Inhoudsopgave van 2023-12-20 - Mercury

Kairo Forbes, daughter of DJ Zinhle with the late rapper AKA, clinched the title Social Media Kid Influencer of The Year at the swanky third annual South African Social Media Awards at the Sandton Convention Centre. But she’s not just stopping at awards. Mzansi’s little superstar has scored a sweet deal and is teaming up with Queen Riri herself. They’re bringing their A-game to the sneaker scene with Puma. Young Forbes took to her Instagram a video showing her collaboration with Rihanna’s sneaker range and her adorable dance moves to match. Prepare to see this young trendsetter taking the fashion world by storm. Rihanna better watch out because Forbes is bringing her A-game to the sneaker world. Social media users loved seeing South Africa’s kid influencer strutting her stuff.…

The delays in issuing rates clearance certificates in a timely manner is wreaking havoc in the Durban property market, with estate agents in the industry having to wait for months for the certificates. One frustrated estate agent told The Mercury that she has been waiting for the certificate that she applied for in August. The eThekwini Municipality has acknowledged the challenge, with mayor Mxolisi Kaunda claiming this month that there had been a drastic improvement since November 1. He said the performance in this area was standing at about 83.9%. The rates clearance certificate is an important document when completing a property transaction. A major contributing factor to the delay in the issuing of the certificates is the City’s failure to read meters. The municipality’s chief financial officer, Dr Sandile…

ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was grief-stricken when he appeared before his nation on television. He said he and the nation were devastated when they heard of the “unbearable tragedy” that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) killed three of its own people. He said his heart was filled with sorrow and expressed his condolences to the bereaving families. What a noble, compassionate man he was. Even though the hostages were carrying a white flag and spoke Hebrew, the Israeli soldiers mistook them for Hamas militants and gunned them down mercilessly. It was part of the Israeli strategy of indiscriminate bombardment and shelling of schools, hospitals and mosques, in the belief that Hamas was operating from those places and using the civilian population as human shields. Israel has not provided evidence…

AS an oldie, I was pleased to see Brenda Lee’s Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (1958) listed as the third most favourite Christmas song to be streamed on Spotify this festive season. By the same token, I was disappointed that Elvis Presley was not among those listed in the report, All I want for Christmas is You top holiday hit (The Star, December 18). It seems de rigueur for a popular music artiste to record a Christmas album at some time in their career, as witnessed in the hardy annuals like Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, and, in recent times, the likes of Michael Buble, Mariah Carey and Taylor Swift. I was pleasantly surprised to hear a Chuck Berry Christmas song in the supermarket the other day. I had no…

A REGISTERED psychiatrist who is charged with unprofessional conduct for allegedly failing to attend to a patient in an emergency situation, whereafter the patient had committed suicide, turned to court as she does not want to be forced to testify before a body looking into her conduct. The psychiatrist, referred to as Dr MT, turned to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, to have a decision of the Professional Conduct Committee of the Health Professions Council of South Africa overturned. After the committee had presented its case against the doctor, it was her turn to present her defence. That meant that she was required to testify about what had happened. The psychiatrist made it clear that she wanted to remain silent. Her legal team asked the conduct committee for her discharge,…

The US condemned “unprecedented” attacks by Yemeni rebels on Red Sea shipping as the Huthis pledged yesterday to continue military operations despite the announcement of a new maritime protection force. The flurry of drone and missile attacks by the rebels, the latest of which targeted two vessels on Monday, threaten to upend global trade flows, with major shipping firms halting traffic through the Bab al-Mandeb strait. Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin warned yesterday that the attacks “threaten” the free flow of commerce, a day after he announced a multinational task force to quell Huthi missile and drone attacks. Austin spoke during a virtual meeting with representatives of 43 countries, as well as the EU and Nato, to discuss the increased threat to maritime security in the Red Sea, the statement said.…

LONDON: A final appeal to prevent the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the US will be heard in London over two days in February, his support group said yesterday. Assange, 52, is wanted on espionage charges and has been detained in the high-security Belmarsh Prison in south-east London since April 2019. He was arrested after spending seven years holed up in Ecuador’s London embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faced accusations of sexual assault, which were later dropped. US authorities want to put Assange on trial for divulging US military secrets about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. | AFP…

Canberra: Leader of Australia’s Northern Territory (NT), Natasha Fyles yesterday resigned after failing to disclose shareholdings in a mining company. Fyles announced her intention to stand down as Chief Minister of the NT on Thursday following a series of integrity scandals. This comes a day after it was revealed that Fyles owned undisclosed shares in South32, a mining and metals company that possesses a manganese mine on Groote Eylandt off the NT’s north-east coast. Yesterday, she said there was no excuse for failing to disclose the holdings in South32. “It was not deliberate, it was not intentional but it’s unacceptable,” she said. | IANS…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was to hold an end-of-year press conference that comes with his military under pressure on the front and allies wavering on aid. Zelenskiy last week embarked on a tour of Western countries to make the case for more military and political support for Ukraine as Russia’s invasion grinds closer to its two-year-anniversary in February. But he failed to convince US Congress to immediately approve $60 billion (about R1.1 trillion) in support while in Brussels, Hungarian leader Viktor Orban blocked some 50 billion euros in aid earmarked for Kyiv. Those setbacks on the diplomatic front come in the wake of a disappointing counteroffensive that Kyiv launched in June using Western supplied tanks and weapons stockpiled over months. Responding to growing weariness over the war, UN human…

REALITY TV star Khloe Kardashian is launching her own brand, focused on fragrances. The Kardashians star has previously dabbled in the perfume world by working on collaborations with her sister Kim’s KKW company, but Khloe is now branching out by launching her own collection of signature scents after signing a deal with Luxe Brands – the organisation behind Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj’s fragrance lines. Khloe told WWD.com: “Doing the whole fragrance – picking the liquid, the colour, the bottle – I’ve experienced before, but I’m in such a different place in my life now. I’m older, I’m wiser. In business, I don’t loan my name out to someone ...” She explained that she feels ready to dive into the world of beauty now that her clothing company, Good American,…

RETAILERS and trucking companies are worried that the massive congestion at the Lebombo/Maputo border post and the ongoing container crisis at the Port of Durban could cripple the country’s already ailing economy. Speaking to The Mercury yesterday retail giants assured consumers that there will be no shortage of goods during the festive season as they have planned ahead. Mary Phadi, from the Trucking Association of South Africa (Tasa) said the massive truck congestion at the Lebombo/Maputo Border post during the festive season was very concerning. “We are concerned about the safety of our drivers and the situation. We would like both the South African government and the Mozambique government to work together to resolve this situation. We as the Southern African Development Community need to work together with all…

The camera focus of the world has barely shifted for a microsecond from Gaza and already another area of gross discontent resurfaces. Zionist Israel’s partner in crime continues destroying homes of “errant” (read: “protesting”) members of the major minority group in India (read “Muslims”). Using the same brand of bulldozers, the BJP is busy back home conducting its attack on “terrorists” (read: anybody that speaks ill of the BJP regime!). Article 370, which protected the state of Jummu and Kashmir from the plundering hands of New Delhi, has now been abolished by the “Supreme” Court. Identical tactics of “settlers” moving in from the rest of India will now become a free legal norm. Exactly as it is at present in the West Bank of Palestine. An open passport to land…

A KENTUCKY family got a little “something extra” when they chose their Christmas tree this year, according to Associated Press: a baby owl. Michele White, of Lexington, says it’s a tradition for the family to pick out a Christmas tree every year; this year seemed no different. They had the tree in their home for four days and didn’t notice anything unusual. “I have three dogs,” she said. “We use this room non-stop: watch TV; the kitchen’s right here; no indication of anything unusual.” Then, carpet cleaner Bobby Hayes was at the home while the family were out. He noticed the bird after plugging in a piece of equipment and seeing the tree start to sway as the owl moved away from the sound. “The owl was sitting on a…

Following a robust three-day engagement, the civil society-led South African People’s Convention are calling for an ethics/performance committee made up of civil society members to hold public office-bearers accountable, with a view of “zero tolerance” for misconduct. “Such a committee must act with the necessary speed and impartiality,” the South African People’s Convention’s key principles, values and code of conduct document read. This comes as the group at the weekend resolved that by working together for the common good of society in a non-partisan way and not aligned to any political party or formation, “so much more can be achieved”. The group was formed by ordinary South Africans with a shared vision of challenging the established political order at both provincial and national levels. The first meeting was held at…

FORMER president Jacob Zuma has the right to vote for any political party of his choice. But uMkhonto we Sizwe? Before reading further, rest assured this is not about defending the ANC or dismissing the new uMkhonto we Sizwe political party as another election no-hoper. Let’s dip into history; uMkhonto we Sizwe, or MK, was the military wing of the ANC with a mission to fight against the then apartheid regime. It was founded by Nelson Mandela in the wake of the Sharpeville massacre. After warning the government in June 1961 of its intent to resist further acts of government-instituted terror if it did not take steps toward constitutional reform and increase political rights, uMkhonto we Sizwe launched its first attacks on December 16, 1961. It was subsequently classified as…

The EU yesterday warned against hate speech and violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) a day ahead of elections, amid fears that political tensions could boil over. Forty-four million Congolese are registered to vote in tomorrow’s presidential, parliamentary, provincial and municipal elections, in a country ravaged by conflict in its east. “The EU expresses its concern about the hate speech, violence and incidents that have marked the last few days of the campaign,” the EU said. “Serious human rights violations and abuses have been recorded according to the UN, and it is up to the authorities to launch investigations in order to prosecute the perpetrators.” President Felix Tshisekedi, 60, stands a healthy chance of securing re-election against a divided opposition in the country roughly the size of continental…

Paris: The former wife of French serial killer Michel Fourniret expressed regret on the final day of her trial yesterday for her role in the murders he committed, asking the families of the victims to forgive her. Monique Olivier is on trial in France for complicity in three of killings committed by Fourniret, including that of British student Joanna Parrish. “I ask for forgiveness,” Olivier said. “Although I know that what I did is unforgivable.” On Monday, prosecutors said they were seeking life in prison for Olivier, without possibility of parole. Fourniret died in 2021 aged 79 before he could be brought to trial. | AFP…

Paris: The far-right National Rally (RN) will back a flagship bill of President Emmanuel Macron’s government tightening immigration rules, its figurehead Marine Le Pen announced yesterday, dramatically increasing its chances of being passed by parliament. “We can rejoice in ideological progress, an ideological victory even for the National Rally, since this is now enshrined into law as a national priority,” said the three-time presidential candidate. The RN had previously said it would vote against the bill or abstain. Le Pen, who now leads the RN’s lawmakers in parliament, is widely expected to stand again for president in 2027. | AFP…

Bok lock RG Snyman is set to earn a cool R10 million a season at Irish giants Leinster as the stock of the Springbok World Cup winners continues to rise through the roof. Leinster coach Leo Cullen has confirmed on the club’s website that Snyman has signed and his pay package is rumoured to be a staggering €500 000 a season. Cullen said, “We’re delighted that RG is joining us next season. He is a world-class operator, coming into his prime, and a powerful athlete who will bring more competition to that position for our squad. “He is also a double World Cup-winning Springbok and all that brings in terms of experience, and all our players can tap into that. We are always looking for ways we can improve our…

The Proteas Women’s team have not had any harsh words after their shock first ODI defeat to Bangladesh on home soil, but they are determined to bounce back in the second ODI at the JB Marks Oval today, according to young all-rounder Eliz-mari Marx. The 20-year-old enjoyed an admirable debut, top-scoring with 35 as the Proteas were bundled out for just 131 in 36.3 overs in pursuit of Bangladesh’s 250-3. The home side can certainly not afford another blowout like that today with the series on the line. Marx claims that the Proteas are ready to raise the level of their performance in order to level the series ahead of the final match in Benoni on Saturday. “The coaches are obviously disappointed but there definitely weren’t any harsh words. “We…

RescuerS in remote villages of north-west China dug through the rubble of collapsed homes on Monday after the country’s deadliest earthquake in years killed at least 126 people and injured hundreds more. State media said the shallow tremor just before midnight had caused the deaths of at least 113 and injured more than 530 in impoverished Gansu province, as of yesterday afternoon. A further 13 died, 182 were injured and 20 were missing in Haidong in neighbouring Qinghai province, state broadcaster CCTV reported. The quake damaged more than 155 000 buildings, according to CCTV, and sent residents running into the freezing streets for safety. At a village near the epicentre, reporters saw huge cracks running through the exterior and interior walls of a brick home, and the roof of a…

The machinations of the Deep State new world order cabal steering the Biden regime are clearly evident from its policies towards Israel and should be distinguished from what most Americans profess. Here are some examples: The Deep State pressure on Israel to implement a ceasefire would give Hamas the opportunity to regroup, rearm and continue its mission to destroy Israel. Their violation of two previous ceasefires proves that. Significantly, when the anti-Deep State Trump Administration was routing the Islamic State, there were no calls for a ceasefire. Civilian casualties: Hamas deliberately places civilians in the line of fire, thereby fuelling the Deep State-orchestrated outcry against Israel. Ignored is Israel’s appeal to civilians to move to safer zones. The Biden regime’s mounting pressure on Israel to end the war is an…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to fight till the end. That is, until Hamas has been eradicated, irrespective of international pressure. He has also rejected the role of “foreign peacekeepers”, even if they can be found. The four Arab nations that have normalised relations with Israel are not keen to join the fray, but would “help in the reconstruction of Gaza on condition of a two-state solution, and preventing the return of Hamas”. Fatah, a liberation movement, does not want to achieve unity with Hamas. It has also distanced itself from the Palestinian Authority (PA). Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian National Authority, is “totally ineffectual as a Palestinian leader”. The Arab nations, like Israel, distrust Abbas “who has gained a reputation for corruption and fecklessness”. He…

You routinely spend more than you earn. Debts are mounting and so you can’t afford to be generous. You don’t save. You say there’s no money to save. The way things are going, money has a plan to keep you at its beck and call forever. Or … You routinely earn more than you spend. You give some away every month and save some every month. Your long-term plan is to be financially comfortable and generous and you are working steadily towards your goals. Friends You have friends from all walks of life. They are of different faiths and political persuasions. You’ve never really told them what you believe or stand for because not only are you unsure, you’re afraid some might reject you. Or … You have a diverse…

Directors of funeral parlours say they have written to the eThekwini Municipality and applied to take over the management of the Mobeni Heights Crematorium, citing ongoing problems with malfunctioning furnaces. They said there were only two furnaces; one had not been in operation for years and the other regularly stopped working. Dhayalan Moodley, of Moodley Funeral Services, said the only operational furnace stopped working last week. “People could not cremate their loved ones. We need the crematorium to be functioning as we are servicing a large area. This is an ongoing problem and we can’t keep waiting for the furnace to be repaired. We have decided to write to the municipality requesting to buy the crematorium, it’s the only way we can service our community.” Clive Moodley, president…

IN South Africa’s health-care landscape, the shadows of cancer loom large. As someone deeply entrenched in the vital work of DKMS Africa, an international non-profit organisation dedicated to saving the lives of patients with blood cancer and blood disorders, it is clear that addressing the challenge of cancer education in a country with insufficient awareness is a task that requires collective responsibility. The complexity of the health-care system intertwines with societal challenges, resulting in delayed detection and diagnosis. The consequences are profound, as late-stage diagnosis not only intensifies the toll on individuals but also presents formidable obstacles to successful treatment. South Africa stands at a critical crossroads, where acknowledging the plight of those diagnosed late with blood cancers is pivotal in shaping a health-care landscape that fosters timely intervention and…

The UN Security Council voted yesterday to accede to a demand from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and launch a gradual withdrawal of UN peacekeepers starting this month, a year earlier than originally planned. The resolution, which renews the mandate of the peacekeeping mission in the DRC for a further year, includes plans for the departure of peacekeepers from South Kivu province by the end of April. The drawdown comes despite UN concern about violence in the eastern part of the country. Ravaged by conflict, the vast and impoverished DRC will host high-risk presidential and parliamentary elections today, a vote that coincides with the expiry of the annual mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission, known as Monusco. Despite a volatile domestic situation, the Congolese government has for months been…

Greece’s conservative government yesterday pushed through a controversial law offering limited legal status to migrant workers, overriding the opposition of several of its own lawmakers, including a former prime minister. Migration Minister Dimitris Kairidis has said the legalisation move is purely labour-related. It is aimed at those who arrived in Greece before 2021 and have been working illegally. The temporary legal status will only be valid for a one-off three-year period and applies to those already with job offers from employers. About 30 000 migrants are expected to benefit, mainly from Albania, Georgia and the Philippines, according to the migration ministry, addressing serious labour shortages in the farm sector. Legal migration can be an “investment lever... if we do not utilise it, we risk dropping our growth rate,” Kairidis…

Rome: Italy’s population continued to decline in 2022, dropping below 59 million people, the National Institute of Statistics said. The 59 million threshold was first exceeded in Italy in 2009, and in the following year the population reached 60.6 million for the first time in the country’s history. The latest census data released on Monday showed that 58 997 201 people resided in the country as of December 31, 2022, 32 932 fewer than a year earlier. The number of births broke a “negative record”. The country registered 393 000 births in 2022, equalling a birth rate of 6.7 per thousand population. This was almost 7 000 below the 2021 figure and 183 000 below the 2008 figure. | IANS…

San Francisco: Google parent Alphabet has agreed to pay $700 million (R12.8 billion) as part of an antitrust settlement made public on Monday, with the funds going to US customers of its Android app store and state governments. It will also make changes to its Google Play app store to reduce competition barriers for developers. Dozens of US states joined forces in a lawsuit filed in 2021 that accused Google of abusing its power regarding consumer access to apps on mobile devices running its Android operating system. The lawsuit accused Google of discouraging Android apps from being distributed at shops other than its Play store. | AFP…