Mercury içinde 2024-05-09 için içindekiler tablosu

A GAUGE of emerging market currencies came under pressure yesterday as the US dollar resumed its charge upwards, while Poland’s zloty slipped in the lead up to an interest rate verdict later in the week. Yesterday morning early, MSCI’s index for emerging market currencies had shed 0.2%, set to snap a five-day winning streak. Most currencies in Central Eastern Europe traded in a tight range owing to a lack of catalysts, with Hungary’s forint slipping 0.2% against the euro, while the Czech crown also lost 0.2%. Poland’s zloty lost 0.4% against the euro ahead of a central bank rate decision today, where it is widely expected to hold rates steady at 5.75%. South Africa’s rand slipped 0.5% against the dollar as the greenback firmed, while Israel’s shekel also shed…

AS THE number of Durban residents switching to renewable energy systems increases, eThekwini Municipality’s Electricity Unit has seen its revenue impacted. The City has acknowledged that ratepayers’ use of renewable sources of energy, such as solar power, is having a negative impact on its electricity sales. While the municipality has encouraged its customers to embrace renewable energy as part of its energy mix going into the future, it raised concerns about residents who install these energy technologies without complying with the relevant regulations. Speaking of its electricity sales, the municipality said while the impact of renewable energy systems has not been quantified, the trend has had a significant impact on its sales. The (electricity) unit’s revenue for the last financial year, 2022/23, was about R18.1 billion (unaudited figure), the City…

I don’t care for the national anthem. I won’t sing it. It’s against my belief as I am not religious. I think it’s hypocritical to ask God to save Africa if you are doing all the evil things to ruin the country. But burning the flag? I don’t condone it. I may be highly critical of the government, of how ANC rule has messed up the country in the past 30 years. But that doesn’t mean that I am not a loyal citizen. I love my country; that is why I am so critical of the government. But I won’t burn the South African flag nor will I encourage anyone to do it. Besides the fact that it is illegal, it is so disloyal to the country. Citizens all over…

On May 29, South Africa will be faced with its seventh general election since 1994. While the 1994 election saw this country escape the dark clutches of minority rule and apartheid, subsequent elections have seen the ANC’s dominance erode South Africa’s rights, prosperity and safety. It is clear that ANC rule has not benefited South Africa and that change is needed. Hopefully, the result of the 2024 elections will be positive and lead to better governance and much-needed policy reform. But even if new, better leaders are elected, it will not change the fact that South Africa’s political structures could be far better. While there is plenty to laud in our Constitution, South Africa’s democracy is far from perfect. All it takes for one party to dominate the country is…

Dear Rod Earlier this week I read your response to the fund-raising decision on behalf of Dale College, by the new incoming Northwood headmaster, Dr Garth Shaw. Your comment mirrored the many pearls of wisdom which I have read since your first contributions (2001) to the column in The Mercury. After 38 years in the banking world, and aged 58 years, I was not happy to ride out another huge change. It was amazing how a colleague anonymously dropped off your article dated 4/4/2001. Question: I’m tired of the “rat race”, yet too poor to retire. Any suggestions? Answer: If all you have is money, indeed you are poor. Your message was very clear to me. That was a turning point in my life, and career – and I have…

A NOW former teacher at the Laudium Secondary School in Pretoria, who claimed he was dismissed after nearly two decades at the school because of his pro-Israel sentiments, has turned to the Labour Court in Johannesburg as he felt that he was given the boot unfairly. But the school’s governing body claimed that this was not the reason for his dismissal and said that his term of employment simply came to an end. The governing body, however, raised four special pleas, in terms of which it wanted the court to dismiss the application before even listening to the merits. The special pleas included that the Labour Court did not have the jurisdiction to hear the matter. According to the governing body the application by the teacher, on his arguments, concerns…

FORMER joint general manager of Independent Media in KwaZulu-Natal, Brian Porter, whose career at the company spanned over 40 years, died last week at the age of 71. Pat Acutt, friend and family spokesperson, said Porter, who was born in Fish Hoek in the Western Cape, would be remembered as a good husband, father and friend. “A couple of years ago, he suffered a fall, which led to an illness that ultimately caused his passing,” Acutt said, adding that Porter leaves his wife Cindy, their two children, grandchildren and extended family. Acutt said Porter’s career in printing began at the age of 16 as an apprentice lithographer. Former colleague and friend Gregory Dardagan, who knew Porter for more than 20 years, said he joined the Daily News working in the…

A different kind of government is possible There is a sense of great anticipation rippling through South Africa. As each day brings us closer to the May 29 national and provincial elections, questions are arising. Is it possible to unseat the ANC? Will our votes really bring change? What will South Africa look like after the votes are counted? There are a few things we can know for sure. Once the votes are cast, load shedding will suddenly reappear. The deluge of ribbon-cutting, sod-turning and project launching will instantly evaporate. And politicians who traded insults like schoolyard bullies will jockey for power, perfectly content to manipulate the will of the electorate and backtrack on their commitments. We know this because we know the players. We know their character and their…

AstraZeneca said this week that it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its Covid-19 vaccine due to a “surplus of available updated vaccines” since the pandemic. The company also said it would proceed to withdraw the vaccine Vaxzevria’s marketing authorizations within Europe. “As multiple, variant Covid-19 vaccines have since been developed there is a surplus of available updated vaccines,” the company said, adding that this had led to a decline in demand for Vaxzevria, which is no longer being manufactured or supplied. According to media reports, the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker had previously admitted in court documents that the vaccine causes side-effects such as blood clots and low blood platelet counts. The firm’s application to withdraw the vaccine was made on March 5 and came into effect on May 7, according to…

The UN voiced concern yesterday after dozens of cases of cholera were reported in flood-stricken Kenya as the death toll from rain-related disasters surpassed 250. The World Health Organization (WHO) said 44 cases of the disease have been reported in Tana River County in eastern Kenya, one of the areas hardest hit in weeks of destructive rains and flooding. “I believe that between government and national and international partners, we’ll be able to contain it,” the UN’s resident co-ordinator in Kenya, Stephen Jackson, said in an interview with Citizen TV. “We’ve contained cholera before, but it’s a significant concern.” Cholera is an acute intestinal infection that spreads through contaminated food and water and typically causes severe diarrhoea, vomiting and muscle cramps. It can be especially dangerous for young children. “WHO…

Jakarta: A volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted yesterday and spewed an ash tower 1.5km into the sky, prompting officials to raise an alert level to the second-highest. Mount Ibu, on the island of Halmahera in North Maluku province, erupted and sent a thick column of dark smoke and ash above the peak. “The volcano spewed an ash tower 1.5km above the peak,” Indonesia’s volcanology agency said. Officials formed an exclusion zone 3-5km around the volcano’s crater. Last month, Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi Province erupted more than half a dozen times. It erupted again last week and is at the highest alert level. | AFP…

Is there a simpler, healthier and more versatile cheese to cook with than the humble paneer? Believed to have originated in India, it is one of the oldest dairy products in the world and remains a popular staple in Indian cuisine today. What is paneer? Paneer is a fresh cheese made from curdled milk combined with an acid, such as vegetable acid or acid sourced from fruits. The consensus is that Persian and Afghani rulers introduced paneer to the world. Since then, it has become the main ingredient in countless Indian dishes, and one of the most popular and common Indian street foods. If you cannot find paneer in store, substitute it with another cheese. Cottage cheese and tofu are close, providing that creamy texture and mild flavour. Keep…

Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa has urged the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) to consider including the prohibition of the burning or desecration of national symbols in the Code of Conduct of political parties. He said his department was also consulting with its legal team over what action could be taken against the DA after the party featured a digital version of the South African flag engulfed in fire in one of its election television adverts. The DA has defended the use of the image, saying it wanted to highlight its argument that the country is facing multiple crises. The advert, launched by the DA on Sunday, shows the South African flag in the background, and is titled “This election is about survival”. As the flag burns…

In his letter, “Elected party must fix our mindset”, in The Mercury dated May 2, Ebrahim Essa, like Al Jazeera once again unleashes a volley of untruths. Modi did not use hate speech against any citizens of India. In the aggressive election campaigns characteristic of Indian politics, he was merely tearing to bits the election manifesto of the opposition, in response to their criticism of the BJP’s manifesto. He was drawing attention to the identity politics of the opposition, such as promising to set up a special Information Technology park near Hyderabad for Muslims; to ensure that Muslims “have first claim on resources”, not once but several times when they were in power or seeking to be in power. The latest: today, Lalu Prasad Yadav said he supported…

YOUR two readers’ letters referring to Israel as an “artificial state” cannot go unchallenged. This kind of label is mere academic claptrap belonging in a first-year university debating class. How can a perfectly legal state, a member of the United Nations and the only democracy in the Middle East, be “artificial”? In a country the size of the Kruger Park, where 1.8 million Arabs are citizens and hold top positions in society, where does apartheid fit in? Palestinians or Hamas in Gaza, who are bent on Israel’s destruction, will continue to incur the wrath of the IDF in defence of their country – reactive not proactive. This is not genocide. No mention is made of the need for a Jewish state or the right of colonialists to give land to…

While nearly two-thirds (63%) of youth aged 18 to 24 say they are registered to vote, just under half (49%) say they are likely to vote later this month. Sixteen percent say they won’t vote and 35% haven’t yet decided. This is according to results from the latest African Youth Survey’s Special Report on South Africa, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the country’s democracy. The study by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation was conducted by global insights consultancy company PSB Insights, looking at how young people across the continent view themselves, their rights and place in the world. The survey was conducted through 1 000+ face-to-face interviews with 18- to 24-year-olds across the country. According to the results, the youth felt corruption was now the biggest concern, rising from 64%…

North West police, working with private security companies, rescued a kidnapped man and arrested two alleged kidnappers this week on charges of extortion, kidnapping and unlawful possession of a firearm. The arrests were effected when the alleged kidnappers collected the ransom money, North West police spokesperson Colonel Adéle Myburgh said. “The 23-year-old victim was kidnapped during the early hours of Saturday morning, May 4, outside a night club in Stilfontein by armed men driving a Nissan vehicle. His vehicle, a Volkswagen Polo, was also stolen during the kidnapping,” said Myburgh. Shortly after the kidnapping, the kidnappers demanded ransom from the victim’s family, police said. “They allegedly threatened to kill the victim should the family fail to meet their demands. “The victim’s Volkswagen Polo was found abandoned later that same morning…

A Chinese national, wanted in connection with a shooting in Durban North in which a woman was killed and three others injured, was arrested at O R Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg while allegedly attempting to flee the country. Durban North police had launched a manhunt for the suspect who fled after the shooting on April 28. The Mercury reported that a man shot at five people of Asian origin, killing one and critically injuring three others, at a house on Adelaide Tambo Drive. A domestic dispute was believed to have sparked the shooting while police said the motive was still being investigated. In a report, police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the four women were sitting in a room in a rented house when a male companion arrived.…

In April 1994, South Africa witnessed the dawn of a new era in our politics and national life. With the apartheid regime drawing its final breath, jubilation overcame millions of South Africans and the global community on what we commemorate as Freedom Day. The 1994 elections marked a watershed moment that granted citizens of all races, aged 18 and above, the hard-won right to exercise their freedom at the ballot box. Emotions surged as South Africans of every age queued across the nation with great hope to cast their votes. The moment not only signified the end of an era but also grappled with the echoes of a volatile past, yet cheered by the promise of a brighter future. Fast-forward 30 years to 2024, and there’s a noticeable absence of…

The British government yesterday ruled out a cyberattack as the cause of a nationwide e-gate outage at a number of airports that caused long delays for passengers. The electronic gates which scan passports and use facial recognition went down on Tuesday but were up and running again after midnight. The government had earlier said it could not rule out state involvement in a mass cyberattack on the personal details of armed force personnel, with some MPs blaming China. Beijing denied that it was behind the hack on a contractor’s payroll system used by the defence ministry containing the names and bank details of up to 272 000 British service personnel. Airports including London Heathrow, London Luton, Edinburgh and Manchester saw severe delays, as Border Force officials had to manually check…

Russian missiles and drones struck nearly a dozen Ukrainian energy infrastructure facilities yesterday, causing serious damage at three Soviet-era thermal power plants and blackouts in multiple regions, officials said. Ukraine’s air force said it shot down 39 of 55 missiles and 20 of 21 attack drones used for the attack, which piles more pressure on the energy system more than two years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion. “Another massive attack on our energy industry!” Energy Minister German Galushchenko wrote on the Telegram app. Two people were injured in the Kyiv region and one was hurt in the Kirovohrad region, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said. Galushchenko said power generation and transmission facilities in the Poltava, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Vinnytsia regions were targeted. About 350 rescuers were racing to…

BANGKOK: Thailand will re-list cannabis as a narcotic by year-end, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said this week, in a U-turn just two years after becoming one of the first countries in Asia to decriminalise its recreational use. The moves comes despite rapid growth of a domestic retail sector for marijuana, with tens of thousands of shops and businesses springing up in Thailand in an industry projected to be worth up to $1.2 billion by 2025. Cannabis was decriminalised for medical use in 2018 and recreational use in 2022 under a previous government, but critics say its liberalisation was rushed, causing confusion about regulations. | Reuters…

There has been a sharp increase in the number of consumers seeking debt counselling assistance in the first quarter of 2024. This is according to a report released by debt counselling company, DebtBusters. It said that statistics showed that there had been an increase of 22% in debt counselling enquiries in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year. Online debt management also rose by 30% during the same period. Benay Sager, executive head of DebtBusters, said high interest rates and inflation – especially food inflation – continued to erode consumers’ disposable income. Sager added that the over 40+ age category has been impacted by increased interest rates on asset-linked debt. “The average interest rate for a bond has increased from 8.3% a year in Q4…

If the latest barbaric anti-Israel, pro-Hamas protests in the US are anything to go by, then I think that we can all agree that dirty money, especially coming from a slimy source such as George Soros, was always going to get everybody’s attention. These kids, because that is all they are, have rocked up in eerily similar fashion in multiple states around the US, as well as in other Western countries, all chanting the same, cleverly co-ordinated, gut-punching slogans and anti-Israel, anti-American rhetoric, using the same tents, Palestinian regalia as well as Hamas and even Hezbollah flags. It is shameless! Of course, when these professional agitators, as Trump calls them, refuse to answer simple questions about why they are protesting or what it means when they yell “from the river…

’TWAS a St Clement’s arts soirée with a difference this week. No twanging guitars or readings of poetry, the usual arty stuff. This time it was retired Judge Chris Nicholson launching his latest book, Who Really killed Chris Hani?, which he has spent the past 10 years researching. Chris Hani, of course, was the Communist Party leader who was gunned down in Johannesburg in 1993 by Polish immigrant Janusz Walus, a man of extreme right-wing views, acting in collusion with Clive Derby-Lewis, a man of similar inclination who, it seems, had compiled a hit list which had on it none other than Nelson Mandela, the ANC leader who was about to be elected president. Walus and Derby-Lewis were charged with murder, tried and sentenced to death. But the New South…

Durban metro police have arrested eight people for allegedly ambushing an independent contractor working on water infrastructure in Newtown B section, Inanda. Metro police spokesperson Colonel Boysie Zungu said the individuals had been identified by the construction Community Liaison Officer (CLO). “We were informed that 10 suspects ambushed site workers, demanding to speak to the foreman and the CLO. “The men, armed and aggressive, demanded that the site be closed, and work be stopped immediately,” said Zungu. He added that the incident was reported to metro police, who were on the scene the next day when eight armed men returned. It is believed they had returned to check that the site had been closed. According to Zungu, a firearm and 14 rounds of 9mm ammunition were recovered, plus an impounded…

THE increasingly acrimonious legal battle between the Msunduzi Municipality and its suspended municipal manager, Lulamile Mapholoba, could be heading back to court. Mapholoba said he would take the council to the high court to demand that it release the report that would be used to bring disciplinary charges against him. He would also be going back to the Labour Court to seek a contempt of court order against the city. This was in respect of a Labour Court ruling which set aside his suspension due to irregularities with the process followed. The municipal manager was suspended in February but he took the matter to the Labour Court, challenging the procedure. But before the court’s ruling this week, the council took a decision on May 2 to issue him with a…

ALL LAW-ABIDING citizens, especially victims of crimes should be worried about the crime detection services in the SAPS. This is particularly so if the rate at which case dockets are being closed by the police is anything to go by. It was reported this week that Police Minister Bheki Cele revealed in a response to a parliamentary question that 5.4 million case dockets and investigations were closed without results due to lack of leads in the past five years. This effectively means that 1 million case dockets are being closed by the police in just a single year. Cele’s admission corresponds with a recent response by his justice counterpart Ronald Lamola, who revealed that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) returned 1.8 million dockets to the police for further investigation in…

Israel bombarded the overcrowded Gaza city of Rafah, where it has launched a ground incursion, as talks resumed yesterday in Cairo aimed at agreeing the terms of a truce in the seven-month war. Despite international objections, Israel sent tanks into Rafah on Tuesday and seized the nearby crossing into Egypt that is the main conduit for aid into the besieged Palestinian territory. The White House condemned the interruption to humanitarian deliveries, with a senior US official revealing that Washington had paused a shipment of bombs last week after Israel failed to address US concerns over its Rafah plans. The Israeli military said hours later it was reopening another major aid crossing into Gaza, Kerem Shalom, as well as the Erez crossing. But the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said…

ISTANBUL: A FedEx Airlines Boeing 767 cargo plane landed at Istanbul Airport yesterday without deploying its front landing gear but managed to stay on the runway and avoided casualties, Türkiye’s transport ministry said. The aircraft, flying from Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, informed the control tower at Istanbul Airport that its landing gear had failed to open, and landed with guidance from the tower, the ministry said. Airport rescue and fire fighting teams were scrambled before landing, but no one was injured. No reason was given for the failure. The aircraft is a nearly 10-year-old Boeing 767 freighter, one of the most common cargo planes. | Reuters…

ISLAMABAD: A court in Pakistan granted a request yesterday by the wife of former prime minister Imran Khan to be moved to jail, her lawyer said, instead of the house arrest ordered by the government. Bushra Bibi had accused authorities of violating her privacy and serving contaminated food in her home cell, which she said was dominated by men, a charge the prison staff has denied. Bibi said she had been detained in one room at Khan’s mansion in Islamabad since the couple’s January conviction on charges of illegally selling state gifts. She had asked to be shifted to jail. The court ordered authorities to shift her to Adyala jail in Rawalpindi, where Khan is serving a 14-year sentence. | Reuters…

In Gauteng, the Bowls South Africa Men’s Nationals have reached the play-off stages for the fours and pairs disciplines, and, among the contenders, a handful of Port Natal names are still standing tall. Leading the charge is the mixed club side, a quartet of Wayne Rittmuller, Steve Arendse, Wayne Robertson and Tyrone Leemans, who have emerged as the sole surviving local fours side after securing a sectional win and a dog’s leg draw to the last 16. While the fours have put up a valiant fight, it’s in the pairs discipline where Port Natal’s presence truly shines. Five sides from the district have punched their tickets to the next round of play-offs, scheduled for today. Among the pairs to watch are Dougie Bashford and Roger Boulle from Hillcrest BC, Wayne…