Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-01-31 i Mercury

Vitamin D is often called the “sunshine vitamin”, as your skin produces it when exposed to sunlight. However, for many people, particularly during the winter months or in regions with limited sunlight, getting enough vitamin D can be a challenge. This deficiency is more common than you might think and it can have a significant impact on your health. Why vitamin D is so important Vitamin D is crucial for maintaining healthy bones and a strong immune system. It helps your body absorb calcium, which is essential for bone health. It also plays a role in reducing inflammation, supporting muscle function and boosting your immune defences. When your body doesn’t get enough vitamin D, it can lead to conditions like: Bone problems: Weak or brittle bones (osteoporosis) and rickets in…

SCIENTISTS have discovered what might be “the world’s most famous piece of puke ever” after a piece of fossilised vomit dating back to the age of the dinosaurs was discovered in Denmark. The find was made by local fossil hunter Peter Bennicke at Stevns Klint, a Unesco-listed coastal cliff in the east of the country, south of Copenhagen. While out on a walk, Bennicke came across some unusual-looking fragments which turned out to be pieces of sea lily – an underwater species related to starfish and sea urchins – in a piece of chalk. When he took the fragments to be examined at the Museum of East Zealand, they confirmed the vomit could be dated to the end of the Cretaceous period, 66 million years ago. The fragments of vomit…

EThekwini Municipality leadership has shown a complete lack of urgency and accountability in addressing the ongoing water issues that are plaguing residents across the city. It is unacceptable that, despite increasing frustration from communities, businesses and schools, the leadership has failed to directly address the dire water situation affecting the entire city. Water outages, leaking pipes, and broken infrastructure have become a daily reality for many eThekwini residents. These recurring issues are not just inconveniences; they are severe disruptions to daily life, with families and businesses struggling to maintain basic hygiene and access to clean water. Yet, eThekwini’s leadership continues to act as though it is business as usual, with no clear response to the growing crisis. It is a basic human right for every resident to have access to…

The property industry received a boost from the decision by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) to cut the interest rate by 25 basis points during its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting yesterday. This marks the third consecutive reduction in interest rates, bringing the total relief in the current cycle to a significant 75 basis points since September 2024. With the prime lending rate now at 11%, many in the sector expressed optimism about potential homebuyers and those maintaining existing mortgages. Dr Andrew Golding, CEO of the Pam Golding Property Group, heralded the MPC’s decision as “very encouraging news”, particularly in light of shifting expectations around future rate cuts. “The outlook for interest rates for the remainder of the year is far less clear. The timing of any further rate…

THE latest income and expenditure data showing that white-headed households earned nearly five times more than black-headed households is a reminder that South Africa is sitting on a ticking time bomb that will one day explode, says Cosatu. The trade union federation was reacting to the latest Stats SA’s Income & Expenditure Survey (IES) 2022/2023, showing that the average annual consumption expenditure for South African households was R143 691 in 2023. However, the median household expenditure for the country was R82 861 per annum. The top four main components of household consumption expenditure were: housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; food and non-alcoholic beverages; transport; and insurance and financial services. “The average household income of white-headed households was almost five times higher than that of black African-headed households and…

An Eastern Cape woman is expected to appear in court this week following her arrest on allegations that she staged her kidnapping. The 34-year-old woman, along with a man, was arrested on Wednesday by the Hawks Eastern Cape Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba said the woman was alleged to have orchestrated her kidnapping with a male accomplice. “Their intentions were allegedly to extort money from her family and boyfriend.” Fumba said that on October 13, 2024, the complainant (suspect’s boyfriend) reported that his girlfriend had been kidnapped. “He allegedly received alarming images including video clips of her tied up, with her mouth sealed shut with tape. Soon after, a ransom demand followed. “Further reports indicate that the complainant reached out to the victim’s sister who confirmed receiving the same…

NINE ousted judges’ clerks, who were informed by the Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) that their fixed-term contracts would end in December last year, have received a lifeline from the Labour Court. The court ordered that their contracts remain in force pending the outcome of an unfair labour practice referral to the bargaining council. The applicants are all judges’ secretaries employed by the OCJ at the high courts in Pretoria and Johannesburg. They have been fighting to retain their jobs since last year after the OCJ notified them that, as of the end of December, they would no longer be employed. They turned to the Labour Court urgently before the end of last year, when the court granted them a temporary reprieve. The Labour Court has now issued its…

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa) downward adjustment of the over 36% tariff increase Eskom had applied for to accrue savings for the consumer of about R1 billion in the next three years came as cold comfort to business, consumer and civic organisations who felt the power utility had been allowed to squeeze them out of pocket. In presenting the tariffs, Nersa commissioner Thembani Bukula yesterday said the decision was not taken lightly as the regulator recognised the challenges consumers faced and the importance of ensuring that electricity remained affordable, while securing Eskom’s financial sustainability. Nersa granted Eskom tariff increases, which amount to R384.6bn, translating to a percentage increase of 12.74% in the 2025/26 financial year. For the 2026/27 financial year, Nersa approved revenues of R409.5bn, translating to…

The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Unit (Hawks) targeted properties in Roodepoort, Randburg, Krugersdorp and Pretoria tied to 15 suspects accused of perpetrating a R157 million fraud and theft scheme against Nedbank. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Gauteng spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane said the crime was committed over 5 years, from July 2018 to January 2023. She said the seizure was intended to safeguard the assets – valued at approximately R33m – belonging to the suspects, held in their names or through various business entities. “The property secured in terms of the order includes houses, sectional title units, a small holding, 77 vehicles, cash held in bank accounts and business interests.” Authorities also seized jewellery, luxury wristwatches, designer clothing, laptops and cellphones, about R80 000 in…

South Africa has seen a substantial rise in the gig economy, particularly in urban areas. In 2021, 3.9 million gig workers constituted 1% of the workforce, with a predominant demographic of individuals under 30 concentrated in major urban hubs like Cape Town and Johannesburg. Gig work includes short-term tasks for digital platforms like Uber, Uber Eats, and Sweep South, as well as location-bound work like taxi driving, delivery, and cleaning. A critical consequence of this is that the (growing number of) affected workers do not have access to “traditional” forms of representation/struggle/resistance. As commentators Jamie Woodcock and Mark Graham (2020) put it: The widespread use by platforms of self-employed independent contractor status not only creates the conditions of low pay and precarious work – but also significant barriers to traditional…

DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi insisted his troops were mounting a “vigorous” response to Rwanda-backed fighters advancing in the country’s perennially troubled east and slammed the international community’s “silence and inaction”. The weeks-long march of the M23 armed group, which has captured vast swathes of eastern DRC including most of the key city of Goma, has prompted calls for crisis talks and warnings of a looming humanitarian crisis. DRC’s mineral-rich east has been wracked by decades of conflict involving scores of armed groups that can be partly traced back to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. In his first remarks since the latest crisis began, Tshisekedi said that a “vigorous and co-ordinated response against these terrorists and their sponsors is under way”. The “silence and inaction” of the international community were an…

TRIPOLI: The Libyan Attorney General’s office this week announced the release of 263 migrants held captive by a criminal group in the eastern city of Jalu for ransom. “Officers of the Criminal Investigation Department investigated the imprisonment of 263 illegal migrants to force their families to pay ransom for their freedom,” the office said. Two members of the criminal group were arrested, while pursuit is under way for the remaining members, the statement said. According to the statement, the migrants, being Somali and Eritrean nationals, were brutally tortured by the group during their imprisonment, and their ransom was $17 000 (R314 000) and $10 000, respectively. The group was involved in human trafficking and illegal migration operations from Libya, as well as torture, inhumane treatment and imprisonment of migrants, it…

MUMBAI: India would likely experience above-average temperatures next month. Key wheat- and rapeseed-growing states would likely have maximum temperatures up to 5ºC above average on some days, in a risk to crops, two weather bureau sources said. As the world’s second biggest wheat producer, India is counting on a bumper harvest this year to avoid costly imports, following three straight years of poor crop yields. After a sharp rise in temperatures shrivelled the crop, India was forced to ban exports of the staple in 2022. Higher temperatures during the grain formation stage could reduce yields for the fourth straight year, trimming overall production and forcing authorities to lower or remove the 40% import tax to facilitate imports to tide over shortages. | Reuters…

The offshore action has been absolutely electrifying lately. From massive bottom fish to intense gamefish battles, the sea has been alive with excitement, despite the bumpy conditions and the persistent north-east winds. The summer fish are making their presence known, and every day brings fresh, thrilling catches. The North Coast is buzzing with summer fish, and it’s heating up. Dorado have been the star of the early summer gamefish scene, but it’s been the tuna that’s been taking centre stage for most anglers, with some absolute beasts hitting the decks. And let’s not forget the couta – they’re on the bite, and we’re seeing some monstrous specimens come up. The key this past week? Trolling lipped lures, especially those in purple or pink. These colours have been catching everything from…

I’m engaged to be married and having second thoughts… “My fiancé – we’ve been engaged for six months and have known each other for 10 months. He is not all I thought he was when we got engaged. He’s not the man of faith he led me to believe. His ‘clouded’ history of past addictions is becoming clearer to me as I meet more of his family and friends. As I ‘trip over’ information and ask him about it, he grows increasingly angry, when all I really want is the truth. I am not concerned about his recovery; I just want honesty. I love him and want to marry him, but I’m having second thoughts.” Engagement is a taste of the rest of your life. If being engaged is not…

I’ve always said this regarding Trump 2.0. America deserves Trump. A bigot, a felon and insurrectionist and rebel against the law. His policies, which resonated with many Americans, especially the upper echelons, and which are fast being implemented, will no doubt amplify America’s decline – not only in the wider world but in America, itself. The Democrats who shot themselves in the foot with Smokin’ Joe and a pathetic campaign, that many in the Youth Camp refused to be a part of, will, with shock, learn how they have handed America a catapult into pariah status. The withdrawal of the “assistance” that US gave to the rest of the world will not weaken the rest but in time will strengthen them, allowing independent growth, perhaps initially, with help from other…

DEMOCRATIC Republic of the Congo (DRC) nationals living in Durban have voiced their anger and frustration over the ongoing conflict in the east of Congo, blaming the Rwandan backed M23 militia for the instability and chaos. As the diplomatic fallout between Pretoria and Kigali escalated yesterday following the invasion of Goma and the killing of 13 SA National Defence Force (SANDF) troops, DRC nationals who spoke to The Mercury criticised the international community for failing to hold Rwanda accountable. They have attributed the conflict not only to the armed groups but also to the economic interests of external players seeking to exploit the DRC’s vast mineral resources. “This is not just a war between the Congolese government and M23. It is a war for our minerals,” said Thomas Butiriri, a…

Eskom is set to face a rigorous examination before the Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy today to explain dismal findings presented by the Auditor-General, Tsakani Maluleke, and Deloitte executives on Wednesday on the utility’s 2023/2024 financial year. The implications of the audit call into question the utility’s ability to remain a viable entity amidst escalating municipal debts and findings of glaring disregard to implementing recommendations made by auditors over the years to address the underlying root causes of its under-performance. In the report, which precludes Eskom’s now more than 300 days of no load shedding, Maluleke said commitments made over the years by those charged with governance to address these matters have not materialised due to a lack of accountability at various levels in the organisation. She also…

MPs expressed their unhappiness at the postponement of their oversight visit to KwaZulu-Natal to meet with King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, the Ingonyama Trust Board (ITB) and other stakeholders after being advised against doing so by parliamentary presiding officers. The visit was initially planned for late last year, but matters escalated when the King dissolved the board, fired the CEO, and CFO and appointed lawyers to run the affairs of the ITB. In response, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso said the king does not have the power to dissolve the board as the authority to do so resides with the minister Briefing the Parliament’s land and reform portfolio committee this week, chairperson Albert Mncwango said they had met with Nyhontso and had to obtain permission from House Chairperson…

NEARLY 13 years ago, a 6-year-old child witnessed the police torture and humiliate his father. Now an adult, he instituted a damages claim against the police. Tshililo Mulimo told the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, that he will never forget what the SAPS had done to his father that day in 2012. His father had previously instituted a claim against the police for unlawful arrest and assault. Without accepting liability, the SAPS agreed to pay R350 000 in compensation to the father. In his claim, Mulimo testified that in October 2012, he was playing in a field next to his grandparents’ property. He saw his father arriving home with the police. His father was handcuffed, and the police dragged him towards the pit toilet. He saw the police kicking his father.…

The theft of water meters in eThekwini Municipality are occurring at an alarming rate. There is an average of approximately 5 000 faults recorded on the meter maintenance clipboard, according to councillor Mdu Nkosi, the chairperson of the Trading Services Committee in eThekwini. Nkosi was responding to questions from eThekwini Ward 50 councillor, Lyndal Singh, at a council meeting yesterday. Singh said that the municipality has repeatedly asked residents to conserve water. She said there was little being done by the municipality to conserve water which was being lost due to failing infrastructure, leaks, burst pipes and stolen meters. “All of this is contributing to the huge water loss in the municipality,” Singh said.She proposed that the municipality consider a different type of material to manufacture meters to stop the…

Pristine samples of the asteroid Bennu transported to Earth contain the “basic building blocks” for life, shedding new light on the perennial question of how life began on our planet. The revelation, in two studies published on Wednesday, is the result of work on just 120g of material – about the weight of a banana – collected from Bennu by Nasa’s Osiris-Rex spacecraft in 2020. The samples from Bennu, then around 300 million kilometres from Earth, were returned in a capsule that Osiris-Rex dropped off during a pass-by in 2023. Initial analysis had already revealed evidence of high-carbon content and water. But the new research found that evaporated water on Bennu’s parent asteroid left behind “the raw ingredients of life”, said Tim McCoy, curator of meteorites at the Smithsonian’s National…

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) has arrested a 40-year-old man after he handed himself over in connection with fraud related to travel vouchers. Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said the suspect appeared before the Specialised Commercial Crime Court, sitting in Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court. “The suspect is said to have sold holiday packages to holidaymakers for trips to the Maldives, which they paid monies into the Priority Escapes (company). When due to embark on the trips, the clients found out that Priority Escapes had ceased operating,” said Mogale. A Hawks investigation found that the suspect had used over R2.1 million deposited for personal gain. In December 2023, it was reported that police in Limpopo had intensified their search for alleged holiday swindler Francois Swart, whose Gauteng-based travel…

At the start of each new year, attention naturally shifts to education. Schools and universities open their doors, matric results are released, and questions emerge about preparing young people for the future. This year, an inspiring intersection is gaining momentum: the convergence of education, youth entrepreneurship and food waste solutions. Globally, the statistics on food waste are staggering. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that 17% of total global food production is wasted annually, a figure that includes households, food services, and retail sectors. A 2021 WWF report, Driven to Waste, suggests the global total could reach 2.5 billion tonnes of wasted food each year. Closer to home, the CSIR reported in 2021 that South Africa wastes about 10.3 million tons of food annually – about a third of the…

Palestinian militants handed over three Israeli hostages in Gaza yesterday in return for 110 Palestinian prisoners to be freed under a phased agreement that halted fighting in the shattered coastal territory earlier this month. An Israeli soldier, Agam Berger, wearing an olive green uniform, was led through a narrow ally between heavily damaged buildings and over piles of rubble in Jabalia in northern Gaza before being handed to the Red Cross. “Our daughter is strong, faithful, and brave,” a statement from her family said. “Now Agam and our family can begin the healing process, but the recovery will not be complete until all the hostages return home.” Two other hostages, Gadi Moses, 80, and Arbel Yahud, 29, both abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz in the Hamas-led assault on Israel on…

PARIS: Forty-five people have been arrested in west Africa over the past three months in operations targeting drug trafficking and the financing of terrorism, said global police body Interpol yesterday. Interpol, headquartered in France, said those arrested included a suspected Islamic State member at the borders between Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, and a North African suspected of aiming to travel through Europe to join Isis in Syria. Cocaine worth more than $50 million (R925m) was also seized in Cabo Verde, as well as 10 tons of amphetamines in Burkina Faso, added the police body. “This operation marks a critical step in disrupting transnational organised crime networks that threaten regional stability and undermine efforts to build peace and foster development across West Africa,” said Mohamed Moussa from Interpol. |…

Walking is one of the simplest and most effective exercises for improving overall health. But have you ever wondered whether it’s better to take a brisk walk before or after a meal? The timing of your walk can influence the specific benefits you gain, making both pre – and post-meal walks valuable in different ways – but one is far better for overall health than the other. Walking before a meal: If your goal is weight management or fat burning, walking before a meal can be a strategic choice. When you take a brisk walk on an empty stomach, your body taps into its stored fat for energy, as it doesn’t have readily available glucose from food yet. This process, known as “fasted cardio,” is especially effective for those looking…

“India has moved on, but we must not forget”, by T Markandan in The Mercury January 28 refers. I do not differ with the general tenor of the letter, but by whose standards are “celebrations in typical Indian fashion” deemed “showy”? Straight-laced, starchy Western, Christian colonisers, or the long line of predatory puritanical Talibanish colonisers? India, neither Western nor Middle Eastern, should celebrate in “typical Indian fashion”. Markandan should not restrict his reading to one view spread with religious zeal by Al Jazeera, the media conglomerate funded by the Qatari government (“How British colonialism killed 100 million Indians in 40 years”). He claims “there is a historian who has done extensive research on colonialism and has revealed the truth”– Robert C Allen. However, there have been many historians who have…

I AM TRULY astounded at the amount of religious intolerance we encounter every day in our prejudiced environment. Let us urgently display tolerance as we witness a new beginning. Tolerance is a supreme quality that forms the bedrock of any society. In an age where the electronic media has drawn us closer together into what is called a global village or a global society, its benefits will only be felt when mutual goodwill, respect and understanding prevails. The world is full of diversity and that is the beauty of our universe. Without tolerance and harmony, the lasting peace of societies cannot be maintained and loyalty for each other cannot be established. Religious prejudices are examples of individual expressions of intolerance to which some people are subjected daily. Intolerance breeds intolerance.…

INTERNATIONAL Relations and Co-operation Minister Ronald Lamola has warned that the ongoing armed conflicts between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) could turn into a full-blown war. Lamola told journalists at the Cabinet Lekgotla yesterday that they were concerned about a possible regional war. At least 13 SANDF troops died during a fight with M23 rebels in the DRC. “Indeed, we are concerned that danger exists or a possibility exists of a full-blown regional war. It is for that reason that all the institutions of the African Union (AU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC), including the East Africa community, have made all of them have a resolution of a tripartite engagement, of all these institutions,” he said. Lamola stressed that immediate intervention was needed to stabilise the…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has set the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) on the Department of Defence to probe two asset management contracts while the entity has announced significant progress in earlier investigations. The SIU is expected to investigate the procurement of and contracting for inventory verification and continuous asset verification and the supply, delivery, installation and commissioning of an asset management system by the department. The unit must establish whether payments made in these deals were done in a manner that was not fair, equitable, transparent, competitive or cost-effective. It must also determine whether the contracts were awarded contrary to applicable legislation, manuals, guidelines, circulars, practice notes or instructions issued by the National Treasury or the relevant provincial treasury. The SIU will probe whether payments complied with manuals, policies, procedures, prescripts,…

Limpopo has recorded three malaria deaths between April last year and January this year, with more than 500 malaria cases being recorded so far, according to the provincial Department of Health. Malaria is a deadly disease caused by the plasmodium parasite and transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Provincial health spokesperson Neil Shikwambana said the department has implemented an effective indoor residual spraying programme, a key strategy in reducing mosquito populations and malaria transmission. “This programme also relies heavily on community participation, with 355 seasonal community spray workers employed in the 2024 and 2025 financial year to spray over 1.16 million houses,” he said. To strengthen malaria prevention efforts, Shikwambana said the department plans to increase the number of spray workers to 400 in the 2025 and 2026 financial year. “This expansion…

The winner of the R102 million Powerball jackpot has claimed his prize. National Lottery Ithuba confirmed that the winner who bought his ticket on the FNB banking app has come forward. The winner spent R100 on his ticket. Ithuba said the winner visited their offices in Mpumalanga on Wednesday. He told Ithuba: “I am ecstatic. It still feels like a dream that I will soon wake up from,” he said. A regular National Lottery participant, the man had previously won a R70 000 Lottery prize. He revealed that he had been hoping for a financial breakthrough to pursue his business aspirations. “I had been praying for R15m, an amount which I believed would help me build a sustainable business for my family,” he said. “Winning R102m is far beyond my…

Lawyers acting for murder-accused brothers Ferrel and Darren Govender urged the Durban Magistrate’s Court yesterday to not ignore issues they raised over their identification parade, when a decision is made on whether to grant them bail. The brothers were arrested in connection with the murder of businessman Shailen Singh, 32, who was killed on December 29, in a parking lot on Meridian Drive, in uMhlanga, at around noon. The defence has raised the issue of the identification parade in the bail application several times and had tried to bring an application to have the State provide a document detailing what happened during the identification process. The court had said that the issues raised regarding the parade had no bearing on whether the businessmen should get bail or not. The defence…

For Curtis Sparrer, a work-from-home advocate, an office is nothing less than a “corporate jail”. Five years after the Covid-19 pandemic sent workers scrambling for home, laptops under their arm, Sparrer methodically challenges the arguments made by corporate America as it pushes for a full-time return to office. The issue has become increasingly political. The Trump administration, through the Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, plans to eliminate all remote work for federal employees. “When you have a physical office, there is an implicit lack of trust. You need to see people there physically to make sure they’re doing their work,” the PR boss said. In the wake of the work-from-home revolution, hybrid work became the norm in the US, with a few exceptions such…

Five EFF members are out on R5 000 bail each on allegations that they were part of a group of people that stormed the uMhlathuze Municipality’s offices last week. On Wednesday, Sabelo Khubisa, Simphiwe Ndlela, Simo Gumede, Vusimuzi Cele and EFF provincial chairperson Mongezi Twala appeared in the Richards Bay Magistrate’s Court where they were granted bail. Last week the uMhlathuze Municipality filed a case at the Richards Bay SAPS against the EFF following an illegal gathering outside its office. The gathering, the municipality stated, was not sanctioned under the Gatherings Act. According to the municipality the accused handed themselves over to the police. The accused also face charges of assault – they allegedly assaulted a municipal employee – and damage to municipal infrastructure. The matter was adjourned to March…

Each of the four competitors in the 2025 Fortuner Challenge powered by Quartz Engine Oil will be teamed up with four different heroes to tackle the tough challenges during the two days of the event. Teamwork and communication between each hero and competitors will be the key to success if the winner wants to drive home with the ultimate prize in a new Toyota Fortuner GR-Sport. The heroes are chosen for their skill and ability in their respective disciplines as well as their overall fitness and ability to solve tough mental and physical challenges.…

There is little doubt that Kaizer Chiefs are the most popular football club in South Africa. Despite their struggles over the last decade – and no trophies in sight – they still manage to draw the biggest crowds across the country. In fact, they even host home games in Durban, such is the magnitude of their support in KwaZulu-Natal. Their heritage is based on their trophy-winning past, where they won a number of league and cup titles – although they have yet to conquer the CAF Champions League tournament. At one stage, even though they missed out on the Premiership league title, they still won a series of cup titles to keep the Amakhosi faithful happy. But after a number of coaching and personnel changes over the past few years,…

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos jr said yesterday he would meet US President Donald Trump to discuss issues including immigration, in an effort to influence policy. He said this could impact a large number of Filipinos in the US. “We will see how we can influence policymaking in terms of immigration,” Marcos said without saying when the meeting would take place. Since taking office on January 20, Trump has announced a number of immigration-related executive orders that focus on stricter border policy, tighter visa-vetting procedures, and a crackdown on undocumented migrants in the US. There are more than 300 000 undocumented Filipinos in the US, according to a 2019 estimate by the think tank Migration Policy Institute. Close to two million migrants from the Philippines live in the US, according to…

Phnom Penh: A Colombian air force plane landed in Bogota on Wednesday with 105 nationals deported from the US, the Colombian Foreign Ministry said. Two previous flights landed on Tuesday, bringing back 201 Colombian nationals in total. After Colombian President Gustavo Petro refused entry of US military planes carrying handcuffed deportees on January 26, a meeting was held in Washington to reach an agreement on their return, said the ministry. Astrid Caceres, the director of the Colombian Institute for Family Welfare, said an initial investigation showed the US treatment of Colombian deportees had been “degrading.” Authorities planned to look into complaints from children who said they were handcuffed and forced to get up at 3am to bathe with cold water, she said. | Xinhua…