Politics

Nelson Mandela, the former South African president, is currently recovering from a collapsed lung in Johannesburg, according to the Reuters news agency. The 92-year-old was admitted to hospital on Wednesday for 'routine tests', having been airlifted from Cape Town, where he and his wife were having a holiday, to a hospital near his home in Johannesburg. He is thought to be recovering well. The South African president Jacob Zuma stated that "President Mandela is comfortable and is well looked after by a good team of medical specialists", going

Anti-government protestors in Egypt rallying against the rule of president Hosni Mubarak took to the streets for a fourth straight day, demanding the long-time leader step down and complaining of poverty, corruption, and oppression. The demonstrations were supposedly inspired by a popular uprising that saw Tunisian president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali ousted from office. A national curfew is in effect, but is being ignored by many. Tens of thousands of people spilled out into streets after Friday prayers today, chanting slogans like "Down, down wi

Thousands of people throughout Egypt continued protests for a second straight day, clashing with security officials. The demonstrators were protesting against the three-decade-rule of president Hosni Mubarak. Demonstrations turned violent in places, with police employing tear gas and rubber bullets while civilians hurled stones, burned tires, and even set fire to a government building. The Haaretz newspaper says there were five deaths. Reports say such massive protests have never been seen in the country before; they come two weeks after Tunis

The Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, has today announced a new bill into Parliament to assist in the Queensland floods recovery. The proposed levy will be a once-off tax, given only to those with an annual income of above A$50,000. Exemptions to the flood relief fund will be given to those who are income earners of less than $50,000 a year or those who were affected by the flood crisis. Anyone earning between the ranges of $50,000 to $100,000 will contribute 0.5 percent of their income whilst anyone earning over $100,000 annually w

Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty's funeral was held in Paisley on Friday. Over 400 turned out on the frosty morning as the man behind Baker Street was laid to rest in where he married - St Mirin's Cathedral, less than a mile from his birthplace. Fans travelled from as far afield as New York to join family, friends and politicians at the service after Rafferty died on January 4 at the age of 63 in Gloucestershire, England. Born on Underwood Lane in Glenburn, Paisley, Rafferty started performing in local folk clubs in the 1960s before t

Sargent Shriver, the 21st US Ambassador to France, died Tuesday at the age of 95 in Maryland, of complications from Alzheimer's disease. He served as the ambassador to France under US Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon. Shriver was born Robert Sargent Shriver, Jr. on November 9, 1915 in Westminster, Maryland. He also served in the US Navy during World War II. Shriver was a candidate for Vice President of the United States with former US Senator George McGovern in 1972 when McGovern's first pick, Thomas Eagleton resigned from the De

After weeks of chaos, Prime Minister of Tunisia Mohammed Ghannouchi has stated that he is taking power of the country. Recent violence has caused the country to shut down its airspace, lead the United States State Department to advise against visiting the country, and forced a state of emergency to be declared. "I can confirm that the army is at the airport. Armoured vehicles are surrounding the airport," an official source stated. Rumors of attempts to flee by the President’s staff have been reported as well. President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali

Citizens from Punta Arenas, Chile, the world's southernmost city and capital of the Magallanes and Antártica Chilena Region, remained on strike Wednesday after Chilean President Sebastián Piñera announced an increase in natural gas prices by 16.8 percent, in that region. Citizens from Punta Arenas and politicians are demanding that Piñera maintain subsidies on natural gas. "We want dialogue, to continue talking in a serious and responsible way about the future of Magallanes," Ena von Baer, the government spokeswoman, said on Wednesday morning.

In a Tuesday media event, Verizon Wireless announced it had reached an agreement with Apple Inc. and would begin selling a CDMA version of the iPhone 4 beginning early February. The move means the end of rival company AT&T's status as the only official US carrier of the iPhone, a status it held since the first iPhone debuted in 2007. The press conference, held in New York City, was hosted by Verizon's president, Lowell McAdam, Apple's chief operating officer, Tim Cook, and Verizon Wireless' chief executive officer, Dan Mead. Neither Verizon Co

United States President Barack Obama spoke at a memorial in Tucson, Arizona Wednesday night, in the wake of last Saturday's mass shooting. Earlier in the day, Obama visited five people injured in the attack, including Gabrielle Giffords, a Democratic Congresswoman from Arizona. Obama spoke to almost 14,000 people in the University of Arizona's McKale Center, as well as 13,000 others outside. During a 33-minute-long speech, he attempted to begin the "healing process," urging the nation "to pause for a moment and make sure that we are talking wi

The incumbent leader of the Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo, is expelling the Canadian and British ambassadors, according to state television. State television reports the envoys are being expelled as a reciprocal measure, as the respective countries did not recognise Gbagbo's leadership. This is following his decision not to step down despite international recognition of rival Alassane Ouattara winning the November 2010 presidential election. Canada withdrew recognition of Louis L.B. Bony — Gbagbo's ambassador to Canada — on December 29, with the

A ban on smoking in public places has gone into force in Spain today. Bars, restaurants, and nightclubs will now be smoke-free across the country. The Spanish government had introduced voluntary regulations on smoking in 2006 which allowed for venues to ban smoking, but few chose to do so. The 2006 law also banned smoking at workplaces. Spain now joins Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy in banning smoking in enclosed public places. Leire Pajin, the Spanish health minister, said the law marked "a decisive step in the defence of th