Obama’s inauguration recalls joy of 1994 election: Mandela

August 26th, 2009 Mandela meets runner at center of gender uproarJOHANNESBURG — Former President Nelson Mandela has congratulated South African runner Caster Semenya, whose dramatic improvement, deep voice and muscular build have sparked questions about her gender. The International Association of Athletics Federations initiated tests on the 18-year-old athlete after she won gold in the 800 meters at the world championships in Germany last week.

August 7th, 2009 Clinton visits Mandela, tours his archivesJOHANNESBURG — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton didn't want to break the link with anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela.

August 1st, 2009 South Africa policeman shoots self at Mandela homeJOHANNESBURG — Police say an officer guarding former President Nelson Mandela's home shot and killed himself outside the anti-apartheid leader's Johannesburg house Saturday. Police spokesman Sally De Beer says Mandela was home at the time of the apparent suicide.

July 14th, 2009 Mandela urges people to spend a day doing goodJOHANNESBURG — Former South African President Nelson Mandela is calling for people to celebrate his birthday in the service of others. Mandela turns 91 on July 18, which his charity foundations are marking with the first annual "Mandela Day." Organizers want the world to celebrate it by doing good.

July 10th, 2009 Mandela disowns a London exhibitionJOHANNESBURG — Nelson Mandela has distanced himself from a London exhibition of disputed lithographs bearing his signature, his lawyer said Friday. Bally Chuene said the Belgravia Gallery had scheduled a party and exhibition of artwork purported to be drawn by Mandela for Thursday — two day's before the elderly statesman's 91st birthday.

May 9th, 2009 PRETORIA - A Hindu prayer started off the inauguration of South African President Jacob Zuma at the Union Buildings here Saturday. As Indian Vice-President Hamid Ansari joined heads of state of 28 other countries, South African Hindu Maha Sabha president Ashwin Trikamjee recited a few lines in Sanskrit before translating them into English and making a plea for divine guidance to assist Zuma in resolving a range of challenges facing the country under his leadership.

March 31st, 2009 NEW YORK - The Obamas are using their own money to renovate the White House, forgoing the 100,000 dollars in federal funds that is traditionally allotted to new presidents for such renovation projects. First Lady Michelle Obama''''s communications director Camille Johnston said that the Obamas, who are worth millions, will pay to overhaul the White House residence from their own pockets.

January 20th, 2009 JOHANNESBURG - Former South African president Nelson Mandela has said that US President Barack Obama would bring a new voice of hope to the world, South African news agency BuaNews reported Wednesday. In a letter handed to Obama shortly before his inauguration Tuesday, Mandela said: 'Mr President, you have brought a new voice of hope that these problems can be addressed and that we can in fact change the world and make it a better place.' The former president said that he believed that the entire nation had witnessed something truly historic, not only in the political records of the US, but of the world.

January 19th, 2009 WASHINGTON - More than three-quarters of US citizens consider Barack Obama's inauguration as US president Tuesday as one of the most significant in the history of the country, according to a poll released Monday by Gallup institute. Some 33 percent of US citizens gave the inauguration of the first black president the top ranking of 'most important' inauguration in US history.

January 19th, 2009 LONDON - Maya Angelou, one of America's foremost living poet, says Barack Obama can be a great leader, just like Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. Angelou, a veteran of the civil rights movement who worked with Martin Luther King Jr., said she was 'thrilled' that 'now we may grow beyond the ignorance of racism, sexism, ageism, the ignorance that keeps us from being the great country we are.' 'I see parallels in lots of things.

January 19th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Here is the schedule of events for Barack Obama's inauguration as 44th president of the US Tuesday: 8 a.m. (6.30 p.m. IST): Gates to the inaugural ceremony on the West Front of the US Capitol open.

January 19th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Knocking at the door of history, Barack Obama came calling at the White House to meet with outgoing President George Bush, as hundreds of thousands gathered at the Capitol for Tuesday's inauguration of America's first black president. Arriving in 'The Beast', Obama's 2009 Cadillac Presidential Limousine with doors designed to withstand a bomb blast, Obama and wife Michelle were greeted in the front portico of the storied presidential mansion by Bush and still the first lady Laura.

January 16th, 2009 JOHANNESBURG - Amid global media frenzy over the inauguration of Obama Barack, award-winning South African Indian filmmaker Anant Singh said Saturday that he would produce a documentary feature on the first black president of the United States of America. The film, titled 'Barack Obama: People's President', is written, produced and directed by Danny Schechter, who was involved in 'Weapons of Mass Deception' and 'Viva Madiba: A Hero For All Seasons', which told the tale of Nelson Mandela.

January 15th, 2009 LONDON - Barrack Obama’s British stepmother was given the royal treatment at Heathrow airport as she flew out for the ceremony of his inauguration as US president. Kezia Obama, 67, was received at the airport by a battalion of Virgin Atlantic staff Thursday - they even had a cake ready for her because she was also celebrating her birthday.

January 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Rock star Bruce Springsteen is set to join music legend Aretha Franklin in welcoming President Barack Obama to the White House in Washington later this month. While Franklin will be among the stars performing at Obama's inauguration on Jan 20, Springsteen is being billed to perform at the National Mall on Jan 18, reported contactmusic.com.