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South Africa

While you were sleeping: 18 March 2016

Congo's president ignores the rules, clings to power. Ebola resurfaces in Guinea, and Hamilton looking good at Oz GP practice.
John Stupart
By John Stupart
18 Mar
CZECH-ANIMALS-POLAR BEAR

“This world is made out of sugar: it can crumble so easily, but don't be afraid to stick your tongue out and taste it." 

– Sarah Kay

Story of the Day

The Gupta Contagion: Can Zuma escape culpability? 
President Jacob Zuma had one last opportunity to put fresh air between himself and the Gupta family before this weekend’s ANC national executive committee (NEC) meeting. Parliament was in fact the ideal place for him to disown the actions of the Guptas and declare that nobody had the right to usurp his powers and abuse his name. By not doing so, Zuma has forced the ANC to confront him on the matter. There is unlikely to be a quick fix but Zuma is depleted of political capital. While some of his allies will try to shield him, others are aiming for the jugular. By RANJENI MUNUSAMY.

While you were sleeping

Congo's president clings to power
Congo's President Denis Sassou Nguesso has wangled his way into running for a third term. A referendum passed by over 94 percent last night will now allow Nguesso to run for a third term and ignore the 70-year-old age limit. With the 72-year-old now firmly ignoring democratic principles, his country appears set for new protests.
Read More
Guinea sees Ebola resurfacing
Two people from the same family have died from the virus, according to government reports on Thursday. The news comes just as neighbouring Sierra Leone has also seen a resurgence of Ebola.
Read More

Poland opens WWII museum
A museum in Poland has been opened that will honour Poles who helped save Jews during WWII. The museum is located at the spot where Nazis executed a Polish family for providing shelter to Jews. Around 6,600 Poles, the most in the world, have been awarded the 'Righteous Among the Nations' accolade for assistance to Jews in WWII.
Read More

Hamilton edges ahead in Australian F1
It's just the practice rounds, but Lewis Hamilton has kicked off his racing season in style. The Mercedes driver posted a 1:29.725 to give him the quickest time thus far. Qualifying, however, may tell a different story.

Picture of the Day

A Polar Bear mother named Cora and her three-month-old cub  seen at the zoo in Brno, South Moravia, Czech Republic on 17 March 2016. Radek Mica / AFP

In Numbers

111
The number of rounds fought in an 1893 boxing match between Andy Bowen and Jack Burke.

Facts of the Day

Today sees South Africa take on England in the T20 World Cup. The first over will be bowled at 16h00.

Fact of the day: Enya has sold over 100 million records, but never once went on tour. You could say she never did sail away.

Weather & Financial Data

BFN: min: 18° max: 25°, rainy
CPT: min: 15° max: 27°, cloudy
DBN: min: 15° max: 31°, rainy
EL: min: 18° max: 26°, cloudy
JHB: min: 15° max: 28°, sunny
KIM: min: 20° max: 29°, rainy
NLP: min: 18° max: 31°, cloudy
PMB: min: 14° max: 29°, rainy
PKN: min: 16° max: 29°, rainy
PE: min: 19° max: 24°, cloudy
PTA: min: 17° max: 28°, rainy
Oil=$40.27 Gold=$1,261.68 Platinum=$976.73
R/$=15.16 R/€=17.16 R/£=21.97 $/€=1.13
JSE All Share=53,190.56 DJIA=17,505.12 FTSE 100=6,201.12 : Source

Now on Daily Maverick

FEATURES

Photo: A file photo dated 06 August 2015 showing South African<br />President Jacob Zuma answering questions from opposition parties in<br />parliament, Cape Town, South Africa. EPA/NIC BOTHMAThe Gupta Contagion: Can Zuma escape culpability? 
By Ranjeni Munusamy
Photo: South African President Jacob Zuma reacts during a question and<br />answer session in Parliament in Cape Town, South Africa, 17 March 2016.<br />Embattled South African president Zuma is facing increased political<br />pressure from all quarters as questions were raised about his relationship<br />with the Gupta family alleged to be heavily influencing his decisions.<br />EPA/SUMAYA HISHAMWhen a Q&A is not QED: Zuma's bombast accompanied by obfuscation 
By Marianne Merten
Photo: The New Age Board Chairman Atul Gupta and President Jacob Zuma<br />and the First Lady MaNtuli Zuma. President Jacob Zuma at the Bidvest<br />Wanderers Stadium for the T20 match between South Africa and India. South<br />Africa. 30/03/2012. (Presidency of South Africa)Let the law prevail: The Guptas and the intention to corrupt 
By Greg Nicolson
Photo: Vytjie Mentor (Facebook)State Capture: 'Gentleman Zuma' walked Mentor out of Saxonwold after Guptas offered her job 
By Marianne Thamm
Photo by Reuters.Ground-Up: "Zuma must disclose all Gupta deals and then go" 
By GroundUp
Photo: South African Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula speaks during a<br />press conference at the Parliament in Cape Town, South Africa, 17 March<br />2016. Mbalula came on record saying South Africa did not run a corrupt 2010<br />Soccer World Cup campaign and called on FIFA to retract its bribery<br />accusations around a 10 million US dollar (8,8 million euro) payment.<br />EPA/SUMAYA HISHAMExorcising ghosts: Defiant Mbalula swings at Fifa, but questions remain unanswered 
By Antoinette Muller
Photo: School boys through stones during a riot in Khutsong township,<br />Johannesburg, South africa, 14 December 2005. EPA/KIM LUDBROOKOp-Ed: Why Human Rights Day matters now more than ever 
By Paul Hoffman
Photo of Jacob Zuma and Nhlanhla Nene by Greg Nicolson (Daily<br />Maverick)State Capture: Bizarre Project Spider Web report contained clues long before Nene was fired 
By Marianne Thamm
Main photo: Weapons training for women in the Islamic State. Photo<br />obtained by TRAC.From the home front to the frontline: The role of women in Islamic State 
By Jasmine Opperman
Photo: A Kurdish woman looks at the damage to her house, the day after<br />clashes between Turkish special forces and PKK militants broke out on 02<br />March 2016, in south-east Cizre district in Sirnak, Turkey, 03 March 2016.<br />EPA/CEM TURKEL.Human cost of the PKK conflict in Turkey: The Case of Sur 
By International Crisis Group
Photo: View of the site where a twin blast occured in Makhachkala,<br />North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, Russia 20 May 2013. EPA/ABDULA<br />MAGOMEDOV/ NEWSTEAMThe North Caucasus insurgency and Syria: An exported Jihad 
By International Crisis Group

OPINIONS

Pierre de vosZuma, Guptas and Power: What the law says 
By Pierre de Vos
sisonke-new-photo-02.jpgWe don’t need another hero 
By Sisonke Msimang
Grootes for DM.jpgJacob Zuma and the echo of 2008 
By Stephen Grootes
Gcoyi.jpgCrunch Time for the ANC: Why NEC members need to speak out 
By Thembinkosi Gcoyi
Andrew-Gasnolar.jpgZuma's Wrecking Ball: The parasitic consumption of the presidency and the republic 
By Andrew Ihsaan Gasnolar

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