Dailymaverick logo

Newsdeck

Newsdeck

While you were sleeping: 14 June 2017

While you were sleeping: 14 June 2017
Sessions gets serious in testimony, London blaze engulfs apartment block, and Uber CEO takes leave of absence.





Wednesday, 14 June 2017


“The past is always tense, the future perfect.”
Zadie Smith




 



 














It’s been a busy few weeks. Let’s get caught up. 





 



 



 









Sessions testifies in heated Senate hearing



Attorney General Jeff Sessions has called allegations of his involvement in meddling with the Russian government and the Trump campaign a "detestable lie". Sessions then went on to defend President Donald Trump's dismissal of FBI director James Comey. The AG also flatly denied Huffington Post allegations that he had engaged with the Russian ambassador during the Trump campaign.





 





Massive fire engulfs London building



A 27-storey apartment block in London has gone up in flames. Firefighters responded to the blaze at the Lancaster West Estate, which quickly covered the entire structure. Fears of a building collapse quickly mounted. Ultimately no fatalities have been reported, with just two people treated for smoke inhalation.





 









Uber CEO takes leave of absence



Uber's CEO Travis Kalanick has left the building, the ride-sharing company announced today. Aiming at restoring confidence in a company wracked with scandal, ruthlessness, and a sordid workplace, Kalanick stated: "If we are going to work on Uber 2.0, I also need to work on Travis 2.0 to become the leader that this company needs and that you deserve."





 





Giant turkeys once roamed Australia



Turkey-like birds the size of kangaroos roamed the Australian wilderness, scientists have revealed. Fossils analysed revealed that what was once originally thought to be a single large creature was actually five distinct bird species. Several were not flightless, including the giant 8kg megapode. Thus far no reliable data on their suitability for chicken nuggets has been published.





 









 — 










IN NUMBERS


350



The number of calories fidgety people can burn per day tapping feet or fingers.





 









FACTS OF THE DAY



Today is World Blood Donor day.


Beer is drinkable after a nuclear explosion.





 









FEATURED ARTICLES





















Op-Ed: Break the ANC now or later?


BY MARIUS OOSTHUIZEN



 















Op-Ed: Elite struggle over Zuma is making weapons against the poor


BY R BRUNETTE, P NQABA, J PEARSON & M PHADI



 














OPINIONISTAS




















After the Fact: There’s Cold Comfort in Cold Facts


A column by ANDREW IHSAAN GASNOLAR



 











 — 










Weather
BFN: min:5° max 21°, sunny
CPT: min: 13° max: 17°, rainy
DBN: min: 18° max: 23°, cloudy
EL: min: 17° max: 23°, sunny
JHB: min: 5° max: 23°, sunny
KIM: min: 7° max: 22°, sunny
NLP: min: 8° max: 27°, sunny
PMB: min: 7° max: 23°, sunny
PE: min: 16° max: 22°, sunny
PTA: min: 6° max: 24°, sunny








Financial Data
Oil=$48.62
Gold=$1,265.21
Platinum=$926.29
R/$=12.76
R/€=14.29
R/£=16.27
$/€=0.89
JSE All Share=51,625.07
DJIA=21,316.86
FTSE 100=7,500.44







Categories: