While you were sleeping: 12 February 2016

Major breakthrough in detecting gravity in space. SONAmbulatory proceedings in Cape Town, and Arsenal to play MLS All-Stars in July.

By John Stupart

12 Feb 2016

"Now that we have the detectors to see these systems, now that we know binary black holes are out there – we'll begin listening to the Universe. "

– Professor Gabriela González

Story of the Day

State of the Nation 2016: Commotion, crisis of credibility and the great appeasement
At the end, everyone got what they wanted. President Jacob Zuma made it through his State of the Nation Address (Sona), the Economic Freedom Fighters caused a din and held up proceedings and the Democratic Alliance came across as the reasonable guys. Even Mosiuoa Lekota got what he wanted – five minutes of fame on the biggest night on the parliamentary calendar. And Mangosuthu Buthelezi looked mightily pleased to crack an acknowledgement in the speech. The Sona was a mega appeasement effort to the business and investment community to undo the damage Zuma had inflicted on the economy. His general message to South Africa was: I have heard you. By RANJENI MUNUSAMY.

While you were sleeping

Massive breakthrough on theory of relativity
While police were cinching up their evening Kevlar vests in Cape Town, the rest of the world was busy proving the final untested part of Einstein's theory of relativity. Einstein's gravitational waves have now been detected in space. A team of physicists successfully recorded the faint cosmic fart of two black holes colliding with each other, thereby proving the last unproved aspect of Einstein's theory. The ramifications of knowing that gravity exists in space are a bit like an adult suddenly realising that they can hear.
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A taste of everything SONA
At the end of President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation Address, the EFF achieved its disapproving gesture, the president his speech, and the protestors a whiff of teargas with none of the actual tears. The Democratic Alliance, meanwhile, remained in their seats, but sported a comparatively muted message of "8.3m jobless" by pinning badges to their disgruntled breasts. Daily Maverick has all your analysis here, here, and here. Pictures to be found here.
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MTN to settle its Nigerian fine
MTN has announced plans to settle its $3.9 billion debt/fine with the Nigerian government. A judge ordered that the telecommunications giant has until March to reach a settlement. The positive news immediately sent MTN shares rocketing up eight percent. It appears that the reception of said information were full bars.
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Arsenal to play MLS All-Stars in July
Hosted at the Avaya Stadium on July 28, the elite British team will face off against the best of the MLS. The Gunners could include the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Petr Cech in the squad. Ostensibly a friendly, the MLS team will be out for blood, thereby making this contest an unmissable event.
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In Numbers

13,810

The number of days left until the world's proven oil reserves run out.

Facts of the Day

Today is Darwin Day. This commemorates the birth of Charles Darwin on 12 February 1809.

Fact of the day: The translation of ‘gymnasium’ means “school for naked exercise". This harks back to Classical Greece, where Greeks used to exercise naked.

Weather

Financial Data

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DBN: min: 20° max: 30°, cloudy

EL: min: 21° max: 32°, sunny
JHB: min: 17° max: 32°, cloudy
KIM: min: 22° max: 36°, cloudy
NLP: min: 17° max: 32°, cloudy
PMB: min: 13° max: 32°, cloudy
PKN: min: 16° max: 31°, rainy
PE: min: 20° max: 25°, rainy
PTA: min: 18° max: 33°, cloudy

Oil=$30.93 Gold=$1,245.00 Platinum=$959.55
R/$=15.70 R/€=17.82 R/£=22.67 $/€=1.13
JSE All Share=47,411.57 DJIA=15,667.89 FTSE 100=5,536.97 : Source