Mercury的2023-05-26目录

MORE than R7 billion has been set aside by the National Treasury to assist KwaZulu-Natal to deal with damage to its infrastructure due to the floods in April last year. The money was channelled to various projects that are mainly attending to the reconstruction of the infrastructure, including roads that were badly damaged. Speaking at a special sitting of the KZN legislature yesterday, the premier said she had felt it was important to provide the update because there had been a lot of political and public interest in the funds since their approval was announced. “In the interest of transparency and accountability I have taken the opportunity to provide an account to the provincial legislature of the funding of the government’s response to the disaster that accompanied the floods of…

HOW on earth has the somewhat macabre World War II story of Operation Mincemeat been successfully rendered as a musical comedy on London’s West End, to acclaim by the critics? Operation Mincemeat involved the acquisition and dressing up of a human cadaver as a “Major William Martin” and putting it into the sea near Hulva, in Spain. Attached to the dead body was a briefcase containing fake documents suggesting that the Allied attack would be against Sardinia and Greece, not Sicily, the actual point of invasion. When the body was found, Spanish intelligence passed copies of the papers to German intelligence. So successful was the ruse that the Germans still believed Sardinia and Greece were the intended targets, weeks after the landings in Sicily. The identity of the “man who…

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education is in shambles, and is in dire need of competent leadership. This comes after reports that to date, many Section 21 schools have not yet received their funds. This money is essential as schools are responsible for the procurement of stationery, textbooks and other items. We were shocked to learn that some principals have resorted to taking loans to buy school items. It goes without saying that learning materials for teaching are crucial to the success of learners. Recently, the department was caught up in the school nutrition scandal, and now it appears that it has failed to pay funds for Section 21 schools. These recent scandals have led us to question the leadership skills of the KZN MEC for Education, Mbali Frazer, as well…

Park Village Auctions will be auctioning a large-scale, complete vegetable processing plant, in part or as a whole, on behalf of the business rescue practitioner. The assets from Just Veggies (Pty) Ltd, a South African-borne enterprise well-known for supporting farmers in Vryheid and surrounds, is in business rescue. PVA’s Clive Lazarus says most businesses sold under the banner of business rescue need a capital injection or restructuring to continue operations and therefore represent an excellent opportunity for investors. The sale comprises a complete fresh and frozen vegetable processing plant, farm implements, fleet trucks and office furniture. The wide range of lots includes food processing items such as sorters, cutters, fill and seal machines, weighing machines and feed hoppers with conveyers. Also available will be cutters, peelers and scrubbers, a wood-fired…

In the latest development regarding the challenge to the medical tariffs promulgated last year relating to victims of road accidents who claim compensation from the Road Accident Fund (RAF), the court has now placed the fund on terms to produce the documents on which the decision was based which would leave people out of pocket. Judge Ronel Tolmay, sitting at the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, last year suspended the implementation of these tariffs. She ruled that her order would remain in place pending the outcome of a further application in which the court has been asked to review and set aside the tariffs. The new tariffs were promulgated by then Minister for Transport Fikile Mbalula and in terms of which medical professionals in the private sector were to be paid…

ANC provincial chairperson Siboniso Duma has called for the erection of a massive statue of the late Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini outside the provincial legislature in Pietermaritzburg. Duma made the call in Pietermaritzburg when tabling a motion during a special sitting of the KZN Legislature to mark Africa Day yesterday. The ANC chairperson praised the role that had been played by the king in fostering good working relations between traditional leadership and government, and elevating the profile of KZN. The king died in March 2021 after reigning for nearly 50 years. “UMdlokombane (an affectionate name for the late king) was a firm believer in the progressive nature and character of the institution of traditional leadership. On this day, we affirm our commitment to harness this institution to ensure that…

The 40-year-old man charged with the murder of his mother made his first appearance in the Durban Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Krishen Pillay is charged with the murder of his 65-year-old mother, Debigee Pillay, on the morning of May 13. He is also charged with the attempted murder of his sister, Lutchmee Pillay. Pillay is being represented by Durban attorney Anand Nepaul from Anand Nepaul & Associates. In court yesterday, Nepaul handed in two medical certificates to the court which showed that Pillay suffered from a mental health condition. He will remain at Westville Prison until his next appearance later this month. The matter has been adjourned for a district surgeon’s report. The murder took place at the family’s home in Glen Anil in the north of Durban. At the time…

Stalwart of the labour movement and business, he always put South Africa first AGE and experience never really prepare one for the loss of dear friends and colleagues. For South Africa the recent passing of Dr Dennis George is a tragedy, as we have lost yet one more soul of the soil who fought the good fight and helped us realise freedom and democracy. For me, it has been quite a blow, coming so soon after saying goodbye to my lifelong friend, Dr Wallace Mgoqi, who also recently left us. Dennis’s passing is yet another timely reminder of the fragility of man and the need to make the time we have been allocated on this Earth, matter, and there can be no question that he made his allotted period here…

Net migration in the UK hit a record 606 000 last year, official figures showed yesterday, heaping pressure on the government, which has pledged to cut dependency on foreign labour. Responding to the figures, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described legal immigration levels as “too high”. “It’s as simple as that and I want to bring them down,” he said. Measures announced earlier this week to tighten the number of international students allowed to bring their families with them would have a significant impact, he added. Immigration has long been a key political issue in the UK and was one of the main battlegrounds of the Brexit referendum in 2016, which saw the country leave the EU. In 2021, net migration – the difference between the number of people…

Sporadic clashes between Sudan’s army and a paramilitary force spilled over into yesterday, puncturing the relative calm in the capital Khartoum and raising the risk of a week-long truce deal crumbling as concerns grew over a humanitarian crisis. The ceasefire, monitored by Saudi Arabia and the US, was reached after five weeks of warfare in Khartoum and outbreaks of fighting in other parts of Sudan, including the long volatile western region of Darfur. The fighting – a power struggle between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) – has forced more than 1.3 million people to flee. The army has taken cover in Khartoum’s streets. Militia also besieged Zalingei, capital of Central Darfur State, the UN said. Telecommunications have been cut off and gangs have attacked hospitals, government…

SEOUL: South Korean and US forces began their largest joint live-fire exercises yesterday, simulating a “full-scale attack” from North Korea, South Korea’s defence ministry said. About 2 500 troops from the South and the US took part as the five-day exercise began near the border with the North, the ministry said. Multiple tanks, howitzers and fighter jets were also involved. Last week, North Korea’s state media reported that leader Kim Jong-un had approved final preparations for the launch of the North’s first military spy satellite. Analysts say the satellite will improve North Korea’s surveillance capability, enabling it to strike targets more accurately. | Reuters…

KUESNACHT: Well-wishers gathered outside the lakeside home of Tina Turner yesterday to pay tribute to the music legend who had made Switzerland her home for nearly three decades. Flowers and cards lay outside the house in Kuesnacht, on the shore of Lake Zurich, where Turner died on Wednesday at the age of 83. Visitors came to the gates of her estate to light candles and leave messages for the singer whose hits included What’s Love Got To Do with It? and Simply the Best. Locals described her as a popular neighbour who appreciated the lack of fuss from fellow residents. | Reuters…

THE experience of the 2019 Netball World Cup will have a major bearing on the SPAR Proteas when they host this year’s iteration in Cape Town, according to Khanyisa Chawane. Four years ago, the Proteas made it all the way to the semi-finals of the showpiece event, where they lost 55-53 to Australia. They subsequently lost to England in the bronze medal final, and it will be that exposure to the coalface of knockout netball that will help the Proteas make even more improvements this time around. For that is the objective of the team, the 27-year-old admitted in an exclusive interview with Independent Media this past week – to have a medal hanging around their necks. Said Chawane: “Having played a semi-final at the previous World Cup, you know…

WHILE the Sharks will look to continue their rapid ascension up the Currie Cup ladder today, there is no doubt that the match to be played down in Cape Town will have the most significant consequences on the tournament this weekend. In what is expected to be cold and slippery conditions, Western Province will host the Lions, who will be desperate to walk away with the spoils. A loss, and perhaps even a draw, will spell doom and see the Joburgers’ hopes of progressing to the play-offs evaporate. Currently, the Lions are seventh in the standings on 26 points. With three games remaining in the regular season, they can collect a maximum of 15 points to tally 41 points. They are one point behind the Blue Bulls, who narrowly defeated…

THERE is nothing more comforting than a hot meal on a chilly day. Need ideas on how to warm up your kitchen and your stomach? Well, dig out your pots and pans and put these recipes to the test. Roasted Thai green sweet potato soup Ingredients 250g sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed 50g sweet potato, thinly sliced 1 tin coconut cream 500ml vegetable stock Olive oil Salt and pepper Thai green curry paste 4 cloves of garlic 2 red onions 7cm piece of fresh ginger 2 lemon grass stalks 2 bird’s eye chillies 2 tsp ground cumin 20g fresh coriander 10g fresh basil 2 tbs fish sauce Juice of 1 lime 1 tbs olive oil 1 tsp sesame oil Method Preheat the oven to 180ºC. Place sweet potatoes on a…

AS FRUSTRATED ratepayers prepare to march to the Durban City Hall today over poor service delivery, the ANC in eThekwini has accused the DA of agitating for ratepayers not to pay their rates. The party made the claim during a debate yesterday while responding to the State of the City Address given by mayor Mxolisi Kaunda a few weeks ago. Steep increases have been proposed in the new budget for the 2023/24 financial year that comes into effect on July 1. Some councillors complained that the increases were above inflation and would put ratepayers under pressure. The budget includes the following proposed tariff increases: Property rates: 8.9% average increase. Water: 14.9% residential, 15.9% business. Sanitation: 11.9% for residential and 12.9% for business. Electricity: 21.91% increase for all, subject to…

THE Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity Group (PMBEJD) says food price inflation, which was at 13.9% in April, is the main driver behind the rampant rise of the inflation rate. The inflation rate was 6.8% in April, a slight drop from 7.1% in March. The PMBEJD was commenting as there was more grim news for consumers as the South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) hiked the interest rate by 50 basis points yesterday. In announcing the hike, the Monetary Policy Committee noted that the rise in the country’s headline inflation rate had been shaped primarily by fuel, electricity and food price inflation. It said compared to the previous meeting, fuel and electricity price inflation was somewhat lower and food price inflation higher. Mervyn Abrahams, PMBEJD programme co-ordinator, said global food prices…

In response to “Councillors complain about negative publicity” (The Mercury, May 24), I do have an idea. Maybe the council could try to accomplish some positive achievements. I am sure that we citizens of dear old Durban would more than welcome some positive input. There is an absolute abundance of issues that could result in positive stories. The councillors wouldn’t have to try at all to find them. The Mercury could spearhead a “positive news” campaign in which rate-paying folk could send in their feedback when the council achieves something worthwhile. It scares me that the ANC councillors are looking at ways of muzzling the press when they should be looking at ways to get less negative and more positive news. Surely that should be their aim. Obviously I am…

Basic A B and Ds are in trouble in our education system. Reading skills have become increasingly blurred. Mathematical communication finds itself confounded with too many variables. When the personified “Mr Abba Tayob” – also commonly clichéd as “apartheid” was toppled in 1994, our education departments were so “embarrassed” with our lowly standards compared to the rest of the world (aka “India”), that they redrew the curriculum and tried to align our “backward” kids with the high standards abroad. So sad that these overzealous officials forgot that there is no perfect model anywhere on this planet of ours. Even the average American and British learner battles with actual writing and simple interpretation, and also computing without a calculator. Education methods do not, of necessity, need to “follow the leader”. The…

CHILDREN who are dependent on the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) noticed that following the Covid-19 lockdown period, the quality of the meals they received was not the same as before, the portions were not consistent or adequate and the food lacked flavour. This is according to research by the University of Johannesburg’s Centre for Social Development in Africa and the Food Evolution Research Laboratory. To understand, from the perspective of children, how they were affected by the shifts in in-school nutrition programmes during the pandemic, researchers held focus group discussions with children, principals, food handlers, and teachers in four provinces. They also checked the percentage contribution of the school diets to the children’s recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for ages 7-10. They found: “Access to food had changed compared with…

The AGRICULTURE, land reform and rural development portfolio committee has applauded the Land Claims Commission for the work it has done in settling land claims. The commission briefed the committee on settled claims and finalising of “old order” claims from 1995 to March 2023. The commission also provided a status report on the submission of its report to the Land Claims Court. Land Claims Commissioner Nomfundo Ntloko-Gobodo said the commission had settled 82 976 claims nationwide. “This cost R53 billion in total, of which financial compensation cost R22bn, the acquisition of land cost R25bn and grants R5bn.” She also said the commission had settled more than 3.8 million hectares to the benefit of 2.3 million beneficiaries, including 175 000 female-headed households and 1 246 people living with disabilities. Deputy Minister…

At least 7 000 – but likely closer to 10 000 – unidentified bodies in South Africa’s medico-legal laboratories are waiting to be identified each year. This is according to Dr Kathryn Smith, an interdisciplinary visual and forensic artist and chairperson of the Department of Visual Arts at Stellenbosch University (SU). Smith established the VIZ.Lab research group at SU to promote research in forensic identification, and experiments with digital design and visualisation methods. Already an established visual artist, writer and curator, Smith’s interest in the forensic world led to her completing the only available postgraduate qualification in forensic art and facial identification in the world, established by Prof Caroline Wilkinson at the University of Dundee (Scotland). She pursued a PhD as a member of Face Lab, Wilkinson’s research group at…

Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola has conceded that his department did not inform victims of crimes that were committed by prisoner Thabo Bester, when they discovered that he had escaped. Lamola revealed this when he was responding to parliamentary questions from DA MP Janho Engelbrecht when he asked what his department did to ensure the safety and protection of the victims of the escaped convict, among others. In his written response, the minister said as soon as the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) discovered that Bester had indeed escaped from lawful custody, the matter was reported to the SAPS for investigation. He said a case of escape was opened with the SAPS on January 12, and that a tracing team was established to facilitate the tracing and re-arrest…

OPPOSITION parties in KwaZulu-Natal say they will adopt a wait-and-see approach regarding the action the KZN government has promised to take on the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) contract saga. This follows the announcement that Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube is seeking legal opinion on the steps that should be taken regarding the non-delivery of food to schools in the province earlier in the second term. Addressing Members of the Provincial Legislature during the special sitting of the KZN Legislature to mark Africa Day yesterday, Dube-Ncube said the government had instituted an investigation into the matter after schoolchildren went without food for days in April. The premier expressed the government’s concern over what she labelled as misleading reports regarding the non-delivery of food in some schools, which she said had been proven…

I AM just one more of South Africa’s unwanted white people and, according to anyone, I am racist. I do however wish this country to be as great as its potential. Unfortunately with the way the ANC government runs the country, there will be nothing left to be great. The main problem, is that there are no consequences. The criminals are protected and encouraged, we have wasted so much taxpayers’ money in court proving that there is corruption and yet I see no action; no one pays for their crime. The government talks a lot and promises a lot, but does nothing as far as I can see. The ANC government says they are trying to fix the problems. Where? I don’t see what has actually been done. Eskom and…

THE Stormers were the best-supported team in their Super Rugby days, but to be honest, there wasn’t much to shout about. The furthest they had gone in the competition was the final in 2010, where they lost to the Bulls at Orlando Stadium in Soweto. What hurt their fans most were the numerous semi-final and quarter-final defeats, when so much more was expected. That is part of the reason that the current team under coach John Dobson are so popular. Not only did they actually win a trophy by clinching the United Rugby Championship title last season, but the way they went about it was impressive. They played exhilarating attacking rugby, unearthed new stars such as Manie Libbok, Evan Roos and Hacjivah Dayimani, and went out of their way to…

Fulgence Kayishema, one of four remaining fugitives sought for their role in the 1994 Rwanda genocide, has been arrested in South Africa, UN investigators said yesterday. “Yesterday afternoon, Fulgence Kayishema, one of the world’s most wanted genocide fugitives, was arrested in Paarl, South Africa, in a joint operation,” the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (MICT) said in a statement. About 800 000 Rwandans, most of them ethnic Tutsis, were slaughtered over 100 days at the hands of Hutu extremists. Kayishema, a former judicial police inspector, faces charges of genocide, complicity in and conspiracy to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity. He has been on the run since July 2001, according to the MICT website, which gives his year of birth as 1961. He and others allegedly murdered more than…

Tokyo: A woman and two male police officers were killed in a shooting and stabbing attack at a farm in central Japan yesterday. A suspect, a farmer in his 30s, was holed up inside a building in the semi-rural area around the city of Nakano, after the incident, which also left a fourth person injured, reports said. The woman was stabbed and the two police officers were shot in the afternoon attack. The officers were inside a patrol car and the attacker placed the weapon against a window of the vehicle and fired twice. Another man was injured in the attack but could not be rescued because he was too close to the building where the suspect has taken shelter. | AFP…

Islamabad: Three policemen were injured in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province yesterday when unidentified gunmen opened fire at a polio immunisation team. The cops were deployed for the security of polio workers during a door-to-door campaign to vaccinate children when they were attacked, police said. The polio team was safe and the immunisation drive has been temporarily suspended. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. A five-day anti-polio drive in 12 districts of the province kicked off this week, aiming to vaccinate over 3.5 million children under 5. Pakistan is one of the two remaining countries with polio. | IANS…

Baghdad: The Duchess of Edinburgh travelled to Iraq this week, meeting politicians and feminist activists in a rare visit by a British royal to the war-scarred country, Iraq’s presidency said. The last time a British royal visited Iraq was in 2006 when the late Prince Philip visited a base for British troops deployed to Iraq as part of the US-led invasion three years earlier. Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, spent two days in Baghdad, where she met President Abdul Latif Rashid and his wife Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed. The visit by the wife of King Charles’ youngest brother, Edward, was done in secret. The duchess delivered a written message from King Charles III. She also met Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani. The duchess delivered a speech at a conference on women’s…

THE weather has put a bit of a freeze on the fishing of late. There are still fish to be caught, but the going has been tough. Offshore the bigger seas and heavy winds have made fishing on the boat unpleasant, but the bumpy trips have been worth it. Tuna and some proper couta have all made it on to the deck. The North Coast has seen good snoek and couta for the smaller boats and skis. The deeper reefs and wrecks have seen good bottom fishing with big trawl soldiers and a host of other species being caught. Squid and sardine have been the bait of choice for the deeper fishing. The tuna have been full up with some giants being hooked and breaking tackle. These are powerful fish…

HUNDREDS of municipalities in the country are on the verge of becoming financially dysfunctional. This is according to a study conducted by independent research company Ratings Afrika. The 2022 Municipal Financial Sustainability Index (MFSI) carried out in the 104 largest local municipalities and eight metros in the country, revealed that 107 municipalities were on the verge of becoming financially dysfunctional. The research revealed that contributing factors are extremely weak governance by elected councillors, and poor financial policies and management. The rating is specifically linked to financial sustainability and does not take into account any other factors of municipal performance, such as service delivery. The agency said the benchmark for a sound municipality was 95. Agency analyst Leon Claassen said the analysis was based on the financial year ending in June…

Success: What it is not, what it is: ◆ It is not accumulating lots of money if it is at the expense of your family relationships. Many men and women have been seduced by money and status, only to lose their primary relationships. Success is generating enough income so you do not have to be constantly focused on money. ◆ It is not being so focused on your relationships that your ability to earn money is compromised. Some men and women give up the possibilities of a great career for “love”. A successful person carves a life he/she can afford and a cadre of meaningful relationships. ◆ It is not being powerful (influential) for the sake of being powerful. It is desiring the power to use for the good of…

It is shameful and disgraceful that schools in KwaZulu-Natal have to resort to relying on donations. This despite a staggering R2.3 billion being allocated to the Education Department’s National Schools Nutrition Programme (NSNP). Those communities and organisations that have stepped in following the recent collapse of the feeding scheme – with the latest offer from Sanlam – deserve a massive shout out. The DA is in agreement with the National Teachers’ Union (Natu) when saying the KZN Education Department is in the ICU. Recent oversight inspections confirm that substandard fruit and vegetables are still being delivered to schools. In many cases, the food is fit only for a piggery. There is also the issue of insufficient food being delivered. Yet the ANC’s national working committee came to KZN, scolded the…

With the elections coming up in 11 months, a quick look at the past six polls would show a graph that went from sublime to sub-prime. The first three elections under the aegis of Mandela and Mbeki, respectively, were developmental years. Mandela was more keen on people than policy, Mbeki more on redressing the imbalances caused by job reservation. In doing so, he boosted rising earners and created a middle class. It was the next three that caused the decline, starting with state capture under the Guptas. Even with Ramaphosa taking over amid high expectations, the slump continued. The worst of the decline was (is) the Eskom debacle. Unable to stem wide scale corruption, the scenario is nightmarish, with possible grid collapse. With the negative events in mind, it would…

The SAPS has confirmed that three police trainees at the police training academy in Hammanskraal have tested positive for cholera. The Department of Health tested 71 trainees yesterday. National police spokesperson Major General Mathapelo Peters said one of the three members who tested positive was admitted to hospital for further medical treatment. “The rest were treated for minor symptoms. Academy personnel are monitoring the situation closely for any other infections.” Peters said the SAPS management had started delivering bottled water to police trainees at the police training academy in Hammanskraal. “This follows a visit to the academy by the national commissioner of the SAPS, General Fannie Masemola, on Monday.” The national commissioner had led a delegation of senior management from the national head office on an urgent visit to the…

Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola said the sexual offences case backlog was significantly lower in December 2022 compared to cases recorded in December the previous year. The backlogs stood at 36.9% as at February. Lamola said 2 844 sexual offence charges were withdrawn and of the 2 797 cases finalised with a verdict, 1 844 cases were finalised with a guilty verdict. Lamola was however concerned about the high rates of charges being withdrawn. “It must be noted that the December 2021 period fell within the second year of the Covid-19 pandemic when the Covid-19 regulations were still operational. “This inevitably led to a decline in the number of witnesses and accused persons who came to court and this unfortunately contributed to a higher figure of withdrawn charges.…

The easing of Covid-19 restrictions in China in early December 2022 has already provided a boost to economic recovery with the Chinese economy growing by 4.5% year-on-year (y/y) in the first quarter after a 2.9% y/y gain in the fourth quarter. Base effects will probably mean that the second quarter 2023 will grow by 6.5% y/y, if not higher, as the comparison will be with the second quarter 2022, when the Chinese economy only expanded by 0.4% y/y. The base effect is already evident in the April 2023 data with retail sales jumping by 18.4% y/y after a 10.6% y/y gain in March and a 3.5% y/y rise in February. This boost is in part due to the $2.6 trillion of excess savings Chinese consumers accumulated during the Covid pandemic.…

Kurds opposed to President Tayyip Erdogan fear victory for him in Türkiye’s presidential election could reinforce a crackdown the state has been waging against them for years, alarmed by a surge in nationalist rhetoric ahead of Sunday’s vote. Kurds, who make up around a fifth of Türkiye’s population, have been seen as potentially crucial to the opposition’s hopes of ending Erdogan’s 20 years in power – a reign in which he first courted but then cracked down hard on Kurdish groups. But the momentum is with Erdogan going into Sunday’s vote after the first round gave him a lead over the opposition’s Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who trailed despite the backing of six parties and the endorsement of the pro-Kurdish HDP party. For some Kurdish voters, the stakes couldn’t be higher as…

Ukraine said yesterday it would open more embassies in Africa and stage a summit with leaders from the continent, where Russia is also carrying out a diplomatic offensive. “We have recently adopted our first African strategy and intensified our political dialogue with many countries on the continent,” Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on the 60th anniversary of the founding of the AU’s forerunner. Kuleba is on a tour of Africa, where he made an appeal from Addis Ababa on Wednesday to Ukraine’s “African friends” to end their declared neutrality in the war. He visited Rwanda yesterday. Russia has ties with African countries, including their present-day leaders, that can be traced to the Cold War, when the Soviet Union cast itself as an anti-colonialist defender. A Russia- Africa summit, the second…

Lilongwe: The Malawian government has enforced the relocation of refugees and asylum seekers back to the Dzaleka Refugee Camp despite protests from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The Ministry of Homeland Security has extended the exercise to other districts in the central and northern regions of the country. The ministry said this was in line with the country’s encampment policy which prohibits refugees and asylum seekers from living outside the designated camp. The UNHCR said it was concerned about the arrest and detention of 377 refugees and their forced relocation to the camp, home to more than 50 600 refugees. | IANS…

BEIJING: The Chinese government has rejected claims that its spies are penetrating Western infrastructure, calling the joint warning issued by the US and its allies a “collective disinformation campaign”. The Chinese foreign ministry said that alerts issued by the US, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand were intended to promote their intelligence alliance, known as the Five Eyes – and that it was Washington that was guilty of hacking. This follows warnings about the activities of a Chinese hacking group known as Volt Typhoon, which focuses on critical infrastructure, including communications links that tie the US to the Pacific. | Reuters…

GARETH Southgate said Harry Maguire’s lack of playing time makes it difficult to guarantee he will start games for England while the manager also had concerns over Ivan Toney’s rehabilitation during his eight-month ban from football. Maguire, who became the world’s most expensive defender when Manchester United signed him for £80million, is no longer a first-choice centre back for his club despite being named the team’s captain. He has fallen down the pecking order behind Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof, with even left back Luke Shaw having played in central defence, leaving Maguire with just seven starts in the league this season. “Inevitably it’s not a situation that can continue forever,” said Southgate, who has handed Maguire over 50 England caps and included him in the squad for…