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While you were sleeping: 5 September 2016

While you were sleeping: 5 September 2016

More blue helmets deployed to South Sudan, DRC's gorillas nearly extinct, and Nadal out of US Open.

“Words are like spices. Too many is worse than too few.” 

  Joan Aiken

Story of the Day

Gupta Mania: How inexplicable devotion turns ANC leaders into kamikaze pilots 

There is one question that should keep every South African up at night: Why did President Jacob Zuma fire Nhlanhla Nene? Nine months later, there is still no reasonable explanation as to why the president, who swore to “devote myself to the well-being of the republic and all of its people”, indulged in such reckless behaviour, costing the country billions. There is now a lobby of people in the ANC willing to lie, as Mosebenzi Zwane did, and sacrifice their reputations, their organisation, our constitutional democracy and South Africa’s future. They all have one thing in common: unwavering loyalty to the Guptas. By RANJENI MUNUSAMY.
Read more

While you were sleeping

More peacekeepers for S. Sudan

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has agreed to the deployment of additional UN peacekeepers to the East-Central African country. Representatives from the Security Council met with Kiir at his palace to gain his consent for 4,000 blue helmets, all of whom will deploy with a stronger (possibly more aggressive) mandate. Read More

Venezuela protestors released

All but one of the dozens of Venezuelan protestors arrested were released over the weekend. The country was gripped by over a million protestors demonstrating against President Nicolás Maduro over crippling food shortages last Thursday. The individual still in custody is a journalist who published footage of the protests. Read More

DRC gorillas on verge of extinction

Officials in the Democractic Republic of Congo have announced the Eastern Gorilla is now critically endangered and faces imminent extinction. War, illegal hunting and an influx of refugees into former gorilla territory have resulted in a severely depleted population. Just 5,000 remain, to be exact. Read More

Pouille defeats Nadal at US Open

Lucas Pouille has defeated veteran Rafa Nadal at the US Open. Winning 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8/6) , Pouille will now face Gael Monfils in the quarter-finals. The massive 22,000 capacity stadium appeared to have little effect on the Frenchman’s senses. Read More

In Numbers

5-30

The number of minutes per day of sleep that giraffes require.

Facts of the Day

Today is the International Day of Charity. Considering the recent canonisation of Saint Theresa, observance of this may be a timely occasion.

Russian cosmonauts used to carry shotguns into space. This was primarily to fend off bears upon re-entry and landing.

Weather

Financial Data

BFN: min: 12° max: 27°, sunny
CPT: min: 13° max: 16°,rainy
DBN: min: 18° max: 28°, cloudy
EL: min: 18° max: 29°, cloudy
JHB: min: 8° max: 23°, sunny
KIM: min: 16° max: 28°, sunny
NLP: min: 6° max: 30°, sunny
PMB: min: 11° max: 29°, cloudy
PKN: min: 11° max: 26°, sunny
PE: min: 15° max: 22°, cloudy
PTA: min: 10° max: 27°, sunny

Oil=$46.83
Gold=$1,325.21
Platinum=$1,063.84
R/$=14.49
R/€=16.15
R/£=19.27
€/$=1.11
JSE All Share=53,500.07
DJIA= 18,491.96
FTSE 100=6,894.60
Source

Now on Daily Maverick

 

FEATURES  

Photo: Atul Gupta and President Jacob Zuma and First Lady MaNtuli
Zuma. President Jacob Zuma (Photo: Presidency of South Africa) Gupta Mania: How inexplicable devotion turns ANC leaders into kamikaze pilots 
By Ranjeni Munusamy
Photo: The entrance to Luthuli House which will be occupied on Monday,
or maybe not, depending on how the protests are met. (Picture Siphiwe
Sibeko Reuters) #OccupyLuthuliHouse: ANC set to eat itself as protesters prepare to descend on party HQ 
By Greg Nicolson
Photo: Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi ‘Pinocchio’
Zwane (Reuters Mike Hutchings) The ANC’s dirty weekend: Things have fallen apart, there is no centre to hold 
By Stephen Grootes
Photo: Members of the vigilante group of Amchidé, Far North,
Cameroon. (CRISIS GROUP/Hans De Marie Heungoup) ICG: In the Tracks of Boko Haram in Cameroon 
By International Crisis Group
Photo: Patricia de Lille (DA) Between the Lines: De Lille to take government to court 
By John Matisonn
Photo: Penny for your thoughts? Mexico’s President Enrique Pena
Nieto meets Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump (Reuters Henry
Romero) US 2016: Trumpean diplomacy, up close and personal 
By J Brooks Spector
Photo: Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula (Reuters Mike Hutchings) Cricket SA’s transformation targets: The good, the bad and how the numbers stack up 
By Antoinette Muller

OPINIONISTA

SandileMabaso.jpg Black Bodies at the Opera 
By Sandile Mabaso
Gallery

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