Today's other stories in brief
Zimbabwean vice-president dies at 85
HARARE – Zimbabwe's veteran vice-president Joseph Msika died yesterday, state broadcaster ZBC reported, and his death is likely to reignite debate over who will eventually succeed President Robert Mugabe.
Mr Msika (85) was also deputy president of Mr Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party and one of the founding leaders of Zimbabwe’s nationalist liberation movements.
The post of deputy president in Zanu-PF has always been seen by the party's two main factions as a stepping stone to succeeding the 85-year-old Mugabe and the vacancy is sure to spark intense lobbying. – (Reuters)
Editor jailed over ‘obscene’ photos
LUSAKA – A Zambian journalist went on trial for distributing obscene materials yesterday after she sent the vice-president photographs of a woman giving birth.
Chansa Kabwela, news editor at Zambia's The Postnewspaper, was arrested last month after she sent selected senior officials images of the woman giving birth without medical assistance during a national health workers' strike over pay.
"The vice-president was very annoyed to see such photographs. He said that he had never seen such photographs before," his secretary said. – (Reuters)
Ferry sinks off island of Tonga
WELLINGTON – A ferry has sunk off the coast of the Pacific Island nation of Tonga, with 33 people reported missing, New Zealand media has reported. A search-and- rescue operation was launched after a distress call was received late last night, it said. The ferry, carrying 45 passengers and 30 crew was believed to have sunk about 86km northeast of the Tongan capital. – (Reuters)
New singing star for ‘X-Factor’
A young man with Asperger's syndrome who did not set foot outside his home for seven years could become a singing sensation to rival Susan Boyle when he appears on the X Factor.
Dannii Minogue told The IndependentMagazine that Scott James (21) amazed her and her fellow judges with an electrifying rendition of You Raise Me Up. – (PA)