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South Africa

While you were sleeping: 30 March

Argentina raises Falklands issue. Again. Colombian soldier endures 23 days in jungle, and Djokovic advances to quarters in Miami.

By John Stupart

30 Mar 2016

Wednesday, 30th March

"No good decision was ever made in a swivel chair."
– General George S. Patton

Story of the Day

A tangled mess: SA local elections in real jeopardy
With so much of the political posturing currently on display by the political players, it is sometimes missed that this year’s local government elections are in grave danger. The Tlokwe case, soon to be argued before the Constitutional Court, could reach a conclusion where judges decide it is not possible to hold a free and fair election in South Africa right now. It may not have seemed so just two weeks ago, when the Independent Electoral Commission submitted its papers, but the arguments submitted by the independent candidates who started this whole process are seriously strong. This is a Gordian Knot that will require all the wisdom of our Constitutional Court judges to untangle. By STEPHEN GROOTES.

While you were sleeping

Syrian soldiers continue offensive
Syrian regime forces have pressed their advantage even further, advancing on Al-Qaryatayn. The town, occupied by ISIL since August 2015, looks set to fall as ISIL are dealt successive blows by Syrian troops, backed by Russian air strikes.
Read More

Falkland Islanders reject Argentinian claims
A newly released UN report on Argentina's continental shelf has bolstered the country's attempts to claim the Falklands. The islanders, meanwhile, have strongly rejected such statements, and noted that the report made zero assertions about the sovereignty of the British isle. Somewhere far off, the first pipes of 'Rule Britannia' can be heard amid the flutter of naval ensigns.
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Serbia to recompensate Holocaust victims
Serbia has just passed an 'heirless property restitution law'. In doing so, ownerless Jewish properties will be restored to the Association of Jewish Communities. This is one of the first such laws worldwide, and seeks to restore some semblance of justice to the fewer than 1 000 surviving Serbian Jews, after 80% of its 1942 population of 33,000 Jewish residents were killed in World War ll.
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Colombian soldier survives 23-day jungle ordeal
A Colombian soldier separated from his unit on the 5th March has finally been reunited with humanity. Orlando Sanchez had only his rifle, ammunition, canteen and explosives to keep him company. While evading FARC rebels and eating raw turtle, Sanchez kept his sanity by singing rap songs to himself. Because when all else fails, there's fiddy at your side.
Read More

Djokovic advances to quarterfinals
Novak Djokovic has defeated Dominic Thiem 6-3, 6-4 to go to the ATP Miami Open quarters. Looking a little wobbly, Djokovic defeated Thiem after a bit of a struggle with ongoing double faults. This is his 13th straight victory.
Read More

In Numbers

4.19/km²

The dollar price per km² paid by United States to buy Alaska. This was purchased today in 1867 for a whopping $7.2 million.

Facts of the Day

Today in 1972 saw the beginning of the North Vietnamese Easter Offensive. The aftermath of this battle helped propel peace negotiations in Paris.

Fact of the day: Keanu Reeves used part of his profits from The Matrix to buy all the stuntmen motorbikes.

Weather & Financial Data

BFN: min: 16° max: 29°, cloudy
CPT: min: 17° max: 21°, rainy
DBN: min: 21° max: 36°, sunny
EL: min: 21° max: 29°, cloudy
JHB: min: 11° max: 29°, sunny
KIM: min: 16° max: 33°, sunny
NLP: min: 11° max: 33°, sunny
PMB: min: 12° max 34°, sunny
PKN: min: 13° max: 30°, sunny
PE: min: 18° max: 27°, cloudy
PTA: min: 15° max: 28°, sunny

Oil=$39.24 Gold=$1,241.10 Platinum=$967.75
R/$=15.11 R/€=17.08 R/£=21.79 $/€=1.12
JSE All Share=51,787.20 DJIA=17,633.22 FTSE 100=6,105.90 Source

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FEATURES

	A tangled mess: SA local elections in real jeopardy By Stephen Grootes
	State Capture: Nhleko’s secret Cabinet memorandum unlocks mystery of Ntlemeza’s appointment to lead the Hawks By Glynnis Underhill
Cape Town, 2 Mar 2016. (Photo: GCIS)" />	Police Minister Nathi Nhleko implicated in Public Protector’s investigation By Marianne Thamm
	Analysis: The Parliamentary Gupta divide By Marianne Merten
	‘Bazooka’ assassination: Anti-mining activist knew his life was in danger By GroundUp
	Xolobeni: Hawks take over probe into Bazooka’s slaying By Greg Nicolson
	Bone marrow hero: A lifetime devoted to medical advance By Marelise van der Merwe
	‘This Judgment is a Joke’: Luanda Book Club dissidents convicted By MAKA ANGOLA
	International Crisis Group: Russia’s Choice in Syria By International Crisis Group
	Lorgat: Review will follow ‘another failed attempt’ after disastrous T20 campaign By Antoinette Muller
	While you were sleeping: 29 March 2016 By John Stupart

OPINIONS

	Progressive Politics: In search of a silver lining in the current crisis By Ivor Chipkin
	Vatican Diplomacy: A Listening Post for a South Africa in turmoil By Rev Lawrence Mduduzi Ndlovu
	Behind Five-star Doors By Ian von Memerty

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South Africa

South Africa

While you were sleeping: 30 March

Story of the Day

While you were sleeping

In Numbers

Facts of the Day

Weather & Financial Data

Now on Daily Maverick

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