Newsdeck
While you were sleeping: 15 November 2017
Coup rumours abound in Harare, shooting kills four in California, and peanut allergy patch shows promise.
Wednesday, 15 November 2017
“A successful coup ain’t a treason.”
Toba Beta
STORY OF THE DAY
Parliament: Captured? ‘I do not take instructions from anybody’ – Lynne Brown
By MARIANNE MERTEN
Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown on Tuesday took issue after being described as “captured” before Parliament’s inquiry into Eskom State Capture. The power utility’s board spokesperson Khulani Qoma, a reputation manager, argued that only the minister’s “captured-ness” could explain why she appointed board members and executives who had been caught publicly lying and whose track record was littered with claims of dodgy behaviour. Brown’s response was to question the inquiry, saying that without distinguishing between hearsay and fact, “the inquiry takes the form of a kangaroo court intent on reaching pre-determined outcomes”.
Zimbabwe on tenterhooks amidst military presence
At least four Zimbabwean Army armoured personnel carriers were reported to have travelled into Harare, sparking almost immediate fears of a military coup. The ZANU-PF has condemned the move, criticising army chief General Constantino Chiwenga’s “treasonable conduct”. The situation has escalated a tense political crisis into a potential revolution. Reports of shots near the presidential palace surfaced, however, and the military has defended itself, saying that it was targeting “criminals” around President Robert Mugabe.
Australia celebrates same-sex marriage ruling
Australians voted clearly in favour of allowing same-sex marriages on Wednesday. Thousands of supporters took to the streets to celebrate the survey results. However, although the 62% support for same-sex marriage is a clear indicator of public sentiment, the result still needs to be codified as law.
A lone gunman went on a shooting spree on Tuesday, killing four and wounding a dozen. Police killed the attacker after he began shooting near Rancho Tehama Reserve and included a nearby elementary school. No children were hurt in the attack, thankfully.
Peanut allergy patch could be in the works soon
Scientists have developed a patch that can help those allergic to peanuts be considerably less so. A study published by the American Medical Association showed that test subjects who received a 250mg patch of peanut protein had a 50% positive reaction. A larger trial is needed before the public can get their own patches and begin learning the glory of peanut butter, however.
IN NUMBERS
50,000
The number of words in the average English speaker’s vocabulary.
FACTS OF THE DAY
Today in 2006 Al Jazeera English launches globally.
Scientists have analysed Ozzy Osbourne’s genome structure to determine how he has survived decades of serious drug abuse.
FEATURED ARTICLES
.jpg)
.jpg)
ANC National Conference: How it should work, how it does work, and what might actually happen
A column by OSCAR VAN HEERDEN
Some animals more equal than others? MultiChoice, ANN7 and influence peddling
A column by PIERRE DE VOS
Weather
BFN: min: 3° max 22°, cloudy
CPT: min: 12° max: 27°, rainy
DBN: min: 13° max: 22°, rainy
EL: min: 13° max: 17°, rainy
JHB: min: 5° max: 25°, rainy
KIM: min: 4° max: 20°, rainy
NLP: min: 16° max: 33°, rainy
MHK: min: 6° max: 25°, cloudy
PMB: min: 8° max: 21°, rainy
PE: min: 11° max: 17°, rainy
PTA: min: 10° max: 27°, rainy
Financial Data
Oil=$62.24
Gold=$1,281.21
Platinum=$927.07
R/$=14.37
R/€=16.94
R/£=18.91
$/€=0.86
JSE All Share=59,518.90
DJIA=23,401.94
FTSE 100=7,414.42
Become an Insider