While you were sleeping: 16 August 2016

By John Stupart

16 Aug 2016

Trump unveils severe foreign policy, flooding in Louisiana kills six, and a torrid day ten at Rio.

“She wondered which wounds went deeper: the jagged wounds of reality, or the profound invisible bruises of the imagination?”
– Vita Sackville-West

Story of the Day

SARS Wars: Massive data leak alleges British American Tobacco SA's role in bribery and corruption

Craig Williamson, one of apartheid’s most ruthless spies and assassins, is one of many “agents” named in a massive data leak posted on a Twitter account, @EspionageSA, and which points to wide-scale industrial espionage, fraud, racketeering, corruption and bribery by agents representing and working on behalf of British American Tobacco SA (BATSA). While the allegations are not new, the explosive documents reveal how members of SAPS, the State Security Agency, the Hawks and SARS were drawn into BATSA’s attempts to eliminate competition in South Africa. These actions ultimately led to the destabilisation of SARS and the purging of its top executive structure in 2014. By MARIANNE THAMM.
Read more

While you were sleeping

Trump lays out draconian foreign policy

Special vetting commissions, throttled immigration laws and allying with any organisation opposed to ISIL are but some of the sweeping decrees Donald Trump would impose if president. Speaking yesterday through a visibly stiff teleprompter speech, the only thing missing from Trump's Fortress America are the Dementors. Read More

Louisiana floods kill six

Six are dead and 20,000 evacuated after serious flooding hit Louisiana on Monday. With 50cm of rainfall since Thursday, much of Louisiana is underwater. The Louisiana National Guard has now been activated and is assisting in emergency evacuations. Read More

Rudisha defends 800m title

Kenyan 800m champion David Rudisha successfully defended his Olympic title overnight. Surging ahead in the final lap, Rudisha completed his race in 1.42.15. The champ is the first runner to successfully defend the 800m title in 52 years. Read More

Torrid day in Rio

After a breathless Super Sunday, we had to settle for a bit of a Meek Monday. South Africa’s athletes struggled in their heats and the rain caused chaos in the evening session with events suspended for about 20 minutes early on. The hurdles were a mess and a Brazilian athlete even aquaplaned across the line at one stage. The discus kept on landing in the net. And a camera falling from above injured seven people. If you missed any of the action, catch up with our live blog here.

In Numbers

The number of miners shot dead by police at Marikana, 16 August 2012.

Facts of the Day

Today is Steve Carell's birthday. The 40-year-old virgin was born in 1969.

Men who win Olympic medals in South Korea are not obliged to enter mandatory military service.

Weather & Financial Data

BFN: min: 6° max: 23°, cloudy
CPT: min: 8° max: 21°, sunny
DBN: min: 17° max: 21°, rainy
EL: min: 16° max: 21°, cloudy
JHB: min: 8° max: 23° cloudy
KIM: min: 11° max: 24°, cloudy
NLP: min: 8° max: 24°, cloudy
PMB: min: 8° max: 19°, rainy
PKN: min: 8° max: 20°, cloudy
PE: min: 13° max: 19°, cloudy
PTA: min: 9° max: 23°, cloudy

Oil=$48.38
Gold=$1,340.25
Platinum=$1,112.55
R/$=13.31
R/€=14.88
R/£=17.14
€/$=1.11
JSE All Share=52,397.97
DJIA= 18,654.54
FTSE 100=6,941.19
Source

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