Latest news with #G20
Mint
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Mint
South Africa Presses US on G-20 Absence as Leaders Summit Looms
South Africa will ask the US government to confirm its future participation in Group of 20 engagements, after American officials failed to attend a preparatory meeting this week. The US didn't send a representative to a four-day meeting of lead negotiators — known as sherpas — that concluded on Friday in South Africa, the current president of the bloc. Its absence suggested relations between the two countries remain fraught, after President Cyril Ramaphosa sought to mend ties in a meeting with US counterpart Donald Trump at the Oval Office last month. South African officials plan to contact the US government next week to discuss the issue, Ambassador Xolisa Mabhongo, who is supporting South Africa's sherpa, said in an interview on Friday. Representatives from Brazil, which held the G20 presidency last year, will join the call, he said. 'We will do a call with them and that will be when we will be able to assess whether the US will be rejoining the process or whether they will stay out,' he said. The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. South Africa, Brazil and the US — which is scheduled to take over the bloc's presidency in 2026 - make up a so-called G20 troika that has met three times since the start of this year, with full participation by the US, Mabhongo said. 'There was an undertaking by the US sherpa that they would be participating in the process,' he said. 'A month later, there was that article in the Washington Post that said that US agencies were given instruction to stay away. So since then, they never showed up in other meetings.' Part of the reason for Ramaphosa's trip to the White House last month was to encourage the US to recommit to the G20. His meeting with Trump took an unexpected turn when the US president confronted Ramaphosa with false claims of a genocide against White farmers. There have been no official land seizures in South Africa since apartheid ended in 1994, while police statistics show young Black men bear the brunt of violent crime. The US has consistently pushed back against the host nation's core themes of solidarity and equality, while Trump has remained noncommittal on whether he will attend a leaders' summit scheduled for November. With assistance from Kate Sullivan. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Bloomberg
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
South Africa Presses US on G-20 Absence as Leaders Summit Looms
South Africa will ask the US government to confirm its future participation in Group of 20 engagements, after American officials failed to attend a preparatory meeting this week. The US didn't send a representative to a four-day meeting of lead negotiators — known as sherpas — that concluded on Friday in South Africa, the current president of the bloc. Its absence suggested relations between the two countries remain fraught, after President Cyril Ramaphosa sought to mend ties in a meeting with US counterpart Donald Trump at the Oval Office last month.
Hindustan Times
14 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Case for reviving multilaterialism, a WTO-led order
The G20 New Delhi Leaders Declaration of September 2023 reaffirmed the indispensability of 'a rules-based, non-discriminatory, fair, open, inclusive, equitable, sustainable and transparent multilateral trading system, with WTO at its core'. This was reiterated in 2024 during Brazil's G20 presidency. India's negotiating focus has shifted to bilateral agremeents. While equally important, these are no substitute for multilateral rules. (AFP) The 14th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference is scheduled for March 2026 at Yaounde, Cameroon. As a precursor, the WTO director-general met with ministers and high-level officials from nearly 30 WTO members, including India, the US, Australia, China, the EU and Brazil, earlier this month in Paris. The inconclusive end to this meeting foretells further undermining of a beleaguered WTO. The US's disregard for multilateral rules is one of the key reasons for the deadlock, but that does not let the 165 other member-countries of the WTO off the hook. They too shoulder a significant share of the responsibility for the WTO's fate as well. A key question for India and other countries is whether the rules of WTO are worth preserving despite the unpredictability of the US's actions. There are several reasons why they are. It is true that WTO rules are far from perfect and need reforms. Yet, however imperfect, a multilateral system of rules is the only logical safeguard against arbitrary action by any one country. The emergence of WTO in 1995 complemented India's liberalisation and economic growth. Domestic reform and liberalisation could thrive because of the global stability, certainty, and predictability that WTO rules provided. WTO's state of disarray can be attributed to several reasons, primary among which is the dysfunctional state of its dispute settlement mechanism since 2019, resulting from the US blocking appointment of members to the appellate body. Underpinning this is the US's desire to wrench back political control over a judicial process. Efforts to get the US to agree to a more streamlined appellate process have failed. India has highlighted the importance of a two-tier system; but to break the deadlock, we need to consider possible alternatives, including a two-tier system for all willing WTO members and a single-tier system only for disputes where the US is a party. The second set of challenges at the WTO is a series of long-pending issues. A key pending issue is reform in the agricultural rules. This includes constraints India has faced with domestic support for agricultural products. Limited to 10% of the value of production of an agricultural product under the WTO's Agreement on Agriculture (AoA), India's domestic support entitlement is in stark contrast to the much higher AoA entitlements that is available for developed countries including the US, the EU, Japan, and Canada. India successfully negotiated the Bali Peace Clause in 2013, aimed at partially addressing this historical asymmetry. However, this was only a temporary reprieve that is yet to be translated into a firm commitment. Reform is also pending on other related issues, including removal of an absurd external reference price which has remained frozen at 1986-88 prices — completely devoid of current economic realities. Prioritising reform of these rules is important. Development of new rules across a range of emerging areas is another key challenge. Such areas include digital trade and e-commerce and trade & environmental sustainability (TES) — both of which are critical for India, given our national priorities. These are currently part of splinter-group discussions within the WTO, called joint initiatives (JIs). The e-commerce JI has 90 WTO members, the TES has 78, and both groups include the US, the EU, China, Australia, Canada, and Japan, among others. The e-commerce JI deals with elements that will have relevance for India's evolving strength in digital trade. With countries, including the US, threatening various unilateral measures, disciplines in this area need deeper engagement. The TES discussions will have significant relevance for rules on interface of trade and the climate crisis, an area where there is a rapid rise of unilateral measures, especially those adopted by the EU, and the threat of similar measures by others including the US and Canada. JIs emerged as a response to challenges in driving consensus among 166 members. The first JI to conclude was on services domestic regulation (SDR), between 72 members. India had been an active participant of SDR given its centrality to India's burgeoning services trade. However, when discussions moved from the multilateral forum to the JI, India stayed out of SDR as well as all other JIs, the concern being that such fragmented rulemaking would undermine WTO's multilateral architecture. The reality since 2017, however, is that WTO's negotiating function has predominantly rested on JIs, with some, such as the JI on investment facilitation for development (IFD), having support of as many as 126 members. It is ironic that the reason that JIs have remained JIs is because of the choice of some members not to engage. And it is only the ones that have stayed out, including India, that stand to lose any possibility to influence the shape and content of new rules. India's negotiating focus has shifted to bilateral agreements. While equally important, these are no substitute for multilateral rules, and, in fact, would even be severely undermined by lack of multilateral rules. It is time to reinvigorate our vision for the WTO. Any aspiration to be a true vishwaguru hinges on our ability to have a proactive and forward-looking agenda as a global player while doing all that it takes to strengthen from within. RV Anuradha is partner, Clarus Law Associates, New Delhi. The views expressed are personal.
IOL News
15 hours ago
- Business
- IOL News
Mashatile urges South African youth to seize opportunities for economic transformation
Addressing the G20 Roundtable, Deputy President Paul Mashatile urges investment in youth capabilities, highlighting the need for shared power, digital innovation, and sustainable development driven by Africa's young population. Image: HigherEducationZA / X Deputy President Paul Mashatile has urged South African youth to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the post-1994 democratic breakthrough. Mashatile addressed the high-level G20 intergenerational roundtable on Friday. 'The G20 provides South Africa with a strategic opportunity to frame global policy discussions around the capabilities of young people as agents of inclusive economic transformation and sustainability,' he said. Mashatile said it was necessary for him to acknowledge that youth around the world, including South Africa, are confronted with a complicated terrain of potential and difficulties. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'Indeed, we have achieved political freedom, yet economic freedom remains elusive. Hence, the involvement of young people in tackling current issues such as unemployment, inequality, and poverty remains as crucial as during the apartheid era. The question that confronts us, therefore, is how can we further involve young people in addressing these challenges?' he asked. According to Mashatile, the country needs to create opportunities for meaningful participation in solutions and decision-making processes. This involves ensuring that individuals have access to education and opportunities that improve their skills, support youth-led initiatives, and promote inclusive economic growth. 'We need to turn our attention to youth capabilities and development to empower young people to unleash their untapped potential. When we invest in youth development, we tap into this potential and convert it into a force for positive change and sustainable development,' he said. Mashatile was speaking under the theme 'Building Youth Capabilities for a Developmental State: Advancing Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability', which he stated was an imperative. 'Investing in the capabilities of young people is essential for achieving meaningful solidarity, enduring equality, and sustainable development. This presents an opportunity for the African people to take charge of their development. 'It is a call to reshape the global order toward justice, equity, and sustainability through the leadership and capabilities of our youth,' Mashatile explained. He called on the youth to consistently devise strategies to advocate for change. Mashatile said that in the past, the youth led protests and organised themselves, and frequently opposed the status quo and strived for a more promising future. He promised that the government would anchor youth inclusion in every major pillar of South Africa's G20 presidency. 'As South Africa prepares for the G20 Leaders' Summit in November, we do so with the consciousness that global leadership must be grounded in domestic credibility and continental solidarity. 'The developmental state we seek to build is not a theoretical construct; it must be a living architecture built on the capabilities, aspirations, and contributions of its young people,' said the deputy president.
The Citizen
17 hours ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Iran says no plan for new US nuclear talks, plays down impact of strikes
Iran's foreign minister says no agreement has been made to restart talks, despite US claims of imminent negotiations. This image released by the office of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on June 26, 2025 shows him addressing the nation in front of a portrait of his predecessor, the late founder of the Islamic republic Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Khamenei threatened in a video message aired by national TV on June 26 to carry out more strikes on US bases in the region if Iran came under another attack by the United States. (Photo by / AFP) Iran on Thursday denied it is set to resume nuclear talks with the United States after the end of a 12-day war with Israel, and accused Washington of exaggerating the impact of US strikes. The most serious conflict yet between Israel and Iran derailed nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, but President Donald Trump said Washington would hold discussions with Tehran next week, with his special envoy Steve Witkoff expressing hope 'for a comprehensive peace agreement'. But Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shut down what he said was 'speculation' that Tehran would come to the table and said it 'should not be taken seriously'. 'I would like to state clearly that no agreement, arrangement or conversation has been made to start new negotiations,' he said on state television. 'No plan has been set yet to start negotiations.' Araghchi's denial came as Iranian lawmakers passed a 'binding' bill suspending cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog and after supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Trump of exaggerating the impact of US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. In a televised speech — his first appearance since a ceasefire in the war with Israel — Khamenei hailed what he described as Iran's 'victory' over Israel, vowed never to yield to US pressure and insisted Washington had been dealt a humiliating 'slap'. ALSO READ: US apologised for not attending G20 Sherpa meeting, Lamola says [VIDEO] 'The American president exaggerated events in unusual ways, and it turned out that he needed this exaggeration,' Khamenei said, rejecting US claims Iran's nuclear programme had been set back by decades. The strikes, he insisted, had done 'nothing significant' to Iran's nuclear infrastructure. Araghchi, for his part, called the damage 'serious' and said a detailed assessment was under way. Trump said key facilities, including the underground Fordo uranium enrichment site, had been 'obliterated' by American B-2 bombers. Doubts remain about whether Iran quietly removed some 400 kilogrammes (880 pounds) of enriched uranium from its most sensitive sites before the strikes — potentially hiding nuclear material elsewhere in the country. But posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump dismissed such speculation, saying: 'Nothing was taken out… too dangerous, and very heavy and hard to move!' He added that satellite images showed trucks at the site only because Iranian crews were attempting to shield the facility with concrete. ALSO READ: A VIEW OF THE WEEK: Trump should have learnt from SA 'white genocide' moemish before bombing Iran Khamenei dismissed such claims, saying 'the Islamic republic won, and in retaliation dealt a severe slap to the face of America'. Both sides have claimed victory: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a 'historic win', while Khamenei said Iran's missile retaliation had brought Israel to the brink of collapse. US defence In Washington, the true impact of the strikes has sparked sharp political and intelligence debates. A leaked classified assessment suggested the damage to Iran's nuclear programme may be less severe than initially claimed — possibly delaying progress by only a few months. That contrasts with statements from senior US officials. CIA Director John Ratcliffe said several facilities would need to be 'rebuilt over the course of years'. ALSO READ: Trump's hasty war on Iran risks dragging US into another endless conflict Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth accused the media of misrepresenting the operation. He said the United States used massive GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs on Fordo and another underground site, while submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles targeted a third facility. 'President Trump created the conditions to end the war, decimating — choose your word — obliterating, destroying Iran's nuclear capabilities,' Hegseth said. Netanyahu says Iran 'thwarted' Following waves of Israeli attacks on nuclear and military sites and retaliatory missile fire from Iran since mid-June — the deadliest between the two countries to date — the US bombed three key Iranian atomic facilities. Initial intelligence reports, first revealed by CNN, suggested the strikes did not destroy critical components and delayed Iran's nuclear programme only by months. The Israeli military said Iran's nuclear sites had taken a 'significant' blow, but cautioned it was 'still early' to fully assess the damage. ALSO READ: Oh dear, Donald, that was a bust Netanyahu said Israel had 'thwarted Iran's nuclear project', warning any attempt by Iran to rebuild it would be met with the same determination and intensity. Iran has consistently denied seeking a nuclear weapon while defending its 'legitimate rights' to the peaceful use of atomic energy. It has also said it is willing to return to nuclear negotiations with Washington. French President Emmanuel Macron told journalist after an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday that US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities were 'genuinely effective'. But Macron said that the 'worst-case scenario' would be if Tehran now exits the global non-proliferation treaty that is meant to limit the spread of nuclear weapons. The Israeli strikes on Iran killed at least 627 civilians, Tehran's health ministry said. ALSO READ: Oil prices plunge as Trump announces shaky ceasefire between Iran and Israel Iran's attacks on Israel killed 28 people, according to Israeli figures. – By: © Agence France-Presse
