Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-10-02 i Mercury

South Africa’s partnership between the government and the private sector, with phase two launched last night, has set itself the “stretch goal” of adding a million new jobs to the economy through adding 3% to gross domestic product (GDP) growth by 2025. The initial partnership was established in June last year to tackle the electricity supply crisis, the severe challenges in freight rail and port operations, and crime and corruption. These areas were identified as the most immediate obstacles to faster growth and job creation and resolving them was set to enable economic growth. Some 140 companies, with those listed being worth R11 trillion, representing 136 million employees are represented through the partnership. Addressing an audience of business leaders last night, President Cyril Ramaphosa, said: “If we can achieve, as…

Enos Banda has been appointed as new CEO for Enertrag South Africa, the local operation of the renewable energy, collector-grid, battery and green-hydrogen solutions company. Banda’s appointment is a significant step for the German-headquartered Enertrag AG as it moves towards implementation of its substantial renewable-development pipeline in South Africa. “I am excited to step into the role of CEO at Enertrag South Africa during a period of rapid transformation and notable grid challenges in the energy sector,” said Banda. He described the company’s goals a aimed at driving “meaningful change by leveraging Enertrag’s global innovations”. Banda has been involved in the development of the South African grid. “I believe now, more than ever, global innovation, local expertise and collaboration are key to achieving a successful energy transition,” he explained. Banda…

In the “brink” of an eye, the competent, young mayor was ousted by a dubious collective of political opponents. Now that they have removed him, what happens next? The new appointee will be given a two-week honeymoon period, and then the criticism and flogging will begin. Those critics of Mayor Cilliers Brink and his portfolio know that there is no quick fix. The ANC, over three decades, decimated structures and good governance - therefore, it stands to reason that fixing all the glaring problems will take many years of diligent and disciplined hard work. The poisoned chalice has been taken away from Brink... and will be passed on to an unsuspecting individual who will feel the venom and wrath of citizens who were screwed over for far too long.…

The last Hezbollah-Israel war ended with a ceasefire in 2006. UNSC 1701 stipulated Hezbollah forces would remain north of the Litani River, approximately 20 miles from the Israeli border. The Lebanese army and UNIFIL, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, would keep peace on the border. Immediately, Hezbollah, an arm of the Iranian army, moved in. UNIFIL did nothing. The UN did nothing. America, which heard the calls of “Death to Israel, death to America”, did nothing. Hezbollah built apartment buildings and houses for its fighters. It offered free homes to local Lebanese civilians. All structures included space for military use - for weapons storage, rocket launchers, etc. Hezbollah amassed 150 000 rockets and guided and unguided missiles, imported from Iran via Iraq and Syria. These are distributed around…

THE decision by the eThekwini Municipality to curtail the amount of water supplied to consumers has outraged Durban residents who have accused the City of holding them responsible for its own failures. The metro announced on Monday that it plans to restrict the amount of water that flows into Durban homes and businesses. This comes as a result of a directive from the Department of Water and Sanitation that the uMngeni-uThukela Water Board must reduce the amount of water it extracts from the water systems. This directive has a direct impact on eThekwini, which consumes the lion’s share of the water supplied by the water board. eThekwini head of water and sanitation Ednick Msweli told the councillors on Monday that Durban homes were using a lot more water per individual…

The Department of Defence has come under scathing criticism from Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke, who revealed significant flaws in its financial management for the 2023/24 fiscal year. The department has overshot its budget by a staggering R3.3 billion, leading to unauthorised expenditure. In her report tabled in Parliament this week, Maluleke attributed the department’s qualified audit opinion to extensive internal control deficiencies. She pointed the finger at the leadership’s failure to exercise adequate oversight over financial and performance reporting, as well as compliance with laws and regulations. “Consequence management was not implemented to foster a culture of compliance with policies and legislation, and to deter further irregularities. “The lack of consequence management due to limitations on the accounting officer’s powers to discipline military officials also caused significant delays in addressing material…

Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has made a proposal for the National Minimum Wage (NMW) percentage increase to be above the inflation rate to help the six million South Africans facing rising living costs. The trade union federation has made a proposal to the National Minimum Wage Commission for an increase in the NMW of CPI inflation plus 3% for 2025. Civil society groups yesterday welcomed the proposal. Cosatu acting national spokesperson Matthew Parks said the increase was critical as the NMW was geared to support six million workers who earn within that range. He said it was fundamental that they were protected from inflation. “Low-income workers are hit hardest by inflation as they earn the least, and most of their wages are spent on items such as…

There will no longer be a way out for some sexual perpetrators in claiming that they believed the victim consented to the act, as the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, declared sections of the law, which previously provided this loophole, unconstitutional. The court found sections of the Sexual Offences Act, as amended, to be invalid. This is to the extent that the Act does not criminalise sexual violence where the perpetrator wrongly and unreasonably believed that the complainant consented to the conduct in question, therefore enabling the accused to successfully avoid conviction on the grounds of the subjective belief that consent was given. This judgment followed a challenge by the Embrace Project, the Centre for Applied Legal Studies - which was an intervening party - and a rape survivor to…

The recent arrest at OR Tambo International Airport of a 21-year-old woman, who had swallowed bullets filled with drugs, upon her arrival from São Paulo, Brazil, serves as a glaring warning about the dangers facing young people today. This incident highlights a growing trend of South African youth being drawn into transnational drug syndicates. As a society, we must recognise the need to empower our youth, providing them with avenues to resist the temptations of crime and avoid becoming easy prey for criminal organisations. One of the primary factors making young people vulnerable to such exploitation is the socio-economic environment they navigate. With high unemployment rates and limited opportunities, many young people find themselves in desperate situations, leading them to make risky choices. The promise of quick money may seem…

NATO’s new chief Mark Rutte yesterday downplayed fears over the impact of a potential Donald Trump victory in upcoming US elections and pledged to keep backing Ukraine, as he assumed leadership of the world’s most powerful military alliance. The former Dutch prime minister steps into the role at a pivotal moment, as Russia presses its war in Ukraine and China flexes its growing might – and just weeks before voters in the US head to the polls. Rutte yesterday took over the alliance from Norway’s Jen Stoltenberg, who has guided Nato through one of its most tumultuous decades. The outcome of the November 5 vote is set to be the straight-talking 57-year-old’s first major test – and will shape his initial four-year term at the helm. On the campaign trail,…

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s new government said yesterday that it would “review” a $12.5 billion sovereign bond debt restructure deal announced last month in a bid to repair the nation’s ruined finances. Restructuring the debt is a cornerstone of the International Monetary Fund rescue plan Sri Lanka agreed to last year after an unprecedented economic crisis. Former president Ranil Wickremesinghe had unveiled an agreement just days before he lost office in an election last month. New foreign minister Vijitha Herath told reporters that the new administration was still weighing whether to proceed with it. “We will review the debt restructure agreement,” Herath said. | AFP…

TEHRAN: At least six people were killed yesterday in separate attacks in the restive south-eastern region of Iran, state media reported. “Four people, including three military personnel, were killed in a terrorist attack in Bent,” a small town in southern Sistan-Baluchistan, the official IRNA news agency said. It also reported that two police officers were shot dead in their car in the town of Khash in the same province. The Pakistan-based Sunni jihadist group Jaish al-Adl on its social media channels claimed responsibility for both attacks. Sistan-Baluchistan is mostly inhabited by the minority Baloch community, who largely practise Sunni Islam in a country that is Shiite. | AFP…

India Women 144-7 Richa Ghosh 36, Deepti Sharma 35, Ayabonga Khaka 5-25, Annerie Dercksen 1-3 South Africa Women 116-6 Laura Wolvaardt 29, Chloe Tryon 24, Asha Sobhana 2-21, Deepti Sharma 1-2 India Women won by 28 runs The Proteas Women suffered a worrying defeat to their India counterparts in their second and final warm-up match at the ICC Academy in Dubai yesterday, marking a second consecutive loss in the lead-up to the highly anticipated ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, set to commence tomorrow in the UAE. The fading fortunes of the Proteas Women have highlighted a growing concern regarding their batting. Throughout the year, the team has been heavily reliant on a select trio in the top order – Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, and Marizane Kapp. The batting order’s apparent…

Capitec lifted headline earnings per share by 36% to R6.4 billion in the six months to August 31 as the leading retail bank in the country in terms of customer numbers continued to draw new business from its digital, product diversification and client-centric solutions. The digital bank, now with 23 million customers, saw net transaction and commission income increase 19% to R6.9bn in an economy that barely grew. Value-added services and Capitec Connect revenue grew by a strong 79% to R2bn. Return on shareholder equity increased to 29% from 24% at the same time a year ago. The interim dividend was raised 36% to R20.85. Old Mutual Wealth Private Client research analyst Tasneem Samodien said personal banking led the way for Capitec, with strong headline earnings growth (48%) driven by…

TymeBank has reached 10 million customers – less than six years after launching in 2019, a significant milestone for the bank, and it is also entering Indonesia, said its CEO Karl Westvig. Westvig took over the reins as CEO of TymeBank, the first digital bank in Africa to reach profitability, yesterday (Oct 1). The bank has almost R7 billion in deposits, which it said makes it the fastest-growing bank in South Africa, based on customer deposits for 2024. Through a distribution partnership with Pick n Pay, Boxer, and TFG stores, TymeBank has over 1 000 kiosks and 15 000 retail points across the country. Retail Capital, a division of TymeBank, is a largest SME funder. Earlier this month life assurer and financial services group Sanlam restructured its portfolio in African…

As women, we know our sexual health is incredibly important, not just for our intimate relationships but for our overall well-being. One aspect of sexual health that is often discussed but not always fully understood is pelvic floor health credited to Kegel exercises. Dr Marie Subrayan, a seasoned obstetrician, gynaecologist and aesthetic gynaecologist, shared her expertise on the often-overlooked topic of pelvic floor health care. With a wealth of experience in managing everything from menopausal issues to sexual health dysfunction, Subrayan offers a comprehensive perspective on the many factors that influence women’s health, wellness and overall sexual well-being. “A Kegel exercise is just one type of exercise that can be done to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. It’s by no means the only exercise and it’s often done incorrectly, which…

The soul is the spark of light within that lights up the eyes – eyes which will cease to ignite (yours and mine) once the soul is freed from the body, a body that, for whatever reasons, can no longer house or contain it. On this side of life we have named this moment of release, rather unfortunately death. Perhaps, rather, it’s a new beginning, a refreshing adventure of deeper love and deeper companionship than any of us has ever before known, and it’s not death at all. That’s my belief. Installed, divinely imputed and imparted, at the milli-moment of conception, itself also learning, the soul begins immediately, within the womb, to impart strength and resilience into the made-from-dust flesh-and-bone outer form. Soul-power sweeps into the body, bringing with…

South Africa is injured by corruption, which is also a global issue. Even before Jesus the Messiah, criminals enforced their desire with threats of violence or worse. Some gang syndicates managed to ransom entire nations. In truth, the Roman Empire was mainly a criminal syndicate who used the known world as a resource to benefit a few families in Rome. British and European colonialism did the same, sending wealth from Africa and elsewhere to a few families in England and Europe. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Since elections are costly, President Obama spends $1 billion. Those who donate want a return on investment. The US weapons industry, which donates to Republicans and Democrats, sells weapons globally. Thus, generating endless conflict is needed, as the weapons…

DESPITE earlier contravention notices being issued to eThekwini Municipality, there has been no improvement in E.Coli levels with six beaches closed in the last few days. According to the municipality, the closures came into effect after water quality tests on 19 September revealed E.Coli counts above 500 colony forming units (CFU). The following beaches are affected: Battery Beach – 9 804 cfu/100 ml Country Club Beach – 717 cfu/100 ml Thekwini Beach – 2 247 cfu/100 ml Laguna Beach – 3 654 cfu/100 ml Ansteys Beach – 4 884 cfu/100 ml and Reunion Beach – 1 904 cfu/100 ml The presence of high levels of E.Coli at eThekwini’s beaches has severe consequences for sustainable tourism in the region. Since 2021 there has been no major improvement, despite tourism being critical…

SOUTH Africa will experience more snow storms in the coming years. This is according to senior SA Weather Service (Saws) forecaster Puseletso Mofokeng, who was speaking yesterday during a briefing on weather predictions and analysis together with senior Disaster Risk Reduction manager Rudzani Malala and lead scientist of long-range prediction Christien Engelbrecht. A recent snowstorm in KwaZulu-Natal left motorists stranded on the N3 for hours and resulted in one death. Mofokeng said snow storms should be expected in the coming years. “Perhaps not this year, but sometime in the future… perhaps next year and many other years to come. The good thing is that we are using impact-based forecasting, which considers both the vulnerability as well as the impact.” He said the last two snow events had been identified in…

The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (Sanral) has welcomed the first instalment made by the Gauteng Provincial Government towards its e-toll debt. Sanral spokesperson Vusi Mona said in light of the cessation of e-tolls, Sanral was in the process of obtaining legal advice regarding the historic road user debt and payments already made by road users. “Once this process is completed, including relevant consultations, a public announcement will be made,” Mona said. Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Lebogang Maile announced last week that the local government would be paying its first instalment towards the R20 billion for the e-toll debt it owed Sanral. The local government will be paying R12 billion on the actual debt, R4 billion on the interest incurred, and R4 billion on maintenance.…

Police have arrested an 11th drug mule at OR Tambo International Airport within a period of two months. The 21-year-old South African woman had just landed from Sao Paulo on Sunday morning when she was nabbed. An X-ray examination confirmed she had swallowed bullets containing drugs. Criminologist Professor Nirmala Gopal, speaking in an interview with Newzroom Afrika, warned that socio-economic issues made young people easy targets for drug syndicates. Gopal said that young people might not be aware of the risk because they have been groomed. “It must be noted that these are young people who are vulnerable socio-economically … desperate, not necessarily understanding the risks of becoming traffickers or mules. That’s among the reasons they become recruited,” she said. Gopal added there were powerful drug rings that profiled and…

THE Department of Employment and Labour’s (DEL) inspection and compliance blitz operations carried out around the country last month revealed instances of non-compliance, including underpayment of wages, unlawful deductions, and inadequate health and safety measures. “To date, we have enforced monetary corrections totalling over R10 million, compelling employers to rectify these violations and honour their obligations to their employees,” said Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth. Since June, the department has intensified efforts to ensure adherence to employment laws across the country, Meth said yesterday. Teams were sent to check workplace compliance with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, National Minimum Wage Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act, Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act , Unemployment Insurance Act among others. The Western Cape led with the highest number of…

The Israeli army said its troops were locked in fierce clashes in Lebanon after launching a ground offensive yesterday, escalating the conflict after a week of air strikes that killed hundreds. The ground assault came as Israel targeted south Beirut, Damascus and Gaza, despite international calls for restraint to avoid a regional conflagration. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned the fight was far from over, even after a massive strike on Beirut killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah on Friday. His death dealt a heavy blow to the Iran-backed group. The Israeli military said its forces, backed by air strikes and artillery, carried out “targeted ground raids” on Hezbollah positions in settlements along the border. It said the targets posed an “immediate threat” to northern Israeli communities, and warned Lebanese civilians…

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 21 people in Gaza yesterday, local medics said and fighting ramped up as the Israeli military said it had been targeting command centres used by its Islamist militant foe Hamas. Palestinian health officials said at least 13 people, including women and children, were killed in two Israeli strikes on two houses in Nuseirat, one of the enclave’s eight historic refugee camps. Another strike on a school sheltering displaced Palestinian families in the Tuffah suburb of Gaza City killed at least seven people, medics added. Another Palestinian was killed by a drone strike on a tent for displaced people in northeastern Rafah city in southern Gaza, according to witnesses. The Israeli military said the air strike targeted Hamas militants operating from a command centre embedded in…

Tunis: Tunisian politician Ayachi Zammel, a candidate in the North African country’s October 6 presidential election, has been sentenced to 12 years in jail, his lawyer said yesterday. “The court in Tunis sentenced Ayachi Zammel to 12 years in prison in four cases” related to voter endorsements, lawyer Abdessater Messoudi said. The front-runner is incumbent President Kais Saied, who was elected in 2019 and later dissolved parliament. Last Wednesday, a Jendouba court handed down a six-month jail sentence to Zammel for “falsification of documents”, adding to a 20-month term. | AFP…

LAGOS: With more than 40 countries expressing interest and 23 formally applying, BRICS expansion is seen as a move to reshape global governance, focusing on amplifying the voices of the Global South in the new world order, according to the foreign minister. Nigeria has a strong interest in joining BRICS, an influential economic bloc, the country’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar said during his appearance on local broadcaster’s TV programme. While the country has not yet formally applied to join BRICS, it will join the organisation “at the right time” and the move is “on the radar of the President Tinubu’s administration,” the minister stated. | Sputnik…

RESTAURANTS in Britain will be banned from withholding tips from staff under new rules that will apply across the hospitality industry. It means more than two million workers will be able to keep hold of an estimated £200million a year that is paid by customers in tips, gratuities and service charges, according to Sky News. However, there are fears that some restaurants – which can now no longer rely on tips to supplement staff wages - will increase their prices. Cash tips were already protected, but the new legislation extends this to cover card payments. I don’t think any of this affects us, not even if our authorities were to copy the Poms. I always provide a tip when the restaurant bill arrives. I write on it: “Put your money…

Today the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is in the spotlight of the world community, and Africa is not an exception. It’s no secret that the number of the participants in this struggle is now far more than two. As a rule, armed conflict should encompass only the territories of contestants, but practically it isn’t so. Some time ago a column of Russian PMC Wagner fighters, operated in conjunction with the Malian government troops, was ambushed by the rebels of “The Strategic Framework for the Defense of the People of Azawad” on the territory of Mali. The rebel fighters claimed they acted on the information provided by the Ukrainian intelligence. These actions of Kyiv show its readiness to conduct combat operations against Moscow not just in the territory of Russia…

THE fate of the Government of National Unity (GNU) is being scrutinised amid tension between the main coalition partners with the DA threatening the ANC that it will leave the coalition over the ousting of Cilliers Brink as City of Tshwane mayor. DA federal chairperson Helen Zille accused the ANC of placing the GNU’s future in jeopardy by instituting a motion to remove the DA-led coalition in the country’s capital. ANC deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane, speaking on the sidelines of a meeting with the Communist Party of Vietnam, responded saying Zille should vent her frustration with the coalition through the correct channels. “So, there has to be consistency because we are not cry babies when a decision is taken against us or people opt to collaborate, we don’t have an…

LEGAL experts say that the uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s (MKP) threats of legal action against the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), after it decided to proceed with next week’s judicial interviews without Dr John Hlophe, have a slim chance of success. Last week, the high court interdicted the MKP’s parliamentary leader Hlophe, who was formerly a judge and impeached for gross misconduct, from participating in upcoming JSC processes, saying the JSC would continue to function in his absence. On Monday the MKP wrote to the JSC chairperson, Chief Justice Mandisa Maya, with an urgent request to postpone the interviews, stating that the JSC would not be properly constituted without Hlophe. Justice Maya sent a letter to the MKP yesterday, saying the JSC had met urgently to consider the party’s request and had…

BREAST cancer, the most prevalent cancer among South African women, is increasingly being detected in women under 40. This trend mirrors global patterns, where younger women are being diagnosed with more aggressive forms of the disease, underscoring the need for early detection and awareness. A recent study in the US found that breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women aged 20 to 49 years in the US. Similarly, a South African study reported that the average age of breast cancer diagnosis for women under 40 was 34 years. Across all ages, breast cancer affects 1 in 27 women in South Africa, accounting for 23% of all cancers diagnosed. As October marks breast cancer awareness month, the Breast Imaging Society of South Africa (Bissa), a sub-specialty group…

Unions have vowed to protect teachers’ jobs and essential school services amid a R28 billion budget shortfall in the country’s national education department. Last week Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube revealed the challenges that would be faced by provincial education departments, sparking fears of teacher lay-offs and cuts to crucial school programmes. The leadership of the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) has pledged to do everything in its power to protect teachers’ jobs. Speaking at the union’s 10th Congress recently, SADTU president Magope Maphila called for increased public investment in education and warned of difficult times ahead. Maphila stressed that the crisis could not be allowed to unravel the gains made in the country’s education system. “We are in for a challenging journey ahead,” Maphila said, alluding to the tough…

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has called the perpetrators of the Lusikisiki mass shooting, in which 18 were killed, “animals”. Mchunu and National Commissioner of SAPS General Fannie Masemola announced that there is one person of interest who is currently being questioned in connection with the murders of 18 victims at Ngobozana village in Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape. The shocking murders took place at two homesteads as family members were preparing for traditional ceremonies to commemorate those who were murdered at the same time last year. Briefing the media while visiting the area yesterday, Masemola said after questioning, detectives will determine if there were grounds to arrest the suspect who was being questioned. Mchunu and Masemola both confirmed that as investigations still unfolded, police knew who they were looking for and were…

In scary-enough circumstances, stability can be one of the most appealing words in politics. When a municipality has had years of political and economic chaos, as Tshwane has, who does not want life to be more stable? More consistency in the provision of public services, in people’s incomes, in the behaviour of political parties in the coalition governments – things taken for granted in calmer times – becomes something which voters yearn for and which ambitious politicians promise each time they justify sponsoring a vote of no-confidence. So far, ANC’s leadership has carried out a long and sometimes ruthless exercise in creating and offering stability: for the party after the turmoil under successive regional and provincial leaders, for the municipality after the collapsing governance of the successive ANC and the…

Tokyo led most markets higher yesterday as a weaker yen boosted exporters and helped traders recover some of their hefty losses in the previous day’s rout. With Hong Kong and mainland Chinese bourses closed for a holiday after thundering higher over the past week on a raft of economic stimulus out of Beijing, focus was on Japan following the wipe-out fanned by a strong yen. The currency soared after Japan’s Shigeru Ishiba, who has backed the central bank’s interest rate hikes, won a vote Friday to lead the country’s ruling party. Yesterday, the Nikkei climbed almost 2%, paring some of Monday’s nearly 5% drop, as the yen pulled back against the dollar and gave beaten-down exporters some much needed relief. Data showing Japanese business confidence remained positive in the third…

Microsoft yesterday doubled down on deploying artificial intelligence (AI) to consumers, releasing an updated version of its Copilot chatbot that can hold voice conversations and interpret images. Executive vice-president and CEO of Microsoft AI Mustafa Suleyman was a former leader at AI pioneer Google DeepMind, and was poached by Microsoft in March to head up its consumer AI division. Microsoft was an early mover in releasing generative AI technology to everyday users, largely using the models from its $13 billion partnership with OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT. It has since been caught by Google and soon Apple, which are using the global smartphone market to get their AI tools to consumers. Microsoft said Copilot’s voice feature allows a more intuitive way to interact, offering four voice options for brainstorming, quick…

CAIRO: The Arab League (AL) will send a 15-member delegation to oversee Sunday’s Tunisian presidential election, the Cairo-based organisation said yesterday. AL Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit instructed the formation of a mission headed by Assistant Secretary-General Hussain Hindawi and consisting of 14 diplomats from different AL member states to oversee the presidential poll in Tunisia, according to the statement. The AL was responding to an invitation from Farouk Bouasker, head of Tunisia’s Election Commission. President Kais Saied is seeking re-election for a second five-year term. | Xinhua…

TOKYO: Shigeru Ishiba, leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was elected the country’s prime minister yesterday after winning a majority of votes in both houses of parliament. The Japanese Diet convened an extraordinary session in the afternoon to choose the new prime minister. As the ruling coalition led by the LDP controls both chambers, Ishiba received 291 of 461 votes in the House of Representatives and 143 of 242 votes in the House of Councillors. After the special Diet session, he is expected to name his new cabinet. He was set to be inaugurated in a ceremony at the Imperial Palace. As Ishiba prepares to succeed Fumio Kishida, he will need to restore public trust in the LDP, whose image has been tarnished by a political funds scandal.…

As the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 looms on the horizon, all eyes are set on Group A, where a mix of legacy and ambition promises to make it the most competitive edition yet. The group stands as a battleground featuring five of the top eight teams in the Women’s T20I Team Rankings, each vying to secure a coveted semi-final spot. Australia Reigning supreme, Australia enters the fray as the top-ranked side with an impressive track record. Aiming for their fourth consecutive ICC Women’s T20 World Cup victory, they bring a formidable reputation, having claimed victory in their last 20 ICC global matches. Under the new leadership of Alyssa Healy, Australia is ready to maintain its stronghold. Healy, a vital asset with 440 T20I runs in the past 12…

Southampton might have targeted Monday's short trip along the south coast to Bournemouth as the moment to make their presence felt in the Premier League after last season's promotion. Instead, they offered about as much resistance as a sandcastle against the on-rushing tide on the local beach, conceding three first-half goals in a 3-1 defeat. It means the Saints have collected just one point from their opening six games – their worst start to a league campaign since 1998. "A lack of character, lack of fight, lack of aggression, lack of courage" was the scathing verdict of manager Russell Martin on his side's first-half showing. The club's fans are already strapping themselves in for a long winter relegation battle, with many poised to sign up immediately for a 17th place…