--- title: "While you were sleeping: 31 August 2017" description: "World remembers Diana, Harvey damage mounts, and Sharapova advances at US Open" 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/2017-08-31-while-you-were-sleeping-31-august-2017/" published: "2017-08-31T05:56:39" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 730 --- # While you were sleeping: 31 August 2017 > World remembers Diana, Harvey damage mounts, and Sharapova advances at US Open By John Stupart · Published 31 August 2017, 07:56 SAST ## Content **Thursday, 31 August 2017** *“Give yourself freedom to try out new things. Don't be so set in your ways that you can't grow.”* **Susan Polis Schutz** ![Image](https://i1.createsend1.com/ei/d/BB/33F/5B7/csimport/849x493q70jessica-petro11.050641.jpg) STORY OF THE DAY [Revealed: Zweli Mkhize acts to clear his name over R4.6-bn PetroSA deal](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uluiujy-l-n/) ANC Treasurer General Dr Zweli Mkhize has given senior officials from the Central Energy Fund 48 hours to explain why his name was dropped into discussions over an alleged plot to swing a R4.6-billion PetroSA deal. By JESSICA BEZUIDENHOUT. [World mourns Diana 20 years on](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uluiujy-l-p/) The world's fans of Princess Diana have marked 20 years since her death. Well-wishers paid tribute to the Princess of Wales at the scene of her fatal car crash, the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris. Princes William and Harry received a constant throng of tributes at Kensington Palace on Wednesday. The "People's Princess", it seems, is as popular today as she ever was. [Harvey to cost Texas $58-billion](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uluiujy-l-x/) Preliminary estimates on the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey has reached a staggering $58-billion. A German organisation, the Centre for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction Technology, made the finding on Thursday, citing it as the world's most expensive natural disaster since 1990. [Chemical plant explosion fears in Houston](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uluiujy-l-m/) Staying with Harvey, new fears have emerged of a possible explosion at a plant near Houston. As flood waters begin to recede, authorities believe the Arkema plant, a refrigerated facility for chemical compounds, could well erupt in an unavoidable fire. With high water remaining at the plant, and no power to turn refrigeration back on, a fire may well be a question of when, not if. [Sharapova continues frightening momentum](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uluiujy-l-c/) Maria Sharapova's comeback story is real. The former world number one defeated Hungary's 59th-ranked Timea Babos 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-1. While not on her best form, Sharapova now appears set to make a concerted stab at the title. Were that to happen, you can expect Hollywood to leap on her movie rights within seconds. — Daily Maverick invites you to save the date for the first of a series of debates unpacking the argument between active and passive fund managers, brought to you by our partner 10X Investments. If you are serious about investing or just curious to get to the bottom of such headlines as "Are index funds evil?" and "Active investment fees are nothing short of daylight robbery", join us for the first of two discussions chaired by Africa Melane on 27 September at 5pm at The Centre for the Book, Queen Victoria Street, CapeTown. Email[events@dailymaverick.co.za](mailto:events@dailymaverick.co.za?subject=10X%20Event%2FDaily%20Maverick%20promotion) to register for the event. IN NUMBERS 96 hours The length of the longest surgery to date. FACTS OF THE DAY Today in 1997 **Diana, Princess of Wales**, dies in a tragic car accident. "**The First World War**" was a phrase coined by a journalist in 1918 because they felt that it would not be the final world war. ![Image](https://i3.createsend1.com/ei/d/BB/33F/5B7/csimport/GleakswN24.190025.jpg) FEATURED ARTICLES ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Thamm-PravinArrestagain.jpg) [Hawks vs Gordhan Reboot: Former Finance Minister once more in special unit’s sights](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uluiujy-l-f/) BY MARIANNE THAMM ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70grootes-NDZpolicies.jpg) [ANC Leadership Race: Can Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma give voters enough reason to head to the polls come 2019?](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uluiujy-l-v/) BY STEPHEN GROOTES ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70ThammOperationWonder.jpg) [Operation Wonder: Why we chose to ignore explosive dossier](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uluiujy-l-s/) BY MARIANNE THAMM ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70mercedes-diana-MAIN-PHOTO.jpg) [Twenty years after her death, Princess Diana's Angolan visit is still remembered](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uluiujy-l-w/) BY MERCEDES SAYAGUES ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70merten-financeflows.jpg) [Parliament: MPs frustrated by lack of action on illicit financial flows](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uluiujy-l-yh/) BY MARIANNE MERTEN ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70becs-effrobben.jpg) [Fighters and Struggle icons unite on Robben Island](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uluiujy-l-yu/) BY REBECCA DAVIS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70fabricius-Gaspard.jpg) [Media Innovation: New programme aims to combat strain on journalism’s traditional revenue model](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uluiujy-l-jr/) BY PETER FABRICIUS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q701412_820_ant_sascoc_tubby-reddy.jpg) [#SascocShenanigans: Dubious invoices for ‘bugging report’ surface](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uluiujy-l-jj/) BY ANTOINETTE MULLER OPINIONISTAS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70Paul-Trewhela.jpg) [A response to Thabo Mbeki on ‘The people shall govern’](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uluiujy-l-ji/) A column by PAUL TREWHELA ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70Shelagh-Gastrow.jpg) [Philanthropist’s new foundation worth R80m a year to charitable causes in SA](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uluiujy-l-jh/) A column by SHELAGH GASTROW ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70MEC-Mr-Lebogang-Maile.jpeg) [Integrate informal waste pickers into the mainstream economy](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uluiujy-l-ju/) A column by LEBOGANG MAILE — **Weather** BFN: min: 4° max 26°, cloudy CPT: min: 9° max: 16°, cloudy DBN: min: 16° max: 23°, sunny EL: min: 12° max: 24°, rainy JHB: min: 10° max: 23°, sunny KIM: min: 4° max: 28°, sunny NLP: min: 12° max: 27°, sunny MHK: min: 9° max: 30°, sunny PMB: min: 11° max:29°, sunny PE: min: 10° max: 23°, sunny PTA: min: 11° max: 27°, sunny **Financial Data** Oil=$50.76 Gold=$1,308.83 Platinum=$990.55 R/$=13.02 R/€=15.49 R/£=16.82 $/€=0.84 JSE All Share=56,168.00 DJIA=21,892.43 FTSE 100=7,365.26