Geopolitics

Moldova voted to hold a referendum in October on whether to join the EU

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Friday, 17 May 2024

“Golf is a day spent in a round of strenuous idleness.”

William Wordsworth

STORY OF THE DAY

Secretary to Parliament Xolile George receives an annual salary of R5m

By Pauli van Wyk
Scorpio cuts through Parliament’s obfuscation around Secretary to Parliament Xolile George’s exorbitant salary and allegedly questionable contract negotiations – R5-million is the total annual package George currently receives, Scorpio can confirm.

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING
🍊🧑‍⚖️ Michael Cohen was grilled by Donald Trump’s defence team for nine hours on Thursday. Accusing Cohen of lying under testimony, the gist of the day focused on his untrustworthiness on the stand, and whether he really got approval from Trump to pay said hush money.
🇲🇩🇪🇺 Former Soviet Union nation Moldova voted to hold a referendum in October on whether to join the EU. Russia’s Ukrainian invasion bolstered the move, but opposition parties in the country argue for stronger alignment to Russia.
🇺🇸🇮🇱 The Republican-led House of Representatives have passed a vote effectively forcing Joe Biden to send a weapons shipment to Israel. Sixteen Democrats voted with Republicans on the bill’s passage. If US law-making makes any sense, the bill should not see the light of day in reality.
🤖🗣️ It had to happen eventually: Lovo Inc, an AI voice startup, has been hit with a class action lawsuit alleging it used famous actors and actresses’ voices without authorisation. Lovo claimed to have more than 500 voices in 100 languages.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

📷 Maxine Noel

“Algiers: A stunning blend of historic and modern architecture along the Mediterranean coast.”
Algeria.
Have a picture for us? Send it our way.
Click here for last week’s pictures.

IN NUMBERS

10%

… the cut offered to Matt Damon for a role in Avatar by James Cameron. It would have earned him $250-million.

FACTS OF THE DAY

Last night and into today in 1943, the infamous Dambusters Raid begins in Germany.

Unlike with fruit, there is no botanical definition of a vegetable.

SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
🏅 Italy’s 90-year-old sprint champion gran Emma Maria Mazzenga has no intention of stopping, although she doesn’t make long-term plans.

⛳ Xander Schauffele set the early target at the PGA Championship, firing a record-equalling opening round nine-under 62 at Valhalla Golf Club on Thursday.

⚽ Fifa will present a proposal to its Congress to implement mandatory sanctions, including match forfeits, for incidents of racist abuse across all its 211 member associations.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Sponsored Content: Election 2024: navigating risk – and opportunity

By Sanlam Private Wealth

DAILY MAVERICK TODAY

SARS gets bloody nose with tobacco CCTV camera interdict

By Marianne Thamm

How alleged RET ‘Guptabots’ migrated overnight to Zuma’s MK party

By Suné Payne

South Africa’s legal team asks ICJ to order halt to all Israeli military activity in Gaza Strip

By Victoria O’Regan

Introducing the under 45’s club – younger political candidates making waves this election

By Daily Maverick

Ramaphosa visits George disaster site, promises support for families of victims

By Tamsin Metelerkamp

OPINIONISTAS

International Anti-Corruption Court will both deter and discombobulate the kleptocrats

By Paul Hoffman

Bypassing government — gatvol South Africans are doing it for themselves

By Brij Maharaj
 

John Stupart

Newsletters Editor
 
 

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