TRAVEL

Parys on the Vaal

Travel@TheDiplomaticSociety- by Jayde Bhana
 
The Suspension Bridge built in 1919 over the Vaal River is adorned by love locks like the Pont des Arts bridge over the River Seine in Paris
 

14 March 2023

Two billion years ago, a giant meteor crashed into the southern tip of Africa, creating the largest impact crater on Earth. The crater, 300km in diameter, is centered at the Vredefort Dome on the outskirts of the quaint town of Parys in the Free State, South Africa. The Dome can be seen on hikes or guided tours or even as you free fall from the sky at Skydive Parys. The town, situated just an hour and a half outside of Johannesburg and Pretoria with its historical significance and small town culture, is an ideal tourist destination for those traveling to and living in the hub of Gauteng.

Mpondo nation stands in solidarity with Türkiye following the devastating earthquake

by HRH Stella Sigcau
 
Nkosi Jongilanga Sigcau signing the Condolences Book
 

14 March 2023

On 10 March 2023, Nkosi Jongilanga Sigcau, Chairperson of the Alfred Nzo Local House of Traditional Leaders paid a courtesy visit to Ambassador Ayşegül Kandaş at the Embassy of Türkiye in Pretoria to convey his message of condolences to the Government of Türkiye and the families of the earthquake victims in Türkiye. He also signed the book of condolences which will be handed to the President of Türkiye.

Opinion

Why Beijing bringing Iran and Saudi Arabia together is truly historic

Bradley Blankenship

13 March 2023

Through Chinese mediation, the governments of Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed on March 10 to reestablish diplomatic relations and reopen embassies after years of bitter rivalry in the Middle East region. This is a diplomatic breakthrough and one that deserves reflection over Beijing's role in advancing global peace for the future.

Morocco is a key to implement the EU's neighbourhood policy

by Youssef Abdu Noor

10 March 2023

M. Oliver Varhelyi, arrived in the Moroccan capital Rabat to meet Nasser Bourita, the North African nation's foreign minister. That has just happened weeks after the visit of the EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, the European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy.

YOUTH
Liberian Youth Dialogues

South African Embassy in Liberia
Professor Iqbal Jhazbhay, Ambassasor of South Africa to Liberia (pictured front left) with Youth leaders and dialogue partners
 

10 March 2023

A Youth Dialogue roundtable entitled, Youth Development and Economic Possibilities, facilitated by the Embassy of South Africa in Liberia, in association with the Ducor Institute, and the University of Liberia (UL) was hosted on 2nd and 3rd February 2023 at UL in Liberia's capital Monrovia. The report summary below outlines the purpose, key ideas, actions and follow up. The event created greater awareness of the historic links between Liberia and South Africa and aimed at increasing exchanges and cooperation between the younger generation of these African nations.

CULTURE

An exhibition of Korean traditional knots and cloths (bojagi)

A panoramic view of the traditional knot and cloth exhibition

 

10 March 2023

The Korean Cultural Centre in South Africa will hold an exhibition of Korean traditional knots and cloths (bojagi), Korea's representative gyubang crafts, from 7 March 2023 (Tue) to 31 May 2023 (Wed), in the exhibition hall of the cultural centre. This knot & cloth exhibition will feature a total of 212 knots, including 117 knotted works by Kim Yoon-jung, author of 'Easy-Making Knots Props', and 95 works by Choi Sun-hwa, president of the Jeonbuk branch of the Korea Foam Art Association.

International Women's Day 2023

A Celebration of Women
 
The enterprising women that received awards were, Prelisha Singh, Namrita Sivsanker, Andrea Yazbek, Dipuo Phakathi, Justine Maidwell, Anusha Gowriah, Donnee Kruger, Malini Bandi, Jacki Mpondo-Hendricks and Rashmi Haribhat. (Liya Cherian, Ashti Juggath and Sarika Besesar Ramdhani were not present.) They are pictured with Consul General Mahesh Kumar (centre) his wife Dimple Bhamboo (far right) and (standing l-r) Prof Mandeep Kaur, Shaveta Mehta, Brenda Kali and Indherani Reddy 
 

8 March 2023

by Anisha Pemjee and Kirtan Bhana

March 8 is celebrated all over the world as International Women’s Day. In the early 1900’s women, fighting for equal rights, started protest actions to make their voices heard. This has certainly influenced where the world is today in terms of gender equality.

In a joyous event that coincided with the celebration of the Indian tradition of Holi, women were honoured by the Consulate General of India in Johannesburg on International Women’s Day. Consul General Mahesh Kumar in his remarks on the occasion said, “We recognize their work and celebrate their success. The Inspiration Quotient in each of these stories is terrific. Selection of the stars for this event was challenging, but this has been a happy difficulty. The number of women achievers is growing.”

International Women's Day

DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality

8 March 2023

Every year, March 8th is celebrated as International Women’s Day around the globe. The Day can be traced back to the feminist movements in Europe and America in the early 1900s. In 1917 women in Russia chose to protest and strike for "bread and peace" and this fell on March 8 as per the Gregorian calendar.

China Daily

Institutions reform vital for modernization

The first session of the 14th National People's Congress holds a plenary meeting on 7 March 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
 

By Liu Dongchao

8 March 2023

According to the reform plan of China's State Council institutions submitted to the first session of the 14th National People's Congress for deliberation on Tuesday, China plans to deepen reforms in different sectors including restructuring its Ministry of Science and Technology, setting up a national financial regulatory administration, and establishing a national data bureau.

CHINA

China's legislature stresses enhancing whole-process people's democracy

The second plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, /Xinhua
 

7 March 2023

CGTN

China's top legislator on Tuesday urged the National People's Congress (NPC) to uphold and improve the people's congress system and continuously enhance whole-process people's democracy. Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the 13th NPC, made the remarks while delivering a work report at the first session of the 14th NPC. Whole-process people's democracy is a model of socialist democracy that covers all aspects of the democratic process and all sectors of society, according to a white paper titled "China: Democracy That Works," released by China's State Council Information Office in 2021.

ChinAfrica

Sessions of Substance
China’s annual Two Sessions represent the country’s unique democratic process

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th NPC is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, on 5 March (Xinhua)
 

By Charles Onunaiju 丨ChinAfrica 8 March 2023

March saw the unfolding of key events in China’s political calendar that are closely followed worldwide: the annual sessions of the country’s top legislative and top political advisory body, commonly referred to as “Two Sessions”. The 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), the country’s top legislature and its top organ of state power, met in full session to review reports, and deliberate and pass legislation on important issues to accelerate the development of the country. The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) also convened the first session of its 14th National Committee.

China

Chinese FM briefs media on foreign policy, relations
 
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang meets the media in Beijing, March 7, 2023. /Xinhua
 

7 March 2023
CGTN

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang held a press conference on Tuesday on the sidelines of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing.

"As the world is undergoing major changes unseen in a century, China will continue to pursue the independent foreign policy of peace and continue to implement the mutually beneficial strategy of opening-up," Qin said in his opening remarks.


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