John Maytham's Weekly Book Review: 27 November 2020
Founder of popular restaurant chain Tashas releases new coffee table cookbook
[JUST IN] Supreme Court of Appeal overturns convictions of duo in Coligny murder
Motion of no confidence in President Ramaphosa: 'It’s about optics'
Offshore investment row: Asisa didn't consult properly says Magda Wierzycka
It was a massive relief when Zondo Commission approached me - EOH CEO
"Backdoor dealings" in Ford Kuga settlement, claims Reshall Jimmy's sister
Three questions to ask yourself before being sucked into the Black Friday frenzy
South African farms produce largest wheat harvest in many years
Free coding course – with a job at the end (R240 000 per year starting salary)
Local brewer of agave spirits aiming to change SA culture around tequila
October's 3.3% inflation high: Meat prices won't drop in time for festive feasts
Football legend Diego Maradona dies at age of 60
Sir Lewis Hamilton? Boris Johnson reportedly backs knighthood for F1 champion
Why would someone pay R27 million for a pigeon? Winning at all costs; that's why
Tsonga rap star Sho Madjozi says her new mixtape 'What A Life' is a celebration
Ster-Kinekor opens drive-in theatre in Cape Town at the V&A Waterfront
Boosting wine tourism: Netflix film to star Cape Winelands as travel destination
Scotland is making tampons and pads free. Meet the woman who made it possible
Take heart – African financial markets are innovating, the pandemic shows
Tigrayan leaders 'locked in combat' as armed conflict in Ethiopia continues
South African borders are known to be porous – Malawian journo on Bushiri escape
South Africa is too poor for a second Covid-19 wave. Keep going; wear a mask!
'UIF has significant assets' although Nxesi warns of collapse if Ters extended
Chinese man (alias 'Hitman') outbids 'Super Duper' to buy racing pigeon for R27m
A two-year-old racing pigeon called “New Kim” just fetched R27.7 million (US$1.8 million) at an auction.
RELATED: Why would someone pay R27 million for a pigeon? Winning at all costs; that's why
RELATED: ‘Why I paid R5 million for a pigeon’
Last year, a four-year-old racing pigeon “Armando” set a new world record when a buyer from China bought it for US$1.48 million.
Armando was (we kid you not) known as the Lewis Hamilton of pigeons.
Online bidding for New Kim started at a mere US$200 but a “frantic bidding war" between two Chinese bidders saw the price smash all records and expectations.
“This record price is unbelievable because this is a female,” said Nikolaas Gyselbrecht, the CEO of Pigeon Auction House (PIPA), where New Kim was auctioned.
"Armando was a male. Usually, a male is worth more than a female because it can produce more offspring, more children. It's very exceptional to have a female for this price."
New Kim is not only the priciest racing pigeon ever, but also the most expensive bird ever sold.
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Refilwe Moloto interview UK correspondent Adam Gilchrist.
A racing pigeon from Belgium has set a new record… the most-expensive bird ever sold… The breeder is in shock… two Chinese bidders – ‘Hitman’ and ‘Super Duper’ - drove the price up…
Adam Gilchrist - UK correspondent
Armando – the Lewis Hamilton of pigeons – became known as the Mick Jagger of pigeons, he had so many offspring!
Adam Gilchrist - UK correspondent
New Kim’s future is not just to sit on eggs for the rest of her life; she’ll do some fluttering as well.
Adam Gilchrist - UK correspondent
For more detail, listen to the interview in the audio below [skip to 3:35].
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Highlights