21 May 2013

Science & Technology

Cloaks without daggers?

Minister of State Security Siyabonga Cwele says that a solid case is being built against South Africans suspected of having links with terrorist groups such as Al-Shabaab; arrests can be expected soon. In passing, however, he also mentioned that the government wants to recruit more spies. That begs the question for some: what for? It also makes some people wonder... given the fact that we have an air force that cannot fly many of its aircraft, and an army that ... well ... hasn't fared too well recently, and a navy that has its subs up on blocks, will our budding 007s be properly trained and equipped to do the job? Or will it be a case of cloaks without daggers.

Durban says, "Yes, we iCANN!" and the city's exclusive internet namespace .durban is on its way after passing its first ICANN hurdle.

One wedding and a whitewash? Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Jeff Radebe has said that the probe into the Waterkloof incident is to continue. However, a number of commentators believe that the so-called "probe" is little more than a whitewash to protect Jacob Zuma and an assortment of cabinet ministers, with officials taking the heat in their stead.

There's nothing like trying to get the message across... the WWF and TRAFFIC are targeting rhino horn consumers, particularly in Vietnam, as part of their global campaign against illegal wildlife trade. The bodies have developed a series of advertisements to discourage Vietnamese citizens from buying or consuming rhino horn.

Well, good luck and we hope it works, but in the meantime, efforts to stop the poaching must be stepped up, the kingpins be arrested and sentenced to rot in jail, and perhaps local communities around our game reserves be involved in some sort of system that rewards them for reporting suspect activities and people in their areas.

Rod Baker, Content Director

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Weekly top stories

Construction of MeerKat kicks off - Hanekom
CAPE TOWN: The construction of the 64-dish MeerKat satellite dishes - a precursor of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project - has commenced, the Minister of Science and Technology Derek Hanekom said on Thursday, 16 May 2013. Read more >>

Editorial news

Science & Technology
BMW donates educational display cars
Five science centres in different provinces have each been donated a BMW 3 Series educational display car by BMW South Africa. Each centre is supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The donation is aimed at stimulating learning in maths, science, engineering and technology. Read more >>

SOEs exploring set-asides for small firms, black industrialists
Minister of Public Enterprises Malusi Gigaba is considering putting in place set-asides from the growing procurement spend of state-owned enterprises for small businesses and black industrialists to help transform the economy. Read more >>


Technology
Construction of MeerKat kicks off - Hanekom
CAPE TOWN: The construction of the 64-dish MeerKat satellite dishes - a precursor of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project - has commenced, the Minister of Science and Technology Derek Hanekom said on Thursday, 16 May 2013. Read more >>

LG launches LG Cloud service
LG Electronics (LG) has launched its own LG Cloud service in South Africa, which is now available on LG Smart World. The service, which was first launched in the US, South Korea and Russia last year, will roll out the TV-centric service in more than 40 countries in Europe, Asia, Central Asia and Latin America by the end of the month. Read more >>

Tusker research goes social
[Janine Erasmus] Conservation-minded folk can participate in the Amarula Elephant Research Programme (AERP) through a new Facebook app that allows them to track their favourite jumbo, learn more about its habits, and share its movements with others, thereby raising awareness of the importance of protecting the magnificent beasts. Read more >>

Solar Capital signs R11.5 billion contract with DoE
Solar Capital has recently signed its second Independent Power Purchase Agreement with the Department of Energy. This second Solar Capital project, which will be built at De Aar in the Northern Cape, will mean an additional investment of R2.5 billion and will employ more than 700 people during construction and 200 thereafter. Read more >>


International
Climate change warnings may be invalid
PARIS: A global warming "pause" over the past decade may invalidate the harshest climate change predictions for the next 50 to 100 years, a study said on Sunday (19 May) - though levels remain in the danger zone. Read more >>

More International...


Government
Hydrogen fuel cells to be made in SA
Government is aiming to drive up demand for platinum by developing hydrogen fuel cell technology, Science and Technology Minister Derek Hanekom said on Thursday (16 May). Read more >>

More Government news...


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