Table of contents for 2024-01-15 in Mercury

EQUITY markets on the JSE remained uncertain and nervous last week, due to a lack of fresh domestic market and economic data. The news from the US – that its inflation rate went up to 3.4% in December 2023, up from a five-month low of 3.1% in November, and the core inflation rate is sticky at 3.9%; and, that the US unemployment rate remained at 3.7% in December (year-on-year) – was negative for share prices. The data indicates the US Federal Reserve will keep its bank rate the same for a longer period than was expected. On the JSE, the All Share Index lost a further -1%, and now already trades -4% down for the year to date, and -6% over last January this time. The Industrial board moved…

As the holiday season winds down, parents find themselves facing a familiar challenge: transitioning their kids back to a routine that includes balanced, nutritious meals. After weeks of sugary snacks, rich desserts, and irregular eating patterns, it’s crucial to reset eating habits to help kids regain their energy and focus. Incorporating nutrient-dense foods into children’s diets can set them up for success. Foods rich in essential nutrients provide a sustained source of energy, ensuring kids stay fuelled and focused throughout the day. Incorporating a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats can help support proper growth, cognitive function and steady energy levels. Navigating the world of children's nutrition can often feel like an intricate puzzle for parents, but fret not as B-Well and Munchie Monster, accompanied…

Thebetsile Magugu, one of the best international designers to come from South Africa, has done it again. Since winning the LVMH Prize in 2019, Magugu has been unstoppable. In September, Magugu launched the heirloom project, which started with a shirt. The African wax print shirt became a sensation, with celebrities wanting to own it – simply because it features photos of your loved ones chosen by you. As a limited edition, it sold like hotcakes and those who didn’t get it needn’t worry because Thebe Magugu has partnered with Canada Goose to present the Heirloom Mystique Parka. For this range Magugu was inspired by his Sotho heritage, hence the vibrant Shweshwe prints on the parka. “The Heirloom Mystique Parka’s starting point was an image of my uncle Teko Magugu in…

FORMER President Jacob Zuma has signalled his intention to “return” to the helm of the country’s government, saying his presidency was ended prematurely. He made the remarks while addressing a church service of the Nazareth Baptist Church (the Shembe church) in Ndwedwe, north of Durban, on Saturday afternoon. The former president recently said that he will not be campaigning or voting for the ANC in this year’s national government elections, accusing the party of having “lost its way”. Zuma is leading a new political formation, the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, and has been criss-crossing the country campaigning for it. Yesterday, he was expected to campaign in Pietermaritzburg. A video circulating on social media said to be of the crowds outside the Pietermaritzburg YMCA, coupled with packed venues at…

The IFP in KwaZulu-Natal, as the official opposition, is concerned about exorbitant prices for school uniforms after many parents have complained about the extremely high prices they are forced to pay due to schools entering into evergreen contracts with certain suppliers. South African school uniform monopolies are cause for concern to us as the IFP and we believe that corruption is involved in this matter. We are against evergreen contracts between schools and particular suppliers and want parents to be allowed to buy according to their budget. The IFP urges schools to call on suppliers to tender for the supply of uniforms in a transparent manner. The present policy used by many schools is anti-competitive and is a barrier to new service providers coming into the marketplace. What is happening…

The ANC’s 112th birthday celebrations in Mbombela, Mpumalanga were a feeble attempt at calling for support ahead of the coming national and provincial government elections. While the ANC pussyfoots around expelling former president Jacob Zuma, who has cunningly “stolen” the ANC’s Umkhonto we Sizwe symbol, Zuma has further diluted ANC support, which could lead to the party winning less than 50 percent of the vote in this year’s elections. Currying favour by supporting Palestine against Israel is yet another ploy to bolster its wavering support. The ANC is haemorrhaging after 30 years of dismal governance and failed state-owned entities. It’s time for the ANC to step aside and allow John Steenhuisen’s Multi-Party Charter to take its course. Make sure your vote counts in the next elections. God bless Africa.…

Five ANC supporters have died after a bus they were travelling in crashed at Magoebaskloof near Tzaneen, Limpopo in the early hours of Saturday. The bus was on its way to Mbombela, Mpumalanga for the party’s 112th anniversary celebrations. Preliminary reports indicated that three buses were following each other when the third bus hit the second bus from behind and overturned into a gorge. It is understood that the bus rolled about 20 metres down an embankment. The buses were ferrying ANC members from the Molemole sub-region, within the Capricorn District Municipality in Limpopo. Reports stated that several passengers sustained injuries, with many of them being transferred to nearby hospitals in the Mopani district. In an interview with eNCA, the ANC deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane confirmed the deaths and said…

In the latest development in South Africa’s legal bid before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands, against Israel for what it says are “genocidal” acts in Gaza, Germany has announced that it will intervene in the case in support of Israel. The ICJ last week heard emotive arguments from South Africa and Israel in SA’s bid to get Israel to immediately cease its military operations in Gaza. Both sides concluded their submissions last week and the ICJ said it would deliver judgment in the urgent application as soon as possible. The federal government of Germany, however, has now announced its intention to intervene in the case. Federal government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit announced in a media statement that it rejected South Africa’s accusations of genocide against Israel.…

HIGHER Education Minister Blade Nzimande has expressed the department’s readiness to implement a funding model for the “missing middle” students as R3.8 billion has been set aside for the 2024 academic year. The first phase of the new comprehensive funding model will ensure these students who are not supported by the National Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and funding policy are able to access financial support from the government in the form of a loan to pursue their studies. For years calls for financial aid or an income contingent system for the “missing middle” students has been made due to ballooning student debt, now at more than R700 million. Nzimande said the funding model will be gradually rolled out with the first phase expected to fund 47%, or 31 884…

Group represents 44% of global oil production and almost a third of global GDP AT THE dawn of this year, five more countries became full members of BRICS, a transnational association which until then consisted of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and thus became BRICS+ (BRICS Plus), totalling 10 countries. Egypt is located in north-east Africa and partly on the Sinai Peninsula, which is an isthmus to south-west Asia, thus making it a transcontinental country. It is considered a major power in North Africa, the Mediterranean Sea, the Islamic world and the Red Sea. A populous – with 104.5 million inhabitants – historical Arab country with a long and very rich cultural heritage and at the same time the most powerful military country in Africa that controls the…

Five migrants died and a sixth was in critical condition yesterday after trying to reach Britain from northern France in freezing temperatures, the French maritime authority said. More than 30 people were rescued, the maritime prefecture said in a statement. The fatalities were the first reported migrant deaths on the Channel in 2024. Authorities said four migrants died overnight, while a fifth body was found later on the beach. The group was attempting to reach a vessel off the resort town of Wimereux when their small boat got into difficulty around 2am local time, the maritime prefecture said. The crew of a French tow vessel, the Abeille Normandie, went to the rescue and spotted “unconscious and lifeless people” in the water, an official said, estimating the water temperature at 9°C.…

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi warned yesterday that any steps towards Taiwan’s independence would be “harshly punished” after the self-ruled island defied Beijing’s warnings and chose pro-sovereignty candidate Lai Ching-te as president. Voters on the island spurned Beijing’s repeated calls not to vote for Lai, delivering a comfortable victory for a man China’s ruling Communist Party sees as a dangerous separatist. Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its territory and has not renounced force to bring it under its control, responded to Lai’s victory by saying it would not change the “inevitable trend of China’s reunification”. “If anyone on the island of Taiwan thinks of going for independence, they will be trying to split apart China’s territory, and will certainly be harshly punished by both history and the law,” Wang Yi…

Quito: All hostages held by inmates in Ecuador’s prisons have been freed, the country’s prison agency said. The hostages were freed by Saturday evening. Amid a surge in violence, triggered by narco-terrorist groups vying for control of drug-trafficking routes, about 150 prison guards and administrative officials were being held hostage by prisoners since last Monday. Major rioting broke out after authorities confirmed last week that Adolfo “Fito” Macias, the country’s major drug trafficker and leader of the criminal gang “Los Choneros”, had escaped from Regional Prison 8 in the south-west city of Guayaquil. President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency. | IANS…

Davos: More than 80 countries were holding talks yesterday seeking common ground on Ukraine’s peace formula, as the Swiss co-hosts admitted that being ready to include Russia remains some way off. National security advisors from 83 countries held a fourth round of discussions based on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s 10-point proposals for a lasting and just peace in Ukraine, nearly two years on from Russia’s invasion. The talks were focused on the criteria to end hostilities, the withdrawal of Russian troops, justice for crimes committed and the prevention of further escalation. | AFP…

The Sharks hope this past weekend’s win over Oyonnax in the EPCR Challenge Cup will be the foundation they can use to turn around their woeful start to the rugby season. It was a good 38-7 win in Durban that will give them plenty of confidence, considering how they’ve struggled in their past few games on home soil. But it was not yet the complete performance by the Kings Park team, and they will want to improve ahead of their next clash in the tournament against the Dragons in Wales. If they can bag a win in very different conditions than what they have been playing in over December and the start of January, then it will be a confidence booster for when the Stormers visit the Shark Tank in…

prices climbed on Friday after US and UK forces launched strikes against Iran-backed Huthi rebels, while global stocks were mixed following the kick-off of corporate earnings season. Crude prices spiked more than 4% before ebbing somewhat after the allies launched deadly strikes after weeks of disruptive rebel attacks on Red Sea shipping. “The fear in the oil market is that the region is on an unpredictable escalating path, where at some point down the road, supply of oil will indeed in the end be lost,” said Bjarne Schieldrop, the chief commodities analyst at SEB bank. He said that if the US-UK attacks were unsuccessful in destroying Huthi weapons, and oil tankers need to go around Africa, then up to 80 million barrels will be locked in transit sending prices up…

EMPLOYMENT and Labour Minister TW Nxesi yesterday advised young people that there is “no job that is a dirty job … there is no job that is too lowly – that is how we start out to gain experience and work our way up from the bottom”. Speaking at a Jobs Fair at Bushbuckridge he said taking an entry-level job might lead to processes of discovery of talents and skills. He told the community paper- work was at an advanced stage to open a labour centre to bring Departmental services to the community. He said the unemployed should use the Jobs Fair to launch their entry or re-entry into the job market “in this constrained jobs en- vironment”. The gravity of the unemploy- ment situation was exhibited by the 1…

Five people were killed and two are still missing after severe thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds battered the northern parts of eThekwini Municipality on Saturday. KwaZulu-Natal Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) spokesperson Siboniso Mngadi said KwaDukuza and Ndwedwe Local Municipalities were also severely impacted. Mngadi said two people died in the Folweni area after a retaining wall collapsed on their structure, another person was confirmed dead in uMlazi’s K Section due to a structural collapse, and in oThongathi two family members died when their shack collapsed on them. Two people are missing after floods washed away their informal structure. “Search and rescue teams, led by SAPS K9 Unit, IPSS Medical Rescue, and Reaction Unit SA, are currently on the ground conducting search and rescue operations,” he said.…

SOME of us like to blow the trumpet of our favourites. Selectively. Some Trump. Others Biden. Yet others Putin. It’s human nature. It’s wrong. But it’s there. We all also have our favourite areas of dissension where alleged oppression occurs. My favourite is Indian BJP and right-wing RSS. And Israeli Zionists. I am guilty of not pointing at all to the very serious genocides on our own continent. Not nice. But it happens. Ukraine and Russia somehow just don’t capture my attention as much. Not fair at all. Perhaps it’s to do with understanding situations and historical backgrounds. I understand India somewhat. I also comprehend the evil shenanigans of the Zionist regime to a good extent. Not so with understanding Africa. I also know why the ANC is trying…

“THESE pesky humans leaving their junk about for me to clean up …” Wildlife photographer Rodney Holbrook would leave his work shed in Builth Wells, Wales, somewhat messy. But next day he’d find the outbuilding magically tidied. Confused as to how the shed could clean itself, he set up a night-vision camera to get to the bottom of the mystery, according to the BBC. After checking the footage, Holbrook discovered a mouse was behind the late-night cleanings. The night-vision camera captured the mouse neatly putting away loose materials he found lying around the shed. Holbrook named his animal cleaner “Welsh Tidy Mouse” and has let him continue his work for the past two months. “Ninety-nine times out of 100, the mouse will tidy up throughout the night,” he said. “It’s…

Parliament has announced that it was tightening its rules to mitigate disruptions similar to those that had taken place during the State of the Nation Address (Sona) in the past. This comes as President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver his seventh Sona address on February 8. The address will take place before a joint sitting of the two houses of Parliament while Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana is expected to follow with his Budget speech on a later date. The president’s address is an important milestone as it sets out the government’s key policy objectives and deliverables before the elections this year. This past week, the joint rules committee adopted amendments to prevent Members of Parliament (MPs) from interrupting the president’s speeches. In August 2022, three EFF members were ejected from…

THERE are options for homeowners struggling against the rising cost of living to reduce the amount being paid each month towards their home loans. The succession of interest rate hikes has had a significant impact on existing homeowners who are now paying more on their home loans than they have in the past three years. But there are “several ways” for existing homeowners to reduce the financial burden of a home loan in this tough economic time, according to Rhys Dyer, chief executive of ooba Home Loans. These include renegotiating your interest rate or repayment terms on your home loan, applying for a payment holiday, or even applying for the Government’s First Home Finance subsidy (formerly Flisp) after buying your home. Dyer said homeowners have the option to renegotiate the…

The eThekwini Municipality says it has launched an internal investigation into an incident in which a municipal staffer is seen passed out, allegedly from consuming alcohol, in a City branded vehicle. A video of the incident went viral on social media. Political parties have called for tough action and for transparency in how the municipality deals with the matter. Chairperson of ActionSA in KwaZulu-Natal, Zwakele Mncwango, said these types of incidents were happening on a daily basis in eThekwini. “It's only when we see videos on social media that things like this go viral. The problem starts with leadership as there are no tough actions. “Employees believe they can do whatever they want and not face consequences. We need leadership that will instil education on how employees should be conducting…

QUESTIONS about crimes committed using stolen or missing SAPS firearms over the past three years “cannot be responded to”, says national police commissioner Fannie Masemola. “The circulation of lost/stolen firearms is done on the Enhanced Firearms Register System (EFRS). The Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS) is utilised for firearm testing to determine whether a recovered firearm was used in the commission of a crime,” said Masemola. In response to a parliamentary question in September, Masemola confirmed that 1 725 SAPS firearms have been lost over the past three years; 271 during April and July last year; 742 in the 2022/2023 financial year and 712 in the preceding financial year 2021/2022. DA’s Okkie Terblanche who asked the question said they would probe further on the updated figures since July…

The safety of motorists and passengers on South Africa’s roads is of paramount importance, and the role of the traffic police in ensuring this cannot be overstated. However, the current fragmented approach to traffic policing in the country poses significant challenges to effective law enforcement on the nation’s highways. The proposal by the Police and Prisons Civil Rights’ Union (Popcru) to nationalise traffic police in South Africa is a commendable and much-needed step in the right direction. South Africa’s roads face a myriad of challenges, including the presence of unroadworthy trucks that pose a serious threat to fellow motorists, as well as alarmingly high road fatalities resulting from widespread disregard for traffic rules and regulations. The absence of a cohesive national approach to traffic policing exacerbates these issues, leading to…

Voters venture into sub-zero temperatures today to kick off the Republican presidential nomination race with the Iowa caucuses, the first major test of whether runaway front-runner Donald Trump is as much of a sure thing as he appears. With a commanding lead in polls, the ex-president is expected to win the Midwestern state’s first-in-the-nation vote easily as he bids to be the Republican standard-bearer against President Joe Biden in November. But Iowans may have to contend with the coldest conditions in the modern era of presidential election campaigns, with blizzards and a potential wind chill of -32°C forecast. Trump and his leading rivals, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, were forced to cancel appearances in the home stretch as the threat to Monday’s turnout added intrigue to a campaign season that…

WELLINGTON: Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s former prime minister, has married her long-time partner, Clarke Gayford, after their original wedding plans in 2022 were scuttled by an outbreak of the omicron coronavirus variant. Ardern, 43, and Gayford, 47, the the host of a TV fishing show, were engaged for five years before Saturday’s private ceremony at a vineyard on New Zealand’s North Island. Ardern, who won international praise for her leadership during the coronavirus pandemic and the 2019 mass shootings in Christchurch, announced her resignation a year ago. At the time, she cited getting married as one of her goals, along with spending more time with the couple’s daughter, Neve, 5. | The Washington Post…

Dar Es Salaam: More than 21 people have lost their lives following a landslide at a mine in northern Tanzania, President Samia Suluhu Hassan said yesterday. “It is with great sadness I received the reports of the deaths of more than 21 people following a landslide at Ng’alita mine in Bariadi district, Simiyu region,” Hassan said. Tanzania and neighbours Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia have all been battling flash floods caused by torrential rains linked to El Niño. Seventy-six people died in landslides last month in Katesh. Storms last month also displaced 5 600 people and destroyed infrastructure, forcing Hassan to cut short her participation in the COP28 climate talks. | AFP…

Copenhagen: Denmark’s King Frederik X acceded to the throne yesterday, ushering in a new era after his mother Queen Margrethe abdicated, with more than 100 000 Danes turning out for the unprecedented event. After a final horse-drawn carriage procession through the streets of Copenhagen, the popular 83-year-old queen signed a declaration of abdication at Christiansborg Palace, ending her 52-year reign and making her son monarch. She then left the Council of State, also attended by the government, the new king, his wife and their 18-year-old eldest son, the new Crown Prince Christian. Margrethe left the room with tears in her eyes, saying: “God bless the king.” | AFP…

IT’S all systems go as Bafana Bafana declared a clean bill of health ahead of their 2023 Afcon opener in Ivory Coast against Mali tomorrow evening (kick-off 10pm). After arriving in Abidjan on Friday night, Bafana have settled in at the base in Korhogo in northern Ivory Coast. Over the past two days, they have worked out at a training facility, Lycée Moderne de Korhogo. According to Safa Media, the Mamelodi Sundowns trio of Ronwen Williams, Themba Zwane and Mothobi Mvala, who were on the squad's injury list a few days ago, have all recovered fully and are raring to go. National team coach Hugo Broos will likely include the trio in the starting line-up. Mvala is a ball-playing defender who Broos has deployed in the central defence in the…

The British media enjoy throwing some left-field questions whenever Jake White holds court overseas, and the latest one – about the Springboks joining the Six Nations – saw the man himself saying, in jest, that he “will probably get killed” for his opinion. White was happy to engage with the local English media at Ashton Gate after his Bulls side pulled off a superb 31-17 Champions Cup victory over the Bristol Bears on Saturday evening. The Pretoria outfit even grabbed a four-try bonus point in the second half through hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels, in what was a good day for South African teams as the Sharks and Stormers also won – with just the Lions going down 13-3 to Montpellier in France. After having to explain once more why he had…

MI CAPE Town’s Rassie van der Dussen is hoping his sparkling SA20 century will be the catalyst “for a good couple of months” leading up to the ICC T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the US later this year. Van der Dussen claimed centre stage at the Wanderers on Saturday with a brilliant 104 off only 50 balls (9x4, 6x6) to help MI Cape Town to open their season 2 account with a convincing 98-run victory over the Joburg Super Kings. It was a crucial innings not just for MI Cape Town, but also for Van der Dussen. The veteran right-hander is no longer an automatic choice in the Proteas T20 side, particularly with coach Rob Walter keen on providing opportunities for the new brigade consisting of Matthew Breetzke…

The time of vegan food being seen as boring salads is long gone. This vegan recipe is just as hearty, filling and satisfying as any other meal. Veganuary is a challenge that invites you to eat vegan meals for an entire month. The idea started in the UK in 2014 and it has since gained popularity throughout the world. But it is more than a 30-day challenge. You will discover a new lifestyle while learning new skills along the way. Plus, you’ll love all the tasty creations that come with it. So, if you are one of those practising Veganuary, we have the perfect vegan soup recipe that you can try – corn potage (‘soup’ in French). It’s economical, too! Corn potage Ingredients 1 yellow onion and 1 clove of…

Teacher unions have warned that thousands of pupils returning to school in KwaZulu-Natal this week will not have enough stationery supplies because funds have not been made available by the education department. The Mercury understands that the schools should have been paid their allocation last year in order to prepare for the 2024 academic year. They said because of the delay, parents will have to dig deep into their pockets to raise money to supplement the shortages of the supplies. A teacher, who asked not to be named as he is not authorised to speak, said at his school they had sent an appeal to parents asking for their intervention. “Even when the money is paid, it is not enough. This year we have asked the parents to donate R100…

As the elites of the World Economic Forum gather in Davos for their annual junket at which they ratchet up their falsehood about fossil fuels causing global warming and stoke alarmism about the fate of the planet, the quiet part of their agenda, once again, will go unreported (Business Report, January 10). Successful propaganda requires relentless repetition based on a smidgen of truth. Yes, climate change is a reality attested to over millenia. Yes, it may involve warmer temperatures and floods. It may also mean colder times and drought. These vagaries are natural and have nothing to do with human exploitation of fossil fuels or bovine digestive emissions. The records of history prove that. But while claiming that climate-related risk remains a dominant theme, the WEF has identified a “short-term…

I EXTEND my deepest gratitude to the legal team and the South African government for amplifying the voices of the oppressed Palestinians at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing apartheid Israel of committing a list of systematic atrocities and war crimes. The South African legal team methodically presented their case against apartheid Israel at the ICJ, citing lived realities with indisputable genocidal statements made by the Israeli regime’s officials and clearly outlying apartheid Israel’s genocidal intent with humbleness, the rule of law and expertise. Thank you for arguing an exceptional case before the ICJ, that Israel is guilty of perpetrating genocide in violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention. On the other hand, Israel’s six-member legal team’s arguments were entirely predictable. They presented unconvincing and weak arguments and gave more…

Consider your life a Work of Art. Take time, lots of it, yes, weeks, perhaps even months, to think deeply about your life and to write about it. Great art deserves careful consideration and meticulous planning. Such contemplations will not require, in the meantime, you to stop functioning. Humans are vastly capable and can think and plan and ponder their unique works of art while engaged in day-to-day life as it is. “Am I going where I want to go and doing the things I really want to do with the people who are most important to me?” is the backdrop question. Articulating goals, even if they are unsure, generic, will bring you an added confidence as you pursue your ArtLife. Identify which people are really important to you.…

More than 3 600km of South Africa’s railway tracks have fallen into disuse between April 1994 to the end of November 2023. This is according to a parliamentary response by Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, following questions by DA MP, Leon Schreiber, about Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) railway tracks that had fallen into disuse since April 1994 and copper cables stolen since April 2019. “A total of 3 636 kilometres of railway track have fallen into disuse since April 1994 to November last yer. “TFR has lost 4 633km of copper cable through theft from 2019/20 financial year to date as of the end of October 2023,” Gordhan said. Schreiber said that the figure was enough railway track to cover a round trip on the previously-popular freight corridor from…

“SOUTH Africa’s antitrust probe into rand fixing collapses”, “South African banks are not colluding to destroy the country”, “South African banks cleared in landmark rand manipulation case” were some of the headlines after the Competition Appeal Court (CAC) ruling in the currency manipulation case. While the CAC was scathing of the way the Competition Commission presented its case, it is imperative to look at the judgment through a different lens. The CAC found in its ruling that there was insufficient evidence in some matters and technicalities in numerous matters. One of the key technicalities noted in the CAC ruling was that the commission wrongfully added several entities to the case. In its ruling, the CAC said: “In summary, this court has come to the following set of conclusions: A holding…

A TWENTY-year-old Durban man has been arrested in connection with the murder of his grandfather and the attempted murder of his father following an argument during the damaging KwaZulu-Natal flash floods on Saturday evening. The incident took place on Saturday evening in the Lotusville area in Verulam, when the family were trying to prevent water from the flash floods from entering the house. According to KZN provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda, the mother, the father and the son were inside the house during the heavy rains and were working together to prevent water from getting inside the house when an altercation erupted between the father and the son. “The grandfather reportedly tried to intervene and the 20-year-old allegedly picked up a knife and stabbed both his grandfather and his…

Investing in education is not merely a choice, but a necessity, and a path towards a brighter future. While the idea of educational partnerships and student exchanges is not new, there is a compelling argument for nurturing the transformative power of these programmes. Their benefits are not limited to individual growth, but extend to the economic and diplomatic realms. International experience further prepares students for the global workforce. Exchange programmes serve as effective tools for building international bridges, influencing diplomatic decisions and advancing economic interests. A report by Universities UK International in 2017 found that participants in exchange programmes experience a 20% higher likelihood of securing employment within six months of graduation. However, these skills do not stop at economics; they also help make friends across borders, fostering better international…

Israeli strikes pounded southern Gaza yesterday, the 100th day of the war which has claimed a surging civilian death toll and ravaged the besieged Palestinian territory. The conflict, sparked by deadly attacks on Israel, has created a dire humanitarian crisis for the 2.4 million people in Hamas-ruled Gaza, the UN and aid groups warn, and reduced much of the coastal strip to rubble. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose government has faced growing international pressure over civilian casualties in Gaza, vowed that “no one will stop us” from destroying Hamas. The Hamas government media office said yesterday: “More than 100 people were martyred in the attacks last night until 6am in all areas of the Gaza Strip”. An AFP correspondent in Rafah, in southern Gaza near the border with Egypt,…

Mount Marapi on the Indonesian island of Sumatra erupted again yesterday morning, spewing volcanic ash that blanketed nearby villages and prompted more than 150 people to evacuate. Authorities reported the volcano first erupted at 6.21am local time (11.21 GMT), sending thick volcanic ash 1 300m above the crater and toward the southwest area of the peak. “People who live near the valley or riverbanks below Marapi’s peak should be warned of the threat of the lava that can occur in the rainy season,” the country’s volcanology agency said. Authorities last week raised the status of Mount Marapi to the second highest alert level following increasing volcanic activity. With the new alert level, a 4.5km radius from the crater must be vacated. A total of 158 villagers have evacuated to their…

Washington: US climate envoy John Kerry is planning to step down from his role and work on President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign. Kerry, 80, Biden’s special envoy for climate, plans to step down by spring, ending a three-year run in a major diplomatic role that was created especially for him and which will face an uncertain future with his departure. He led the US negotiating team through three UN climate summits, and championed co-operation on global warming between the US and China. | IANS…

Athens: The crew of a tanker seized by Iran’s navy last week in a row with the US are safe, the vessel’s Greek owners said yesterday. Empire Navigation said in a statement that an associate had contacted Iranian authorities and reported that “all the crew members on board the St Nikolas are safe and in good health.” The company added that it had not been itself able to directly contact the 19-man crew of the Marshall Islands-flagged ship, which is anchored in the vicinity of the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. Eighteen Filipinos and a Greek are on board. Iran said it had seized the ship off Oman to retaliate for the “theft” of its oil by the US. | AFP…

Free State Cheetahs (12) 20 Tries: Hartzenberg, Rudolph, Van der Westhuizen; Conversion: Pienaar; Penalty: Pienaar Pau (17) 33 Tries: Maddocks, Gailleton, Robson; Conversions: Desperes (2), Debaes; Penalties: Desperes (4). The Cheetahs will remain second in Pool 1 of the European Challenge Cup after failing to beat Pau yesterday afternoon in a rainy Amsterdam, losing 33-20. Sloppy play and ill-discipline cost the South Africans top spot in the group after the Sharks overtook them, thanks to a clinical win over another French outfit, Oyonnax, in Durban. After upsetting the Sharks last time out, Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie would have banked on his team to retake top spot at their European home stadium in the Netherlands, but they never got out of the blocks. Pau took an early 14-0 lead,…