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While you were sleeping: 24 August 2016

While you were sleeping: 24 August 2016
By John Stupart
24 Aug 2016
0

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

“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

7
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

Now on Daily Maverick

 

FEATURES  

Photo: Finance minister Pravin Gordhan, the Hawks head Lieutenant-General Mthandazo Ntlemeza. (SAPA) BREAKING: SARS Wars Endgame – Hawks order Pravin Gordhan and others to “present” themselves 
By Marianne Thamm
Photo: South Africa's President Jacob Zuma (L), who is also the president of the ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), gestures next to his Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa during the party's 104th anniversary celebrations in Rustenburg January 9, 2016. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko Hazard ahead: ANC wounded, Zuma unpredictable, Gordhan targeted 
By Ranjeni Munusamy
Photo: Forgive us, Judge Dredd. TRAINSPOTTER: Judge Dredd — will Jacob Zuma, the ANC and Siraj Desai unprotect the public? 
By Richard Poplak
Photo: Communications Minister Faith Muthambi addresses a media briefing at ahead of her department’s budget vote, 15 July 2014. (Photo: GCIS) Op-Ed: Faith Muthambi goes to Parliament 
By Marelise van der Merwe
Photo: Supporters arrive to listen to the leader of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, President Jacob Zuma, addressing the party’s final pre-election rally in Johannesburg, South Africa, 31 July 2016. EPA/CORNELL TUKIRI LGE2016 debate: Problem, WHAT problem? The numbers look good to us, ANC tells Parliament 
By Marianne Merten
Photo: Simone Biles of the USA competes on the Floor in the women’s Individual All-Round final of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Artistic Gymnastics events at the Rio Olympic Arena in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 11 August 2016. EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG Rio 2016: Women who made their mark on the Games’ history 
By Antoinette Muller
Main photo: Caster Semenya is congratulated by swimmers Cameron van der Burgh and Chad le Clos. On the far left is 24-year-old Henri Schoeman from Durban who claimed bronze in the men’s triathlon. GroundUp: In photos – Fans greet South African Olympians 
By GroundUp
Marianne-FirstPersonAugust24(1).jpg Podcast: First Person, Ep. 04 – Backyard Addiction 
By Marianne Thamm
Photo: Supporters of Edgar Lungu, leader of the Patriotic Front party (PF), celebrate after Lungu narrowly won re-election on Monday, in a vote his main rival Hakainde Hichilema rejected on claims of alleged rigging by the electoral commission, in the capital, Lusaka, Zambia, August 15, 2016. REUTERS/Jean Serge Mandela Op-Ed: Is Democracy a Crumbling Edifice? A Zambian perspective 
By Makasa Chinyanta
A handout picture provided by the Bundesregierung on 22 August 2016 shows Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi (C), French President Francois Hollande (L) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) during a press conference at the end of their meeting on the Italian military ship 'Garibaldi' near Ventotene Island, Tirreno sea, Italy, 22 August 2016. The leaders of Italy, France and Germany went to one of the birthplaces of European unity in a symbolic bid to relaunch the European project following Britain's decision to leave the EU. EPA/Guido Bergmann / Bundesregierung / Handout HANDOUT EDITORIAL While you were sleeping: 23 August 2016 
By John Stupart

OPINIONISTA

IvoVegterBW African nations should withdraw from CITES 
By Ivo Vegter
Grootes for DM.jpg August, 2016: A time of profound change 
By Stephen Grootes
Gallery

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