Khartoum massacre sees military flip the switch on democracy

[Like what you're reading? Get more here.]( [FIRST THING With John Stupart]( Tuesday, 4 June 2019 "I'll tell you what pressure is. Pressure is a Messerschmitt up your arse. Playing cricket is not." Keith Miller Story of the Day [From Death Squad to Dead Squad: Nhleko’s Chinese-trained ‘secret agents’ left stranded and fearful]( By Marianne Thamm Members of a ‘death squad’, recruited by former Minister of Police Nathi Nhleko and trained between March and May 2016 by the elite Chinese People’s Armed Forces Academy, are living in a twilight zone, seemingly left to fend for themselves and in fear for their lives. WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING [Sudanese troops massacre civilians]( Sudanese paramilitary forces have killed at least 35 civilians at a protest camp. The Khartoum protest area saw a scene of mass-flight as gunfire tore through the camp. In response to the military violence, protesters took to the streets elsewhere, burning tires and creating additional roadblocks. [Semenya free to run during appeal]( Caster Semenya can run in her events while the IAAF's discriminatory policy against her is appealed. Semenya will be able to compete without restriction during this process, ruled the Federal Court of Switzerland. The ruling had been upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, something which the Swiss court clearly thought warranted further appeal. [Australia soccer union wants prize parity]( Australia's women's and men's teams should earn the same prize money in the World Cup. This was the message sent from the Professional Footballers Australia, the country's player union. At present, the women's team earned half that of their male counterparts, something the union wants changed. The pay gap at the World Cup itself is currently a whopping $370-million difference. [Blackbeard's ship embroiled in piracy case]( Before you get excited, this is not a tale of swashbuckling buccaneers and kegs of rum. Rather, documentary film-maker Frederick Allen is taking North Carolina to the US Supreme Court over his footage being pirated by the state. Allen's footage of the ship and salvage operation was allegedly misused by the state. North Carolina argues that piracy is protected because of its legal immunity in America's weird legal system. Blackbeard's revenge could well be a thing in a 21st Century court. We believe that our investigations and our brand of journalism should be free for all. That's why we don't have any nasty paywalls. If you value our journalism and you appreciate what Daily Maverick does, [consider becoming a Maverick Insider.]( Picture of the Day By EPA-EFE/NIC BOTHMA Free divers explore a Kelp forest in the Indian Ocean, Cape Town, South Africa, 2 June 2019. In Numbers 10-35% The percentage of people who share a genetic similarity causing them to sneeze when looking at the sun. Facts of the Day Today is the International 1989 Tiananmen Square protests memorial day. 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