---
title: "While you were sleeping: 9 September 2016"
description: "North Korea launches a large nuclear test, NASA goes looking for asteroid dust, and Johan Botha passes away."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "South Africa"
author: "John Stupart"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/johnstupart/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-09-while-you-were-sleeping-9-september-2016/"
published: "2016-09-09T06:19:10"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 676
---

# While you were sleeping: 9 September 2016

> North Korea launches a large nuclear test, NASA goes looking for asteroid dust, and Johan Botha passes away.

By John Stupart · Published 9 September 2016, 08:19 SAST

## Content

| \| \\| *“One thought-murder a day keeps the psychiatrist away.”*  ***–*****Saul Bellow** \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\|  \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \| |
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| \| \\| # Story of the Day \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\\| ![Image](//gallery.mailchimp.com/6170d6a6d93cac57e83ba137f/images/2c4b7134-8e6f-448e-9e21-45e8f088cb32.jpg) \\\| \\\| --- \\\|\\\| ## [Captura](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-09-captura-continua-anc-quashes-parliamentary-probe-pressure-shifts-to-new-public-protector/#.V9InJZh9600)[Continua: ANC quashes parliamentary probe, pressure shifts to new Public Protector](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-09-captura-continua-anc-quashes-parliamentary-probe-pressure-shifts-to-new-public-protector/#.V9InJZh9600)South Africa’s new Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane will have a baptism of fire as she will have to release the reports of a number of explosive investigations early in her term of office. This includes the investigations into alleged corruption by Eastern Cape municipalities relating to Nelson Mandela’s funeral and the Tshwane smart meter contract. But no report will be as highly anticipated as the investigation into the alleged capture of the state by the Gupta family. With the ANC voting against a parliamentary probe into allegations of state capture on Thursday, the Office of the Public Protector remains the only avenue for South Africa to know the truth about the controversial family’s involvement in state affairs. By RANJENI MUNUSAMY.  [Read more](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-09-captura-continua-anc-quashes-parliamentary-probe-pressure-shifts-to-new-public-protector/#.V9InJZh9600) \\\| \\\| --- \\\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\|  \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # While you were sleeping \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| ## North Korea conducts nuclear testA blast measuring 10 kilotons has been detected near North Korea's nuclear testing site. It also triggered a 5.3 magnitude artificial earthquake. If 100% confirmed by Japan and South Korea, this would be Dear Leader's largest test so far. [Read More](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-09-n.-korea-carries-out-biggest-ever-nuclear-test-seoul) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| ## UN panel blames leaders for violenceA UN panel of experts has pinned July's violence in South Sudan squarely on President Salva Kiir and army chief of staff, Paul Malong. The report explicitly states the two ordered the attacks on 8 July that resulted in SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar's flight and over 300 deaths. [Read More](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-09-un-panel-blames-south-sudan-leaders-for-juba-violence) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| ## Asteroid-bound probe launchedNASA has launched an unmanned spacecraft with the specific aim of collecting asteroid dust. Late last night, the OSIRIS-REx was dispatched on a seven-year mission to collect asteroid dust and bring it back to earth. [Read More](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-09-nasa-spacecraft-blasts-off-to-collect-asteroid-dust) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| ## South African tenor diesWorld-famous South African-born tenor Johan Botha has passed away. Aged 51, Botha, who also holds Austrian citizenship, died after suffering a short illness. Tributes for the opera star have poured in, including from President Jacob Zuma. [Read More](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-09-star-tenor-johan-botha-dies-aged-51) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\|  \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # Picture of the Day \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| ![Image](//gallery.mailchimp.com/6170d6a6d93cac57e83ba137f/images/1c04a83c-5564-4403-89b1-3505eb4733b4.jpg) \\| \\| --- \\| \\| Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks during the Apple launch event at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, California, US, 07 September 2016. Media reports indicate several products were launched including a new iPhone, a new Apple Watch, and new operating systems. EPA/MONICA DAVEY \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\|  \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # In Numbers \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **16** \\| \\| --- \\|\\| The percentage reduction in smallpox-related deaths in George Washington's army due to vaccination. \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\|  \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # Facts of the Day \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| Today is **Wonderful Weirdos Day**. You know who you are.**North Korea owes Sweden €300 million**for 1,000 stolen Volvos. Sweden periodically sends Dear Leader reminders of the outstanding debt. \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\|  \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # Weather \\| \\| --- \\|\\| # Financial Data \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| BFN: min: 13° max: 25°, cloudy CPT: min: 11° max: 17°, rainy DBN: min: 18° max: 21°, rainy EL: min: 15° max: 20°, cloudy JHB: min: 15° max: 29°, sunny KIM: min: 12° max: 22°, cloudy NLP: min: 12° max: 34°, cloudy PMB: min: 12° max: 22°, rainy PKN: min: 14° max: 30°, sunny PE: min: 13° max: 18°, rainy PTA: min: 13° max: 30°, sunny \\| \\| --- \\|\\| Oil=$49.79 Gold=$1,336.61 Platinum=$1,081.65 R/$=14.13 R/€=15.90 R/£=18.79 €/$=1.12 JSE All Share=53,250.25 DJIA= 18,463.64 FTSE 100=6,858.70  [Source](http://dailymaverick.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6170d6a6d93cac57e83ba137f&id=6c17d969dc&e=371f6bebf2) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\|  \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # Now on Daily Maverick### **FEATURES**\\\| ![captura-continua.jpg](//ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/nhZOqiSP-qObFdQdI3Ry7GkiNDarkHOmTSC0wdnhqKSSzN51XtSnHtwuNUnVTHaiLA753ef1YEnh5wtAHPHRk7AHnbE0MAWRzh9ntO_Fxwf07utBJcXQjVdzKbn1rORYgT0O3qHyfmP_mQ=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70captura-continua.jpg) \\\| [Captura Continua: ANC quashes parliamentary probe, pressure shifts to new Public Protector](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-09-captura-continua-anc-quashes-parliamentary-probe-pressure-shifts-to-new-public-protector/)  By Ranjeni Munusamy \\\| \\\| --- \\\| --- \\\| \\\| ![Photo: Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan (Greg Nicolson)](//ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/SbYVVxAzx5sNSLTXsURdBhqUDYiqNEtJdi6nuoiVW-_iQJec_boZZjGZtgptZqdCi8nrZgLM9RzcPXTus6M3z2mvRqD3HGZ3b0_Uzyt0UsnvHTfHMfyvexcRSMccqteuefGM-EP-lKSLpB9m6IFXoZs=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70Marianne-PravinOpenBook.jpg) \\\| [The People’s Finance Minister: Pravin Gordhan – grace under pressure](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-09-the-peoples-finance-minister-pravin-gordhan-grace-under-pressure/)  By Marianne Thamm \\\| \\\| ![Artwork by Faith47.](//ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/9KRkN5CwaWqaMm6mrPLbU_Q8jc-NZ2j64cQhrCtqaUxa_PLZ4yVu7Rld3V_dNeY03IMWnkq5ns3DlrVOVoredCQ-W3X-19ITuwWa1v3UothAl583hQ-NPMTaE9BGa9ASF2DSHB73S8Qq4Xg3pd_h4b3u0WKmi8L014FllJo=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70Greg-UKZN-violence-student-protests.jpg) \\\| [Student protests: Cycle of indignity continues, without answer](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-09-student-protests-cycle-of-indignity-continues-without-answer/)  By Greg Nicolson \\\| \\\| ![Image](//ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/10S_Jht8zV-wILfhFpwugf-QoWu6SznHoiJiSn0no7oSnaGEJ14hA2b8jCeqHeMgH1Ajpbx6-O1-XVMBSMfeat0gGDHZJa3kWIwa5FaxWNcUV7sx2lwEXP7KHGXA8_aMrba-BWg8MNz4RB91Wg=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70brooks-gary-johnson.jpg)during the Cannabis World Congress & Business Exposition in New York, U.S. June 16, 2016. 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