--- title: "While you were sleeping: 7 March 2018" description: "Trump trade advisor calls it quits, North Korea open to denuclearisation talks, and Uber begins self-driving freight." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "South Africa" author: "John Stupart" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/johnstupart/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2018-03-07-while-you-were-sleeping-7-march-2018/" published: "2018-03-07T05:55:41" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 727 --- # While you were sleeping: 7 March 2018 > Trump trade advisor calls it quits, North Korea open to denuclearisation talks, and Uber begins self-driving freight. By John Stupart · Published 7 March 2018, 07:55 SAST ## Content **Wednesday, 7 March 2018** *"What is unique about European nations is that when they are engaged in tribal wars, they call them world wars."* **PLO Lumumba** ![Image](https://i1.createsend1.com/ei/d/36/5F2/1A9/csimport/849x493q70ThammSASSACONCOURTMarch1.050524.jpg) STORY OF THE DAY [SassaGate Reloaded: ConCourt’s Mogoeng angered by Sassa’s and Bathabile Dlamini’s serial delinquency](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-otkhrtl-l-n/) By MARIANNE THAMM While the Constitutional Court on Tuesday might have reserved judgment with regard to Sassa’s application to extend the already extended unlawful contract with CPS for a further six months, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng did not attempt to conceal his displeasure, suggesting that Sassa and CPS had deliberately delayed the process and that the court was being “laughed at”. Backed into a corner, even blackmailed, according to Justice Sisi Khampepe, millions of vulnerable South Africans would be left destitute if the court refused to grant the extension. This is the second time Dlamini and Sassa have held a loaded gun to the court and the country’s head. WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING [Trump economy adviser quits over steel](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-otkhrtl-l-x/) White House economic adviser Gary Cohn has joined the growing line of folks leaving President Donald Trump's service. Cohn announced his resignation in protest of Trump's steel and aluminium tariff threats. As the worldwide threats of trade war escalates, Cohn's departure comes at a time when it seems that genuine dissenting voices in the Emporer's retinue are very few and far between. [North Korea ready for denuclearisation talks](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-otkhrtl-l-m/) In a historic round of meetings, North and South Korean diplomats have achieved the unthinkable: A North Korea willing to discuss nuclear disarmament. The two Koreas will hold talks in April, with the north prepared to discuss downing its nuclear arms in exchange for security guarantees. Even President Trump was able to put down the cheeseburger and express a cautiously upbeat word of praise for "cautious" progress. [Uber uses self-driving trucks in Arizona](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-otkhrtl-l-c/) Late on Tuesday Uber announced that it had begun using self-driving trucks to deliver cargo over long distances. Uber Freight, a service allowing Uber users to send cargo over long distances, utilises self-driving trucks to complete the long-haul portion of a cargo container's journey. This time, if your package goes missing, you will have nobody to blame but SKYNET. [Chanel draws criticism for idiotic tree-based show](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-otkhrtl-l-q/) Karl Lagerfeld created a storm of criticism after felling several century-old oaks to create a forest-themed catwalk in Paris. Nine oaks were cut down and rearranged at the show, and several trees used for benches for the landed gentry attending the show. Chanel hit back, arguing that the trees weren't that old, which probably should not have been their first communications go-to in reaction to the outcry. IN NUMBERS $8 The maximum in royalties Microsoft receives per Android device sold. This equated to $3.4 billion in 2013. FACTS OF THE DAY Today in 1876 **Alexander Bell** is granted a patent for something called a "telephone". **Classical music was banned in China** from 1966-1978. 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