Mercuryの 2024-05-03 の目次

In this week’s Personal Finance Saturday Page, we look at a survey that reveals that there is a decrease in young professionals seeking medical aid. On trusts, we look at the Trustee insurance and what is covered. We also look at how new job seekers must look elsewhere as no new jobs are being created. Financial illiteracy is an issue that affects more than half of South Africans. We look at how gender lens investing is a key tool for women’s financial literacy In this week’s edition, we also look at how to invest offshore the easy way through global ETFs For all your money matters, scan the QR code.…

JSE-LISTED international information and communications technology (ICT) com- pany Datatec’s headline earnings a share was expected to be between 13 and 15 US cents for the year to February 28, a turnaround from the 9.3 US cents a share headline loss in the 2023 financial year. The previous year’s headline loss per share was impacted mainly by the share-based payments charge on settlement of the Westcon International Equity Appre- ciation Plan, a trading statement said yesterday. Datatec’s underlying earnings per share was expected to be between 19 and 21 US cents, a more than 100% increase compared with 7.9 US cents a share in 2023. Full year results are expected to be published on May 27. Group revenue was expected to…

THE eThekwini Municipality will go to the market to seek private sector investments and expertise to reduce the amount of water that is lost through leaks as this is costing the City millions of rand each month. Over 58% of water in eThekwini is lost and classified as non-revenue water, costing the municipality R638 million a month. The intention of bringing in external experts is to reduce this figure by 10% over the next three years. Bongani Gumede, chairperson of the Infrastructure Forum at the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, made a presentation to the business community on the intervention proposed to address water losses during a meeting in Isipingo yesterday. Gumede sits on the Infrastructure Committee of the Presidential eThekwini Working Group. Gumede told The Mercury that his…

THE province is agog in anticipation of tomorrow’s rugby match between the Sharks and French side Clermont Avergne in the semi-final of the European Challenge Cup, to be played at The Stoop ground, near Twickenham. Success would put them against either Gloucester (England) or Benetton (Italy) in the final the following weekend at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in London. Given their disappointing performance – to put it mildly – in the United Rugby Championship, here is the chance for our lads to rise above it in spectacular fashion. The auguries are good, the side bristles with Boks and top provincial players and one detects a quiet sense of purpose. This looks likely to be a good ’un. The damsels of the Pub With No Name are strumming at their…

The DA in eThekwini has written to the municipality’s head of economic development, Lihle Phewa, asking that the municipality prioritise job creation and develop a comprehensive strategy to do so. This as a recent report by the Durban EDGE, presented in committee, revealed the number of unemployed individuals has risen by 4 000, reaching a staggering 359 000 from the previous quarter. This is 22.1% as of the fourth quarter of 2023. The current state of unemployment demands urgent attention. Despite the vibrant economic potential of eThekwini, a significant portion of our population remains unemployed. Unskilled workers face immense challenges in securing stable employment. The failure of the City to provide adequate job opportunities exacerbates this crisis, leaving families struggling to make ends meet. Several key industries contribute to this…

The DA has lost its legal bid to challenge the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) minister’s powers in respect of the Disaster Management Act (DMA) regarding the Covid-19 alert level restrictions. The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) dismissed the party’s appeal over the constitutional validity of section 27 of the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002. Among others, the DA argued that given the breadth of the powers conferred on the minister, it was constitutionally required that the DMA ensures that the National Assembly has the power, by resolution, to disapprove and undo the regulations enacted by the minister. The respondents, including the president, the minister, and the Speaker of the National Assembly argued that the very purpose of a state of emergency was to permit a…

A Durban mother was knocked down and killed in a freak accident in Waterloo on the KZN North Coast yesterday. The victim, aged 40, had been seated in a neighbour’s yard when a driver of a car allegedly lost control and the vehicle crashed into her. Security company Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) boss Prem Balram said they responded to the scene at around noon and found the woman lying in the yard. “A silver Toyota Avanza was stationary next to her body. Paramedics assessed the patient and she was unresponsive and declared deceased on scene.” Balram said reaction officers interviewed two brothers who were the occupants of the Avanza. “They informed officers that they were travelling with their vehicle loaded with tables and chairs. As they were…

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) said a 34-year-old former KwaZulu-Natal Home Affairs official has appeared in court on charges of fraud and corruption. Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo said Hawks members working with Home Affairs Counter Corruption members had arrested Malusi Mlondo on Tuesday. Mhlongo said the accused was employed by the Department of Home Affairs in Pietermaritzburg. “It is alleged that in February 2023, he processed fraudulent passports for foreign nationals at the Durban office and allegedly received payments of up to R3 000 per document,” he said. “Mlondo briefly appeared in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Thursday and was remanded in custody,” said Mhlongo. The case was postponed until next week for a bail application.…

AS SOUTH African education academics, based at Cape Peninsula University of Technology and Stellenbosch University, we vehemently condemn the egregious destruction of educational infrastructure in Gaza perpetrated by Zionist Israeli forces over the past seven months. Considering our own painful history of apartheid education, which caused significant suffering and limited opportunities for black South Africans, we understand the harmful impact of educational violence and inequality on communities under colonial occupation and apartheid. This education genocide has inflicted profound and lasting damage on the educational prospects of an entire generation of Gazan children. Such actions demand unequivocal condemnation. The call for an end to genocide and occupation must underpin our ongoing pro-Palestinian activism. Anything less would mean not meeting our moral and ethical duty to stand against one of the most…

The number of people who have lost their lives in devastating floods in Kenya since March has risen to 188, with dozens still missing, the interior ministry said yesterday. Torrential rains in Kenya and other countries in East Africa have caused deadly havoc, with floods and landslides forcing people from their homes, destroying roads, bridges and other infrastructure. “As a result, the country has regrettably recorded 188 fatalities due to severe weather conditions,” the ministry said in a statement. It added that 125 people had been reported injured and 90 people were currently missing, while 165 000 have been displaced. On Wednesday, nearly 100 tourists were among people marooned after a river overflowed in Kenya’s famed Maasai Mara wildlife reserve following a heavy downpour. The ministry said rescuers had successfully…

Beijing yesterday said it would take “necessary measures” after the US announced fresh sanctions aimed at crippling Russia’s military and industrial capabilities, punishing companies in China and elsewhere that help Moscow acquire weapons for its war in Ukraine. “China will take all necessary measures to resolutely uphold the legal rights and interests of Chinese companies,” the foreign ministry said. In a sweeping package announced by the US Treasury Department this week, Washington targeted nearly 300 entities in Russia, China and other countries accused of supporting President Vladimir Putin’s invasion. China has never condemned Russia’s attack on Kyiv, and stands accused of indirectly supporting the war through its strategic partnership with its neighbour, Moscow. Beijing insisted yesterday it was “neither a creator nor a party” to the crisis in Ukraine.…

BEIJING: The death toll from the collapse of an expressway section in China’s Guangdong province that caused vehicles to tumble down a slope has risen to 48, with rescue work hampered by mudslides, state media reported yesterday. The road collapsed in the early hours of Wednesday. The collapse, triggered by heavy rain, occurred on the Meizhou-Dabu Expressway, where 17.9m of the road gave way and caused 23 vehicles to plunge. Meizhou officials said yesterday that relief personnel and more than 80 rescue vehicles and equipment had been dispatched to the site but rescue work proved difficult as some vehicles were buried deep in mud after their fall. | Reuters…

TOKYO: Officials in a Japanese town are erecting a 2.5m high barrier to block a view of Mount Fuji and obstruct a photo spot that has been attracting so many visitors they have become a nuisance for locals. Visitors have been flocking to Fuji-Kawaguchiko town, about 50km south-west of Tokyo, to capture the coupling of two symbols of Japan: the majestic, sloping inclines of Mount Fuji and the convenience store, a view which has gone viral on social media. The crowds have led to complaints of litter, danger to road traffic and illegal parking. The 20m wide black barrier to obscure the mountain is due for completion in the middle of this month. | Reuters…

April went past so fast it didn’t get a chance to fool anyone... The fishing has been fantastic, with all facets enjoying the end of summer. Top tip: Layering With the cold mornings, this is something you have probably heard your significant other talk about. The key to being ready for a long fishing day in winter is a good number of layers. This means you will be comfortable all day long. The warmer jackets and longs can be taken off if the sun gets too hot and put back on later when the evening draws near. Summer fishing is starting to give way to winter. This means scaling down to edible traces and focusing on bait presentation over size of bait. The North Coast has seen the bulk of…

STELLENBOSCH FC have honoured the memory of late defender Oshwin Andries with their historic 25-game unbeaten record. Andries was 19 when he died in a stabbing in February last year. The Western Cape side announced their decision to retire his No 25 jersey shortly thereafter. Club coach Steve Barker spoke to the media after his side trounced Golden Arrows 3-0 at the Danie Craven Stadium on Wednesday. Barker, who handed Andries his first-team debut, expressed how much emotion had gone into motivating his team to achieve the 25-game unbeaten run in honour of the late defender. “A special number 25, that we are all very mindful of the No 25 jersey, so today was a special one. I think again we capped it off with another special performance. I think…

MTN GHANA, a subsidiary of South Africa- based MTN Group, saw strong first-quarter performance with earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, increas- ing 31.5% to GHS2.15 billion (New Cedis) (about R2.9bn) in the quarter to March 31, 2024. The results, released yesterday, showed that despite inflation remaining high in that country at an average 24.4%, and an 8.4% decline in the value of the Ghanaian Cedi compared with the US dollar, service revenue grew by 32.4% for the quarter, year-on-year. The company benefited from a focus on driving topline growth and cost efficiencies, as well as efforts to create share value among stakeholders. CEO Stephen Blewett said in a statement that MTN Ghana was committed to facilitate national roaming partnerships with AT (formerly AirtelTigo) and Telecel (formerly…

The eThekwini Municipality’s draft budget for the new financial year, which is set to be passed during a council meeting today, could face a hurdle as a ratepayers’ umbrella body is seeking a legal opinion after their request to make a submission on the budget was denied. The eThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement (ERPM), said it’s seeking legal advice on what its options were after the municipality rejected its request to make a presentation on the tariff increases at today’s council meeting. Another ratepayers group said should there be no changes to the proposed tariff hikes in the final budget, it will act. The draft budget has been out for public comment for a few weeks. City officials have made presentations to communities and businesses who have been united in opposition…

I saw something beautiful today, an expression of true leadership, at a crowded domestic airport restaurant. The Springbok rugby captain, Siya Kolisi, the athlete who led the team to win the recent Rugby World Cup, sat facing away from the crowds, trying to have a peaceful breakfast. I counted. Twenty-five people of all ages – in groups and alone – asked for selfies, autographs, books to be signed, and for photographs with their children. He hugged, laughed, chatted, and gave time to people, especially the young lads wanting to engage. At one point fans began lining up. The gentleman was a model of grace and kindness, expressing zero frustration or annoyance at the multiple interruptions to his breakfast and the phone calls he was apparently trying to make. Kolisi was…

WOMEN are no more confined to the kitchen and the nursery. They can be seen everywhere, even in the most remote corners of the Earth, taking on men in the fight for equality, recognition and supremacy. On the battlefield, in the wide open sea, on the world’s tallest peak and even in space, there is virtually nothing a woman cannot do that a man can do. But the ocean? It’s long been the sole preserve of men. It is not that men jealously guarded the ocean for themselves but the vast, deep ocean seemed too big a challenge for women. But surprisingly several women – 20, in fact – have mastered the ocean, someone even single-handedly. One, Jeanne Socrates, a Briton, did it at the ripe old age of 77,…

Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) has launched two new applications, one in the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg High Court and another in the Pretoria division, for legal recognition of the custom of the “family house” as part of our South African customary law. It is common in South Africa that families have what they regard as a “family house”. This house is regarded as belonging to the family, and members of the family can move in and out of the family house based on their personal circumstances. However, because the current law does not recognise the concept of a “family house,” most people find themselves homeless as the registered owner of the house ends up evicting fellow family members or selling the house while people are in it. LHR said…

A woman who posed as a service provider to a local municipality in the Free State has been sentenced in the Welkom Commercial Crimes Court. Maria Louisa Venter, 44, pleaded guilty to charges of money laundering. The provincial spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as Hawks), Warrant Officer Fikiswa Matoti said Venter posed as a service provider to the Mantsopa Local Municipality. “In December 2020, the budget manager at Mantsopa Local Municipality received an electronic mail from a suspect pretending to be a service provider called Project Pioneer Construction requesting an outstanding payment of R225 289.69. “The budget manager, knowing that there was indeed an outstanding amount of money to be paid to the service provider, requested permission from the chief financial officer (CFO) to make the…

It’s a mixed bag for South African motorists in May, with petrol going up and diesel coming down. The official fuel price adjustments, which were announced by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), came into effect on Wednesday. Both grades of petrol will now cost 37 cents more per litre, while the price of diesel came down by between 30c, in the case of 500ppm, and 36c for the lower-sulphur 50ppm. This means that a litre of 93 Unleaded petrol will set you back by R25.15 in the inland regions, while 95 Unleaded rises to R25.49. Those at the coast will now pay R24.70 for the latter. The wholesale cost of diesel dropped to R22.24 per litre in Gauteng and R21.48 for those on the coast. The DMRE…

Ten municipalities will participate in the War on Illegal Dumping initiative launched by KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) yesterday. MEC Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi launched the programme with a clean-up campaign in Inanda township. Cogta said the programme would provide employment to 450 people for a duration of 12 months through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). Together with mayors of the participating municipalities, Sithole-Moloi awarded employment contracts to the newly recruited EPWP workers after a clean-up of illegal dumping sites in Amaoti in Inanda. “As a department, we have allocated R10 million through the EPWP to facilitate this initiative. The budget will cover stipends for all participants and provide necessary tools and personal protective equipment,” said Sithole-Moloi. She said they aimed to eliminate illegal dumping sites and…

South African sports fans have been gripped by emotion the past month after the release of the wildly-acclaimed documentary Chasing the Sun 2. It is, of course, the story depicting the Springboks’ back-to-back World Cup Rugby triumph in France last year. And just like the first instalment after the victory in Japan back in 2019, it shows how the Springboks embraced transformation and how players from all walks of life in South Africa have come together and achieved success by working towards a common goal. This is where SA Rugby has left its counterpart Cricket SA in its dust. Not only through the Springboks pushing out their chest in the form of their black African skipper, Siya Kolisi, but also through a host of black players performing at the highest…

A group of more than 10 000 black cab drivers is suing Uber after accusing it of breaching taxi-booking rules in London, in a move which could cost the ride-hailing giant more than $313 million (about R6bn). A group action claim has been filed in the High Court over Uber’s operations in the capital between May 2012 and March 2018. The cab drivers claim that Uber misled Transport for London (TfL) over how it operated its ride-booking system and therefore breached private hire licensing rules. They allege that the company allowed its drivers to accept bookings directly from customers, rather than going through a central system like minicab services. The legal claim says that this booking system is “unlawful” because it did not comply with private hire rules, and…

Edinburgh: Scotland’s former deputy first minister, John Swinney, said yesterday that he would stand to succeed Humza Yousaf as leader of the country’s governing Scottish National Party (SNP). This follows Yousaf’s announcement this week that he would resign as party leader and Scotland’s first minister once a successor has been chosen to head the devolved government. Yousaf, 39, was forced out after ditching his junior coalition partners, the Scottish Green Party, in a row over climate policy. Swinney, 60, said he was running “to unite the SNP and unite Scotland for independence”, despite polls showing stalled support for splitting from the UK. The government, which survived a no-confidence vote this week, is two votes short of an overall majority. | AFP…

London: A total of 711 people were brought ashore in a single day this week after trying to cross the Channel in small boats to get to the UK, official figures showed yesterday. The number is the highest so far this year and comes as London maintains that its plan to “stop the boats” is working, notably through a controversial deportation scheme. The arrivals on Wednesday top the previous high of 534 on April 14, and take the total number of migrants who have made the Channel crossing so far this year to 8 278. The highest-ever figure in single-day arrivals was 1 295 and was recorded on August 22, 2022. French police on Wednesday rescued 66 people off Dieppe. | AFP…

Yangon: Myanmar is producing about half of the electricity it needs each day, the junta has said, blaming scant rainfall for hydropower, lower natural gas yields and attacks by its opponents on infrastructure. Rolling power cuts have battered an economy already reeling from unrest sparked by the military’s 2021 coup, most recently causing misery across the country as it bakes in a heatwave. Myanmar’s electricity grid is producing only 2 800 megawatts of the required 5 443 megawatts needed each day, the electricity authority said. Domestic power production from natural gas was about 446 megawatts less than the normal daily capacity. | AFP…

PRESSURE at Orlando Pirates is a privilege. Hence, coach Jose Riveiro and his men have upped the ante when it matters the most: the closing stages of the season. Pirates are where they want to be in the season. They are fighting for the last trophy – the Nedbank Cup – and a second place finish in the DStv Premiership. Of course, their season would have been much better if they had challenged for the title, but it wasn’t to be, due to an inconsistent run of form. Riveiro is not crying over spilt milk, though. Instead, the Spaniard has embraced the fact that he can bag back-to-back cup doubles and second place finishes. The 48-year-old had a breakthrough season to remember at Pirates last term, winning the MTN8 and…

STRIVE Masiyiwa’s Econet Wireless has opened free remittance channels from South Africa and the UK to Zimbabwe as the telecoms giant ups its play in the key industry. Remittances are a key source of income for many Zimbabweans who rely on earnings from friends and families in the diaspora. Over the past few months, the number of remittance channels has grown as more Zimbabweans leave the country in search of greener pastures, although charges have remained elevated. International remittance charges are up to 15%, although new and digital platforms have knocked this fee structure slightly down. This week, Econet said it was bringing back the EcoCash mobile money platform under its ambit after unbundling and separately listing it in 2018. It said the platform would be a key remittance channel…

BHP WILL MAINTAIN the listing of Kumba Iron Ore, Anglo Platinum and its own on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, despite proposing to unbundle the two South Africa-focused assets under its proposed offer to acquire Anglo American, it said yesterday. There has been widespread criticism of the Australian commodities giant after its proposal to acquire Anglo American last month, with unionists and South African government officials opposing the bid. The board of Anglo American has rejected the $39 billion (R730.5bn) offer by BHP, saying it significantly under-values the Johannesburg and London-listed manganese, copper, platinum and iron ore group. The board of Anglo American also said it was against BHP’s proposed restructuring of the company. “The structure of BHP’s proposal, including the proposed distribution of Anglo American’s shares in Anglo Platinum…

WEEKS ahead of the flu season, doctors have noticed a spike in the number of patients with the flu over the past two weeks, some of whom have had to see a medical practitioner twice. The national Department of Health and the eThekwini Municipality have both appealed to the public to get their flu vaccinations. Department spokesperson Foster Mohale said respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is currently at peak circulation in the country and influenza virus infections are starting to increase while Covid-19 continues to circulate at low levels. “While most diseases caused by influenza, RSV and Sars-Cov-2 viruses are mild, these viruses may cause severe illness and even death among citizens around the country, particularly in individuals with conditions placing them at high risk of severe disease,” he said. The…

FORMER president Jacob Zuma was yesterday given notice to appear before the ANC’s disciplinary committee at the party’s Luthuli House headquarters next Tuesday. However, according to a political analyst, the governing party is dancing to Zuma’s tune, who, according to him, will get the sympathy he has been looking for ahead of the May 29 elections. According to the charge sheet, Zuma is facing two counts including that he is guilty of contravening rule 25.17.17.4 of the party’s Constitution by collaborating with another party. “On 16th December, 2023 you addressed the Umkhonto We Sizwe Party (MKP) in Soweto and you called on all South Africans to join you in dislodging the ANC as the ruling party. “When you addressed the MKP in Soweto on or around 16th December 2023, you…

Environmental Social Governance (ESG) is a euphemistic phrase masking an agenda of socialism by stealth. Promoted by the World Economic Forum, corporate giants like Vanguard and Black Rock and the UN, it seeks to strangle the free market through regulations and establish an unchallengeable nexus between the bought politicians in government and the corporate leviathans. Eligibility for loans and insurance cover would depend on application of ESG requirements, failing which businesses would be progressively eliminated, thereby enabling control over resources, supply and the market to be progressively monopolised. Of course, the environmental aspect of ESG is premised on falsehood. Global temperatures are not in any way linked to carbon emissions, an irrefutable fact proved by recorded history over the past 2 000 years. Carbon dioxide is essential for natural growth…

An anti-Semitic tidal wave has hit the world. Eruptions at campuses in the US are reaching boiling point. Jewish students are too scared to go to college. Are we perhaps seeing the rise of evil and the plummeting of our humanity before our eyes? Since Hamas’s brutal invasion of Israel on October 7, 2023, things will never be the same. Just like the man-made Covid-19 virus that spread through the globe in 2020, causing chaos in every corner of the world, so too the aggressive and progressive woke youth of our times are rising up, but for all the wrong reasons. Chanting slogans without even knowing what they mean. Hurling genocidal statements while portraying Palestine or Hamas as being victims of genocide. What a mess, folks! The silence is deafening…

A KwaZulu-Natal man who pleaded guilty to stabbing his girlfriend to death after a nine-year courtship has been jailed for an effective 12 years. Sanele Lex Khwela, 26, entered into a plea and sentence agreement in the Pietermaritzburg High Court before acting Judge Nomfundo Sipunzi. Khwela admitted to stabbing his girlfriend Nokulunga Mbanjwa on February 3, 2024, which resulted in a penetrating stab wound to the heart. In his plea handed to the court by Legal Aid attorney Amanda Hulley, Khwela said they had spent the evening of February 2 at a friend’s home in Donnybrook, consuming alcohol. He said they consumed beer and gin and left their friend’s home on foot in the early hours of the next morning. They were both intoxicated. Khwela said they had an argument…

WHILE suffering numerous legal defeats recently, including a ruling that declared the new RAF1 form that requires a claimant to have all documentation in order before lodging a claim, was illegal, the Road Accident Fund (RAF) launched its backlog campaign yesterday. RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo said the fund had a huge backlog of claims that had not been finalised. Through the launch of the “Drive Your Claim Forward” campaign, claimants were urged to call the RAF’s call centre to establish what was needed in order to finalise their claims. He said that sometimes, it could be only an outstanding invoice preventing the speedy resolution of a claim. Letsoalo said the campaign aimed to encourage claimants to come forward to have their claims concluded and paid out. He told the media…

ABOUT 600 000 students are unable to receive their graduation certificates after having completed their studies due to owing fees totalling more than R5.8 billion to the country’s universities. This was revealed by Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande when he responded to parliamentary questions from EFF MP Vuyani Pambo. Pambo wrote to Nzimande asking for the latest breakdown of the number of students who owed university fees and could not graduate or receive their certificates. Nzimande’s responses showed that at least 19 universities indicated that they were owed fees by students while six others had yet to respond to questions. He said Wits University was owed a whopping R3 503 849 692 in fees by a total of 55 199 students. “Included in the balances are amounts owed by the…

Why did the ANC wait until this year to challenge the MKP’s registration? IT IS A question that has been debated not only by some of SA’s finest legal and political minds but also by ordinary citizens for weeks: does the ANC have a legally recognised trademark right over which it is seeking to compel political rival the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) to change its name and logo? It is also a question that exemplifies the mutation of political conflict ahead of the May 29 national and provincial elections and a popular talking point of participants in nationwide civic and voter education workshops conducted by the Election Monitoring Network, KwaZulu-Natal Christian Council, KwaZulu-Natal Religious Leaders Forum and others. Any approach to answering it reinforces our determination to vote in large…

Doubts grew yesterday over the fate of a Gaza truce plan that, as the week began, had raised hopes of an end to nearly seven months of war between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants. Israel was still waiting for Hamas’s response to the latest proposal, said an Israeli official. Mediators have proposed a deal that would halt fighting for 40 days and exchange Israeli hostages for potentially thousands of Palestinian prisoners, according to details released earlier by Britain. Any such deal would be the first since a one-week truce in November saw 80 Israeli hostages exchanged for 240 Palestinian prisoners. The war started with Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel that resulted in the deaths of 1 170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli…

A Spanish-Brazilian national was remanded in custody yesterday by a London magistrate’s court on murder and other charges, following a sword attack in the city which killed a 14-year-old boy. Marcus Arduini Monzo is accused of a rampage in a suburb of the British capital on Tuesday using a Samurai-type sword which left teenager Daniel Anjorin dead and wounded four others. Monzo, 36, allegedly attacked Anjorin while the teen walked to school, in a crime that has caused shock in the nation. He is also accused of seriously injuring two police officers, both of whom required surgery and remain in hospital. One, a woman, suffered severe injuries to her arm and nearly lost a hand, London’s Metropolitan Police said. It charged Monzo, of east London, with murder, two counts of…

London: Catherine, Princess of Wales, yesterday shared the second photograph of her children on royal social media platforms in as many weeks, as she stays out of the public eye while battling cancer. Kate was credited with taking the photo of Princess Charlotte to mark her ninth birthday. On April 23, she took a snap of her younger son Prince Louis on his sixth birthday. Charlotte is third in line to the throne behind elder brother Prince George, 10, and their father, Prince William, 41. | AFP…

HONG KONG: A senior US official yesterday urged China and Russia to match declarations by the US and others that only humans, and never artificial intelligence (AI), would make decisions on deploying nuclear weapons. State Department arms control official Paul Dean told an online briefing that Washington had made a “clear and strong commitment” that humans had total control over nuclear weapons, adding that France and Britain had done the same. The spread of AI technology surfaced during talks between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing last month. | Reuters…