If the approach to the Covid-19 crisis seems like an increasingly unfun mess, that’s because the competing forces at the top of the ANC are shredding the last sensical scraps of best practice that remained following Zuma’s fall. Now the centrists, terrified by their own shadows, have finally realised that they have no power. The entire party is submitting to the forces on its fringe — and a feeding frenzy that would have been impolite even under Zuma.
Long-time United States Congress Representative and civil rights icon John Lewis has been laid to rest at the Ebenezer Baptist Church, where his mentor Reverend Martin Luther King Jr once preached. In attendance were three former presidents - Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton. Obama delivered an eulogy which tracked the path of a man who became the “conscience of Congress” with his mission to make “good trouble” in the cause of justice. Obama also launched his sharpest attack to date on President Donald Trump, saying there were people in power actively trying to stifle voting during an election which has never been as urgent.
The Congress vote on the United States' coronavirus aid bill has been postponed to next week after Republicans and Democrats were no closer to a deal by the end of Thursday. This means a federal unemployment benefit will expire before it can be extended or replaced. The $600 a week has been a lifeline for tens of millions of Americans who have lost their jobs because of the pandemic.
Australia has unveiled the world’s first draft law to force Google and Facebook to pay Australian news media to publish their content. The “mandatory code of conduct” which will govern the relationships comes after 18 months of failed negotiations between the tech giants and news media. The draft stipulates that the tech companies will have to negotiate with Australian media companies to use their content.
Botswana’s capital has been returned to a two-week lockdown in an effort to limit the latest Covid-19 outbreak in the country. Only essential workers can leave home for work, all gatherings are banned and schools, hotels and restaurants have closed. Botswana ended a lockdown more than month ago as local transmission of the virus waned. In 17 days, the country’s total number of local transmission cases has almost doubled from 71 to 140.
