THE HOUSE THAT FORGOT HOW TO LAUGH

 There was no love missing in our house, because there was no love left to miss.That was our secret. We were not sad. Sad would have been easier.In House 24, 2nd Street, Germiston - the Molefes were perfect.6:00 AM - Alarm. 6:15 AM - Mom in the kitchen. The sound of the spoon against the pot. Same pot. Same porridge. Every day for 7 years. 6:30 AM - Dad at the table. Phone brightness on his face. He nods at Mom. Mom nods back. That's their good morning. 6:45 AM - Me and Junior. We eat with the TV on mute. Mom says TV at breakfast rots your brain, so we watch the pictures move with no sound.No one shouts. No one throws plates. Our neighbors who scream at each other at night - they have more life than us.We just... live. We pay. We eat. We sleep. We repeat.Then Mrs. Khumalo gave us the project."Grade 4s, for Life Skills this week: Record 10 moments your family laughed together."I took my pink notebook home like it was gold.DAY 1 - Monday I wrote the date and waited. Dinner....

US resumes some Bahrain arms sales for 'external defence'

Bahrain protest Feb 2011 The US says the equipment it is supplying will not be used against protesters
The United States is resuming sales of some weapons to Bahrain, but says it will not supply the Gulf state with any crowd control equipment.
The US State Department says the shipment will help Bahrain "maintain its external defence capabilities."
Arms sales were frozen last year after the Bahraini government suppressed pro-democracy demonstrations.
Amnesty International says 60 people have been killed since the protests began in February 2011.
It is thought a frigate and other coast guard vessels will be supplied, along with upgraded engines for F-16 fighters.
The State Department says an order for Humvee all-terrain vehicles and a new type of wire-guided missile will not be included.
Bahrain is a key US ally in the Gulf, hosting the US Navy's Fifth Fleet.
Officials in Washington say the Obama administration still has concerns about human rights in Bahrain.
But human rights campaigners have condemned this move, saying it is out of step with the United States' commitment to reform in Bahrain.

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