SINCERETALK

Alexkor, the state diamond mine at the mouth of the Orange River, "has been destroyed by corruption and state capture", its miners say. from News24 Top Stories https://ift.tt/3o9I20r via sinceretalk

The Hawks have seized drugs worth more than R240 million at Durban harbour. from News24 Top Stories https://ift.tt/3lo76z4 via sinceretalk

Here is how much you pay in taxes for every litre of petrol. from News24 Top Stories https://ift.tt/3o74Yxi via sinceretalk

Cricket South Africa's acting chief executive officer Pholetsi Moseki said the contents of the Cricket for Social Justice and Nation-building report will be made public. from News24 Top Stories https://ift.tt/3d6jSgR via sinceretalk

The Department of Correctional Services says it has embarked on actions to enforce security plans at correctional facilities following numerous reports of criminal activities. from News24 Top Stories https://ift.tt/3phESa1 via sinceretalk

SAPS is failing to act against brutal cops. from News24 Top Stories https://ift.tt/2ZEXjga via sinceretalk

As a fourth Covid infection wave approaches, health workers are encouraged to top up their immune system before 17 December, say professors Linda-Gail Bekker and Helen Rees. from News24 Top Stories https://ift.tt/3GiOLvl via sinceretalk

Nearly three quarters of users of the Sactwu clinics have been vaccinated, the union says. from News24 Top Stories https://ift.tt/3G1HgJ0 via sinceretalk

Over the last 18 months, over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a leadership failure from government. Andre Vlok writes examines what government can do to partially undo this failure as well as the conflict cycles that are developing as the fourth wave approaches. from News24 Top Stories https://ift.tt/3I2ntLj via sinceretalk

In June, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned Bill Cosby's sex crime conviction in a surprise ruling. Now — months after Cosby's release — the Pennsylvania district attorney, who first found the disgraced comedian guilty of multiple counts of sexual assault, is appealing to the United States Supreme Court to reinstate Cosby's conviction, according to Variety . Montgomery County District Attorney, Kevin Steele — who presided over Cosby's 2018 arrest — branded the Pennsylvania court's ruling as "a dangerous precedent" and penned a petition to the Supreme Court. According to a press release outlined by Variety , Steele further argued that the ruling raised "issues under the Constitution's due process clause." "Where a prosecutor publicly announces that he will not file criminal charges based on lack of evidence, does the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment transform that announcement into a binding promise that no char

On CNN Tuesday, congressional correspondent Manu Raju reported that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) simply blew off a plea from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to cease her feud with fellow Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC). "Just this evening, behind closed doors, Kevin McCarthy summoned each of them for private meetings, discussing with them and telling them this message, he wanted them to, quote, 'stop it,'" explained Raju. "That message ... did not take hold. Greene emerged from the meeting and told our colleague Melanie Zanona that she would support a primary challenge against Nancy Mace. And she also said that Donald Trump would support a primary challenge against Nancy Mace." Greene and Mace have been in a feud all day that started with Mace criticizing Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) for her Islamophobic attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN). Greene lashed out, saying that Mace was "trash," to which Mace responded that Greene is "insa

by Jonathan Feingold , Boston University Since the final months of the Trump administration, the Republican Party has waged a sustained assault on critical race theory. Otherwise known as “CRT,” this academic framework offers tools to illuminate the relationship among race, racism and the law. Through calculated caricature and distortion, right-wing think tanks and media have weaponized CRT to manufacture a culture war that recasts antiracism as the new racism. This campaign employs a well-worn script designed to sow racial division, galvanize voters and shield economic elites – and the systems they enable – from meaningful critique . This campaign appears to be working. Anti-CRT messaging has emerged as a signature – and potent – GOP political talking point. Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, for example, repeated a common refrain when she asserted the falsehood that “critical race theory teaches people to judge others based on race, gender, or sexual identity, rather than the content of

Donald Trump was one of many famous passengers who flew on Jeffrey Epstein's private jet, a pilot testified on Tuesday. During Ghislaine Maxwell's sex trafficking trial, pilot Larry Visoski testified that he remembered Trump flying with Epstein before becoming president. "I certainly remember President Trump, but not many people associated with him," Visoski said. Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, Kevin Spacey and Chris Tucker were also named by the pilot. Epstein's jet was informally known as the "Lolita Express" because it was also allegedly used to transport underage girls. "Donald Trump, before he was president, also" flew on Epstein's private planes, the pilot testified.\n\n"I certainly remember President Trump, but not many people associated with him."\n\nAnd actors Kevin Spacey and Chris Tucker? \n\n"I remember them as well." — Molly Crane-Newman (@Molly Crane-Newman) 1638292522 from Alternet.org https://if

Days after the GE Transportation plant in Erie, Pennsylvania, announced a round of crippling layoffs in 2013, an employee was found hanging from a crane in “Building 20,” according to the Erie Times-News. The image of a dead worker dangling from a crane in a dying factory seemed symbolic of a city going ever deeper into the depths of despair. GE Transportation, once the largest employer in the county, has been shedding jobs for years, dropping from 20,000 workers, who were employed when the company was at its peak, to 3,000 in January 2017 after it “laid off 1,500 of its remaining 4,500 workers,” according to Yahoo News . Other plants in Erie—Hammermill Paper Company, a paper mill; Lord Corporation, a maker of industrial coatings, adhesives, motion management devices, and sensing technologies; and Zurn, a plumbing equipment manufacturer—were also shedding jobs or closing completely, according to a 2018 Associated Press article that appeared in the Pennsylvania newspaper the Mor

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) on Tuesday played a threatening voicemail that she received from an apparent supporter of Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), whom she has been feuding with for the last several days. At a press event, Omar again condemned Boebert for likening her to a suicide bomber, and then played audio of the voicemail that she received shortly after her ill-fated call with Boebert earlier this week . "I would love the opportunity to take you off the face of the f*cking Earth, you Muslim piece of sh*t jihadist," the caller said. "We know what you are, you're a f*cking traitor. You will not live much longer, I can almost guarantee you that." Last week, unearthed video showed Boebert likening Omar to a suicide bomber in front of cheering supporters, while also labeling Omar as a member of the "jihad squad." Tensions in Congress have been running high all year, starting with the January 6th riots by Trump supporters at the United States Capitol an

With the U.S. Supreme Court set to hear opening arguments Wednesday in a case that could overturn Roe v. Wade and threaten abortion rights for millions of people across the country, right-wing anti-choice groups are preparing to ensure that anyone who becomes pregnant in the U.S. is forced to continue the pregnancy. The consideration of Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban represents a moment the anti-choice movement has been waiting for since 1973, when Roe v. Wade affirmed that pregnant people have the right to obtain abortion care until 24 weeks of pregnancy. After a number of extreme forced-pregnancy laws passed by right-wing state legislatures were overturned by federal courts in recent years, Mississippi officials are asking the high court to overturn Roe v. Wade in addition to allowing their law—which includes no exceptions for pregnancies that result from rape or incest—to stand. Former Vice President Mike Pence called on the Supreme Court Tuesday to "make histo

The U.S. House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack has just concluded more than four hours of interviewing Georgia’s top elections official, Brad Raffensperger . Then-President Donald Trump threatened the Republican Secretary of State in a telephone call, parts of which were released to the press, during which the desperate losing Trump infamously said , “So look. All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state.” Speaking to Raffensperger indicates the House Committee is investigating the origins of the insurrection far beyond its D.C. roots. “We talked about that and everything else leading into the election. That was their focus, because that was where the greatest disinformation was foisted upon our nation,” Raffensperger told The Atlanta Journal Constitution Tuesday. Back in February Georgia prosecutors had reportedly opened up a criminal investigation into Trump’s demand Raffensperger find him 11,780

When you find yourself siding with one GOP deplorable over another, catch yourself. Because, as captivating as it is to watch a rodent eat its own, reading how Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene attacks South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace over racist and Islamophobic comments from the truly detestable Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert, you have to wonder how low these disgusting folks can go. In a now-deleted tweet, Greene launched the first shot to Mace for condemning Boebert, following a now-viral video of Boebert “joking” that Omar was a terrorist and member of the “jihad squad.” “I looked to my left, and there she is, Ilhan Omar. And I said, ‘Well, she does not have a backpack—we should be OK.’” The audience laughed raucously. Omar has denied the incident Boebert described ever took place. “I have time after time condemned my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for racist tropes and remarks that I find disgusting, and this is no different than any others,” Mace said during an interv

Following new revelations on Monday about CNN host Chris Cuomo's role in his brother's scandal, the network announced on Tuesday that it has indefinitely suspended the primetime anchor. Chris Cuomo has faced significant public scrutiny for his efforts to help former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, his brother, as he dealt with the sexual misconduct and abuse of power allegations that forced him to resign from office. It had previously been reported that the CNN host played a role in helping his brother manage the matter as a public relations crisis, which many argued constituted a major breach of journalistic ethics. Chris Cuomo largely avoided the topic of his brother's scandal on his 9 p.m. show, an awkward attempt to navigate the conflict of interest. Gov. Cuomo had previously appeared on his brother's show, often in light-hearted segments. As allegations emerged against the governor, Chris Cuomo worked with his brother's staff to strategize a response. The

On November 30, New York City authorized two safe consumption sites to begin operations as soon as possible. The decision, a hard-fought victory for harm reduction advocates , makes them the first government-sanctioned overdose prevention centers, as they are also known, to open in the United States. “New York City has led the nation’s battle against COVID-19, and the fight to keep our community safe doesn’t stop there,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a press statement. “After exhaustive study, we know the right path forward to protect the most vulnerable people in our city. And we will not hesitate to take it.” In the past few weeks, there have been reports that de Blasio—perhaps eyeing a gubernatorial run—would make good on a longtime promise to launch a pilot program for safe consumption sites (SCS). But that bid endlessly stalled without approval from the governor’s office under former Governor Andrew Cuomo . De Blasio will depart as the city’s mayor by the new ye

But the virologist urges caution before scientists make blanket public announcements that can lead to ‘hasty’ international decisions The post Shabir Madhi: SA scientists were responsible when announcing Omicron appeared first on The Mail & Guardian .

A scary video has gone viral and its shows an elephant bull charging at a vehicle in the Selati Game Reserve. from News24 Top Stories https://ift.tt/3FWlVR6 via sinceretalk

The Competition Commission wants to add nine more banks into its case, which dates back to April 2015 - including Nedbank and FirstRand. from News24 Top Stories https://ift.tt/3I8HoYP via sinceretalk

A man was arrested in Johannesburg after being spotted by a woman he had allegedly attacked and raped earlier this month. from News24 Top Stories https://ift.tt/3o5m5zk via sinceretalk

Ahead of travel season, Wednesday’s fuel price hike will push the price of petrol – around R19.50 a litre – to above R20 in Gauteng and other inland provinces The post Petrol jumps over R20 a litre inland appeared first on The Mail & Guardian .

The company achieved 500% growth during the Covid-19 pandemic The post The bold journey of a new tech start-up that faced impossible odds appeared first on The Mail & Guardian .

The resilience of domestic tourism is key to the recovery of South Africa’s tourism sector The post New variant’s discovery affects tourism sector appeared first on The Mail & Guardian .

Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth narrowly missed out on being crowned the Autumn Nations Player of the Series. from News24 Top Stories https://ift.tt/3D4Cs3G via sinceretalk

The J&J option will likely become a two-dose vaccine too, at which point it will take nearly two months to be considered fully vaccinated in South Africa. from News24 Top Stories https://ift.tt/3D5Gj0j via sinceretalk

Lionel Messi admitted winning the Copa America with Argentina might have been the determining factor in him claiming the men's Ballon d'Or prize for the seventh time after a turbulent year, as Spain's Alexia Putellas took the women's award. from News24 Top Stories https://ift.tt/3D1tynj via sinceretalk

On what would have been murdered Gauteng Department of Health official Babita Deokaran's 53rd birthday on Tuesday, the six men charged with her murder are expected back for the continuation of their bail application. from News24 Top Stories https://ift.tt/3rtxlaO via sinceretalk

Doctors have noticed that people testing positive for Covid over the past several days tend to have mild symptoms, but this could change as we head into the fourth wave. from News24 Top Stories https://ift.tt/3E8AeSb via sinceretalk

by Charles J. Russo , University of Dayton Since 1947, one topic in education has regularly come up at the Supreme Court more often than any other: disputes over religion . That year, in Everson v. Board of Education , the justices upheld a New Jersey law allowing school boards to reimburse parents for transportation costs to and from schools, including religious ones. According to the First Amendment , “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” – an idea courts often interpreted as requiring “a wall of separation between church and state.” In Everson, however, the Supreme Court upheld the law as not violating the First Amendment because children, not their schools, were the primary beneficiaries. This became known as the “ child benefit test ,” an evolving legal idea used to justify state aid to students who attend religious schools. In recent years, the court has expanded the boundaries of what aid is allowed. W

Former Solicitor General Neal Katyal explained that Trump ally Steve Bannon is going to be highly unsuccessful in his efforts to beat criminal contempt charges. In a Sunday filing by the Justice Department, prosecutors said Bannon's attorney, Evan Corcoran, refused their attempts to negotiate on some kind of agreement. According to the 10-page filing , the prosecutors alleged Bannon's lawyers were using their filing as a press release instead of a legal filing. "The prosecutors called Steve Bannon's filing frivolous, so Bannon claimed that he wanted to make certain documents public and the Justice Department wasn't letting him," said Katyal. "And the Justice Department's response today was to call it frivolous and basically say, 'Oh, no, you didn't!' They point out that Bannon never even asked the Justice Department to try and make these documents public, and so this dispute is not going to go well for Bannon. Judges don't like it

Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace, inflicted on us by the state of South Carolina, has been running a bold new online ad condemning Democratic plans to boost funding for the Internal Revenue Service. Why, you might ask? "Biden's policy will double the size of the IRS at the cost of billions of dollars in unpaid taxes. We should stabilize our nation's economy first." When you accidentally say the quiet part out loud\n\nFunding the IRS will cost tax cheatspic.twitter.com/HVL51xABJx — z3dster (@z3dster) 1638124786 While @z3dster has done us the solid of parsing out what the hell Mace's word shrapnel was meant to actually mean, it's still worth stewing on that odd language. "At the cost of billions of dollars in unpaid taxes?" At the ... cost? But going after tax cheats is widely recognized as being a net federal win, because just a little money allocated to investigating the most prolific tax-dodgers results in much larger revenues when the