Geopolitics

Putin’s adventures are reshaping Africa

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Thursday, 15 February 2024

“How much brighter the stars shine in the sky when you know you are loved.”

Shubnum Khan

STORY OF THE DAY

Behind the Baobab Curtain: Putin’s adventures are reshaping Africa

By Phillip van Niekerk
West Africa is now separated into two blocs with antagonistic ideologies, allied with foreign sponsors on opposite sides of the geopolitical divide.
Budget Speech 2024 – 5 Key Focus Areas… Listen here

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING
🇺🇸🇷🇺  The US warned Congress and allies in Europe about new intelligence about Russian nuclear capabilities that could pose an international threat. Relating to Russian attempts to develop a space-based weapon. This, after the chair of the US House of Representatives intelligence committee issued an unusual and cryptic statement warning about a “serious national security threat”. But sources later said the situation only related to Russian capabilities in space, related to satellites.
⚖️🕵️ A dozen of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have filed a lawsuit accusing the FBI of covering up its failure to investigate the late financier. They claim the FBI received credible tips as early as 1996 that Epstein trafficked young women and girls, yet failed to act sufficiently, enabling his sex trafficking to continue for more than 20 years.
🇺🇦🇷🇺 Ukraine has destroyed a large Russian landing warship off the coast of occupied Crimea. Kyiv said the warship appeared to have been loaded when it sank and that before the attack, it had spent about 10 days at a loading site used by the Russian military.
🇨🇴🌱 The number of animal and plant species listed as critically endangered in Colombia has more than doubled since 2017. The total list of threatened species in the Andean country stands at 2,103. Colombia and other Amazon countries are sounding the alarm over an intense El Niño weather pattern. Drought and heat from climate change could affect between 10% and 47% of the Amazon’s existing forest.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

📷 Rens Rezelman

“The Dalebrook swimmers.”

Kalk Bay.
Have a picture for us? Send it our way.
Click here for last week’s pictures.

IN NUMBERS

35%

… of children share their bed with a pet.

FACTS OF THE DAY

Today in 2005, YouTube is launched in the US.

Anthony Albanese is the first Australia Prime Minister to get engaged while in office . He popped the question to his partner this week on Valentine’s Day.
Budget Speech 2024 – 5 Key Focus Areas… Listen here

SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
🎾 Spaniard Rafa Nadal has pulled out of next week’s Qatar Open, saying he isn’t “ready to compete” as he continues his recovery from an injury setback suffered in early 2024.

⚽ Kylian Mbappé helped Paris Saint-Germain to a 2-0 win over Real Sociedad in the first leg of their round of 16 Champions League clash. Bayern Munich were downed 1-0 by Lazio.

🏈 One person was killed and more than 20 injured in a shooting after the Wednesday Kansas City victory parade of Super Bowl winners Kansas City Chiefs. Some of those wounded were children.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Budget Speech 2024: What you need to know

By Investec

DAILY MAVERICK TODAY

Amended National State Enterprises Bill still rings governance and presidential power alarm bells

By Ray Mahlaka

Public Protector clams up on decision to withhold R10m payout to Busisiwe Mkhwebane

By Marianne Thamm

Tintswalo and balloons take centre stage amid the weird, the curious and the contradictory debates

By Marianne Merten

DA at the 2024 electoral crossroads — hoping for the best, but also vulnerable

By Stephen Grootes

Equity purchase of Saru’s commercial activities brings rugby tensions to the boil

By Craig Ray and agencies

OPINIONISTAS

Vladimir Putin justified Adolf Hitler’s invasion of Poland; South Africa must denounce him

By Branko Brkic

Trump election victory would be a repeat disaster for the World Health Organization

By Wilmot James
 
Budget Speech 2024 – 5 Key Focus Areas… Listen here

John Stupart

Newsletters Editor
 
 

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