Chaos and violence are on the rise in the UK a year after the PM declared a war on gang culture, a study revealed. Police aggression and a refusal to tackle the root causes of delinquency are reportedly the main issues hindering the initiative. On Monday, the Center for Social Justice (CSJ) released a damning
Oz lauds ‘Asian Century’
Julia Gillard has committed to 25 far-reaching goals over the next 13 years designed to tighten links with Asia and ensure that Australians are able to exploit the region’s “staggering” growth. The measures, outlined in a report by a government-appointed taskforce, include offering thousands of scholarships to Asian students, new diplomatic posts across the region
South Africa turns to hydropower
Cabinet announced yesterday it had approved a treaty between SA and the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the development of the Grand Inga hydroelectric project. The project to exploit the Congo River for hydropower of 40,000 MW — nearly the size of SA’s current installed capacity — would be developed in phases. The additional
Cheating on genetic traits
Before and after cheating genetic traits Many people are used to returning merchandise if they find that it doesn’t match their needs. But one Chinese man went a step further, and returned his wife – getting $120,000 in a court settlement. Jian Feng, living in Northern China, has filed for divorce from his wife after
Why Zuma dropped Zapiro charges
President Jacob Zuma withdrew his claim for damages against cartoonist “Zapiro” to avoid setting a legal precedent, the presidency said on Sunday. “The president… would like to avoid setting a legal precedent that may have the effect of limiting the public exercise of free speech, with the unforeseen consequences this may have on our media,
SA to deploy reservists in Mali, DRC
Civilians who have undergone military training could soon be called up for active service and be deployed on potentially deadly peace-keeping operations. The South African army – already overstretched by peacekeeping deployments across the continent – is fast preparing for the deployment of hundreds of additional troops, including civilian reservists, to peacekeeping missions. There are
SA needs hate crime legislation
South Africa needs special legislation for all forms of hate crimes, a conference on crime in Sandton heard on Thursday. “It would be helpful to have hate crime legislation because it would focus the police minds when investigating, prosecutors when prosecuting, judges when passing sentences,” said Kerry Williams, partner at law firm Webber Wentzel. “And
Four men, including policeman, arrested for robbery
Four men, including a police officer, were arrested as they allegedly tried to rob a house in Jeppe, Johannesburg police said on Thursday. They were caught when they arrived at the house belonging to a businessman on Macdonald Street, after police were tipped off on Wednesday morning, Lt-Col Lungelo Dlamini said. The men were found
Read more: Four men, including policeman, arrested for robbery
SA suffering a ‘crisis of confidence’
Since 1994, the South African currency’s value has correlated with the emerging market index, the result of its status the currency of reference across emerging markets. “It seems now like the market is starting to think that South Africa’s internal challenges are compromising the rand’s role as the ‘dollar of emerging markets’,” says Peter Armitage,
‘Inequality causes violence’ – academic
Gender and economic inequality are prevalent in violent societies, a conference on crime reduction heard on Thursday. “South Africa is one of the wealthiest countries in Africa, but we also have one of the highest levels of violence,” said KwaZulu-Natal University academic Anthony Collins. “There are African countries that are poor, for instance Malawi, but
African politician caught with monkey meat at Roissy airport
French customs officials on Thursday fined former Central African prime minister Martin Ziguele after he was found carrying 11.8 kilograms (26 pounds) of bushmeat, mainly monkey, on his arrival at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport. Investigators said the meat “mainly of a protected species”, was in his luggage when he arrived on an Air France
Read more: African politician caught with monkey meat at Roissy airport
There will never be real debate in America
God help them if Obama and Romney ever had to participate in a real debate about a real issue at the Oxford Union. They would be massacred. The “debates” revealed that not only the candidates but also the entire country is completely tuned out to every real problem and dangerous development. For example, you would
Scottish independence could end UK’s nuclear deterrent
A unilateral nuclear disarmament could be forced on Britain if Scotland becomes independent in 2014, a government report says. Along with Scotland, the UK would lose the only naval base capable of hosting Trident nuclear-carrying submarines. In the new report, the Commons Scottish Affairs Committee warned that Edinburgh’s desire to remove Trident submarines from its
Read more: Scottish independence could end UK’s nuclear deterrent
Mining deaths a joke to police chief
Riah Phiyega National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega reportedly laughed and joked as footage of the killing of 34 miners in a clash with police was screened at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry, The Times reported on Wednesday. Phiyega reportedly joked with a state law adviser as a prelude to the killings was screened at the