Tag Archives: south-africa

Africans reach out to Obama via text messages

The text messages address various issues and come from all over the African continent. From the personal: “Obama, as a young lady I dream of being the president. U r a huge encouragement.” To cries for help: “Dear president, Darfur firing again…waiting for peace through the change u promised.” To calls for intervention: “Encourage African leaders to improve the quality and access to education for citizens.” The messages, from Ghana, Sudan and South Africa respectively, were among more than 5,000 sent to Barack Obama during his first visit as president to sub-Saharan Africa as president

Share

South Africa fights rape crisis

Alexandra township, north of Johannesburg, is a densely populated melting pot with some of South Africa’s worst social ills. Poverty, unemployment, HIV/Aids and crime. One of the most common crimes in Alexandra Township — and throughout the country — is rape

Share

Brazil survive U.S. scare to win Confed Cup

Five-time world champions Brazil needed to come from two goals down to beat underdogs the United States 3-2 in the final of the Confederations Cup in South Africa on Sunday. Captain Lucio headed an 84th-minute winner to end the hopes of the plucky Americans, who scored twice in the first half-hour in Johannesburg

Share

Spain win again to extend unbeaten streak

Spain have drawn level with Brazil’s record by going 35 matches unbeaten, after second-half goals from David Villa and Fernando Llorente gave them a 2-0 Confederations Cup victory over host nation South Africa in Bloemfontein. The result ensures the European champions comfortably reach the semifinals of the competition as group winners, while South Africa also progress to the last four after New Zealand and Iraq draw 0-0 in Saturday’s other Group A match in Johannesburg. Vicente Del Bosque’s side were last beaten in November 2006 and they will better Brazil’s unbeaten streak, achieved between 1993 and 1996, if they win Wednesday’s semifinal

Share

English flanker Croft named in Lions side

The British and Irish Lions will face world champions South Africa in Saturday’s opening rugby Test — and they enter the Durban clash full of confidence after winning all their six tour games so far. The Lions — a touring representative side featuring the best players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales — only come together every four years and they tour New Zealand, Australia and South Africa in strict rotation

Share

Kaka grabs stoppage time win for Brazil

Kaka converted a penalty in time added on to give holders Brazil a dramatic 4-3 win over Egypt who filed an official complaint after their Confederations Cup opener at Bloemfontain on Monday. Substitute Ahmed al-Muhamadi was red-carded after handling on the goalline in a desperate attempt to deny Brazil — and Real Madrid’s recent $92million signing Kaka rifled home from the spot for his second goal of the game

Share

Torres hat-trick as Spain thrash New Zealand

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres scored a hat-trick within 11 first-half minutes as Spain thashed New Zealand 5-0 in their opening Confederations Cup Group A match in Johannesburg on Sunday. The victory, Spain’s 13th in succession, means the European champions have now extended their unbeaten run to 33 matches, just two short of Brazil’s world record of 35 matches without defeat between 1993 and 1996. Spain took a sixth minute lead when Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas slotted the ball to Torres, who curled his shot home from the edge of the box

Share

Delta denied permission to fly to Nairobi, Monrovia

Delta Air Lines has been denied permission to fly directly to Nairobi, Kenya, and Monrovia, Liberia, until security standards there are met or until assessments change, the Transportation Security Administration said Wednesday. The agency said it is allowing the airline to go ahead with plans to fly directly to Abuja, Nigeria. Delta had announced the direct flights to the three African cities last year, and air service had been expected to begin this month

Share