--- title: "While you were sleeping: 28 March 2018" description: "Kim Jong Un confirmed in Beijing, Aussies tossed out in disgrace, and NASA's telescope launch delayed." 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/2018-03-28-while-you-were-sleeping-28-march-2018/" published: "2018-03-28T06:01:25" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 693 --- # While you were sleeping: 28 March 2018 > Kim Jong Un confirmed in Beijing, Aussies tossed out in disgrace, and NASA's telescope launch delayed. By John Stupart · Published 28 March 2018, 08:01 SAST ## Content **Wednesday, 28 March 2018** *“Christmas and Easter can be subjects for poetry, but Good Friday, like Auschwitz, cannot. The reality is so horrible it is not surprising that people should have found it a stumbling block to faith.”* **WH Auden** ![Image](https://i1.createsend1.com/ei/d/2A/671/990/csimport/849x493q70amab-NkonkiPart1-FINAL1.051128.jpg) STORY OF THE DAY [amaBhungane: The Nkonki Pact, Part 1 – How the Guptas bought themselves an Auditor](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-odillky-l-n/) By Stefaans Brümmer and Susan Comrie for AMABHUNGANE In a fronting deal, Gupta lieutenant Salim Essa provided R107-million for the “management buyout” of a pioneering black audit firm. WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING [Kim Jong Un confirmed to be in China](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-odillky-l-x/) Dear Leader and North Korea's princeling deluxe Kim Jong Un was confirmed to be in Beijing. The dictator's first-ever foreign trip included a meeting with Xi Jinping. Bilateral trade and security issues were on the agenda, but chief among matters discussed must have been the upcoming meetings with South Korea and Washington. Arriving in a train is also a fairly good way to stuff the cars full of illicit, sanctions-busting goods. [Aussie trio sent home in disgrace](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-odillky-l-m/) Australian Captain Steve Smith, Vice-Captain David Warner, and sandpaper aficionado Cameron Bancroft will all be whisked away back to Australia today. Cricket Australia head James Sutherland apologised for the ball-tampering scandal, regretting how it overshadowed what could have been a fantastic Test series. With the balls-up now casting said spectre, the Wanderers will play host to the final Test match between the two countries this week. [Turner creates new sports streaming offering](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-odillky-l-c/) Step aside ESPN, Turner has hit the ground running. The broadcasting giant announced overnight that it would launch a sports streaming service next month to rival ESPN. Dubbed Bleacher Report Live, the service will have flexible pricing options and feature the UEFA Champions, Europa football, as well as NBA and NCAA games. The service launches next month and will be free until June. [James Webb Telescope launch delayed](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-odillky-l-q/) Nasa announced that its giant space telescope will not be launched before May 2020. The disappointing news was justified by the space agency on the grounds that it needed more time for final integration and testing. Considering the task ahead of the telescope: to replace Hubble and, hopefully, shed new and immediate light on our universe, taking one's time is probably a good idea. IN NUMBERS 99% The maximum allowed percentage commission American telemarketers can take from a donation. FACTS OF THE DAY Today is**Self Emancipation Day in Tibet.** China is almost certainly not celebrating this at all. **Detroit gave Saddam Hussein** a key to the city. FEATURED ARTICLES ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Grootes-on-NMB-EFF-move.jpg) [Analysis: EFF’s move in Nelson Mandela Bay – let the political chaos reign supreme](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-odillky-l-v/) BY STEPHEN GROOTES ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70carien-farewellACE.jpg) [Goodbye, Ace: Magashule’s exit bash to bring Bloemfontein to a standstill on Wednesday](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-odillky-l-s/) BY CARIEN DU PLESSIS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70merten-parlyrecess.jpg) [Parliament: ANC wants extended recess for electioneering as rumours of early election fly](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-odillky-l-w/) BY MARIANNE MERTEN ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70nkateko-landexproUrban.jpg) [Land Expropriation: Debate intensifies around access to property in cities](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-odillky-l-yh/) BY NKATEKO MABASA ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Fab-SisuluLesotho.jpg) [Lesotho: Lindiwe Sisulu to apologise to King Letsie for offence at border](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-odillky-l-yu/) BY PETER FABRICIUS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70ant-sandpapergatehighlights.jpg) [Ball tampering: Saga highlights problems with ICC’s Code of Conduct](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-odillky-l-jr/) BY ANTOINETTE MULLER ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70marelise-plasticoceans.jpg) [Eco Film Fest Review: Plastic, plastic, everywhere – and not a drop to drink](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-odillky-l-jj/) BY MARELISE VAN DER MERWE ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70lotter-gayvotes.jpg) [Op-Ed: From Homonationalism to Homopopulism – Why are Gays voting Right?](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-odillky-l-ji/) BY JAMES LOTTER OPINIONISTAS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70Susan-Booysen.jpg) [No-go territory of early or snap elections](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-odillky-l-jh/) A column by SUSAN BOOYSEN ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70Oscar-van-Heerden.jpg) [Thinking out of the box: Treasury cuts won’t work](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-odillky-l-ju/) A column by OSCAR VAN HEERDEN ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70peterWater.jpg) [Day Zero – averted or only postponed? Water trading the way to go](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-odillky-l-tr/) A column by PETER VAN NIEKERK ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70shafer.jpg) [Open letter to President Ramaphosa: When will our people reap the benefits of our oceans?](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-odillky-l-tj/) A column by BEVERLEY SCHÄFER — **Weather** BFN: min: 13° max 29°, cloudy CPT: min: 14° max: 19°, cloudy DBN: min: 19° max: 29°, cloudy JHB: min: 13° max: 24°, cloudy KIM: min: 17° max: 31°, cloudy MHK: min: 14° max: 28°, cloudy NLP: min: 14° max: 30°, cloudy PE: min: 17° max: 30°, sunny PMB: min: 17° max: 32°, cloudy PTA: min: 14° max: 26°, cloudy **Financial Data** Oil=$70.03 Gold=$1,343.92 Platinum=$944.81 R/$=11.64 R/€=14.44 R/£=16.48 BTC/$=7,850 JSE All Share=56,050.79 DJIA=24,189.50 FTSE 100=7,000.14