South Africa
Apple falters out the Q1 gate

Apple posts huge profit, but still not enough. Azarenka out the Oz Open, and North Korea possibly mounting cyber attacks.
“If you’re going to do a thing, you should do it thoroughly. If you’re going to be a Christian, you may as well be a Catholic. ”
– Muriel Spark
WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING |
South Korea suspects its crazier, hungrier northern neighbour may have attempted a cyber attack. Authorities believe North Korea may well have tried to attack various targets, but have thus far declined to elaborate on what, exactly, was the focus of North Korea’s cyber ire. South Korea has been on a heightened state of alert specifically for cyber attacks since a possible nuclear test earlier in January.
Donald Trump has pulled out of the upcoming Iowa debate. Hosted by Fox News, Trump had reservations about the proposed moderator, Megyn Kelly. Fox expressed surprise that the walking spray tan advert was so intimidated by a journalist’s questioning that he would opt not to participate. Nonetheless, his exit from the debate at such a crucial juncture of the primaries could well hurt his campaign significantly.
Apple has reported a first quarter sales dip, citing “softness” in the Chinese economy. The first such announcement in a decade, it revealed iPhone sales have slumped, particularly in China. With shares dropping 2.6 percent overnight, the tech giant is attempting to navigate investor fears that there is no new tech emerging from the company.
Germany’s Angelique Kerber has defeated Victoria Azarenka to advance to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. Losing 6-3 7-5, Azarenka had been initially stunned into a 4-0 slump in the first set. Kerber then found herself down 5-2 in the second set as Azarenka rebounded, but the German managed to return from the tennis grave in an hour and 45 minutes.
IN NUMBERS |
1/38
The odds of winning at roulette in the United States. Anywhere else, by virtue of the table’s design, has a reduced chance of 1/37.
FACTS OF THE DAY |
Fact of the day: In WWII, fuel used in American torpedoes was 180-proof grain alcohol. Sailors mixed it with pineapple and called the result ‘torpedo juice’.
WEATHER |
Cape Town: min: 21° max: 26°, rainy
Durban: min: 19° max: 37°, cloudy
Johannesburg: min: 16° max: 28°, cloudy
Kimberley: min: 22° max: 32°, sunny
Nelspruit: min: 19° max: 32°, cloudy
Pietermaritzburg: min: 15° max: 36°, rainy
Polokwane: min: 16° max: 31°, cloudy
Port Elizabeth: min: 19° max: 26°, cloudy
Pretoria: min: 18° max: 29°, rainy
FINANCIAL DATA |
Oil=$31.51 Gold=$1,118.42 Platinum=$875.02
R/$=16.36 R/€=17.76 R/£=23.47 $/€=1.07
JSE All Share=47,532.40 DJIA=16,121.07 FTSE 100=5,917.29: Source
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