Mandela memorial interpreter 'faced murder charge'

The man accused of faking sign language interpretation at Nelson Mandela's memorial has previously faced a charge of murder, according to reports 

 Thamsanqa Jantjie, 34, was exposed as a fraud by experts after he signed "nonsense" during the four-hour ceremony as he stood next to a number of heads of state including US President Barack Obama.

Nelson Mandela memorial: empty seats embarrass South Africa

Empty seats at national stadium are blamed on rain, an unpopular president in Jacob Zuma and his failure to declare a national holiday 

 It was supposed to be standing room only, but the memorial service held to honour the life of Nelson Mandela was remarkable for the large number of South Africans who failed to turn up.

Nelson Mandela: Obituary

Nelson Mandela, who has died aged 95, was the architect of South Africa’s transformation from racial despotism to liberal democracy, saving his country from civil war and becoming its first black president 

1. One of the most inspiring figures of the 20th Century

Former President of South Africa, who guided the country from apartheid to democracy during a life filled with hardship and struggle

Nelson Mandela, who has died aged 95, was the architect of South Africa’s transformation from racial despotism to liberal democracy, saving his country from civil war and becoming its first black president


1. One of the most inspiring figures of the 20th Century

Former President of South Africa, who guided the country from apartheid to democracy during a life filled with hardship and struggle

2. Stirring up trouble

Son of a chief of the Thembu clan of the Xhosa people, young Rolihlahla Mandela attends a local Methodist mission school. Here a British teacher, finding his name difficult to pronounce, christens him 'Nelson' after the admiral

Nelson Mandela, who has died aged 95, was the architect of South Africa’s transformation from racial despotism to liberal democracy, saving his country from civil war and becoming its first black president

Nelson Mandela: in his own

The most memorable quotations from former South African president and anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela, who has died aged 95

On facing the death penalty, Nelson Mandela spoke from the dock at the culmination of the Rivonia Trial in April 1964

Nelson Mandela, South Africa's anti-apartheid icon, dies aged 95

Nelson Mandela, the global statesman who delivered South Africa from the dark days of apartheid, has died aged 95.
 Mr Mandela had suffered from a series of lung infections over the past two years and died at home in the company of his family.

US lawsuit wants chimps to be treated as ‘legal persons’

Walking, talking chimpanzees may be TV comedy gold but now three courts in New York are being asked to recognize four chimps as "legal persons" with fundamental rights.

US President Barack Obama used a youth event to promote his signature healthcare plan while ruing that he is not allowed to keep an iPhone because of security reasons, unlike his two daughters who spend a lot of time on the popular Apple gadget.

"Now, I am not allowed, for security reasons, to have an iPhone. I don't know what your bills are. I have noticed that Sasha and Malia seem to spend a lot of time on it," Obama said in his remarks at a youth summit at the White House on Wednesday.

Germany to ban 'flat-rate' sex offers in brothels

Next German government plans to ban 'flat-rate sex' offers in brothels amid fears industry has got "out of hand" since 2002 legalisation

 Germany's biggest political parties have agreed to ban so-called flat-rate sex offered by some brothels in the country.

British ambassador backs 'mob free' guide to Italy

Christoper Prentice, the UK ambassador to Italy, backs the first English translation of a guide book that lists and promotes 1,000 Italian shops and businesses which are “mob free”

 Southern Italian shopkeepers struggling against violent demands from local mafia clans for protection money have found an unexpected ally in the British ambassador to Italy.

Canadian woman denied entry to US

 A Canadian woman has been refused entry into the US by border officials due to her past history of clinical depression despite the medical records detailing her condition being confidential, it is claimed.

Train derails in New York City; 4 dead, more than 60 injured

 A New York City commuter train rounding a riverside curve derailed and came to rest only inches from the water on Sunday, killing four people, injuring more than 60 and sending a chain of toppled cars shaped like a backward question mark trailing off the track, authorities said.