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20 August 2025 Issue 339 - Economic Balance Favours Global South
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| From the Alps to the Karoo |
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Lindt, the Swiss Chocolatier had a variety of sweet treats for guests to enjoy (photo: TDS)
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Lessons 30-Year-Old South Africa Can Learn from 734-Year-Old Switzerland
Switzerland turned 734 years old this month. South Africa, in comparison, has only just celebrated 30 years of democracy. Yet, standing side by side, these two diverse, multilingual societies share more in common than might first appear. Switzerland’s long journey of unity in diversity, stability, and innovation offers South Africa valuable lessons as it continues its own path of transformation.
Often described as a living postcard, Switzerland has for centuries captivated the world with its majestic landscapes, modern cities, and remarkable ability to harmonise cultures and languages. Four official languages — German, French, Italian, and Romansh — coexist in a confederation that has endured since 1291. Today, Switzerland is a global leader in innovation, finance, diplomacy, and quality of life — a model of stability in a turbulent world.
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| Celebrating the Black, Green, and Gold of Jamaica’s Independence |
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Pictured front row (l-r) Albert Edwards, Jamaican High Commission and Vice President of IDSA, Racquel Jenkins, founder of BOLD Beauty, Joan Thomas Edwards, High Commissioner of Jamaica and Karem Ruiz de Livieres, Embassy of Paraguay and President of IDSA with members of IDSA (photo: TDS) |
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Congratulations to High Commissioner Joan Thomas Edwards was appointed to the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander (CD) on the occasion of Jamaica's 63rd Anniversary of Independence.
As Jamaica celebrates its journey of freedom and identity this Emancipation and Independence season, South Africa also pauses to honour the bravery and courage of women on 9 August, Women’s Day, a reminder of the shared legacies of resistance, resilience, and rising empowerment that connect Africa and the Caribbean.
This year, Jamaica marks its national milestones under the theme: “Be Proud, Be Bold in Black, Green and Gold,” a fitting tribute to the spirit of a nation that continues to inspire the world. On the eve of Emancipation Day (August 1) and Independence Day (August 6), Joan Thomas Edwards, High Commissioner of Jamaica to South Africa, hosted a culturally rich event in Pretoria that reflected not only Jamaica’s creative and entrepreneurial prowess but also its deep, historical ties to Africa.
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| Ecuador Celebrates Independence Amid Signs of Economic Recovery |
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Ambassador Mauricio Montalvo with members of the Ecuadorian community (photo supplied)
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Ecuador’s economy registered cumulative growth of 3.9% through June 2025, with 2.8% year-on-year growth. Non-oil exports set a new record at USD 14.491 billion in the first half of 2025, while total imports rose 11% on higher purchases of raw materials, capital goods and consumer goods. The trade balance posted a record USD 4.166 billion surplus over the same period last year.
Citing these improvements, Ambassador of Ecuador to South Africa, Mauricio Montalvo said that Ecuador's economy still faces fiscal challenges while pending reforms would boost its growth potential. However, Ecuador’s performance during the first half of 2025 exceeded the initial expectations and forecasts of the Central Bank of Ecuador and international organizations, Montalvo said.
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| Bharat Rising, An Ancient Civilization Shaping a Modern Power |
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Raising a toast to the well-being of the people of India and South Africa are Indian High Commissioner Prabhat Kumar and Minister Solly Malatsi of Communications for South Africa at a reception celebrating India's 79th Independence Day in Pretoria (photo: TDS) |
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Since the end of colonial occupation, India—Bharat—has walked the path of self-sufficiency with a vision rooted in its ancient wisdom and skills, passed carefully from generation to generation. This journey, shaped by the resilience of its people, has been guided by the principles of the Swadeshi Movement, launched on 7 August 1905, which called for the strengthening of indigenous industries. It is a call that continues to echo powerfully in the national consciousness as India celebrated its Independence on 15 August.
The defeat of imperial Britain reignited India’s deep self-belief—a reminder that this was once the centre of global trade, economics, art, culture, science, and astronomy, a civilization whose understanding of the cosmos was woven into the very fabric of daily life. From the Vedic texts to architectural marvels, from advancements in mathematics to a profound grasp of the human spirit, Bharat has for millennia been a wellspring of knowledge that shapes its modern identity.
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| ASEAN a Celebration of Unity, Growth, and Global Partnerships |
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Pictured at ASEAN Day 2025 - Mr Saud Krisnawan - Indonesia, Mr Yap Wei Sin - Malaysia, Ms Noralyn Jubaria Baja - Philippines, Mr Thein Min Htun - Mynamar, Ms Ntombizodwa Lallie - South Africa, Mr Zainal Mantaha - Singapore, Mr Ekapol Poolpipat - Thailand and Mr Hoang Sy Cuong - Vietnam - (photo: TDS) |
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On a tense border between Cambodia and Thailand, a ceasefire was declared this week, brokered under the quiet but firm guidance of ASEAN in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The swiftness of this diplomatic resolution is a reminder of what this 10-member bloc has come to represent: a region determined to solve its own disputes through dialogue, consensus, and cooperation.
It was in Bangkok, 1967, when five founding nations — Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand — signed the Bangkok Declaration, creating what would become the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Today, with ten members and a combined population of over 660 million, ASEAN is one of the most dynamic, resilient, and influential regional organisations in the world. Its logo — ten golden rice stalks bound together — captures the essence of this unity: individual strength woven into collective prosperity.
In Pretoria, the ASEAN Pretoria Committee gathered to celebrate ASEAN Day and the 2nd anniversary of the ASEAN–South Africa Sectoral Dialogue Partnership. Hosted at the Indonesian Ambassador’s residence, the event brought together diplomats, South African government officials, and business leaders.
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| Fidel Castro’s Eternal Flame of Revolution |
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Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro (photo supplied) |
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On 13 August, the world remembers the birth of Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz — a man whose name has become synonymous with courage, vision, and an unshakable commitment to justice. His life story is not merely that of an individual, but of a people, a revolution, and an island nation that refused to bow to the weight of imperialism. Fidel’s presence in the chronicles of revolutionary history is not confined to Cuba; it resonates wherever freedom, dignity, and sovereignty are fought for.
From his earliest years, Fidel was never an ordinary man. As a young student, he immersed himself in political activism, taking a stand against the oppression and corruption that plagued Cuba. Within the university student movement, he became a central figure in the fight against the corrupt politicians and their repressive forces, agents of imperialist interests. It was during this time that Fidel first encountered Marxist ideology, embracing it with conviction and cultivating progressive, radical ideas among his fellow youth.
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