Argentina's World Cup fate hangs in the balance

[Click here for the web version of this email]( [Daily Maverick] Tuesday, 26 June 2018 “The hippo of recollection stirred in the muddy waters of the mind.” Terry Pratchett Story of the Day [As ANC starts work on its 2019 election manifesto, major problems remain unresolved]( By Qaanitah Hunter The ANC has set the wheels in motion in preparation for the general election in 2019, trying to reposition itself as a broad church as it actively seeks outside views and robust engagement. While You Were Sleeping [Dow 501-day streak ends over Trump fears]( The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell sharply on Monday, effectively ending an impressive run of above-average earnings. The Dow dropped almost 2% after fears that even further trade war-targeted investments would be introduced by 30 June. Trump, ever one to cite the "markets" as a sign of his glorious leadership, has been uncharacteristically quiet on the drop. [Argentina's World Cup hangs in the balance]( Cristiano Ronaldo had a penalty saved as Portugal drew with Iran in a barking mad night in Russia. Spain, Portugal, Uruguay and Russia are through to the knockouts but Tuesday holds all sorts of excitement. Group C could come down to the good behaviour of Australians while Nigeria can knock Argentina out. [UK lawmakers approve Heathrow expansion]( After years of concern over environmental impact, Heathrow has been given the all-clear for an extra runway. Europe's busiest airport is certainly in dire need of more space for aircraft, but UK MPs had been beset by a series of opposition protests by their own members over the £14-billion project. This included Boris Johnson. In true courageous fashion, after vowing to lay down in front of bulldozers before construction started, Johnson didn't vote on the motion, having a "last-minute" trip to Afghanistan. Hopefully, Heathrow's new runway will have stronger foundations. [Sexism rises as Saudi women drive]( This week saw Saudi women take to the wheel and drive themselves for the first time in the country's history. But the resulting wave of sexism issuing forth over social media has become a sad, inevitable after-effect. Torrents of Tweets and Facebook posts by Saudi men belittling women getting behind the wheel has marred what should have been a historical move into the social 21st Century. Some Saudi men, it seems, are incapable of shifting mental gears. Picture of the Day By EPA-EFE/DUMITRU DORU People take pictures in a lavender field near Cobusca Noua village, 44 Km North-East from Chisinau, Moldova, 24 June 2018. The place become very popular for the photosession location after Lavender Fest, held in same place. In Numbers 1899 The year in which the first car reached a speed of 100km/h. It was fully electric. Facts of the Day Today in 1955 the South African Congress Alliance adopts the Freedom Charter. There is a theory called the Bullshit Asymmetry Principle. It asserts that the amount of energy required to refute bullshit is higher than that required to create it in the first place. 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