The South African government has expanded its AIDS program to allow people who have the HIV virus to start antiretroviral treatment earlier. South Africa’s Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe says all HIV patients will be put on life-saving antiretroviral drugs when their white blood cell level, known as their CD4 count, drops to 350. Previously, state […]
South Africa Set to Introduce National Health Insurance Plan
Posted August 11th, 2011 at 11:05 am (UTC-5)
South Africa’s government is set to propose a national health insurance plan aimed at improving health care services for the poor. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says the goal of the plan, known as NHI, is to ensure that everyone in the country receives essential healthcare, regardless of their employment status or ability to make a […]
South Sudan Gets Own Internet Domain
Posted August 11th, 2011 at 7:55 am (UTC-5)
The new nation of South Sudan has been assigned its own Internet domain code. Websites in the country will feature the suffix “.ss”. The code, known as the alpha-2 code, was assigned by the International Organization for Standardization, which helps set standards for the Internet and other technical fields. The code for Sudan remains “.sd”. […]
UN Chief Calls on Academics to Find Solutions to Global Woes
Posted August 10th, 2011 at 9:05 pm (UTC-5)
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on the world’s academic community to find solutions to global hunger, poverty and intolerance. Mr. Ban told an international forum in the South Korean capital Wednesday that there can be no peace, justice and dignity in the world if billions of people are forced to live in chronic […]
Notorious South African Bank Robber Escapes Again
Posted August 10th, 2011 at 10:25 am (UTC-5)
South African officials say one of the country’s most wanted criminals has escaped from police custody, apparently by simply walking out of a courthouse. Officials say Bongani Moyo, who has been linked to some 35 bank robberies, disappeared from a Pretoria courthouse before a hearing Wednesday. Moyo had previously escaped from prison and was arrested […]
Report: South Korean Security Adviser Heads for US
Posted August 7th, 2011 at 10:05 pm (UTC-5)
A South Korean news report says the country’s top presidential security adviser is likely to travel to the United states this week to discuss the future of international talks on North Korean nuclear disarmament. The Yonhap news agency says Chun Yung-woo is expected to depart for Washington Monday at the invitation of Tom Donilon, his […]
South Africa Diamond Strike Ends
Posted August 4th, 2011 at 4:25 pm (UTC-5)
More than 1,300 diamond miners are headed back to work in South Africa after negotiating raises up to 10 percent. International diamond giant De Beers said Thursday the two-week strike was its first in nearly two decades. The company said in a statement entry-level workers would receive the 10-percent wage hike while more skilled workers […]
Swaziland Activists Criticize South African Bailout
Posted August 4th, 2011 at 8:05 am (UTC-5)
Opposition groups in Swaziland have condemned South Africa’s decision to offer an economic bailout to their country, Africa’s last absolute monarchy. On Wednesday, South Africa announced a bailout package worth more than $350 million to its cash-strapped neighbor. The package contains so-called “confidence building measures” aimed at persuading Swazi leader King Mswati to make economic […]
South Sudan Rebel Group Declares Ceasefire
Posted August 3rd, 2011 at 12:40 pm (UTC-5)
A South Sudan rebel group has declared a cease-fire with the government of the newly independent nation. A spokesman for the rebels, Bol Gatkouth, said the group was accepting a recent offer of amnesty extended by South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and will open talks with the government. The group, led by renegade general Peter […]
South Africa Offers Bailout to Swaziland
Posted August 3rd, 2011 at 8:10 am (UTC-5)
South Africa has agreed to bail out its cash-strapped neighbor Swaziland. South Africa’s central bank said Wednesday that the loan is worth nearly $370 million, but did not provide further details on the package. Activists in Swaziland and labor unions in South Africa have said any economic bailout should be tied to political reforms by […]
