Ekurhuleni's R1.9-billion chemical toilet scandal, US advance to the finals

[Like what you're reading? Get more here.]( [FIRST THING With John Stupart] Wednesday, 3 July 2019 “An idealist is one who, on noticing that a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes that it makes a better soup.” HL Mencken Story of the Day [The Ekurhuleni R1.9-billion toilet tender that stinks to high heaven]( By Tabelo Timse for amaBhungane Critics dubbed the Ekurhuleni R1.9-billion chemical toilets tender as Imoto Entshontsha Imali (the ‘vehicle for stealing the money’ or the ‘getaway car’). amaBhungane’s Tabelo Timse went to find out why. WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING [Air strike kills 40 in Tripoli]( An air strike by what is believed to be forces loyal to Libyan rebel leader Khalifa Haftar has hit a foreign migrant centre. Authorities believe that at least 40 people were killed and another 80 wounded in the air strike. [US Women head to the finals]( The United States managed to dig deep and defeat England 2-1 in a thrilling FIFA World Cup semi-final. US keeper had to save a penalty and England lost an equaliser due to offsides, making their pathway to the finals one seriously tough match. They will face either Sweden or the Netherlands depending on today's second semi-final. [Harris goes down fighting against Federer]( For the first set, Roger Federer looked all but set to join Venus Williams in the Wimbledon upset club. South Africa's youngster Lloyd Harris took the Swiss juggernaut 6-3, but ultimately fell thereafter. In the end, Harris lost to Federer 3-6 6-1 6-2 6-2, but in the second seed's own words, kept him "very nervous for a set and a half". [Russian sailors killed in submarine fire]( Fourteen Russian sailors are believed to have been killed in a fire aboard their submarine. The vessel had been conducting a mission near the Arctic sea floor, with unconfirmed Russian authorities indicating that it may have been nuclear-powered. Picture of the Day By EPA-EFE/JOHN G. MABANGLO Response teams from Menlo Park Fire Department, FBI and Hazmat get cleaned off after exiting a Facebook mail facility, where they were testing to see if sarin poison was detected, near the Facebook Headquarters in Menlo Park, California, US, 1 July 2019. In Numbers [59%]( The percentage of links shared on social media that have never been clicked. Only YOU can prevent clickbait. Facts of the Day Today in 1996 the Stone of Scone is returned to Scotland. One in every eighteen people have a [third nipple.]( Featured Articles [Revolutionary trash sometimes requires trash journalism, literally]( [Revolutionary trash sometimes requires trash journalism, literally]( By Marianne Thamm [SAPS Wars update: Generals, they come and go]( [SAPS Wars update: Generals, they come and go]( By Caryn Dolley for amaBhungane [One day, 38 new committee chairpersons, politicking and a packed in-tray]( [One day, 38 new committee chairpersons, politicking and a packed in-tray]( By Marianne Merten [EFF’s ‘no council vote’ decision could come back to bite it in 2021]( By Rebecca Davis [Hanover Park residents plan shutdown to highlight gang violence]( By Tessa Knight [Immigrant food couriers risk death on South African roads ‘]( By GroundUp Opinionistas [The best in the ANC lack all conviction; the worst are full of passionate intensity]( A column by Sello Lediga [Minister, please don’t break the SABC, get it the guarantee it needs]( A column by William Bird [Community service for graduates should be made compulsory]( A column by Chabana Chabana Weather BFN: min: -1° max: 16°, cloudy CPT: min: 12° max: 17°, cloudy DBN: min: 10° max: 23°, cloudy EL: min: 12° max: 23°, cloudy JHB: min: 4° max: 18°, cloudy MHK: min: 2° max: 22°, sunny NLP: min: 5° max: 27°, cloudy PE: min: 10° max: 21°, sunny PMB: min: 4° max: 23°, cloudy Financial Data R/$ = 14.11 +0.06% R/£ = 17.78 -0.01% R/€ = 15.94 -0.01% R/BTC = 160,482.48 +9.65% At -+5am or latest: % open to close [FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO A FRIEND]( [Fb] [Tweet] [Link] [Yt] Copyright © 2019 Daily Maverick, All rights reserved. You are receiving this mail because you are awesome and on the Daily Maverick First Thing subscriber list. Interested in advertising with us? [Click here to sign the pact.](mailto:advertising@dailymaverick.co.za?subject=Advertising%20query%3A%20First%20Thing%20Mailers) [Getting too many emails from us? Manage your preferences]( [Unsubscribe](