Putin hits back at Trump

[Daily Maverick] FIRST THING with JOHN STUPART Monday, 31 July 2017 “Last century’s magic is this year’s science.” Cherie Priest [Exclusive Books Top 10.]( STORY OF THE DAY [#Guptaleaks | Ep 3: All the President's (Wo)men]( By Daily Maverick The third episode of the #Guptaleaks looks at the individuals close to South African President Jacob Zuma who were influenced, financially or otherwise, by his shadowy backers, the Guptas. [Putin demands massive US diplomatic cuts]( In response to renewed sanctions by the United States, Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded 755 American diplomatic staff be cut from Russian missions. This would bring the American staff size to the same as Russia has in the US. President Donald Trump, facing a signing off of sanctions or the wielding of his veto, is stuck between a rock and diplomatic hard place. [Australian plane terror plot foiled]( Counter-terror raids across Sydney resulted in two fathers and their sons being arrested for a possible plan to bring down an aircraft. The four allegedly plotted to bring a device disguised as a meat mincer on board, which would then either detonate or emit a toxic gas. Either way, the arrests are a major success for Australian police. Definitely a barbeque on the horizon for the police department. [Ten killed in Venezuela riots]( Ten protesters died on Sunday while protesting against Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro's attempt to disintegrate the country's constitution. Polling stations holding a vote on the new constitutional assembly were attacked by protesters, and barricades erected in streets. The action elicited a violent response from police, with live ammunition being used. [Despacito slum soars into limelight]( The barrio made famous for being the film location for the hit song "Despacito" has experienced a massive surge in tourism. Hordes of tourists seeking Despacito film sites in the La Perla settlement has helped create an economic tourism flash point. Although no figures are yet available to indicate how big the surge is, hotel occupancy nearby has risen 6% from 2016. — [Exclusive Books Top 10.]( PICTURE OF THE DAY By EPA/MAXIM SHIPENKOV Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a naval parade in St Petersburg, 30 July 2017. Traditionally the Russian Navy Day is celebrated on the last Sunday in July. IN NUMBERS 48.2 The percentage of all internet traffic that is human. FACTS OF THE DAY Today in 1970 was Black Tot Day. It was the final day of rum rationing in the British Navy. A honey bee has as many hairs as a squirrel. [Exclusive Books Top 10.]( FEATURED ARTICLES [Dear Shaun Abrahams, put up or ship out and let others do your job]( [Dear Shaun Abrahams, put up or ship out and let others do your job]( BY Marianne Thamm [Op-Ed: A Matter of Conscience – my refusal to vote with the ANC]( [Op-Ed: A Matter of Conscience – my refusal to vote with the ANC]( BY Andrew Feinstein [ANC Succession: Long March against corruption will take years]( [ANC Succession: Long March against corruption will take years]( BY Stephen Grootes [GroundUp: Civil society mobilises to end Zuma presidency]( [GroundUp: Civil society mobilises to end Zuma presidency]( BY GroundUp [Op-Ed: Dictatorship, violent overthrow or civil unrest? The portents are grim for Venezuela’s future]( [Op-Ed: Dictatorship, violent overthrow or civil unrest? The portents are grim for Venezuela’s future]( BY John Endres [Soweto derby tragedy: Why were you so silent about the fans who’ll never come home?]( [Soweto derby tragedy: Why were you so silent about the fans who’ll never come home?]( BY Antoinette Muller [Op-Ed: Bidding farewell to Ronnie Mamoepa, the Communicator’s Communicator]( [Op-Ed: Bidding farewell to Ronnie Mamoepa, the Communicator’s Communicator]( BY Lisa Combrinck [SADC Wrap: HIV breakthrough for Swaziland, while Grace pushes Mugabe for a name]( [SADC Wrap: HIV breakthrough for Swaziland, while Grace pushes Mugabe for a name]( BY KRISTEN VAN SCHIE [Op-Ed: Battered, bruised and nowhere to go? Many women are in exactly that position]( [Op-Ed: Battered, bruised and nowhere to go? Many women are in exactly that position]( BY Thabang Pooe [US: Marine General to the rescue of a floundering, foundering, faltering White House]( [US: Marine General to the rescue of a floundering, foundering, faltering White House]( BY J Brooks Spector OPINIONISTAS [From the Inside: Day Zero and the emerging water economy]( [From the Inside: Day Zero and the emerging water economy]( A column by Helen Zille [ANC Western Cape: False nostalgia and the blame game]( [ANC Western Cape: False nostalgia and the blame game]( A column by Yonela Diko [New Cape Town electricity tariffs reinforce segregation in a hyped-up property market]( [New Cape Town electricity tariffs reinforce segregation in a hyped-up property market]( A column by Marianne Merten — Weather BFN: min: 8° max 21°, cloudy CPT: min: 12° max: 26°, cloudy DBN: min: 14° max: 22°, rainy EL: min: 16° max: 26°, cloudy JHB: min: 6° max: 17°, sunny KIM: min: 11° max: 23°, sunny MHK: min: 8° max: 22°, sunny NLP: min: 12° max: 21°, cloudy PMB: min: 9° max: 24°, sunny PE: min: 17° max: 30°, sunny PTA: min: 6° max: 20°, cloudy Financial Data Oil=$52.52 Gold=$1,269.64 Platinum=$935.33 R/$=13.02 R/€=15.29 R/£=17.09 $/€=0.87 JSE All Share=54,883.21 DJIA=21,830.31 FTSE 100=7,368.37 [FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO A FRIEND]( Copyright © 2017 Daily Maverick, All rights reserved. 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