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IOL News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Cyril Ramaphosa and Donald Trump: Key topics for their upcoming meeting at the White House
Cyril Ramaphosa meets Donald Trump for crucial talks at the White House Image: Armand Hough/Independent Media President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to sit down with US President Donald Trump later on Wednesday, where the two heads of State will deliberate on a range of topics. Ramaphosa, accompanied by Minister of Agriculture and DA leader John Steenhuisen, Minister of Trade and Industry Parks Tau, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola, and new special envoy to the US, Mcebisi Jonas, arrived in Washington DC earlier this week. While it has been reported that the meeting will be held in-camera, speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Centre for African Diplomacy and Leadership at the University of Johannesburg, Professor Oscar Van Heerden said, knowing Trump, there are bound to be cameras. What will Ramaphosa and Trump talk about? Chief Executive Officer of Everest Wealth, Thys van Zyl, says this visit is an attempt to restore diplomatic ties, and discussions will likely focus on trade relations, financial assistance, and investment opportunities. Afrikaners in the US Just over one week ago, 49 Afrikaners boarded a US-chartered plane from the OR Tambo International Airport and travelled to America under Trump's refugee program. Trump initiated the program on the premise that a genocide was taking place in SA and Afrikaners, mainly farmers, were being targeted. Despite numerous articles debunking this, the program went ahead and the US welcomed the 49 Afrikaners with open arms. 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 ✕ Ukraine, Russian conflict Ramaphosa and Trump are also expected to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As it stands, Trump has spoken to both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia's Vladimir Putin in a bid to reach a ceasefire. Since Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, SA has maintained its neutrality, calling for talks between both sides. Last month Zelensky was in SA for talks with Ramaphosa however, he had to cut his visit short and return to his country following a fresh wave of violence. Elon Musk's Starlink and Teslas in SA Could Ramaphosa and Trump discuss Elon Musk's business interests expanding to SA? Musk is a close ally of Trump's and has been vocal on his disdain for SA's politics. IOL reported that the government is reportedly looking at ways around its Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) laws in order to launch Starlink in SA. This comes after Musk, born in SA, claimed that he cannot launch in his home country because he is not black. It has been further reported that a possible proposal put forward by Ramaphosa, could involve Tesla receiving preferential tariffs on its imports into South Africa in return for establishing electric vehicle charging stations in the country. So, it is widely anticipated that Trump could do to Ramaphosa what he did to Zelensky during a recent visit where the men got into a shouting match. Stay tuned to IOL for regular updates and reaction ahead of the sit-down talk and what happens next. IOL
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
First batch of white South African refugees land in US as Trump cites ‘racial discrimination'
A group of 49 white South Africans landed in the United States this week after being granted refugee status by the Trump administration, a move that has sparked international controversy and raised sharp questions about race, asylum policy, and political motivations. Arriving at Dulles International Airport aboard a US-chartered private plane, the group—mostly Afrikaners—was welcomed by senior Trump officials, including Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Troy Edgar. Children in the group waved small American flags as officials spoke of their struggles and offered reassurances of safety and support. 'You are really welcome here,' Landau told the group in a hangar at the airport. 'We respect the long tradition of your people and what you have had to deal with.' President Donald Trump defended the decision, citing what he called "a genocide" against white farmers in South Africa . He has long promoted claims that Afrikaners face race-based violence and property confiscation under the post-apartheid government. Speaking to reporters earlier, Trump said he planned to raise the matter directly with South African leadership. However, the South African government has rejected these claims as "completely false." President Cyril Ramaphosa said he had spoken to Trump and explained that the information he was acting on was misinformation, largely spread by groups opposed to land reform and racial transformation efforts. 'There is no data at all that backs that there is persecution of white South Africans or white Afrikaners in particular,' Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said. While white farmers have been victims of rural crime, he noted, they are affected in much the same way as other citizens. The resettlement follows an executive order signed by Trump in February, which fast-tracks refugee applications for white South African farmers on grounds of " race-based persecution " a sharp departure from the usual refugee process that can take years. Critics have pointed to the contradiction between this decision and Trump's broader immigration policy, which largely halted refugee admissions from other parts of the world. Reports suggest that as many as 1,000 Afrikaners could be resettled in the US this year. The Episcopal Church's migration service has refused to take part, citing its commitment to racial justice. Still, Trump allies like Elon Musk have echoed the president's concerns, with Musk claiming on social media that South African politicians are encouraging 'white genocide'—a claim widely discredited by experts. Afrikaners, descendants of Dutch, German, and French settlers, make up about 7% of South Africa's population but retain a disproportionate share of the country's wealth and farmland.
The Guardian
03-04-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Vessels had no ‘dedicated lookouts' at time of North Sea collision, report finds
An oil tanker and cargo ship that collided in the North Sea had no 'dedicated lookouts' at the time of the incident, which took place in'patchy' visibility, investigators have said. A US-chartered oil tanker, the Stena Immaculate, was anchored about 12 miles (19km) off the coast of Yorkshire when it was struck by a container ship, the Solong, on 10 March. The collision caused a 'massive fireball' as aviation fuel destined for the US air force caught fire and an unknown amount leaked into the sea. A Filipino sailor, Mark Pernia, was said to be on the forecastle of the Solong's upper deck at the time of the collision. He has not been seen since and is presumed dead. An interim report by the British government's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), published on Thursday, found that neither ship had a dedicated lookout on the bridge when they collided in visibility conditions that were reported as 'patchy'. The report said the Solong's Russian master, Vladimir Motin, was acting as the lone watchkeeper on the bridge of the ship just under three hours before it collided with the Stena Immaculate. Motin, from St Petersburg, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter and is due to stand trial in January 2026. The MAIB said visibility in the area was reported to have varied between 0.25 and 2 nautical miles . The independent body said its inquiry was continuing and added: 'The investigation will encompass the navigation and watchkeeping practices onboard both vessels; manning and fatigue management; the condition and maintenance of the vessels involved; the use of the offshore area as an anchorage for vessels waiting to enter the Humber estuary; and the environmental conditions at the time.' Salvage operations for both vessels are under way, while experts are continuing to assess the extent of pollution resulting from the incident, which environmentalists feared at the time could be 'devastating'. Thousands of tiny plastic pellets were retrieved from the sea in the days after the collision, with some washing up in melted clumps on the Norfolk coast. The coastguard said the pellets, made of plastic resin and known as nurdles, were not toxic but posed a danger to wildlife.
The Guardian
12-03-2025
- The Guardian
North Sea collision: foul play, technical fault or human error?
The collision between two large shipping vessels in the North Sea raises significant questions about how such an event could occur – and what its effect might be. Here we set out what we know so far. A US-chartered oil tanker, Stena Immaculate, was anchored in the North Sea about 13 miles off the coast of Yorkshire, when it was struck by a container ship, the Solong, just before 10am UK time on Monday. The Solong was travelling at a speed of 16 knots when it collided with the tanker, causing a 'massive fireball' as both vessels scrambled to evacuate. The Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks, according to the US maritime firm Crowley, which manages the tanker. At least one cargo tank carrying Jet A-1 fuel was ruptured and leaked into the North Sea, it said. The Solong was initially reported to have been carrying containers of the highly toxic chemical sodium cyanide – but the vessel's owner, the German firm Ernst Russ, later said none of the toxin was on board. The Solong's master, a 59-year-old Russian national, was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter, as Humberside police began a criminal investigation. His nationality was confirmed by Ernst Russ, which said the Solong's crew were a mix of Russians and Filipinos. The main focus of the investigations is how two modern ships, fitted with advanced radar technology, could collide in seemingly calm weather conditions. A White House official reportedly told a US news outlet that it was unable to rule out foul play, amplifying speculation that the Stena Immaculate may have been targeted deliberately as it was carrying cargo for the US military. This theory was downplayed by the UK on Tuesday, as initial investigations have found no evidence to suggest such a motive. The UK transport minister Mike Kane told MPs it was clear 'something did go terribly wrong' but added: 'Whether there was a foul play I think is speculation. There is no evidence to suggest that at the moment.' Maritime traffic data showed the Solong travelling directly towards the Stena Immaculate without changing course before the vessels collided. Andy Teasdale, a marine safety adviser to the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology, said the tracking data showed 'something was potentially amiss' on the Solong, which was sailing under a Portuguese flag. Central to understanding this would be recovering the voyage data recorders from both vessels. Often referred to as the shipping equivalent of an aeroplane's 'black box', VDRs hold data on a vessel's speed, depth under keel, radio communications, bridge audio and radar data. Teasdale said all those rescued would be interviewed and given precautionary drug and alcohol tests. Dr Seyedvahid Vakili, of the University of Southampton, said at this stage it was 'difficult to determine the main cause of the collision' but that in most cases 'human factors play a significant role'. Jin Wang, a professor of marine technology at Liverpool John Moores University, said human error was likely to have 'played a significant role', adding: 'It seems improbable that all of the factors leading to the collision of this nature could have occurred simultaneously without human error.' One theory is that the Stena Immaculate may have been 'radar silent' at the time for security reasons given its sensitive cargo, said Tiago Alves, a professor at Cardiff University's School of Earth and Environmental Sciences. This would have made it undetectable on the screens of nearby vessels, which may not have triggered the appropriate alarms on the Solong. However, it would have been visible to the naked eye from a distance. Alves said: 'The oil tanker was seemingly under a military mission and might have been found, unexpectedly, anchored in an area that is not common for ships to moor. The tanker is now visible on [a ship tracking website], but it may have also been radar silent at the time of the collision for security reasons. Only a thorough investigation will reach a final conclusion on what happened.' Another theory is that the Solong's autopilot function failed. Martyn Boyers, the chief executive of the port of Grimsby East, near the site of the collision, said he suspected the Solong had been on autopilot: 'If it's been put on autopilot and there's no one on the bridge, which could happen, then it'd just go straight on.' Jet fuels are toxic to marine life, said the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 'Aquatic organisms that come in direct contact with naturally dispersed and entrained jet fuel in the water column may be killed.' However, experts were optimistic that the highly volatile fuel spilled on Monday would have burned or evaporated quickly. Bacteria may also degrade the relatively small hydrocarbons found in the fuel, according to Mark Sephton, professor of organic geochemistry at Imperial College London. The thicker bunker oil used to power the ships could be more problematic. Persistent oils such as marine diesel can smother marine habitats, affecting the ability of wildlife to regulate their body temperature, which could kill them, said Dr Alex Lukyanov, of the University of Reading. The ships collided just east of the Yorkshire coast and Humber estuary, an ecosystem of 'immense biological, cultural and economic importance' said Dr Tom Webb, a lecturer in marine ecology at the University of Sheffield. 'Wading birds and waterfowl gather in large numbers as they move between wintering and breeding grounds, while soon Yorkshire's iconic seabirds will be coming inshore to breed at sites like the world famous Brampton cliffs,' Webb said. Marine protected areas on the coast close to the collision site include Flamborough Head and Holderness offshore marine conservation zone – rich habitats supporting marine wildlife, including fish, bivalves, crabs and birds. Farther out to sea is the Southern North Sea special area of conservation, important for harbour porpoises. Dr Leslie Mabon, a senior lecturer in environmental systems at the Open University, said: 'It's close to nesting season, so puffins, gannets, kittiwakes among others could be flying around the area and could be exposed to oil or petrol. Similarly, there are dolphins and seals. 'This is also a rich fishing environment, with the Grimsby fishing port nearby, and there could be economic consequences if fishing has to be stopped or scaled back.'
Telegraph
11-03-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Leaking fuel from North Sea collision ‘could hit north Norfolk coast'
Leaking fuel from the collision between a cargo ship and oil tanker in the North Sea could hit the north Norfolk coast, an expert has warned. Fires on both vessels continued to burn overnight after the MV Solong struck the US-chartered Stena Immaculate off the coast of Humberside shortly before 10am on Monday. Foul play has not been ruled out in early investigations, and there are concerns about the ecological impact a fuel spill this size could have. The Stena Immaculate was on a short-term charter to the US Navy's Military Sealift Command and was carrying around 35 million litres of jet fuel, while the Solong, a Portuguese-flagged vessel, was carrying 15 containers of toxic sodium cyanide. Dr Paul Johnston, a senior scientist at the Greenpeace laboratories at the University of Exeter, said he was 'very concerned' about the environmental impact of the crash. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'The wind is blowing from the north and that will tend to drive any fuel that's released towards the north Norfolk coast ultimately. 'There are bird colonies in the area. 'There will be seals hauled out in the area, dolphins and porpoises passing through the area, and all these animals, together with the fish and other marine invertebrates, are all very vulnerable to toxic events from both oil and from chemicals.' The North Norfolk coast is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and home to nature reserves and award-winning beaches.
