South Africa

• A new UN report warns that the rapid development of AI technology is currently outpacing the ability of experts to fully understand its associated risks and benefits. • The report specifically highlights critical concerns regarding child safety and the proliferation of disinformation resulting from these advancements. • Major U.S.-based corporations, including Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, are spending hundreds of billions of dollars annually to develop AI, often prioritizing growth over societal policy concerns.

More than 2,000 anti-foreigner protesters march through Durban city centre as the arbitrary deadline passes for undocumented migrants to leave the countrySouth Africa was holding its breath on Tuesday as mass anti-immigration protests were held across the country. They come after a weeks-long campaign against foreigners that has seen at least four killed and tens of thousands fleeing for safety.In the coastal city of Durban, where violence had been expected, the streets were unusually quiet and shops were shuttered as tension hung thick in the air. Continue reading...

Government fears repeat of anti-migrant violence in 2008 that led to looting and resulted in deaths of 62 peopleSouth African authorities have deployed police units to towns and cities around the country before planned demonstrations against undocumented foreign nationals.Security personnel were seen patrolling the central business district in Johannesburg, the economic capital, where many shopkeepers decided not to open on Tuesday. Trucks and other assets belonging to the South African National Defence Force were also present, according to local media reports. Continue reading...

• South Africa secured a surprising victory over South Korea, while Brazil dominated Scotland in a high-scoring match on Wednesday. • Six games were played across Groups A, B, and C to determine the final rankings for the top two spots in each group. • These results are critical as they establish which nations advance directly and which teams must compete for qualification as the best third-place finishers.

• South Africa secured a historic 1-0 victory over South Korea on Day 14 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, impacting the standings for several other nations. • Brazil, Morocco, and Bosnia have officially advanced to the knockout stages, joining a list of qualified teams that includes the USA, Germany, France, Argentina, and Colombia. • In other match action, Switzerland managed to hold on for a result against Canada, while a Qatar player received a five-game ban.

• India and South Africa are facing off in the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. • The match is being broadcast and tracked via live scores, ball-by-ball commentary, and video highlights for viewers in the USA and Canada. • This championship match determines the global T20 cricket champion for 2024, marking a high-stakes conclusion to the tournament.

• South Africa currently holds a lead over South Korea in the second half of their match during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. • The expanded 48-team tournament spans 39 days across three host countries and is projected to generate approximately $8.9 billion. • The event is overshadowed by geopolitical tensions, specifically the United States' ongoing war with Iran, which has created an uneven playing field for participants.

• Head coach Hong Myung-bo has named the starting lineup for South Korea's final Group A match against South Africa in the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup. • Striker Oh Hyun-kyu and Hwang Hee-chan will start the match, while star players Son Heung-min and Lee Jae-sung have been placed on the bench. • The game takes place on June 25 at Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe, Mexico, and is described as a decisive encounter for the team's group stage standing.

• South Africa Women defeated India Women in the 5th T20I of the 2026 tour, posting a total of 155/6. • India Women struggled in their chase, ending the match at 132/8 after 20 overs. • Richa Ghosh was a key contributor for India with 25 runs off 15 balls, though the team fell short of the target.

‘Mastermind’ Dawie Groenewald given fine of 2m rand or four-year jail term almost 16 years after arrestTwo rhino-horn traffickers have been sentenced by a South African court in what police said was the world’s largest such case, partly bringing to an end an almost two-decade legal saga.Dawie Groenewald and Tielman Erasmus had faced more than 1,700 charges ranging from illegally hunting and dehorning rhinos, to racketeering and money laundering. Continue reading...

• South Africa Women (RSAW) have reached a score of 127/8 after 16.5 overs in their Group A clash against Pakistan Women (PAKW) during the 11th match of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026. • Pakistan Women previously posted a total of 126/9, leaving South Africa needing only a few more runs to secure a victory. • The match is currently in its final stages, with Ayabonga Khaka and Shabnim Ismail at the crease for South Africa.

About 150 jobs have already been lost in Bolton as company reports 145% rise in profits and hands £20m to shareholdersBusiness live – latest updatesThe online electrical goods seller AO World has revealed it is outsourcing up to 200 UK call centre roles to South Africa blaming rising labour costs, as it handed £20m to shareholders.As the retailer reported a jump in profits, it said it was shifting the majority of call centre jobs overseas “in response to ongoing inflationary cost pressures, and particularly rising employment costs”. It expects to save about £4m a year as a result of the change. Continue reading...

• Mexico's World Cup opening match against South Africa attracted 7.1 million viewers in the United States. • This figure marks a new record for the most-watched opening match of the tournament for an English-language broadcast. • The high viewership underscores the significant growth and popularity of soccer within the U.S. market.

Decision comes as the museum in Charleston says it faces a ‘shift in the political and funding environment’ The International African American Museum (IAAM) in Charleston, South Carolina, announced on Wednesday that, beginning in July and lasting through 31 December, all of its staff will be furloughed. The 20-daylong furlough will be staggered over the months and impact all levels of staff, including the museum’s leadership. The museum will remain fully operational, museum officials said.The decision comes as the museum faces “financial pressure”, the IAAM said in a statement. Continue reading...

The accomplished musician, who recorded over 70 albums in his career, died peacefully in Germany after a short illnessSouth African jazz composer and pianist Abdullah Ibrahim has died at the age of 91.His family announced his death in a statement released Monday. Continue reading...

• Mexico defeated South Africa in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup held in Mexico City. • The opening ceremony featured a star-studded lineup of performers, including Shakira, Tyla, Alejandro Fernández, Burna Boy, Mana, J Balvin, Andrea Bocelli, and Ejae. • This tournament marks a historic expansion of the event, growing from 32 to 48 participating nations, with Canada, the United States, and Mexico serving as joint hosts.

• Group A of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, and Czechia. • Czechia qualified for the tournament after winning UEFA Playoff Path D, securing penalty shootout victories against both the Republic of Ireland and Denmark. • The group stage represents a critical opportunity for Czechia to overcome a historical struggle in knockout football, having won only one major tournament knockout match in two decades.

• The FIFA World Cup 2026 has officially commenced in Mexico City with an opening ceremony and the start of group stage gameplay. • Mexico secured a victory against South Africa in the tournament's opening match, while the fixture between South Korea and Czechia is currently underway. • This event marks the beginning of a massive global tournament, with analysts and media outlets like NBC News focusing on the key players expected to dominate the competition.

• Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 on Thursday in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup. • The game was characterized by a high number of red cards and a perceived mismatch in skill levels between the two teams. • While the victory is a positive start, some local residents noted a contrast in atmosphere compared to the 1986 tournament due to ongoing city protests.

African migrants say legal status offers little protection as rallies against illegal immigration gain momentumAfrican migrants in South Africa say they are living in fear after a series of marches calling for illegal immigrants to leave reignited long-held xenophobic sentiment in the country.March & March, a campaign group at the forefront of recent protests, has given people living illegally in the country until 30 June to leave, without specifying what will happen to those who do not. Continue reading...

About 800 Mozambicans said to be caught up in violence in Mossel Bay as anti-immigration protests sweep countryFive Mozambique nationals were killed in “xenophobic attacks” in South Africa at the weekend, the Mozambican government said – the first deaths officially linked to protests against illegal immigration sweeping the country.About 800 Mozambican nationals were caught up in violence that broke out in the southern coastal city of Mossel Bay on Friday, a government statement said. Continue reading...

• Kenyan Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (Mudavadi) has arrived in Seoul to participate in a summit featuring foreign ministers from 54 African states and four regional organizations. • The meeting focuses on strengthening ties, highlighting South Korea's significant Official Development Assistance (ODA) and increasing investments in Kenya's manufacturing, industry, and infrastructure sectors. • Economic cooperation is expected to accelerate following the recent establishment of Korea Exim Bank offices in Nairobi to facilitate financing.

State department says Afrikaners in ‘emergency refugee situation’, a claim previously rebutted by South AfricaThe US government has said it will increase the number of white South Africans it admits as refugees this year from about 7,500 to 17,500, claiming that “unforeseen developments in South Africa created an emergency refugee situation.”Since starting his second term in office last year, Donald Trump has repeatedly made false claims that white Afrikaners are racially targeted and face a “white genocide”, which South Africa’s government has furiously rebutted. Continue reading...

Temperatures soar in California and Arizona, while deluge continues across Western and Northern CapeHeat is expected to intensify across western parts of the US and Mexico this week as a ridge of high pressure pushes temperatures well above the seasonal norm. Daytime highs are forecast to reach 10-15C above average in some areas.The US National Weather Service has issued heat advisories for parts of California and Arizona, with extreme heat warnings in force on Monday and Tuesday in places such as Palm Springs, where temperatures could reach 40-43C (104-110F). More broadly, temperatures are expected to climb into the high 30s celsius before the heat shifts eastwards towards the midwest later this week. Continue reading...

• India clinched their first-ever ICC Women's ODI World Cup title on Sunday in Navi Mumbai, defeating South Africa by 52 runs after posting 299 runs. • Shafali Verma starred with 87 runs off 78 balls and took 2 wickets, while Deepti Sharma claimed a five-wicket haul to bowl out South Africa for 246 in 45.3 overs. • The historic victory marks a milestone for Indian women's cricket, boosting its global profile amid growing investments in the sport.

Andes strain the cause of infection in two cases, says South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable DiseasesEurope live – latest updatesWhat is hantavirus?A luxury cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak and marooned for days off the coast of Cape Verde with close to 150 people onboard was due to head to Spain, while South Africa confirmed it had identified among the victims a strain of the virus that can – in rare cases – spread among humans.The Swiss government said a man who returned to Switzerland after being a passenger on the MV Hondius was infected with the hantavirus and was being treated in Zurich. It said there was no danger to the broader population. Continue reading...

Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe fined and deported after pleading guilty to immigration and firearms-related offences unrelated to recent shootingThree months after an employee was shot in the back at the Mugabe family home in a wealthy suburb of Johannesburg, Robert Mugabe’s youngest son has been fined and ordered to leave South Africa after pleading guilty to two unrelated charges.Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, 28, and his cousin Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze, 33, were initially both charged with attempted murder after the incident on 19 February. Continue reading...

Leader of leftwing Economic Freedom Fighters was convicted last year for firing rifle in the air at 2018 rallyThe South African leftwing politician Julius Malema has been sentenced to five years in prison for firing a rifle in the air at a political rally in 2018.Lawyers for the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, South Africa’s fourth largest political party, immediately sought leave to appeal. Legal arguments are ongoing. Continue reading...