Russia has reiterated that the United States cannot unilaterally exclude South Africa from participating in the Group of Twenty (G20). The statement, issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry ahead of a press conference by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, emphasized that South Africa is a full-fledged permanent member of the group, a status that cannot be changed by the decision of a single country.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has rejected proposals for a Europe-wide army, warning that such a force could be “extremely dangerous” by creating confusion within NATO’s command structure. Allies echoed her concerns, emphasizing that Europe still relies heavily on U.S. support for its defense and would need to significantly boost military spending to operate independently.
Norway is launching an inquiry into ties between high-profile Norwegians and Jeffrey Epstein following the release of new documents. Crown Princess Mette-Marit has apologized for past contact, while former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland faces a corruption investigation.
The Foreign Ministry review also involves senior diplomats, including Mona Juul. The scandal, affecting politicians and royals across Europe, has sparked calls for transparency and accountability in Norway.
The Foreign Ministry review also involves senior diplomats, including Mona Juul. The scandal, affecting politicians and royals across Europe, has sparked calls for transparency and accountability in Norway.
The European Commission has released a study mapping the investment required to modernize trade routes connecting Europe and Central Asia via the Caucasus (the mountainous region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea). The research identifies key priorities, including upgrading railways and ports, streamlining border procedures, and enhancing energy and digital infrastructure. With trade volumes along the Trans-Caspian Corridor having quadrupled since 2022, the EU sees the corridor (particularly through the Caucasus) as a strategic route to diversify Eurasian trade and strengthen regional connectivity.
Wiandre Pretorius, a figure implicated in matters before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, died by suicide at a petrol station in Brakpan on 7 February 2026. Police have opened an inquest into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Pretorius had recently survived a suspected assassination attempt and was a person of interest in the murder of Marius van der Merwe, known as “Witness D,” whose testimony lay at the centre of investigations into alleged corruption and organised criminal networks.
SAPS is investigating whether Pretorius’s death, along with other attacks and killings linked to these cases, points to the involvement of wider criminal syndicates.
Pretorius had recently survived a suspected assassination attempt and was a person of interest in the murder of Marius van der Merwe, known as “Witness D,” whose testimony lay at the centre of investigations into alleged corruption and organised criminal networks.
SAPS is investigating whether Pretorius’s death, along with other attacks and killings linked to these cases, points to the involvement of wider criminal syndicates.
South Africa is turning to its neighbors to address growing water shortages. Under the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, the country imports water from Lesotho’s dams to supply the Vaal River system, supporting Gauteng and surrounding provinces. In a new move, South Africa and Zimbabwe have agreed to transfer treated water from Beitbridge to Musina, expected to start in 2026.
The Qala Shallows gold mine has officially begun operations west of Johannesburg, marking South Africa’s first new underground gold mine in over 15 years. The mine has already delivered its first ore to the surface and is ramping up toward its first gold pour expected in March 2026, with production forecast at around 70,000 ounces per year.
South Africa will withdraw its troops from the UN mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), ending nearly 27 years of deployment that began in 1999. President Cyril Ramaphosa has informed the UN that the phased pullout of more than 700 soldiers will be completed by the end of 2026, as part of efforts to ease pressure on the SANDF. The decision follows years of reported frustration among troops over limited resources, unclear mandates, and difficult operating conditions.
Asia is facing massive flight disruptions, with over 4,700 delays and 431 cancellations at major hubs like Tokyo Haneda, Delhi IGI, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, and Jakarta Soekarno–Hatta, leaving thousands of travelers stranded. The chaos is driven by a combination of factors: bad weather, airline staffing and technical issues, heavy traffic, and logistical constraints.
The European Union is set to tighten rules on the fashion industry, aiming to curb waste and promote sustainability. From July 2026, large clothing and footwear companies will be banned from destroying unsold products, a practice widely criticized for its environmental impact. Firms will also be required to report on discarded goods, while new regulations will push for greater recycling, repairability, and durability of garments.
On February 7, members of the Congolese opposition sought to hold a conference at the French Senate, an event that quickly became mired in controversy.
Tensions rose after an alleged attempted attack on the Senate building by Congolese nationals opposed to the gathering. While French authorities have released few details, security concerns cast a shadow over the proceedings.
The event also drew protests from French citizens wary of potential political or financial entanglement in another foreign conflict, with demonstrators voicing concerns over the use of public funds.
Attendance ultimately fell short of expectations. Engagement from lawmakers was limited, and several scheduled participants stayed away, citing threats in the days leading up to the event.
The episode underscores the fraught nature of Congolese political disputes playing out on international stages.
Tensions rose after an alleged attempted attack on the Senate building by Congolese nationals opposed to the gathering. While French authorities have released few details, security concerns cast a shadow over the proceedings.
The event also drew protests from French citizens wary of potential political or financial entanglement in another foreign conflict, with demonstrators voicing concerns over the use of public funds.
Attendance ultimately fell short of expectations. Engagement from lawmakers was limited, and several scheduled participants stayed away, citing threats in the days leading up to the event.
The episode underscores the fraught nature of Congolese political disputes playing out on international stages.
A giant golden statue of President Donald Trump, nicknamed “Don Colossus,” is planned for display at the 2026 G20 summit in Miami, where the U.S. will host world leaders. Standing about 22 feet tall including its pedestal, the statue was commissioned by cryptocurrency investors promoting a memecoin called $PATRIOT. (While the statue has drawn international attention, it is a private installation and not an official symbol of the G20 summit.)
U.S. officials reported that drones linked to Mexican drug cartels briefly crossed into U.S. airspace near El Paso, Texas, leading to a temporary airspace closure before authorities said the situation was resolved; Mexican officials denied confirmed incursions, underscoring tensions over cross-border drone activity tied to smuggling and surveillance.
The Pentagon is preparing a second U.S. aircraft carrier strike group for possible deployment to the Middle East as President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on Iran over its nuclear program. The carrier could join the USS Abraham Lincoln already in the region, signaling a significant show of force amid ongoing nuclear talks and rising tensions. Officials say the move reflects a strategy of pairing diplomacy with heightened military readiness.
Zimbabwe’s cabinet has approved a draft constitutional amendment that could keep President Mnangagwa in power until 2030 by extending terms and changing how the president is elected. Opposition leaders and activists have condemned the move as a “constitutional coup,” sparking protests and warnings of political instability.
President Cyril Ramaphosa pledged to fight organised crime and revive the economy, announcing the deployment of the South African National Defence Force to support police in tackling gang violence and illegal mining, while also outlining plans to expand infrastructure, renewable energy, and trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area.
However, based on recent history, many fear these promises will remain empty, and that using the army to fight crime could pave the way for martial law. Persistent government inaction has already contributed to factory closures, worsening gang violence, potential government overreach, and long-neglected water storage and treatment systems.
However, based on recent history, many fear these promises will remain empty, and that using the army to fight crime could pave the way for martial law. Persistent government inaction has already contributed to factory closures, worsening gang violence, potential government overreach, and long-neglected water storage and treatment systems.
China has announced it will eliminate import tariffs on goods from 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations, in a move aimed at deepening trade and economic cooperation across the continent. The zero-tariff policy, set to take effect in May 2026, will grant duty-free access to a wide range of African exports entering the Chinese market, expanding on existing preferential trade arrangements.
South Africa-Official figures show that 352 rhinos were killed by poachers last year, down from 420 in 2024, in the country with the world’s largest rhino population. However, killings in Kruger National Park nearly doubled to 175, up from 88 the previous year.
Kruger borders Mozambique, which has historically been used as a transit route by trafficking gangs, making the vast park more vulnerable to cross-border poaching networks.
Kruger borders Mozambique, which has historically been used as a transit route by trafficking gangs, making the vast park more vulnerable to cross-border poaching networks.
Tongaat Hulett, a 134‑year-old South African sugar producer, is heading toward provisional liquidation after its business rescue plan collapsed due to failed funding and lapsed sale agreements. The company, which operates multiple mills and the country’s only white sugar refinery, is a key player in the nation’s sugar industry. Its potential closure threatens thousands of jobs, destabilizes the sugar value chain, and puts rural livelihoods at risk, particularly in KwaZulu‑Natal and Mpumalanga.