De Lille makes a DA-sized deal

[Click here for the web version of this email]( [Daily Maverick] Monday, 6 August 2018 "Nothing is illegal if one hundred businessmen decide to do it." Andrew Young Story of the Day [Maimane/De Lille ‘mutual agreement’ enables DA to focus on 2019 elections]( By Marianne Merten The negotiated exit of Patricia de Lille from the Cape Town mayor’s office has cemented her reputation as a Teflon politician. The political solution announced on Sunday means she departs office on 31 October on her terms – with all disciplinary charges related to leadership style, nepotism and maladministration withdrawn. DA national leader Mmusi Maimane went solo in this key move to end the reputational damage that eight months of internecine party battles have caused, so the party can focus on the 2019 elections. [The Lost Boys of Bird Island.](By Mark Minnie and Chris Steyn. While You Were Sleeping [Death toll climbs in Indonesian earthquake aftermath]( Rescue workers were still extracting victims from the rubble after a deadly 6.9 earthquake struck. At least 82 people have died in the disaster, which also sparked tsunami warnings as far as Bali. This is Indonesia's second powerful earthquake in a week. [Eleven children rescued from US extremist prison]( US authorities have raided a compound in New Mexico guarded by several men believed to be Islamist extremists, rescuing 11 children and several adults from shocking conditions. The rescue efforts were the culmination of a year-long investigation into a missing child, ultimately leading to the child's father, Siraj Wahhaj, who was one of the men arrested on the scene. [South Sudan leaders sign deal]( Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir have signed a crucial power-sharing deal. The deal clears the way to introduce a unity government, hopefully this time one that will stick. As soon as the accord is sealed in stone, the shared government, and a possible end to crippling war could form within months. [Flurry of arrests, condemnations over Venezuelan attack]( The alleged drone-borne assassination attempt of Venezuela's despot President Nicolas Maduro has led to rapid arrests, condemnations from allies - including the ANC - and denials of involvement by foes. However, some nearby witnesses report that the explosive "device" allegedly packed into the drones was in fact a gas tank that exploded in a nearby building. [The Lost Boys of Bird Island.](By Mark Minnie and Chris Steyn. Picture of the Day By EPA Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, centre, participates in a televised event with soldiers in the centre of Caracas, Venezuela, 4 August 2018. In Numbers 53 The average number of gallons of water a camel can drink in three minutes. Facts of the Day Today in 2012 the Curiosity Rover lands on Mars. On this day each year Curiosity plays "happy birthday" to itself. Hitler earned the Iron Cross in World War I due to a commendation from his Jewish commanding officer, Hugo Gutmann. 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