South Africa 17

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Mandela-improving-presidency-20121217

Mandela improving - presidency

Former president Nelson Mandela's health is improving. Jacob Zuma wished Mandela to good health this past Sunday while giving his speech at the ANC's 53rd elective conference in Manguang.The 94 year old Mandela was flown to a Pretoria hospital from his home in Qunu last weekend. He needed treatment on his recurring lung infection and had to get gallstones removed as well. But the procedure went well and Mandela is now recovering from the procedures.

 I have learned about the medical condition of Nelson Mandela and how he is improving significantly. He has the strength and ability to pull through this struggle even though he is 94 years old!

South Africa 16

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/No-need-to-panic-over-Mandela-presidency-20121210

 No need to panic over Mandela - presidency

 Nelson Mandela has recently been admitted to the hospital this past Saturday. He received medical attention for reasons unknown, but the doctors said there is nothing to worry about. It is normal for him to receive medical attention at his age of 94. He is in good hands right now and seems to be doing well. It is believed that Mandela is being taken care of at One Military hospital.

I have learned that Nelson Mandela is a significant figure in South Africa and his medical conditions cause a lot of panic and distress in his country. He will always have a major impact on the country of South Africa no matter how old he gets.
 

South Africa 15

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Politics/Education-Skills-development-a-concern-20120921

Education: Skills development a concern

 Last Friday, President Kgalema Motlanthe said weak education can be blamed on the low skills development in South Africa.Kgalema quoted, "The skills development problems in our country could be attributed to the weakness in the education and training system, starting from early childhood development and continuing right through the school and post-school system and ongoing workplace professional development." Education is their top priority and needs to be responded to because of the low skills based development. The council created a 5 point plan that will work on strengthening the education system for the next 20 years. 

I have learned how important the education system is to South Africa and how critical it is to have improvements on it.

Current Events Week 14

South Africa could be without injured batsman Jacques Kallis for the Perth Test against Australia 

http://www.news.com.au/top-stories/south-africa-could-be-without-injured-batsman-jacques-kallis-for-the-perth-test-against-australia/story-e6frfkp9-1226526104594 

 South Africa's star cricket player Jacques Kallis is doubtful for the third match against Australia on Friday. There is a huge dilemma to figure out who will play in place of the South African superstar Kallis. Either Dean Elgar or Ryan McLaren will most likely replace Kallis if he is ruled out. He is so good at Cricket that even on one leg he managed to score over 50 points in each inning. The 37 year old is a big asset to the team and it is well noticed not having him for this big test match against No. 1 Australia.

I have learned how great a cricket player Jacques Kallis is and how big of a deal Cricket is in the country of South Africa. I also learned that South Africa has a good Cricket team.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/top-stories/south-africa-could-be-without-injured-batsman-jacques-kallis-for-the-perth-test-against-australia/story-e6frfkp9-1226526104594#ixzz2DcgvblHe

Either Dean Elgar or Ryan McLaren would likely replace Kallis should he be ruled out.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/top-stories/south-africa-could-be-without-injured-batsman-jacques-kallis-for-the-perth-test-against-australia/story-e6frfkp9-1226526104594#ixzz2DcgvblHe

Either Dean Elgar or Ryan McLaren would likely replace Kallis should he be ruled out.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/top-stories/south-africa-could-be-without-injured-batsman-jacques-kallis-for-the-perth-test-against-australia/story-e6frfkp9-1226526104594#ixzz2DcgvblHe

 

South Africa News 13

 

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Mngeni-guilty-of-Dewani-murder-20121119

Mngeni guilty of Dewani murder

Last week in Cape Town, Xolile Mngeni was charged with with the kidnapping and murder of Swedish Bride Anni Dewani. The crime took place on November 13, 2010 while Dewani was on her honeymoon with her husband Shrien. Mngeni had kidnapped her after breaking into the Dewani's place and then proceeded to shoot and kill her. There were 26 witnesses at the trial to help strengthen the case and prove the kidnapping occurred.  

I have learned that you must always be careful wherever you may travel because bad things like this can happen to anyone, anywhere.      

South Africa news 12

 

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Man-dies-during-farming-protests-20121114

Man dies during farming protests

Protests broke out in Capetown, South Africa on Wednesday over farmers and their wages. A 28 year old man died during the protest action and five others were injured during the event. The man's family is supposedly blaming the incident on the police, but his death is being further investigated by the (IPID) Independent Police Investigative Directorate.   

 I have learned that the farmer's in South Africa are being treated very unfairly and should be payed more for their work. The police brutality is uncalled for.

South Africa week 11

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Elderly-woman-locked-in-car-for-hours-20121106

Elderly woman locked in car for hours

 An elderly woman was found locked in a car yesterday in Cape Town, South Africa. She was in a parking lot at a shopping center in Boksburg. Paramedics treated her for heat stroke after finding out she is in her eighties. Police had to assist the paramedics with breaking a window to reach the lady. They found out that she had been locked in the car for about two hours before getting someone's attention. The temperature inside the car had reached 38 degrees C! She was given liquids before being sent to the hospital. There is no further news about her condition. 

 

Picture of the ambulance that responded to the incident

 I have learned that it is not smart to lock yourself in a car with the windows closed in hot temperatures. You should always have a device to break your windows in your car in case of emergency situations like this.

 

south africa week 10

 

South Africa: President tells media to respect dignity, privacy after dropping cartoon case

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/south-africa-president-tells-media-to-respect-dignity-privacy-after-dropping-cartoon-case/2012/10/29/701253fc-21af-11e2-92f8-7f9c4daf276a_story.html

 President Jacob Zuma spoke up after he saw himself in a newspaper depicted to rape lady Justice. He argued that the freedom of expression needs to be balanced to give the right to dignity and privacy to all South Africans. “The African National Congress fought for media freedom and will continue doing everything in its power to promote freedom of expression and media freedom,” Zuma said. “At the same time, we also remind those who are privileged to have access to the media to respect the rights of others.” This newspaper article was very personal for Zuma because he was actually accused of a rape charge in 2007. He said he would like an apology from the newspaper, but is not demanding one.

I have learned about the tension in South Africa between the media writers and civil rights activists. This is a major ordeal in the country of South Africa.

Week 9 current events South Africa

 Antibodies kill 88% of HIV types – study

 http://www.health24.com/news/HIV_AIDS/1-920,77403.asp

Nature medicine was supposedly discovered from two women who have the HIV virus. The two women are from South Africa.Nature medicine, which describes how a unique change in the outer covering of the virus can make potent antibodies which are able to kill up to 88% of HIV types from around the world. This discovery can play a huge role in discovering the HIV vaccine. The study was performed by (CAPRISA) Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa. This group is made up of scientists from a few different universities in South Africa.
                                                               
                                                                    Antibody Cell

 I have learned how scientists are coming a lot closer in discovering a vaccine to cure the AIDS virus. This would be a major breakthrough in history.
                                                                

Current Event 8 South Africa

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/30/world/africa/south-africa-mine-violence/index.html

Strikes broke out again in the city of Marikana over the miner's wages. The miners were protesting for higher wages at the Lonmin platinum mine.Authorities charged 270 miners with murder in the killings of 34 fellow workers. The police were the ones who had actually killed these people. The police fired many shots into the protesting crowd and had killed 34 and wounded 78 others. Police also used tear gas and rubber bullets to try to push back the protesters, but this didn't work and they were forced to use gunfire.


I have learned about how unfair the legal system is in South Africa because of their false accusations of murder. The police were the ones who actually killed those workers and not the protesters. 

Current Event 7 South Africa

http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/855187804d0410f5831d9705f36c1c1c/Joburg-launches-R800m-solar-water-heater-programme-20120910

Johannesburg has launched a massive solar water heater program that reaches costs of $800M. This project will give 110,000 RDP houses sun-powered geysers by 2015. It is a demonstration of the safe use of solar power by the government. More than 3,000 houses in Lehae have already been fitted with this geyser program. The city has launched a series of training workshops that will teach people how to use solar appliances.

I have learned that South Africa is very modern in their technology because they have put solar power to use. This use of solar panels will give more people the access to electricity and also help them learn more about its benefits. 

current event 6 South Africa

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Marikana-probe-will-be-quick-thorough-20121001

Marikana Probe 'will be quick, thorough'
The judicial commission of inquiry is looking into the shootings that took place at the Lonmin platinum mine in Marikana, South Africa. They claim they are working with speed and efficiency. The inquiry is also trying to expose and extract the truth. There were 270 miners arrested for public violence during the shootings.  There were formal sittings held for the families of those killed and had their names read out loud. The families of these names were asked to stand when announced. After, a moment of silence was held for those that were killed. 

I have learned about the violence in South Africa and how people are getting mad about the conditions of the mineworkers. The cause of these outbreaks in violence are the working conditions of the miners.

Current Events week 5 South Africa

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Miner-trapped-in-shaft-20120921

Miner Trapped in shaft
In an old Durban Deep mine located in Dobsonville, Soweto an illegal miner was trapped this past Friday. The miner was trapped in an extended shaft that was blocked off and was beyond the mine rescue team's area of operation. Emergency services required permission from the dept. of mineral and energy affairs to give the rescuers the go ahead. The miner was one of five, but the other four had returned to the surface earlier that day. They are still waiting on an update on this issue....

I have learned that it is very stupid to go down a mine shaft that is blocked off because you could get trapped obviously. It was obviously blocked off for a reason. As for the mining business, it will cost them some production time from the mine being shut down for rescue purposes.

Current events week 4

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19626608

Several strikes have been taking place outside of gold and platinum mines for the past couple of weeks in South Africa. Some 2,000 miners gathered outside the mine near Johannesburg. Protests broke out after 44 people died at the Lonmin- owned platinum mine in mid- August. These protests are causing some mines to stop production of their gold and platinum which is having a huge impact on the country's business. The gold and platinum industry has already lost $548 million in output. These strikes have also taken $388 million from the national treasury.

I have learned much about how South Africa is a huge exporter and producer of gold and platinum. These mining industries account for most of South Africa's international trade business, so the protests have a major impact on their economy.

South Africa current event week 3

http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2012/3030/

The USGS has recently assessed the coastal province of South Africa for undiscovered world oil and gas. USGS was able to project some predictions on the amounts of natural gas, oil, and natural gas liquids by using geology-based methodology. The estimations of the volume of oil is 2.13 billion barrels! Other projections include 35.96 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 1,115 million barrels of natural gas liquids! These estimations are huge and can play an important role in South Africa's future economy.

 I have learned that South Africa has huge amounts of natural resources such as oil and natural gas. This was have a huge impact on the economy and international business relations of South Africa with other countries because of trade and exporting these resources.

Current Event Week 2 Europe in Debt crisis

http://money.cnn.com/2012/09/03/news/economy/moodys-european-union/index.html?iid=HP_LN&hpt=hp_t3&hpt=wo_bn6

The European Union was put on notice recently for being at risk of a downgrade of their top Aaa rating. This is happening because of the continent's ongoing debt crisis. The EU's creditworthiness has gone from being "stable" to "negative." The European Central Bank is trying to help this issue by creating a new bond-buying program to reserve the Euro currency.

European Union Headquarters

The bond-buying program is a great idea to help out the continent's debt crisis because it will increase the borrowing revenue's of many countries within Europe. Some of these countries would include Spain and Italy. When multiple countries are doing business with each other it helps stimulate the Euro currency.

Egyptian Protests lead to Business Issues

Issues in International Business: The immediate economic impact of the Egyptian prot...:

           The events of Cairo, Egypt have played a big role in the global effect of business. When the thousands of demonstrators clashed with the government forces, blood was shed. These protests were taking place because of the unhappiness with the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. This caused many problems in politics and business. The relation to business came when they shut down cell phones and Twitter from the Egyptian citizens. Also, the workers in the city must be distracted from the high tensions and the protests that are occuring right outside their offices. Street markets are getting destroyed from the protesters so the food industry is losing money.

I have learned about the protests in Egypt against the Egyptian government. The citizens of Egypt were unhappy with their president and were forcing him to resign. This event has also taught me how one thing can lead to many other problems such as in the business world. This has an effect on all of the city workers and markets. The violence and tension causes a collapse in the business industry.