AP: Nelson Mandela Hospitalized for 11th Day – Nelson Mandela remains hospitalized in South Africa for an eleventh day after undergoing surgery and receiving treatment for a lung infection. Officials report that Mandela underwent an endoscopic survey to remove gallstones on Sunday.
CNN: Opinion: China’s positive spin on Africa – Last week, Beijing’s leading English-language newspaper, China Daily, started publishing a weekly Africa edition. Earlier this year, China’s international broadcaster, CCTV, launched a media operation in Africa as well. The rapid expansion of Chinese media is offering to Africa more “positive reporting,” which focuses on “collective achievements rather than divisive issues like political crises or sensational negative news.” (Harry Verhoeven and Iginio Gagliardone)
Al Jazeera: S. Africa’s Zuma re-elected ruling party chief – South African President Jacob Zuma has been re-elected as the leader of the African National Congress, beating Kgalmea Mothanthe, his challenger and the current vice-president. Zuma will now be the ANC’s presidential candidate and “almost certain winner in the 2014 national elections.”
Devex: 1st-ever US plan to help children in adversity – On December 19, USAID, the Departments of State, Agriculture, Defense, Health and Human Services and the Peace Corps will unveil a “comprehensive action plan to guide its work to help children trapped in adversity around the globe.” The action plan is a science-based strategy that emphasizes the links between the well-being of a child and a country’s social and economic progress. (Ivy Mungcal)
Reuters: “Fiscal cliff” deal closer, but gaps remain – After making considerable concessions on long-held “fiscal cliff” positions, President Obama and House Speaker Boehner will “test the reaction Tuesday of their respective parties” in Congress. In rapid developments on Monday, the two sides came much closer to “bridging gaps on critical issues such as tax hikes for the wealthy and cuts in Social Security cost-of-living benefits.” (Richard Cowan)
