While you were sleeping: 24 March 2016

Congo re-elects its president, technically. Japan returns from annual whale slaughter, and minnows shock Cup of Nations contenders.

By John Stupart

24 Mar

"Reading TNA or watching ANN7 for even a day has the same effect as subsisting on rice crackers and lemon water: the head spins, runes appear on the back of eyelids, bowels liquefy, God communicates in upbeat infographics."

– Richard Poplak

Story of the Day

State Capture: MK veterans open a new front against Zuma
We live, we might say, in shifting times. The old certainties of our politics, that President Jacob Zuma is its MacDaddy, that he can think, say and do what he wants, and that the slide of the state is unstoppable, appear to be seriously challenged. The people who have previously remained silent are now raising their voices and getting their worries off their chests. One of those groups is a collection of people featuring bemedalled chests: former Umkhonto we Sizwe generals. They are worried, very worried indeed. Worried enough that they are calling for a Special National Conference of the ANC. President Zuma, if you're listening, the pressure is building. By STEPHEN GROOTES.

While you were sleeping

Nguesso leads Congo's polls
In a result surprising no one, Congo's president Denis Sassou Nguesso was elected president. Again. This effectively extends the ruler's reign beyond his current 32 years. All hail democracy.
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Japan's whaling fleet returns
The annual, prized Japanese tradition of swanning about the Antarctic Ocean slaughtering whales nobody wants to eat has ended its season. The fleet arrived today at Shimonoseki port, to the joy of only the tiniest of demographic.
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New Zealand decides on its flag today
At 08h00 South African time, results will begin trickling in determining New Zealand's fate. A multi-million dollar campaign to ditch the Union Jack in favour of the silver fern appears unlikely to succeed. The Kiwis, it seems, are content to recognise their historical overlords.
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Minnows kick off Cup of Nations campaign right
São Tome e Príncipé and Guinea-Bissau have come from nowhere to score victories in their opening matches. The latter defeated Kenya 1-0 and the former beat Libya 2-1. With these wins in tow, the tiny nations appear well positioned to threaten the big boys (Egypt and Nigeria) this year.
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In Numbers

1.6

The distance in kilometres which Veronica Seider could correctly identify a person from. Her vision was 20 times better than the ordinary human's.

Facts of the Day

Today in 1944 saw the beginning of 76 allied soldiers' breakout from a German prison. This was later immortalised in the hit film 'The Great Escape'.

Fact of the day: The Japanese school year is 240 days long. This is almost two months longer per year than the South African school year.

Weather & Financial Data

BFN: min: 14° max: 28°, rainy
CPT: min: 16° max: 28°, cloudy
DBN: min: 22° max: 32°, rainy
EL: min: 18° max: 28°, cloudy
JHB: min: 14° max: 28°, cloudy
KIM: min: 15° max: 32°, sunny
NLP: min: 13° max: 25°, cloudy
PMB: min: 11° max 31°, rainy
PKN: min: 13° max: 29°, cloudy
PE: min: 16° max: 29°, cloudy
PTA: min: 15° max: 26°, cloudy

Oil=$40.47 Gold=$1,224.72 Platinum=$959.50
R/$=15.36 R/€=17.18 R/£=21.69 $/€=1.11
JSE All Share=52,569.55 DJIA=17,498.85 FTSE 100=6,199.11 : Source

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