--- title: "While you were sleeping: 18 August 2016" description: "Wildfires rage across California, cartel war feared in Mexico, and DNA library published." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "Newsdeck" author: "AFP" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/afp/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-08-18-while-you-were-sleeping-18-august-2016/" published: "2016-08-18T06:15:00" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 877 --- # While you were sleeping: 18 August 2016 > Wildfires rage across California, cartel war feared in Mexico, and DNA library published. By AFP · Published 18 August 2016, 08:15 SAST ## Content | \| \\| *“I just focused all the anger I had for the Nigerian government in one blow”* – Nigerian Boxer **Efe Ajagba** explaining his 23 second knockout victory. \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \| | | --- | | \| \\| # Story of the Day \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\\| ![Image](//gallery.mailchimp.com/6170d6a6d93cac57e83ba137f/images/78c74c13-e77c-447f-aaa6-7c2278620193.jpg) \\\| \\\| --- \\\|\\\| ## [Battleground Metros: Broad DA-led coalition – supported by EFF – poised to take over from ANC](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-08-18-battleground-metros-broad-da-led-coalition-supported-by-eff-poised-to-take-over-from-anc/#.V7Umnvl95hE)So, it’s official. As official as non-coalition coalition politics gets. The EFF will back DA candidates in the Gauteng metros, the ANC will be out of power in the big cities, and Julius Malema can carry on being the centre of attention. The EFF’s decision to back opposition candidates but not form formal coalitions with them is, in one sense, the perfect calibrated response to a difficult situation, and in another, a recipe for loads of disruption in the longer term. But all that matters to opposition parties is keeping the ANC out so they can now manoeuvre among themselves. By STEPHEN GROOTES. [Read more](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-08-18-battleground-metros-broad-da-led-coalition-supported-by-eff-poised-to-take-over-from-anc/#.V7Umnvl95hE) \\\| \\\| --- \\\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # While you were sleeping \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| ## Fires rage through CaliforniaSeveral 'firenadoes' have developed as wild fires devastate California's naturural environment. The Blue Cut fire has now resulted in San Bernardino declaring a state of emergency, with more firefighters on the way to augment the 1,300 already there. [Read More](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-08-18-firenadoes-rage-in-california-as-blaze-menaces-82000) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| ## Cartel war on the horizon for MexicoMexican officials have warned of a possible cartel war following the abduction of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's son. Police suspect a rival cartel mounted the kidnapping, and the group's decision whether to ransom or kill their captive could determine whether a war will happen, or not. [Read More](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-08-18-mexico-fears-new-cartel-war-after-el-chapo-son-abducted) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| ## **Semenya's Friday semi-final**Caster Semenya cruised through her 800m heat and will run in the semi-finals on Friday morning at 2:31am, starting in lane five. The final is on Sunday at 2.15am. Elroy Grant also ran a very impressive race in the men’s 5,000m and will run in the final on Sunday morning. Other than that, things weren’t so great for Team South Africa. If you missed any of the action, you can [catch up with our blow-by-blow account.](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-08-17-rio-2016-live-blog-day-12-all-the-south-african-action-from-the-olympics-on-wednesday/) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| ## Massive DNA library releasedOn Wednesday scientists published a catalogue of human genetic variations – 10 million to be exact. The catalogue should aid scientists and researchers worldwide in identifying rare diseases. It is unclear whether the catalogue will allow for a giant shark capable of fighting the Californian firenadoes, however.[Read More](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-08-18-biggest-catalogue-of-dna-variants-yields-its-secrets) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # In Numbers \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **28** \\| \\| --- \\|\\| The number of countries that boycotted the 1976 Olympic games because New Zealand was allowed to participate. \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # Facts of the Day \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| Today in 1977 **Steve Biko**was arrested**.**If you put your **finger on an otter**, there will be [more hairs under your finger](http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/blogs/how-many-hairs-does-a-sea-otter-have-in-just-one-square-inch-of-coat)than on an average human head. \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # Weather & Financial Data \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| BFN: min: 10° max: 22°, cloudy CPT: min: 14° max: 23°, sunny DBN: min: 17° max: 23°, cloudy EL: min: 19° max: 22°, rainy JHB: min: 6° max: 22° cloudy KIM: min: 12° max: 21°, rainy NLP: min: 8° max: 25°, cloudy PMB: min: 9° max: 27°, cloudy PKN: min: 7° max: 22°, cloudy PE: min: 15° max: 23°, rainy PTA: min: 7° max: 22°, cloudy \\| \\| --- \\|\\| Oil=$49.80 Gold=$1,346.42 Platinum=$1,117.90 R/$=13.43 R/€=15.15 R/£=17.50 €/$=1.12 JSE All Share=52,309.70 DJIA= 18,561.47 FTSE 100=6,859.15 [Source](http://dailymaverick.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6170d6a6d93cac57e83ba137f&id=6c17d969dc&e=371f6bebf2) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # Now on Daily Maverick### **FEATURES**\\\| ![Image](//ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/kC9XmpXHwQMgjyWZhypAdOWQujMyLrOhe43sXQasJgbAvDBh78GjxSFcTKzrDC1DGc0Nu-JyB9KabBkOKFY3JK-uYpcPlymD2KdOjxV66B-S4rdXwVCRy_RfhzHWTiE8TTUOhXPeljUkE8tjgama4Q=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70Grootes-CoalitionsRule.jpg)DA Parliamentary Leader Mmusi Maimane are seen during a debate in Parliament on President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address, Wednesday, 18 June 2014. 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