“We're not going to smuggle Mr Assange out in the boot of a car or through an underground tunnel or something. The Ecuadorean government isn't going to go out through the back door, we're going to come out proud through the front door…We're going to ensure that he comes out facing his freedom – the freedom of our country. This is what we are hoping for.” Ecuador’s foreign minister Ricardo Patiño renews his country’s commitment to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London for a year now.

Note: We know it’s getting cold and you need some cheering up. So do we. To banish those winter blues, we’re turning to good wine, good food and good company at the Winestyle Winter Winedown in Kyalami this Saturday. Come join us – we’ve organised free entry for Daily Maverick readers.



Sporting Luxury the all new Jaguar XF.

Tuesday, 18 June 2013

While you were sleeping

In case you were in any doubt, shouting “We're all being poisoned!” at high volume on a transcontinental flight is not going to get you an upgrade. Instead, the unidentified man who caused chaos en route from Hong Kong to the US was subdued and handcuffed by fellow passengers, and met by law enforcement officials as the plane landed in Newark. In addition to his dramatic poison claims, the man said that “just like the NSA leaker, he had names and therefore he was in danger,” according to a fellow passenger.
Reuters, Christian Science Monitor

This is awkward. Just days after the US announced it was going to arm the Syrian rebels, the United Nations implicated the Free Syrian Army – the main rebel coalition – in recruiting children to their fight. In a report on the use of child soldiers, the UN listed 55 armed groups in 21 countries as having committed violations against children. The list included the usual suspects, such as militants in central Africa and Sudan, as well as a few surprises like the Syrian rebels and the MNLA, a militia in Mali that was part of the French-led offensive against Islamist groups.
Al Arabiya, AFP

TV-streaming site Netflix signed a deal with Dreamworks Animation for more than 300 hours of original, first-run content. This is big for both companies: Netflix gets even more exclusive series to help grow its already large subscriber base and compete with existing TV networks, while Dreamworks (famous for kids movies including Shrek,Madagascar, and Kung-fu Panda) gets the chance to take on big rival Nickelodeon in the cartoon market.
Bloomberg, New York Times

Thailand is trying to calm public outrage after a video was published on YouTube showing Buddhist monks on a private jet, sporting aviators and luxury luggage – conspicuously failing in their mission to renounce all worldly goods and desires. “When Lord Buddha was alive, there wasn't anything like this. There were no cars, smart phones or cameras, so the rules were much simpler,” said Office of National Buddhism director-general Nopparat Benjawatananun.
AP

Shaking off their late arrival in Brazil (the squad were bickering over bonus payments),Nigeria’s Super Eagles thrashed minnows Tahiti 6-1 in their Confederations Cup opener. Anything less would have been a disappointment, and Nigeria didn’t actually play that well. Tahiti, meanwhile, celebrated their solitary goal like they’d just won a World Cup final, and so they should – they’ve got no professionals in the team, and nine of the squad are unemployed.
CNN, Fox

Financial indicators:
Oil=$105.53  Gold=$1382.98  Platinum=$1433.5
R/$=10.00  R/€=13.35  R/£=15.7  €/$=1.34
JSE All Share=40,323.62 (0.00%)  DOW=15,179.80 (0.73%)  FTSE=6,330.49 (0.35%)
Sources: Bloomberg, Fin24

The Treasury will brief media on its draft carbon tax policy.

Mamphela Ramphele is addressing the Cape Town Press Club.

Fact of the day: There are lots of animals out there, so it’s difficult to confirm this one, but we feel fairly confident in declaring that only one animal has ever been named after a newspaper. Meet the Herald snake, a small, mildly venomous creature that likes frogs and is endemic to southern Africa. It’s named after Port Elizabeth’s Herald newspaper, in whose venerable pages its existence was recorded for the first time.

Weather:

Bloemfontein: min: -1°, max: 17°, clear
Cape Town: min: 12°, max: 22°, clear
Durban: min: 13°, max: 23°, clear
East London: min: 11°, max: 25°, clear
Johannesburg: min: 2°, max: 16°, clear
Kimberley: min: 6°, max: 18°, clear
Nelspruit: min: 4°, max: 22°, clear
Pietermaritzburg: min: 4°, max: 22°, clear
Polokwane: min: 2°, max: 18°, mostly cloudy
Port Elizabeth: min: 9°, max: 24°, fog
Pretoria: min: 4°, max: 17°, clear
Source: AccuWeather