Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-11-06 i Mercury

Fitch says SA’s economic growth figures could change swiftly, depending on the poll outcome The JSE and Wall Street’s main indexes were up yesterday afternoon as technology and chips stocks gained in the US after investors on both sides of the Atlantic braced for volatile trading over the next few days as voting began in the tightly contested presidential election in that country. Global rating agency Fitch Ratings said, for instance, that its own weaker economic growth forecasts for South Africa may be overstated, depending on the outcome of the US election. Describing South Africa’s plans to cut government debt and its economic growth targets as contained in last week’s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) as “optimistic”, it said that South Africa’s economic growth figures could change swiftly, depending on…

The DA in KwaZulu-Natal has noted the media statement and comments by the ANC today (Monday), a partner in the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU). The DA remains an independent political party in the government and will continue to serve the best interests of our voters and residents at large. There remains no coalition agree ment between political parties in local government despite our best attempts to do so, using eThekwini as an example of how this could work. Instead, the ANC opted to enter into coalition with the EFF, who are not in the GPU. The same EFF Councillor that the ANC called “clueless”. The actions of the ANC in Gauteng when they removed Cilliers Brink have only compounded this deadlock in working relationships in local government in KZN.…

Recently, there has been a growing trend towards increased sovereignty on the African continent. This trend includes not only the withdrawal of foreign military forces from African countries but also a desire for greater independence in the economic sphere, particularly in the management of natural resources. Thus, the Nigerian authorities revoked the operating licenses of its uranium mines from the French nuclear fuel producer Orano and Canadian mining company GoviEx this summer. It became a significant but not the last challenge for Paris and Ottawa, who are still not accustomed to the new and independent Africa. In early October, the leader of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traore, announced plans to withdraw mining permits from some foreign companies in order to produce more of its own gold. “We know how to mine…

KwaZulu-Natal is set to receive a significant economic boost with a R5 billion investment, which will create thousands of jobs as the Sibaya Precinct embarks on its next phase of expansion. The development, aimed at the affluent market, is being led by the Devmco Group, which has invested R6bn in the precinct since its launch in 2016. Schalk Theunissen, the managing director of Devmco, said yesterday, “Our expansive new vision will inject R5bn into KZN’s economy, including substantial private investment – creating over 70 000 indirect and direct jobs over the next five years.” Of these, 12 000 will be permanent positions. Construction on key developments is scheduled to begin next year, with infrastructure already in place. Roughly R1.2bn was spent on infrastructure, with another R600 million to be…

Staff members at a school are neither God nor air and cannot be everywhere, a judge said in turning down a damages claim by a now former pupil at Nantes Primary School in Eersterust, who blamed the school when he was hit by a fellow pupil on the school grounds during a break. The Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, in fact commended the school for having two teachers on duty at a time who walked around the school grounds to ensure that the children are safe during break time. Mpho Mhlongo, who was a pupil at the school during 2017 when the incident occurred, turned to the court to claim damages from the Gauteng MEC for Education. He blamed the school for his injuries and claimed that the incident occurred because…

Businessman Dr Raymond Patel is the latest person to be arrested in connection with fraud and corruption allegations at the University of Fort Hare (UFH) in the Eastern Cape. Patel, 64, appeared in the Dikeni (formerly Alice) Magistrate’s Court on Monday. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said Patel, who is charged with fraud and corruption, was released on R50 000 bail. NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said Patel was arrested at the weekend. Patel, a service provider to the university, is alleged to have been awarded a R3.6 million tender and he then allegedly paid R1.6 million in kickbacks to university employees, the NPA said. His co-accused include Isaac Plaatjies, Sarga Burger, Gosain van der Haar, Anna Smith, Paul Tladi, Lucrecia Davids, Mbulelo Gingcana, Nkateko Mawila, Nozuko Mabombo, Thamsanqa Sonjica, Craig…

The MK Party (MKP) says it is in behind-the-scenes discussions with what it terms as ‘friendlies’ in the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal regarding the possibility of a coalition between the two parties. This is despite the ANC’s Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) saying this week that the door to any coalition discussions between the two parties had been closed after initial approaches had been made and were rejected after the May 29 national and general elections. The result of the elections saw the ANC lose its majority hold on KZN to the MKP but a coalition with the DA, IFP and NFP led to the formation of the government of provincial unity (GPU) MKP national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela told The Mercury that the party was in ongoing discussions with “progressive friendlies in…

The Government Printing Works (GPW) came under fire for keeping a new printing machine still in a box and not in use for years and for failing to provide timeframes to implement recommendations of a Ministerial Review Committee. This emerged when the GPW appeared before the home affairs portfolio committee to provide a progress report on the implementation of the recommendation of the ministerial review panel report that was appointed after the GPW’s server crashed in February 2021 and led to the loss of data. The panel presented its report that covered ICT, human resources, finance, operations and production, as well as security services, to former minister Aaron Motsoaledi in July 2022 and the entity received the report in September 2022. Briefing the committee, GPW CEO Alinah Fosi said they…

Politicians like DA federal chairperson Helen Zille make a farce of South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU) and render the country a banana republic. Zille has told the SA Chamber of Commerce UK that the DA was instructed by the business community to protect President Cyril Ramaphosa from the EFF and MKP. According to Zille, Julius Malema’s EFF and Jacob Zuma’s MKP were not suitable GNU partners because their presence would prompt large investors to leave the country. This is more gobbledygook from the DA, which seems to think it can run a government within the GNU, instead of being a willing and able partner like the other parties. Both the DA’s Dr Leon Schreiber, the Minister of Home Affairs, and the party’s leader and Minister of Agriculture, John…

Israel’s military issued new evacuation orders in the north of the Gaza Strip yesterday after carrying out strikes across the enclave which Palestinian media and medics said had killed at least 30 people. An air strike damaged two houses in the town of Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, where the army has carried out new operations since October 5, and killed at least 20 people late on Monday, the Palestinian official news agency WAFA and Hamas media said. Four other people were killed in the central Gazan town of Al-Zawayda at about midnight on Monday, medics said. The Gaza health ministry did not immediately confirm the tolls, but Palestinian health officials said six people had also been killed in two separate Israeli air strikes in Gaza City and Deir Al-Balah…

SAN FRANCISCO: When it was reported in April that Tesla had scrapped plans for a next-generation $25 000 electric vehicle, the automaker’s stock plunged. Chief executive Elon Musk denied this. Six months later, Musk appears to have backed into an admission that Tesla dropped its plans for a human-driven car. He said last month that building the affordable EV would be “pointless” unless the car was fully autonomous. Musk said last month that Tesla does plan a “$25K car” – its “Cybercab,” a two-door, two-seat, fully autonomous vehicle. He unveiled a prototype at a Hollywood-style event. Musk said Tesla would start production of the Cybercab in 2026, after it deploys fully autonomous versions of its current Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in Texas and California next year.…

MOSCOW: An engineer at a Russian tank manufacturer has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for high treason, after being found guilty of giving military information to Ukraine, a court said yesterday. Danil Mukhametov, 32, and his wife Viktoria worked at Uralvagonzavod in Nizhny Tagil, in Russia’s Urals, when they were detained last year by Russia’s FSB security services, the regional court in Sverdlovsk said. Mukhametov “partially admitted his guilt” and was sentenced to 16 years in prison. His wife was sentenced last month to 12.5 years in prison on the same charges, according to Russian news agencies. | AFP…

LUANDA: The African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA), an intergovernmental organisation of leading diamond-producing nations, is set to launch its sustainability certification in 2025. The implementation of the certification by ADPA members will be voluntary and will begin in the first quarter of next year, said Ellah Muchemwa, the association’s executive director. Diamond sustainability certification ensures that diamonds are sourced and produced in an ethical and environmentally responsible manner. The association plans to launch a pilot project in the artisanal and small-scale mining sector, Muchemwa said. | Sputnik…

From the moment the SA20 was launched, it was clear that South African cricket would grow in leaps and bounds. The tournament promised a financial boost for a game in the country that desperately needed it, but most importantly, future stars would emerge as a result of the tournament. Andile Simelane, 21, is one of the many youngsters who have exponentially developed their skills since being part of the SA20, where he plays for back-to-back champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape. Last week, the youngster was announced in the Proteas T20I squad for the upcoming four-match series against India here at home in South Africa. Reflecting on his time with the ‘Orange Army’ down in Gqeberha, Simelane told Independent Newspapers that the SA20 helped upgrade his skill sets. "I worked with Dale…

Kylian Mbappe was always going to leave an enormous void when he departed Paris Saint-Germain, and the French side are now grappling with the repercussions in this season's Uefa Champions League. Having secured a move to Real Madrid after netting a club-record 256 goals in seven seasons with PSG, Mbappe's former team now finds themselves facing Atletico Madrid today in a pivotal match for their European ambitions. PSG have misfired in this new-look Champions League, only managing four points from their first three games, despite what ought to have been favourable home fixtures against Girona and PSV Eindhoven, punctuated by an away trip to Arsenal. Luis Enrique's side scraped a 1-0 win over Girona, thanks to a late own goal, despite registering a staggering 26 attempts during the match. This…

HERE’S the result we’ve all been waiting for. In Ashland, Oregon, in the US, the winner of the annual Bat Beauty Contest has been decided by emailed public vote, according to Associated Press. The winner? A local Hoary Bat with a feisty personality, named Hoary Potter. He defeated Lestat, a Western Small-footed Bat from Idaho, in the final round of the contest. On the way, he also bested a Townsend’s Big-eared Bat named Sir Flaps-A-Lot from Utah, among others. The annual Bat Beauty Contest is put on by the federal Bureau of Land Management. The victory marks the third year in a row that a bat from Oregon has taken first place. Last year, William ShakespEAR, a Townsend’s Big-eared Bat from southern Oregon, took the title. In 2022, a female…

As musicians seek payment for their performances in temples, a discussion emerges about the impact on community values and traditions. Reading an article in The Mercury’s sister paper, The Post, titled “Local musicians seeking payments from temples”, has left devotees very concerned. This new trend has started a debate among temple devotees, on social media and among leaders. In the days of our forefathers, our temples have offered spiritual comfort to our community, bringing peace and unity. Most musicians have performed for free, viewing it as an honour to enhance the spiritual atmosphere and as a blessing from above. Now, the recent demand for payment from musicians has surprised many people. Since many temples already face financial challenges, this situation raises questions about the role of music in temples. Musicians…

DR SOOLIMAN is in the news today because of his heroic stand against genocide. A distinguished caregiver whose name is embedded in global humanitarian circles. Dr Imitaz Sooliman was chosen as South Africa’s person of the year a few years ago. This humble and dedicated doctor is undoubtedly a South African hero of international stature. For centuries, doctors have been held as heroes who heal disease, alleviate pain and save precious lives, and traditionally have been paid handsomely to do so. Dr Sooliman chose to give back to humanity on a global scale that has stretched across international frontiers. His stupendous contributions during the deadly Covid-19 struggle are truly breathtaking. His organisation, founded in 1992, The Gift Of the Givers, has delivered aid worth more than R300 million in an…

TRIBUTES continue to pour in from residents and schools across KwaZulu-Natal for Grade 8 Hilton College pupil, Allan Maclean, who died tragically after being struck by lightning while fishing with his father and friends on the Zambezi River. Messages of condolences and support have been streaming in from schools, parents and the public at large since Hilton headmaster George Harris made the announcement on the school’s social media page on Sunday. “It is with much sadness that I write to inform you of the passing of Allan Maclean. Grade 8 Ellis… Our community is both in shock and in deep mourning as a son has been taken too soon,” he said. The headmaster called for the public to join the school in prayer for Allan’s parents, Dave and Natalie, his…

As communities across South Africa demand answers over a series of cases of suspected food poisoning, some of which have resulted in deaths, the government has appealed for calm, insisting that it is probing the incidents. The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said South Africa has recently experienced outbreaks of food-borne illnesses that have led to the tragic deaths of children and numerous hospitalisations across the provinces of Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. “These incidents are not only a public health challenge but also a tragedy for the affected families and communities and the government extends heartfelt condolences to all who have lost their loved ones,” said Nomonde Mnukwa, acting government spokesperson. “Government is coordinating comprehensive investigations in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and has adopted…

An off-duty South African Police Services (SAPS) sergeant, who was allegedly participating in a robbery, was killed in a shootout with police. The 42-year-old police officer was stationed at Madeira SAPS in the OR Tambo District in the Eastern Cape. Eastern Cape police spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli said members of the Mthatha police received information about armed suspects in the area of Mqanduli on Sunday. “The suspects were traced and located at the bottle store in the Dobe location, Mqanduli. “It is further alleged that when the suspects spotted the police, they started running in different directions, but one suspect who was at the entrance of the bottle store opened fire. “Police retaliated by returning fire.” Nkohli said a 42-year-old man was fatally wounded while other suspects managed to…

Safety concerns have been raised by the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) after the Planned Patient Transport (PPT) bus caught alight on Monday. The incident comes after two recent road crashes involving the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) vehicles last week. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health said no patients were harmed in the fire. It said the bus, which is from the uThukela Emergency Medical Rescue base, caught fire near Cedara while transporting 52 patients. “All patients were safely evacuated and transferred to Greys Hospital in the uMgungundlovu District using three 22-seater buses,” the Department reported. Additional transport was dispatched to ensure that each patient returned home safely. “By midnight, all patients had been safely dropped off by EMS personnel in Estcourt, Ladysmith, Dundee,…

As South Africa celebrates 30 years of democracy, our nation continues to reflect on the paths we have walked and the milestones we’ve achieved. Among the crucial pillars of this reflection are heritage monuments and museums – custodians of our collective history. These spaces do more than just preserve the past. In the heart of every society lies a memory bank, a reservoir of experiences, struggles, victories, and lessons learned. Heritage monuments and museums serve as physical manifestations of that memory. These sites capture the stories that shaped the South Africa we know today. At Freedom Park, we honour the men and women who sacrificed their lives for the freedom we now enjoy. These individuals, whose names are etched on the Wall of Names, represent the resilience and courage of…

“Having three children is the best,” says a vibrant neon pink sign at a wedding expo in the southern Chinese city of Changsha, where visitors can also pick up tips on tying the knot and men can strap on a pregnancy belly to experience childbirth pain. The marriage-themed festival comes at a time when China is looking to spur weddings and births to counter a shrinking population. However, it has drawn thin crowds and sparked criticism for being regressive, disparaging towards women and for putting people off marriage – contrary to the government’s aim. Social media users called out slogans at the expo such as “Housework is the best”, “Best at raising kids” and “Best at tutoring homework” for reinforcing gender stereotypes. “The slogans are all aimed at women. Shouldn’t…

India plans to overhaul its criminal sentencing norms to counter accusations of arbitrary punishment, sources said, following public outrage over the 2022 rape conviction of a man within 30 minutes of trial, by a judge who handed him the death penalty. A higher court in the eastern state of Bihar later overturned the conviction and ordered a retrial, saying the man had been denied the opportunity to defend himself and the judge had acted in “utmost haste”. It also called for more training for the judge. In response, the government plans to develop a grading system to ensure punishment matches the crime, and help standardise sentencing, so pulling the judicial system closer in line with the likes of Britain, Canada and New Zealand. The law and justice ministry will unveil…

London: Oasis fans desperate to see the British band’s reunion next year are falling victim to “a landslide of ticket scams on social media”, notably Facebook, a UK bank revealed yesterday. Lloyds said that since the reunion announcement in late August, about 70% of scams related to concert tickets and reported to the bank affected people hoping to see brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher. Victims had lost up to £1 000. Oasis has said that genuine tickets received from resale sites will not be valid. | AFP…

TEHRAN: Two French citizens detained in Iran since May 2022 are in good health and being held in good detention conditions, Iran’s judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said yesterday. Last month, France’s foreign ministry said the conditions that three of its nationals were being held in by Iran were unacceptable. Cecile Koehler and Jacques Paris were arrested on charges of espionage. Jahangir did not mention the third French national detained in Iran. In recent years, Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards have arrested dozens of dual nationals and foreigners. | Reuters…

As India prepares to embark on a pivotal five-Test series in Australia at the end of the month, Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is voicing caution over New Zealand's recent sweeping 3-0 series victory over the subcontinent giants. The feat was not just a historical milestone for the Black Caps but a potential wake-up call for an Indian team that is still reeling from the stunning defeat. Hazlewood, who has witnessed India's prowess first-hand during their last two excursions to Australian shores, underscored the significance of New Zealand's achievement, suggesting it could incite a fierce response from Rohit Sharma’s touring party. “It might awaken a sleeping giant, so to speak,” he remarked in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald. The term 'sleeping giant' is particularly evocative in the context…

It has been just over a year since the Springboks ground out an 18-3 victory over Scotland in the opening round of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, but Duane Vermeulen insists that Sunday’s rematch in Edinburgh will be a very different ball game. After calling time on his international career following the Boks' triumph in Paris, Vermeulen, now 38, is a year into his new chapter as a coach. Speaking from Edinburgh, he shared his reflections on the transition from “one of the boys” to a member of the management team. “We had a great training camp in Jersey where we were accepted with open arms,” he remarked. “There are only 100 000 people on this island but a fair percentage of them seemed to be South Africans and we…

We’ve all heard people say they sing in the shower; maybe you’ve even caught yourself belting out a favourite tune while scrubbing away the day. It’s a quirky habit most of us are guilty of but have you ever wondered why singing in the shower feels so satisfying? Or why some people swear it puts them in a better mood? Whether you take daily quick rinse-offs or indulge in long, luxurious “everything showers”, there’s something about the combination of music and warm water that hits the right spot. The science behind shower singing and happiness Singing, whether in a group or on your own, has been shown to release endorphins – those magical feel-good hormones that elevate our mood and reduce stress. Dr William Frey, a biochemist at the University…

All relationships have the potential to be both healthy and unhealthy. Here are signs of healthy relationships: People are close because they choose to be. It is not forced, obligated, manufactured or pretended. Sarcasm is never used. Remember, sarcasm is the use of words so as to intentionally hurt or wound another. Individuals can be unpredictable and free. Forgiveness is easily given both to others and to oneself. No one dominates, manipulates or intimidates anyone. People listen. People do not pretend they are okay when they are not. People do not spend a lot of time analysing their relationships. People have both individual and shared goals. Each person is permitted and indeed encouraged to speak, plan, choose and feel for him or herself. Others do not usurp these important functions:…

State capture, Eskom and Transnet, dysfunctional municipalities, corruption on a grand scale, road carnage, lawlessness, criminals roaming freely, heists and household robbery, murders, mass killings, poor water quality, taps running dry, townships overflowing with rubbish, pot holes, scrap metal industry in league with copper cable thieves who leave trains without power, spaza shops springing up like mushrooms in the townships and now a spate of food poisoning cases that have resulted in over 10 deaths of children. All of the above are symptoms of a country in the throes of a severe epidemic. And what do our leaders do while the country and the people grapple with the numerous problems affecting their daily lives? They sit with their feet up in their offices and boardrooms and engage in meaningless drivel.…

Heavy rains that lashed KwaZulu-Natal over the past few days has resulted in damage to infrastructure including the partial collapse of the Ezimbokodweni River Bridge on the N2 highway. The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) announced that officials are currently assessing the damage and that the N2 southbound over the bridge has been closed from Joyner Road. Traffic is being diverted to other routes. “SANRAL specialist engineers are currently on site to assess the extent of the damage and remedial action to be taken,” said Vusi Mona, SANRAL’s General Manager of Marketing and Communications. KZN MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, said: “Our dedicated team from the Road Traffic Inspectorate has briefed me about the overall management of traffic flow following the partial collapse of…

THE National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has accused the eThekwini Municipality of overcharging customers regarding its electricity tariffs. However, the municipality is disputing this claim and has taken the matter to court, arguing that the tariffs it is charging are fair and benchmarked against those of other municipalities. The issue primarily concerns the tariffs charged to business customers. During an executive committee meeting yesterday, councillors expressed concerns that these revelations could lead customers to use Nersa’s position as a basis for legal action against the municipality, claiming they have been overbilled. This matter came to light as the City discussed issues raised by its Audit Committee. In a statement, the City noted that at the Executive Committee (exco) meeting held yesterday, a report was presented on key issues…

The DA has introduced an anti-corruption bill to Parliament. The bill seeks to introduce an Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) as an independent Chapter Nine institution, whose mandate would solely focus on investigating and prosecuting high-level corruption cases. The party said that the bill would rectify the National Prosecuting Authority’s incompetence, noting that it lacked the institutional independence and resources to prosecute complex crimes. The DA spokesperson on Justice and Constitutional Development, Glynnis Breytenbach, explained the tabled bill did not deal with whistle-blowers. However, another bill that protects whistle-blowers after they have exposed corruption cases was in the pipeline by the DA. “We have a Private Member’s Bill about to be introduced that will deal with witness protection and whistle-blower protection separately,” said Breytenbach. Citing the Zondo Commission hearings, Breytenbach indicated the…

THE Limpopo High Court, sitting in Polokwane, was faced with an application to decide whether a then - 17-year-old who married a soldier in 1970 in terms of customary law in Zimbabwe is deemed to be legally married to him in terms of South African law. The soldier husband moved to South Africa in the 1980s and left his wife behind in Zimbabwe. He, in the meantime, married a woman here in terms of civil law. The Zimbabwean wife, who is now in her 70s, turned to court to be declared the executor of her now-late husband’s estate. She asked the court to declare her as his lawful wife and to overturn his civil marriage to the second wife. The court was told that during the Zimbabwean war of liberation,…

ACCUSED child rapist, attorney Carel Schoeman, could face suspension or being disbarred as the Legal Practice Council (LPC) is investigating the 26 criminal charges brought against him. The LPC confirmed that added to this investigation, they are also probing three complaints against Schoeman unrelated to the criminal charges he faces. Schoeman - owner of CBS Attorneys - is accused of “buying” a 13-year-old girl from her mother for R160 000, before raping her repeatedly. The girl’s mother, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the daughter, is Schoeman’s co-accused and appeared in the Gauteng High Court sitting in Palm Ridge where both pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them. The mother was charged with 72 counts, including nine of sexual exploitation of children, nine of rape,…

Indian and South African businesses should forge alliances to build growth strategies It’s the most appropriate time to leverage the prominent global influence of the Indian economy on the world stage. India was recorded as the fastest-growing large economy during the last decade and contemplating to be the third-largest economy by 2027. As India celebrates the 100th year of it’s independence in 2047, it envisages to become “Viksit Bharat – by 2047” (A Developed Economy). At present, India is South Africa’s fourth-largest import partner and seventh-largest export partner. The partnerships between the two economies are beyond economic and commercial co-operation. The shared ties encompass defence, culture, health, human settlements, public administration, science and technology, and the education sector too. India imports mineral products, wood pulps and materials, metals, chemicals, pearls…

The dollar softened yesterday as traders squared positions before the US presidential election, while options volatility soared after recent polls dented some market bets on a victory for Republican Donald Trump. Democrat Kamala Harris has also experienced improving odds on election gambling sites and had a slight lead on PredictIt overnight, although Polymarket continued to show Trump as the favourite. In recent weeks, financial markets and some betting platforms had leaned strongly in favour of a win for Trump, whose tariff and immigration policies are considered inflationary by analysts, leading to a rise in US Treasury yields and gains for the dollar. The US currency took a knock on yesterday after a weekend opinion poll showed Harris with a surprise lead in Iowa, a traditional Republican stronghold. Overall, polls continued…

The world’s first wooden satellite has blasted off on a SpaceX rocket, its Japanese developers said yesterday, part of a resupply mission to the International Space Station. Scientists at Kyoto University expect the wooden material to burn up when the device re-enters the atmosphere – potentially providing a way to avoid generating metal particles when a retired satellite returns to Earth. These particles may negatively impact both the environment and telecommunications, the developers say. Each side of the box-like experimental satellite, named LignoSat, measures just 10cm. It was launched on an unmanned rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Kyoto University’s Human Spaceology Center said. The satellite, installed in a special container prepared by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, “flew into space safely”, it said. LignoSat’s co-developer Sumitomo Forestry…

TOKYO: North Korea launched at least seven ballistic missiles, the flight altitude of which was about 100km and the range about 400km, all of which fell outside the exclusive economic zone of Japan, Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani said. “Today, the DPRK launched short-range ballistic missiles in the north-east direction. “They all fell outside the exclusive economic zone of Japan. At least seven missiles were fired. Their flight altitude reached about 100km, and the flight range was up to 400km,” the minister said. According to Nakatani, the Japanese government sent a strong protest to North Korea. Last week, North Korea launched its latest intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-19. | Sputnik…

KIGALI: Rwanda has made progress in containing the spread of Marburg virus disease, as the east African country has reported no new deaths for three weeks, a senior official said this week. Rwandan Minister of Health Sabin Nsanzimana said the country last recorded a Marburg-related death on October 14. The outbreak was declared on September 27. “Investigations traced the virus back to fruit bats, identified as the primary source of infection. The index case was linked to a mine where these bats roost, prompting authorities to install a barrier separating the bats’ habitat from the working areas,” he said. | Xinhua…

The matches are coming thick and fast in domestic football and therefore there is no time for teams to lick their wounds or drown in self-pity after a bad day in the office. Stellenbosch and TS Galaxy will know this well ahead of their meeting at Athlone Stadium tonight at 7.30pm, following their disappointment in the Carling Knockout. Stellies, the defending champions, were knocked out of their own party by Marumo Gallants on Sunday, while fellow finalists Galaxy also lost to Magesi FC on the same day. Both sides will be eager to get back onto the winning trail, with host Stellies still favoured to win the match tonight. Stellenbosch defeated The Rockets in the Carling Knockout final last season and have since bested Sead Ramovic’s men twice more, including…