While you were sleeping: 24 August 2016

North Korea surprises all with missile launch, Rand plummets after Hawks call-in for Gordhan, and Tesla unveils new speedy car.

By John Stupart

24 Aug

Zeiss Planetarium to reopen - press event

“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”

? H.L. Mencken

Story of the Day

BREAKING: SARS Wars Endgame – Hawks order Pravin Gordhan and others to “present” themselves

The Hawks are again circling Pravin Gordhan as well as four SARS officials, former Deputy Commissioner Ivan Pillay, Group Executive Johann van Loggerenberg, Pete Richer, former SARS head of strategic planning, and initial head of the investigative unit, Andries van Rensburg, who have all been ordered to report to the Hawks in Pretoria on Thursday for warning statements. The threats of criminal action relate to allegations of an alleged “rogue unit” located in SARS. Pravin Gordhan has been in the Hawks cross-hairs since accidentally landing back in the hot seat as Minister of Finance in December. By MARIANNE THAMM.
Read more

While you were sleeping

North Korea fires sub-launched missile

The less-preferred Korea has successfully fired a ballistic missile from a submarine. The missile was able to travel over 500km in the direction of Japan. The test is a clear leap forward in ballistic missile capability of Dear Leader, and certainly cause for significant concern. Read More

Rand plummets after Hawks probe

The Rand took a knock after Gordhan and deputies were summoned by the Hawks, falling three percent and at one point hitting R14 to the Dollar on Tuesday. It appears as though a casual disregard for the nation's currency is the order of the week. Read More

Backpacker attack kills one

A French attacker has stabbed to death one British woman and injured a man in Australia. The individual allegedly shouted "Allahu Ackbar" while murdering the woman in Home Hill, northern Queensland. Read More

Tesla unveils speedy long range model

Tesla Motors revealed on Tuesday a new vehicle capable of 482km range before recharge. The Model S P100D has been labelled by Elon Musk as the third fastest accelerating production car in the world, slower than just the LaFerrari and the Porsche 918 Spyder. Read More

Picture of the Day

Segments of the new shows are demonstrated during a press event in the 23-metre dome of the Zeiss-Grossplanetarium in Berlin, Germany, 23 August 2016. After 2 years of renovation work, the planetarium is to reopen on 25 August. EPA/JENS KALAENE

In Numbers

The number of (known) assassination attemptsQueen Victoria survived.

Facts of the Day

Today is National Waffle Day in the USA (and it should be worldwide).

In 1942 "Operation Vegetarian" was a plan hatched by the Allies to drop linseed cakes laced with anthrax over German pastures. The idea, to poison the German population, was never realised. The test site in Scotland remained closed until the 1990s.

Weather

Financial Data

BFN: min: 10° max: 20°, sunny
CPT: min: 11° max: 17°, cloudy
DBN: min: 14° max: 24°, cloudy
EL: min: 16° max: 23°, cloudy
JHB: min: 3° max: 23° sunny
KIM: min: 6° max: 22°, cloudy
NLP: min: 3° max: 26°, sunny
PMB: min: 5° max: 25°, cloudy
PKN: min: 5° max: 22°, sunny
PE: min: 14° max: 21°, cloudy
PTA: min: 4° max: 23°, sunny

Oil=$49.98
Gold=$1,340.02
Platinum=$1,104.10
R/$=13.96
R/€=15.78
R/£=18.42
€/$=1.11
JSE All Share=52,957.80
DJIA= 18,553.12
FTSE 100=6,868.51
Source

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