconduct. The removal of Nobuhle Nkabane from her post could help defuse tensions between Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), the two biggest parties in the coalition government, ahead of a budget vote this week. The DA alleges that Nkabane helped engineer the appointment of ANC-connected individuals to the boards of skills development organizations and lied to parliament to cover that up. Nkabane has denied the allegations against her, according to local television station eNCA. She said in a statement that it had been a privilege to serve in her position. The DA welcomed Nkabane's dismissal. The party stepped up its criticism of the minister after Ramaphosa fired its deputy trade minister for not receiving presidential permission for an overseas trip, in the latest spat between the two main governing parties. The DA threatened to vote against the budgets of departments led by ANC ministers it has accused of wrongdoing, including Nkabane, potentially disrupting the national budget. Lawmakers are due to consider the last major piece of budget legislation, the Appropriation Bill, on Wednesday. (Reporting by Alexander Winning and Nellie Peyton; Editing by Jan Harvey)
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Russia and Ukraine edge closer to first talks in seven weeks
FILE PHOTO: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov waits before the talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Interim President of the Republic of Mali Assimi Goita at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia June 23, 2025. Pavel Bednyakov/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia and Ukraine appear close to agreeing to hold a new round of peace talks in Turkey this week, although the Kremlin said on Monday that the two sides held "diametrically opposed" positions on how to end the war. Two days after Ukraine called for new talks in Istanbul this week, Russian state news agency TASS quoted an unidentified source as saying that negotiators - who have not sat down together for seven weeks - may meet there on Thursday and Friday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told a gathering of his diplomats in Kyiv: "We need greater momentum in negotiations to end the war." He added: "The agenda from our side is clear: the return of prisoners of war, the return of children abducted by Russia, and the preparation of a leaders' meeting." Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is under increasing pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to show progress towards ending the conflict, turned down a previous challenge from Zelenskiy to meet him in person. Putin has repeatedly said he does not see Zelenskiy as a legitimate leader because Ukraine, which is under martial law, did not hold new elections when his five-year mandate expired last year. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that as soon as there was a definitive understanding of the date for the next round of talks, then Moscow would announce it. "There is our draft memorandum, there is a draft memorandum that has been handed over by the Ukrainian side. There is to be an exchange of views and talks on these two drafts, which are diametrically opposed so far," Peskov said. Ukraine and Russia have held two rounds of talks in Istanbul, on May 16 and June 2, that led to the exchange of thousands of prisoners of war and the remains of dead soldiers. But the two sides have made no breakthrough towards a ceasefire or a settlement to end almost three and a half years of war. Trump said last week he would impose new sanctions in 50 days on Russia and countries that buy its exports if there is no deal before then to end the conflict. (Reporting by Dmitry Antonov in Moscow and Yuliia Dysa in Warsaw; writing by Mark Trevelyan; editing by Mark Heinrich)
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
UK targets 135 Russian 'shadow fleet' tankers with fresh sanctions
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy speaks to media after nuclear talks of Foreign Ministers of Germany, France, Britain and EU with Iran in Geneva, Switzerland, June 20, 2025. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo LONDON (Reuters) -Britain on Monday imposed new sanctions on Russia's so-called "shadow fleet", targeting 135 oil tankers along with two Russian firms, shipping company Intershipping Services LLC and oil trader Litasco Middle East DMCC. The oil tankers are critical to Russia's energy and oil sectors, with the British government saying they form part of the fleet responsible for carrying $24 billion worth of cargo since the start of 2024. Foreign minister David Lammy said the new sanctions would further "dismantle" Russian President Vladimir Putin's so-called "shadow fleet and drain Russia's war chest of its critical oil revenues". The government said Intershipping Services LLC is responsible for registering vessels under the Gabonese flag, enabling them to transport up to $10 billion worth of goods annually on behalf of the Russian state. Sanctions were also imposed on Litasco Middle East DMCC for its continued role in shipping large volumes of Russian oil, the government said. The Russian embassy in London did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the latest sanctions. Moscow has previously called Western sanctions illegal and said they destabilise global energy markets. On Friday, the European Union agreed an 18th package of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine, including measures aimed at dealing further blows to the Russian oil and energy industry. As part of that, the EU and Britain set out plans to lower the crude oil price cap from $60 per barrel to $47.60 to disrupt Russia's oil revenues. (Reporting by Muvija M, writing by Sam Tabahriti, editing by Catarina Demony)
