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JOHANNESBURG – Nelson Mandela is spending his 95th birthday in hospital in Pretoria, as events take place around the world and in South Africa in his honour. South Africans are being urged to mark the former president and anti-apartheid leader’s 67 years of public service with 67 minutes of charitable acts. Mr Mandela, who is…

CAIRO – At least seven people died in overnight clashes across Egypt’s capital, according to state media reports Tuesday, as unrest continues following the ouster of President Mohamed Morsy. Khaled Al-Khatib, a Health Ministry official, was quoted by EgyNews, Egypt’s state news agency, as saying 261 more people were injured in violence that continued into…

CAIRO – The US has called on Egypt’s army to free deposed President Mohamed Morsi, amid ongoing protests on the first Friday of Ramadan. The appeal echoed a similar call hours earlier from Germany. The Islamist Mr Morsi, who was ousted last week after the army stepped in, has since been held at a “safe”…

JOHANNESBURG – Nelson Mandela’s wife has said she is “less anxious” about the health of South Africa’s first black president than she was a week ago. “He continues to respond positively to treatment,” said Graca Machel. The 94-year-old is nevertheless said to remain in a critical state after five weeks in hospital. On Thursday, President…

CAIRO – Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood has rejected a timetable for new elections laid out by interim president Adly Mansour, saying it is illegitimate. President Mohammed Morsi was ousted by the army last week after mass protests. The Tamarod movement, which organised the protests, has said it was not consulted on the election plan and has…

CAIRO – The top judge of Egypt’s Constitutional Court, Adly Mahmud Mansour, has been sworn in as interim leader, hours after the army ousted President Mohammed Morsi and put him under house arrest. Mr Mansour praised the armed forces and the Egyptian people, saying the era of “worship of the ruler” should end. Mr Morsi,…

CONAKRY — Guinea’s opposition and ruling party reached an agreement to hold the country’s long-delayed legislative elections in September, the opposition said Wednesday. Aboubacar Sylla, a spokesman for a coalition of opposition parties, said the opposition had agreed to several issues that had earlier been sticking points, including the use of a South African-based vendor…

FORMER president Nelson Mandela’s condition has improved, the presidency said on Thursday.“President Jacob Zuma visited former president Nelson Mandela in hospital in Pretoria today, June 27, and was informed by the medical team that Madiba’s condition has improved during the course of the night. He remains critical but is now stable. “I cancelled my visit…

JOHANNESBURG – Former South African President Nelson Mandela’s condition deteriorated to “critical” on Sunday, the government said, two weeks after the 94-year-old anti-apartheid leader was admitted to hospital with a lung infection. The worsening of his condition is bound to concern South Africa’s 53 million people, for whom Mandela remains the architect of a peaceful…

BULAWAYO – A 15-year-old Inyathi boy enticed  his 5-year-old niece to have sexual intercourse with him by offering her peanut butter. The boy was convicted of attempted rape and sentenced to canning by a prison officer. Bulawayo Magistrate Crispen Mberewere ordered prison officers to cane the boy (name withheld) twice with a rattan cane. Prosecutor…