South Africa, World
While you were sleeping: 7 November 2017
Apple's tax dodging revealed, Texas shooter motive uncovered, and Strep-B responsible for 150,000 infant deaths annually.
“Speaking personally, you can have my gun, but you’ll take my book when you pry my cold, dead fingers off of the binding.”
Stephen King
STORY OF THE DAY
Declassified: Apartheid Profits Singapore – Pretoria’s gateway to Asia
By OPEN SECRETS
This is the 15th article in the series, “Declassified: Apartheid Profits”. While researching the recently published book Apartheid Guns and Money: A Tale of Profit, Open Secrets collected approximately 40,000 archival documents from 25 archives in seven countries. This treasure trove contains damning details of the individuals and corporations that propped up apartheid and profited in return. Many of these documents were kept secret until now. Most remain hidden despite South Africa’s transition to democracy. OPEN SECRETS believes that it is vital to allow the public to scrutinise the primary evidence. This week we unpack the diplomatic and military intelligence links between the apartheid regime and Singapore.
Apple’s tax pigeon hole uncovered
Apple was already notorious for dodging taxes, but the Paradise Papers have uncovered the company’s post-Ireland movements. The majority of Apple’s untaxed cash was moved to a tax haven in Jersey, Channel Islands. Facing stiff fines for its tax-related shenanigans in Ireland, the Paradise Papers’ revelation can only pour gasoline on the financial fire for Apple.
Family dispute suspected motive for Texas shooter
An argument with his mother-in-law may be the motive behind 26-year-old Devin Kelley’s shooting spree at a Texas Baptist church. Investigators believe Kelley sent threatening messages to his mother-in-law, who attended the church but was not present at the shooting. Kelley had been dishonourably discharged from the Air Force for assaulting his wife and stepson.
Bono linked to tax avoidance scheme
The Paradise Papers have revealed that the U2 frontman and vocal human rights advocate Bono was involved in a Lithuanian tax scheme. Bono invested in a Lithuanian shopping centre that may well have broken tax rules. Bono reacted to the news, claiming to be “distressed”. In Bono’s defence, it is highly unlikely he was even aware of the $54,500 saved in taxes with his Lithuanian mall scheme.
Group-B strep behind 147,000 infant deaths annually
Researchers have revealed that a bacterial infection found in one in five pregnant women worldwide results in an estimated 147,000 stillbirths and deaths annually. Group B Streptococcus (GBS) currently has no vaccine and exists mostly harmlessly in the intestines of a third of all adults. The study by London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine showed that African pregnant women experienced 54% of GBS infections and 65% of associated deaths.
IN NUMBERS
8
The number of bees required, taking their entire lives, to make a single teaspoon of honey.
FACTS OF THE DAY
Today in 1991 Magic Johnson announces he is infected with HIV. He immediately retires from the NBA.
Baby hippos use the spines of crocodiles as chew toys. More proof of who is
FEATURED ARTICLES
#RWC2023: Squabble, squabble, toil and trouble – tensions rise from other bidders
BY ANTOINETTE MULLER
Weather
BFN: min: 12° max 34°, sunny
CPT: min: 13° max: 18°, cloudy
DBN: min: 14° max: 21°, sunny
EL: min: 14° max: 23°, sunny
JHB: min: 16° max: 31°, sunny
KIM: min: 14° max: 36°, sunny
NLP: min: 16° max: 33°, sunny
MHK: min: 18° max: 35°, cloudy
PMB: min: 13° max: 21°, rainy
PE: min: 13° max: 24°, cloudy
PTA: min: 18° max: 33°, cloudy
Financial Data
Oil=$64.18
Gold=$1,279.71
Platinum=$931.18
R/$=14.10
R/€=16.37
R/£=18.58
$/€=0.86
JSE All Share=59,975.67
DJIA=23,548.42
FTSE 100=7,562.28
Become an Insider