US ambassador Nikki Haley has warned that the United States will use force if “it must” against North Korea. Speaking at an emergency session of the Security Council, Haley cautioned that the testing by Dear Leader of an ICBM was closing off the possibility of a diplomatic solution. Considering the ICBM launch came with a warning to the “American Bastards”, that solution may well be far gone.

Do you feel like the #GuptaLeaks investigation has you overwhelmed? Given the massive amount of effluent flowing from Saxonwold it would be forgivable to struggle to keep track of what’s where, when. Look no further: Chronicle has compiled an introduction to the leaks, explaining in concise detail everything you need to know. If you want the tl;dr version, click here .

Zambian President Edgar Lungu enacted a state of emergency late on Wednesday, making a calculated move away from good governance and slipping into authoritarianism. He justified the declaration due to a series of apparent arson attacks, but it cannot be removed from the ongoing arrest and detention of opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema. The Zambian night of the long knives, then, may well be playing out this week.

After an avionics-related delay, SpaceX has successfully launched a rather large broadband communications satellite into space. The IntelSat 35e required such a powerful rocket to be sent into orbit that SpaceX opted not to use the return option on its first state rocket. Carrying an array of hardware on board, the IntelSat satellite will boost wireless communications in, among other regions, Africa.

Weather
BFN: min: 4° max 19°, cloudy
CPT: min: 9° max: 19°,  cloudy
DBN: min: 13° max: 25°, sunny
EL: min: 14° max: 31°, cloudy
JHB: min: 11° max: 21°, sunny
KIM: min: 11° max: 22°, sunny
NLP: min: 10° max: 19°, cloudy
PMB: min: 9° max: 29°, cloudy
PE: min: 17° max: 32°, sunny
PTA: min: 7° max: 23°, sunny

Financial Data
Oil=$48.01
Gold=$1,220.68
Platinum=$905.23
R/$=13.43
R/€=15.21
R/£=17.34
$/€=0.88
JSE All Share=52,483.90
DJIA=21,473.64
FTSE 100=7,367.60