US President Donald Trump diluted his promises of steel and aluminium tariffs on Wednesday. After a week of encouraging a global trade war on America, the White House revealed that there would be exemptions for allies. This would include Canada and Mexico on the grounds of national security – they would receive exemptions for a limited period of 30 days.

British authorities have confirmed that a former Russian double-agent who collapsed in a town square was targeted with a nerve agent. Police have confirmed that they have identified which nerve agent it is, but were not ready to reveal the type just yet. Sergei Skripal, his daughter and two others who came to his aid are all seriously ill.

Australian Vice-Captain David Warner has maintained his defiance in the face of stiff disciplinary action for a fight with Quinton de Kock on the fourth day of their Durban Test. Warner claimed that De Kock insulted his wife. Footage showed the outburst after Warner instigated the scuffle, calling the Protea a “f**king sook”. You would think all the sunshine from Warner’s glass house would shed some perspective on this for him.

Former Irish president Mary McAleese has slammed the Catholic Church, labelling it an “empire of misogyny”. McAleese pointed out that there are precious few positions of leadership within the church for women. The former president is expected to hold a conference soon that will issue a call for women to be included in church decision-making.

Weather
BFN: min: 11° max 25°, rainy
CPT: min: 14° max: 21°, cloudy
DBN: min: 22° max: 26°, rainy
JHB: min: 13° max: 21°, rainy
KIM: min: 13° max: 28°, rainy
MHK: min: 13° max: 26°, rainy
NLP: min: 18° max: 33°, rainy
PE: min: 14° max: 26°, cloudy
PMB: min: 14° max: 28°, rainy
PTA: min: 17° max: 24°, rainy

Financial Data
Oil=$64.30
Gold=$1,325.34
Platinum=$952.53
R/$=11.86
R/€=14.72
R/£=16.48
BTC/$=9,756
JSE All Share=58,962.65
DJIA=24,633.11
FTSE 100=7,157.84