SOUTH AFRICA
CAPE TOWN – A revised version of the controversial National Health Amendment Bill is released. An exemption for doctors and specialists, which acknowledges the fear that the original bill might prompt a massive flight of skills, is removed from the bill at the eleventh hour before being submitted to Cabinet. A study by the South African Medical Association has found that two-thirds of its members say they will consider emigrating if their fees are regulated by the government.
CAPE TOWN – The Cape Bar Council holds a meeting to discuss allegations brought by Constitutional Court judges against Cape judge John Hlophe. Hlope is accused of attempting to influence the court's decision over search and seizure raids carried out by the Scorpions on properties of Jacob Zuma and French arms manufacturing giant Thint. The judges say Hlophe has tried to influence the bench in an "improper manner". The complaint has been referred to the Judicial Services Commission.
AFRICA & THE WORLD
WASHINGTON – Democrat Barack Obama declares victory in the hard-fought race for the Democratic nomination and says the US faces a defining moment in the November presidential election against Republican John McCain. Tackling concerns that the race has divided some Democrats, Obama says it is time for the party to unite to defeat McCain. Turning quickly to a lengthy attack on the Republican candidate, Obama says he is little different from unpopular President George W Bush.
KHARTOUM – The African Union and United Nations (UN) are working to appoint a joint chief mediator to jumpstart efforts to bring peace to Sudan's Darfur region, says UN Darfur envoy Jan Eliasson. Efforts by Eliasson and his African Union counterpart Salim Ahmed Salim to end the festering conflict have been complicated by a surprise strike across the desert last month by Darfur's Justice and Equality Movement. The attack, stopped on the outskirts of Khartoum, has prompted Sudan to rule out negotiations with the rebels, whose leader Khalil Ibrahim is calling on Eliasson and Salim to resign.
YANGON – US warships leave waters near Myanmar after the ruling military junta refuses permission for the delivery of aid supplies to the cyclone-stricken Irrawaddy delta. Admiral Timothy Keating says the USS Essex group sailed away from the former Burma but left several heavy-lift helicopters in neighbouring Thailand to assist in the relief effort. Myanmar has been promised millions of dollars in aid from the United States, other governments and aid organisations. However, the junta is refusing to allow the US military to help distribute aid to affected areas, appearing due to fear that a large-scale international relief effort would loosen the grip the generals have held since a 1962 coup.
ROME – The United Nations (UN) urges a summit on the global food crisis on to help stop the spread of starvation threatening nearly one-billion people by lowering trade barriers and removing export bans. "Nothing is more degrading than hunger, especially when man-made," UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon tells world leaders who are likely to disagree over the link between biofuel production and high food prices. Ban estimates the "global price tag" to overcome the food crisis will be $15 to $20-billion a year and that food supply has to rise 50% by the year 2030 to meet climbing demand.
HARARE – The leader of a faction of Zimbabwe's main opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change, is granted bail and released from custody after his arrest for publishing an article critical of President Robert Mugabe. A court in the capital Harare orders Arthur Mutambara freed on bail of Z$20-billion after appearing to face charges of contempt of court and communicating falsehoods prejudicial to the state. Mutambara, has been ordered to appear in court on June 17, 2008. He also cannot leave the southern African nation until the case is resolved.
CAPE TOWN – A revised version of the controversial National Health Amendment Bill is released. An exemption for doctors and specialists, which acknowledges the fear that the original bill might prompt a massive flight of skills, is removed from the bill at the eleventh hour before being submitted to Cabinet. A study by the South African Medical Association has found that two-thirds of its members say they will consider emigrating if their fees are regulated by the government.
CAPE TOWN – The Cape Bar Council holds a meeting to discuss allegations brought by Constitutional Court judges against Cape judge John Hlophe. Hlope is accused of attempting to influence the court's decision over search and seizure raids carried out by the Scorpions on properties of Jacob Zuma and French arms manufacturing giant Thint. The judges say Hlophe has tried to influence the bench in an "improper manner". The complaint has been referred to the Judicial Services Commission.
AFRICA & THE WORLD
WASHINGTON – Democrat Barack Obama declares victory in the hard-fought race for the Democratic nomination and says the US faces a defining moment in the November presidential election against Republican John McCain. Tackling concerns that the race has divided some Democrats, Obama says it is time for the party to unite to defeat McCain. Turning quickly to a lengthy attack on the Republican candidate, Obama says he is little different from unpopular President George W Bush.
KHARTOUM – The African Union and United Nations (UN) are working to appoint a joint chief mediator to jumpstart efforts to bring peace to Sudan's Darfur region, says UN Darfur envoy Jan Eliasson. Efforts by Eliasson and his African Union counterpart Salim Ahmed Salim to end the festering conflict have been complicated by a surprise strike across the desert last month by Darfur's Justice and Equality Movement. The attack, stopped on the outskirts of Khartoum, has prompted Sudan to rule out negotiations with the rebels, whose leader Khalil Ibrahim is calling on Eliasson and Salim to resign.
YANGON – US warships leave waters near Myanmar after the ruling military junta refuses permission for the delivery of aid supplies to the cyclone-stricken Irrawaddy delta. Admiral Timothy Keating says the USS Essex group sailed away from the former Burma but left several heavy-lift helicopters in neighbouring Thailand to assist in the relief effort. Myanmar has been promised millions of dollars in aid from the United States, other governments and aid organisations. However, the junta is refusing to allow the US military to help distribute aid to affected areas, appearing due to fear that a large-scale international relief effort would loosen the grip the generals have held since a 1962 coup.
ROME – The United Nations (UN) urges a summit on the global food crisis on to help stop the spread of starvation threatening nearly one-billion people by lowering trade barriers and removing export bans. "Nothing is more degrading than hunger, especially when man-made," UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon tells world leaders who are likely to disagree over the link between biofuel production and high food prices. Ban estimates the "global price tag" to overcome the food crisis will be $15 to $20-billion a year and that food supply has to rise 50% by the year 2030 to meet climbing demand.
HARARE – The leader of a faction of Zimbabwe's main opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change, is granted bail and released from custody after his arrest for publishing an article critical of President Robert Mugabe. A court in the capital Harare orders Arthur Mutambara freed on bail of Z$20-billion after appearing to face charges of contempt of court and communicating falsehoods prejudicial to the state. Mutambara, has been ordered to appear in court on June 17, 2008. He also cannot leave the southern African nation until the case is resolved.
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