Índice para 2022-12-23 em Mercury

The Msunduzi Municipality says it has pleaded with Eskom to excuse it from load reduction that could cut electricity to residents and businesses for prolonged periods as it works to bring its account with the power utility up to date. The city met Eskom KZN representatives yesterday to plead its case after the latter imposed load reduction on Wednesday. Load reduction was to be implemented on top of the ongoing load shedding. The municipality has come under fire from opposition parties and ratepayers who have accused it of failing in its duties. DA MP and Midlands constituency head Hannah Winkler said the city needed to explain how and why it failed to keep its account up to date. The city said its municipal manager, Lulamile Mapholoba, pleaded the municipality’s case…

US President Joe Biden released 12 879 documents relating to the assassination of JF Kennedy. The case is still not closed and probably will never be as all the role-players are dead. The intelligence community in the US will never reveal or release crucial documents pertaining to this tragic murder. It is history’s ultimate murder, one that 59 years on, has never been satisfactorily solved. Donald Trump released 53 000 documents on JFK’s murder. Currently thousands are under wraps on the grounds of national security. Kennedy was murdered in a conspiracy that continues to haunt America. His murder was orchestrated by elements within The Deep State and skilfully covered up for more than 59 years. Out of his untimely death the legend of Camelot was born, part of whose…

Proper sanitation gives people dignity. Last month (November 19), the world came together to observe World Toilet Day to raise awareness of the importance of proper sanitation facilities and to take action to tackle the global sanitation crisis and achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 which talks about sanitation and water for all by 2030. South Africa is a water-scarce country which requires all the available water sources to ensure water security for the current and future generations. Groundwater is the world’s most abundant source of freshwater and supports drinking water supplies, farming, sanitation systems, industries and the ecosystem. Climate change is a reality and as it worsens and populations continue to grow, it is important to protect our groundwater from pollution. Inadequate and poorly maintained sanitation systems spread human waste…

In today’s world, having a passport allows you the opportunity to travel and become a global citizen as the world gets more interconnected. The purpose of a passport is to show other nations that you are a legal citizen of your particular nation of origin. Not all passports are created equally, and some have greater influence and perks to the holder. The Passport Index ranks the world’s passports, and aims to showcase, educate and inform the public on the power passports transcend on the holder’s identity, opportunity, mobility and overall quality of life. It’s an interactive passport ranking tool invented and empowered by Arton Capital. It is the only real-time global ranking of the world’s passports, updated as frequently as new visa waivers and changes are implemented. When it comes…

The issues of inflation, geopolitics and the energy crisis have gripped citizens, experts and governments in the past 18 months, global market research company Ipsos has found. In the economy category, inflation remains the top global concern for the eighth month in a row with 42% noting it as a worry, up from 20% at the start of the year. This is according to the results of Ipsos’s “What Worries the World” survey, which tracks public opinion on the most important social and political issues across 29 countries today. Results came from 20 466 online interviews conducted between October 21 and November 4 among adults aged 18 to 74 in Canada, Israel, Malaysia, South Africa, Türkiye and the US, 20 to 74 in Indonesia and Thailand, and 16 to 74…

A Gauteng man who was caught on video assaulting a police officer has been arrested in Springs, Ekurhuleni. Gauteng police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said the man assaulted the police officer following a confrontation during a routine patrol on Tuesday. “The incident was recorded on video, which is currently circulating on social media,” she said. “It is reported that two members on routine patrol came across about five people drinking in public. When the police warned them about public drinking, one of the men turned on the male police officer. The suspect then fled the scene. Back-up was called, and the suspect was arrested later in the evening.” She said the suspect would appear before the Springs Magistrate’s Court soon. Meanwhile, a 51-year-old suspect is expected to appear before the…

I AM used to adversity. In 2007 I had a stroke that left me half paralysed and unable to work. The doctors said I would never work again, but I was determined to prove them wrong. A few years later, in 2014, I set up my own business working in civil construction. At its height I had almost 50 employees, with multiple projects going on simultaneously across South Africa. I was optimistic for the future. Working as a female CEO in a male-dominated industry has never been easy, but despite my resilience, nothing could have prepared me for the reality of load shedding. I was wrong to be optimistic. My company, Hensu Projects, now has 20 employees and we can no longer take on multiple jobs as load shedding makes…

Dozens of women gathered outside Kabul University yesterday to protest in the first big public demonstration in the capital since the Taliban’s decision to close universities to female students. According to witnesses, about 50 mainly women protesters assembled while holding banners and chanted: “Education is our right, universities should be opened.” The backlash towards curbs on female education is complicating the Taliban-led administration’s efforts to gain formal recognition and the lifting of sanctions that are hampering the economy, diplomats say. A heavy security presence was present in the Afghan capital, including at gatherings at universities, in recent days. A spokesperson for Afghanistan’s higher education ministry said its minister would hold a press conference to “to elaborate more on the closure of universities for women”. The previous day at Nangahar University…

MOSCOW: Russia said yesterday that US supplies of Patriot missile systems to Ukraine, announced during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s visit to Washington this week, would not contribute to settling the conflict or prevent Russia from achieving its goals. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said there had been no calls for peace or signs of willingness to “listen to Russia’s concerns” during Zelenskiy’s visit, proving that the US was fighting a proxy war with Russia “to the last Ukrainian”. The Patriot (Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target), is a US air defence systems, capable of intercepting aircraft and ballistic missile threats. | Reuters…

KATHMANDU: Charles Sobhraj, a convicted killer who police suspect was responsible for a string of murders in the 1970s and 1980s, will be freed from a prison in Nepal today after nearly 20 years. Sobhraj, 78, a French national, is suspected of killing more than 20 Western backpackers through Asia, usually by drugging their food or drink. Nepal’s Supreme Court ordered his release from prison, where he has served 19 of his 20-year sentence, citing his age. Sobhraj escaped from India’s Tihar jail in 1986 after drugging prison guards. Police caught him in Goa. He was jailed in India until 1997 and returned to France. In 2003, he was arrested in Kathmandu. | Reuters…

The Lions will have looked at the Sharks match-23 announced yesterday and thought to themselves, with perhaps a slight bit of over-confidence, that they can travel to Durban and possibly return with a result today if they fire on all cylinders from the onset. The Durban-based team revealed a much-changed side to the one that secured two victories in the Champions Cup in as many weeks, with director of rugby Neil Powell opting to prioritise player welfare over picking his strongest team. The Lions, meanwhile, have also applied their rotational policy, but to a lesser degree, and will fancy their chances in the United Rugby Championship clash at Kings Park. They have the more settled combinations, whereas Powell has picked a handful of pairings that are untested or still finding…

THE South African Medical Association Trade Union (Samatu) has raised concern that 400 doctors who have completed community service face unemployment next year. Samatu said the doctors had told the union that the Department of Health was unable to place them in the public sector due to not having enough funds. However, the department said it had not been approached by the doctors directly and would assist those that met the minimum requirements. Samatu secretary-general Dr Cedric Sihlangu said the 400 doctors approached the union because they had been applying for posts but had not found placements in the public sector. “We are facing a national problem. Doctors complete their studies, then do the two-year internship and one year community service. The Department of Health should be placing the…

I have recently had a few issues with United Airlines. Today, from my office in Indiana, USA, I called United’s toll-free number to get things resolved. To my dismay, having heard the accent and thought it at first to be Australian, the efficient and kind United representative assisting me was talking to me from the greater Durban area. Not only was my issue addressed and resolved, which was quite a surprise, as far as I am concerned, it is a joy to know United Airlines has a call centre in KwaZulu-Natal, and now several direct daily flights to South Africa. This is really good news. Thank you Kim, for your outstanding, efficient help. A few years ago I let readers know my birthday is on Christmas Eve. Consequently several readers…

The above headline on the electronic media raises many issues about the integrity of those in the ANC NEC, while taking into consideration their continuous statements on wishing to get rid of corruption. So those fingered in the Zondo Commission report have again made it on to this so-called ANC NEC and are back in the high echelons of the party. What does this tell the citizens of this country and the world? That it is okay to get involved in corruption as this ANC government seems quite happy with having tainted individuals in the inner workings of their party, yet on the other side of the coin, they keep on harping and venting about how they want to get rid of corruption. It seems that little will happen to…

The popular Rachel Finlayson Pool at Durban’s North Beach could be operational before Christmas Day as work on restoring it to functionality is almost complete. The eThekwini Municipality was expected to announce the reopening date of the pool soon. Dr Musa Gumede, the deputy city manager for community and emergency services, said the current phase of repair work was near completion. However, he said more work was expected to continue after the festive season. The contractors started working on fixing the pool earlier this month and the city had said it would take about a month to complete. It has been reported that the pool, situated along Durban’s lower Marine Parade, had been closed to the public since August 2015. The municipality has been under pressure to fix the pools…

The ANC in eThekwini region says it is unfazed by negative remarks made by EFF secretary-general Marshall Dlamini regarding possible coalition talks between the parties. The ANC is said to be looking for coalition partners after it removed Abantu Batho Congress president Philani Mavundla from his position as deputy mayor and chairperson of the Human Settlements and Infrastructure Committee last week. Mavundla, along with other parties, had been part of a coalition with the ANC to run the eThekwini Municipality. On Wednesday after visiting flood victims at a Ntuzuma community hall, Dlamini decried their living conditions and accused the ANC leadership in eThekwini of not doing enough to assist them. Dlamini further warned of disruptions of council sittings in eThekwini in future, until the municipality sorts out the issue of…

Labour unrest in Iran this month – including a three-day nationwide strike, among the largest the country has seen in decades – has hinted at the potential role labour could come to play in the uprising that has swept the country since September. Recently, small groups of oil workers in Iran’s energy-rich south went on strike to demand better pay and working conditions, following similar, limited actions that have punctuated the protests. The ongoing movement, sparked by the alleged police killing of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, has been fuelled in part by poverty and despair at economic deterioration under years of Western sanctions and state mismanagement. Many demonstrators have embraced broad demands to oust Iran’s clerical leaders and dismantle their tools of repression. But massive labour disruptions on…

Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian militant during an incursion into the West Bank city of Nablus yesterday, Palestinian sources said. The exchange of fire came just hours after veteran Israeli hawk Benjamin Netanyahu announced he had formed a new government, returning to power as the head of the most right-wing coalition in Israel’s history. The Palestinian health ministry said Ahmed Atef Daraghmeh, 23, a footballer from the nearby town of Tulkarem, sustained bullet wounds to the back and foot. Islamist group Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, said Daraghmeh was a member of its military wing who “was killed by occupation bullets during clashes at dawn on Thursday”. The Israeli army said its troops had entered Nablus to “secure the co-ordinated entrance of Israeli civilians to Joseph’s Tomb”,…

New Delhi: Although China had not released any detailed numbers of the Covid-19 infections, the infection rate could be over 50% in the greater Beijing area, even more than 70% in the worst-hit areas, reports said yesterday. According to an analysis in Nikkei Asia, crematories in Greater Beijing are operating at full capacity, “but some bodies are having to wait to be burned”. While the omicron variant kills relatively few of the people it infects, the variant will deal a heavier blow to China due to the country’s large elderly population, the report says. China ceased its zero-Covid policy in November and has seen a spike in infections. | IANS…

Tokyo: Japan has approved a blood test kit to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, its manufacturer said yesterday, a rare advance in tackling a condition that affects tens of millions worldwide. Sysmex Corporation said it was working to get the kit, which measures the accumulation of a protein that is a marker for the disease, to market soon. Existing methods of diagnosing Alzheimer’s are expensive, such as a brain scan or spinal tap. Data has also showed a new drug called lecanemab slowed cognitive decline in patients by 27% across 18 months. The data revealed adverse effects but the drug was hailed as a “real treatment option”. | AFP…

WELL, the year is all but gone and the Christmas carols are playing at full volume. If you listen carefully though, you can hear the drags singing with the sound of summer fish. The summer season is in full swing for the shore anglers and the sharks and rays are testing backing knots daily. Now is the time to break your PB. There have been plenty of sandsharks along the north coast. Most of the usual fishing spots have yielded good numbers of these hard-fighting fish. Mackerel has been the standout bait so try your best to get hold of some. A standard all nylon trace is perfect for these fish. If you want to multi-target different species then you should either add a section of bite wire or use…

Jofra Archer has been recalled to the England squad for the three-match One-Day International series against South Africa, which will be played next month. Archer (27) last featured for England in a T20 International against India last year, and has suffered a number of injuries, the most recent to his right elbow, which has sidelined him for more than 18 months. Archer was called up to the MI Cape Town side for the SA20 League that will be played from January 10. The three ODIs are a crucial part of the ICC World Super League which will determine the automatic qualifiers for the 2023 World Cup. The Proteas, face the embarrassing prospect of having to play a qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe in June/July, should they fail to attain a top…

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to appoint Paul Mashatile as deputy president and a younger Cabinet when he reshuffles his executive in the new year. Mashatile, who rallied the Gauteng ANC to nominate the Top 7 leadership in Ramaphosa’s favour, is expected to take over the role from David Mabuza who did not make it on to the national executive committee (NEC) list released on Wednesday. The president of the ANC has traditionally selected ministers from the NEC and rarely appoints someone from outside this list – however there has been a recent exception – Good party leader Patricia de Lille, who was appointed Minister of Public Works. Ministers who did not make the NEC list include Blade Nzimande, Thulas Nxesi, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and Naledi Pandor, while Pravin Gordhan declined…

“ONE dollar and 87 cents. That was all. She had put it aside, one cent and then another and then another, in her careful buying of meat and other food … And the next day would be Christmas.” So begins one of my favourite Christmas stories, by American writer O Henry, set in the Great Depression. Let us look at some segments. “Furnished rooms at a cost of $8 a week … there was a name beside the door: ‘Mr James Dillingham Young.’ When the name was placed there, Mr James Dillingham Young was being paid $30 a week. … But when Mr James Dillingham Young was being paid $20 a week … Mrs James Dillingham Young put her arms warmly about him and called him ‘Jim’ ……

ETHEKWINI Municipality’s R500 “gift” voucher to senior citizens is a farce and a means of roguery for some unscrupulous councillors. Why are political parties and city councillors so silent on this farcical “gesture” that is open to corruption and thuggery? The men and women of great “wisdom” in the municipality – our so-called city fathers – leave me stunned and dumbfounded. City councillors – only elected councillors – have been given 500 vouchers, each worth R500, redeemable at Pick n Pay and Boxer stores, to be handed to senior citizens over the age of 60 years. What a noble and magnanimous gesture – but is it really? Proportional Representation (PR) councillors are not given any such vouchers to hand out to constituents, and as per the speaker’s directive, the elected…

Will a president tainted by diminished moral authority take the vital difficult decisions? THE Comrades have spoken; long live the president, long live the ANC! Despite the various scenarios of imminent defeat pedalled by some of the doom and gloom merchants of political punditry, 70-year-old Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa decisively won re-election as president of the governing ANC at its elective 55th National Conference on Monday in Nasrec in Johannesburg, perhaps more to the relief of his international supporters and financial markets than his bitterly divided party, let alone the country at large. Ramaphosa romped home with 2 476 votes against the 1 897 votes of his only rival, his former health minister Zweli Mkhize. Pro-Ramaphosa supporters on the NEC also won many of the key positions, including transport minister Fikile…

The insecticides that target disease- spreading mosquitoes are running into nature’s ultimate defence mechanism – evolution. Scientists reported this week that mosquitoes in Cambodia and Vietnam increasingly carry a mutation that makes them resistant to a commonly used insecticide. The report, in the journal Science Advances, focuses on Aedes aegypti, a vector for dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, Zika and other diseases. In Cambodia and Vietnam, 78% of sampled mosquitoes had a mutation that shows resistance to permethrin, which is part of a class of insecticides known as pyrethroids. The new study found extreme resistance to two different insecticides sprayed in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, where mosquitoes had more than one mutation conferring resistance. One insecticide sprayed there killed only 10% of mosquitoes, while the other did not kill any.…

France’s privacy watchdog said yesterday it had fined US tech giant Microsoft €60 million(R1 billion) for foisting advertising cookies on users. In the largest fine imposed this year, the National Commission for Technology and Freedoms (CNIL) said Microsoft’s search engine Bing had not set up a system allowing users to refuse cookies as simply as accepting them. The French regulator said that it found that “when users visited this site, cookies were deposited on their terminal without their consent, while these cookies were used for advertising purposes”. It also “observed that there was no button allowing to refuse the deposit of cookies as easily as accepting it”. The CNIL said the fine was justified in part because of the profits the company made from advertising profits indirectly generated from…

Washington: A powerful “once-in-a-generation” winter storm in the US that has brought crippling snow and freezing temperatures, may disrupt travel during the holiday season. The Arctic winter storm began in the Pacific Northwest on Tuesday, and made its way east through the Rockies. It is expected to become a “bomb cyclone” and hit the Great Lakes by today. More than 70 million people from Washington state to Maryland in the US and parts of Canada are under a winter weather alert. The National Weather Service said wind speed was expected to be greater than 88.5km/h. The US states could see the mercury dip below -6°C. | IANS…