Indholdsfortegnelse for 2022-11-29 i Mercury

HUGE GROUP said yesterday that despite global and local economic conditions deteriorating significantly, it had grown value of its portfolio and was positioning itself to be a leading provider in the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) market. In its results for the six months ended August 31, 2022, the JSE-listed technology investment group whose subsidiaries operate in the telecommunications, media, technology, and software industries, said its net asset value over the past six months had increased from 897 cents per share to 939c per share. Huge Group has nine principal investments, which contribute to the portfolio’s total value, which is in excess of R1.5 billion. “We believe that this value is realis- able, and although we are cognisant of calls to unlock this value through disposals,…

THE DA will push for an ad hoc committee on Phala Phala, should the independent panel probing the matter find that President Cyril Ramaphosa has no case to answer. The section 89 inquiry panel led by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo, former head of the Gauteng High Court Division, Judge Thokozile Masipa and advocate Mahlape Sello is expected to hand over its report to National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula tomorrow. The panel was formed after the ATM submitted a motion of no confidence against Ramaphosa after former spy boss Arthur Fraser laid a criminal charge against the president and former head of the Presidential Protection Unit, Wally Rhoode, for allegedly kidnapping five men and a woman to reveal where they had hidden millions in foreign currency stolen from the president’s…

IT TRANSPIRED that I was in uMhlanga for the Boks’ rugby triumph against England last weekend. ’Twas a wonderful win for the Boks – I don’t think the Twickenham crowd broke even once into Sweet Chariot – yet it somehow lacked something as an encounter and in excitement, given England’s spectacular performance a week earlier against the All Blacks. It was as if Damian Willemse’s two drop goals early in the match were a psychological switch-off for the Poms. They just never looked like posing us a real challenge. But all is set fair for the Boks as they approach the next World Cup. Olé, olé, olé! As I say, I found myself on the North Coast for the weekend and who should I encounter in the Durban Wings…

The fact that some lions and tigers have been raised as pets without mauling their owners does not mean that lions and tigers that do maul their owners have been raised badly. The fact is that lions and tigers are not suitable as pets. The same applies to pit bulls: the fact that the vast majority are well-behaved, loving pets, should not obscure the fact that they are a dangerous breed that has been bred to be aggressive. Consequently, there is a much greater chance of a well-raised pit bull going berserk than there is of a well-raised Labrador going berserk. If you don’t understand this, you probably shouldn’t have dogs or children.…

You will know you have met a growing and mature person, boss or administrator, head of school (age not necessarily a factor) when he or she is determined to grow, learn and understand new things, offering the distinct impression that he or she is still learning and has not “arrived”. Therefore, he or she will regard all others (rank, role, level of education aside) as his or her teacher. He or she will seek peace over conflict. When conflict becomes necessary, it is to increase understanding and not to inflict harm or retribution. It is never about settling scores or saving face. He or she will seek creative solutions to problems over seeking to blame or finding who is to blame for a problem. He or she will take responsibility…

After a personal journey of discovery, a student successfully took on the University of South Africa (Unisa) when it refused to change her race classification from “coloured” to “African”. Aurora Krotoa Moses, 21, a psychology and criminology student, said she started identifying as Khoisan in 2019, after a journey of personal discovery. She said in 2020 after a therapy session with a social worker, she decided to stand up for herself and her identity. “It’s been a journey, there was this module I did at Unisa, a political module about critical reasoning. It helped me to ask questions critically, why do I have this label? I did my research and went into history, my heritage.” The label “coloured” did not sit well with her, she said, as she felt it…

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) has arrested 16 suspects on allegations of fraud related to the Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) funds. The suspects, aged between 23 and 57, were arrested in the Gauteng and North West provinces on Sunday. Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Bonnie Nxumalo said the operation was carried out by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team based in North West and the Hawks’ Tactical Operations Management Section which was assisted by the office of the director of public prosecutions. “It is alleged that in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, three sole directors of different dormant entities applied for Ters funds from the department of employment and labour for 47, 133 and 141 employees in respect of each entity,” Nxumalo said. “The department paid…

THE Eastern Cape High Court has reserved judgment after hearing arguments made on behalf of Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, Impact Africa and Shell in their application for leave to appeal against the ruling handed down in September that put a stop to seismic surveys off the ecologically sensitive Wild Coast. The seismic survey was set to take place in December last year but was halted due to litigation. It also led to nationwide protests against oil exploration activities. On September 1, the high court in Makhanda set aside Mantashe’s decision to grant Shell the right to conduct seismic surveys along the Wild Coast in the search for oil. The judgment was hailed as a resounding victory for social and environmental justice. The court found that the…

The Innovation Festival, hosted by Innovate Durban, is set to take place today at the Hilton Garden Inn uMhlanga. Innovate Durban is an entity set up by the eThekwini Municipality, which aims to support innovators within the city. Innovate Durban said the festival aimed to offer participants a chance to engage, network and gain bigger and better insights about what is taking place in the “world of innovation”. “The event is proudly produced in close collaboration with various innovation ecosystem members and this year Innovate Durban is also proud to announce the exiting partnership with Durban-based tech giant, iKhokha,” Innovate Durban said in a statement. It added that this year’s festival has the theme “The next big thing”. “The event will incorporate a full day of impact-driven conference sessions that…

In an early symbolic break with the past, Camilla, Queen Consort to King Charles III, has dispensed with the tradition of having ladies-in-waiting and instead appointed a group of five personal assistants who will be known as “Queen’s Companions.” The announcement on Sunday from Buckingham Palace was not a surprise, as such a switch was reported by the British press shortly after the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Historically, British queens have tapped highborn “ladies-in-waiting” to provide company to the monarch and serve as personal assistants and loyal friends. The position dates to the Middle Ages. But Camilla, the second wife of Charles, has done away with the traditional title and some of its duties in a modernising move. It’s not a complete overhaul. The new role will be similar…

The Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) in KwaZulu-Natal has dismissed a complaint raised by the IFP regarding alleged irregularities with the voters roll in ward 99 in eThekwini, which is set for a by-election in December. The IEC was responding following a complaint lodged by the IFP over what the party labelled “irregularities” it had picked up on the voters roll. A few days ago, IFP treasurer Narend Singh at a media briefing expressed the party’s concerns over the addresses of some voters, saying they had found that a large number of voters had been registered under an address found to be that of a local police station. The election in ward 99 follows the killing of the ward councillor in September this year. The IEC said it had conducted…

Despite their silence and the lip-service of men in Africa, patriarchy reigns A DAY before the start of the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, African education experts spoke about the critical challenge of keeping girls in the sciences and getting more women into academia. Over the next two weeks, one will be implored to empower and uplift girls and women to bring about a more equitable world. Yet in higher education, throughout Africa, men still call the shots. This global campaign kicks off on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until December 10, Human Rights Day. That this message comes ceaselessly, year in and year out, suggests that the campaign has failed. Men in power don’t seem to want…

Palestinian flags are flying everywhere in Qatar but Israeli fans are staying low-key as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict makes its presence felt at the first World Cup on Arab soil. Despite moves by some Arab countries, not including Qatar, to normalise relations with Israel, the Palestinian cause is being embraced by many Arab fans and some officials. Terse interactions between Arab supporters and Israeli media have gone viral, including footage of a Saudi fan berating an Israeli TV reporter – viewed more than 5.2 million times on Twitter. “There is only Palestine, there is no Israel … you are not welcome here,” the fan shouts at Moav Vardi, a reporter for Israel’s public broadcaster Kan. The Arab fans flooding Qatar have been refusing to speak with Israel media, while some yell…

Seoul: South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said yesterday that his country would land a spacecraft on the moon in 2032 and begin exploring lunar resources under its plan for a “future space economy”. South Korea aims to land a spacecraft on Mars in 2045, when the nation will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Liberation Day, Yoon said. South Korea would develop a home-grown rocket within five years for the moon mission, Yoon said. An aerospace agency similar to the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration would be established, Yoon’s office said. | IANS…

WASHINGTON: Two seriously injured people trapped inside a small plane that crashed into high-voltage power lines near Washington, DC and caused mass outages have been rescued, authorities said yesterday. The aircraft crashed in misty and wet conditions in Montgomery Village, Maryland, on Sunday. It became caught up in live power lines about 30m from the ground. Crews had been able to electrically ground the plane and it had been secured nearly 45 minutes later, with both patients coming down. Most power in the county had been restored. Crews were still working to remove the plane from the power lines, the officials said. | Reuters…

SAN FRANCISCO: Spending on Cyber Monday, the biggest US online shopping day, is set to hit a record $11.2 billion (R191.6bn), says a report, as discounts on everything from clothes to TVs drive shoppers to click “add to cart” even amid high inflation. The Adobe Analytics report predicts spending on Cyber Monday to rise 5.2%. Cyber Monday sales fell 1.4% last year as retailers spread out promotional deals from early October. But big single day shopping events appear to be back in vogue. US shoppers spent $9.12bn online on Black Friday. Amid rain, brick-and-mortar stores and malls saw thinner crowds. | Reuters…

Mohammed Kudus netted twice as Ghana edged out South Korea 3-2 in a dramatic and fluctuating World Cup Group H game yesterday to stay in contention for the next round. Ghana led 2-0 at halftime but allowed South Korea back into the match as Cho Gue-sung netted twice in three minutes to level at 2-2, only for Kudus to earn Ghana victory in a heart-stopping contest at the Education City Stadium. Ghana, who lost their opening group game 3-2 to Portugal, moved on to three points in the group, with the Koreans on one after two games. Ghana saw off early Korean pressure to go 2-0 ahead as centre back Mohammed Salisu’s scrambled goal in the 24th minute was followed 10 minutes later by a glancing header from Kudus. Both…

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said yesterday he hoped the next World Cup would feature less about politics and more about football, stressing there were better ways to use the sport as a force for good. Queiroz’s team have been dragged into a political crisis at home, pressured by protesters seeking to challenge the legitimacy of Iran’s clerical rulers to side with them publicly and condemn a deadly state crackdown. Speaking ahead of his team’s Group B match tonight against the United States, Queiroz was asked about the US Soccer federation temporarily displaying Iran’s national flag on social media without the emblem of the Islamic Republic, in solidarity with the protest movement. “I still believe I can win games with those mental games,” he told a news conference. “Those ... events…

The Stormers’ Springbok contingent will be re-introduced to the United Rugby Championship on a case-by-case basis and that means most of them will not play against the Dragons at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday. The Boks have just returned from an arduous four-week tour of Europe and while some players carried a heavier workload than others, it is expected that most will be rested this weekend. For the URC champions, stalwart props Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe, lock Marvin Orie, No 8 Evan Roos and backs Damian Willemse and Manie Libbok were all in action at Twickenham for the Boks’ resounding defeat of England. On the same weekend, the Stormers powered to a bonus-point victory over Ospreys and a similar team will play the Dragons. Stormers forwards coach Rito…

Champion boxer Saul "Canelo" Alvarez issued a warning to Lionel Messi after a video emerged of the star celebrating Argentina's World Cup win over Mexico with a Mexican jersey on the floor. The video, shared on social media, showed Messi seemingly touch the Mexican jersey with his foot while he and his teammates jumped up and down in their changing room following Saturday's 2-0 win. "Did you see Messi cleaning the changing room with our jersey and flag?" wrote Mexican Alvarez, a four-weight champion boxer, on Twitter. "He had better ask God that I don't find him!!" Argentina captain Messi had apparently swapped shirts with his Mexico counterpart Andres Guardado. Some people replied to Alvarez, pointing out that the video did not show Messi cleaning anything, nor was there a…

Dean Elgar hopes that Lungi Ngidi’s recent outing for his province, the Multiply Titans, will stand him in good stead for the series against Australia, despite Ngidi looking far from his best. The 26-year-old fast bowler got through 22 overs of work across two innings at the Wanderers, 17 of which were delivered in the first innings, in the Titans’ 10-wicket victory over their provincial neighbours the DP World Lions. Ngidi, who took one wicket in the match, looked very rusty in the first innings, bowling his overs across five different spells in which he struggled with his consistency in terms of line and length. “He’s had a long lay-off from the (T20) World Cup,” said Elgar, who spent much of the time watching Ngidi bowl from his fielding position…

INVICTA Holdings, the investment holding and management company, lifted headline earnings per share 43% for the six months to September 30, but withheld the dividend because of the share buybacks through the period. Chief executive Steven Joffe said they were “very pleased as the group had produced a solid performance in all our operations”. He said in a telephone interview that with much of the group now focused on parts sales, and after having made sufficient provisions for unforeseen challenges, and considering the business now derived more than 40% of profit from outside Africa, they were in a good position for the second half. The group had also traded well since the end of the interim reporting period. He said they planned to declare a dividend for the second half…

KWAZULU-NATAL government departments have been slammed for their failure to drive economic transformation by ensuring that emerging and local contractors benefit from the state’s procurement system. The failure by the departments to advance transformation was one of the main points raised by the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa), in a report presented at the KZN legislature last week. The report came after Scopa held meetings with government departments and entities in October to determine whether they were following the guidelines on the use of public money. “Scopa is concerned about the regression by some departments in not following the local content regulations when awarding tenders,” read the report. The departments were also said to be ignoring the provisions for three bids to be received before awarding contracts. Committee chairperson…

So the man who nearly started a civil war in South Africa and robbed the country of a potentially good leader, gets parole. Obviously jail has not been too unkind to him, because he doesn’t have the physical appearance of someone who has been through a hard time. All this financed by the taxpayer. There are some questions that need to be asked. Why was the death sentence not carried out? How much money has been spent on keeping a roof over his head and for food, medical treatment etc? While granting him parole will ease the burden on the taxpayer, what is going to happen now? Will he be allowed to roam the streets? How is he going to survive? Surely the best thing would be to dump him…

The lead feature on BBC World Service and other international newscasts (November 25) was the UN Human Rights Council vote for a fact-finding investigation into Iranian human rights abuses. In recent weeks, university students, together with courageous schoolgirls, have been brutalised by security authorities, resulting in mass arrests of thousands of protesters, including journalists, and the killing of hundreds of people, all stemming from the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, arrested by the morality police for not wearing her hijab properly. Iran has for the past four decades been governed by a theocratic, misogynistic regime where women’s rights are severely suppressed and compromised. As South Africa enters the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, the ANC government is about to welcome Dr…

A woman has lost her legal battle in which she sought to prevent her ex-husband from receiving half of her pension benefits. The woman, who said she felt her ex regarded her as a “cash cow”, said he had squandered most of his pension when he was paid out and thus did not deserve to have a share of hers. But Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, Judge Colleen Collis disagreed. She said it appeared that the husband did pay some of the common household debts when he received his pension, and bought necessities such as school uniforms for the children. Thus, the judge said, the wife had to pay the husband about R1.2 million (half of her pension) as part of the divorce settlement. The husband had used his…

THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has more than 100 open investigations related to matters from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). This was revealed by acting National Director of Public Prosecutions, Rodney de Kock, when the NPA briefed the justice and correctional services portfolio committee recently. De Kock said there had been substantial progress in the management of TRC cases since they last briefed the committee in June. “We have increased dedicated capacity in terms of both investigators and prosecutors. We also had engagements with the families,” he said. De Kock said 38 new investigations were opened between September 2021 and April 2022. He also said an additional 32 investigations were opened between May and October 2022. “In September 2021, 59 TRC matters were under investigation. As of October 2022,…

Black Friday marks the official start of the festive season shopping frenzy in South Africa, and consumers would do well to be cautious in their spending habits to ensure that they don’t go into the red. This year’s festive season period has come at a bad time for consumers. Interest rates went up last week, which is the worst news for home and vehicle owners. Inflation is at an all-time high and food prices, especially basic items consumed by the poor, have increased dramatically. The cost of basic municipal services such as water, electricity and refuse removal have become unaffordable, even for the middle class. According to the Pietermaritzburg economic justice and dignity (PMBEJD) household affordability index, “the average cost of core foods in a household basket (foods which are…

Police yesterday stopped and searched people at the sites of weekend protests in Shanghai and Beijing, after crowds there and in other Chinese cities demonstrated against stringent Covid-19 measures disrupting lives three years into the pandemic. From the streets of several Chinese cities to dozens of university campuses, protesters made a show of civil disobedience unprecedented since leader Xi Jinping assumed power a decade ago. “What we object to is these restrictions on people’s rights in the name of virus prevention, and the restrictions on individual freedom and people’s livelihoods,” said Jason Sun, a university student in Shanghai. There was no sign of new protests yesterday in Beijing or Shanghai, but dozens of police were in the areas where the demonstrations took place. Police have been asking people for their…

Hawaii’s Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano in the world, has erupted for the first time in nearly 40 years, US authorities said, as emergency crews went on alert yesterday. Flows of lava remained “contained” within the summit caldera of Mauna Loa, but the eruption could pose a threat to nearby residents should conditions change, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported yesterday after the eruption inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. While the eruption on the main island of the remote US state in the Pacific remains confined within the basin at the top of the volcano, called the caldera, “if the eruptive vents migrate outside its walls, lava flows may move rapidly downslope,” according to the USGS. Yesterday the USGS volcano monitoring office tweeted: “Lava does seem to have flowed…

LOS ANGELES: Bob Dylan has offered his “deepest regrets” to fans over an “error in judgement” in using a machine to sign copies of his new book. The 81-year-old star was caught up in a furore after $600 (R10 277) limited edition copies of his tome The Philosophy of Modern Song were advertised as “hand-signed” but were later found to have been autographed using an “autopen” which replicated his scrawl. Publishing company Simon and Schuster have offered a refund. Dylan said: “In 2019 I had a bad case of vertigo and it continued into the pandemic years … we could not find a safe and workable way to complete what I needed to do while the virus was raging. So, during the pandemic, it was impossible to sign anything…

Yaoundé: At least 15 people died when a landslide engulfed members of a funeral party in the Cameroonian capital of Yaounde, the local governor said yesterday. The victims had gathered in marquees at the top of a hill for a memorial service on Sunday when the ground collapsed. At least one of the tents and the people beneath it were swept away. A dozen members of the fire brigade were shovelling away a huge mound of reddish soil at the foot of the hill to search for victims. The disaster took place in Yaounde’s working-class district of Damas, on its eastern outskirts. Landslides occur frequently in Cameroon. | AFP…

The Sharks have swiftly and decisively acted on their humiliating 35-0 defeat to Cardiff on Sunday night by sacking coach Sean Everitt with immediate effect. CEO Ed Coetzee said immediately after that match had ended, that action would be taken and 24 hours later Everitt parted ways with the union he served for 15 years in various roles before succeeding Robert du Preez as head coach in 2020. “This tough decision has been made in the best interests of the team moving forward,” Coetzee said on Monday night. “Our director of rugby, Neil Powell, will oversee the remainder of the United Rugby Championship campaign, as well as our first foray in the Champions Cup, which kicks off on December 10. “Neil will be ably supported by the rest of…

TAXI operators in the Pinetown area, directly impacted by the completed GO!Durban route between Pinetown and KwaMashu, have lost hope that the multi-million-rand project will ever get off the ground. The operators said yesterday that they had not had any direct talks with the eThekwini Municipality about the project for more than a year. Mathula Mkhize from the South African National Taxi Council Durban West region, said: “The last time we spoke to the municipality about this issue was last year.” This contradicts a claim by the city that negotiations were under way to finalise matters which would pave the way for the project launch. The route, known as C3, was expected to go live earlier this year, however this did not take place and no new date has been…

SOUTH Africa is in the throes of massive industrial disputes, which have the potential to gravely damage economic recovery and trigger violence and unrest on a major scale across the nation. Though trends suggest that industrial violence is not as prevalent as it used to be, many incidents in our recent past remind us that a complacent attitude will be dangerous. Rampant levels of unemployment and escalating industrial conflicts could serve as a catalyst to uproot the foundations of our hard-won democracy. Industrialists, trade union leaders and important Cabinet ministers will face the wrath of workers and the jobless who get upset due to perceived dissatisfaction. Industrial democracy leads to industrial harmony and ultimately, industrial peace. The number of lives lost every year may run into the hundreds as industrial…

Devotees of the 140-year-old Shri Vaithianatha Easvarar Alayam are opposing the plan to establish a restaurant and bar next to its place of worship. This was also a topic religiously and passionately debated on social media. To me, the present situation is that we have a crisis that must be resolved. The name of the temple, which is one of the oldest and largest temple in Southern Hampshire, is about to be tarnished. Values such as God consciousness and spirituality are thrown out of the window for financial gain. Regrettably, some people become less tolerant towards people of different religions. The chairman of the Alayam, Mr Selvan Thavar, must be commended for leaving no stones unturned to stop the opening of the nightclub. It really saddens me that the petition…

It’s school break-up time again and my mind begins to flash back on my feelings during the “last” day of school. I retired from formal teaching at a private school six years ago, having retired from the public education system about 10 years earlier. Whether public or private school, the nostalgic feelings I always had on that break-up day were always the same. The school year was always, from time immemorial, very stressful. The grand finale being end-of-year reports, matric moderation procedures, class registers, collection of textbooks, preparations for the following year and much more. Teachers would breathe a sigh of relief as the last few decibels of the siren echoed around the school and the schoolchildren left, leaving just us teachers to hang in there for the next few…

Millions of rand worth of cocaine that was concealed in a consignment of oranges and shipped to the UK allegedly from South Africa have been found. The South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) in London said on its website that the 49kg of cocaine were seized from a container of oranges imported from South Africa to the Port of Felixstowe. According to police, one man from Southall, Ealing, has been charged with conspiring to import class A drugs and was remanded in custody. Three other men from West London, aged 31, 51 and 60, have been released. DCI Paul Fisher from the SWROCU said: “Our investigation has prevented a huge amount of high purity class A drugs ending up on our streets, reducing both the threat to communities and…

THE South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) and the provincial government say they are working hard to ensure that traffic along the N3 highway in KwaZulu- Natal flows smoothly this festive season. Sanral said it was concluding work at Town Hill (Peter Brown Road), on the N3 between Sanctuary and Link roads, a section that since the commencement of roadworks had become problematic. Roadworks began in March last year with the total repair costs estimated to be about R340 million. Thabiso Dladla, Sanral Eastern Region project manager, said work at Town Hill would be wrapped up by the start of the holidays so that the road was fully open, as there was expected to be a significant increase in traffic volumes during the festive season. “Various measures were taken…

A MAN who worked as a packer is due to receive about R1.5 million in damages after he suffered injuries when he was accidentally pushed out of a crowded train. Sello Thaha suffered severe injuries to his back and neck, and as a result lost his job as he could no longer lift heavy crates. Thaha turned to the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria to claim damages from the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa). He said Prasa had a duty to ensure the safety of its passengers and not to allow trains to move while the doors were open. Prasa, on the other hand, argued that Thaha should also be held accountable because he should not have boarded an overcrowded train. The court earlier ruled that…

MEDIA reporting under the apartheid system had gaps because of bias. Same applies to the recording and teaching of history at that time. Unless an issue hit the headlines, it took the progressive newspapers like The World and the international community for society in general to know. This is why the likes of Sydney Kentridge are not really known. He was one of the many white people who sacrificed their privileges of being white and risked their lives against the injustice prevailing in South Africa. Whether South Africans, especially the former oppressed and freedom fighters, honoured him or not, the world would honour him in one way or another. When he started to be involved in fighting for justice for people who were not given it, it was when it…

Somali security forces yesterday ended an hours-long siege by al-Qaeda- linked insurgents who killed at least eight civilians after storming a hotel in the capital Mogadishu, the police said. Al-Shabaab militants attacked the Villa Rose, a hotel popular with politicians and government officials, in a hail of bullets and explosions on Sunday. Around 21 hours later, police spokesperson Sadik Dudishe told reporters that “the clearance operation in the Villa Rose hotel has ended”. The jihadists “killed eight civilians who stayed in the hotel and the security forces succeeded in rescuing about 60 civilians, no one among the civilians was wounded,” he added. One member of the security forces also died in the attack, he said. “There were about six attackers involved, five were shot and killed by the security forces…

Nigeria’s electoral authority said one of its offices and its voting materials were torched on Sunday in the country’s volatile south-east, in a fresh attack occurring ahead of a presidential ballot several months away. In February, Nigerians will elect a successor to President Muhammadu Buhari, who is stepping down after two terms in office. Concerns have grown over recent attacks on the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec), particularly in the south-east. Inec said the commision’s office for the Izzi area in Ebonyi state was set on fire. The losses included 340 ballot boxes, 130 voting cubicles, 14 electric power generators, and also quantities of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs). It was the third attack on an Inec office in three weeks following similar attacks in south-western Ogun and…

Geneva: Monkeypox is to be renamed mpox in English, the World Health Organization said yesterday in a bid to avoid stigmatisation stemming from the existing name. Monkeypox received its name because the virus was originally identified in monkeys kept for research in Denmark in 1958, but the disease is found in a number of animals and mostly in rodents. The disease was first discovered in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the spread among humans since then mainly limited to certain West and Central African countries where it is endemic. But in May, cases of the disease, which causes fever, muscular aches and skin lesions, began spreading around the world. | AFP…

Islamabad: Pakistan’s Taliban said yesterday they had called off a shaky ceasefire agreed with the government and ordered fighters to stage attacks across the country. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a separate entity to the Taliban in Afghanistan, have been behind violent attacks and hundreds of deaths across Pakistan since 2007. The TTP held sway over vast tracts of Pakistan’s tribal belt, imposing a radical version of Islamic law. Its fighters were driven out of Pakistan into Afghanistan from 2010 but have been emboldened by the Afghan Taliban’s return to power. The TTP agreed a ceasefire with the Pakistan government in June but both sides claim the truce was ignored. | AFP…