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While you were sleeping: 18 May 2016

While you were sleeping: 18 May 2016

Clinton edges closer in Kentucky, Trump values himself, largely, and van Gaal booed off Old Trafford.

“The masses are only to be regarded as one of three things: either as copies of great personalities, bad copies, clumsily produced in a poor material, or as foils to the great, or finally as their tools.”

 Georg Brandes

 

Story of the Day

Stop ‘subversion of democracy’: Gordhan’s warning as Zumocracy picks up pace 

Another day of violence in South Africa’s Parliament, another session with President Jacob Zuma offering puzzling answers to questions on Nkandla. It could perhaps be just another day in paradise if you were deaf to the alarm bells being rung by Pravin Gordhan, Robert McBride, Anwa Dramat and Ivan Pillay about the menacing threat to our democracy. In a worrying statement, Gordhan appealed to South Africans to “protect” National Treasury staff. Meanwhile Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has warned there will be no peace until Zuma leaves office. By RANJENI MUNUSAMY.
Read more

While you were sleeping

Clinton edges closer to Kentucky win

Hillary Clinton maintained a small lead over Bernie Sanders as voting for the Kentucky primary concluded. For Clinton, the win would add momentum to her campaign and help seal the coffin on the Sanders’ train. For the Bern, a win would allow at least some hope of life for his prospects. Read more

Venezuela gripped by state of emergency 

Venezuela’s opposition has urged all citizens to ignore President Nicolas Maduro’s declaration of a state of emergency. Maduro pinned the move on food shortages, but opposition members on Tuesday called the declaration the result of corruption and mismanagement. Maduro, in turn, blamed US “forces”. Sound familiar? Read more

Trump estimates his worth at $10bn

The Orange Menace has placed his financial value at $10 billion, fully twice than most independent estimates have him pegged at. The figure was given by Trump in his personal financial disclosure (PFD) form from the Federal Election Commission. The inflated figure was not based on any actual earnings, however, as Trump has refused to release his tax information until an ‘audit’ is completed. Read more

Van Gaal booed off Old Trafford

Despite beating beating Bournemouth 3-1 in Tuesday’s delayed game, Manchester United finished fifth in the Premier League. Manchester United required a 19-goal lead to qualify fourth, and for the final Champion’s League spot. Van Gaal’s post-match address and walk around the stadium was punctuated with chants of, “You’re getting sacked in the morning!” Read more
 

In Numbers

2,643,342,240

The distance in miles travelled by the International Space Station. It has achieved its 100,000th orbit.

Facts of the Day

Today is World Aids Vaccine Awareness Day. The intention of this day is to promote the continuous quest towards developing a vaccine for Aids.

Fact of the day: Grass makes your skin itch because the blades are actually making tiny cuts.

Weather

Financial Data

BFN: min: 9° max: 23°, sunny
CPT: min: 15° max: 21°, rainy
DBN: min: 19° max: 25°, cloudy
EL: min: 17° max: 29°, cloudy
JHB: min: 8° max: 23°, sunny
KIM: min: 11° max: 24°, sunny
NLP: min: 8° max: 26°, sunny
PMB: min: 7° max: 24°, cloudy
PKN: min: 9° max: 24°, cloudy
PE: min: 15° max: 24°, cloudy
PTA: min: 9° max: 24°, sunny

Oil=$49.33
Gold=$1,278.90
Platinum=$1,053.35
R/$=15.58
R/€=17.62
R/£=22.51
$/€=1.13
JSE All Share=52,528.84
DJIA=17,515.22
FTSE 100=6,167.77
Source

Now on Daily Maverick

FEATURED

Photo: South African President Jacob Zuma looks on before delivering
an address in Polokwane, South Africa, December 20, 2007. REUTERS/Siphiwe
Sibeko/File Photo Stop ‘subversion of democracy’: Gordhan’s warning as Zumocracy picks up pace 
By Ranjeni Munusamy
Photo: Judge President John Hlophe during his hearing by the Judiciary
Service Commission ( JSC) in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 30 July 2009
Photo: Oupa Nkosi (Sapa) Judge Hlophe misconduct charges: ConCourt breakthrough ruling allows judges to be held accountable 
By Marianne Thamm
Photo: Robert McBride, Ivan Pillay and Anwa Dramat Independent state institutions should be supported in fighting corruption 
By Daily Maverick Staff Reporter
Photo: Party leader Julius Malema and members of his Economic Freedom
Fighters (EFF) clash with Parliamentary security as they are evicted from
the chamber in Cape Town, South Africa, May 17, 2016. REUTERS/Mike
Hutchings Parliamentary Trenches: Hard hats and hardened attitudes 
By Marianne Merten
Photo: Party leader Julius Malema and members of his Economic Freedom
Fighters (EFF) clash with Parliamentary security as they are evicted from
the chamber in Cape Town, South Africa, May 17, 2016. REUTERS/Mike
Hutchings EFF: Out of Parliament (again) and into the communities 
By Greg Nicolson
Photo: Joseph Kabila Kabange (R), President of the Democratic Republic
of the Congo, during a meeting with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter
Steinmeier (not pictured), in Kinshasa, 19 February 2015. EPA/MICHAEL
KAPPELER ISS Today: As Kabila eyes another term, the AU must speak up 
By Stephanie Wolters
Main photo: Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi speaks during the Stop
TB Conference in Cape Town, 31 January 2014. (Photo: GCIS) GroundUp: Treatment for everyone with HIV will mean fewer new infections 
By GroundUp
Photo:  President Jacob Zuma and Communications Minister Faith
Muthambi, together with the SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoaneng celebrate the launch
of the SABC 24 hour News channel expansion at Gallagher Convention Centre.
(Photo: GCIS) Analysis: Is president taking public opinion seriously? 
By Stephen Grootes
Main photo: Monganeli Thabana, who moved to Grabouw from the Eastern
Cape, saves a part of his home while the Anti-Land Invasion Unit tears
apart another behind him. Photos by Ashraf Hendricks GroundUp: ‘We are sitting here, lost’ – Siyanyanzela residents face uncertain future 
By GroundUp
Photo: New York Yankees infielder Mark Teixeira (R) celebrates with
New York Yankees outfielder Chris Young (C) and New York Yankees infielder
Brendan Ryan (L) after driving them in with a grand slam home run against
the Chicago White Sox in the second inning of their MLB game at US Cellular
Field in Chicago, Illinois, USA, 31 July 2015. EPA/TANNEN MAURY Debunking the pressure myth, the New York Yankees way 
By Daniel Gallan
Photos by Marianne Merten. Violence, Inc: Parliament in Chaos as ‘bouncers’ act against EFF MPs 
By Marianne Merten
Screen-Shot-2016-05-17-at-74505-AM.png While you were sleeping: 17 May 2016 
By John Stupart
Review-Heywood-With-Spain.jpg Review: Spain In Our Hearts – the nobility, tragedy, treachery, hypocrisy and barbarity of the war 
By Mark Heywood

OPINIONS

Pierre de vos Is there any legal basis for investigating Pravin Gordhan? 
By Pierre de Vos
Bantu-Holomisa-for-column.jpg Zuma’s worrisome behaviour on the Gordhan-SARS saga 
By BANTU HOLOMISA
Michael-Fridjhon.jpg The Economics of Wine Production: Short-term gains risk a long-term wasteland 
By Michael Fridjhon
Gallery

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