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South Africa

While you were sleeping: 27 May 2016

Drug resistant 'superbug' discovered in the USA, Trump confirmed Republican candidate, and Mourinho deal sealed.
John Stupart
By John Stupart
27 May
Vienna Philharmonic Summer Night Concert

“Language is a poor enough means of communication as it is. So we should use all the words we have.”

– Caitlín R. Kiernan

Story of the Day

Bad Blood: SACP waves red flag on Zuma-Gupta foul play 

The South African Communist Party (SACP) was central to President Jacob Zuma’s rise to power and the fortunes of its leaders rose significantly under his presidency. Now the SACP is at the forefront of the anti-Gupta campaign and is also challenging Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko and his henchman Berning Ntlemeza. The long-running dalliance between Zuma and the SACP appears to be over. The party is now the lone voice against the “premier league” faction and is yanking up the pressure, suggesting that those involved in “state capture” engaged in underhand dealing with the rand, with a little help from a friend in a high place. By RANJENI MUNUSAMY.
Read more

While you were sleeping

Superbug discovered in the US

It had to happen sooner or later, but a 'superbug' resistant to every single form of medication has been discovered in the United States. A 49-year-old woman in Pennsylvania has contracted a urinary tract infection resistant to every single form of antibiotic available. A 'post-antibiotic' world, it seems, is looming large. Read more

Trump becomes Republicans' Chosen One

The Orange Menace has announced that he has surpassed the 1,237 required delegates needed to win the Republican Party's primary race after unbound delegates from North Dakota threw their hats in the ring in support of him. Although sulfur can now be seen issuing forth from cracks in the ground, the actual presidential election looks set to begin in earnest. Read more

ISIL pushed back in Iraq and Syria 

'Slow but steady' has been the mantra this week for Iraqi and Syrian forces mounting a major offensive against ISIL. Progress was announced by Iraqi troops moving at a deliberately slow pace through Fallujah, and of Kurdish and Arab fighters fighting alongside US Special Forces just outside the ISIL bastion of Raqa, Syria. A good week, in other words, for everyone but ISIL and the civilians in their thrall.  Read more

José Mourinho seals the United deal

British media are reporting that José Mourinho has agreed on a deal to take office at Old Trafford. Reports indicate that an official announcement is due on Friday, with Mourinho expected to earn between £10 million ($14 million, €13 million) and £15 million per season. That should cover the first pint then. Read more

In Numbers

31,697

The number of 'dancing grannies': A Chinese dance group who set a world record for the world's largest plaza dance.

Facts of the Day

Today in 1941 the British Royal Navy sank German battleship Bismarck. She was scuttled by her crew, resulting in heavy loss of life, after a sustained attack by the British fleet..

Fact of the day: Wars were forbidden in Ancient Greece a month before the Olympics. This was to allow undisturbed travel by spectators and participants.

Weather & Financial Data

BFN: min: 5° max: 20°, sunny
CPT: min: 13° max: 22°, cloudy
DBN: min: 17° max: 25°, sunny
EL: min: 15° max: 26°, sunny
JHB: min: 6° max: 18°, sunny
KIM: min: 9° max: 22°, sunny
NLP: min: 8° max: 23°, cloudy
PMB: min: 7° max: 24°, sunny
PKN: min: 6° max: 19°, sunny
PE: min: 13° max: 23°, sunny
PTA: min: 7° max: 21°, cloudy

Oil=$49.85
Gold=$1,220.73
Platinum=$992.41
R/$=15.60
R/€=17.43
R/£=22.84
$/€=1.11
JSE All Share=53,921.00
DJIA=17,808.33
FTSE 100=6,265.65
Source

Now on Daily Maverick

FEATURED

Photo: (in the Pic - Minister Blade Nzimande delivering his SoNA<br />speech Debate in parliament). The joint sitting of PArliament to debate<br />President Jacob Zuma's State of the nation address held at the National<br />Assembly, Parliament. 18/02/2015, Siyasanga Mbambani, DoCBad Blood: SACP waves red flag on Zuma-Gupta foul play 
By Ranjeni Munusamy
Photo: South African motorists wait in line at a petrol station on the<br />eve of a 41 cents per litre price hike for petrol in Cape Town, South<br />Africa, 01 March 2011. EPA/NIC BOTHMADA calls for criminal inquiry after R5 billion sale of SA's strategic fuel reserves 
By Marianne Thamm
Photo: Uber drivers wait at Airport Industria for their next ride.<br />(Photo: Kimon de Greef)GroundUp: Uber and Out in Cape Town 
By GroundUp
Photo: Protesters in Ennerdale south of Johannesburg. Photo: JMPDEnnerdale protests: Trust lost is hard to regain 
By Greg Nicolson
Photo: A man walks in front of burning tires during on going clashes<br />with police forces in Bekkersdal near Johannesburg, South Africa, 24<br />October 2013. EPA/KIM LUDBROOKOperation Rescue SA: Possible, doable, feasible? 
By Marelise van der Merwe
Photo: Dylan's The Times They Are A-Changin' 1964 album cover.Idiot wind: At 75, Dylan’s prophecies are (probably) fulfilled 
By Kevin Bloom
Photo: Speaker of parliament Baleka Mbete (R) listens during a debate<br />in parliament Cape Town, South Africa, 05 April 2016. EPA/NIC BOTHMAParliamentary Diary: Cabinet keeps its concerns to itself 
By Marianne Merten
Photo: Children play in Happy Valley, Cape Town, South Africa, 05 May<br />2016. Happy Valley in the greater Blue Downs area is one of the poorest<br />communities on the Cape Flats an area dubbed the apartheid dumping ground.<br />EPA/NIC BOTHMAStatus report on SA youth: The good, the bad and the ugly 
By Marelise van der Merwe
Photo: Beach goers walk in front of the Koeberg power facility in Cape<br />Town, South Africa 21 January 2011. EPA/NIC BOTHMAAnalysis: Awaiting ConCourt's decision on Eskom's R5bn nuclear contract 
By AIMEE CLARKE
Photo: A South African woman and resident of Masiphumelele walks with<br />her child after a fire devastated parts of the informal shack settlement in<br />Cape Town, South Africa, 29 November 2015. EPA/NIC BOTHMAGroundUp: Bathabile Dlamini wins children's grants battle with Lion of Africa 
By GroundUp
South African school children from Chris Hani High dance during Africa<br />Day celebrations at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town, South Africa, 25 May<br />2016. Africa Day is celebrated across the continent each year on 25 May to<br />celebrate the 1963 founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). On<br />this day in 1963, 30 leaders of the 32 independent African states signed a<br />founding charter in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which later led to the current<br />organization known as the African Union (AU). EPA/NIC BOTHMAWhile you were sleeping: 26 May 2016 
By John Stupart

OPINIONS

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By OLUSEGUN OBASANJO
mark-heywood.jpgMy 17th Comrades: It is all about the race – human race 
By Mark Heywood
gustav-swart.jpgWhite privilege, pride and prejudice 
By Gustav Swart

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