March 07 2022 - 12:30
European gas soars to new record as US mulls Russia energy ban
European natural gas soared to a fresh record as the U.S. said it was considering curbs on imports of Russian oil, a move that would add to supply fears across all energy markets.
Dutch front-month gas, the European benchmark, jumped as much as 17% to an unprecedented 225 euros a megawatt hour. It extends a stunning rally after prices doubled last week with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and international sanctions targeting Moscow upending commodities markets across the globe. Crude rose past $139 a barrel in London on Monday.
Gas exports from Russia, which account about a third of Europe’s demand, are currently not covered by penalties. Shipments remain stable, with flows crossing Ukraine running as normal. However, traders remain on edge for any potential disruptions.
The U.S. House is exploring a bill that would ban the import of Russian oil and energy products, a move that could add to economic pressure as more companies pull out of the country in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Any ban or cutoff of Russian gas flows to Europe could require “extreme” government measures to ration supplies for the industry and consumers, the head of France’s Engie SA told Les Echos newspaper. Europe has enough supplies to get through this winter, problems would arise in building stocks over the summer, Catherine MacGregor said in an interview published on Monday.
Bloomberg
UKRAINE WRAP | More than 1.7-million Ukrainians have fled to Central Europe: UN
March 07 2022 - 20:13
UPDATE 2-More than 1.7-million Ukrainians have fled to Central Europe: UN
* Poland has received more than 1-million refugees since Feb 24
* EU could see arrival of 5-million Ukrainian refugees — EU's Josep Borrell
* Polish border town prepares to receive 150 orphans
* Romanians help fleeing mothers, children
* Czech cash donations mount
More than 1.7-million Ukrainians fleeing Russia's invasion have so far crossed into Central Europe, the UN's refugee agency said on Monday, as thousands more streamed across the borders.
March 07 2022 - 15:43
The fear we felt during July unrest was nothing compared to what Ukrainians suffer, says protester
“You know how we were during that week of looting? That fear is nothing compared to what they are going through.”
That’s the observation of Durbanite Michelle Morkel, who was showing her support for Ukraine in Sunday’s “peaceful march against Russian invasion” in Durban.
The Ukrainian Association of SA held peaceful marches at the weekend — Friday, Saturday and Sunday — in Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban against the refusal of SA to condemn Russia for the war in Ukraine. SA chose to abstain from voting on the Russia-Ukraine conflict at the UN General Assembly.
March 07 2022 - 14:45
Reactions after World Court hearing in Ukraine case against Russia
Reactions after a hearing at the World Court in The Hague on whether to order ‘provisional measures’ in a suit brought by Ukraine against Russia.
March 07 2022 - 13:52
More than 4,000 people sign DA's petition for government to take a stand against Russia
The DA's petition calling for the SA government to take a stand against Russia has garnered more than 4,000 signatures.
The petition comes in the wake of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and SA’s decision to abstain from voting on a UN resolution to reprimand Russia.
DA shadow minister of international relations and co-operation Darren Bergman slammed the ANC government for allegedly flip-flopping on its stance multiple times since Russia's invasion of Ukraine more than 10 days ago.
Bergman said the party was disappointed with the ANC for not taking a strong stance in trying to get Russia to withdraw from Ukraine.
March 07 2022 - 13:00
11-year-old Ukrainian boy travels to Slovakia alone
An 11-year-old Ukrainian boy was forced to travel over 1,000km to Slovakia alone to flee Russia shelling in Zaporizhzhia.
March 07 2022 - 12:30
European gas soars to new record as US mulls Russia energy ban
European natural gas soared to a fresh record as the U.S. said it was considering curbs on imports of Russian oil, a move that would add to supply fears across all energy markets.
Dutch front-month gas, the European benchmark, jumped as much as 17% to an unprecedented 225 euros a megawatt hour. It extends a stunning rally after prices doubled last week with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and international sanctions targeting Moscow upending commodities markets across the globe. Crude rose past $139 a barrel in London on Monday.
Gas exports from Russia, which account about a third of Europe’s demand, are currently not covered by penalties. Shipments remain stable, with flows crossing Ukraine running as normal. However, traders remain on edge for any potential disruptions.
The U.S. House is exploring a bill that would ban the import of Russian oil and energy products, a move that could add to economic pressure as more companies pull out of the country in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Any ban or cutoff of Russian gas flows to Europe could require “extreme” government measures to ration supplies for the industry and consumers, the head of France’s Engie SA told Les Echos newspaper. Europe has enough supplies to get through this winter, problems would arise in building stocks over the summer, Catherine MacGregor said in an interview published on Monday.
Bloomberg
March 07 2022 - 12:00
Russia shows tanks in Kyiv region
CNN's Clarissa Ward reports from Kyiv where many people are trying to evacuate as Russian forces close in on the capital city.
March 07 2022 - 11:00
Netflix, top accounting firms sever ties with Russia
Netflix, KPMG, PwC and American Express cut ties with Russia as the country's conflict with Ukraine escalated
March 07 2022 - 10:50
Oil spikes to 2008 highs
Brent crude soared near $130 a barrel, its highest since 2008, as the United States and European allies mull a Russian oil import ban. Also, delays in the potential return of Iranian crude to global markets fueled tight supply fears
March 07 2022 - 10:27
Anti-war protests from Canada to Argentina
Hundreds of people gathered to see the Ukrainian flag being raised from Chicago, U.S., to Buenos Aires in Argentina to demonstrate against Russian armed conflict in Ukraine and to express solidarity with the Ukrainian people
March 07 2022 - 10:15
Ukrainian reservists' wedding lifts spirits in Kyiv
It was a rare moment of cheer for Ukrainian reservists at a Kyiv checkpoint, when two among them exchanged wedding rings in front of fellow fighters and a military chaplain
March 07 2022 - 10:00
LIVE: Refugees cross into Romania after Ukraine's invasion
Ukrainians continue to flee to the Romanian border of Siret, after Russia launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine
March 07 2022 - 09:58
Ramaphosa defends SA's stance on Russia-Ukraine conflict
President Cyril Ramaphosa has explained SA's decision to abstain from voting on last week’s UN resolution on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Writing in his Monday weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa said the resolution did not “foreground the call for meaningful engagement”.
“SA expected that the UN resolution would foremost welcome the commencement of dialogue between the parties and seek to create the conditions for these talks to succeed. Instead, the call for peaceful resolution through political dialogue is relegated to a single sentence close to the conclusion of the final text,” Ramaphosa said.
March 07 2022 - 09:38
LISTEN | Zuma weighs in on Russia and Ukraine conflict, says 'man of peace' Putin's response justified
Former president Jacob Zuma has weighed in on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, saying President Vladimir Putin felt provoked and was justified in his response.
March 07 2022 - 09:27
Kenya Airways sees Russia’s invasion inflating air ticket costs
Kenya Airways Plc said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will result in airlines increasing ticket prices after crude oil surged, while uncertainty may reduce demand for travel.
“We have started seeing many of the airlines taking action on this to ensure that they are able to keep on flying,” Commercial Director Julius Thairu said in an interview.
The war could lead to a fresh crisis for aviation just as the industry looks to emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic. Airspace bans have already severely curtailed the level of flying between Russia, Ukraine and other countries, while financial sanctions imposed by a number of nations are making it harder to conduct business in Russia.
March 07 2022 - 09:00
China must join global action against Russia's Ukraine war — Australia
March 07 2022 - 08:26
Russia warns nations over hosting military jets
Vladimir Putin told his Turkish counterpart that Kyiv must to agree to his demands if fighting is to end, lowering hopes for progress at a third round of Ukraine-Russia talks that could happen as soon as Monday but isn’t yet confirmed.
An evacuation from the southern city of Mariupol has been halted for a second day, with Ukrainian officials claiming that Russia again violated a temporary ceasefire deal brokered to allow the safe passage of civilians. An aid group called conditions in the city “catastrophic.” Over 1.5 million people have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion, the UN said on Sunday, chiefly to Poland and Moldova.
March 07 2022 - 08:08
Russia to open humanitarian corridors in Ukraine on March 7
The Russian military will hold fire and open humanitarian corridors in several Ukrainian cities including the capital Kyiv at 1000 Moscow time (0700 GMT) on Monday, Russia's defence ministry said.
The corridors, which will also be opened from the cities of Kharkiv, Mariupol and Sumy, are being set up at the personal request of French President Emmanuel Macron and in view of the current situation in those cities, it said.
Those who leave Kyiv will be airlifted to Russia, the ministry said, adding that it would use drones to monitor the evacuation and "attempts by the Ukrainian side to deceive Russia and the whole civilised world ... are useless this time".
Two planned evacuation operations from Mariupol and the nearby city of Volnovakha have failed over the last two days as the sides accused each other of failing to stop shooting and shelling.
Reuters
March 07 2022 - 08:00
Hear GOP lawmaker’s warning: ‘Crazy’ Putin will not go quietly
Rep. Adam Kinzinger speaks with Anderson Cooper about his support of establishing a no-fly zone in Ukraine.
March 07 2022 - 07:45
More than 4,300 detained at anti-war protests in Russia
More than 4,300 people were detained at anti-war protests across Russia as President Vladimir Putin vowed to press ahead with his invasion of Ukraine unless Kyiv surrendered.
March 07 2022 - 07:30
New Zealand expands sanctions on Russia over Ukraine invasion
New Zealand's government said on Monday that it will introduce legislation to allow it to bring first-of-its-kind sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the sanctions will give the country the ability to freeze Russian assets in New Zealand, prevent people and companies from moving their money and assets here to escape sanctions imposed by other countries, and stop super yachts, ships and aircraft from entering the country's waters or airspace.
It has also released a list banning 100 individuals from traveling to New Zealand.Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special operation".
Reuters
March 07 2022 - 07:19
'You betray me': Ukrainian's message to former Russian friends
CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reports from Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine where the military is battling to push Russian forces out.
March 07 2022 - 06:30
'We will not forgive,' says Zelenskiy
In his latest televised address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on the west to do more as he spoke of the destruction across Ukraine and the suffering faced by his people from the Russian attack on the nation
March 07 2022 - 06:20
SONGEZO ZIBI | SA’s position on the Ukraine conflict is naive, sentimental and wrong
SA has declined to condemn Russia’s unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine, a decision that has baffled some, but it need not. It is the government version of the ANC’s support for Putin’s Russia at this critical moment.
There are two books I believe every South African who participates in discourse on SA’s foreign policy should make time to read. They provide historical accounts that illuminate the ANC and its government’s confused and somewhat baffling position on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The first is The Hidden Thread: Russia and South Africa in the Soviet Era by former Soviet academics Irina Filatova and Apollon Davidson. The second is External Mission: The ANC in Exile by the late Dutch academic and former editor of Africa Confidential, Stephen Ellis. Both are excellent accounts of how, over the many decades of the struggle against apartheid, the ANC’s world view took shape and metastasised to what it is today.
March 07 2022 - 06:10
EUSEBIUS McKAISER | Should I care about Ukraine? Don’t take a cue from white supremacy
Whether we like it or not there is a hierarchy of suffering in the world. Some suffering gets more attention. Some bodies get more sympathy. Some of us do not even qualify for the Olympics of suffering because we are seen as incapable of undergoing it. You can only be at the suffering Olympics if the gatekeepers recognise you as fully human.
March 07 2022 - 06:00
JUSTICE MALALA | Stop cheerleading for Russia, SA. It won’t return the compliment
What does Africa want? Over the past two weeks, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine has unfolded, we have seen a confused, inconsistent, uncoordinated and hapless Africa stagger from being a cheerleader for one superpower or the other, while failing to ask and answer the most crucial question: what do Africans and humanity in general have to gain from this?