Michael Andisile Mayalo

iol opinion writer

Santa’s reindeer feeling effects of warming Arctic

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

With less than a month to go until Christmas, Santa Claus is busy preparing, but the warming climate and lack of snow in his Arctic hometown have him worried.

Nothing to show for ‘pioneering’ R9bn Komati project

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

As COP29 ends, AFP reports on a recent visit to Komati, home of Eskom’s decommissioned coal-fired power plant which was shut down two years ago. AFP’s report, originally ...

Planet savers win the Earthshot

Michael Andisile Mayalo and Reuters|Published

Five projects seeking novel solutions to the world’s environmental challenges each won £1 million (nearly R23m) this week.

Nepali women’s flowering prosperity

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

The flower fields of Nepal’s Gundu village glimmer yellow, orange and purple as women harvest blooms, a flourishing industry changing tough village lives by providing ...

Coming to light 30 years after Rwanda horror

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

Lucie PEYTERMANNPictures by Joel Saget and Guillem SartorioJeanne Allaire Kayigirwa was sure she was going to die three times during the Rwandan genocide in which ...

Parkrun turns 20 and turns out millions of people

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

When Paul Sinton-Hewitt created Parkrun, only 13 people turned out at a London park. Twenty years on, millions jog, run or walk 5km every week.

Maggie Smith dies aged 89

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

Oscar-winning British actor Maggie Smith, a star of stage and screen for more than seven decades, died at the age of 89 in hospital in London yesterday, her sons, ...

SA woman celebrates 118th birthday

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

A Western Cape woman celebrated her 118th birthday yesterday (Friday) ‒ making her one of the oldest people in the world ‒ with a small party at her care home.

Bum-breathing mammals, dead fish swimming among 2024 Ig Nobel winners

Wendy Jasson Da Costa and Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

Ig Nobel Prizes dished out to weirdly whacky research.

Mpox vaccines expected to arrive in DR Congo within days: WHO chief

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

A first delivery of mpox vaccines is expected to arrive in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the coming days, the World Health Organization's chief Tedros Adhanom ...

At 87, pope defies expectations with epic tour

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

By embarking aged 87 on the farthest journey of his papacy, Pope Francis is doing something some believed impossible - and seeking to silence those who doubt his ...

Paris 2024 Olympics bid emotional farewell after ‘Seine-sational’ Games

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

France bids farewell to dazzling Paris Olympics after two weeks of celebration and sporting drama.

Olympic torch reaches Tahiti for Paris 2024 surfing event

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

Olympic torch arrives in Tahiti, showcasing locale for 2024 surfing competition.

Five days of mourning for Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

Condolences flooded in from Palestinian militant group Hamas, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and from Syria, all members of the so-called Axis of Resistance against Israel ...

Max Verstappen matches Ayrton Senna pole record at Imola

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

Max Verstappen secured his eighth consecutive pole position in qualifying for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola on Saturday to equal the record of Ayrton Senna. ...

Elon Musk confirms Twitter has become X. com

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

Social network Twitter has fully migrated over to X. com according to Elon Musk.

Ferrari feels right at home at Imola as Charl Leclerc shines and Max Verstappen slithers

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

Charles Leclerc shone in the sunshine while Max Verstappen slithered and grumbled as the Ferrari driver dominated Friday practice at the ...

Lando Norris sees ‘title in bigger picture’, plays down Imola bid

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

Lando Norris has played down his hopes of beating Max Verstappen again in this Sunday's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

This is about me being an advocate for what is right, says Semenya

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

Caster Semenya said yesterday’s hearing at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) into whether the double Olympic champion can be required to lower her testosterone ...

Alex Albon signs new multi-year F1 contract with Williams

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

Alex Albon has committed his long-term future to Williams after it was announced he had signed a ‘multi-year’ contract extension with the British team.

European Rights Court to make final decision on Caster Semenya

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

Caster Semenya’s costly legal marathon entered its last lap on Wednesday, as the highest chamber of the European Court of Human Rights begins a hearing into whether ...

Threat of post-war Gaza anarchy

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

Israelis marked a moment’s silence and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that “our war of independence is not over yet. It continues even today. . . We are ...

Jorge Martin completes 'perfect weekend' as Brad Binder takes 8th at French MotoGP

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

Jorge Martin heads the standings with 129 points, 38 ahead of Francesco Bagnaia who moved into second spot. Marc Marquez is third a further two points back.

Fighting rages across Gaza as UN chief urges ‘immediate ceasefire’

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

UN chief urges ‘an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and an immediate surge in humanitarian aid’

Sanofi and Novavax team up to develop a Covid-flu shot

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

Sanofi and Novavax will be teaming up to sell a Covid vaccine and develop another that combines with a flu shot.