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South Africa

While you were sleeping: 31 March 2016

Trump in abortion statement scandal, gunmen storm Libyan TV channel, and Azarenka to Miami semis.
John Stupart
By John Stupart
31 Mar
Microsoft Holds Its Annual Build Conference

“I’m beginning to recognise that real happiness isn’t something large and looming on the horizon ahead but something small, numerous and already here. The smile of someone you love. A decent breakfast. The warm sunset. Your little everyday joys all lined up in a row.”

– Beau Taplin

Story of the Day

Day of Judgment: Deliver us from Nkandla – and Zuma’s impunity 
If President Jacob Zuma had experienced a twinge of guilt about the money the state had spent on his private home at Nkandla, he would have complied with Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s recommendations and paid back a “reasonable” amount. But just like his relationship with the controversial Gupta family, Zuma wanted the issue dead and buried. Two years after the release of Madonsela’s report, the Constitutional Court will rule on Zuma’s lack of accountability on Nkandla. While this will bring the Nkandla issue to its zenith, it might also provide guidance to avoid another rigmarole on “state capture”. By RANJENI MUNUSAMY.

While you were sleeping

Trump: Abortion punishment backlash
Not one to go a week without performing some manner of abysmal stunt, now Donald Trump has said women who have illegal abortions should be "punished". When the predictable backlash ensued, the Orange Menace attempted to sidestep the issue, but maintained that some manner of punishment would be suitable. 
Read More
Gunmen attack Libyan TV station
Broadcasting from an Al Nabaa TV satellite station was cut late on Wednesday. Armed men stormed the station's premises and disconnected transmissions, demanding the resignation of the newly appointed Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj.
Read More

France charges terror suspect
Late on Wednesday saw Reda Kriket, 34, charged in a French court. Kriket had been arrested weeks earlier and assault rifles, explosives and ammunition seized at his premises. In the wake of Brussels, Pakistan and Paris attacks, sympathy is likely in short judicial supply.
Read More

Azarenka surges to semi-finals
Victoria Azarenka has defeated Johanna Konta 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the semi-finals at the Miami Open. Azarenka, now ranked 5th, said she was playing better now than when she was ranked number one. Regardless, the next round looks set to be a highly entertaining bout.
Read More

In Numbers

38

The number of years Creme Puff the cat lived, the longest in history. Creme Puff was fed a diet of bacon and eggs, asparagus, broccoli, and coffee with heavy cream, which might well be the key to long life for any species.

Facts of the Day

Today in 1985 Madison Square Garden held the first WrestleMania bout.

Fact of the day: The Red Wedding in Game of Thrones is actually based on reality. In 1440, the 'Black Dinner' saw two youths from Clan Douglas lured into a dinner, only to be dragged out and beheaded.

Weather & Financial Data

BFN: min: 16° max: 31°, cloudy
CPT: min: 15° max: 21°, rainy
DBN: min: 22° max: 31°, cloudy
EL: min: 20° max: 24°, rainy
JHB: min: 12° max: 29°, cloudy
KIM: min: 17° max: 32°, sunny
NLP: min: 17° max: 33°, sunny
PMB: min: 13° max 30°, cloudy
PKN: min: 13° max: 30°, sunny
PE: min: 18° max: 23°, cloudy
PTA: min: 15° max: 29°, cloudy
Oil=$39.34 Gold=$1,227.32 Platinum=$965.27
R/$=14.91 R/€=16.90 R/£=21.45 $/€=1.12
JSE All Share=52,495.46 DJIA=17,652.36 FTSE 100=6,203.17 Source

Now on Daily Maverick

FEATURES

Photo: President Jacob Zuma (Greg Nicolson)Day of Judgment: Deliver us from Nkandla – and Zuma’s impunity
By Ranjeni Munusamy
Photo: Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan (Greg Nicolson); SARS<br />Commissioner Tom Moyane (Sapa)SARS Wars: Pravin Gordhan's response to the Hawks calls for protection of democratic institutions
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Photo: Minister of State Security David Mahlobo addresses the<br />pre-Budget Vote media briefing at Imbizo Media Centre in Cape Town, 5 May<br />2015. (Photo: GCIS)Analysis: Under David Mahlobo, State Security plays an increasingly powerful role
By Marianne Merten
Photo: President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang (L) and his wife<br />Constancia Mangue (R) during the state funeral for Spanish former Prime<br />Minister Adolfo Suarez held at the Almudena's cathedral in Madrid, Spain,<br />31 March 2014. EPA/BALLESTEROS/POOLOp-Ed: The state capture of SA’s foreign policy
By PETER FABRICIUS
Photo: US singer Nicki Minaj poses in the pressroom for the 31st MTV<br />Video Music Awards at The Forum in Inglewood, California, USA, 24 August<br />2014. EPA/MIKE NELSONOp-Ed: Was Nicki Minaj really music for Durban’s ears?
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Main photo: Advocate Donrich Jordaan, Boswell Mhlongo and Mavis Sideko<br />after the Constitutional Court judgement.Caged Innocence: The human cost of judicial error
By Carolyn Raphaely
Photo: President-elect of Tanzania's semi-autonomous region Zanzibar<br />Ali Mohamed Shein inspects the guards of honor during a swearing-in<br />ceremony held at Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar, Tanzania, 03 November 2010.<br />EPA/EMMANUEL HERMANTanzania: The botched election that cost half a billion dollars, and counting
By Simon Allison
Photo: Presidents Jacob Zuma and Richard Nixon.Analysis: When good leaders go bad
By J Brooks Spector
Photo: Idriss Deby, the President of Chad and the newly-elected<br />chairperson of the African Union, follows proceedings during the 26th<br />African Union Summit at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa,<br />Ethiopia, 31 January 2016. EPA/SOLAN KOLLIChad: Between Ambition and Fragility
By International Crisis Group
A man believed to be the hijacker of the EgyptAir Airbus A-320, which<br />was diverted to Cyprus, leaves the plane before surrendering to security<br />forces after a six-hour standoff on the tarmac at Larnaca Airport's largely<br />disused old terminal on 29 March 2016. The hijacker, who seized the<br />Egyptian airliner and forced it to land in Cyprus, has been detained,<br />Cypriot government spokesperson, Nicos Christodoulides, said.<br />GEORGE MICHAEL / AFPWhile you were sleeping: 30 March
By John Stupart

OPINIONS

mark-heywood.jpgDemocracy and the writer
By Mark Heywood
Pierre de vosCon Court Nkandla judgment preview: Forget about impeachment
By Pierre de Vos
HEADSHOT_Rich-Poplak_orange.jpgRupert vs Zuma: Death of Justice
By Richard Poplak
MareliseBWTruth vs Terror
By Marelise van der Merwe

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