South Africa

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Pistorius Trial: 'Bloodcurdling Screams,' Then Shots

South Africa gears up for 'trial of the century'

(Newser) - The murder trial of Oscar Pistorius is under way, with the double-amputee athlete pleading not guilty in what the New York Times calls a "clear voice" to the murder charge. The trial's first witness, neighbor Michelle Burger, then testified that she awoke after 3am on Feb. 14 of...

Trapped South African Miners Refuse to Come Up

Some emerge, but others fear being arrested

(Newser) - About a dozen miners have been freed from a mine in South Africa since getting trapped there yesterday, but others are refusing to emerge because they don't want to be arrested for illegal mining, Reuters and CNN report. One miner is trying to convince about 19 others to surface,...

Trapped Miners Begin Emerging From Illegal S. Africa Mine

Rescuers in contact with 30 illegal miners near surface; more below

(Newser) - A handful of the 200-plus illegal South African miners trapped in an abandoned gold mine near Johannesburg have begun to emerge, reports the BBC . Rescuers are in contact with a group of about 30 miners who are near the surface, reports Reuters . "They told us there are about 200...

It&#39;s 2014 Somewhere

 It's 2014 Somewhere 
Happy New Year
Dec 31, 2013 3:22 PM CST

It's 2014 Somewhere

Images of celebrations from around the world

(Newser) - It's that time of year again: Time for Australia and New Zealand to steal everybody else's thunder. Auckland has already rung in 2014, and Sydney has lit up the sky with its annual much-heralded firework extravaganza. In most of the rest of the world, everyone's still just...

#JustineSaccoHasApologized
 #JustineSaccoHasApologized 
Dec 22, 2013 8:41 AM CST

#JustineSaccoHasApologized

Fired PR exec issues apology over AIDS tweet that exploded

(Newser) - The not-so-PR-savvy former PR executive behind the "tweet heard round the world" is very and predictably sorry, reports ABC . Justine Sacco has issued an apology—blessedly not via Twitter—saying, "Words cannot express how sorry I am, and how necessary it is for me to apologize to the...

Bogus Mandela Interpreter Helped Burn Two Men Alive

Thamsanga Jantijie describes incident as 'mob justice'

(Newser) - Thamsanqa Jantjie has done things a lot worse than making up sign language —including burning two men alive, one of his relatives and three of his friends tell the AP . We already knew that Jantjie had murder charges on his resume, but now we know the specifics: Apparently Jantjie...

Hometown Lays Mandela to Rest

South African icon buried in Qunu amid fanfare, tears

(Newser) - South Africa has laid Nelson Mandela to rest in the gentle hills where he began his "long walk to freedom," burying the anti-apartheid icon in his hometown of Qunu as military jets and helicopters flew overhead in tribute. Some 4,500 people, including many foreign dignitaries, attended a...

Mandela&#39;s Body Lies in State
 Mandela's Body Lies in State 
Dec 11, 2013 7:29 AM CST

Mandela's Body Lies in State

Thousands pay their respects in Pretoria

(Newser) - Thousands of visitors—ordinary people, dignitaries, and a few celebrities—are thronging the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where Nelson Mandela was sworn in as president of South Africa and where his body is lying in state today. His casket was greeted by a military honor guard upon its arrival, and...

Obama: Mandela 'Makes Me Want to Be a Better Man'

Bushes join Obamas on flight to memorial service

(Newser) - President Obama offered a stirring eulogy to his personal hero Nelson Mandela in South Africa today, calling him "a giant of history." Some highlights of the speech (the full text of which is here ):
  • Obama said it was tempting to imagine Mandela as a perfect icon. "
...

Leaders, Crowds Mass for Mandela Farewell

More than 90 heads of government at Soweto ceremony

(Newser) - The weather is wet but spirits are high as tens of thousands of South Africans and dozens of world leaders gather in a Soweto stadium to celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela, the BBC reports. President Obama—who flew in with George W. Bush and Hillary Clinton —is just...

In Day of Prayer, S. Africa Holds Close Mandela Legacy

Madiba celebrated in church services, vigils

(Newser) - South Africa is continuing to celebrate the legacy of Nelson Mandela with a day of prayer today, with church services and vigils dotting the country ahead of next Sunday's official state funeral for the anti-apartheid icon. "We never cry when somebody dies," says one Soweto mourner who...

Mandela Family Issues First Statement

'We've lost a son of the soil'

(Newser) - Nelson Mandela's family has issued its first statement since the former president's passing, the AP reports via Politico . "The pillar of the royal Mandela family is no more with us physically, but his spirit is still with us," a family spokesman read to reporters. "We...

Mandela Funeral Poses Massive Challenge

World leaders will descend on remote village

(Newser) - The death of Nelson Mandela is certain to plunge South Africa into a near-standstill of national mourning for around two weeks—but the country still faces the challenge of holding one of the biggest state funerals ever seen, the Guardian finds. Scores of heads of state, royals, other dignitaries, and...

Obama: Mandela 'Belongs to the Ages'

President says Mandela's example made his own life possible

(Newser) - President Obama today paid homage to Nelson Mandela shortly after the former South African leader's death was announced , reports Politico and AP . "He no longer belongs to us," said Obama. "He belongs to the ages." Some other highlights:
  • Mandela was “a man who took
...

Key Moments in Mandela&#39;s Life
 Key Moments in Mandela's Life 
Dec 5, 2013 4:43 PM CST

Key Moments in Mandela's Life

Former South African is dead at 95

(Newser) - The accolades have begun pouring in for Nelson Mandela, who has died at age 95 . Meanwhile, the AP ticks off some key moments in his life:
  • April 20, 1964: Charged with sabotage, Mandela delivered a statement during his trial in Pretoria that revealed the depth of his resolve in the
...

Nelson Mandela Dead at 95

 Nelson Mandela 
 Dead at 95 
Dec 5, 2013 3:58 PM CST

Nelson Mandela Dead at 95

'Our people have lost a father,' says South Africa's president

(Newser) - Nelson Mandela is dead at age 95, the president of South Africa told the world today. "Our nation has lost its greatest son," Jacob Zuma announced to his nation, as quoted by CNN . "Our people have lost a father." The anti-apartheid icon had been in failing...

South Africa Hotel Offers Fake Slum Experience

This 'Shanty Town' has under-floor heating

(Newser) - Well, this is ... interesting: You can now pay half the average South African's monthly salary—or $82 a night—to stay in a slum. Not a real one, as some one billion people worldwide do; instead, Gizmodo reports, South Africa's Emoya Luxury Hotel and Spa is offering the...

'Underdog' Rescued From Giant Hole

Pooch fell 700 feet to bottom of unused mine

(Newser) - Some cheerful news to start the week: A massive rescue operation succeeded in saving a dog who had gotten stuck at the bottom of one of the world's biggest manmade holes, Metro reports. The pooch—nicknamed "Underdog"—was spotted last week swimming in the lake at the...

Dog Saved From Dump Climbs Mt. Everest

Rupee thought to be first to achieve feat

(Newser) - Mount Everest has its first known canine climber: a dog who was rescued from near death at an Indian dump. Rupee was adopted by South African golfer Joanne Lefson, who had taken her previous dog, Oscar, around the world (and has written an upcoming book about it). Her latest adventure...

Still 'Unstable,' Nelson Mandela Leaves Hospital

Home set up to handle intensive health needs

(Newser) - Nelson Mandela was discharged from the hospital today while still in critical condition and was driven in an ambulance to his Johannesburg home, which has been set up to provide intensive care, South Africa's presidency said. On a sunny but cold morning, an ambulance took the anti-apartheid leader home...

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