--- title: "While you were sleeping: 15 August 2017" description: "North Korea dials back Guam strike plans, Taylor Swift wins lawsuit, and racist rally cancelled." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "Newsdeck" author: "John Stupart" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/johnstupart/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-08-15-while-you-were-sleeping-15-august-2017/" published: "2017-08-15T05:58:50" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 800 --- # While you were sleeping: 15 August 2017 > North Korea dials back Guam strike plans, Taylor Swift wins lawsuit, and racist rally cancelled. By John Stupart · Published 15 August 2017, 07:58 SAST ## Content **Tuesday, 15 August 2017** *“Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon.”* **Paul Brandt** ![Image](https://i2.createsend1.com/ei/d/CD/448/A53/csimport/849x493q70Thamm-Sonya1.050631.jpg) STORY OF THE DAY [Western Cape: Brigadier Sonja Harri helped thousands of victims. Now she is a victim herself – of Politics & Backstabbing](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kukddkl-l-x/) By MARIANNE THAMM Head of the Western Cape Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit Brigadier Sonja Harri, who has over 30 years’ experience and has been instrumental in helping to solve a myriad high-profile cases including the brutal murder and rape of Anene Booysen, has been languishing at home for eight months while she faces questionable charges of misconduct. Meanwhile, the region’s deputy provincial commissioner of detectives, Major-General Patrick Mbotho, who exercises command and oversight of this crucial unit, allegedly posted pornographic messages on to an official police WhatsApp group in July. He’s still at work. [North Korea dials down Guam plans](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kukddkl-l-m/) Dear Leader Kim Jong-Un has pulled back on promises to fire a missile at Guam, possibly indicating a desire to de-escalate tensions with the United States. North Korea stated today that it would hold back on the planned strike, but would go ahead in the event of further "reckless actions" by President Donald Trump. With the largest joint military exercise between the US and South Korea set to kick off later in August, that might be considered a "reckless action" by Uncle Kim. [Texas cancels white supremacist rally](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kukddkl-l-c/) Prestigious Texas A&M University has cancelled a planned white supremacist rally. Scheduled for its campus on September 11, notorious racist leader and general scumbag Richard Spencer had been pencilled in to speak. Citing a "security risk", rather than sheer distastefulness, Texas A&M will now no longer be the next Charlottesville hatefest calendar event. [Knee arthritis doubled in US since WWll](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kukddkl-l-q/) A painful condition affecting older people, arthritis in the knee has been found to be twice as common today than before World War ll in the United States. A lack of exercise, skyrocketing obesity rates, and a diet high in refined sugars were all listed as contributors in the rise. With similar levels of lassitude in South Africa, there's no reason why this phenomenon will not repeat outside of the United States. [Taylor Swift wins sexual assault lawsuit](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kukddkl-l-a/) Pop superstar Taylor Swift has won a sexual assault lawsuit filed against a former radio DJ. Swift accused David Mueller of groping her during a photo session in 2013. A Denver jury ruled in Swift's favour, awarding her the $1 in damages she had asked for. A tearful Swift hailed the ruling as a victory for "me and anyone who feels silenced by a sexual assault". [Daily Maverick is hiring](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kukddkl-l-f/) We are on the look out for a new Finance Manager. If financial reporting in jeans is your cup of tea, [click here to take a look](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kukddkl-l-z/) and see whether you'd fit into our circu... organisation. — IN NUMBERS 25,000 The dollar amount that Eminem's mother sued him for, 23,354.25 of which ultimately went to her lawyers. FACTS OF THE DAY Today in 1939 the **Wizard of Oz** debuts. Lawn gnomes used to be[real people](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kukddkl-l-s/) . The original gnome ornaments were known as **Ornamental Hermits.** ![Image](https://i6.createsend1.com/ei/d/CD/448/A53/csimport/GleakswN24.190025.jpg) FEATURED ARTICLES ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Thamm-Sonya.jpg) [Western Cape: Brigadier Sonja Harri helped thousands of victims. Now she is a victim herself – of Politics & Backstabbing](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kukddkl-l-yk/) BY MARIANNE THAMM ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Grootes-DiscipliningANCrebels.jpg) [Analysis: What can Zuma do to the rebel MPs? Not much, actually](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kukddkl-l-jl/) BY STEPHEN GROOTES ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70greg-ANCFreestate.jpg) [ANC Free State: A symptom of a divided party](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kukddkl-l-jy/) BY GREG NICOLSON ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70merten-parlydiaryvote.jpg) [Reporter’s Parliamentary Diary: The knives are out for ‘the enemy’ within the ANC](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kukddkl-l-jt/) BY MARIANNE MERTEN ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70morris-corrupt.jpg) [Op-Ed: South Africa’s problem is greater and deeper than the Guptas, Zuma, and their cronies](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kukddkl-l-jd/) BY MIKE MORRIS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70oped-Parsons-water.jpg) [Op-Ed: Cape Town’s water future is bleak – it’s time to call in the groundwater experts](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kukddkl-l-jk/) BY ROGER PARSONS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Marelise-disabilityeduc.jpg) [Students with disabilities disadvantaged at higher education level](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kukddkl-l-tl/) BY MARELISE VAN DER MERWE ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70GLeaks-blue-lightsNEW.jpg) [#GuptaLeaks: Guptas’ blue lights mystery solved](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kukddkl-l-ty/) BY NEWS24 ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70GroundUp-evictions-MainPhoto.jpg) [GroundUp: Families evicted at Cape Town social housing complex](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kukddkl-l-tt/) BY GROUNDUP OPINIONISTAS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q7027four-109-bw.jpg) [‘Too big to fail’ or not?](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kukddkl-l-td/) A column by FATIMA VAWDA ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70helen-zille-02.jpg) [From the Inside: We all need to do something about child murders](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kukddkl-l-tk/) A column by HELEN ZILLE ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70Nomatter-Ndebele.jpg) [How dare you gather without us? We are part of the workings of the world](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kukddkl-l-il/) A column by NOMATTER NDEBELE — **Weather** BFN: min: 4° max 25°, cloudy CPT: min: 8° max: 14°, rainy DBN: min: 14° max: 27°, sunny EL: min: 12° max: 23°, sunny JHB: min: 10° max: 22°, sunny KIM: min: 4° max: 28°, sunny NLP: min: 13° max: 31°, sunny MHK: min: 9° max: 27°, sunny PMB: min: 9° max: 31°, sunny PE: min: 10° max: 23°, sunny PTA: min: 11° max: 23°, sunny **Financial Data** Oil=$51.04 Gold=$1,284.90 Platinum=$970.91 R/$=13.31 R/€=15.70 R/£=17.28 $/€=0.88 JSE All Share=55,465.65 DJIA=22,004.91 FTSE 100=7,353.89