South Africa

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Mbeki: Don't Worry About Zimbabwe
Mbeki: Don't Worry About Zimbabwe

Mbeki: Don't Worry About Zimbabwe

As African conference begins, Mugabe ally plays down crisis

(Newser) - South Africa's president told African leaders today not to worry about Zimbabwe's disputed election, Reuters reports. "I wouldn't describe that as a crisis," President Thabo Mbeki said at a summit of 14 leaders in Zambia, assembled to free Zimbabwe from its political deadlock. "It's a normal electoral...

Mugabe Foe Meets South African Leaders

ANC chief may be leaning to Tsvangirai in power play

(Newser) - The Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai traveled to South Africa yesterday to shore up international support for his claim that he has defeated Robert Mugabe in the presidential election. No details were released about Tsvangirai's meeting with Jacob Zuma, the African National Congress leader and assumed next president, but the...

'Urine Stew' Vid Sparks Furor in S. Africa

Anti-integration students force-fed black workers vile soup

(Newser) - South Africans have reacted with outrage and violence to a homemade video showing white college students forcing black employees to eat dirty meat and soup mixed with urine. The four Afrikaners, who don't disguise their faces, made the video to protest racial integration at the formerly all-white University of the...

Dollar Slides to Record Low; Oil Tops $102

Investors bet on Fed rate cut, driving euro up against US currency

(Newser) - The dollar declined against most major currencies and fell to its lowest level ever against the euro today as markets anticipated another rate cut from the Fed when it meets March 18, increasing the value of assets outside the US, Bloomberg reports. The dollar’s erosion pushed commodity prices up,...

South Africa to Lift Ban on Killing Elephants

Government says culling is a 'last resort' population control option

(Newser) - South Africa will lift its 1994 ban on elephant culling, sparking outrage among animal rights activists, the Guardian reports. Killing animals will remain "the option of last resort, acceptable only under strict conditions," said the environment minister. He added that managing the elephant population, which has grown to...

Bush Defends Decision Not to Send Troops to Darfur

Reluctant to intervene in another Muslim nation

(Newser) - President Bush has defended his decision not to send US troops to Darfur to stop the genocide taking place in the troubled African region. The choice was partly due to a desire not to intervene in another Muslim country, he told the BBC. Bush is scheduled to leave today for...

Zoo Leopards Find New Home at Preserve

UK actress wins their release, with help from Monaco's Prince Albert

(Newser) - Brother-sister pair Sirius and Pitou grew up in a French traveling circus, spent the last nine years at the Monaco zoo, and have now found a new home at a wildlife preserve in South Africa. The 16-year-old leopards undertook their recent journey—sedated and via two airplanes—thanks to British...

Interpol Chief Resigns Amid $200K Bribery Charges

South Africa's top cop linked to drug smuggler payoff

(Newser) - The president of international police organization Interpol has resigned over corruption allegations. Jackie Selebi, who is also South Africa's national police commissioner and a leading member of the African National Congress, is accused of taking $200,000 in pay-offs from a notorious convicted drug smuggler, who is awaiting trial on...

Teenagers Kiss Off S. African Lip-Locking Ban

They protest law that forbids smooching kids younger than 16

(Newser) - South African teenagers held a “kiss-in” yesterday to protest a new law that criminalizes romantic physical contact with anyone under 16, the Washington Post reports. The "Kissing Law” is intended to make it easier to prosecute older men sexually involved with younger girls. But the law has outraged...

South African Leader Indicted for Corruption

Lawyer calls charges 'politically motivated'; party crisis intensifies

(Newser) - South African prosecutors hit a new ruling party leader with corruption charges today, threatening his shot at the presidency and risking a prolonged legal and political crisis, the Guardian reports. ANC leader Jacob Zuma was ordered to stand trial next year on charges including racketeering and fraud linked to a...

Zuma Faces New Corruption Charges
Zuma Faces New Corruption Charges

Zuma Faces New Corruption Charges

South African prosecutor says indictment is 'imminent'

(Newser) - The annual conference of the African National Congress isn't even over yet, and already newly elected leader Jacob Zuma is facing the prospect of new criminal charges. South Africa's head prosecutor said he has gathered enough evidence to charge Zuma with corruption linked to a 1999 arms deal, reports the...

ANC Elects Zuma as Leader
ANC Elects Zuma as Leader

ANC Elects Zuma as Leader

Controversial figure now in line to be S. Africa's president

(Newser) - Jacob Zuma is in line to become president of South Africa in 2009 after the country’s ruling party elected him leader today, Reuters reports. The beloved but controversial populist won easily over current President Thabo Mbeki, bringing jubilation from his supporters but raising questions about the country’s economic...

Mbeki Likely to Lose ANC Leadership
Mbeki Likely
to Lose ANC Leadership

Mbeki Likely to Lose ANC Leadership

Controversial Zuma predicted to defeat prez for party helm

(Newser) - With only three days to go until the African National Congress meets to choose a new leader, South African President Thabo Mbeki looks set to lose his position at the top of his party and might be forced to retire before the end of his term. Jacob Zuma, Mbeki's highly...

Defiant African Leaders Reject EU Trade Deal

Relations between continents sour over human rights, Mugabe

(Newser) - European-African trade talks at a tense Lisbon summit collapsed in their final session yesterday. If a new agreement isn’t reached by year’s end, the European Union may levy higher tariffs on African exports, further exacerbating tensions between the continents. A new, controversial set of agreements would have dropped...

Rhodesian PM Ian Smith Dies at 88
Rhodesian
PM Ian Smith
Dies at 88

Rhodesian PM Ian Smith Dies at 88

Broke from Britain and defended white minority rule for 15 years

(Newser) - Ian Smith, the Rhodesian leader who unilaterally declared independence from Britain in 1965 and defended white rule for 15 tumultuous years, died today at 88. Seen as a symbol of  African colonial-era racism, Smith was unrepentant during his lifetime, arguing that what is now Zimbabwe suffered more under the tenure...

Wiki Founder May Take on Facebook
Wiki Founder May Take on Facebook

Wiki Founder May Take on Facebook

Jimmy Wales' new project combines networking, search

(Newser) - Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales is apparently going after Facebook and Google in the social-networking arena, Wired reports. Wales showed slides of his upcoming project during a speech in South Africa, and a tech blogger on hand described it as a "search/social networking hybrid" that incorporates elements of both internet...

Africa: Let There Be Light
  Africa: Let There Be Light

Africa: Let There Be Light

World Bank initiative aims to bring electric power to 250 million Africans

(Newser) - Even after decades of development, most African communities have no electrical power and still go dark when the sun goes down. Only 5% of Ugandans, 6% of the Congolese population and 15% of Kenyans have electricity. Now the World Bank has launched an initiative to light the homes of 250...

Ruling Against Zuma Heats Up ANC Rivalry

South African may face corruption trial; supporters cry foul

(Newser) - Thabo Mbeki's campaign to remain South Africa's president got a boost yesterday when the country's top court opened the way for a corruption trial against his archrival, Jacob Zuma. The Independent notes that Zuma has weathered corruption charges twice before—and a trial for rape last year—but this time...

Oprah: 'The Buck Stops With Me'
Oprah: 'The Buck Stops With Me'

Oprah: 'The Buck Stops With Me'

Winfrey vows to clean house after sex-abuse charges

(Newser) - When first told of abuse allegations at her South African school for disadvantaged girls, Oprah Winfrey "spent about a half-hour going around my house crying," the talk show star said today. Winfrey, who has publicly discussed the abuse she suffered as a child, called the incident "one...

Tearful Oprah Apologizes for Alleged Abuse at SA School

Talk queen's school in crisis as claims surface

(Newser) - A tearful Oprah Winfrey apologized today to students and parents amid abuse allegations at her exclusive $40 million South African school for girls, the Independent reports. "I've disappointed you. I'm so sorry," the talk show host said. A school matron stands accused of grabbing one girl by the...

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