Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2013 — 53
Egyptian military averted civil war — US E
GYPT avoided a pos sible civil war this month, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said yesterday , making it hard for Washington to conclude that the overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi was a military coup. The armed forces had deposed the elected leader on July 3 after huge street protests against his rule, clearing the way for the installment this week of a new interim cabinet
charged with restoring civilian government and reviving the troubled economy. Thousands of Mursi’s supporters demonstrated outside the prime minister ’s office and marched through Cairo on Wednesday to protest against the militarybacked administration and show that they had no intention of bowing to army dictates. Crisis in Egypt, which straddles the vital Suez Canal, has alarmed al-
lies in the West. Washington would be forced to cut off aid to Cairo, including some $1.3 billion that goes to the military, if it determined Mursi had been removed by a coup. “On the issue of a coup, this is obviously an extremely complex and very difficult situation,” Kerry told reporters during a visit to Jordan, where he held talks with Arab officials, adding that Washington would not “rush to judgment”.
US, Russia ties outweigh intelligence squabbles, says Putin tions”.
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USSIAN President Vladimir Putin has said that the bilateral relations with the US are more important than “squabbles between special services”.
In his latest comments on fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden, Putin said he had been warned against any “activity that harms Russian-American rela-
On Tuesday Mr Snowden applied for temporary asylum in Russia.He is wanted by the US for leaking details of surveillance programmes.
UK okays gay marriage bill
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Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s foreign policy chief during a meeting with Egypt interim President, Mansour
21 children die after school meal in India
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T least 21 children have died and dozens still in hospital after eating free meals provided at a primary school in eastern India, officials have said. The children, aged between eight and 11 years old, fell ill after lunch on Tuesday at the govern-
ment-run school in Masrakh, a village 80km north of Patna in Bihar’s state capital. PK Sahi, the state education minister, said a preliminary investigation suggested the food was contaminated by phosphorous, which is used to preserve rice and wheat.
RITISH lawmakers have passed a bill legalising same-sex marriage in England and Wales, paving the way for the first gay weddings in 2014. MPs decided not to oppose a number of minor amendments to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill proposed by the upper House of Lords. The legislation is now expected to receive official assent from head of state Queen Elizabeth II later this week after MPs agreed to changes such as ensuring protections for transgender couples. Jubilant gay rights activists had danced outside parliament on Monday night as the government-backed bill passed unopposed through the upper House of Lords, where some members
Celebrating Nelson Mandela at 95 UN holds special session for Mandela T
HE UN General As sembly has called a special meeting today to mark the Nelson Mandela International Day. The ailing South African leader’s contributions to democracy, racial justice and reconciliation will be honoured on the occasion. Former US President Bill Clinton, Reverend Jesse Jackson, singer, actor and social activist Harry Belafonte, and Andrew Mlangeni will be the speakers at the meeting. The General Assembly meeting starting at 10 a.m. on July 18 is part of a series of events to take place in the UN and around the world. “This year’s commemoration of Nelson Mandela International Day comes at a moment of deep reflection on the life and work of Madiba, as the universally revered leader remains in the hospital. As we extend our best wishes to President Mandela on his ninety-fifth birthday, let us also give tangible meaning to our feelings of concern by taking ac-
tion on behalf of others,” said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his message for the day. “Nelson Mandela gave 67 years of his life to the struggle for human rights and social justice. In marking this Day, the United Nations is joining the Mandela Foundation in asking people around the world to devote at least 67 minutes of their time on 18 July to community service,” he added.
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Build on Mandela's legacy — OATUU
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RGANISATION of African Trade Union Unity, OATUU, has said that a major lesson Mandela taught Africa is for Africans to have independent thought process and not to accept dictation by outsiders. In a statement to mark the 95th birthday of the elder statesman and former South African President, OATUU, Secretary General, Owei Lakemfa, urged world leaders to “build on his vision and legacy; to
Mandela makes ‘dramatic’ progress — daughter
build a world where every human life will count; a universe that will provide food for the hungry, water for the thirsty, work for the unemployed, shelter for the homeless, education for all children and social justice for all. OATUU said, “African workers under the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) and its affiliates in fifty five countries, join the rest of humanity in celebrating the 95th birthday of Nelson Rolihlahla
Mandela which comes up on Thursday July 18, 2013. We are also joining the international community in marking that day, as the Mandela Day; an occasion to promote world peace, the legacy and ideals of a man who is a universal symbol of social justice. Mandela is a product of historic periods, of principled positions and alliances and a symbol of sacrifice and belief in the ultimate triumph of the human spirit against all odds.''
ELSON Mandela has made “dramatic progress,” and may be going home “anytime soon,” said his daughter Zindzi on the eve of his 95th birthday. “I visited him yesterday and he was watching television with headphones,” said Zindzi Mandela in an interview with Britain’s Sky TV. “He gave us a huge smile and raised his hand ... He responds with his eyes and his hands.” Mandela is gaining
“energy and strength,” said his daughter. “I should think he will be going home anytime soon.” The latest description by Zindzi — who is one of Mandela’s daughters by his second wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela — is a significant improvement from court documents filed by the family earlier this month which said he was on life support and near death.
Wall of Honour unveiled taken with Mandefor Mandela tures la’s picture in the back-
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HE Wall of Honour was unveiled in Cape Town Wednesday to allow people to place well-wish cards and notes for ailing former South African president Nelson Mandela. Children and others can put well-wish notes and greeting cards on the Wall of Honor which has a large picture of Mandela. Children can also have their pic-
ground. Those who do bring messages of support and good wishes are also encouraged to bring food parcels to leave at the church for distribution by the church to the needy. The Wall of Honuor was a joint work by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the Church at St Georges Cathedral.