Table of contents for 2024-05-07 in Mercury

WOMEN have to skilfully navigate the delicate balance between thriving in their careers and nurturing their families. Girl power makes it look effortless. We caught up with Rozanne McKenzie, the do-it-all dynamo from Jacaranda FM’s The Drive, who also dabbles in TV, business and still finds time to hit the gym! Whirlwind is an understatement when McKenzie describes a typical day. And she says she “wouldn’t have it any other way”. McKenzie’s mornings kick off with the school run, followed by a battle with traffic as she makes her way to her 8am CrossFit class. After a shower, she dives into a mix of administration, voice-overs, shoots or production meetings. Come afternoon, she’s all geared up for The Drive with Rob and Roz, going live from 4pm to 7pm. Once…

Eight years after her sister received a doctorate from the University of KwaZulu- Natal, Zakithi Mkhize yesterday graduated with a PhD (medicine) majoring in virology at the same university. The 2024 Autumn Graduation took place at the Westville campus in Durban yesterday. In 2016, The Mercury reported that Zamambo Mkhize was the youngest graduate to get her PhD at the age of 31 while in the same week her sister Zakithi graduated with a BSc degree in genetics and microbiology. Now aged 30, Zakithi, who is currently in the medical communications field in Johannesburg, has followed in her older sister’s academic footsteps. Speaking to The Mercury moments before she stepped onto the podium to receive her PhD, Zakithi said that after years of studying it felt “surreal” to finally reach…

A 17-year-old girl in Phoenix has become an instant sensation on social media. She shocked everyone by going to her matric dance in a coffin! How ridiculous, absurd, bizarre and outrageous could she be! In fact, I am lost for words. Maybe Kevin Govender with his high falutin words could describe this crazy incident better than me. A matric dance is one of the highlights of a school calendar. Teenag ers, especially girls, look forward to it eagerly and spend a lot of time and money preparing for this grand event. They want to look their best and wear stunning outfits to catch as much attention as possible. Some even arrive in chauffeur-driven limousines to the dance. But who would have had the audacity to come to a dance in…

Effective leadership is primarily about self-leadership. He or she who cannot successfully lead himself or herself will lead no one or organisation to any goals worthy of effort or to any meaningful destination. Leadership is a role. It’s not a position. Leading is what the leader does and not who the leader is. If being top of the pile or having the prized office in the leadership suite is of greater importance to a leader than serving the goals and the personnel of the organisation, that person is a power-seeker and not a leader. Authentic leaders are deeply invested in the goals of their organisation and in the people with whom they work. They understand the “people over profits” and “profits over people” dilemma and grow comfortable with the inherent…

SHOULD current trends hold, a low voter turnout scenario – in which only the most “committed” voters participate – could see between 41% and 43% of registered voters heading to the polls. This is according to a survey by market research company Ipsos, based on the views of 2 545 registered voters interviewed. Interviews were conducted in the homes and home languages of respondents from March 9 to April 15. Currently the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) has recorded 27 698 369 registered voters across the country. For its survey, Ipsos said it considered indicators such as interest in politics, desire to vote, stated intention to vote, and depth of party loyalty. By analysing responses to this series of survey questions, its algorithm generated three possible turnout scenarios. “Should the…

Five new state-of-the-art police stations have been opened in KwaZulu-Natal. The South African Police Service (SAPS) said the new stations were aimed at improving communities’ access to policing services. National Minister of Police Bheki Cele officially opened the stations in Gamalakhe, Donnybrook, Melmoth, KwaDabhazi and eManguzi recently. Police ministry spokesperson Lirandzu Themba said the effective use of the police stations would see improved police response times and enable the SAPS to deliver a professional and effective service, while responding to the needs of communities. “More police stations translate to increased footprint of the SAPS, especially in rural areas which are often far-flung from government services,” Themba said. Police said the opening of the eManguzi police station on Friday comes weeks after the signing of a Joint Action Plan between South…

The Eastern Cape’s provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nomthetheleli Mene, has applauded the lengthy sentence handed down to an “unremorseful and shameless” rapist, who targeted teens, in Mthatha High Court. Xolani Gcelu, 35, was sentenced on May 2 to eight life terms and a total of 162 years imprisonment, on 34 charges, including housebreaking, kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, rape and attempted murder. Mene also applauded the skills of investigating officer Deputy Sergeant Ndileka Bokolo for bringing justice to the victims. During his reign of terror, Gcelu raped eight women aged between 18 and 27, of which five were school girls. One learner fell pregnant with his son. The perpetrator was initially arrested in July 2019, but the case was temporarily withdrawn pending DNA results. He was rearrested…

THE water and sanitation unit in eThekwini Municipality plans to install thousands of water meters in an effort to combat water losses that are costing the municipality more than R1 billion a year. Head of water and sanitation Ednick Msweli detailed the plans to address the non-revenue water losses in a recent podcast on the City’s online platform eThekwini Matters. These losses are at 58% and the rand value resulting from this is close to R1.7bn. The City has adopted a water turnaround strategy to deal with the issues affecting the delivery of the service. Msweli said the City was prioritising the issue of water and sanitation and that was reflected in the budget set aside for these functions. He warned that not doing anything to deal with these…

COMMUNICATIONS and Digital Technologies Minister Mondli Gungubele has revealed that numerous interested parties have put forward proposals to partner with the SA Post Office (Sapo) as part of its turnaround strategy. Gungubele was replying to parliamentary questions from DA MP Natasha Mazzone who enquired whether the Post Office intended to collaborate with partners in the private sector to ensure that it continued to deliver services. “Numerous interested parties have put forward proposals, which will under- go a comprehensive review by an internal investment committee established by the joint business rescue practitioners. “This process will ensure a thorough evaluation of all potential partnership opportunities to strategically select collaborations that will best support the entity’s turnaround strategy,” he said. Mazzone also enquired about the liquidity status of the SA Post Office in…

WHAT happened at the 110th anniversary commemoration of King Dinuzulu was nothing new. It was history repeating itself and from the look of things, it will again because the son seems to fail like the father. Just like in the celebration of King Cetshwayo in 1983, the cause of the deaths was the “inkathalisation” of the “Zulu Nation” or Zulu royalty. That “inkathalisation” was done by Mangosuthu Buthelezi. He started by politicising the Inkatha Yenkululeko Yesizwe, a Zulu cultural movement. That was the beginning of the sharp division of the “Zulu Nation” which subsided after 1994. It is resurfacing now almost 40 years later. Buthelezi took advantage of the respect the “Zulu Nation” has for royalty to pursue his ulterior tribalist factional politics. Therefore, Amabutho (Zulu regiment) ended up in…

French President Emmanuel Macron and EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen pressed Xi Jinping at a summit in Paris yesterday to use Beijing’s influence to halt the Russian war against Ukraine, also telling the Chinese leader to accept fair global trade rules. Xi’s two-day state visit to France is his first visit to Europe since 2019 on a trip that will also see him hold talks in Serbia and Hungary. He has said he wants to find peace in Ukraine even if analysts do not expect any major breakthrough. Opening an initial trilateral meeting attended by von der Leyen, Macron said co-ordination with Beijing on “major crises” including Ukraine was “absolutely decisive” and urged “fair rules for all” in Europe-China trade. “The future of our continent will very clearly…

A man was shot dead yesterday after voting in Chad’s presidential election by an attacker who did not have an electoral card and had been barred from voting, electoral officials said. The gunman opened fire indiscriminately, hitting a 65-year-old who had just cast his ballot in Moundou, said Ousmane Houzibe, head of the ANGE electoral body in the southern city. The shooter was among a group of people demanding the right to vote in the election, in which junta leader and transitional president Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno’s main rival is Prime Minister Succes Masra. The circumstances of the incident were confirmed by Moundou mayor Bienvenu Guelmbaye. Houzibe, who described it as an isolated incident, said calm had returned but that the attackers had fled. An official from Moundou prosecutor’s office…

SAO PAULO: Heavy rains battering Brazil’s southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul have killed at least 83 people, authorities said yesterday, while more than a hundred were still missing. The storms have affected more than two thirds of the nearly 500 cities in the state, leaving about 122 000 people displaced, according to the state civil defence authority. Officials said the death toll should still substantially increase as rescue workers gain access to more regions. The civil defence force said 111 people were still missing. Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said bureaucracy would not stop the government from reconstructing the state. | Reuters…

HONG KONG: Chinese provinces are urging companies to offer women flexible job roles called “Mama’s Posts” that make it easier to balance work and childcare, the official reports said yesterday. Authorities are trying to encourage more women to have children after China’s population fell for a second consecutive year in 2023 and births touched a record low. Many employers explore the “Mother’s Post” model, but most involve short or temporary contracts, making it tough to protect women’s rights, it said. But in richer southern Guangdong authorities are looking to promote the new model across all the cities of the province. | Reuters…

Formula One has built much of its recent success in the US on the Netflix reality documentary series Drive to Survive but with Max Verstappen utterly dominating there was an acute need for a plot twist. That arrived in Miami on Sunday, when Lando Norris, the 24-year-old McLaren driver, pulled off a surprise win over the Dutchman. Verstappen has won four of the six races so far this season and it would be unwise for anyone to see Norris’s win at the Miami Grand Prix as the sign of an imminent change in fortunes for the three-time world champion, but to maintain interest, F1 needed some rotation on the top of the podium. It was certainly a feel-good story: Norris came into Miami having had a record 15 podium finishes…

The ANC and its alliance heavyweights are expected to descend on KwaZulu-Natal this week as part of its election campaigning as the party aims to secure a majority vote in a significant economic hub in the country. The party and its alliance leaders, including Cosatu and the SACP are expected to highlight the development gains that have taken place since 1994, and also point to the stance it has taken on the conflict between Israel and Palestine. The province is seen as highly competitive with the DA, IFP and EFF all looking to improve on previous election results, while the Jacob Zuma-led MK Party will also be a factor. Former president Thabo Mbeki is expected in the province at the weekend, fresh from his campaigning in Soweto last week, where…

The Road Freight Association and a trucking company have welcomed the strides made by Transnet to address truck congestion at the Port of Richards Bay. Truck congestion on roads leading to the port was raised as a significant issue last year by the City of uMhlathuze which said there had been unprecedented traffic on major roads. Transnet said it has now ramped up the number of coal trains from 21 to 28 per week as part of Transnet’s Recovery Plan initiatives, and a commitment made to the City of uMhlathuze leadership and other stakeholders during a meeting in November last year. It explained that all Transnet customers that were road hauling to the Port of Richards Bay were approached directly to indicate interest in participating in a test train service.…

THERE is a very famous Hindi expression: “Na rahega baans naa rahega bansuri”, which figuratively carries the meaning that if one removes the source of the problem, the problem will cease to exist. Well, it seems that the close alignment between Israeli Zionists and their equally right-wing counterparts in India, has provided yet another blueprint – a blueprint as blue as the flag of Israel and as blue as the identical colour scheme used by their counterparts across the Atlantic – the American NYPD. A foolproof plan that will provide Israel with a 100% short cut to ensure that there will never be any “two state solution”. Not now. Not ever. This Ig-Nobel-Prize-Winning-Method, of course, is to eliminate each and every Palestinian foetus, about to be born babies,…

READERS are advised not to proceed with what follows if they have recently consumed any sort of shellfish dish. Untreated sewage was released into designated shellfish waters off England for 192 000 hours last year, according to Sky News. The dirty water pouring into English seas was a 20% jump from 2022, according to analysis by the Liberal Democrat Party in the British Parliament. The hours of sewage dumping were spread across 23 000 separate incidents – an average of 64 times a day. Some fishing waters in Cornwall were forced to close last year after high levels of E coli were found in oysters and mussels. Norovirus – tummy bug – can be transported via human waste. Liberal Democrat Environment spokesperson Tim Farron MP says: “This environmental scandal is…

A report by Tshisevhe Attorneys Incorporated (TGR) on fraud and corruption allegations by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) has reportedly cleared former National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) board chairperson Ernest Khosa. The report, dated March 28, was prepared by advocate William Mokhare SC who was briefed by TGR to probe allegations over a series of leaked recordings and transcripts of two meetings allegedly held between Khosa and NSFAS service providers. The allegations were that he purportedly received financial benefits from these service providers, implying a quid-pro-quo arrangement for facilitating appointments. Additionally, it was alleged that Khosa made decisions in collaboration with service providers. In a statement, NSFAS said administrator Freeman Nomvalo received the report and it “found no evidence to substantiate allegations made in the Outa report”. “The…

Limpopo MEC of Health, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, has visited South African nationals hospitalised in Botswana, following a horrific road crash that claimed the lives of at least seven South Africans in the neighbouring country. The crash happened last week after the group of South Africans had gathered in Gauteng, and travelled in a minibus to Botswana, for a church service. The Botswana Police Service (BPS) said the incident occurred in the southern district of the country, in Ranaka village, about 77km from Gaborone. It involved a Range Rover SUV with four Batswana travellers and a Toyota minibus occupied by 15 South Africans. MEC Ramathuba, who travelled to Botswana to represent the South African government at the mass funeral of 45 Batswana who died in a bus crash in Limpopo during…

The district of eThekwini South had the highest number of reported cases of abuse against children, according to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development. The department handled 828 reported cases of child abuse, 423 sexual abuse cases, 271 deliberate neglect cases, 112 physical abuse cases, 53 emotional abuse cases, 21 abandonment, and 1 child abduction case in the fourth quarter of the 2023/24 financial year. “District-wise, eThekwini South reported the highest number of cases at 198, followed by uMgungundlovu at 129, eThekwini North at 109 and King Cetswayo at 108.” MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza appealed to the public to prioritise the protection of children as the country marks Child Protection Month, which began on May 5. The MEC said Child Protection Month served as a reminder that there was a collective…

A REPORT detailing the work being done to “fix” the Msunduzi Municipality has painted a dire picture of the City’s finances revealing that it is in debt close to R1 billion for water and electricity. The municipality owed uMngeni-uThukela Water Board around R534 million. It owed Eskom close to the same figure but applied for debt relief amounting to R253m from Eskom, which was granted. Opposition party councillors said the ballooning debt demonstrated that the decision by the KwaZulu-Natal Cabinet to bring the municipality out of administration was ill-conceived. However, Msunduzi mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla said a lot of work had been done to address the problems that led to the municipality being placed under administration. Thebolla said he did not have the figure of the total debt on hand, but…

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has been granted a R53 million forfeiture order by the Pretoria High Court linked to the fraudulent transfer of government land to private entities and individuals. The forfeiture order pertains to farm 33 Zuurfontein in Ekurhuleni, valued at R41m, as well as a payment of R12m representing the property known as Holding Beverley Agricultural Holdings. This property was unknowingly purchased by RIC Development from an alleged government land theft syndicate. According to the unit, RIC Development bought land from the land thieves and developed it without knowing that it was stolen. The land was initially meant for the development of low-income housing and a school in the community. The order follows an SIU investigation which revealed that a syndicate of individuals and private entities defrauded…

The recent remarks by Collen Malatji, leader of the ANC Youth League, suggesting that voting patterns in KwaZulu-Natal are dictated by tribal lines, are not just ill-considered but also inappropriate. During a recent media briefing at the ANC’s Luthuli House headquarters in Johannesburg, Malatji expressed concerns about KZN’s historical voting trends, implying tribal affiliations pose a challenge to the governing party. While Malatji, as a young politician, is entitled to his opinions, he must not confuse opinion with fact. His assertions not only distort reality but also misrepresent the political landscape of KZN. The ANC is often described as a “broad church”, known for transcending ethnic divides – a feat that has eluded many African nations. Therefore, it is concerning to see a young politician within the ANC attributing the…

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump accused Democratic rival President Joe Biden of running a “Gestapo administration” in a private address to donors in which he also attacked prosecutors involved in his criminal indictments, according to a recording heard by US media outlets. Trump, whose own rhetoric has drawn accusations of fascist tendencies from civil rights groups and other critics, made the comparison with the Nazi police in Germany’s World War II regime at a donor retreat at the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. The comments came after Trump reprised his complaint that the multiple indictments against him were politically motivated. He had just concluded 11 days of a New York hush money trial in which he is charged with falsifying business records to cover up…

LONDON: Britain’s King Charles III yesterday marked the first anniversary of his coronation following a difficult year that has seen a cancer diagnosis and continuing tensions with his estranged son Prince Harry. To celebrate the occasion a 41-gun salute rang out from Green Park next to Buckingham Palace at noon, followed with 62 volleys fired from another central London location. No official events, however, were planned with the milestone coming less than a week after Charles, 75, resumed public duties since his diagnosis. He visited fellow cancer patients at a London hospital last week after doctors said they were encouraged by his progress. The anniversary comes as a poll saw Charles’s personal popularity rating rise slightly to 56%. | AFP…

KYIV: A Russian drone attack cut power to more than 400 000 consumers in parts of Ukraine’s north-east region of Sumy, officials said yesterday, after Kyiv said its air defence forces downed 12 attack drones in the region overnight. Work to restore electricity continued into the morning as 91 settlements out of the 1 325 impacted remained without power in the region, national grid operator Ukrenergo said. Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 13 attack drones against Ukraine. Air defence systems downed 12 over the Sumy region. Russia’s recent drone and missile attacks have caused $1 billion (R18.4bn) worth damage to the energy sector. | Reuters…

Kaizer Chiefs’ quest for redemption and to rescue what’s left of their season will continue tonight when they face TS Galaxy in the DStv Premiership. Chiefs will host the Rockets at New Peter Mokaba still wounded from the 5-1 beating they got from rivals Mamelodi Sundowns, which confirmed their seventh title in a row. But while that added more misery to Amakhosi’s barren season, Chiefs do not have the time to sulk and moan – their top-eight finish is still not guaranteed. So they’ll have to get back in the saddle tonight. Speaking yesterday, upon their arrival in Polokwane, defender Reeve Frosler conceded they were still disappointed by their last result, but they have to move on. “The mood has been okay,” Frosler explained. “Obviously, the last result was disappointing,…

The DA is facing criticism over its latest election advertisement which depicts a burning South African national flag. The party said the election was about survival, and the advert was intended to stop the corruption of the ANC, EFF and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) whose relationship will spell disaster for the rule of law should they join forces after the elections. The advert was launched by DA leader John Steenhuisen on Sunday night, with South Africans slamming the the burning flag portrayed in the advert. However, Steenhuisen has remained defiant, saying the burning of the flag is “symbolic” of the doomsday coalition of the ANC and the EFF. “What you will see in this advertisement is a symbolic representation of the future that awaits South Africa if people do…

Ebrahim Essa is right to point out how truth is manipulated and millions duped by untruths as a result (The Mercury, May 6). The violent pro-Hamas/anti-Israel protests on certain American university campuses provide a glaring, current example of Essa’s observation. The seemingly spontaneous upsurge of the malevolence is the product of two elements: infiltration and funding. Not reported by the mainstream media is the fact that cells of violent, anti-American Antifa insurgents infiltrated the campuses. Besides instigating the demonstrations, they were able to mobilise many of the students, conditioned by anti-America academics, into supporting Hamas and condemning Jews. The other driver of the demonstrations with their “death to America” slogan is the funding behind it. Incredibly, the pro-Hamas activists are funded by US President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party’s…

I WRITE to the head of water and sanitation to express my grave concern regarding the performance and responsibilities of the telemetry department, in the crisis-stricken environment prevailing in Verulam and surrounding suburbs. It is utterly unacceptable that while we have reservoirs and towers overflowing, the residents of this area are struggling to access water on a daily basis. It is clear that the telemetry department is either completely unaware of its responsibilities or is failing to fulfil them in this critical situation. The fact that we do have an abundance of water resources, yet the people are deprived of this basic necessity, is a damning indictment of the department’s incompetence and lack of accountability. This situation cannot be allowed to continue without consequence. The people of Verulam and surrounding…

People across the world recently celebrated World Book Day, a day dedicated to the love of books and reading. The day is a reminder of how books can help children develop their imagination, learn new things and inculcate a love for reading. As part of World Book Day this year, the University Language Planning and Development Office (ULPDO) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) led an impressive book donation project. On April 23, the ULPDO held a special book drive to help local groups with their efforts to improve literacy. The main goal was to give pupils who might not have sufficient access to books and other learning materials greater chances to get them. Together with donors and members of the university community, the ULPDO gathered a wide range…

Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola said there were eight cases on the criminal court roll where suspects were being prosecuted for offences emanating from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Lamola was responding to GOOD Party MP Brett Herron who asked about the total number of TRC cases under investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation and National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and identified potential suspects who were still alive and may potentially be prosecuted. “Thus far, there are eight cases which are on the criminal court roll where suspects are being prosecuted for multiple offences emanating from TRC matters,” he said. “In addition, two matters are pending as indictments are being prepared to charge suspects who are still alive. “An additional two matters, post the re-opening of…

ETHEKWINI Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda has given city residents the assurance that incorrect billing is being addressed. On Friday, he told a special council meeting that residents had constantly been complaining about billing. Ratepayers have raised numerous concerns regarding billing, with some noting that they were being billed according to estimated consumption of electricity and water as meters were not being read or were being read infrequently. The City’s own records show that thousands of water and electricity meters were not being read because of a variety of reasons. The mayor made the commitment as he tabled the City’s final budget for approval by the council following engagements with communities and key stakeholders. The budget comes into effect on July 1. Kaunda thanked residents who participated in the IDP/Budget roadshows…

Former Zimbabwean farmers who lost their farms will not be able to sue the South African government for compensation, after the Constitutional Court yesterday ruled against them on a technical point. The apex court found that the claim for damages the farmers wanted to be paid out for had lapsed, as they did not timeously serve their notice regarding their legal action on certain organs of state. Government had turned to the Constitutional Court on appeal regarding this and another technical point in law. The Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, earlier ruled against the farmers on one of the points and on appeal, the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the farmers. But this time around the Constitutional Court ruled in favour of government and found that the farmers’…

At least one person was killed when a building under construction in George in the Western Cape collapsed yesterday trapping the construction workers inside. The building under construction in Victoria Street caved in and access to the road from York Street was blocked off. Police confirmed one fatality and said an inquest docket was opened for investigation. They said 18 patients were rescued and sent for medical attention. Rescue and disaster management teams from Cape Town and Worcester were deployed as extra reinforcement to assist on site in an emergency effort to rescue the trapped workers with operations ongoing last night. George mayor, Leon van Wyk, said the building collapse was a tragedy. “We are very concerned for the lives of the staff on site who were caught and trapped…

However, the government is apparently not above using its power against media outlets ONE of the dichotomies of the South African body politic is that despite its manifold metrics of shame – world beating levels of youth unemployment; gender-based violence and femicide; income, land, and other inequalities – in one metric of honour, freedom of the press and its safeguarding, it remains a global beacon of hope and steadfastness. South Africans are in the middle of a crucial socio-political campaign – perhaps the most defining since the onset of democracy in 1994 – leading up to the 2024 general election on 29 May. In the hurly burly of democratic electioneering, the robustness of the hard-fought culture of freedom of speech and the media could not be more evident, with parties,…

Israel’s military yesterday called for the evacuation of Palestinians from eastern Rafah ahead of a ground invasion of the city, as Gaza aid officials said Israeli jets struck two areas where the warning had been issued. The evacuation call followed intensified disagreement between Israel and Hamas over the Islamist group’s demands to end the seven-month war, during weekend talks in Cairo. Consultations between two other mediators, the US and Qatar, were expected yesterday in Doha but state-linked media in Egypt said negotiations had stalled after a rocket strike killed four Israeli soldiers on Sunday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to send ground troops in against Hamas fighters in Rafah regardless of any truce, and despite concerns from the US, other countries and aid groups. The “limited” and temporary…

People who carry two copies of the APOE4 gene are virtually guaranteed to develop Alzheimer’s and face symptoms at an earlier age, researchers reported yesterday in a study that could redefine such carriers as having a new genetic form of the mind-wasting disease. The reclassification could change Alzheimer’s research, diagnosis and approaches to treatment, according to the researchers, whose study was published in the journal Nature Medicine. “Through these data we are saying that perhaps this is a genetic form of this disease, not merely a risk factor indication,” study co-author Sterling Johnson of the University of Wisconsin’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center said in a briefing on the study. Scientists have known for three decades that people with two copies of APOE4 gene variant have significantly higher risk of developing…

TEHRAN: UN atomic watchdog chief Rafael Grossi arrived in Iran yesterday, where he was expected to speak at a conference and meet officials for talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme. The visit comes at a time of heightened regional tensions and with the International Atomic Energy Agency criticising Iran for lack of co-operation on inspections and other outstanding issues. Iran’s first International Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology is being held in Isfahan province, home to the Natanz uranium enrichment plant and where strikes attributed to Israel hit last month. Iran has suspended its compliance with caps on nuclear activities set by a 2015 deal. | AFP…

LAGOS: Nigeria’s electricity regulator has ordered the grid operator to cut back supplies to customers overseas to boost domestic supply. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission said the grid operator’s approach in managing supply has caused significant hardship for Nigerians because supply under bilateral contracts, including export to international customers, takes priority over supply to domestic customers. It said it was placing a cap of 6% on the total available grid generation to international off-takers for the next six months. Nigerian power firms have contracts with neighbouring African countries to deliver energy. | Reuters…