Pirates ahoy!
For many people, the phrase maritime piracy evokes images of a one-eyed sailor drinking rum and singing obscene songs. For some younger people, piracy may bring to mind the picture of Hollywood actor Johnny Depp, wearing a headband in a scene from the film Pirates of the Caribbean.
The reality is very different - and decidedly unpleasant, and as pirates shift their operations, it seems there is a
a bumpy road to maritime security when combating piracy in West Africa.
On the labelling front, you will no longer see a nurturing mother feeding her happy baby a bottle of formula milk as an advertisement in any newspaper, magazine, on a website or on television. In fact, labelling of formula for babies
has gone bland with a vengeance.
On to cars, where
GMSA is continuing its drive for greener manufacturing and putting 'greener' cars on the road, thanks to significant reductions in the energy used to manufacture each vehicle.
Fancy your talent?
Application forms are now available for the Clover Aardklop National Arts Festival 2014. But don't delay - the deadline for applications for the Clover Aardklop National Arts Festival in Potchefstroom is Monday, 10 February 2014.
And to end... from all of us here at Bizcommunity.com to all of you... our Press Office holders, advertising clients, readers, contributors and subscribers, all the very best for the festive season and for a prosperous, successful and peaceful 2014... it's almost here!
Rod Baker, Content Director
Comment online in our ed's column archive. Go mobile with apps and m.bizcommunity.com. Engage with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+. Subscribe to YouTube and via RSS. Send all your industry-specific news and event invitations to financenews@bizcommunity.com, exclusive opinion pieces to contributors-finance@bizcommunity.com and international news to internationalnews@bizcommunity.com. Read "How to contribute to Biz, from op-ed pieces to news". | |
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 | Risk management is among the fastest growing fields in the finance sector globally, and is set to continue this upward trend as companies recognise the importance of protecting themselves through sound risk management strategies. Read more >>
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 | Commercial property lending is critical to stimulating the development of infrastructure in South Africa, one of the key pillars in the South African National Development Plan (NDP). According to Gary Palmer, CEO of Paragon Lending Solutions, there is a growing need for small to medium-sized businesses to continue to invest in commercial property as it is vital for economic growth. Read more >>
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 | Gillian Jones Sanlam and short-term insurer Santam will work together in emerging markets as the group expands into the rest of Africa‚ and South-east Asia. Read more >>
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 | "It's by now very evident that the game industry of Southern Africa has been growing at a rapid pace, and all indications show that this trend will continue for some years to come," says Gert Pienaar of Kuda. Kuda has aimed to position itself as a major player in this market. Read more >>
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 | Bekezela Phakathi Young South Africans need to change their mindset from looking for a job to creating jobs by starting their own businesses‚ audit and consulting firm Deloitte says. Read more >>
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 | Ubank has announced the appointment of Nohlanga Motaung as the company secretary and legal executive effective from 1 May 2013. Read more >>
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 | According to FNB, students, and their parents, are increasingly turning to student loans to fund their tertiary studies. Read more >>
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 | Joan Muller Despite talk of a looming over-supply of office space and concern about increased road congestion, commercial real estate investors and developers continue to pour billions into the Sandton central business district. Read more >>
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 | Mpho Sibanyoni As the trading of empowerment shares linked to MTN seems to be running on "African time", black investors are left wondering if they will be able to eventually sell their shares. Read more >>
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 | Measured in nominal terms (current prices)‚ motor trade sales increased by 4.4% year-on-year in October‚ after rising 6.3% in September‚ data released by Statistics SA on Thursday (12 December). Read more >>
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 | Joan Muller The JSE's R249bn listed property sector has delivered a muted 7.3% total return for the first 11 months of this year‚ some way off the 17.92% achieved by the All Share index over the same period‚ according to figures released by Cape-based Catalyst Fund Managers. Read more >>
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 | Accelerate Property Fund debuted on the JSE main board on Thursday (12 December) under the real estate holdings and development sector. Read more >>
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 | Measured in real terms (constant 2012 prices)‚ wholesale trade sales increased by 6.0% year-on-year in October after a revised 8.4% (8.3%) rise in September‚ data released by Stats SA on Thursday (12 December) showed. Read more >>
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 | Dr Adrian Saville Ever since the global financial crisis of 2008 the world's advanced economies, that led the way into the crisis, have struggled to get back to their pre-crisis performances. Having spent the last five years recovering, we see glimmers of hope on the economic horizon, but it's not yet time to break out the Moët. Read more >>
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 | Maarten Mittner The latest retail sales data suggest a poor festive season for most households as the level of debt remains high while finances have deteriorated further. Read more >>
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 | Redefine International (RPL)‚ which has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange and a secondary listing on the JSE‚ has completed the acquisition of the Weston Favell Shopping Centre‚ in Northampton in the UK‚ for GBP84m‚ the company said on Thursday, 12 December 2013. Read more >>
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 | James Fungai Maposa Over the last few years the South African government has advocated for the domestic beneficiation of locally mined minerals in an effort to grow the economy and create employment. Read more >>
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 | The current tax system puts small businesses under severe cash flow pressure, and, in certain cases, can lead to their premature closure. This is according to Prof Sharon Smulders, head of Technical Policy and Research at the South African Institute of Tax Practitioners (SAIT). Read more >>
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 | Nicky Smith The Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) said the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) had "fabricated" the number of e-tags in circulation for Gauteng's tolling programme adding that the agency will probably fall short of its revenue requirements. Read more >>
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 | Emile du Toit has been re-appointed as chairman of the board of the South African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SAVCA). Du Toit is the head of Infrastructure Investments at Harith General Partners and has served on the SAVCA board since 2009 and as chairman since 2011. Read more >>
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 | GENEVA, SWITZERLAND: Airlines are expected to post record profits next year, the International Air Transport Association said citing sliding oil prices and mergers for the sector's improving outlook. Read more >>
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 | SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: Car company General Motors said it will close its Holden plants in Australia by 2017, prompting Toyota to review its operations and unions to warn that the local car industry was 'finished'. Read more >>
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 | SHANGHAI, CHINA: Chinese speculators have seen Bitcoin values plunge, soar and plunge again within days, but say the virtual currency's extreme volatility is a profit opportunity despite the white-knuckle ride. Read more >>
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