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While you were sleeping: 13 May 2016

While you were sleeping: 13 May 2016

Top Hezbollah commander dead in Syria, Obamacare dealt a blow, and Eurovision 2016 tweaks itself.

TGIF, 13th May
 
“I’ll try anything once, twice if I like it, three times to make sure.” 
 Mae West
 

Story of the Day

Chasing butterflies and bogeymen: Mantashe beats ‘regime change’ drum 

If people like ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe, State Security Minister David Mahlobo and Deputy Defence Minister Kebby Maphatsoe are to be believed, South Africa’s misfortune is being plotted in faraway capitals and being executed here by citizens who are highly paid agents. It seems to be a preferable story to tell rather than to accept that South Africa is caught in a vortex of really bad political leadership that is continuously triggering social and economic turbulence. But why tell the truth and let Hollywood have all the fun producing make-believe political thrillers? By RANJENI MUNUSAMY.
Read more

While you were sleeping

Hezbollah commander dead

The terrorist organisation has announced the death of key leader. Mustafa Badreddine has been reported as having died in Syria, with little further information indicating how this happened. Badreddine was one the five accused of the assassination of Rafic Hariri, the former prime minister of Lebanon. Given Badreddine’s line of work, and the fact that he died Syria, his could well have been a violent end. Read More

Obamacare dealt a blow

Just months before President Barack Obama is set to leave the White House, his flagship policy, Obamacare, was struck a major blow. A federal judge has ruled that at least two provisions in the healthcare policy violate the US constitution. While welcome news to Republicans, this is likely a devastating blow for the thousands of Americans who have enjoyed the benefits of Obamacare thus far. Read more

Trump’s butler calls for Obama’s death

The Orange Menace’s former butler has been exposed as having ranted on social media about killing the president. Calling President Barack Obama “infested scum” who should be “hung for treason” were among the tamer of 84-year-old Anthony Senecal’s comments. This was astounding both in that Donald Trump had a butler, and that an 84-year-old knew how to use social media. Read more

Sweden all set for Eurovision

Eurovision 2016 will launch this Saturday with a few important changes. The flags of Palestine, Kosovo and Spain’s Basque region have all been forbidden in an attempt to depoliticise the contest, which sees several healthy inter-European rivalries going on. In addition, a panel of judges will help defuse the emotionally charged viewer-based voting system. Read more
 

In Numbers

8

The number of languages spoken by Nikola Tesla.

Facts of the Day

Today in 1943 German Afrika Korps and Italian troops surrendered fully to the Allies.

Fact of the day: There are no veterans of World War l alive today.

Weather & Financial Data

BFN: min: 11° max: 21°, rainy
CPT: min: 12° max: 20°, cloudy
DBN: min: 19° max: 28°, cloudy
EL: min: 19° max: 26°, cloudy
JHB: min: 9° max: 25°, cloudy
KIM: min: 12° max: 18°, rainy
NLP: min: 8° max: 27°, sunny
PMB: min: 10° max: 27°, cloudy
PKN: min: 10° max: 26°, sunny
PE: min: 16° max: 23°, cloudy
PTA: min: 12° max: 26°, sunny

Oil=$47.74
Gold=$1,270.55
Platinum=$1,051.75
R/$=15.03
R/€=17.11
R/£=21.73
$/€=1.14
JSE All Share=51,458.48
DJIA=17,737.93
FTSE 100=6,104.19
Source

Now on Daily Maverick

FEATURED

Photo of Gwede Mantashe by Greg Nicolson / Daily Maverick. Chasing butterflies and bogeymen: Mantashe beats ‘regime change’ drum 
By Ranjeni Munusamy
Photo: President Jacob Zuma and CEO Brian Molefe address the media
during his monitoring visit to the state owned power utility, 6 May 2016.
(Photo: GCIS) Future’s so bright, we gotta wear shades: Outages may be a thing of the past, says Eskom’s Brian Molefe 
By Marianne Merten
Main photo: Elvira R. Karaeva Elvira Karaeva: The story of the Russian Spy That Wasn’t 
By Jasmine Opperman
Photo: Former gold miners listen to speakers at a registration meeting
in Bizana in South Africa's impoverished Eastern Cape province March 7,
2012. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings Analysis: Judgment day for silicosis class action application 
By Greg Nicolson
Aliseev-Cold-Case.jpg ‘Cold Case’ Alex: Finding the truth among angels and demons 
By Alex Eliseev
Photo of Raymond Suttner by Ivor Markman. Op-Ed: Democracy beyond electoralism 
By Raymond Suttner
Photo: Speaker of Parliament Baleka Mbete reacts during a debate in
parliament Cape Town, South Africa, 05 April 2016. EPA/NIC BOTHMA Speaker Mbete: ‘Nothing untoward about Mgidlana’s overseas tour’ 
By Marianne Merten
Photo: Supporters of the expelled students protest on UCT plaza. By
DAILY MAVERICK CHRONICLE. ‘UCT is winning’: Judgment with costs leaves RMF protesters demoralised 
By Daily Maverick Chronicle
Photo: A picture made available on 12 May 2016 shows Philippine
President-elect Rodrigo Duterte speaking to supporters during a rally in
Manila, Philippines, 07 May 2016. EPA/RITCHIE B. TONGO Analysis: The real Mad Men of world politics 
By J Brooks Spector
Photo: Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez (C), flanked by ELN
(National Liberation Army) Peace Negotiation Team members Pablo Beltran (L)
and Maria Elena Velazco (2-R), speaks during a press conference, at the
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry facilities, in Caracas, Venezuela, 30 March
2016.  EPA/MANAURE QUINTERO ICG: National Liberation Army joins Colombia’s search for peace 
By International Crisis Group
Jury member Rudolf G. P. M. Van Nunen of Turkey tastes a dish during
the European Final of Bocuse d’Or cuisine contest in Budapest,
Hungary, 11 May 2016. The best chefs of twenty European countries compete
to become members of the eleven-member group to advance to the 2017 World
Final in Lyion, France. The two main dishes the contentants must prepare
are made of Hungarian sterlet, its caviar and Hungarian red deer fawn.
EPA/TAMAS KOVACS HUNGARY OUT While you were sleeping: 12 May 2016 
By John Stupart

OPINIONS

Profile-pic-Micah-Reddy.jpg Spinning for the doctor, Independent Media’s campaign against critics reeks of dishonesty 
By Micah Reddy
Mmusi-Maimane.jpg False claims create fear among the electorate and deflect them from the real debate 
By Mmusi Maimane
dirk-de-vos.jpg Payouts, Facts and Profits: Odd media threesome share an uncomfortable bed 
By Dirk de Vos
Siya-Khumalo.jpg SAA: Vigilance in a time of Darkness 
By Siya Khumalo
Gallery

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