While you were sleeping: 4 July 2016

Baghdad blast death toll climbs, bombing at US consulate in Jeddah, and Trudeau makes Pride history.

4 Jul

“Many public-school children seem to know only two dates – 1492 and 4th of July; and as a rule they don't know what happened on either occasion.”

– Mark Twain

Story of the Day

Endgame for Teflon man: Why bailing out Zuma is a risky business

After years of living off his friends, his family, the state and his benefactors, President Jacob Zuma is now in a financial fix. With Zuma committing to compensate the state for the non-security upgrades at his Nkandla home, he now has to come up with R7.8-million by 24 August. While in the past Zuma’s friends have stepped in to pay his children’s school fees, his clothing bills, his legal fees and even leased his house on his behalf, the well of goodwill now seems to be drying up. With an end in sight to his political career and criminal charges hovering over him again, Zuma is becoming a deadweight. By RANJENI MUNUSAMY.
Read more

While you were sleeping

Iraq bombing kills 119

Sunday's car bombing in Baghdad has killed a total of 119 people. With Iraq now entering a three-day mourning period, the ISIL-claimed blast appears to have been in retaliation for the recent capturing of Fallujah from the terrorist group. Read more

US Consulate bombed in Jeddah

A suicide bomber has detonated explosives outside the US Consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. According to local news, two security guards tackled the attacker in the early hours of America's Day of Independence. Only the guards were injured in the attack. Read more

Trudeau makes Canadian history

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has marched into history by being the first sitting leader of his country to walk in Toronto's Gay Pride parade. Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne -- Canada’s first openly gay head of a province -- and Toronto mayor, John Tory, accompanied him. Read more

France advance to Euro 2016 finals

It was death with honour for Iceland last night, losing in a 5-2 bloodbath against France at the Euro 2016 quarter-final clash. For Iceland, reaching the quarter-finals ultimately created history for the tiny nation, and the decisive defeat by France will do little to dent their achievement. France now face Germany in the semi-finals. Read more

In Numbers

160,000

The number of parking tickets successfully overturned by an artificial intelligence 'chatbot' .

Facts of the Day

Today is the 4th of July, or otherwise known as America's Independence Day.It marks the Declaration of Independence of the United States from Great Britain in 1776, or alternatively, the ability to guzzle as many ribs and as much 'pie' as possible in a single holiday.

Fact of the day: Bryan Adams once did a duet with Justin Bieber. Sadly, it was of a cover of one of Bieber's lyrical atrocities.

Weather

Financial Data

BFN: min: 1° max: 19°, cloudy
CPT: min: 7° max: 20°, cloudy
DBN: min: 14° max: 24°, cloudy
EL: min: 14° max: 27°, cloudy
JHB: min: 2° max: 18°, sunny
KIM: min: 4° max: 20°, cloudy
NLP: min: 1° max: 20°, sunny
PMB: min: 0° max: 19°, cloudy
PKN: min: 3° max: 19°, cloudy
PE: min: 12° max: 23°, sunny
PTA: min: 3° max: 17°, cloudy

Oil=$50.35

Gold=$1,341.35
Platinum=$1,058.95
R/$=14.61
R/€=16.26
R/£=19.36
$/€=1.11
JSE All Share=52,357.50
DJIA=17,949.37
FTSE 100=6,577.83
Source

Now on Daily Maverick

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