Table of contents for 2024-03-26 in Cape Times

MESH.TRADE, a digital capital markets platform for the issuance, trade, and management of smart financial assets, has launched the first tokenised corporate bond in Africa, creating a new distribution channel for businesses to raise capital directly from the market. In a move that Mesh.trade ex- pected would reinvigorate private capi- tal markets on the continent, the first tokenised corporate bond on the Mesh.trade platform was issued by “Die MOS Initiatief” to raise R100 million to expand its network of private schools offering mother-tongue education. The10-year floating rate bond is to pay a quarterly coupon of Prime+2% and will be serviced by Mesh.trade over its full life-cycle. Well-known economist Dawie Roodt, a “Die MOS Inisiatief” board member, said in a statement he was pleased to be part of the initiative…

MTN EXPECTS South African headwinds to persist after recording a 12.1% dip in voice revenues for its home market which, after battling inflation, and currency issues in Nigeria, brought down the telecom’s profitability for 2023 by as much as 72.3%. In South Africa, the operating environment for telecom companies such as MTN has been fraught with low consumer disposable incomes, the impact of load shedding and higher inflation. MTN said yesterday that “the operating environment is expected to remain challenging” in South Africa, “with the economic growth outlook muted and persistent pressure on consumer disposal” incomes. “Across our markets, inflation rates and interest rates may stay elevated. Tariff increases for voice and data will be required in the period ahead to mitigate network-related expenses, and these will require regulatory approval…

ADvTECH benefited from good enrolment growth at its private education facilities, moderate fee increases and operating leverage in the 12 months to December 31, the results showed yesterday. “In our resourcing division, we continued to benefit from our invest ment into the rest of Africa. This sustained performance is driven by the group’s established market position in South Africa and its growing presence across the continent,” CEO Roy Douglas said in a statement. He retired and stepped down as CEO on February 29, this year. A final dividend of 57 cents a share (2022: 37c) was declared, bringing the full year dividend well up by 45% to 87c (2022: 60c) for the 2023 financial year. This was after group revenue grew 13% to R7.86 billion as a result…

The AGBIZ/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index (ACI) was unchanged in the first quarter of this year after deteriorating by 10 points to 40 in the last quarter of 2023 to its lowest level since the pandemic. This first quarter reading was below the neutral 50-point mark, implying agribusinesses remained downbeat about business conditions. Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) chief economist Wandile Sihlobo said after a few years of solid activity, South Africa’s agricultural sector faced a daunting year ahead, and the index results reflected this. “There remain aspects that policymakers, with the private sector, could tackle to unlock the growth potential of South Africa’s agriculture. These in- clude addressing the weakening munici- palities, deteriorating roads, animal diseases, efficiency in the registration of new agrochemicals and seeds, rising crime, inefficient logistics, and persistent…

COMMUNICATIONS consultant Kabelo Kgobisa-Ngcaba and anti-crime activist Ian Cameron are among the names on the DA’s list of candidates nominated to stand for election to Parliament and the nine provincial legislatures. Among the candidates unveiled at a media briefing were 11 “new exciting candidates that reflect the DA vision and principles”, the party said. Federal council chairperson Helen Zille said the candidates were selected following a “rigorous, meritocratic process” that comprised 11 different stages. The lists were not kept closed to the party’s public representatives and associates. “We believe in an open opportunity process and infuse everything we do,” Zille said. In April 2023, the DA called for people to apply to be candidates and a total of 1 200 candidates applied. Zille explained the process that was followed, which…

The Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court yesterday granted bail of R150 000 to former Steinhoff legal head, Stephanus Johannes Grobler. Grobler appeared in court yesterday after spending the weekend in jail. “He appeared in court on Friday and the case was postponed to Monday for bail judgment where he was granted R150 000 bail with conditions. “Grobler will appear again in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on June 26,” said Colonel Katlego Mogale, spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks). According to the National Prosecuting Authority, in terms of his bail conditions, Grobler is to report to Brooklyn police station twice a week, on Monday and Friday. “He must hand over his two passports to the investigating officer and is not allowed to apply for a new…

Lawyers for GOOD Party MPL Peter de Villiers have indicated their intention to appeal the party’s decision to terminate his membership amid a complaint of sexual misconduct. GOOD national chairperson Matthew Cook yesterday said the party’s National Management Committee (NMC) terminated De Villiers’s membership of the party and removed him as a member of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature based on the outcome of a party disciplinary process which found him guilty of breaching the GOOD constitution and Code of Conduct. “GOOD is a women-led party, with a constitution containing a set of values to which all members subscribe and account, irrespective of their positions. “The GOOD constitution deals comprehensively and unequivocally with gender rights and sexual misconduct. The party is proud of its record of advocacy for the equal…

What are the implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in higher education and what does applying such a technology responsibly look like for the African continent? These were among the questions explored during the recent University of Pretoria (UP) Meta AI policy dialogue held at the institution’s Javett Art Centre on the Hatfield campus. The policy dialogue brought together leaders and practitioners from higher education, the government and the private sectors who explored the use of AI under the theme: “Responsible AI: Current Realities and Future Possibilities for Africa.” Higher Education, Science and Innovation Deputy Minister Buti Manamela, who delivered the keynote address, said: “As a continent, we have immense diversity of potential and are standing on the cusp of a technological renaissance. The possibilities for artificial intelligence in Africa today…

THE family of a 13-year-old autistic pupil have expressed their concerns after he missed out on the first quarter of school this year as they struggle to find adequate placement for him. Grandmother Melody Titus said her grandson, Jude Fortune, was currently idle at home. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said they were aware of the case and were working on a solution. “We noticed very early that there was a learning challenge when Jude couldn’t read or write. He could copy stuff off the board but he couldn't understand what it was that he was writing as he couldn’t read. Unfortunately, due to the system at the school, they just kept progressing or promoting him to the next grade due to his age. “While I lived in Genadendal,…

Thirty-six years ago, Cuito Cuanavale, a small town in the province of Cuando Cubango, 825km south-east of Luanda, Angola, was the centre of the largest military confrontation in Africa since World War II. To understand this, context is necessary. In 1987, during the Angolan Civil War, the SADF had control over the southernmost parts of south-western Angola and intervened in the south-east. By early November, they had cornered the best Angolan units in Cuito Cuanavale and were preparing to crush them. Meanwhile, a breathtaking offensive was being launched towards the Namibian border, where joint forces from Angola, Swapo, MK and Cuba were involved. The troops went south of Angola to attack from the south-west and, simultaneously, in the south-east, selected Cuban units advanced towards Cuito Cuanavale, where they prepared a…

Debris from a Russian missile attack wrecked part of a three-storey building in central Kyiv yesterday and wounded at least 10 people across the city, officials said. Schoolchildren had to run for cover during the assault, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said. The side of the building, which held an art academy’s gym and exhibition hall, was reduced to rubble in an area packed with high-rise apartment blocks. The air force said it shot down two ballistic missiles fired from the occupied Crimean peninsula, more than 500km away. CCTV footage showed the moment the blast wave blew out a window and upended shelves in a coffee shop that nearly fell on top of a barista working there. The woman, Maria Yestafieva, said she had narrowly escaped serious injury. Missile debris came…

FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron said yesterday that gunmen who killed 137 people in a concert hall outside Moscow were part of an Islamist group that was behind foiled attempts to attack France over the past few months. This, in turn, explains why the French government on Sunday increased the security alert to its highest level, Macron said. Russia, which has challenged assertions by the US that the Islamic State militant group orchestrated Friday’s attack, continued yesterday to suggest Ukraine was to blame. Macron said this was “cynical and counterproductive”. “This attack was claimed by Islamic State,” Macron said, “and the information available to us, to our (intelligence) services as well as to our main partners, indicates indeed that it was an entity of the Islamic State which instigated this attack.…

Dakar: Senegal’s anti-establishment candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye appeared to be closing in yesterday on winning a presidential election just over a week after his release from prison, but the governing coalition said a run-off would still be needed. The winner will have to steer Senegal, viewed as a beacon of democracy in coup-hit West Africa, out of three years of turbulence and a political crisis, and manage revenues from oil and gas reserves that are shortly to start production. Opposition figure Faye promised profound change and left-wing pan-Africanism. He appeared ahead of the governing coalition’s former prime minister, Amadou Ba. | AFP…

New York: Donald Trump arrived in court in New York yesterday seeking to further delay his criminal trial for paying hush money to a porn star and separately facing the possible seizure of his storied properties for business fraud. The Republican presidential candidate began his day of twin legal crises in a Manhattan courtroom at a hearing to set a new date for his trial over payments he made on the eve of the 2016 presidential election to make sure porn star Stormy Daniels did not publicise a sexual encounter. In the separate civil business fraud case, also in New York, the 77-year old’s attorneys must prove he can guarantee payment of a $454 million (R 8.5 billion) fine or face the possible seizure of his buildings or other assets.…

GEMFIELDS Group said 43 lots were offered for sale at an auction of commercial quality rough emeralds from March 5 to 22, of which 40 lots were sold. Auction revenues were $17.1 million (R324.5m). The average price was $4.45 per carat. Forty-seven auctions of Kagem gemstones since July, 2009, had generated $1.01 billion. The mix and quality of lots offered at each auction vary in characteristics such as size, colour and clarity on account of variations in mined production and market demand. Thus results of each auction were not always comparable. Gemfields’s managing director of product and sales, Adrian Banks, said in a statement: “We are pleased to conclude another successful Kagem auction, demonstrating that the commercial-quality emerald market remains in good shape and prices achieved are broadly…

INDEPENDENT hotel operators and giant global chains are increasingly linking up in franchise agreements as high interest rates have slammed the hospitality industry, slowing down new hotel construction. For big chains, new franchise agreements from conversions keep investors happy by opening new hotels in the short term. Meanwhile, independent, unbranded hotels like switching to franchise agreements, because it gives them greater access to potential bookings and cheaper financing from lenders. “Historically, global conversions have been 10% to 20% of the rooms entering the system, today it is prob- ably closer to 40%,” said Patrick Scholes, Truist equity analyst. For US-based Marriott International, conversions in 2023 accounted for 40% of organic room signings, double the 20% rate a year earlier. Half of France-based Accor’s hotel openings last year were through conversions.…

Shares in MC Mining fell 7% on the JSE yesterday to R1.85 as a battle for the control of the company turned bitter. MC Mining’s board, which is against its acquisition by Goldway Capital, yesterday accused the Georgia, US-based Goldway Capital of releasing misleading information in a bid to sway shareholders in favour of its acquisition move. Goldway Capital has put up an A$0.16 (R1.98) off-market offer for all of the shares it does not currently hold. The independent board committee (IBC) of MC Mining has “unani- mously” recommended that shareholders “do not accept” the offer by Goldway, after an independent expert advised the offer was “neither fair nor reasonable” for the target company. “The IBC believes shareholders should have more regard to the independent expert’s report than the misleading…

Despite the hard times faced by many macadamia nut farmers as prices fell the past two years, the industry was emerging in better shape, said Global Macadamias, a South African processor and exporter. Roelof van Rooyen, director of Global Macadamias said the tough years, as tough as they were, were also good to help streamline businesses and making them more sustainable. He said when comparing macadamias to other commodities, the nut still offered a good return on investment. “The industry as a whole is in a healthy state, despite the price dip last year. We have some of the best farmers in the world, excellent processing facilities and good demand.” South Africa’s crop was expected to increase by nearly 14% this year – from around 78 000 tons dry-nut-inshell…

from page 1 in preparation for the enrolment of the matter. He accused Mapisa-Nqakula and her lawyer of not acting in good faith. Manyathi said the NPA never threatened to arrest her. Instead, there has been a courtesy extended to her to present herself to the law-enforcement agents to charge her and process her appearance in court. He made it clear that the investigation in her matter is complete and that on March 10, a decision to prosecute her was made. The fact that a search-and-seizure was done at her home last week does not mean that the investigation is incomplete, he said. Manyathi said Mapisa-Nqakula does not have a right not to be arrested, nor has she got the right at this stage to receive a full disclosure of…

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party says it is concerned and disappointed by yesterday’s postponement of the court judgment by the Electoral Court which was supposed to have been handed down electronically at 11am. The judgment yesterday by the Supreme Court of Appeal Electoral Court in Bloemfontein, Free State, has been moved to today to now be handed down by the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg. It was reported that an electronic copy was supposed to have been sent to litigants today, but that was retracted. Yesterday, the ANC was due to give an update following the judgment by the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein. The chairman of the court, Delisile Nhlapho, informed the affected parties that there were some details the court was dealing with. “Kindly note that there are changes…

State gives glimpse of evidence in attempts to have Mapisa-Nqakula arrested NATIONAL Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will not be arrested for the time being, as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has undertaken to withhold her arrest until the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, has ruled on an application to halt her arrest. She turned to court yesterday in an urgent bid to avoid being arrested on corruption charges. Judge Sulet Potterill said she would deliver her judgment on April 2. While Mapisa-Nqakula said she wanted her day in court to prove her innocence, this should not be done by way of her arrest. Her advocate, Reg Willis SC, told Judge Potterill that Mapisa-Nqakula was willing to hand herself over to the Lyttelton police station on April 3, to be processed…

GEORGE Municipality has suffered losses exceeding R3.5 million due to vandalism over the past six to eight months, severely impacting operations and causing prolonged electricity outages. In a statement yesterday, the municipality said it faces a significant challenge with ongoing vandalism, particularly cable theft, resulting in substantial financial losses and service delivery disruptions. The Electro-Technical Services Department has been the hardest hit, with 811 cable theft incidents from July to December 2023, amounting to over R3.5m in losses. “This vandalism extends beyond cable theft, affecting infrastructure such as streetlight poles, kiosks and low-voltage lines,” the municipality said. Various other incidents of vandalism have been reported across different departments, including Corporate Services which reported damage to Lawaaikamp Hall’s fence, costing approximately R80 000 and Parks and Recreation at Gwaing beach, with…

A standing ovation and ululation filled UCT’s Sarah Baartman Hall yesterday as anti-apartheid activist Shirley Gunn was recognised for her activism and leadership in human rights, and advocating for the rights of the marginalised, when she was bestowed an honorary doctorate (honoris causa) in social sciences. Gunn was honoured during the Faculty of Humanities’ second graduation ceremony. A total of 4 850 students will graduate, including 26 PhD degrees, during the ongoing March graduation ceremonies taking place over five days. “I was moved by seeing the demographics of the social science and humanities graduates in that hall, a transformation that we can be proud of. I witnessed diversity, a room filled with women. Seeing so many women graduating, that’s another thing I take home with great pride. Even that hall…

Parts of the country are facing an unimaginable water crisis, with concerns being raised that in years, if not months, to come this will surpass the electricity crisis that has affected consumers and business. Years of poor governance, lack of foresight, mismanagement and neglect in maintaining infrastructure has provided the setting for a nightmarish scenario. Regular media reports on communities that have gone weeks, months and years without access to a stable supply of water must raise multiple red flags. By many accounts Minister of Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu has started to make inroads into the many factors that have contributed to the crisis by planning to overhaul the entire water sector. Mchunu wants to enforce accountability for non-compliance with standards and to encourage private investment using amendments to…

The UK yesterday launched a new global social media campaign, aimed at Vietnam in particular, to deter migrants from trying to cross the Channel from northern France on small boats. It comes as statistics showed the number of arrivals using the hazardous and highly contentious route are up by 15% so far this year compared to the same period last year. An increasing proportion of “small boat” arrivals hail from Vietnam, with that nation among the top 10 for migrants crossing the Channel, according to the UK interior ministry. The new online adverts, which feature real testimonies from those who have previously made the dangerous journeys, are being posted on Facebook and YouTube. “The social media posts emphasise the consequences of travelling to the UK illegally, dangers people can expect…

SEOUL: Medical professors in South Korea said they would cut back on the hours they spend in practice starting yesterday to support trainee doctors on strike for more than a month over a government plan to boost medical school admissions. The strike by the trainee doctors over a plan to increase the number of students admitted each year to medical school from 2025 has forced several hospitals to turn back patients and delay procedures. The trainee doctors have been on strike since February 20. According to a Gallup poll released on March 15, 38% said the government was doing a good job dealing with backlash from doctors and the medical void amid the doctors’ strike while 49% said it was “not a good job”. | Reuters…

London: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will find out today whether he can mount a final UK legal bid to challenge his extradition from Britain to the US, court listings showed. Assange, 52, is facing trial on espionage charges, and a potentially lengthy jail term, after WikiLeaks published classified US documents relating to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Two senior High Court judges in London last month heard evidence from his lawyers and those for the US government over whether to grant him a fresh appeal against extradition. Assange was absent from court on both days due to illness. He has waged a half-decade battle against being sent to the US. | AFP…

PYONGYANG: North Korea’s Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, said yesterday that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had conveyed his intention to meet the North Korean leader. But Kim said that improving relations between the two countries would depend on whether Japan, which occupied the Korean peninsula from 1910-45, can make practical political decisions. Koreans accuse Japan of forcing women to work in wartime brothels for the Japanese military and using forced labour. | Reuters…

Western Province coach Salieg Nackerdien is hoping his team can start using some “common sense” ahead of their CSA T20 Challenge match against the Tuskers at Newlands tomorrow (1pm start). Province have tied two of their last three matches, with the game against the Lions being lost in a Super Over, when Kwena Maphaka defended just 10 runs. Worse was to follow against the Titans at the Wanderers last Saturday, when Province were cruising to victory in pursuit of 148. Openers David Bedingham and Eddie Moore struck half-centuries in a 92-run first-wicket partnership. However, a middle-order collapse precipitated by David Wiese’s four wickets saw the Titans manage to sneak a tie via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method with one over remaining and Province still needing 10 more runs when the heavens opened…

CA SALES Holdings (CA&S) said yesterday its subsidiary CA Sales Investments had entered into an agreement with Mass Market Distribution Holdings to acquire 49% of the shares of Roots Sales, for an undisclosed sum, as part of CA&S’s channel-broadening strategy. Roots, which was founded in 2014, had built an integrated market offering that combined all commercial requirements including sales, merchandising, auditing and delivery solutions into a single interlocking service enterprise specialising in the main market. “Roots services more than 8 000 outlets across South Africa and this acquisition is set to enhance the solutions offering for CA&S Group clients who include some of the world’s most loved consumer brands,” CA&S directors said in a statement yesterday. CA&S also had an option to increase its shareholding in Roots in the…

There are signs of excellent health at all power stations ahead of the winter season South Africa’s load shedding woes are a fading certainty as most power plants, with the exception of Tubatse, have attained close to perfect performance scores, with the next two months set as a turning point for stations including Kusile, Tutuka, Kriel and Matla, which are on the priority list for efficiency tests. Eskom’s head of Generation, Bheki Nxumalo, credited by Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa as the pillar of new generation capacity in direct liaison with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), said yesterday there were signs of excellent health at all power stations ahead of the looming winter season. “You will see that in the next two months there will be a major review and we expect…

WITH THE EUROPEAN Union poised to make environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting man- datory for global supply chains, many South African firms with EU customers will soon need to raise their game. Among the key factors these ESG reports will need to cover in more detail is the question of how companies embrace their role as “stewards” of the country’s scarce water resources. The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) has been in effect since January, 2023 and it requires EU businesses – including qualifying EU subsidiaries of non-EU companies – to report on the environ- mental and social impact of their business activities. Companies subject to the CSRD will have to report according to European Sustainability Reporting Standards. South African companies are connected to global markets through commodities…

This Easter weekend you might like to sprinkle the festivities with a bit of celebrity stardom – how about trying a raspberry cinnamon brioche cake recipe from Zakhele Ndlozi? Ndlozi is the new executive chef at Sibaya Casino & Entertainment Kingdom. Growing up in Alberton and Soweto, the former contestant of The Taste Master SA season 3 has risen through the ranks at Sun International after starting as a chef de partie at The Maslow in Sandton in 2016 and as a specialist Asian chef in Time Square Casino in Pretoria a year later. Below is Ndlozi’s raspberry cinnamon brioche cake recipe. Raspberry cinnamon brioche cake Serving: 10 slices Ingredients Dough 300g flour 4g yeast 1g salt 40g castor sugar 15g milk powder 150ml milk 100g butter (room temperature) 3…

There is a thin line between self- expression and public indecency and Kanye West’s wife, Bianca Censori, has been crossing it a lot lately because of her style, or lack thereof. When she’s not wearing stockings as pants or small bikini bras that show off the sides of her breasts, Censori has her buns out. While everyone has the right to dress however they want, we also cannot shy away from the fact that being naked in public is indecent. In other countries, you may even get arrested. A picture of Censori wearing a silver bra and matching panties paired with a short skirt that revealed her naked bottom and the front of her panties has been trending on social media, and people are concerned. What worries them is that…

from page 1 grid plotting over an extensive search area deep-sea south and south-west of Cape Point, where it is believed that the six local men were reportedly fishing during Saturday afternoon and night”, the NSRI said. Telkom Maritime Radio Services were also broadcasting an all ships marine VHF radio broadcast, alerting vessels in the area to be on the lookout. “Ski-Boat Mobile and local boating and maritime communities are assisting to spread the word for all vessels and ships at sea to report any sightings. Missing persons cases have been opened by family. We commend all vessels at sea that are assisting in this extensive search. “An extensive search operation remains under way. Our thoughts are with the families, colleagues and friends of the missing men in this difficult…

AS SCORES of South Africans get ready for the upcoming Easter pilgrimages this weekend, the Border Management Authority (BMA) has bolstered its efforts to secure the country’s borders through the addition of 400 junior border guards. The border guards will be assisting members of the SAPS, South African Revenue Service (Sars), SANDF, Cross Border Road Transport Agency and various traffic authorities in guarding the countries 52 land ports of entry, 10 international airports and 9 seaports. According to BMA Commissioner Dr Mike Masiapato most of the additional junior guards will be deployed specifically at Beitbridge border post, Lebombo, Ficksburg, Maseru Bridge, Telle Bridge, Kosi Bay and Grobler’s Bridge. Masiapato was speaking at a briefing in Hatfield, Pretoria, yesterday where he unveiled the authority’s four-phase Easter Operational Plan, which he said…

National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s decision to take special leave could be an attempt by her to cling to her salary and other benefits linked to her position. This is the view of political analyst Professor Sipho Seepe after Mapisa-Nqakula took special leave, although it is not provided for in the rules of Parliament. “Taking leave of absence means that you remain in the employ of the state and you can draw a salary,” Seepe said. On Thursday, Mapisa-Nqakula announced that she had decided to take special leave from her position as Speaker of the National Assembly immediately to protect the integrity of Parliament and ensure its sacred duty and its name continue unblemished after the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Investigating Directorate raided her house as part of its probe…

1kg Simple Truth Natural Lamb Neck Salt and pepper to taste 2 tbsp flour 2 tbsp oil 3 onions; sliced 2 tbsp garlic and ginger paste 2 bay leaves 2 tbsp curry powder 1 tbsp barbeque spice 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning 1 chicken stock cube 750ml water Season the lamb with salt and pepper on both sides, sprinkle with the flour, then brown the pieces in hot oil until golden on both sides. You’ll need to do this in batches, so you don’t overcrowd the pot. Set the browned lamb aside. To the same pot, add the sliced onions and sauté until softened and beginning to brown around the edges. Add the garlic and ginger paste, bay leaves, curry powder, barbeque spice and Cajun spice, then cook for a minute…

Officers with qualifications are less inclined to use excessive force The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), which conducted a national investigative hearing into the July 2021 unrest in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, in its recent report dated January 29, 2024, recommended that the SAPS, i.e., the Minister of Police and the National Commissioner, impose, among other things, i) a standard regarding the use of “less-lethal” weapons in crowd management, and ii) that the SAPS training should be updated to ensure officers are adequately trained in the proper use of “less-lethal” weapons, emphasising de-escalation techniques and proportional force to minimise the risk of human rights violations and excessive use of force. Body-worn cameras capture what happens. This is likely a solution for the police and the community to ensure the facts…

The EU yesterday hit Apple, Google parent Alphabet and Meta with the first probes under a mammoth digital law, which could lead to big fines against the US giants. Among six firms named as market “gatekeepers” under the EU’s landmark Digital Markets Act (DMA) – along with Amazon, TikTok owner ByteDance and Microsoft – the companies have been obliged to comply with the new law since March 7. “We are not convinced that the solutions by Alphabet, Apple and Meta respect their obligations for a fairer and more open digital space for European citizens and businesses,” said the EU’s internal market commissioner, Thierry Breton. In a statement announcing the probes, the European Commission, the EU’s antitrust regulator, said it suspects the measures the firms have put in place so…

Israel’s military killed dozens of people in new attacks in Gaza, Palestinian medics said yesterday, and its forces maintained a blockade of two hospitals where they say Hamas militants are hiding. As Israel pressed on with its offensive, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said there was a growing international consensus around telling Israel a ceasefire was needed and that an assault on Rafah would cause a humanitarian disaster. Rafah, the last refuge for over a million Palestinians on the Gaza Strip’s southern border with Egypt, was among cities that came under fire in the latest attacks. Palestinian medics said 30 people had been killed in the previous 24 hours in Rafah, whose population has been swollen by displaced Palestinians escaping fighting elsewhere in Gaza after more than five months of war.…

Islamabad: Pakistan has started preparations to launch the second phase of its repatriation drive to send nearly a million Afghans back to their homeland, the media reported. Instructions had been issued to district administrations and police to expedite the mapping of Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders. According to the UN refugee agency, there are 2.18 million documented Afghan refugees in Pakistan. This includes the 1.3 million refugees holding Proof of Registration cards as per the census carried in 2006-07, as well as an additional 880 000 refugees granted ACCs following a registration drive in 2017. | IANS…

BEIJING: A job advert from a Chinese grocery store seeking cashiers aged 18-30 has triggered a flood of anguished social media posts from older people scrambling to find work in a sluggish economy. Some said the ad highlighted the plight of a huge middle-aged section of the population as the government focuses on fighting high youth unemployment and finding positions for another record year of graduates. “It’s not easy,” a commenter in the city of Ningbo posted on the Weibo social media platform, along with a picture of the ad seeking cashiers, prompting more than 140 million views and 41 000 comments. There is no specific law against age discrimination. | Reuters…

Bafana Bafana are expected to target their first win since 1996 over north African giants Algeria when the two nations meet in the Fifa Series tonight. The Desert Foxes will play host this time as the two sides meet at the Nelson Mandela Stadium tonight (11pm kick-off, SA time), looking to protect their fairly dominant hold over this fixture. In the six times the two nations have collided at the Africa Cup of Nations or in friendly internationals, Bafana have only been able to topple their next opponents once, which was en route to their one and only Afcon title. Memorable goals from Mark Fish and the late John “Shoes” Moshoeu saw Bafana book their spot in the semi-finals of the 1996 competition. Bafana are coming off a fairly successful…