Botswana lifts elephant hunting ban, ANC shuffling starts

[More witticisms than kgs on parliament benches]( [FIRST THING With John Stupart]( Thursday, 23 May 2019 “Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.” John Muir Story of the Day [Cyril Ramaphosa elected president while the ANC factional bombs detonate in full view]( By Marianne Merten With a pledge to be the president for all, not just the governing ANC, President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday put his stamp on a stuttering day of political explosions. Watching from the president’s bay in the public gallery was the politician at the centre of one such bang — outgoing Deputy President David ‘DD’ Mabuza, who had bowed out from being sworn in as MP. FINANCING THAT BACKS ENTREPRENEURS...[CLICK HERE FOR MORE]( WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING [Botswana lifts ban on elephant hunting]( Botswana has announced the lifting of a restriction on hunting elephant. Although its population has tripled since the 90s, the removal of the ban has drawn former president Ian Khama's criticism, who argued that the move would damage the country's tourism sector. Considering roughly one-fifth of Botswana's economy relies on tourism, this is certainly not insignificant. [Modi waits while largest count in the world starts]( India has begun counting hundreds of millions of votes today, in the largest democratic exercise in the world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already begun preparations in anticipation of a significant victory. Indeed, barring a massive complication, all indications are that Modi will return triumphant to Indian rule. [North Korea labels Biden an 'imbecile](' North Korea's state propaganda outlet has called Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden an "imbecile". Biden had earlier called the Trump-Kim friendship "antithetical to who we are", eliciting a hasty response from Pyongyang. In its statement, Biden was deemed "bereft of elementary quality as a human being". Sick burn North Korea. [Ghosn trial of a century begins]( Motor alliance Tzar Carlos Ghosn faces a raft of charges in his Tokyo trial today. Pre-trial hearings began in Japan's capital, with Ghosn facing everything from falsifying records through to stealing company money. The trial is unlikely to be action-packed, however, as Japanese criminal courts tend to be written-argument focused, with little emphasis on verbal argument. Picture of the Day By EPA-EFE/BAGUS INDAHONO Indonesian protesters clash with riot police officers during a protest following the announcement of the presidential election results in Jakarta, Indonesia, 22 May 2019. In Numbers 1.7-miles The amount of border fence constructed by the Trump administration at a cost of $1.57-billion. Facts of the Day Today is World Turtle Day. Cowabunga! Ramen is actually a Chinese dish. It's a relatively recent addition to Japanese cuisine. 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