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It would be alarming if Jeff Flake, once an apartheid South Africa praise singer, is appointed the next U.S. ambassador to South Africa. Recent reports suggest that Jeff Flake, the former Arizona Republican senator, may soon get a diplomatic appointment. Flake himself revealed he has been in touch with the Biden administration over the possibility of being appointed an ambassador. "I have an interest in making sure that President Biden's foreign policy is bipartisan," he told CNN . The political newswire Axios went further and specifically said Biden is reportedly considering Flake as ambassador to South Africa. If this happens, appointing the GOP "civility hero" would be viewed in South Africa as insensitive on the part of the Biden administration. Jeff Flake would probably be a good non-partisan ambassador for the United States wherever he may go—but not in South Africa. The United States has lost a lot of luster with a Trump foreign policy that culled experienced … [Read more...] about Don’t Send Jeff Flake as Envoy to South Africa | Opinion

(CNN) A South African inquiry into corruption during Jacob Zuma's time in power is seeking the former president's imprisonment for two years, after he defied a summons and court order to appear and give evidence. In an application in the constitutional court seen by Reuters, the "state capture" inquiry is seeking an order that Zuma is guilty of contempt of court for not turning up last week or providing affidavits when instructed to do so. The inquiry is examining allegations of high-level graft during Zuma's period in power from 2009 to 2018. Zuma denies wrongdoing and has not cooperated with the inquiry. His no-show last week came despite the inquiry summoning him to appear and the constitutional court directing him to comply with that summons and give testimony. Read More Zuma's lawyer Eric Mabuza was not available when called by Reuters seeking comment. The allegations against Zuma include that he allowed businessmen close to him - brothers Atul, … [Read more...] about South African corruption inquiry wants Zuma jailed for two years after no-show

South by Southwest (aka SXSW ) has revealed its final round for its already robust lineup of keynotes and featured sessions. The online iteration of the SXSW conference and festival is set to take place March 16-20. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg , host New York Times podcast Together Apart Priya Parker, and Interior Chinatown author Charles Yu join the Keynote lineup that includes previously-announced sessions from political leader and game-changer Stacey Abrams as well as music icon Willie Nelson. “The three Keynote Speakers we’re announcing today are a perfect complement to our Conference lineup for SXSW Online 2021,” said Hugh Forrest, Chief Programming Officer. “Charles Yu’s amazing novel Interior Chinatown brings a completely unique perspective to the immigrant experience in the United States. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg will emphasize SXSW’s continued focus on how technological innovations are transforming mobility. And no one … [Read more...] about SXSW Adds Pete Buttigieg As Keynote; Ava DuVernay, George W. Bush And More Set For Featured Sessions

Famine was almost a thing of the past. It has been nine years since famine was declared on the country level in Somalia in 2011. Before that, you'd have to go back 19 years to find another famine on such a large scale. Famine is a tragedy, but also a technical designation—one we hope to never use. An official declaration of famine means one in five families face extreme food shortages, more than one child in three is dangerously malnourished and six out of every 10,000 people die from hunger each day. Consider what it would mean for you to face those odds. Until recently, global hunger was on the decline, thanks to investments in agriculture, health and nutrition education, and increasingly effective humanitarian aid. After 2011, new early warning systems were developed to help predict famine and prevent mass tragedy. By and large, those approaches have worked—until now. Today four countries are on the brink of famine : Yemen, Burkina Faso, South Sudan and Nigeria. This isn't … [Read more...] about We Must Stop Famine Before it Starts | Opinion

American journalist Gene Fowler’s sentiment that ‘news is history shot on the wing’ comes true nearly every day across the world. For many families in southern India, particularly Tamil Nadu, this has meant watching the declaration of military rule in Myanmar (formerly Burma) this month with more than just a passing interest, because the two regions share a history that goes back several centuries. Emperor Rajendra Chola (1014-1044 AD), expanded his empire to the Bay of Bengal, including parts of southern Burma. As seen on several steles, Chola campaigns were conducted against territories in modern Burma, for example, Bago (near modern Yangon). By the mid-19th Century, Tamils migrated to Burma which was also a British colony annexed through the three Anglo-Burmese wars. Though Burma was separated from British India in 1937, just 10 years before the subcontinent would gain its own Independence from the Raj, the ties that bind have continued to hold. There was a mass exodus of … [Read more...] about Sepia-tinted memories: Tamil Nadu’s enduring links with Burma