---
title: "While you were sleeping: 19 February 2016"
description: "Pope calls out Trump, Britain in EU deadlock, and Blatter refuses to endorse candidates."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "World"
author: "John Stupart"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/johnstupart/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-02-19-while-you-were-sleeping-19-february-2016/"
published: "2016-02-19T05:21:22"
updated: "2016-02-19T05:48:37"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 669
---

# While you were sleeping: 19 February 2016

> Pope calls out Trump, Britain in EU deadlock, and Blatter refuses to endorse candidates.

By John Stupart · Published 19 February 2016, 07:21 SAST · Updated 19 February 2016, 07:48 SAST

## Content

| \| \\| *Money can't buy you happiness but it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery.”*? **Spike Milligan** \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\|  \| \| --- \| |
| --- |
| \| \\| **Story of the Day** \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\|  \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| ![Image](//gallery.mailchimp.com/6170d6a6d93cac57e83ba137f/images/15c24372-93d0-4a95-8388-0b1ab5c339ee.jpg) \\| \\| --- \\| \\| [SONA 2016 Reply: The journey back from Planet Zuma](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-02-18-sona-reply-the-journey-back-from-planet-zuma/)Perhaps someday President Jacob Zuma will look back at his disastrous term of office and say sorry to South Africa and to his party, the ANC. But he is not going to do so now. In his reply to the State of the Nation Address debate, Zuma committed to economic recovery, offered an olive branch to the opposition and appealed to people’s patriotism to navigate through South Africa’s bad patch. He also tried to assume the role of an elder to calm things down in Parliament. Considering the squandered political capital and credibility deficit, it turned out to be a satisfactory performance. By RANJENI MUNUSAMY. \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **While you were sleeping** \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\|  \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\|  \| \| --- \|\| \\| **Pope calls Trump unchristian** Pope Francis has entered the US political fray and called the Orange Menace's anti-immigration blather "not Christian". In true classy style, Trump retorted that the Pope's comments were "disgraceful", which may well place him up there with ISIS in anti-Papal terms . [Read More](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-02-19-pope-says-trump-not-christian-in-a-sign-of-global-concern) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **Cameron remains steadfast on EU concessions** Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron is urging EU leaders to give him a credible compromise he can sell to his people. Ahead of a major EU summit, the British contingent are attempting to seal British participation in the EU, but also want to effectively write their own banking and immigration rules. [Read More](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-02-19-cameron-calls-on-eu-for-credible-deal-to-keep-britain-in) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **Panasonic endorses same-sex marriage** The Japanese electronics giant has broken away from the country's unhealthy homophobic national attitude and endorsed a corporate culture that supports same-sex marriage. Aside from breaking Japan's taboo on the topic, this would pave the way to a host of employee-related benefits, such as marital leave and the like. [Read More](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-02-19-in-a-rare-move-japans-panasonic-gives-corporate-blessing-to-same-sex-marriages) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **Blatter won't back any candidate** Former FIFA president and longstanding member of the Sith Order, Sepp Blatter, has refused to back any of the candidates running for president of the football organisation. The disgraced ex-president noted it was "not possible" to take sides. All but one of the candidates has reportedly asked the emperor himself for an endorsement. [Read More](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-02-19-blatter-says-wont-back-any-candidate-in-fifa-presidential-election) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **In Numbers** \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\|  \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **83,120** \\| \\| --- \\|\\| The percentage increase in value of an unopened, original 1978 *Star Wars* Luke Skywalker action figure. They originally retailed for $2.99. \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\|  \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **Facts of the Day** \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\|  \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **Today in 1878 Thomas Edison patented the phonograph. This later became commonly known and owned as the gramaphone.**Now, it is the pride and joy of many a hipster's living room.**Fact of the day:**Scarlett Johansson was considered "too sexy" for the lead role in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\|  \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **Weather & Financial Data** \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\|  \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| BFN: min: 19° max: 32°, rainy CPT: min: 17° max: 26°, sunny DBN: min: 23° max: 37°, rainyEL: min: 22° max: 31°, cloudy JHB: min: 17° max: 31°, rainy KIM: min: 22° max: 31°, rainy NLP: min: 20° max: 38°, cloudy PMB: min: 17° max: 37°, rainy PKN: min: 18° max: 33°, sunny PE: min: 18° max: 33°, rainy PTA: min: 20° max: 31°, rainy \\| \\| --- \\|\\| Oil=$34.55 Gold=$1,225.21 Platinum=$943.08R/$=15.39 R/€=17.09 R/£=22.07 $/€=1.11JSE All Share=49,857.70 DJIA=16,434.21 FTSE 100=5,971.95 : [Source](http://emma.thewww.dailymaverick.co.za/servlet/link/3890/618590/129788333/3233800) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **Now on Daily Maverick** \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\|  \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **FEATURED**[**SONA 2016 Reply: The journey back from Planet Zuma**](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-02-18-sona-reply-the-journey-back-from-planet-zuma/)By RANJENI MUNUSAMY.[**Analysis: The Politics of the Great South African Drought**](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-02-19-analysis-the-politics-of-great-south-african-drought/)By MARIANNE MERTEN.[**A return to civil action: Clergy to spearhead new movement to tackle crises in South Africa**](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-02-18-a-return-to-civil-action-clergy-to-spearhead-new-movement-to-tackle-crises-in-south-africa/)By MARIANNE THAMM.[**Budget 2016: Gordhan’s back, but his back needs watching**](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-02-19-budget-2016-gordhans-back-but-his-back-needs-watching/)By ISMAIL LAGARDIEN.[**Buthelezi: Out from the cold and back in the fold?**](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-02-18-buthelezi-out-from-the-cold-and-back-in-the-fold/)By CYRIL MADLALA[**Mexico: Pope Francis confronts Hierarchy, and Donald Trump**](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-02-19-mexico-pope-francis-confronts-hierarchy-and-donald-trump/)RUSSELL POLLITT.[**Cricket: Prepping for the World T20 with whistle-stop jamboree against England**](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-02-18-cricket-prepping-for-the-world-t20-with-whistle-stop-jamboree-against-england/)By ANTOINETTE MULLER.**OPINIONS**[**Op-Ed: Mbeki's presidential letters that would save his legacy**](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-02-19-op-ed-thabo-mbekis-presidential-letters-that-would-save-his-legacy/)By JOHN MATISONN.[**Op-Ed: Left in the Dark – spotlighting visual impairment**](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-02-19-left-in-the-dark-spotlighting-visual-impairment/)By SONJA BOSHOFF.[**Op-Ed: Zille fails on providing affordable housing - Ndifuna Ukwazi**](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-02-19-op-ed-zille-fails-on-providing-affordable-housing-ndifuna-ukwazi/)[**Gabriella Razzano: The Listening Game: Whistleblowers and dissenters should be encouraged**](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2016-02-18-the-listening-game-whistleblowers-and-dissenters-should-be-encouraged/) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \| |