Innholdsfortegnelse for 2023-07-12 i Star

PRESCIENT Investment Management announced this week that it has con- cluded a deal with H1 Holdings to provide R220 million to fund the latter’s invest- ment in three Grootfontein 75MW (each) solar PV farms located in Touws River in the Western Cape. This was done through Prescient’s Clean Energy Fund. The projects were awarded as part of the fifth bidding round of the Department of Mineral Resources’ Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procure- ment Programme to deliver much-needed renewable energy as part of a 20-year power purchase agreement. On comple- tion, the projects are expected to power some 100 000 households daily in the surrounding communities and reduce approximately 630 000 tons of CO2 emis- sions annually. Prescient portfolio manager and credit structuring specialist, Luzuko Nomjana said…

DJ and music producer Bongani Mohosana, aka Murdah Bongz, has been doing a sterling job of standing in as a father to Kairo Forbes after she lost her rapper dad, Kiernan “AKA” Forbes, in February. Kairo recently celebrated her eighth birthday – the first without AKA – but Bongz and the rest of her family, including her mom, DJ Zinhle, AKA’s girlfriend rapper Nadia Nakai, and Glammy (Lynn Forbes) made sure she remained in high spirits despite facing adversity earlier in the year. Taking to Instagram, Bongz shared a heartfelt message to Kairo, mentioning that she is the “warmest part” of his day and that her dad would be so “proud” of her. “@kairo.forbes you are the warmest part of my day. You force me to get up and fulfil…

Court finds athletics rules forced SA athletics ace off track SOUTH Africa’s middle-distance Olympic champion Caster Semenya was discriminated against after not being afforded “sufficient procedural safeguards” when challenging World Athletics regulations that effectively forced her off the running track. There had also been a violation of the prohibition of discrimination taken together with the right to respect for private life, as well as a violation of the right to an effective remedy. This is contained in a precedent-setting judgment by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) where Semenya had challenged the regulations issued by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which required her to lower her natural testosterone levels through hormone treatment in order to be eligible to compete as a woman in international sporting events. When…

THE lawyer for the three victims of the N1 highway assault said the bluelight brigade should be disbanded. Police said on Monday that all eight of the VIP Protection Unit officers attached to a security detail for Deputy President Paul Mashatile who assaulted a driver and two passengers near Fourways had been suspended. Lawyer Ulrich Roux said their mandate was to ensure that a criminal prosecution ensued and that proper prosecution by the NPA was instituted against the police officials. “We will also be exploring possible civil claims for damages against the police and the minister of police following this unlawful assault,” he said. Roux said that they would institute civil claims for damages against the policemen in their personal capacity. “Our mandate is to ensure that a prosecution ensues…

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) wants its expelled former second deputy president, Ruth Ntlokotse, gone. This comes after Numsa, in May, expelled Ntlokotse from the union after a back-and-forth spat emanating from a Labour Court interdict that demanded that Numsa suspend its congress until it complies with its own constitution before proceeding with electing new leaders. This interdict was lodged by Ntlokotse days before the Numsa congress was due to take place in Cape Town in July last year. Last week, Numsa held its Special Central Committee (SCC) meeting called by its president, Andrew Chirwa, to resolve some of the issues, including finalising Ntlokotse’s full expulsion from all structures after her failed appeal to be reinstated. Ntlokotse was expelled after she was found guilty of three…

The Maropeng Centre at the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site is this week hosting the review of the implementation of South Africa’s population policy conference. According to the department, 300 participants are being represented by diverse sectors, including young people, the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disabilities, civil society organisations and academics. The aim of the conference, that began yesterday and ends tomorrow, is to assess progress made in implementing the policy, which was developed to include population concerns in development planning. The department said topics would include a panel discussion on the role of young fathers in raising children, why adolescents should be a priority, and government support initiatives advancing the 1.8 billion campaign and agenda. “The minister will also launch the State of the World…

Ingredients For the stew: Vegetable oil 6 uncooked chicken thighs 1 onion, finely chopped 1 packet (600g) chopped chunky mixed vegetables 1 tbs garlic 1 tbs medium curry powder 1 tbs tomato paste 1 tsp each salt and pepper, optional 1 cup chicken stock, warm For the dumplings: 1 cup self-raising flour, sifted ¼ cup plain yoghurt ½ tin cream-style sweetcorn Method For the stew: Heat the vegetable oil in a medium-sized pot on high heat. Add the chicken, skin-side down, and fry until crispy, about 7 to 10 minutes. When crispy, lower the temperature to medium heat and remove the chicken and set aside. Add the onions, vegetable mix, garlic, medium curry powder, tomato paste and salt and pepper, if using. Sauté until fragrant or until the onions are…

WHILE the Auditor-General, Tsakani Maluleke, has painted a gloomy picture of municipalities around the country, her management reports regarding the state of the municipalities will remain under wraps. This is according to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, which recently turned down an application by Sakeliga that the auditor-general (AG) had to make these reports public. Judge Jan Swanepoel found that the management reports prepared by the AG are not ‘’reports’’ within the meaning of what is prescribed in the Constitution. The Judge said the AG was thus not under a Constitutional obligation to make the management reports public. Sakeliga turned to the courts as it wanted the management reports regarding 154 problem municipalities to be made public for the first time. The management reports differ from the summary…

The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) has called on Police Minister Bheki Cele to deploy SAPS to escort trucks carrying goods in and out of Gauteng. This after six trucks with goods were set alight on the N3 in Van Reenen’s Pass in KwaZulu-Natal, followed by another five trucks which were torched on the N4 in Mpumalanga. Three more were targeted in Burgersfort in Limpopo. Yesterday another two trucks were set alight on the N2 highway in Empangeni, KZN. The union believes the threats are likely to move to Gauteng, especially Pretoria and Johannesburg. Speaking to Pretoria News yesterday, Satawu spokesperson Amanda Tshemese called on Cele to “do better”. “Now that they are threatening to do this in Gauteng, we need to do better. Already our economy…

Limpopo police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe has “strongly” condemned a domestic violence incident in which a 27-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly killed his 59-year-old mother, his 19-year-old sister, and his 10-year-old nephew. Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the “shocking” incident happened on Monday at Breda village, in Gilead, outside Mokopane. “Police responded to the complaint at about 11am after community members alerted them about the domestic violence taking place at the house where a son allegedly hacked his own mother with an axe, then went after his sister and nephew,” Ledwaba said. “Upon arrival at the scene, the three victims were certified dead by the paramedics. The suspect was arrested shortly, near his home.” The police have opened three counts of murder. “The motive is still…

MORE than a quarter of South Africa’s population suffers from depression, yet only one in four seeks the necessary help, research has shown. During Mental Illness Awareness Month (July), the South African Society of Psychiatrists emphasised that the stigma associated with mental illness, as well as the misconception about the benefits and use of antidepressants, serve as major barriers to people seeking assistance. Dr Gagu Matsebula, a member of the South African Society of Psychiatrists, said depression did not discriminate and that everyone was vulnerable. Depression, he said, was not a sign of weakness, a result of wallowing in grief or sadness, a lack of positive thinking, or self-pity “Various elements contribute to depressive episodes including one’s genetics, anxiety, early adversity, traumatic experiences, various kinds of abuse, socio-economic status, loss…

RENOWNED media personality and actress Khanyi Mbau has been announced as the host of the second annual Basadi in Music Awards (BIMA), set to take place on August 12 at the Joburg Theatre. Mbau, who is widely known for her charismatic personality, is expected to make the celeb-studded affair a ball of fun, and a memorable experience. The prestigious event pays tribute to the outstanding contributions of female musicians, producers and other industry professionals. BIMA CEO Hloni Modise spoke about the decision to bring Mbau on board, sharing that they were confident that she would deliver. “Khanyi’))s magnetic presence and ability to connect with audiences make her an ideal choice for this prestigious event. Her passion for music and her genuine support for women in the industry align perfectly with…

In just a few days since its premiere on Netflix, Fatal Seduction has caught the attention of many viewers while also causing others to anticipate its racy and steamy scenes. Fatal Seduction follows the life of a university professor in a rocky marriage who begins an affair with a student amid a murder investigation. This local erotic thriller has become a hot topic on social media and has stirred controversy over the idea that “sex sells”. This has also elicited the impression that most film productions glorify sex, drugs and money to lure viewers into their content. While various views continue to pour in, the series is climbing the charts and has received a nod in other countries. Netflix revealed that it is leading in 35 countries while claiming #3…

THE repeated calls for the unacceptable act of desecrating the Holy Qur’an on the pretext of “secular, democratic or Western values” is an immoral and futile exercise. The Qur’an is unchangeable and protected by Almighty Himself. In the Qur’an Almighty has promised to protect the Qur’an from change and alteration and mentions “Indeed, it is we who sent down the Qur’an and indeed, we will be its guardian.” Another miracle of the Qur’an is that Almighty has given Muslims the power and strength to memorise the entire Qur’an, cover-to-cover, word-for-word, to even the subtle vowels and diacritics marks at the top and bottom of every single letter of the Qur’an. Millions of Arab and non-Arab Muslims, men and women, young and old, around the globe have memorised the entire Qur’an…

When will the government get to grips with the need for good intelligence? Once again, intelligence services have been caught with their underpants firmly placed around their ankles, while vile creatures set vehicles alight in the Van Reenen area. Allowing the anarchy has become a hallmark, of the dysfunctional ANC policing services, without any explanations forthcoming from Minister Bheki Cele or his colleague responsible for inland home security. It seems the ministers are clueless when it comes to information gathering as it requires specialised skills to penetrate the nests of criminality that are flourishing in the post-1994 South Africa. The ANC had much to say when it was a vocal revolutionary movement but it has lost the plot as it attempts to remain relevant in a country that is bleeding.…

The UN Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of Congo’s 2023 mid-term report reduces the very complex causes of violence in the eastern part of the country to inter-communal violence. This widely disregards armed groups’ motivations to resort to violence. This narrow approach will perpetuate the cycles of violence in a country whose population hasn’t known peace for three decades. A failure to account for the other major reasons for the conflict in the experts’ brief to the UN Security Council could lead to the adoption of inappropriate measures to stabilise the DRC. I have researched the micro and macro causes of conflict in eastern DRC since 2017 to understand the motivations of individuals, groups and communities. In my view, most of the violent confrontations are consequences of the…

Jakarta: Indonesian maritime authorities seized an Iranian-flagged tanker carrying more than 200 000 metric tons of light crude oil after a suspected illegal transfer at sea, they said yesterday. Iran has been accused by the US and its allies of using crowded shipping lanes in the Persian Gulf and elsewhere to circumnavigate Western sanctions on its nuclear programme. The tanker was seized after authorities found it conducting a suspected transfer of crude oil to Cameroon-flagged ship MT S Tinos. The vessel was carrying a crew of 28 Syrian nationals and three other passengers, as well as 272 568 metric tons of light crude oil worth tens of millions of dollars. | AFP…

Tokyo: Heavy rainfall in Japan’s Kyushu region has left six people dead and three others missing, reports said yesterday. The fatalities and the missing people were reported in Fukuoka, Saga and Oita prefectures due to landslides and heavy rain. In Fukuoka, a 77-year-old woman was killed in a landslide in Soeda Town on Monday, and a man in his 70s who was rescued in Hirokawa town was confirmed dead at the hospital. In the prefecture, three others also died. In Kurume city, a man in his 70s was confirmed dead at the site where homes were struck by a mudslide, while another man was confirmed dead in a rice field. | IANS…

AS THE WORLD grapples with the urgent need for sustainable energy, Scatec, a key player in the renewable energy landscape, is making significant strides in the field of energy storage. Our recent achievements and innovative approach to integrating cutting-edge storage technologies into renewable energy projects are helping to shape the future of this burgeoning industry. The initiation of our three Kenhardt projects in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, under the auspices of the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, exemplifies this innovative spirit. These ambitious projects, involving a total capital expenditure approaching a staggering $1 billion (R18.84bn), represent one of the most extensive photovoltaic endeavours globally. Their unique design, incorporating a total solar capacity of 540MW and a battery storage capacity of 225MW/1 140MW/h, is…

The South African Friends of Israel is pleased with Orlando Pirates’ decision to play against an Israeli team despite concerns. The lobby group said it believed that Israel is not an apartheid state, and that sport should not be used to divide people or fight political battles. “For most people, they will enjoy a beautiful game organised by Fifa. South Africa and Fifa have not boycotted Israel; there is no reason for Orlando Pirates to do that,” a spokesperson for the group, Bafana Modise, said. Modise accused the BDS movement of spreading lies about Israel and forcing the South African sports fraternity to participate in the mudslinging against Israel. “When you look at the BDS, they have always tried to bully SA into their own agenda. They describe Israel as…

The DA in the Emfuleni local municipality has slammed the municipality for “splurging” more than R168 million on consultants. The DA’s head of constituency in the local municipality, Kingsol Chabalala, said the cash-strapped municipality should have made better use of the money instead of spending it on consultants. He said in-house personnel should have been used as spending money on consultants had a negative impact on service delivery, which had completely collapsed in the area. “Emfuleni has now spent R168 109 431.10 on consultants in the past six financial years for upgrading infrastructure,” Chabalala said. This was according to Gauteng MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mzikayifani Khumalo, in a written reply to the DA’s questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL). The MEC said…

STAKEHOLDERS who attended the first China-South Africa poverty alleviation workshop in Pretoria have agreed that South Africa has to form partnerships that will assist the country in leveraging science and technology to boost the agricultural sector. Statistics South Africa reported that as of 2022, about 18.2 million people in South Africa lived in extreme poverty, which meant approximately 123 000 more people were pushed into poverty as compared with 2021. With that figure set to increase by 2025, scientists, academics, researchers and farmers who attended the poverty alleviation workshop at the Sheraton Hotel in Pretoria on Monday were in agreement that South Africa was sitting on a gold mine that could potentially help to avert the looming crisis. Dr Theo de Jager, chairperson of the Southern African…

SINCE 2015 a landfill site in Soshanguve township has been operating without electricity due to illegal power connections made by residents from neighbouring informal settlements. As a result of the prolonged power disruptions, the waste weighing process has been negatively affected. The facility also has a broken window and damaged office door allegedly reported in 2020 but not repaired because the City of Tshwane did not have the budget. These were some of the shocking discoveries made by members of the Section 79 standing committee on municipal public accounts during their in-loco inspection at the landfill site. The poor state of the site was attributed to lack of maintenance. It was further highlighted that the lifespan of the landfill site was about five years, and that this required adequate intervention…

PRETORIA residents have bemoaned “high and unusual” electricity tariffs after a woman shared an electricity receipt on social media that reflected an exorbitant amount. The homeowners are accusing the metro of trying to recover money through charging hefty amounts for services, leaving them to bear the brunt. Last week a social media user, @AuntiP complained how “ridiculously high” the price of electricity is. Tagging the City of Tshwane, she shared an electricity receipt showing that after spending R1 000 she only received 138kWh (kilowatt hour) of electricity, far more than she used to pay. Many of her followers and residents in the city in general shared her sentiments, calling for the municipality to provide answers. Speaking to Pretoria News yesterday, Norah Shibambu, 48, a homeowner from Soshanguve said she had…

Four alleged robbers were arrested in Mpumalanga after police in Piet Retief found them in the act of robbing a business, after holding staff and customers hostage. The quartet allegedly held victims at gunpoint in a business robbery incident which took place at a supermarket on Sunday morning. “On the said day, between 9.30am and 10am, the SAPS members from Piet Retief received a complaint of a business robbery in progress at a supermarket along Mark Street in town,” Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said. “Piet Retief members from visible policing, together with their counterparts from detective services, swiftly responded then proceeded to the crime scene. Upon arrival, that was when they reportedly caught the four suspects in the act,” he said. According to the police report, the armed…

The City of Tshwane wants to appeal to residents to be safe during cold weather conditions with the cold front that is sweeping over most parts of the country. Remember the following: l Never leave children un- attended near a lit candle or fire. l Make sure all candles are placed in a safe candleholder. l Never connect electricity illegally. l Never overload electrical plugs. l Never leave a mbaola or coal fire burning overnight without supervision. l Extinguish paraffin fires with sand or a fire extinguisher. l Special care must be given to the elderly and frail, physically challenged and children to ensure their safety against the freezing of body extremities (feet and hands). l Move animals that may be exposed to extreme cold weather conditions to safety. To…

The deadly assault on Jenin, the critical situation in the city of Zaporizhzhia and the sale of cluster bombs to Ukraine by the USA are developments that are cascading out of control. The killing of innocent civilians in all the world’s conflict zones goes on unabated with savage fury, which violates every aspect of International Law and the Laws of combat. Innocent men, women and children are evicted, tortured, beaten and punished in a sinister campaign for territorial domination and geographical conquest while the UN remains impotent. Demolished towns and villages, torn families and decimated countries are a few of the destructive properties of war. Throughout the past 150 years, the world has been through war after war. Perpetual wars have become a cornerstone of US foreign policy actively supported…

Never before has it been so necessary for the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) to consider an interim pension increase for pensioners and announce it with the medium-term Budget. A catch-up increase is a must to keep up with inflation rate. Interest rates have risen in 10-consecutive decisions of the Reserve Bank from November 2021, a total of 4.75 percentage points. The prime interest rate of banks is 11.75% and may be increased again on July 20. Headline inflation was 6.3% in May but cost-price inflation stood at 12%. In its First Edition Newsletter Fund News 2023/2024, the GEPF boasts about the four possible elements of pension fund increases that may be used, including a catch-up increase. Last October, the GEPF boasted excellent revenue figures. The table was therefore set…

Water crises like the Cholera outbreak will continue to wreak havoc on communities across the country should municipalities and essential services units continue to engage in finger-pointing exercises instead of working together to find sustainable solutions to the looming threat. One would assume that after the Cholera catastrophe that claimed 43 lives and took the combined efforts of the government and municipalities to curb the outbreak across various provinces, the plan would be to continue on the same unified trajectory. Instead, a number of communities across the City of Tshwane and, most recently, the City of Joburg, have been left without water for 58 hours as the water utility announced scheduled maintenance was due to take place. Last week, parts of Olievenhoutbosch were also left without water for a week,…

Tokyo: In a landmark verdict, Japan’s Supreme Court yesterday ruled in favour of a transgender bureaucrat who sued the government over access to female toilets at work. The court found that a decision barring the woman from using nearby toilets and forcing her to use others two floors from her office invalid. The case was filed by a transgender woman in her fifties. Japanese law requires transgender people to be surgically sterilised if they want legal recognition of their gender identity. The plaintiff in the case has not changed her legal gender, but otherwise lives as a woman. | AFP…

Canberra: An elderly man has been admitted to hospital in Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) after being attacked by a crocodile. The 67-year-old was swimming at Wangi Falls, a popular spot in the Litchfield National Park south of Darwin on Monday when he was mauled by a 2-metre saltwater crocodile. He was rushed to the nearby Batchelor medical centre to be treated for injuries to his arm and back. He was later transferred to the Royal Darwin Hospital. It is the fourth crocodile attack reported in the NT in 2023, none of which have been fatal. | IANS…

ALUMINIUM semi-fabricator Hulamin faces an indefinite strike at its KwaZulu-Natal operations as its 1 800 workers downed tools. Workers want an increase in the company’s medical aid contribution and for contributions to the Pension Fund to be equalised and to be settled separate from salary negotiations. The medical aid contributions are currently capped at 40% by the employer with the workers contributing the balance. The National Union of Metal Workers South Africa (Numsa), which represents 1 050 of the workers, said it would sustain the strike with production being interrupted until a meaningful offer was put on the table. Numsa’s head of communications, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, said: “Management is resisting and they have not tabled an offer. They say they want to combine these issues with wage negotiations. “However,…

More than 80 interns and bursary holders who are beneficiaries of the Gauteng Department of Education’s (GDE) Gauteng City Region Academy (GCRA) programme are currently in limbo after they were not paid their June stipends. According to the DA, many of these young people are from disadvantaged communities and are studying through a province-sponsored programme at different TVET colleges. It is reported that GCRA, an entity under the GDE responsible for facilitating bursaries, internships and guidance programmes, has only paid stipends to 69 out of 150 interns since June this year, with DA education spokesperson Khume Ramulifho saying this was concerning. Ramulifho said that after enquiring with Education MEC Matome Chiloane, he was told that the department was experiencing systematic delays, which have contributed to the failure to pay out…

A WOMAN has taken her stepmother to court, saying her stepmother had never been married to her father, who is now deceased, as the “bride was never handed over” to his family. The daughter, identified as ZK, asked the Eastern Cape High Court, sitting in Mthatha, to declare that the customary marriage entered into between the deceased and her stepmother was invalid on the grounds of non-compliance with the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act. Apart from the bride never being handed over, the daughter said the lobola negotiations were conducted by emissaries who were not members of her family. The stepmother, on the other hand, said she was legally married to the deceased and her marriage had complied with all the requirements for a valid customary marriage. The dispute initially…

A Daveyton landlord was arrested after he allegedly assaulted his tenant for not paying rent, Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) said yesterday day. Spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Kelebogile Thepa said the 48-year-old landlord was found in Daveyton. “The officers received information about the location of a suspect sought for arrest, following a charge of common assault that was levied against the suspect. The suspect was on Kwena Street in Daveyton. “The suspect, who did not resist arrest, was immediately apprehended. It is alleged he assaulted his tenant for not paying rent,” said Thepa. In another unrelated case, the EMPD arrested a 34-year-old man for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend during a heated argument. “On Cele Street in Daveyton, a 34-year-old male suspect was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend. It is alleged that the…

IN A call to action to policymakers and scholars on the continent, a group of mostly African microbiologists have highlighted the importance of urgently increasing research into Africa’s woefully understudied microbiomes – microbial communities found in soils, water, plants and the guts of animals and humans. Africa is trailing in efforts to meet the UN’s 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) but could catch up by closing the gaps in scientific knowledge of the continent’s microbiomes. “African biomes are much neglected and previous studies have disproportionately focused on the Global North. There are clear gaps in the current understanding of microbiomes from the Global South, in general, and Africa specifically,” said the group of scientists from Benin, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, the UK and Zimbabwe, writing in the…

After the glittering success of his solo art exhibition, lliso Lo Moya, local creative and illustrator Masonwabe Ntloko announced the production of his knitwear collection. Ntloko has spilled all the details about his collection, Ameva Ayabangulana, which he said draws inspiration from shared childhood memories among Africans. In conversation with The Star, the Dutywa-born talent speaks about what sparked the idea of the collection. “The idea that I would produce a knitwear collection had been at the back of my mind since my third year of university (2016), and I have been refining the idea since then. “I really just hope people appreciate the time that went into producing it, and I would also like for the audience to take away the pride of our people (my role in the…

What is President Cyril Ramaphosa doing to restore order and discipline in his Cabinet and the government? South Africa’s government is in disarray. And only the president, or his replacement, if it comes to that, can do so. Fikile Mbalula, an unsuccessful minister of sport, of police (unless compared with Minister Bheki Cele) and of transport, is treated with great respect and addressed as “SG”. He is the secretary-general of the ANC. He recently berated the chairperson of the ANC, (his superior in the hierarchy) by publicly chastising Minister Gwede Mantashe for not toeing the Ramaphosa line. He went so far as to say the ANC would back Ramaphosa and not Mantashe if the president acted against Mantashe. For a change, Mbalula was in the right. But it must be…

South Africa’s Constitution makes provision for everyone to have access to food and water. What the document fails to do is provide the means to access the basic necessities. The increasing cost of living is worsening the burden on the poor who were not able to afford basics even before the economy became as tattered as it is now. Food and water is not only a humanitarian issue but also a political and social concern. While the legislation has its limitations, whereby it states that everyone or groups are responsible for providing their own food, the government is obligated to provide a conducive environment for investments to be made, so that employment opportunities can be created for the unemployed to afford to buy food. According to Statistics South Africa, close…

NATO leaders have agreed at a summit in Vilnius that Ukraine’s future lies within the alliance but stopped short of handing Kyiv the invitation or timetable for accession that the country has been seeking. At the same time, Nato dropped the requirement for Ukraine to fulfil a so-called Membership Action Plan (MAP), effectively removing a hurdle on Kyiv’s way into the alliance. “Ukraine’s future is in Nato,” a declaration agreed by the leaders yesterday said, adding Kyiv’s Euro-Atlantic integration had moved beyond the need for a Membership Action Plan. “We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance when allies agree and conditions are met,” the declaration said. While leaders did not specify the conditions Ukraine needs to meet, they said the alliance…

Islamabad: Pakistan’s low foreign exchange reserves were boosted yesterday with a $2 billion deposit from Saudi Arabia, ahead of an IMF meeting this month to approve a new deal. The economy has been hurt by a balance-of-payments crisis as it attempts to service crippling external debt, while political chaos has scared off foreign investment. The deposit brings state foreign reserves to $6.5bn, an almost 50% increase on last week’s account balance. Analysts say the deposit will stabilise Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves and improve its credit rating. | AFP…