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While you were sleeping: 8 June 2017

While you were sleeping: 8 June 2017

Knysna's fires continue, UK goes to the polls, and Comey to reveal Trump meeting info.

Thursday, 8 June 2017

“When we are young, the words are scattered all around us. As they are assembled by experience, so also are we, sentence by sentence, until the story takes shape.”
Louise Erdrich

 
 

In its latest press release, the Youth League has pointed to foreign nationals as being “mainly” to blame for drug crime. Add this to a barrage of xenophobic statements made by new Police Minister Fikile Mbalula, and South Africans could be forgiven for thinking that a campaign is taking shape. 

 
 
 

Knysna fires blaze on

As the wind and rain in Cape Town dies down, the fires raging in and around Knysna have continued unabated. With the town largely evacuated and its residents moved to safety, attention by rescue services now turns to saving the town from wholesale damage. With winds too strong for helicopters to aidfirefighterss, it is up to the women and men on the ground to do their best.

 

The UK goes to the polls

The United Kingdom will be voting on who gets to negotiate Brexit today. Aside from the diplomatic and economic molasses that Brexit represents, it appears as though counter-terrorism policy is now a major factor weighing on voters’ minds. Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn, both of whom look a bit like they are comprised of sacks of spiders in a thin veil of human skin, are not actually candidates. Rather, voters will be electing their local MPs, which in turn will either empower or disenfranchise either leader.

 

North Korea launches cruise missiles

Dear Leader has launched multiple surface-to-ship cruise missiles today. In defiance of ongoing sanctions, and clearly not giving a damn about regional demands for calm, the missile launches were a clear signal to regional leaders, and the United States, that North Korea’s still around, making missiles while starving its population.

 

Comey testimony to offer up FBI Trump cards

“I need loyalty, I expect loyalty.” According to ex-FBI director James Comey, President Donald Trump made the awkward demand in a January meeting. This, combined with his pressuring for the dropping of any charges against Michael Flynn should be highlights in today’s testimony by Comey. All that is required now is an angsty Jared Kushner taking a lightsaber to the younglings and the state devolution of the White House will be complete.

 
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IN NUMBERS

95

The percentage of those of European origin whose maternal roots can be traced to one of seven women who lived between 10,000 and 45,000 years ago.

 

FACTS OF THE DAY

Today is World Ocean’s Day.

Karl Marx’s resting place has an entry fee.

 

FEATURED ARTICLES

OPINIONISTAS

Johannesburg is entering a new phase in its life

A column by ORESTI PATRICIOS

 
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Weather
BFN: min: -1° max 10°, cloudy
CPT: min: 8° max: 14°, rainy
DBN: min: 16° max: 22°, sunny
EL: min: 14° max: 19°, cloudy
JHB: min: 1° max: 16°, sunny
KIM: min: -1° max: 11°, sunny
NLP: min: 5° max: 26°, sunny
PMB: min: 6° max: 21°, cloudy
PE: min: 13° max: 16°, rainy
PTA: min: 2° max: 18°, sunny

Financial Data
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FTSE 100=7,478.62

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