Innehållsförteckning för 2024-11-01 från Mercury

Glencore has been hammered by export rail constraints in South Africa, with its export thermal coal production taking a knock in the three months to September, although output of copper was higher. The diversified resources group’s overall energy coal production of 73.1 million tons for the quarter was down 7% on the comparable 2023 period. Glencore yesterday said this was a reflection of “the progressive impact of scheduled mine closures, longwall moves in Australia in 2024, export rail constraints in South Africa and permit delays” at Cerrejón. Glencore’s South African thermal production at 12 million tons for the period under sagged by 1.3 million tons or 10% compared to the same period a year earlier. The miner said it was prepared to ramp up production should Transnet restore rail capacity.…

If you’ve been contributing to your employer’s pension fund and are contemplating retirement, you may be curious as to what the process of formal retirement entails. In this article, we break down the steps involved and the decisions that need to be made. Let’s assume that you currently have R6 000 000 invested in your company’s pension fund and are considering formal retirement within the next few months. Here’s what the process entails. When you retire from your pension fund, you can take up to one-third of the fund value in cash, although keep in mind that there are tax implications for doing so. For this exercise, we have assumed that you will take a one-third cash commutation and that you will use the remaining two-thirds to purchase an annuity.…

Adcorp Holdings’ staffing and services divisions generated a R29.4 million taxed profit in the six months to August 31, 16.9% lower than at the same time a year before and the interim dividend was lowered to 13.4 cents from 16.1 cents. “The first half was characterised by challenging market conditions in South Africa and Australia. In response, we launched initiatives to reduce costs, enhance efficiency, and better align with market conditions,” Adcorp management said at the release of the interim results yesterday. One-off restructuring costs of R25.6m affected earnings in the short term, but management said these actions were expected to drive significant long-term efficiencies. The decline in taxed profit was partially mitigated by a R5.1m tax credit. During the first half, revenue increased 4.8% to R6.8 billion, while operating…

ON THE back of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it’s a vital time to reflect on the challenges faced by those battling cancer, especially breast cancer, which remains one of the most common diagnoses worldwide. According to the 2022 National Cancer Registry (NCR) report, breast cancer has a 25% higher incidence rate among women in South Africa, making it the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. However, despite the high numbers, cervical cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in South African women. For many, a cancer diagnosis means enduring chemotherapy – one of the most well-known yet daunting treatments. While chemotherapy is designed to fight cancer by stopping the growth of cancer cells, it often comes with harsh side effects. Worldwide, the number of chemotherapy patients is growing. A…

WHAT is a Bluey Dollarbuck? It’s an Australian coin worth one Australian dollar, minted in honour of the very popular children’s TV show, Bluey. Characters in the show feature on the gold-coloured coins. In Australian slang, 'Bluey' refers to a person with red hair. According to the BBC, about 63 000 of the limited edition Bluey Dollarbucks were stolen from the Sydney warehouse where they were being held, two months before they were officially launched. Now about 40 000 Blueys have been recovered from a property 10km from the storage facility and three arrests have been made. New South Wales Police say the Blueys had been selling online for 10 times their face value. Shortly after the theft, the police launched an investigation code-named Strike Force Bandit. Bandit? Apparently that’s…

The extent to which the DA is aligned with the morally bankrupt West’s support for Ukraine is evident by Home Affairs minister Leon Schreiber’s unilateral granting of visa-free access to officials of the despotic Zelenskiy regime. In June 2023, the DA got in a froth about Vladimir Putin’s visit to South Africa and wanted him arrested in terms of the ICC’s charges of war crimes in Ukraine. Oddly, the DA did not advocate the arrest of China’s President Xi Jinping on that occasion, despite the fact that Xi’s humanitarian record makes Putin’s look quite moderate. Be that as it may, DA leader John Steenhuisen’s defence of his colleague’s granting of visa-free access to Zelenskiy’s henchmen reeks of double standards. He opposes the ANC’s regard for Putin as an ally because…

TRANSNET said meaningful progress has been made to make the Durban Container Terminals function at optimum levels and reduce the container backlog that plagued the Durban harbour last year. In a presentation by Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) on the terminals' half-year performance in Durban yesterday, the government parastatal also revealed that progress had been made in addressing vessels at anchorage and the handling of container and truck turnaround time at the terminals. However, industry players that spoke to The Mercury yesterday said while the improvements were welcomed, some of the projections made by Transnet don’t appear to be realistic. Transnet acknowledged that Durban is an economic hub for the Port of Durban and any progress was important following the vessel and container backlog last year. Earle Peters, managing executive…

Equal Education (EE) says the Treasury’s stated commitment to contain the public sector wage bill as much as possible will push the education system to the brink of collapse. This comes after Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivered his 2024 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS). Godongwana said he had reinstated budgets earlier this year for Equitable Share among the provinces and if there was any crisis for the compensation of employees and the wage bill, it was “self-inflicted”, pointing fingers at how the provincial education departments spend the allocated budgets. EE said fewer young teachers are being funded to enter the education sector after cuts to the Funza Lushaka bursary scheme were announced in February. “Treasury and government’s stubborn commitment to austerity budgeting, which aims to limit non-interest expenditure to below…

The hopes of the South African Post Office (Sapo) obtaining a possible bailout from the National Treasury have been dashed. There was no announcement of a bailout during Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement on Wednesday. Last month, Sapo told Parliament that it was facing what it called “Day Zero”, a situation where it could run out of funds in October. It had stated that the situation was so serious that should the funding not be found, it could be at risk of being liquidated. Sapo, which was placed under business rescue last year, informed the MPs that it had received R2.4 billion from the National Treasury for the business rescue and that R3.8bn was outstanding. Speaking during a media briefing on Wednesday, Godongwana said Sapo had…

The principle that offenders may be released on parole is an integral and necessary part of the South African criminal justice system and it is their constitutional right to be considered for parole after they have served the prescribed time behind bars. This is according to the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, which was faced by applications from 10 inmates — mostly people who are serving a life imprisonment sentence. They complained that despite having completed all the courses they were told to do and despite having served the time they should have before being considered for parole, they were not being released. Some of them said they have been awaiting word from Correctional Services, ultimately the minister, for four years in excess of the dates upon which they became eligible…

A family is seeking justice after nine-year-old child, Gomolemo Mavimbela, died in a horrific car accident allegedly caused by Sekhukhune United player, Shaun Mogaila, in Tembisa on Wednesday morning. The accident occurred during the morning school run, while Gomolemo’s mother was driving her child and a 13-year-old neighbour’s child to school. Both surviving victims are currently fighting for their lives in ICU with serious injuries. Mogaila, 29, handed himself over to officers at the Rabie Ridge Police Station near Midrand following the fatal crash. Police reported finding suspected cocaine, edibles and expensive alcohol in the vehicle. The suspect allegedly fled the scene after the accident. While it was expected that the footballer would face charges of culpable homicide, reckless and negligent driving and fleeing the scene, his court appearance at…

Some may say it’s “just Bangladesh”, but considering the manner in which they did it, the Proteas’ 2-0 Test series triumph completed yesterday is one to celebrate. It is tough to win five-day matches on the Indian subcontinent, and last week’s first Test victory in Mirpur was South Africa’s first since 2014 in Galle, Sri Lanka. They won that two-Test series 1-0, so yesterday’s win in Chattogram by an innings and 273 runs is another milestone over the past decade. The Proteas also clinched the series without regular captain Temba Bavuma – who was ruled out with an elbow injury – which saw Aiden Markram take charge. Bangladesh are not the minnows they once were in Test cricket, having already established themselves as a seriously competitive side in the ODI…

Officials in Georgia said yesterday that a partial recount confirmed the ruling party had won its disputed election, with Washington and Brussels demanding an investigation. The pro-Western opposition said Saturday’s parliamentary vote was “stolen” by the ruling Georgian Dream party and refused to recognise the results, plunging the Caucasus country into uncertainty. Pro-European President Salome Zurabishvili – at loggerheads with the governing party – has declared the election results “illegitimate”, alleging there was a “Russian special operation” to undermine the vote. The Kremlin has denied interference. The central election commission said that a recount at some 12% of polling stations, involving 14% of the vote, “didn’t lead to a significant change to previously announced official results”. “Final tallies only slightly changed at some nine percent of recounted polling stations,” a…

PHILADELPHIA: Elon Musk, a billionaire supporting Republican Donald Trump, was ordered to attend a hearing yesterday in a prosecutor’s lawsuit to block his $1 million-a-day give-away to registered swing state voters ahead of the US election on November 5. The hearing concerns Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner’s bid to halt the give-away. Krasner accuses Musk of hatching an “illegal lottery scheme to influence voters”. Krasner asked the court for added security, saying social media users posted inflammatory posts, including anti-Semitic attacks, and posted his home address. Musk said Krasner’s claim that he was “unlawfully interfering with a federal election” raised questions of federal law that belonged in federal court. | Reuters…

KIGALI: Rwanda was set to establish the Center for Nuclear Science and Technology, stepping forward to harness nuclear science and technology for sustainable socio-economic development, a government official has said. Fidele Ndahayo, the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board CEO, said this week that the centre “will not only contribute to the peaceful use of atomic energy in Rwanda but also drive advancements in health care, agriculture and industrial materials”. Ndahayo said the construction would take more than seven years. The centre would attract skilled professionals, foster research and support Rwanda’s goals for peaceful nuclear energy. | Xinhua…

Just like that we have tinsel being hung up and jingles being played in the shops. It might still be a few weeks away, but the festive presents have started coming in already. For our offshore anglers, the weather and sea conditions have been patchy but there have been plenty of fish to catch when the sea allows it. The couta have been scarce but we will keep trying to get that reel to sing! North of Umhlanga the fishing skis have been doing some damage. Snoek, tuna and kob have been the main hatch-fillers. The snoek (weather permitting) have been feeding very well after the recent rains. The flush of dirty water not only creates a brilliant hunting area for these predators, but it also flushes the smaller estuarine…

With its diversified economy, robust industrial base in East Africa, and strategic location as a regional trade hub, Kenya is uniquely positioned to capture a portion of the market shift as companies look for alternatives to China and other non-native trade markets. This favourable positioning allows Kenya to attract competitive brands and encourage international manufacturers, producers, and investors in the textile industry to take advantage of first-mover benefits. Kenya has preferential access to markets within the region, the European Union, the US, and Asia that can create a platform for locally produced goods for both local and international markets. The country is actively enhancing its critical infrastructure to lower business costs, facilitate the movement of people and goods, boost competitiveness, and attract investment in key sectors such as manufacturing. Kenya’s…

The Association for Savings and Investment South Africa (Asisa) has taken a significant step forward in enhancing the investment landscape by introducing new categories for unit trusts. This update, which came into effect on October 1, 2024, serves to simplify the performance comparison and risk profiling of the 1,852 local collective investment scheme (CIS) portfolios available to South African investors. Asisa’s senior policy advisor, Sunette Mulder, highlighted that the review of the Fund Classification Standard was prompted by the South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB) decision in 2022 to increase offshore investment limits to 45%. Previously, these limits confined offshore exposure for South African CIS portfolios to 40%, divided into 30% outside South Africa and an additional 10% only in African markets (excluding South Africa). “The previous version of the Standard…

Sunglasses are so much more than a practical accessory for shielding your eyes from harmful UV rays emitted by the sun. They can also make a powerful style statement that can add that extra touch to your outfit. But with so many different shapes, sizes, lenses and frames on the market, choosing the right sunglasses can be a challenge. “Well-fitted sunglasses have the remarkable ability to enhance your facial features, elevate your style and help you exude confidence,” sport and lifestyle brand Oakley said. “When you find the perfect pair that complements your face shape, you’ll not only protect your eyes from UV damage but also radiate poise and sophistication with every step.” To ensure that you have optimal eye protection and look your best, the style experts at Oakley…

Whilst the entire planet is definitely accelerating towards becoming lots of “cities beneath the seas”, due to global warming, (whilst top scientologists, continue calling this deliberate suicide just another “communist plot”). Israel continues digging and searching for graves of its ancestral forefathers, even on Mars, in the vain hope of providing evidence that red blooded Zionists always exclusively owned the whole world, not just this terra-firma. Latest on the Tel Aviv-Gaza-Lebanon-Iran Syria issue: Israel has made some cute conditions for a ceasefire deal. This, in summary, amounts to Hamas being exiled to the darkest forest in Afrika ( Afrika is slightly darker than plain Africa). Hezbollah being deported to East Borneo, with only one rowboat and three oars. No safety buoy or solar powered flashlight. Tel Aviv is absolutely and…

ON tuesday, 29 October 2024, the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service (CSPS) presented a performance update to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Select Committee on Security and Justice, based on their 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan and Budget Allocation. During this session, the Select Committee endorsed the DA’s proposal for the CSPS to investigate the potential implementation of police body cameras across South Africa. The DA urged the CSPS to initiate research and develop policy recommendations or amendments that would mandate body camera use, with clear guidelines on when and how cameras should be deployed. The DA emphasised that this investigation should focus on the potential for body cameras to improve accountability, community trust, transparency in incident reporting and overall police conduct. Recently, the DA disclosed alarming statistics from KwaZulu-Natal,…

A former accountant at a municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, who stole over R6 million, has been sentenced to an effective seven years in jail. Lindiwe Ngomane, 48, was sentenced in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court this week. Her co-accused, Nhlanhla Christian Gumede, 65, and Raphael Mbili, 44, were also sentenced. The fraud took place at the uMkhanyakude Municipality in the Mkuze area, in northern KZN in 2006. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in KZN Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said: “At the time of the offence in March 2006, Ngomane worked as an accountant at the municipality. “During this time, she managed to fraudulently obtain the passwords and credentials of senior officials who were authorised to effect payments on behalf of the municipality. “She then used the said credentials to transfer approximately R6.2…

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has reassured families of the Life Esidimeni victims and advocacy groups that it was “taking the case very seriously”, eight years since the scandal emerged. The promises come after civil organisation Section 27 and bereaved family members, handed over a memorandum at the NPA’s offices in Pretoria on Tuesday, demanding expedited justice and accountability for those implicated in the scandal. “We want to assure the families as well as organisations representing the families of the victims that the NPA takes this matter very seriously and we are in the process of making a thorough, well-informed decision,” said NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana. Earlier this year, Judge Mmonoa Teffo’s inquest findings, implicated Gauteng Health MEC, at the time, Qedani Mahlangu and former Gauteng director for mental health,…

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has introduced new guidelines to regulate vendors selling food to pupils, both on school premises and nearby schools. This comes in response to recent food poisoning incidents affecting pupils in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Seven pupils from Bongucele Secondary School in eMthwalume were hospitalised after falling ill after they ate chips from a local vendor on Wednesday. Last week pupils from Ngaqa Primary School in Mtubatuba fell ill after consuming snacks purchased from a vendor outside the school’s premises. KZN Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka highlighted the importance of protecting students’ health, urging pupils to avoid purchasing from unauthorised vendors. “As a department, we are committed to ensuring the health and safety of all our learners and therefore, discourage our learners from buying food products from unauthorised…

Legacies of slavery, colonisation, capitalism are behind much of the suffering in the world IN 1975, African scholar Chinweizu penned a book that needs to be widely read by all seeking decolonisation and liberation: The West and the Rest of Us: White Predators, Black Slavers and the African Elite. He wrote: “For nearly six centuries now western Europe and its diaspora have been disturbing the peace of the world. Enlightened, through their Renaissance, by the learning of the ancient Mediterranean; armed with the gun, the making of whose powder they had learned from Chinese firecrackers; equipping their ships with lateen sails, astrolabes and nautical compasses, all invented by the Chinese and transmitted to them by Arabs; fortified in aggressive spirit by an arrogant messianic Christianity… and motivated by the lure…

Five years ago, Chevron CEO Michael Wirth won Wall Street acclaim as the No 2 US oil company briefly achieved a market value larger than Exxon Mobil’s after he refused to get into a bidding war with Occidental Petroleum over a rival. He was ahead of the game when the pandemic hit oil and gas demand, forcing rivals to make deep cutbacks that Wirth had tackled at Chevron. Its shares had outperformed rivals for five years until 2022. Fast forward to this year and Wirth’s legacy is in danger. Chevron’s falling earnings no longer cover its dividends and buybacks. Project overruns in Kazakhstan and Australia have cost the company billions. The CEO is also locked in a must-win arbitration battle with Exxon Mobil that has held up his $53…

Israeli police said yesterday that they had arrested an Israeli couple on suspicion of spying for Iran, barely a week after two groups allegedly working for Tehran were detained. “The thwarting of Iran’s efforts to recruit Israelis continues,” said a statement from the police and Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet. The two Israelis, a couple from the central city of Lod, had been involved in gathering intelligence on “national infrastructures, security sites and tracking a female academic,” the statement alleged. “Rafael and Lala Goliev... residents of Lod, were arrested after they carried out tasks on behalf of an Iranian cell that recruits Israelis from the Caucasus countries in Israel.” Police charged that the couple were recruited by Elshan (Elhan) Agayev, an Azerbaijani national acting on behalf of Iranian officials.…

NAIROBI: Kenya’s high court yesterday lifted orders barring the swearing-in of newly appointed deputy president Kithure Kindiki, whose predecessor has launched legal challenges over his removal from office by impeachment. “The office of the deputy president should not remain vacant,” Judge Anthony Mrima said, after the filing of over 30 court cases by Rigathi Gachagua against his ousting. Last month, the Senate voted to uphold five out of 11 charges against Gachagua, including gross violation of the constitution and stirring ethnic hatred, accusations that he has denied and dismissed as politically motivated. | Reuters…

BEIRUT: Hezbollah’s new leader Sheikh Naim Qassem said this week that he would continue the war strategy adopted by his predecessor, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, by supporting the Gaza front. Qassem said that supporting Gaza was essential to confront the threat posed by Israel in the region. “You will certainly be defeated because this is our land. Get out of our lands – if you stay, you will pay a heavy price,” he said, addressing Israelis. “We are liberating Lebanese land when we fight Israel with Lebanese men on our borders. Iran is not using us to fight Israel,” he said. Since September 23, the Israeli army has been conducting an air campaign against Lebanon. | Xinhua…

WHEN Proteas limited-overs coach Rob Walter announced his T20 World Cup squad earlier this year – a squad which had only one black African player in Kagiso Rabada – transformation questions were posed to the 49-year-old. Those queries were warranted, given the targets that Cricket South Africa have in place in terms of soon fielding a national team representative of the demographics of the country. However, Walter was able to get away with such a squad as his team went on to reach the Proteas’ first-ever men’s T20 World Cup final in the Caribbean this past winter – an achievement that caused many to forget about the transformation targets that the coach had failed to meet. Moreover, Walter had every right to select that squad because, ultimately, the transformation targets…

Humans have long been fascinated with the prospect of living longer and achieving extreme longevity. This obsession with longevity can be attributed to several key factors: as mortal beings, we struggle to come to terms with the inevitability of our death. The desire to live longer is often driven by a deep-seated fear of our mortality and a wish to prolong our existence. Of course, over the past century, significant advancements in areas like healthcare, nutrition, and sanitation have led to a steady increase in life expectancy. This has fuelled the belief that we can continue to push the boundaries of human lifespan. Living a long, healthy life has always been a top priority for many people around the world. This might explain why the Netflix documentary series “Live to…

Within each person is a holy place called The Self. It is here, in the deepest recesses of us, that the human spirit, soul, and intellect meld, forming the powerhouse for who each of us is. And the subtle art of self-care (“subtle” because there is a delicate difference between being self-caring, selfish, and self-serving) is fundamental to good mental, emotional and relational health. Appropriate self-care is neither selfish nor self-indulgent. It is not self-centeredness. It is not self-serving. It is self-awareness. It’s self-monitoring, with the firm understanding that each person is responsible for the condition of his or her self. Each of us is responsible for how we relate to all others (to neither dominate nor be dominated). Each of us is responsible for maintaining relationships with other adults…

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana presented a gloomy mid-term budget on Wednesday. Public debt has gone through the roof. The finance minister said the country’s public debt will reach a frightening R6 trillion next year. For every R1 the government collects, 22 cents goes towards servicing debt. It didn’t give the people of the country much hope for the future nor did it excite the markets. In fact, the Rand declined on the grim forecast for the country’s economy. The GDP forecast is expected to be a meagre 1,1% which is not good news for the country’s soaring unemployment problem. Without economic growth there cannot be creation of jobs to reduce the unemployment rate in the country. Yet Godongwana was optimistic that he would arrest fiscal deterioration in the next few…

The belief that men should not cry is a deeply rooted societal theory that has put undue pressure on men to maintain and project an image of being tough and not to show emotion even in the face of adversity. This emotional bottling has led to many undesirable societal outbursts that manifest in gender-based violence and femicide, committing suicide, violent crime and substance abuse, for example. These manifestations have impacted society negatively, and require men to act in many spheres of life in order to make the world a better place to live in. It is heartwarming to see government’s proactive interventions in trying to address the thorny issue of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). What is even more important is the government’s strategy to create a platform where men…

Just two days after 15 undocumented foreign nationals were arrested and more than 100 homeless people were removed and taken in for processing by police from the Albert Park area in Durban, which is known as a crime hotspot, many of them returned. The raid was part of an integrated pre-festive season operation about two weeks ago, which included eThekwini district police, the office of the Premier, Correctional Services, metro police and the Department of Community Safety and Liaison. Speaking to The Mercury yesterday, a 31-year-old homeless man named Sifiso Ngcobo, said two days after they were removed by police from the Albert Park area, they returned. “It is painful, my parents are dead, I have no wife or children and there are so many people living in the family…

A Gauteng attorney, who has been accused of purchasing a 13-year-old girl and regularly raping her while treating her as a sex slave, appeared in the Gauteng High Court this week. Carel Schoeman, 35, an attorney from Heidelberg, pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. The girl’s mother, 38, whose identity cannot be revealed to protect the victim, allegedly sold the child to Schoeman, according to the charge sheet against her. She faces 72 counts, including kidnapping, sexually exploiting children, human trafficking, rape, child abuse and the creation of child pornographic content. She also allegedly put out advertisements of the 13-year-old on pornographic websites, where Schoeman allegedly gained access to the young girl. “An amount of R160 000 was agreed upon. Accused two made a down payment of R24…

THE law firm representing victims impacted by the 2017 listeriosis outbreak says Tiger Brands, which was linked to the outbreak, has yet to compensate families for their medical expenses. On Wednesday, Tiger Brands stated that it was in talks with attorneys representing the families, who have brought a lawsuit, in a bid to agree on assistance to those affected for immediate medical needs related to the outbreak. Richard Spoor Attorneys said the engagements are part of an ongoing process it initiated with the food manufacturer’s legal team from the inception of the litigation in March 2018.Between 2017 and 2018, South Africa recorded the largest listeriosis outbreak, claiming the lives of 218 people and affected at least 1 000 more. The outbreak was allegedly traced to a Tiger Brands facility based…

EightY-five people have died and 181 sustained injuries as a result of operational occurrences between April last year and March this year, according to the latest Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) State of Safety Report. The RSR said the figures in the 2023/2024 report marked a decrease in the Fatality and Injury Rate (FWI) and showed “some improvement in safety protocols” compared to prior years. The report recorded a total number of 2 496 operational occurrences for the period April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024. The report shows that 64 deaths and 49 injuries were recorded as a result of persons struck by trains (PSBT). In the previous year, 69 fatalities and 55 injuries were recorded. A significant number of the PSBT took place in KwaZulu-Natal (41%), Western Cape (21%),…

Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump were to court Hispanic voters yesterday in Nevada, the smallest of the seven swing states expected to play a decisive role in Tuesday’s US presidential election. Hispanics represent about 30% of Nevada’s population and Hispanic voters have traditionally been an area of strength for Democrats. Former president Trump, however, has been gaining ground in the nationally and religiously diverse US Latino population. Nationally, Trump had the support of 38% of registered Hispanic voters in a series of Reuters/Ipsos polls conducted this month, up from 32% at the same point in 2020. Vice-President Harris’s share of Hispanic voters was at 50%, compared with Democratic President Joe Biden’s 54% in October 2020. Singer Jennifer Lopez will speak at a Harris rally in Las Vegas where…

SOCIAL media access in Mozambique was restricted for a second time in a week yesterday, a global internet watchdog said, as the opposition called for nationwide strikes over a disputed presidential election. Tensions were heightened in the southern African nation after the ruling Frelimo party, which has held power for 49 years, won an October 9 vote that opposition parties and electoral observers said was flawed. “We can confirm social media restrictions have been imposed in Mozambique,” London-based internet watchdog NetBlocks said, adding it affected Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Last week Friday, a temporary internet blackout was introduced, a day after election results were announced by the electoral commission and protests were violently suppressed. NetBlocks said at the time that there was a “near-total disruption to mobile internet connectivity in…

MOSCOW: The majority of young people in the US have never considered the opportunity to join the country’s military, Katie Helland, the director of military accession policy at the Pentagon, said this week. The low number of youth who are qualified for military service further complicates the recruitment challenges. Data shows nearly 77% of youth between the ages of 17 and 24 are not qualified for military service without some type of waiver, Helland said. In the 2024 financial year, military recruitment in the US rebounded from the lows of the previous year. By late September, the country’s military welcomed nearly 225 000 new recruits, over 25 000 more than last year. | Sputnik…

LOS ANGELES: Fresh, slivered onions served on Quarter Pounders and other menu items from McDonald’s are the likely source of E coli outbreak in the US, said the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week. Ninety sicken cases caused by E coli have been reported across 13 US states as of Wednesday, including 15 new cases. Among these, 27 were hospitalised and one dead. The CDC said more illnesses have been reported, but they were from before McDonald’s and Taylor Farms took action to remove onions from food service locations. Due to the product actions, the CDC said it believes the risk to the public is very low. | Xinhua…