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While you were sleeping: 22 March 2017

While you were sleeping: 22 March 2017
John Stupart
By John Stupart
22 Mar 2017
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North Korea fails another missile test, laptops banned on travel to UK, USA, and a manned mission to Mars given the go-ahead by Trump.





Wednesday, 22 March 2017


“A bit of trash now and then is good for the severest reader. It provides the necessary roughage in the literary diet.”
Phyllis McGinley




 



 















Ailing Struggle stalwart Ahmed Kathrada has some unfinished business. He wants to take Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane and Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema on a tour of Robben Island. He believes it would be enriching for these young leaders to hear from him about the time he and other Struggle giants spent there. Imagine what that gesture would do for nation-building. Sadly, the 87-year-old Kathrada is in hospital recovering from brain surgery. At a time when South Africa is burdened with destructive leadership and grappling with racism, the legacy of the liberation heroes is more poignant than ever. 





 



 



 









North Korean missile test fizzles out



A new missile test by North Korea has failed according to Japanese and Korean sources. The Wednesday launch attempt did not appear to succeed, leading to egg on Dear Leader's face, but there is a growing concern at the North's increasing escalation of tensions in the region.





 





Laptop travel banned on flights to UK, US



The United Kingdom and the United States have both banned laptops from being brought into cabins on flights from Turkey, the Middle East and North Africa. The new restriction was introduced citing concerns of terrorist attacks using laptops as IEDs. Apparently if an IED-laptop explodes in the aircraft luggage compartment that's perfectly okay. 





 









Sturgeon set to win referendum vote today



Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon is expected to breeze through parliament's vote on whether to consider a referendum on breaking away from the United Kingdom's hard Brexit. Labelling it "unfair and utterly unsustainable", the vote will allow Scotland progress towards a 2019 referendum, although approval from London will still be required. The light application of claymores in British parliament ought to do the trick.





 





Trump and Nasa see eye to eye on Mars



In a rare moment of bipartisan lucidity, President Donald Trump has signed a law authorising Nasa to continue with a manned mission to Mars. Passed through Senate and the House of Representatives unanimously, the new law clears the way for a manned mission by 2030. No word though on how a Martian wall will be built.





 









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IN NUMBERS


80



The percentage of the world's opioids consumed by the United States.





 









FACTS OF THE DAY



Today is World Water Day.


Google is valued higher than Russia's entire stock market.





 









FEATURED ARTICLES






































































































































































OPINIONISTAS



























Helen Trumped by her Thumbs


A column by IAN VON MEMERTY



 










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