South Africa, World
While you were sleeping: 25 May 2017
Manchester police crackdowns continue, cannabis extract reduces epilepsy symptoms, and Proteas go down swinging against England.
Thursday, 25 May 2017
“The surest defence against Evil is extreme individualism, originality of thinking, whimsicality, even—if you will—eccentricity.”
Joseph Brodsky
STORY OF THE DAY
Analysis: SARS official on trial for corruption was State Security spy. The question is, WHY?
By MARIANNE THAMM
Evidence this week in a peculiar and long-running court case in the North Gauteng High Court involving the former head of the SARS risk management division, Mandisa Mokwena, revealed that she was receiving payment from the State Security Agency while an employee of SARS. Mokwena faces charges of racketeering, corruption and money laundering totalling R11-million. She is also a former business partner of First Lady Tobeka Madiba-Zuma. The questions that have not been answered are why State Security had an agent in SARS, whether she had declared her additional income, and whether it was taxed. Also, why didn’t she reveal, at the start, that payments into her bank account were from
British police conduct anti-terror witch hunt
Seven people have been arrested in wide-ranging police raids throughout Britain. Six men and a woman were apprehended by police, who
Cannabis extract cuts epilepsy dramatically
A new wide-spread clinical trial of cannabidiol has shown that the extract has a 39% reduction in seizures for those suffering from heavy epileptic fits. Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the research indicated that CBD is particularly effective for those suffering from Dravet syndrome or other severe forms of epilepsy that are unresponsive to conventional medicine.
Morgan century propels England to victory over Proteas
South Africa lost its first ODI against England by 72 runs. A century by English captain Eoin Morgan shot the home team to a 340 run target for South Africa. Despite a promising start, the Proteas were bowled out for 267 with five overs to spare. With two games and the series on the line now, South Africa will need to step up for game two.
A famous yoga guru in California has been served with a warrant for his arrest after failing to pay a former colleague in a sexual harassment case. Bikram Choudhury, famous for his super-heated, germ-laden yoga routine, allegedly raped a student and attempted to cover it up. Now, after failing to pay a settlement, Choudhury could very soon have a long
IN NUMBERS
20km/h
The escape velocity of Deimos, one of Mars’ moons.
FACTS OF THE DAY
Today in 1977 Star Wars is released. Wookie howls and your friend’s basement toy collection have been household staples ever since.
Old-fashioned crisps used to come with a packet of salt, giving the purchaser the choice whether to salt their chips or not.
FEATURED ARTICLES
OPINIONISTAS
Between the Scylla and Charybdis: ANC MPs and the proposed vote of no confidence
A column by PHILLIP DEXTER
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