Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-04-18 i Mercury

Pregnancy can be a mix of excitement and worry, especially with so many unknowns that are beyond our control. When there’s a health issue with an unborn baby, planning the delivery and care after birth can often be done early with the help of an MRI. But capturing and interpreting MRI images is complex and requires special expertise. Dr Lauren Raubenheimer, who mastered these skills in London under the tutelage of foetal and neonatal imaging expert Professor Mary Rutherford, is a leading figure in this field. Recently, she joined SCP Radiology as a consulting radiologist, offering valuable insights on the foetal MRI and its significance for expectant parents and their medical teams. “Discovering your unborn child has a health issue has a profound and potentially transformative impact. As a…

MARGATE businesses, which suffered serious losses during the devastating flash floods that lashed the town on Sunday, are picking up the pieces to prepare for the steady stream of tourists expected during the June holidays. In the clean-up operation, the business sector has been joined by community members and volunteers who have joined forces to rebuild damaged businesses and infrastructure in the battered South Coast town. The KwaZulu-Natal South Coast tourism hot spot suffered damage to business infrastructure, roads and the town’s beachfront area. Ivor Shead, owner of One-Stop Mobile Mechanic, a car repair shop in Margate, said he had lost everything due to the floods. “I had nine vehicles and a trailer that were washed away from my workshop. My workshop has been completely destroyed and I have lost…

Enduring (long-lasting) relationship difficulties can usually be traced to ill-defined boundaries. Boundaries (fences, walls, lines on a road) surround us. Some are unseen. People give couples “room” to be couples even though there is no visual demarcation. Internal boundaries are “the lines I draw” inside me. The “unseen” boundaries are the reasons I don’t steal, hit annoying people or say everything I think. Boundaries support necessary separateness, space and definition and, therefore, provide necessary clarity. Separateness, space and clarity are essential for individual growth and the wellness of any family or community. Boundaries keep us apart and together by keeping us healthily apart and healthily together. People who are too close and people who are too far apart, stunt or distort their potential. Two imperfect illustrations: Every time a vehicle…

Sabre-rattling and noise emanating from the Patriotic Alliance (PA), suggesting that its recent alliance with a handful of irrelevant fringe parties in the rural Western Cape will impact adversely on the DA’s strength in the Western Cape, is a chapter straight out of Noddyland. (“McKenzie willing to work with the DA come elections”, April 17.) There is more chance of Gayton McKenzie flying to the moon than upsetting the status quo in the Western Cape. Under the DA, it remains, year after year, the best-run municipality in the country. The PA’s agenda is a transparent attempt to piggyback the ANC into power in the Western Cape. Any vote outside the DA is a yes vote for the ANC!…

The DA has officially had its Remote Gambling Bill, 2024, introduced in Parliament after more than two years of drafting and consultations with industry experts. This initiative comes in response to the significant oversight by the ANC in failing to provide adequate protection and regulation within the online gambling industry. In 2008, the National Gambling Amendment Act, which regulated online gambling, was assented to by the president. However, after nearly 16 years, it has still not been brought into operation, meaning that a legal gap continues to exist in the industry. It is highly concerning given the massive strides and advances by which online usage has increased and grown since then. By not regulating this gambling activity, the erosion of the rule of law and criminal activity is being encouraged,…

The trial of the truck driver in the 2022 deadly Pongola crash that claimed the lives of 20 people has begun in the Pongola High Court. State advocate Krishen Shah is leading the evidence of the prosecution. A total of 42 witnesses are expected to testify for the State and the trial has been set down for the next few weeks. Sibusiso Siyaya, 28, was initially charged with culpable homicide, and then murder, and he has pleaded not guilty to the charges. In addition to murder, he also faces a charge of reckless and negligent driving and failure to perform the duties of a driver after the accident. According to the indictment, Siyaya was employed as a heavy motor vehicle driver for a company that transported coal from Mpumalanga to…

THE former head of Waterval Prison in KwaZulu-Natal, who was fired for failing to report a fight between two inmates that left one of them dead, and refusing to attend a meeting with the regional commissioner of the prison service, has lost his legal fight to be either reinstated or compensated. Martin Mgaga turned to the Labour Appeal Court in Durban, after the Labour Court turned down his application to get his job back. He had approached the Labour Court after his dismissal was found to be fair during arbitration. But it is now third time unlucky for Mgaga – the Labour Appeal Court also turned down his appeal. He started working for the Department of Justice in 1985. At the time of his dismissal, he held the post of…

Former president Jacob Zuma’s bid to privately prosecute State advocate Billy Downer, SC, was yesterday struck off the court roll at the Pietermaritzburg High Court. However, the matter is still not over as Zuma has brought an application for leave to appeal in the Constitutional Court. Zuma had gone to court to ask that Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan be privately prosecuted for the leaking of his medical records. He has alleged that Downer violated the National Prosecuting Authority Act by sharing court papers containing his medical information with Maughan. Downer and Maughan challenged their private prosecution, alleging that the private prosecution was an abuse of the process of the court and was an attempt by Zuma to delay his arms deal criminal trial where Downer is the lead prosecutor.…

CRIMINAL convictions more than two decades ago came back to haunt a man who was offered a job as a senior data discovery and enrichment expert. This as his prospective employer got wind of the convictions and retracted the job offer. But the Gqeberha Labour Court came to his rescue and found that the man should be given a second chance, given that his convictions occurred 20 years ago and had meanwhile been expunged. Elsworth O’Connor felt that his prospective employer, LexisNexis, unfairly discriminated against him in terms of the Employment Equity Act. In December 2023, LexisNexis advertised a vacant position for a senior data discovery and enrichment expert. O’Connor applied and he was later told that his interview had been positive, and that LexisNexis required further information from him…

The Chargé D’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, Li Zhigang, said the 2024 Job Fair is an important measure to implement the consensus reached by our two Heads of State and the three proposals, namely support Africa’s industrialisation, promote its agricultural modernisation, and launch the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development. “Employment is like a bridge with one end connecting national development and the other end connecting family well-being. It is the biggest heart-winning project that benefits ordinary people. In 2022, the Job Fair of Chinese-invested Enterprises in South Africa was successfully held here at this hall. More than 60 Chinese-invested enterprises interacted with more than 1 000 young South African job seekers on site, generating positive social effects,” he said. He noted that China has been…

Paediatricians yesterday urged the UK government to follow Scotland and Wales and outlaw smacking children in England and Northern Ireland, arguing the move was “long overdue”. One government minister insisted however that the existing laws were adequate. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) said in a new report that existing law in England and Northern Ireland had created grey areas that sometimes provided a defence for physical punishment. Wales made any type of corporal punishment – including smacking, hitting, slapping and shaking – illegal in March 2022, while Scotland introduced a similar ban in November 2020. However, the RCPCH argued that a 2004 law for England and 2006 legislation for Northern Ireland covering this area needed amending to remove a possible “reasonable punishment” defence. Its report said…

Berlin: German investigators arrested 10 people in nationwide raids yesterday, over suspicions they were part of a network smuggling in wealthy migrants from China and the Arab world. Prosecutors identified the alleged ringleaders as a pair of lawyers, who charged “wealthy nationals of China and the Arab world” between 30 000 and 350 000 euros each to obtain permanent residence in Germany. The residence permits were issued by officials in four districts, prosecutors said. Among the suspects detained is an official who allegedly received bribes from the network. Police are investigating 38 suspected members of the smuggling gang, as well as 147 people trafficked into the country. | AFP…

BRUSSELS: The name of the late Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar cannot be registered as an EU trade mark, the European Court of Justice ruled yesterday after his brother tried to lay a claim. The court upheld the decision of the EU’s intellectual property office that refused a trade mark application by Escobar Inc in 2022. Escobar Inc was founded in Puerto Rico by Roberto de Jesús Escobar Gaviria, who spent 12 years in prison for his role in his brother’s crimes. In 2020, Gaviria said his company would launch a smartphone called the Escobar Fold 1. The company sells a cryptocurrency called Escobar Cash. | Reuters…

THE FRANCHISE Association of South Africa (Fasa) has warned that the possible “freezing” of posts and initiatives by the government in the run-up to the May 29 elections could have a detri- mental effect on business confidence and growth. Fasa – a trade association for franchisors, franchisees and the professional organisations – yesterday said it had worked tirelessly with different stakeholders in government and business for the past two years to forge partnerships that stimulate entrepreneurship, drive affordable and responsive funding initiatives, training and development projects which would ultimately help with job creation. Fasa CEO Fred Makgato said at the end of last year they were on the verge of signing a Memorandum Of Understanding with the Department of Small Business Development, as well as en- gaging with the Department…

Everyone eats but why we eat can vary greatly. Some people focus on foods that help with weight loss, others might need nourishing meals to recover from treatments like chemotherapy, and then some seek out foods packed with collagen or other ingredients that boost our immune system. For athletes, however, the story is a bit different. Their bodies often demand more food, not just in quantity but in the specific kinds of food they need to keep their energy up and their muscles in top shape. Take, for example, the famous athlete Usain Bolt. His diet is a key part of his training regime. To keep up with the demands of his intense workouts, Bolt packs his meals with complex carbohydrates, such as yams, and lean proteins, like chicken. These…

Autumn is here, which means it’s time for cosy baking and sharing hearty meals with loved ones. To make the most of this snugly season, you will want to stock up on some of the best pantry foods. These are the pantry staples that will make baking and cooking a breeze and ensure you are ready for those impromptu gatherings around the table with family and friends. Here is the ultimate list of pantry essentials for autumn. Chai What better way to celebrate sweater season than with a steaming mug of fragrant, creamy chai? The comforting blend of aromatics, which may include cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and even peppercorns, deserves a prime position in your pantry. Cinnamon Pears, plums, apples, and blackberries are all ripe for the picking in autumn,…

Aviation industry players have warned that the trans-Atlantic routes that the South African government is allegedly holding for SAA have resulted in the sector’s slow growth. Industry sources yesterday said the gap left by SAA since it went into business rescue in 2019, and the subsequent under recovery post-Covid-19, were a direct reflection on the national carrier’s capacity to sufficiently service international routes. SAA is flying on all routes, including in London, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Hong Kong, Sao Paulo, Mauritius and Washington DC amongst others, except for Perth. These routes are underserved and the government is allegedly reluctant to amend bilateral agreements it has with these countries which want to increase frequencies. An aviation insider yesterday said the government was asked to amend the bilateral agreements at the last International…

A review of the language used in the AFP report in The Mercury, April 16, on the Biden regime’s ongoing persecution of its political nemesis reflects the jaundiced nature of the mainstream media’s approach to anything involving Donald Trump. In terms of context, Trump is not “scandal-plagued”. All four cases against him are bogus and are being pursued purely as part of the Deep State’s determination to hobble, stymie and obstruct Trump’s return to the White House. The current one concerning Stormy Daniels is being held despite the expiry of its allegation under the statute of limitations. The term “criminal” is used pejoratively despite the principle of innocence until proven guilty. Without providing the average reader with an idea of how baseless the Daniels case is, the AFP report freely…

The Iranians telegraphed their intent to send a few hundred missiles and drones towards Israel. The Americans had been fore warned and, in turn, the Israelis were well prepared – they activated their awesome defence system, the Iron Dome. The rhetoric has been toned down, allowing the Iranian people to feel a sense of pride that they have a level of firepower. The case is closed, for now. The reality is that Iran, Iraq, Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis and the Syrians should reconsider military strikes against Israel. A better option is to seek non-violent and peaceful solutions which, in turn, will bring about prosperity. Having said that, religious fanaticism is a killjoy.…

The case brought by former public protector and now EFF MP Busisiwe Mkhwebane in her battle to receive a R10 million gratuity from the State will be back before the court today. Mkhwebane has brought an urgent application before the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria. Earlier this week, Judge Colleen Collis was told by advocate Dali Mpofu, acting for Mkhwebane, that although he and his team were ready to proceed, some documentation was still outstanding, a fault he attributed to the respondents. He said the office of the public protector and the other respondents knew since March 4 about the application, when it was served on them. They were given timelines to file certain documents, which they had failed to do. Mpofu also complained that the Office of the Public Protector…

A Cape Town woman has been sentenced in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crimes Court after defrauding her victims out of R3 million. Virginia Dawn Wilscot, 60, was convicted on charges of fraud, theft, forgery and uttering on March 25. The Western Cape spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani said Wilscot perpetrated her crimes from 2012 until 2017. “It is alleged that Wilscot made misrepresentations to the victims that she was an agent registered to buy houses and vehicles on auction. “They made payments to the bank account of Wilscot,” Hani said. Wilscot was sentenced to 11 years’ direct imprisonment on charges of fraud, six years’ imprisonment for theft, and five years’ imprisonment on charges of forgery and uttering. She will serve 11 years of…

The Health Department has dismissed a claim that the Northdale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg has a rat problem. This comes after The Mercury reported last week that patients at RK Khan Hospital in Chatsworth had reported that monkeys were harassing people at the hospital. The KZN Department of Health (DoH) had said at the time that systems were in place to keep the monkeys out of the building. Asked about the rats at Northdale Hospital, department spokesperson Ntokozo Maphisa said: “The allegations are unfortunate and, to the best of our knowledge, devoid of truth. “The department places utmost importance on infection prevention and control at all its health-care facilities.” But resident, Cheryl Fourie said she saw the rats in Northdale Hospital when she was admitted as a patient in February.…

POLICE have secured more than 2 000 convictions in cases related to non-ferrous metals and essential infrastructure crimes across the country in the past six financial years. The 2285 convictions stemmed from the nearly 70 000 reported cases of copper theft. This emerged in replies by Police Minister Bheki Cele to parliamentary questions from Cope MP Teboho Loate. Loate enquired whether specialised units within the SAPS dedicated to infrastructure protection were established to respond swiftly to incidents and focus on prevention of theft of essential infrastructure from February 2018. Cele said the police have no specialised units but do have a total of 20 Economic Infrastructure Task Teams (EITTs). “Eighteen Economic Infrastructure Task Teams were established at district level and two at provincial level within priority areas in the provinces…

Over 100 000 KwaZulu-Natal residents are set to benefit from the creation of thousands of employment opportunities, according to the Department of Employment and Labour. The department said the Labour Activation Programme would be carried out through its entity, the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), with the support of the KZN provincial government. Speaking at the Durban Exhibition Centre this week, Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi said this programme was part of the commitment by government to create two million job and entrepreneurial opportunities over a three-year period. “This was a commitment made at the beginning of the sixth administration in 2019, but was delayed due to the advent of Covid-19, business disruptions in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng and the floods in this province,” he said. The department said the projects…

SOMETHING is deeply troubling with DA leader John Steenhuisen’s idea that the Western Cape is off limits and other parties shouldn’t dare attempt to campaign in the province. His notion is based on the assumption that only the Western Cape functions properly, because of a DA government. At the party’s manifesto launch recently, he stated: “For, while the eight ANC-led provinces crumble, there is one place left in this country where the hope that we all shared for a better future shines ever more brightly. That place of hope is this DA-led Western Cape province … and if the Western Cape works, that means that South Africa can work. To tell you that, if you do not often travel outside this province, you cannot even begin to realise how much…

Israel will make its own decisions about how to defend itself, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday, as Western countries pleaded for restraint in responding to a volley of attacks from Iran. The US, EU and G7 group of industrialised nations all announced plans to consider tighter sanctions on Iran, seen as aimed at mollifying Israel and persuading it to rein in its retaliation for the first ever direct Iranian strikes after decades of confrontation by proxy. Netanyahu met the German and British foreign ministers, who both travelled to Israel as part of a co-ordinated push to keep confrontation between Israel and Iran from escalating into a regional conflict fuelled by the Gaza war. Netanyahu’s office said he thanked David Cameron and Annalena Baerbock for their support, while telling them:…

A high-level Caribbean ambassador said yesterday it was crucial to establish a new international special tribunal to seek reparations for transatlantic slavery and its legacies in today’s society. Support has been building among Africa and Caribbean nations for the creation of such a tribunal. For over four centuries at least 12.5 million Africans were kidnapped, forcibly transported thousands of kilometres and sold into slavery. David Comissiong, the Barbados ambassador to the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and a well-known reparations advocate, said a tribunal was needed as there was no international court properly equipped to deal with reparations claims of such magnitude and complexity. Comissiong was speaking at the third session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD) in Geneva. The PFPAD initially suggested the establishment of the tribunal…

Karachi: A Pakistan High Court said yesterday that the government must restore social media platform X within one week, a lawyer said, after more than two months of disruption ordered by the interior ministry. The platform has been rarely accessible since February 17, when jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s party called for protests against a government official’s admission of vote manipulation in February’s election. Pakistan’s communications authority later acknowledged in court papers that it had been ordered by the Interior Ministry to shut the site down. The ministry said X was blocked on security grounds. | AFP…

Jubilation filled the air at Amanzimtoti Bowling Club on Sunday, April 14, as the echoes of victory reverberated across the green. For over a decade, since Denis Roelofse and Lyn Morgan-Davies clinched the title in 2011, the sponsors of the PNB Mixed Pairs Oppenheimer Cup finally saw the coveted trophy returning home. Greg McLeod and Hilary Lindsay emerged as the 2024 champions after powering their way through challenging games to etch their names in the annals of PNB history. Originally entered to play alongside her husband Kevin, who sustained an injury, Lindsay teamed up with McLeod, a PNB veteran master, for the tournament. The pair put in many hours of practice and after a sectional win on home turf, they went through to the first round of play-offs against Jean…

ANYONE who has visited 22 On Sloane in the past seven years surely remembers two faces – those of Taher Moosa and Lesetse Kimwaga. In November 2017, their incredible journey to success began when they pitched their business to join the 22 On Sloane residency. They thought thoroughly before answering questions, spoke softly and remained calm. We had to focus on grasping all they were saying. After their pitch, I soon realised they weren’t the typical Silicon Valley or “hyper-oratorian” entrepreneurs one would associate with their industry. Taher and Lesetse eventually joined 22 On Sloane in January 2018 after their successful 2017 pitch. They completed several programmes, including benefiting from several cash grants available from our various partners. Their company, Anylytical Technologies, specialises in…

FORMER president Jacob Zuma addressed the issue of factionalism in the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), saying he was perturbed by members who were jostling for positions. The party in recent weeks has made changes to its senior leadership and its youth wing. According to the minutes of the meeting that took place on Monday, Zuma said that all the party’s structures were interim and the leadership used their discretion to appoint people. He said he found it disconcerting that some leaders tried to resist when asked to give way for others to lead. Zuma said members who were in the MKP for positions were free to leave and return to the ANC, where fights over positions were part of that organisation's culture. The issue of the ANC having…

THE Magistrates’ Commission yesterday acknowledged that it had not been dealing with misconduct inquiries swiftly and was working to improve the situation. “We realised our mistake of not dealing with the matters swiftly. We are working on it and we have made some progress,” said commission ethics committee chairperson Naome Manaka. Manaka made the statement while briefing the select committee on security and justice on matters related to the suspension, removal from office and upliftment of suspension of affected magistrates on the grounds of misconduct and ill-health. The commission has to obtain confirmation from the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces when a magistrate is to be suspended or removed from office. However, there has been concern raised on the amount of time it took to bring matters…

It’s not a lie or an exaggeration but a fact. RK Khan Hospital is being overrun by monkeys (RK Khan Hospital plagued by monkeys, Mercury, April 11). Patients, visitors and two unions, the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union and the Democratic and Nursing Organisation of South Africa can testify to the fact that the hospital is plagued by vervet monkeys. Over the years, the hospital has built a disreputable reputation as a bad health-care institution. The sick and the wounded dread going to the hospital. Patients often complain of the poor treatment they get at the hospital, by interns and inexperienced doctors. While some say they’d rather suffer and die at home than take their chances at the hospital, others – the poor and the unfortunate who do…

MOLLY, the Australian magpie, and Peggy, the Staffordshire terrier, can relax – their unusual relationship can continue and thrive, says the BBC. But it took a petition of 150 000 people to reverse a ruling by the Australian wildlife authorities that the weird friendship of a wild bird and a pet dog should be ended. Reece Mortensen had rescued Molly when she was a chick in 2020. Footage of the Molly and Peggy interaction had attracted some 800 000 followers via Recce’s and his partner Julie Wells’s Instagram account. But the wildlife authorities took possession of Molly anyway, for six weeks. In an emotional video, the couple announced online that they had “surrendered” Molly to the authorities. “We are asking why a wild magpie can't decide for itself where it…

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has outlined measures put in place to ensure the safety of teachers and pupils at schools. This comes after DA MP Marina van Zyl wrote to Motshekga, asking about her department’s plan to ensure the safety of staff and pupils at educational facilities across the country. Van Zyl noted that the SAPS crime statistics revealed there were seven murders, 24 attempted murders and 252 cases of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm committed on educational premises between October 2023 and December 2023. She said the crime statistics showed 38 pupils between Grades 1 and 12, six pupils with special educational needs and after-care children were raped in the same period. In her response, Motshekga said the national and provincial departments continued to implement…

An independent law firm has been appointed to probe the circumstances of the tragic drowning of two teenage pupils in the Hennops River near Centurion during a school excursion on Monday. The two Daveyton Skills School pupils, aged 13 and 16, were attending a discipline camp held by non-governmental organisation Rising Stars Generation, at Rock Falls Adventure Ranch. Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane visited the school yesterday where he expressed disappointment over yet another drowning of pupils during school excursions. “We have put in place a very clear process that guides trips, that guides these excursions, especially of taking learners where there is water. We have put (guides) and every school is aware. If schools do not follow, it then puts us in a position where we then have to…

A REPORT looking at the cost of fixing community halls that had been damaged by a storm in eThekwini Municipality has found that the metro was billed for work before it was done, had overpaid for work, and that repairs soon “crumbled” after they had been completed. The municipality’s audit committee flagged the expenditure in its report tabled before the executive committee on Tuesday. The consolidated audit and risk committee report to exco covers the second quarter of the financial year that ended on December 31, 2023. It details significant matters identified by the committee in its meetings held on February 24 and March 8. Regarding the “Under performance review: Storm damage repairs at municipal halls – Phase 2”, the committee raised concerns relating to the work done. The…

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) called on political parties in KwaZulu-Natal, who yesterday signed the Code of Conduct, to abide by the electoral laws and to allow South Africans to vote with dignity and respect at next month’s national and general elections. Parties signed the document, pledging to every citizen in the country that they are dedicated to maintaining a democratic process that is respectful, fair and peaceful. There will be more than 44 000 electoral staff in KZN for the elections, with 4 974 voting stations available. At the elections, voters will be faced with three ballots and voters will only be allowed to cast their ballot at a different voting station if they have provided the IEC with prior notification. The electoral body’s chairperson, Mosotho Moepya,…

South Africa has the most millionaires on the African continent and twice as many high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) as its nearest competitor, Egypt, despite a difficult past decade where there was a 20% drop in the millionaire population. This is according to the 2024 Africa Wealth Report, published by Henley & Partners, an international wealth advisory firm, in partnership with global wealth intelligence partner New World Wealth. South Africa is home to 37 400 millionaires, 102 centi-millionaires –worth $100 million (R1.9 billion) or more – and five billionaires. Egypt holds the second spot on the list, despite having more billionaires than South Africa, with seven billionaires. However, Egypt has less millionaires and centi-millionaires than South Africa, 15 600 millionaires and 52 centi-millionaires. Nigeria sits in third place with 8 200 HNWIs,…

Creating positive social, economic and environmental outcomes Development finance is the invisible glue that connects public and private financing for projects that have social, economic and environmental outcomes. These include improved infrastructure, better waste management and sanitation, financial inclusion, clean energy and sustainable agriculture. The goal of development finance is to create positive social, economic or environmental outcomes through investments made by financial institutions such as banks, insurance companies and pension funds, in addition to contributions made by development finance institutions, multilateral partners and NGOs. The investments generally generate spillovers into the development agendas of African countries. The contribution of NGOs, such as philanthropic and civil society organisations, may not be financial. Their contributions come through advocacy, activism, community engagement, research or social services. Why is it important? Development finance…

A Russian strike on the historic city of Chernigiv in northern Ukraine killed 14 people and wounded dozens more yesterday, as Kyiv pleaded for allies to bolster its over-stretched air defence systems. First responders searched for survivors in the rubble and carried away the wounded on stretchers as pools of blood formed on the ground near the scene of the attack, official images showed. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who has urged allies to send more missiles to thwart Russian air attacks, said Ukraine lacked the weapons needed to intercept the three cruise missiles that struck Chernigiv. Its mayor, Oleksandr Lomako, gave the latest death toll in a social media post and said 61 people had been injured, a figure officials earlier said included children. “The search and rescue operation is under…

ATHENS: Ships remained docked at Greek ports and train services were halted yesterday as transport workers joined a 24-hour strike by private workers to demand higher pay to cope with rising living costs. Bus and taxi drivers also walked off the job for a few hours as part of the labour action called by Greece’s largest private sector union, GSEE. Road traffic was disrupted in central Athens as hundreds of striking workers rallied outside the parliament to protest over wages that still lag behind those of their European colleagues. The monthly minimum gross wage was raised by 6.4% to €830 (R16 800) this month, but workers say the pay rise is not enough. | Reuters…

New York: Seven jurors have been selected in former US president Donald Trump’s hush money trial in New York. Representatives of the prosecution and defence as well as Judge Juan Merchan interviewed a number of candidates for the jury before agreeing on seven jurors this week, after no candidates were selected on day one. The search for five more could continue for days. Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records as part of a scheme involving his former lawyer Michael Cohen to conceal the $130 000 pay-off made to porn star Stormy Daniels. Trump, who has pleaded not guilty, faces a maximum of four years behind bars if convicted. The hearing continues today. | IANS…