--- title: "While you were sleeping: 8 march 2016" description: "Maria Sharapova in doping scandal, Obama snubbed by Netanyahu, and Bloomberg not to run for president." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "South Africa" author: "John Stupart" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/johnstupart/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-08-while-you-were-sleeping-8-march-2016/" published: "2016-03-08T06:02:06" updated: "2016-03-08T06:06:28" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 617 --- # While you were sleeping: 8 march 2016 > Maria Sharapova in doping scandal, Obama snubbed by Netanyahu, and Bloomberg not to run for president. By John Stupart · Published 8 March 2016, 08:02 SAST · Updated 8 March 2016, 08:06 SAST ## Content | \| \\| *"I tried to drown my sorrows, but the bastards learned how to swim"* **– Frida Kahlo** \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \| | | --- | | \| \\| # Story of the Day \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| ![Image](//gallery.mailchimp.com/6170d6a6d93cac57e83ba137f/images/f4f09d62-0d7e-4534-9dc6-816a9e496834.jpg) \\| \\| --- \\| \\| [Trainspotter: The Madness of King Mbeki, HIV/AIDS edition](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-07-trainspotter-the-madness-of-king-mbeki-hivaids-edition/) As you’re no doubt aware, former President Thabo Mbeki has been addressing his legacy in a series of letters published on his Foundation’s homepage. Interested South Africans wondered when he was going to get around to dealing with the most controversial aspect of his presidency. They should wonder no longer. Mbeki is still nuts about Aids. The first time, lots of people died unnecessarily. Now, it’s just pathetic. By RICHARD POPLAK. \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # While you were sleeping \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **Bloomberg won't run for US president** New York mayor, Michael Bloomberg, has announced that he will not be running for president. Bloomberg justified the decision as a move to increase the chances that a Republican will not see the inside of the White House. [Read More](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-08-bloomberg-opts-out-of-u.s.-presidential-bid-calls-for-centrism) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **Netanyahu declines to visit Obama** Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declined an invitation to visit President Barack Obama. Relations between Obama and the Israeli leader have been strained following the nuclear agreement with Iran. Obama will now visit Havana in Cuba instead. [Read More](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-08-israels-netanyahu-declines-offer-to-meet-with-obama-white-house) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **Guantanamo prisoners return to fighting** A new report by the Obama administration has indicated that at least 12 former Guantanamo Bay detention camp inmates have returned to fighting in the past six months. This brings the total to 111 militants out of 532 released overall, with another 74 suspected of returning to the battlefield. [Read More](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-08-ex-guantanamo-prisoners-suspected-of-rejoining-militants-increases-u.s.) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **Sharapova faces suspension** The highest paid female sports professional is likely to be suspended for using a banned substance. Maria Sharapova admitted to using Meldonium for "health issues". The drug is commonly used to treat diabetes and low magnesium, and was banned by the World Doping Agency in January. Sharapova faces a maximum suspension of four years. [Read More](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-08-tennis-star-sharapova-faces-suspension-after-failing-drug-test) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # In Numbers \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **1/7** \\| \\| --- \\|\\| The odds, as of last week, of Donald Trump winning the GOP nomination, according to Paddy Power. \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # Facts of the Day \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **Today is International Women's Day.** **Fact of the day: Before it became a major food fad, Pizza Hut largely bought Kale as a salad garnish.** After 2012, however, it was pretty much the salad itself. \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # Weather & Financial Data \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| BFN: min: 18° max: 26°, rainy CPT: min: 20° max: 26°, cloudy DBN: min: 22° max: 26°, rainy EL: min: 21° max: 22°, rainy JHB: min: 15° max: 31°, cloudy KIM: min: 19° max: 28°, rainy NLP: min: 15° max: 34°, sunny PMB: min: 14° max: 24°, rainy PKN: min: 19° max: 32°, sunny PE: min: 19° max: 21°, rainy PTA: min: 18° max: 32°, cloudy \\| \\| --- \\|\\| Oil=$40.86 Gold=$1,261.20 Platinum=$995.42 R/$=15.26 R/€=16.80 R/£=21.77 $/€=1.10 JSE All Share=52,673.79 DJIA=17,081.35 FTSE 100=6,182.40 : [Source](http://emma.thewww.dailymaverick.co.za/servlet/link/3890/618590/129788333/3233800) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # Now on Daily Maverick \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **FEATURES** [Trainspotter: The Madness of King Mbeki, HIV/AIDS edition](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-07-trainspotter-the-madness-of-king-mbeki-hivaids-edition/) By RICHARD POPLAK.[SARS Wars: Dutch anti-apartheid movement protests 'state capture', backs Pravin Gordhan and Ivan Pillay](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-07-sars-wars-dutch-anti-apartheid-movement-protests-state-capture-backs-pravin-gordhan-and-ivan-pillay/) By MARIANNE THAMM[Alliance? SACP vs Guptas is SACP vs Zuma](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-08-alliance-sacp-vs-guptas-is-sacp-vs-zuma/) By STEPHEN GROOTES.[Doom and Gloom: What foreign firms are told about South Africa](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-07-doom-and-gloom-what-foreign-firms-are-told-about-south-africa/) By SIMON ALLISON.[Comrades in arms: South Africa, Russia, and the new global war on drugs](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-07-comrades-in-arms-south-africa-russia-and-the-new-global-war-on-drugs/) KEVIN BLOOM[Maimane: Let's build a #FairSA](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-08-maimane-lets-build-a-fairsa/) By GREG NICOLSON.[Community Survey 2016: StatsSA counts on you to open up](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-07-community-survey-2016-statssa-counts-on-you-to-open-up/) By MARIANNE MERTEN.[Death stalks the children’s corridor: Inside Angola’s second-largest hospital](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-08-death-stalks-the-childrens-corridor-inside-angola-second-largest-hospital/) By RAFAEL MARQUES DE MORAIS.[Rugby: In an Olympic year, Sevens refereeing comes under microscope](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-07-rugby-in-an-olympic-year-sevens-refereeing-comes-under-microscope/) By ANTOINETTE MULLER.**OPINIONS** [Op-Ed: Taking African law online — and why it matters](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-07-op-ed-taking-african-law-online-and-why-it-matters/) By MARIYA BADEVA-BRIGHT.[Gushwell Brooks: Thabo Mbeki, The Unforgiven](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2016-03-08-thabo-mbeki-the-unforgiven/)[Ian von Memerty: The Tortoise and the Laager: Rainbow Nation on the defensive](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2016-03-07-the-tortoise-and-the-laager-rainbow-nation-on-the-defensive/)[Ivo Vegter: Leo DiCaprio grunts his way to climate sainthood](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2016-03-07-leo-dicaprio-grunts-his-way-to-climate-sainthood/) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \| |