International
South Africa kicks out Israel’s ambassador Ariel Seidman
The South African foreign ministry accused Ariel Seidman of “unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms and practice which pose a direct challenge to South Africa’s sovereignty.”
•Cyril Ramaphosa, South African President
The South African government on Friday declared Mr Ariel Seidman, the chargé d’affaires of the Israeli Embassy, unwelcome and ordered him out of the country within 72 hours, for what it called repeated violations of diplomatic norms, including insulting President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The South African foreign ministry accused Ariel Seidman of “unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms and practice which pose a direct challenge to South Africa’s sovereignty”.
“These violations include the repeated use of official Israeli social media platforms to launch insulting attacks” on Ramaphosa, as well as a “deliberate failure” to notify the South African authorities about visits by senior Israeli officials.
Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Israel have been strained since South Africa brought a genocide case over Israel’s actions in Gaza at the International Court of Justice. Israel has rejected the case as baseless.
South African lawmakers in 2023 voted in favour of closing down the Israeli embassy in Pretoria and suspending all diplomatic relations over the war in Gaza, but that decision was never implemented.
International
‘Up to our people’ to pick leader, Zelenskyy responds to Trump’s pledge for new elections in Ukraine
Russia and Ukraine are locked in a long-range aerial war while their armies remain largely deadlocked on the front line, more than four and a half years after Moscow’s full-scale invasion.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday his country could hold elections if Russia agreed to a 60-day total ceasefire, pushing back against US counterpart Donald Trump’s call for Ukraine to pick a new leader.
“First of all, with all respect to President Trump, it’s up to our society, up to our people to choose one or another leader”, Zelenskyy told ABC News in a televised interview, a day after Trump said Ukraine needed a new president who would agree to end the war.
Zelenskyy said he told Trump’s team that if they really wanted Ukraine to hold elections, “please tell Putin to give us two months, 60 days of total ceasefire, 60 days, and we will organise elections”.
“We want peace, we are ready for a ceasefire, we are ready to begin with any kind of steps of de-escalation”, Zelenskyy told ABC in a TV interview.
“And if the Russians want us not to attack their diesel, their refineries, etc., we are asking President Trump to give them a signal not to attack the energy infrastructure of Ukraine”.
Russia and Ukraine are locked in a long-range aerial war while their armies remain largely deadlocked on the front line, more than four and a half years after Moscow’s full-scale invasion.
Euro News
International
Time for Ukraine to get a new president’, says Trump
“It’s time for Ukraine to get a new president” he told reporters.
US President Donald Trump has called for new leadership in Ukraine, criticising President Volodymyr Zelensky for striking Russian oil refineries.
“It’s time for Ukraine to get a new president” he told reporters.
On Friday Trump announced a deal with Moscow to import Russian diesel, a deal Zelensky described as “a gift” to President Putin.
BBC.
International
Japan beer giants raided over alleged price-fixing cartel
Asahi, Kirin and Sapporo all saw their share price fall after news of the investigation broke on Wednesday. Suntory’s beer business is not publicly-listed.
Image credit: BBC| GETTY Images
Japanese officials have raided the country’s biggest beer makers over allegations they worked together to raise the price of their beverages.
Asahi, Sapporo, Kirin and Suntory Spirits confirmed to the BBC that their premises had been searched by the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC), adding that they would fully cooperate with the regulator.
The four firms dominate Japan’s beer market, with their drinks a common sight in supermarkets and convenience stores across the country.
Asahi, Kirin and Sapporo all saw their share price fall after news of the investigation broke on Wednesday. Suntory’s beer business is not publicly-listed.
“I do not deny that an investigation is being conducted today, but I’d like to refrain from commenting on the details as a preliminary review is underway,” JFTC Secretary General Iwanari Hiroo said, according to local media.
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