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While you were sleeping: 5 April 2017

ANC to decide its direction, Syrian gas attack kills dozens, and Marmite good for your brain.
John Stupart
Aistrikes kill at least 21 and injure dozens in Douma, witnesses

Wednesday, 5 April 2017

“If you can walk away from a landing, it’s a good landing. If you use the airplane the next day, it’s an outstanding landing.”
Chuck Yeager

 
 

STORY OF THE DAY

The Zuma Dilemma: Hell No, he just won’t go!

By RANJENI MUNUSAMY

The ANC is facing a bombardment of calls demanding that President Jacob Zuma step down, be recalled or voted out in Parliament. The ANC’s stalwarts and military veterans, as well as alliance partners, the South African Communist Party (SACP) and Cosatu, are also ratcheting up the pressure with calls for Zuma to go. But Zuma’s supporters are fighting back, arguing that the ANC should close ranks and lashing out at those who criticised Zuma’s Cabinet reshuffle, including the party’s top officials. A meeting of the ANC’s national working committee (NWC) on Tuesday night appears to have swayed in Zuma’s favour, meaning that the ultimate Teflon man might wriggle out once again. For now. 

 
 
 

All eyes on the ANC today

The country's gaze will descend upon Luthuli house today. With it will be possibly the most important press briefing of the organisation's post-apartheid history. With pro-Zuma lackeys already claiming a Tuesday NWC meeting decided to support Zuma until his departure in 2019, there remains a glimmer of hope that the party once characterised for railing against injustice might find its struggle roots once more.

 

Outrage at Syrian chemical weapons attack

A Syrian chemical attack against a rebel-held north-west Syrian town on Tuesday has left dozens dead. With 58 civilians dead in the town of Khan Sheikhun, the Security Council is scheduled to meet today to discuss possible actions to take against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime. A regime which the United States just this week decided not to focus on changing any more.

 

North Korea fires another missile

A medium-range ballistic missile was fired by North Korea into the Sea of Japan overnight. The United States confirmed the launch and responded with Rex Tillerson stating: "The United States has spoken enough about North Korea. We have no further comment." Whether anything will be done about the launch, however, remains unlikely.

 

Marmite good for your brain

The yeast-based jar of delicious goodness or the hellish vessel of dark portent and bitter tastes, depending on your viewpoint, is undeniably good for you, brain science says. A new report by psychologists at the University of York in northern England has determined that a spoonful of Marmite a day left test subjects with higher levels of brain chemicals associated with healthy heads. Is it worth the price of eating Marmite? Science cannot answer such a mystery of life.

 
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IN NUMBERS

6,000

The number of pieces of lego used in a replica Taj Mahal, the largest such lego replica thus far.

 

FACTS OF THE DAY

Today in 1956 Fidel Castro declares war against Cuban President Fulgencio Batista.

Ireland does not allow the sale of alcohol on Good Friday.

 

FEATURED ARTICLES

Ordinary People: Zuma’s Time is Up

BY BC SIMELANE, A MULLER & LD DOUGAN

 

OPINIONISTAS

DA Smoke and mirrors: Zille is going nowhere

A column by DAVID KA-NDYALVAN

 
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