A passionate speech in praise of Nelson Mandela on the eve of what would have been his 100th birthday
1836 The ship Doncaster is wrecked west of Cape Agulhas and is lost with all hands.
1878 Nqwiliso, tribal chief of West Pondoland and eldest son of Ndamase, signs a treaty, ceding sovereign rights and shipping in the Umzimvubu River mouth to the Cape.
1917 Under mounting pressure, Britain's King George V renounces all his German connections and changes the royal family's name from the alien Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to the more acceptable Windsor. Anti-German feeling was running particularly high at the time with German Gotha bombers pounding England and killing civilians. When he heard the news, German leader Kaiser Wilhelm, a man apparently blessed with a sense of humour despite all his difficulties, is said to have suggested that Shakespeare's play, The Merry Wives of Windsor should be renamed, The Merry Wives of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.
1918 Russia's Czar Nicholas II, his wife and their children are murdered by Bolsheviks.
1944 Two ammunition ships explode in Port Chicago, California, killing 320 people.
1945 Allied leaders meet in Potsdam to decide the future of a defeated Germany and the terms of surrender for Japan.
1950 The SABC starts the first national news service in the country.
1998 A Papua New Guinea earthquake triggers a tsunami, which kills 2 700 people.
2007 An Airbus crashes upon landing during rain in São Paulo, Brazil, killing 199 people.
2014 A Malaysia Airlines plane is shot down over Ukraine. All 298 people on board die.
2015 Scientists solve the mystery of sleeping sickness in Kazakhstan villages – uranium mining increased carbon monoxide in the air.
2018 Former US president Barack Obama gives a passionate speech during the 16th annual Nelson Mandela Lecture in Johannesburg, honouring Madiba on the eve of the 100th anniversary of his birth, and warning of 'strongman politics'.
2023 Powerful Typhoon Talim makes landfall on China's Guandong coast, forcing the evacuation of 230 000 people.
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IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
Unity against fascism, the 80th anniversary of the Chinese people's victory
Commemorating 80 years of resistance: China's call for reflection on the anti-fascist struggle Image: Thabo Makwakwa / Independent Media Newspapers As the world marks eight decades since the triumph of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the broader fight against fascism, the Chinese Consul in Johannesburg has called for remembrance and reflection as the world grows more divisive. On Wednesday evening, the Chinese Consul hosted a commemorative event featuring a film and photography exhibition to unveil the often-overlooked brutalities of war, foster peace dialogue, and strengthen international bonds. At the opening ceremony, Pan Qingjiang, Chinese Consul General in Johannesburg, stated the significance of remembering history's darkest chapters to prevent their recurrence. 'It gives me great pleasure to join you today at the China Film and Photography Exhibition commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War,' he stated. He highlighted the resilience of the Chinese people, who endured 14 years of relentless conflict, ultimately defeating Japanese militarists and contributing significantly to the broader Allied victory. 'The noble human cause of justice is also etched with the heroic struggles of approximately 1.5 million people from over 30 African nations, including South Africa,' Pan noted, highlighting the international solidarity in the fight against fascism. According to Pan, the exhibition aims to shed light on the brutal realities of war, including the atrocities, suffering, and sacrifices often omitted from traditional narratives. Through compelling images and films, attendees are invited to confront the harsh truths of warfare, fostering a deeper understanding of its human toll. 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 ✕ Pan Qingjiang reflected on the current global landscape, contrasting the peace and prosperity of today with the chaos of 80 years ago. 'The dust of the World Anti-Fascist War had settled long ago, and globalisation has turned the world into a closely interconnected 'global village',' he said. 'But geopolitical conflicts still flare up, and the 'might is right' fallacy is creeping back. We now stand at a crossroads - toward unity, division, dialogue, or confrontation.' He quoted Chinese President Xi Jinping, who said, 'Prejudice, discrimination, hatred and war can only cause disaster and suffering, while mutual respect, equality, peaceful development and common prosperity represent the right path to take.' Pan urged continued international cooperation to uphold the outcomes of the anti-fascist victory, defend justice, and oppose hegemonic ambitions. The event also celebrated the enduring friendship between China and South Africa. Morakane Mosupyoe, Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, expressed pride in South Africa's historical role in resisting aggression and emphasised the importance of remembering past sacrifices. 'Their victory remains a guiding tool for us in continuing the struggle against any form of aggression,' she said. Mosupyoe highlighted the significance of the film and photography exhibition, viewing it as a platform for artistic collaboration and cultural exchange. 'This further entrenches our solidarity and promotes mutual understanding between our nations,' she added. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to global peace, justice, and development. South Africa's active role in international peace efforts, whether in Palestine, Ukraine, or the Democratic Republic of Congo, was cited as evidence of its dedication to a multipolar world order. 'Our bilateral relationship, forged in struggles for a better life, must continue to serve as a foundation for building a just and equitable world characterised by friendship and humanity,' said Mosupyoe. As the exhibition drew close, attendees were reminded of the importance of remembrance. 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,' quoted philosopher George Santayana, emphasising the vital role of history in shaping a peaceful future. The 80th anniversary observance in Johannesburg served not only as a commemoration of victory but also as a call to uphold the values of peace, resilience, and international solidarity. IOL Politics
IOL News
7 days ago
- IOL News
Three dead, several injured after train derails in Germany
Rescue forces work at the site of a derailed train near Riedlingen near Biberach on July 27, 2025. (Photo by Thomas Warnack / DPA / AFP) / GERMANY OUT Rescue forces work at the site of a derailed train near Riedlingen near Biberach on July 27, 2025. (Photo by Thomas Warnack / DPA / AFP) / GERMANY OUT Three people were killed and several others injured when a regional passenger train derailed in a wooded area in southwestern Germany on Sunday, police said. About 100 passengers were aboard the train, when the accident occurred at around 6:10 pm near the town of Riedlingen in Baden-Wuerttemberg state. Contacted by AFP, police initially said four people had been killed before correcting their statement to three victims. Authorities declined to elaborate on the number of injured or how seriously hurt they were, though tabloid Bild cited emergency workers saying there were 50 injured. German rail operator Deutsche Bahn confirmed several deaths and numerous injured. Two train carriages had derailed "for reasons yet unknown", it added. Authorities were currently investigating the circumstances of the accident, the operator said, and traffic had been suspended over a 40-kilometre (25-mile) stretch of the route. German media reported that a landslide might have caused the accident as severe storms swept through the region, according to weather services. The passenger train was travelling from the German town of Sigmaringen to the city of Ulm when it derailed in a forested area. Outdated train infrastructure In a post on social media, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed his condolences to the families of those killed. He added that he was in close contact with both the interior and transport ministers, and had asked them to "provide the emergency services with all the support they need". Footage from the scene of the accident showed yellow-and-grey-coloured train carriages lying on their sides, as firefighters and emergency services tried to get to the passengers. According to local TV station SWR, helicopters arrived shortly after the accident to transport the injured to hospitals in the area, and emergency doctors from nearby hospitals were alerted. German transport is regularly criticised by passengers for its outdated infrastructure, with travellers facing frequent train delays, and various technical problems. The government has pledged to invest several hundred billion euros over the next few years, in particular to modernise infrastructure. In June 2022, a train derailed near a Bavarian Alpine resort in southern Germany, killing four people and injuring dozens. Germany's deadliest rail accident happened in 1998 when a high-speed train operated by state-owned Deutsche Bahn derailed in Eschede in Lower Saxony, killing 101 people. AFP
Daily Maverick
7 days ago
- Daily Maverick
Three people killed in train crash in Germany, police say
There were around 100 people on board when two carriages left the tracks between the towns of Riedlingen and Munderkingen, near the corner of Germany that borders France and Switzerland, police in the city of Stuttgart said. The train was on a roughly 90 km (55 miles) route between Sigmaringen and Ulm. The cause of the crash was under investigation, the police statement said. A picture by German news agency DPA showed carriages largely intact but jackknifed into each other and rolled onto their sides. German national rail operator Deutsche Bahn said in a statement there were 'many injured' and its thoughts were with the victims and their loved ones. It was not clear what had caused the train to derail, it said, adding that it would support the authorities in their investigation.
