Did you know that famed English bard William Shakespeare died because of a Covid-19 vaccination? Neither did we
Bismarck sinks Hood Bismarck, the feared German battleship, sinks the pride of the Royal Navy, HMS Hood in the North Atlantic, near Greenland, during World War II.
1837 Wild West figure Wild Bill Hickok is born in Troy Grove, Illinois. A frontiersman, lawman, marksman and army scout, he was shot dead on August 2, 1876 during a poker game by a drunk in the Number Ten saloon in Deadwood, in Dakota. In his hand, was a pair of eights and a pair of aces, the 'dead man's hand'.
1931 Auguste Piccard and Paul Kipfer make the first flight into Earth's stratosphere, from Augsburg, Germany, in a pressurised gondola borne beneath a balloon designed by Piccard. It was also a precursor to manned exploration of the ocean depths, also by Piccard.
1941 The Germany navy's feared battleship Bismarck, is sunk. HMS Rodney becomes the only battleship to torpedo another.
1942 Sailor Dorie Miller gets the Navy Cross for his reckless fight back at Pearl Harbor (he manned anti-aircraft guns – as depicted in the movies, Tora! Tora! Tora! and Pearl Harbor).
1942 Reinhard Heydrich, the darkest figure in the Nazi elite – Hitler's 'man with the iron heart', is ambushed and killed in Prague.
1963 The son of Kikuyu farmers, Jomo Kenyatta becomes Kenya's first prime minister.
1966 The 55th West German air force F-104 interceptor crashes – 292 of the 916 Starfighter fleet crashed, hence the name Witwenmacher (The Widowmaker).
2017 Pitched battles between Islamic State-linked militants and Philippine government troops in and around Marawi, leave 43 dead.
2017 Arsenal wins the FA Cup making Arsène Wenger the most successful manager in FA Cup history with seven titles.
2020 'I can't breathe': a video of African-American George Floyd's arrest and murder, while restrained in Minneapolis police custody, shows that he was pinned to the ground by police officer Derek Chauvin's knee for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. Chauvin's action ignites global outrage.
2021 English playwright William Shakespeare reported by Argentine news channel Chanal 26 to have died after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine. The Bard died in 1616.
2021 French President Emmanuel Macron recognises France's role in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide after a meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Kigali, Rwanda.
DAILY NEWS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Maverick
a day ago
- Daily Maverick
Vienna's Golden Hall: A journey of musical triumph and humbling embarrassment unfolds
An unforgettable experience has its embarrassing moment, though it won't detract from the wonder of it all. Two profoundly memorable things happened to me, at the same time, while on holiday this month. One fulfilled a lifelong dream and left me jubilant and wondrously awed. The other will be recorded as one of the more embarrassing moments of my long and mostly uneventful life. Both happened in Vienna, famously known as the City of Music because of its rich history as the classical world's cultural centre and home to those composing icons Mozart, Beethoven and Strauss. As an aside, it is also known as the City of Dreams, home to the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, who believed dreams helped to access the unconscious mind and who, in 1938, fled Austria before Nazi Germany annexed it and began persecuting Jews. Another aside: Vienna is also known as the Capital of Europe's Spies, situated so closely as it is to the Iron Curtain of old. A surprising number of spy thrillers of the 20th century take place here, my favourite being John le Carré's A Perfect Spy, in which he used Vienna as a backdrop for his Cold War spy story. But I want to concentrate on cultural Vienna, a city with fewer people than Soweto, the locus of my amazement and humiliation. My love of classical music and opera has taken me to many magnificent venues – The Met in New York, the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy, among them, each with its own special beauty. But nothing prepared me for the magnificence of the Golden Hall in Vienna's Musikverein, which is home to the renowned Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. It was a drizzly grey day when we, a party of four in the city to celebrate a friend's milestone 70th birthday, arrived at the imposing building. Immediately I noticed that we were hopelessly underdressed — me in sneakers and under a cosy, unflattering puffer jacket covering a bulky sweater and casual slacks. It was 11am on a Sunday morning, but this 'subscription concert' (where you buy a season ticket and therefore have first pick of seats), inspired Vienna's societal elite to don their finest garb. People dress up for these events, and oh, what a spectacle it was. Formal fashion Women glided along in floor-length, mid-length and short evening gowns, some covered in sequins that ignored the daylight etiquette rule (though whose rule that is remains unknown). Furs, high heels, one tiara, gleaming jewels; men in jacket and tie or dress suits with traditional white silk opera scarves… the fashion was formal. Scent wafting off the concertgoers perfumed the foyer. Traditionally guttural German tripping of tongues sounded unusually melodic and sweet. But none of this — not even the thrill of the dress-up — prepared me for the inside of the Musikverein. We climbed and climbed flight after steep flight of stairs to get to the boxes lining the edges of this magnificent gilded hall, opened on 6 January 1870 by Emperor Franz Joseph. And then, breathless but exhilarated, we were in our eyrie beneath a canopy of golden splendour, the ceiling mural adorned with images of Apollo and the nine muses. Columns shaped like ancient female figures — golden caryatids — added to the grandeur of this space that is known for its acoustics and rated as one of the three finest concert halls in the world, along with Amsterdam's Concertgebouw and the Boston Symphony Hall. Remember, we had to contend with what tickets were left over after regular concertgoers had booked their season tickets, so we could hear but only see the orchestra if we craned over seated heads to glimpse the mostly penguin-suited men below. Dotted in between were women in demure black, mostly on violin or percussion instruments. The introduction of women musicians in the orchestra is a new phenomenon — it was, astonishingly, the sacred preserve of men until 1997. This concert taking place on a cool damp Sunday morning in the City of Dreams was particularly special and highly unusual for Vienna: all the main roles — composer, conductor and piano soloist — were played by women. Up first was Lithuanian composer and pianist Raminta Šerkšnytė's 2009 composition, Midsummer Song, for which the instrumentation was described as 'string orchestra with optional percussion with one performer: triangle, shaker, rain stick, wind chimes and vibraphone'. The 50-year-old composer named nature 'with its metaphorical comparison to the archetypical states of the human mind' as her main inspiration, describing her work as a 'pantheistic song, like a long journey to eternal light and to our inner peace of mind'. It was melodic. I found it moving. I loved it. But they're a hard lot to please, these knowledgeable Vienna music lovers. A woman seated close by muttered: 'I doubt that will ever be played in this hall again!' Dark-haired and petite with a powerful waving conductor's arm, 38-year-old Lithuanian Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla (her credentials include serving as musical director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra), was more warmly received. Not so much the globally controversial 38-year-old Beijing-born American pianist Yuja Wang, whose skimpy attire fashion sense has been universally criticised. She emerged from the wings in a silver bare-backed bandage dress that barely covered her modesty, finished off with six-inch Louboutin red-soled heels. Sequined, modest-gowned women in our box bristled. 'She lets down women,' my neighbour whispered. 'Prostitute,' another woman said under her breath, but loudly enough to be heard. Transfixed Then Wang began playing that most popular concerto ever written, Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat Minor, her fingers expertly moving across the keys, her short black hair flying, her small body swaying, vibrating, moving to the music. We were transfixed as the exposed muscles in her shoulder blades rippled. My humiliation (and my friend's embarrassment) came at the first lull in the music when, with much enthusiasm and vigour, I began clapping. My neighbour waved her hands wildly in my face, shouting at me in German. Someone interpreted: She says stop clapping. You DO NOT clap between movements. The typical concerto is in three movements, or sections: a fast movement in sonata form, a slow and lyrical movement, and then another fast movement. I now know that the convention is that you do not clap until the end, a red-faced lesson learned in Vienna, in the beautiful Golden Hall. I remained seated and silent during the Sibelius Lemminkäinen Suite that ended the concert. What is it with women and the arts through the ages? I saw a series of exhibitions across London and Vienna — Dürer, Bruegel, Arcimboldo, Bassano, Edvard Munch, Goya, the impressionists Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Picasso, Cézanne. Not one single woman artist among them. Did women choose not to paint or sculpt or draw? The art history books tell us it was not encouraged and they were left to expend their creative energy on traditional arts more suited to women — like embroidery. I must admit that I was surprised by how recent was the admission of women to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. I wonder, too, why these older women concertgoers perpetuate women-hating stereotypes. Calling a young woman a prostitute because of her fashion choice seems a bit archaic in 2025. DM Charmain Naidoo is a journalist and media strategist.
Daily Maverick
5 days ago
- Daily Maverick
This Art Moved Us – Now We're Moving It
Art isn't just a pretty picture on the wall – it's something that connects, challenges, and changes the way we see the world. When the Travelling Art Gallery approached us to support them in bringing South African art to the world, the answer was simple: Absolutely, how can we help? Bringing together some of South Africa's most remarkable artistic voices, The Travelling Art Gallery setup exhibitions across Germany to connect local artists to a global audience. As the official delivery partner of The Travelling Art Gallery, DPD ensured that these extraordinary pieces not only made it across borders but were safely transported to three major German cities, where they will continue to inspire and ignite conversation. 'From the very beginning we were driven by the shared belief that we can't wait for everyone to come to South Africa to discover its incredible art,' says Barbara Lenhard, Spokesperson and Co-Founder of The Travelling Art Gallery. 'So, let's take the art to the people! We wanted to make South African art more accessible and more visible. We wanted to show the amazing, strong, colourful artworks. We wanted to open doors for artists whose voices deserve to be heard far beyond our borders.' Moving Art, Moving Stories Behind every masterpiece is a story, and behind every successful delivery is a plan. Transporting valuable artwork isn't just about getting from point A to B – it's about precision, care, and trust. This project required: Meticulous packaging and handling to ensure each piece arrived in perfect condition. Seamless international coordination of customs clearance, transportation, and final installation at each exhibition space. A shared commitment to cultural exchange, giving South African artists a global stage to showcase their work. 'DPD South Africa is excited to work with a team like the Traveling Art Gallery. Barbara and her team are doing a great job to drive awareness of South Africa's amazing talented artists in Europe. This initiative supports DPD's business values and aligns to our business's ability to reach Europe for so many of our customers' – Hennie Verster | DPD Laser Chief Commercial Officer The Artful Rhinos: Where Creativity Meets Conservation One of the highlights of this exhibition is the Artful Rhinos collection, where 16 South African artists drew inspiration from the almighty rhino and created bold, meaningful works of art. This initiative not only highlights South African talent but also makes a powerful statement on wildlife conservation and the urgency of protecting our endangered species. As Barbara says, 'We wanted to raise awareness for art and conservation. And what better than to ask and invite artists to paint a beautiful rhino sculpture and these sculptures want to travel, they want to raise awareness, they want to raise awareness for art and also for conservation.' Art in Motion: A Proud Partnership Team DPD ensured that every artwork and sculpture arrived in Germany, on time and in pristine condition, bringing The Travelling Art Gallery to an international audience. We are honoured to be part of this journey, and playing our part in delivering passion, talent, and South African creativity to the world. Barbara and the team were full of praise for DPD – ' The Travelling Art Gallery is incredibly proud and grateful to have DPD South Africa as our logistic partner. We trust you, we know that you take care and for us it's an incredible beautiful experience to work with you as really the most amazing company. Thank you so much for all your help.' A big thank you to Barbara Lenhard, Florian Gast, and the talented artists who brought this vision to life. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram as we continue to share updates from this incredible exhibition – one carefully packed, expertly delivered masterpiece at a time. DM Click link below to watch our exclusive Q&A with Barbara Lenhard from The Travelling Art Gallery. Q&A with The Travelling Art Gallery | Part 1 | DPD Q&A with The Travelling Art Gallery | Part 2 | DPD | Part 3 | DPD
IOL News
5 days ago
- IOL News
Denise Zimba's heartfelt confession on X: 'My children are living with the consequences of my actions'
Denise Zimba with her two girls. Image: Instagram/ Denise Zimba South African entertainer Denise Zimba is living every mother's worst fear of being separated from her children. Zimba, celebrated for her electrifying presence in South Africa's entertainment industry, is now at the centre of a heartbreaking custody battle, a fight that has left her questioning her choices, her strength, and her faith. Beyond the glitz and glamour, she's just a mother fighting to keep her children close, and her story has sparked widespread outrage and empathy. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Haven't spoken to my children in almost two weeks… my biggest regret is choosing wrong and having my children live with the consequences of my actions … 😪 — Denise Zimba (@MissDeniseZimba) May 28, 2025 In an emotional thread on X (formerly Twitter), Zimba revealed she hasn't spoken to her daughters in nearly two weeks, sparking public outcry and raising urgent questions about the rights of mothers in international custody cases. In happier times, South African media personality Denise Zimba with her husband, Jakob Schlichtig. Picture: X. Image: Picture: X 'My biggest regret is choosing wrong, and having my children live with the consequences of my actions…' Zimba wrote. Besides her husband's infertility, court documents revealed that Zimba suffered greatly from his lack of support in raising their kids. Emotional thread on X (formerly Twitter), Zimba revealed she hasn't spoken to her daughters in nearly two weeks Image: Denise Zimba/X This gut-wrenching message offers a glimpse into the emotional turmoil Zimba is experiencing as she navigates the fallout of her marriage to Schlichtig, whom she wed in April 2022. She added, "Haven't spoken to my children in almost two weeks... my biggest regret is choosing wrong and having my children live with the consequences of my actions.' The 36-year-old actress, TV presenter, and mother of two has been open about her ongoing custody battle with her estranged German husband, Jakob Schlichtig, after the Johannesburg High Court permitted him to take their children back to Germany earlier this year. A move that blindsided many of her and ignited debate around parental rights, justice, and maternal mental health. However, their relationship deteriorated due to alleged infidelity and neglect. According to "Sunday World", she left the marriage after enduring repeated betrayals and carrying the burden of parenthood alone. Renowned media personality has recently celebrated her 36th birthday. Image: Picture: X. The ruling has led to her daughters living thousands of kilometres away, without daily access to their mother, a reality Zimba says has deeply affected their well-being. 'SA courts handed my SA citizen babies 2 Germany without their mother after I endured abuse. 2 months in without being 2getha … Can the organisation my estranged husband works 4 kindly assist, since u support such injustice, especially towards mothers & children, Africans at that!' She adds, 'No one cares about the mother's sacrifice, her life-threatening experiences. His lawyer was female. The judge was female. Even the doctor and his sister, all women, helped him take my babies away from me,' she posted in a now-viral thread. Zimba's story has struck a nerve with many South African parents, especially mothers, who understand the invisible labour and sacrifices women make often without recognition. The heartbreak isn't just hers; it's a mirror for thousands of women whose contributions are too often erased in legal systems that prioritise procedure over the emotional and physical bonds between mother and child.
