Latest news with #Erasmus
The Citizen
13 hours ago
- General
- The Citizen
Metro unaware residents buying materials to repair pipes
The Tshwane metro says it is unaware that residents in Waterkloof Glen were forced to buy their own materials to fix a series of burst pipes earlier this month. However, Ward 47 Councillor Lida Erasmus, who was standing in for Ward 83 Councillor Andrew Lesch at the time, sent a message in the community group thanking residents for stepping in with supplies and tools. Erasmus confirmed that residents in Tolstoi Street had to source their own pipe connectors. She also said she personally called her husband to deliver a four-pound hammer to break concrete that was obscuring the pipe. In the message to residents, Erasmus thanked residents who contributed and bought materials. 'Thanks also to the two residents who bought some pipe connections to assist, and the residents who assisted with lights tonight.' She further praised metro workers who stayed on site until late, but made it clear that residents filled in where municipal services fell short. The pipe reportedly burst four times in the same spot, just above the original repair site, and seven times in total over the first weekend of May. Lesch said the situation was unacceptable and unfair to residents. 'It's not right for ratepayers to fund infrastructure with their taxes and then still be expected to buy materials out of pocket,' Lesch said. 'The teams need proper oversight. Someone should be checking whether they have the correct tools and materials before they leave the depot.' Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the metro is not aware of residents buying materials for repairs. 'The city is not aware of residents purchasing materials themselves,' he said. He added that technical teams are always dispatched with the necessary tools. Mashigo explained that the full extent of damage often isn't clear until the pipeline is exposed, which can affect the materials needed. However, he maintained that the metro has internal storage stocked with essential components, and that daily checklists are in place to ensure maintenance teams are equipped. 'All maintenance teams have daily checklists, which ensure that they have all the necessary tools and equipment required for maintenance before they can travel to the sites.' When asked about recurring pipe bursts, Mashigo said the metro has embarked on a programme of replacing aged infrastructure. He added that currently, critical areas are being prioritised, which will be followed by other aged infrastructure that is less critical across the metro. 'There are teams dedicated to areas with critically aged infrastructure to ensure that water leaks are attended to timeously.' ALSO READ: Cable theft in the east costs metro over R4m Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Deal with EU will make food cheaper and add £9bn to UK economy, says No 10
A landmark deal clinched between the UK and EU to remove checks on food exports will add £9bn to the UK economy and lower food prices, No 10 has said, as the last-minute agreement was secured early on Monday morning. Keir Starmer said the deal, billed as a 'historic' turning of the page, delivered the 'reset' he had promised after winning the general election last July. It will grant EU fishers access to British waters for an additional 12 years and pave the way for the removal of checks on British food exports, allowing everything from the 'great British burger to shellfish' to be sold again with ease in the EU, Starmer said. The deal also holds out hope for a return of the UK to the Erasmus university exchange programme, and the creation of a youth mobility scheme that would allow young people to experience the EU through work, study, au pairing or travel. The UK said the deal would make 'food cheaper, slash red tape, open up access to the EU market'. But the trade-off for the deal was fishing access and rights for an additional 12 years – more than the UK had offered – which is likely to lead to cries of betrayal from the industry. The two sides will begin talks on the 'youth experience scheme', first reported in the Guardian, which could mirror existing schemes the UK has with countries such as Australia and New Zealand. The UK said it would be 'capped and time-limited', though there is no agreement yet from the EU on the details. Related: From fishing to Erasmus: what the UK's deal with the EU will mean Central to the agreement is the new agrifoods deal, known as an SPS agreement, which removes red tape on food and drink exports, removing some routine checks on animal and plant products completely. In return, the UK will accept some dynamic alignment on EU food standards and a role for the European court of justice in policing the deal. Starmer, responding to a question at a press conference co-hosted by the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said of the deal: 'It is not about reopening old wounds; it is about turning a new page.' Underlining the political breakthrough behind it, he added: 'The mindset, the mood, the intent are every bit as important as the details.' Von der Leyen said it also sent a message to the world that at a time of great political turbulence, Europe stood together and showed that stability was possible. Starmer and von der Leyen shook hands on the reset deal at Lancaster House just hours after negotiators finished the final three texts. 'It's time to look forward. To move on from the stale old debates and political fights to find common sense, practical solutions which get the best for the British people,' Starmer said. 'We're ready to work with partners if it means we can improve people's lives here at home. 'So that's what this deal is all about – facing out into the world once again, in the great tradition of this nation. Building the relationships we choose, with the partners we choose, and closing deals in the national interest. Because that is what independent, sovereign nations do.' Talks on the deal continued beyond midnight on Sunday with major concessions on both sides. The EU dropped its demand that the SPS deal be time-limited in exchange for a fishing deal lasting until 2038. The government said it would put £360m of modernisation support back into coastal communities as part of the deal, a tacit acknowledgment of the concession. But UK officials said the SPS deal would be a major win for British consumers and should lead to lower food prices and more choice in the supermarkets. It will mean certain products are allowed to be sold in the EU for the first time since Brexit, such as some burgers and sausages, after the 21% drop in exports and 7% drop in imports seen since Brexit. However, Scottish ministers accused the UK government of sidelining Scotland in the fisheries talks despite repeated promises that Westminster would respect its devolved powers and interests. The Scottish government in Edinburgh, which has full devolved powers over fisheries policy in the waters around Scotland, has yet to issue a formal response to the 12-year-long access deal for EU trawlers agreed with the UK. But Angus Robertson, Scotland's external affairs secretary, took to X to lambast Starmer's government, which he said had repeatedly cancelled meetings of the inter-ministerial group for environment, food and rural affairs which includes ministers from all the UK's administrations. Related: How has Britain's economy fared since Brexit? The five charts underpinning the UK-EU summit He said: 'So the UK Government has just reached a 12 year deal on the devolved issue of fishing without any recourse, involvement or approval of Scottish Government and other Devolved Administrations. It follows cancellation of last three EFRA inter ministerial meetings by UK government.' Another agreement reached before the Lancaster House summit will be on linking emissions trading, which the UK said would avoid businesses being hit by the EU's carbon tax due to come in next year. The deal also protects British steel imports from new EU tariffs through a bespoke arrangement, saving about £25m a year. British holidaymakers will also be able to use European gates at airports, ending long holiday queues to use the gates for non-European citizens, and pet passports will be introduced to eliminate the need for animal health checks on each trip. The UK will also now enter formal talks on a number of key topics, including a youth mobility deal, to grant visas for younger Britons and Europeans as well as re-entry to the Erasmus scheme. There will be future talks, too, on access to the EU facial recognition data, a key ask of Starmer as a way of tackling cross-border crime and people-trafficking gangs. But there will be no immediate entry for the UK to the EU's €150bn (£126bn) defence fund to allow UK arms companies to bid for contracts – though the UK said the deal struck on Monday would pave the way for that to happen in the coming months. The UK's chief negotiator, Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Cabinet Office minister, said: 'Today is a historic day, marking the opening of a new chapter in our relationship with the EU that delivers for working people across the UK. 'Since the start of these negotiations, we have worked for a deal to make the British people safer, more secure and more prosperous. Our new UK-EU Strategic Partnership achieves all three objectives. It delivers on jobs, bills and borders. 'Today is a day of delivery. Britain is back on the world stage with a government in the service of working people.'
NDTV
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Eurovision 2025: Why Host City Basel, Switzerland Is The Heart Of European Culture
Basel was in the international spotlight for a week of festivities surrounding the Eurovision Song Contest but the Swiss city has been at the heart of European culture for centuries. With a population of 180,000, Switzerland's third-biggest city after Zurich and Geneva straddles the River Rhine and sits right on the northern border with both France and Germany. Basel's location played a major role in its growth and continental importance through the ages. From May 11 to 17, it was centre-stage in Europe again for hosting Eurovision 2025, the pop music extravaganza that has become one of the world's biggest annual live television events and a giant international party. The influence of the Rhine can be felt in Basel's historic centre, dominated by the twin towers of Basel Minster, where the Dutch thinker Erasmus is buried. But Basel's modern emblems are the two Roche Towers, Switzerland's tallest buildings. Completed in the last decade, standing 205 metres and 178 metres (673 and 584 feet) high, they are the headquarters of the eponymous giant pharmaceutical firm. The chemical and pharmaceutical industries now drive the city's economy. Basel is one of Europe's great centres of culture. The first edition of Sebastian Brant's "Ship of Fools", one of the bestsellers of the European Renaissance, was printed in the city. The Rhine spirit is vividly expressed every spring at the three-day Basel Carnival, which transforms the city streets into a river of painted lanterns, colourful masks and creative costumes, flowing to the sound of pipes and drums. The world's biggest Protestant carnival features on UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list and attracts thousands of tourists. The city has world-renowned museums -- none more so than the Kunstmuseum, the oldest public art collection in the world dating back to 1661. In a referendum in 1967, citizens decided to buy two paintings by Pablo Picasso, who, moved by the vote, would later donate several more works to the city. Across the Rhine, the Museum Tinguely draws in thousands of visitors with its kinetic art sculptures, while just outside the city, the Beyeler Foundation hosts an outstanding collection of modern and contemporary artworks. And every year, art lovers and gallery owners from around the world flock to Art Basel, one of the world's top contemporary art fairs. In sports, Basel is home to tennis all-time great Roger Federer, while FC Basel are on the verge of winning their 21st Swiss football championship. Besides its culture, Basel is now synonymous with the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, home to globally important groups such as Roche, Novartis, Sandoz and Syngenta. The psychedelic drug LSD was created at the Sandoz laboratories there in 1938. Pharma and chemicals make Basel a major player in the Swiss economy, attracting researchers and students as well as cross-border workers. Around 35,000 people cross over from France and Germany, attracted by higher Swiss wages. Basel is the home of the Bank for International Settlements, considered the central bank of central banks. The city is left-leaning, perhaps due to the influence of its university, the oldest in Switzerland, founded in 1460. It has approximately 13,000 students from 100 countries, around a quarter of whom are studying for their doctorates. The city has also lived through major disasters: the great earthquake of 1356 and the Sandoz chemical spill 630 years later. The biggest quake in central Europe in recorded history, and the fires it caused, destroyed a city already ravaged by the Black Death. The 1986 fire at the Sandoz chemical plant on the outskirts of Basel also left its mark due to the ecological disaster caused by toxic chemicals leaking into the Rhine, killing wildlife as far downstream as the Netherlands.
IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
JOSHLIN SMITH SENTENCING: Trio handed to life imprisonment for kidnapping and human trafficking
Jacquen 'Boeta' Appollis, Steveno van Rhyn, and Kelly Smith, were found guilty on May 2 and have been sentenced on Thursday. Image: Ayanda Ndamane In a significant ruling that underscores the brutal realities of crime in South Africa, Jacquen 'Boeta' Appollis, Steveno van Rhyn, and Kelly Smith were sentenced to life imprisonment by the Western Cape High Court on Thursday for their involvement in the harrowing kidnapping of Joshlin Smith. Judge Nathan Erasmus presided over the case and delivered a clear message: there is no room for leniency in the face of such serious crimes. During the sentencing, Judge Erasmus highlighted that he could find no mitigating factors to justify a lesser sentence for the trio, who had shown a complete lack of remorse throughout the trial. 'Ms Smith, we know from February 19, 2024, there has been a lack of concern. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading But, besides some tears yesterday, you have not shown an indication of remorse,' Erasmus remarked. He further asserted that a sentence of imprisonment was the only appropriate response to their transgressions. The judge acknowledged that substances had influenced the defendants during the commission of their crimes. However, he decisively ruled that this could not serve as an excuse for their brutal actions. "You had enough time to speak and come clean," he stated firmly, emphasising the premeditation involved in their actions. A major aspect of the prosecution's case involved a request to add the names of the three criminals to the National Child Protection Register (CPR). This crucial register, maintained by the Western Cape Government in accordance with the Children's Act 38 of 2005, aims to protect children from abuse and neglect. Part A records reported cases, while Part B lists individuals deemed unsuitable to work with minors. Judge Erasmus obliged, reinforcing the importance of safeguarding the vulnerable. For their roles in the kidnapping, each perpetrator received a concurrent 10-year sentence. However, given the severity of their actions, which included human trafficking, they will serve life behind bars—an outcome that advocates hope will serve as a deterrent against similar crimes. The case has sparked widespread discussions on the pressing issue of human trafficking and child safety in South Africa. As communities reflect on this harrowing event, many seek justice and solutions to prevent future occurrences. The sentences are to run concurrently. IOL
The South African
2 days ago
- The South African
BREAKING: Joslin's traffickers sentenced to LIFE in prison
Convicted traffickers Kelly Smith, Jacquin 'Boeta' Appollis, and Steven van Rhyn have been sentenced to life in prison for child trafficking and ten years for kidnapping over the disappearance of Joslin Smith last yeat. The trio received the maximum sentence after their eight-week sentence wrapped up earlier this month. They will now return to Pollsmoor and given their right to apply for leave to appeal. On 19 February 2024, Joslin went missing from her tin shack in the Middelpos informal settlement in Diazville, Saldanha Bay. She is still missing. On Thursday, Judge Nathan Erasmus delivered his sentencing verdict in the Saldanha Bay Multipurpose Centre. Erasmus sentenced the trio to life in prison for child trafficking and imposed a ten-year sentence for kidnapping. The sentences will run concurrently. During the sentencing, Erasmus described Kelly Smith as being 'manipulative' and 'opportunistic'. Jacquin 'Boeta' Appollis was accused of lying during his statement to police. Meanwhile, Steveno van Rhyn, described as a 'menace to society', was cautioned over his lack of rehabilitation and 'poor attitude'. Erasmus said: 'There is nothing I can find that is redeeming than the harshest sentence', based on the 'severity of the crime involving a minor'. He ordered that the offender's names would be added to the Child Protection Register. Erasmus claims his sentence was based on the offender's circumstances, offence, the interest of the community, and the purpose of the sentence. He also focused on the possible rehabilitation of the offenders. Erasmus approached the sentence with 'mercy' and as a 'human being.' However, he added that a 'harsh' prison sentence was the 'only' measure he could see. Erasmus noted the impact the case had on the community, which was riddled with poverty, unemployment, and substance abuse, and also faced social development concerns. He stated that his duty was to protect the rights of children and vulnerable people. Judge Erasmus also revealed his decision on the fourth former accused, turned state witness, Lourentia Lombaard would be made on another court date. Lombaard – who is now a State 204 witness – has stated under oath that Joslin's mother, Kelly Smith, allegedly sold her to a sangoma for R20 000. Charges were withdrawn against Lombaard, who has been granted provisional indemnity from criminal prosecution. However, her credibility was questioned when she admitted to lying to police in a recorded statement after Joslin Smith's disappearance. Her version of events from her March 2024 statement differs from her confession to police in October, when she agreed to turn state witness. During the sentencing proceedings this week, the court has heard the following; Human trafficking expert Marcel van der Watt shared his expert opinion that the trafficking of Joslin was planned and premeditated by her mother. He mentioned Kelly Smith's comments about wanting to sell her daughter months before. He also revealed that Kelly and her co-offender's decision not to testify in court suggested an 'unwillingness or inability to refute the allegations against them'. Probation officer Errol Daniel Pietersen's report on the accused painted a picture of their upbringing, behaviour, and role in society. Kelly was described as 'manipulative', while Steveno van Rhyn was portrayed as being troubled and a 'menace to society'. Jacquin 'Boeta' Apollis was the only one to show emotion and was painted as a quiet and respectable person. However, his drug addiction led him down the wrong path. Victim impact statement from Natasha Andrews, Joslin's 'foster mom'. In it, the Saldanha Bay woman, whose bid to adopt the little girl was halted, described her heartbreak over her disappearance. She also shared that Joslin was indeed loved and wanted by her family. An emotional statement from Kelly Smith's mother, Amanda Smith-Daniels. In it, Amanda accused her daughter of being manipulative, questioned her maternal instincts, and lamented her drug usage. The final arguments by the accused's legal representatives appealed for mitigation in sentencing, given the circumstances and backgrounds. State prosecutors also addressed the court, calling for the maximum sentence to be imposed. During the trial, the court heard several claims by witnesses about what possibly happened to Joslin Smith. Trafficked by a Nigerian. Joslin's Diazville Primary School teacher Edna Maart claimed that Kelly Smith had confided in her that her daughter had been trafficked and was en route to West Africa. Sold for R20 000 to a sangoma. According to state witness Lourentia Lombaard, Kelly allegedly brokered a deal with a sangoma to sell the child for R20 000. 'Hidden' in the informal settlement. Joslin's aunt – Kelly's half-sister Mickeyla Daniels claimed her sibling told her in a phone call: 'My child is in the squatter camp. Someone wanted to buy her, but Saldanha is 'too heated''. Bragging about offers to sell Joslin. According to local pastor Steven Coetzee, Kelly Smith bragged about allegedly receiving offers from undisclosed people who were interested in 'buying' her children. She also claimed that Joslin would make her 'famous' and that Saldanha Bay would look like a 'movie scene'. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
