© 2017 South Africa - The Good News
Maps tell a 1000 words – how SA compares!
By Steuart Pennington
There are occasions when we hear (quite often actually) that we in SA are ‘the worst in the world’ and this or that.
There are 235 countries in the world,
- does that mean we come 235th ?
- or near the bottom of the countries surveyed?
- or just in the bottom half of the countries surveyed?
I have never come across a survey of all the world’s countries, the largest is by the Economist of 195 countries, most surveys are of between 130 and 175 countries – not enough measurable, reliable info. on the remainder.
Only 80 countries have a population of more than 10 million.
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What’s going to happen in Europe this year?
- French election result?
- German election result?
- Dutch election result?
- Italian election result?
- Greek ‘grexit’?
- Future of the EU?
by Cees Bruggemans
Whereas 2016 was the Year of Brexit, only within four months to be superseded as the Year of Trump, 2017 looks likely to be the Year of Europe. Not that Brexit or Trump are fading, if anything Trump’s intensity hasn’t yet peaked. Europe, however, is sending signals of being in a thoroughly confused state, still being pre-something but sensing of becoming post-something.
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HATS OFF TO UPINGTON’S HAT MAKER
In a well-ordered workshop in dusty Upington, a whoop of joy rang out amidst the feathers and the fascinators on Eveline de Lange’s workbench. Some 800 km away at the Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town, as the beautiful people raised their glasses to their Sun Met wins, the diminutive milliner and designer checked her phone with excitement as images of her latest creation started buzzing on social media networks.
The annual horse race attracts the finest fillies and stallions, jockeys and trainers who bring majestic sporting prowess to the track. It also brings out the sartorial splendour of the best dressed who sparkled in all their finery. Eveline’s favourite TV presenter, Cindy Nell, was the lady in red at this year’s event. Feted as a top trendsetter, this former Miss South Africa appeared in an exquisite cross over gown designed by Gabriela Fraser, topped off with a show-stopping hat. The outfit sparked much interest and rapidly became the talk on Instagram and Twitter.
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THIS WEEK'S FAST FACT
Fast Fact: Budget 2017
Social assistance: Government spending on social grants will increase by R11.5 billion to +/- R140 billion. The old age and disability grants will increase by R90 per month to R1‚600 and the child support grant will increase by R20 to R380 per month. It is estimated that by 2018, South Africa will have 17.5 million social grant recipients. (http://bit.ly/2lOWHhl)www.Eighty20.co.za
