[South Africa's energy crisis could bring its economy to a standstill] A nationwide blackout of up to 12 hours a day could deal a fatal blow to South Africa's fragile economy. Blackouts or load shedding have occurred from time to time since 2007, but have been made worse in recent years as ageing coal plants are pushed to their limits, with frequent failures. Coal accounts for about 90 percent of the country's electricity supply. Andre Druitt, chief executive of state electricity provider Eskom, said the illegal strike had made the situation worse, preventing emergency repairs. If workers do not heed the call to return to work, the country will further expose its fiscal problems. The union wants a pay rise of as much as 15%, more than double the current inflation rate of 6%. Editor/Xing Wentao

Click to see more live >>

• 2026.04.10 10:27
• [Kazakhstan's oil and gas facilities operate smoothly]
• The Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan stated that international oil and gas cooperation facilities within the country are operating normally, and all parties are working together to assess the situation and ensure the continuous, stable, and smooth operation of pipeline transportation.Editor/Gao Xue

• 2026.04.10 10:24
• [Shandong Road and Bridge won the bid for Kenya Road]
• Shandong Road and Bridge International has won the bid for two road upgrade projects in Nakuru County, Kenya, with a bid amount of approximately 220 million yuan. The total length of the route is about 72 kilometers, and after completion, it will improve local traffic conditions and road network layout.Editor/Gao Xue