south Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Southport Bank to Resolve Allegations of Mortgage Lending Discrimination By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 26 Sep 2013 18:41:29 EDT The Justice Department announced today that Southport Bank of Kenosha, Wis., will pay $687,000 to African-American and Hispanic wholesale mortgage borrowers as part of a settlement to resolve allegations that it engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination on the basis of race and national origin. Full Article OPA Press Releases
south Justice Department Settles with South Carolina Department of Corrections to End Discrimination Against Inmates with HIV By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 19:24:35 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a settlement with the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) and its director, to resolve alleged violations of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504). Full Article OPA Press Releases
south Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down South Texas Tax Preparer By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 10:02:53 EDT The United States has filed a lawsuit asking a federal district court in McAllen, Texas, to permanently bar Hector Rangel Jr. from preparing federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
south Patient Broker of South Florida Psychiatric Hospital Sentenced for Role in $67 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 6 Nov 2013 15:26:09 EST A patient broker of a South Florida psychiatric hospital was sentenced today to serve 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for her participation in a $67 million Medicare fraud scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
south South Florida Man Pleads Guilty for Role in $10.5 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 18 Dec 2013 17:12:36 EST A south Florida man has pleaded guilty today for his role in a $10.5 million Medicare fraud scheme involving physical and occupational therapy services. Full Article OPA Press Releases
south South Florida Resident Convicted in Connection with International Fraudulent Lottery Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 5 Feb 2014 16:33:53 EST A federal jury in Miami today convicted a South Florida resident for her role in an international fraudulent lottery scheme that targeted U.S. citizens. Full Article OPA Press Releases
south South American Company Agrees to Plead Guilty to Price Fixing on Ocean Shipping Services for Cars and Trucks By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 27 Feb 2014 12:51:34 EST Compañía Sud Americana de Vapores S.A. (CSAV), a Chilean corporation, has agreed to plead guilty and to pay an $8.9 million criminal fine for its involvement in a conspiracy to fix prices, allocate customers and rig bids of international ocean shipping services for roll-on, roll-off cargo, such as cars and trucks, to and from the United States and elsewhere, the Department of Justice announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
south Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Jocelyn Samuels at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana’s 2014 Civil Rights Symposium By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 4 Mar 2014 13:41:38 EST "The unfinished struggle for equal opportunity and justice is one in which we all have a part. This year, as we mark the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Division remains committed to combating discrimination in all its forms." Full Article Speech
south Southern California Man Found Guilty of Health Care Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft for Role in $1.5 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 24 Mar 2014 17:17:28 EDT A Southern California man who ran a durable medical equipment (DME) supply company has been found guilty by a federal jury in Los Angeles for his role in a $1.5 million Medicare fraud scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
south Former South Carolina Corrections Officer Sentenced for Beating Inmate with Mental Illness By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 9 Apr 2014 16:45:00 EDT Robin Smith, 38, a former corrections officer at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Richland County, S.C., was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release today for assaulting a pre-trial detainee with mental illness. Full Article OPA Press Releases
south Attorney General Eric Holder Delivers Remarks at the Bridge Drug Court Ceremony in Charleston, South Carolina By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 11 Apr 2014 09:53:05 EDT I know the paths that brought you to this courtroom have been anything but easy. But each of you is here today because you’ve decided not to let past choices – and challenges – define you. You’re working hard to stay on a constructive path. And I am proud of every one of you. Full Article Speech
south U.S. Seeks to Recover Over $700,000 in Kleptocracy Proceeds of Former South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 24 Apr 2014 14:49:03 EDT The Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California seeking to recover more than $700,000 in alleged corruption proceeds of Chun Doo-hwan, the former president of the Republic of Korea. Full Article OPA Press Releases
south South Florida Man Sentenced to Jail for Tax Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 21 May 2014 18:00:14 EDT Paul F. Wrubleski, a resident of Weston, Florida, was sentenced to serve 55 months in prison on tax fraud charges, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
south Southern California Man Sentenced to 121 Months in Prison for Medicare Fraud and Identity Theft By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 11:36:51 EDT A Southern California man who was convicted at trial of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, six counts of health care fraud and six counts of aggravated identity theft was sentenced to serve 121 months in prison today in federal court in Los Angeles Full Article OPA Press Releases
south South Florida Man Sentenced to Prison for $10.5 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 12:23:53 EDT A south Florida man was sentenced today in federal court in Tampa, Florida, to serve 48 months in prison in connection with a $10.5 million Medicare fraud scheme involving physical and occupational therapy services Full Article OPA Press Releases
south Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole Delivers Remarks at Department of Homeland Security Press Conference on Human Smuggling Along the Southwest Border By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 14:43:34 EDT As the Secretary has so poignantly described, the conditions for these migrants en route to the United States are horrible. Human smuggling ventures lead to extremely dangerous circumstances that pose a threat to public safety and are serious humanitarian concerns. We have encountered smuggled aliens that have been, kidnapped, taken hostage, beaten, sexually assaulted, threatened with murder or have died as a result of dangerous conditions. Full Article Speech
south Former Owner of Southern California Medical Supply Company Found Guilty for a 10-Year, $8.3 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 28 Aug 2014 15:34:33 EDT On July 31, 2014, a federal jury in Los Angeles found that the former owner of a durable medical equipment (DME) supply company located in Carson, California, was guilty of health care fraud charges relating a 10-year scheme in which Medicare was fraudulently billed more than $8 million for DME that was not medically necessary Full Article OPA Press Releases
south U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Finds Pattern and Practice of Excessive Force and Violence at New York City Jails on Rikers Island That Violates the Constitutional Rights of Adolescent Male Inmates By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 28 Aug 2014 15:30:54 EDT Attorney General Eric Holder and United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara announced today the completion of the Justice Department’s multi-year civil investigation pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (“CRIPA”) into the conditions of confinement of adolescent male inmates on Rikers Island. The investigation, which focused on use of force by staff, inmate-on-inmate violence, and use of punitive segregation during the period 2011-2013, concluded that there is a pattern and practice of conduct at Rikers Island that violates the rights of adolescents protected by the Eighth Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The investigation found that adolescent inmates are not adequately protected from physical harm due to the rampant use of unnecessary and excessive force by New York City Department of Correction (“DOC”) staff and violence inflicted by other inmates Full Article OPA Press Releases
south All 36 Charged Aryan Brotherhood of Texas Members and Associates Have Pleaded Guilty to Federal Racketeering Charges in Southern District of Texas By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 28 Aug 2014 14:44:48 EDT The remaining two defendants of 36 accused in the Southern District of Texas of racketeering activities as part of their roles with the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT) have pleaded guilty, capping a six-year sweeping effort that has led to 73 convictions across five federal districts and the decimation of the gang’s leadership and violent members and associates. Those convicted were charged with involvement in a criminal organization that engaged in murders, kidnappings, brutal beatings, fire bombings and drug trafficking Full Article OPA Press Releases
south Justice Department Sues to Stop South Florida Tax Return Preparer Engaged in Fraud and Earned Income Credit Schemes By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 28 Aug 2014 14:00:30 EDT The United States has asked a federal court in Miami to permanently bar a South Florida man and his two Miami businesses, Ebenezer Tax Services Inc. and Primo Tax Service Inc., from preparing federal income tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. He is alleged to have defrauded the government out of more than $20 million Full Article OPA Press Releases
south South Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Fraud in Foreign Labor Contracting, Visa Fraud and Wage and Hour Violations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 3 Sep 2014 20:18:36 EDT Acting Assistant Attorney General Molly Moran for the Civil Rights Division and United States Attorney Bill Nettles announced today that Reginald Wayne Miller, of Marion, South Carolina, has entered a guilty plea in federal court in Florence to fraud in foreign labor contracting. Additionally, Miller entered a guilty plea to visa fraud and wage and hour violations. United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell of Florence accepted the guilty plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. probation office. Full Article OPA Press Releases
south Federal Court Bars Southern California Man from Promoting Alleged Tax Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 5 Sep 2014 17:56:05 EDT A federal court has permanently barred a Rancho Santa Margarita, California, man from promoting and selling an alleged nationwide tax scheme that involved using welfare benefit plans to unlawfully increase and accelerate tax deductions and avoid income taxes. Full Article OPA Press Releases
south What's open and closed this busy weekend: Beaches, parks and trails in Southern California By www.latimes.com Published On :: Fri, 8 May 2020 13:44:28 -0400 City and county trails reopen this weekend. Almost every day, the rules change in the beaches and parks of Southern California. Here's the latest. Full Article
south Southeast Asian auto sales sink 40% for largest drop in a decade By asia.nikkei.com Published On :: Full Article
south Various Faculty Position (Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor/Lecturer) at School of Materials Science and Engineering , Southeast University (SEU) By feeds.nature.com Published On :: Wed, 23 Oct 2019 06:49:08 +0000 About us Southeast University (SEU), located at Nanjing, is a prestigious higher education institution with its origin traced back to 1902. As one of the national key universities under direct administration of the Ministry of Education of China and jointly established with Jiangsu Province, it is selected in various programs, such National “Project 211” , “Program 985” and “Class A first-rate world universities” sponsored by the Central Government to build world-class universities. *M… Full Article
south Various Faculty Position (Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor/Lecturer) at School of Materials Science and Engineering , Southeast University (SEU) By feeds.nature.com Published On :: Thu, 21 Nov 2019 07:45:01 +0000 About us Southeast University (SEU), located at Nanjing, is a prestigious higher education institution with its origin traced back to 1902. As one of the national key universities under direct administration of the Ministry of Education of China and jointly established with Jiangsu Province, it is selected in various programs, such National “Project 211” , “Program 985” and “Class A first-rate world universities” sponsored by the Central Government to build world-class universities. *M… Full Article
south Various Faculty Position (Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor/Lecturer) at School of Materials Science and Engineering , Southeast University (SEU) By feeds.nature.com Published On :: Wed, 18 Dec 2019 10:32:28 +0000 About us Southeast University (SEU), located at Nanjing, is a prestigious higher education institution with its origin traced back to 1902. As one of the national key universities under direct administration of the Ministry of Education of China and jointly established with Jiangsu Province, it is selected in various programs, such National “Project 211” , “Program 985” and “Class A first-rate world universities” sponsored by the Central Government to build world-class universities. *M… Full Article
south Incidence of acute spinal cord injury in South Korea does not reflect a sizable number of traumatic spinal cord injuries By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-04-30 Full Article
south A more accurate incidence of acute spinal cord injury in South Korea can be estimated by the national health insurance system By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-04-30 Full Article
south Correction: A characterization of personal care product use among undergraduate female college students in South Carolina, USA By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-04-08 Full Article
south Coronavirus outbreaks in Germany, South Korea show the risks in easing up By economictimes.indiatimes.com Published On :: 2020-05-09T19:34:16+05:30 Elsewhere, Belarus, which has not locked down despite increasing case numbers, saw tens of thousands of people turn out to mark Victory Day, the anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat in 1945. Full Article
south Russian Plane Draws Shots from South Korea in First Air Patrol with China: Belfer Experts Weigh In By www.belfercenter.org Published On :: Jul 25, 2019 Jul 25, 2019South Korean fighter jets fired over 300 warning shots at a Russian Air Force A-50 Mainstay Airborne Early Warning aircraft on July 23 after the Russian plane twice violated South Korea’s airspace above the East Sea, according to South Korean authorities cited by The Aviationist. Earlier that day, Russian and Chinese bombers had conducted their first long-range joint air patrol in the Asia-Pacific. Russia’s Defense Ministry said there had been “no violations of airspaces of foreign countries” in its joint patrol with China, according to the New York Times, and Russian diplomats in Seoul reportedly complained of inaccuracies in the official comments from South Korea. Russia Matters asked some members of the Belfer Center’s Russia team for their take on the developments. Full Article
south How surveillance technology powered South Korea’s COVID-19 response By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Wed, 29 Apr 2020 17:30:00 +0000 South Korea has been widely praised for its use of technology in containing the coronavirus, and that praise has, at times, generated a sense of mystique, suggesting that Korea has developed sophisticated new tools for tracing and stopping the outbreak. But the truth is far simpler. The tools deployed by Korean authorities are readily available… Full Article
south My rise as a refugee girl: Why I’m giving back to girls in South Sudan By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Wed, 19 Jun 2019 16:15:05 +0000 Being born and growing up in Ibuga refugee camp in Western Uganda, I had never felt the sweetness of my home country nor even what it looked like. As a young girl, I thought the camp was my country, only to learn that it was not. Rather, when I was 8 years old, I learned… Full Article
south Africa in the news: Updates on Togo, Guinea-Bissau, South Sudan, and health challenges By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Sat, 07 Mar 2020 12:00:02 +0000 Guinea-Bissau and TOGO election updates Leadership in Guinea-Bissau remains unclear as the results of the December 29 runoff presidential election are being challenged in the country’s supreme court. Late last month, the country’s National Election Commission declared former Prime Minister Umaro Sissoco Embalo of the Movement of Democratic Change the winner with about 54 percent… Full Article
south Of sunrise service and eating vivika: Memories of a south Indian Easter By www.thenewsminute.com Published On :: Sat, 11 Apr 2020 05:26:06 +0000 EasterEaster breakfast was special - it was the first meal with non-vegetarian food in a while. Navin SigamanyEaster - the Christian festival that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ - is this Sunday. This year, thousands of Christians will be observing it from their homes, following their church’s online services on their phones or computers. When I was a boy in Coimbatore, many many moons ago, Easter meant being rousted out of bed at the unholy hour of 4 AM to get ready to go to church for the sunrise service. For my brother and me, getting to the 8 AM service every Sunday was in itself quite an achievement. But, growing up in a south Indian Christian household, we didn’t really have a choice. So, on Easter day, we were woken up, bathed, dressed in new clothes and turned out shiny and clean so we could fall asleep in the pews of the church that had been moved outdoors while the service happened. As we grew older, we learnt to experience the novelty of participating in a service outdoors, instead of within the confines of the ancient stone church. The pews faced East and the service began before sunrise. There would be a nip in the air when the service began. As the service progressed, the sun would rise from behind the altar, bathing the whole setting in a golden glow. Of course, the golden glow turned hot quite quickly - we said our prayers a bit quicker, and sang the hymns a bit faster, so that we ended the service and retreated to the relative cool in the shade of the church gardens. There we would have coffee and biscuits and Easter conversations. We greeted each other with the words, “Christ is Risen” and responded with the words, “Risen indeed.” It was great fun for us - once a year we got to go to church out in the open, and then we got to go around greeting everyone there, rather like spies in the novels we read! After the service, we would head as a family to the nearest bakery, where we would buy Easter Eggs. The size of your palm, these were made of hard white cast sugar with fondant icing. The outside would be decorated with flowers and bows in icing, and when we broke into them, there would be a treasure of chocolates to be discovered. Needless to say, the eggs were often bones of contention between my brother and me - one of us would finish his quicker, and would then have to watch the other savour his egg and chocolates with deliberate slowness. Clearly, we did not get the message of the season, which was that Jesus had died and risen again to save us from our sins, and maybe we could treat each other slightly better because of that. Easter comes at the end of the Holy Week. The Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, when we would all hold palm leaves and circumambulate (walk around) the church singing hymns to commemorate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, where Jesus predicts his betrayal and death. This is particularly important, as it also is where the sacred sacrament of communion originates. In short, the practice of consuming bread and wine as ‘communion’ in the Christian faith has its origin in the Last Supper. The Good Friday service was a long one commemorating the actual crucifixion. It was in the early evening and was a sombre affair that often ran into hours. The one thing I remember vividly about Good Friday was buying hot cross buns from the bakery and munching on them on the way home. There wasn’t much different about them - they were regular buns with a cross made of dough tacked on to them, but just the fact that they were called hot cross buns made them special! Easter also signaled the end of Lent, the 40 days of self-denial practised by Christians. For us, Lent was a time during which we gave up eating non-vegetarian food. This was a real sacrifice as our usual diet included a significant amount of chicken, meat and fish. Easter breakfast was special - it was the first meal with non-vegetarian food in a while. At our place, it was usually a sweet idli called vivika made of rice flour, bananas, raisins and sweet spices, accompanied by a savoury mutton curry. At the end of 40 days of no chicken, meat or fish - this was a sweet, sweet return to our normal, predominantly carnivorous culinary lifestyle. This year, it’s going to be different. I cannot think of a single year when my parents have missed going to church for Easter. One of the fundamentals of Christian worship is fellowship - worshiping with your fellow believers, and that is brought alive especially on festival days. This year, the service will be in an empty church, streamed live. The worshipers, my parents among them, will be attending from home. Happy Easter! Navin Sigamany is a Hyderabad-based photographer and heritage enthusiast who writes on food and culture. Body 2: Full Article
south What did ASEAN meetings reveal about US engagement in Southeast Asia? By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 Just back from Southeast Asia, Senior Fellow Jonathan Stromseth reports on the outcomes from the annual ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit, including the continued delay of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, China's economic influence in the region, and how the Trump administration's rhetoric and actions are being perceived in the region. http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/11923064 Related… Full Article
south 12 law order south china sea kuok By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 Full Article
south What does the South China Sea ruling mean, and what’s next? By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 The much-awaited rulings of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague—in response to the Philippines’ 2013 submission over the maritime entitlements and status of features encompassed in China’s expansive South China Sea claims—were released this morning. Taken together, the rulings were clear, crisp, comprehensive, and nothing short of a categorical rejection of Chinese claims. Full Article Uncategorized
south How will China respond to the South China Sea ruling? By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 The arbitration panel deemed invalid virtually all of Beijing’s asserted claims to various islands, rocks, reefs, and shoals in the South China Sea, determining that Chinese claims directly violated the provisions of UNCLOS, which China signed in 1982. The biggest looming issues will focus on how China opts to respond. Full Article Uncategorized
south The South China Sea ruling and China’s grand strategy By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Wed, 13 Jul 2016 15:40:00 +0000 In the wake of the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea's ruling this week, the question going forward is how China will respond. Will it double down on the aggressive and coercive activities of the past six years, behavior that has put most of its East Asian neighbors on guard? Will it continue to interpret the Law of the Sea in self-serving ways that very few countries accept? Or, might China recognize that its South China Sea strategy has been an utter failure and that its best response is to take a more restrained and neighborly approach? Full Article Uncategorized
south U.S. South China Sea policy after the ruling: Opportunities and challenges By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 In spite of the legal complexities of the South China Sea ruling, the verdict was widely seen as a victory of "right" over "might" and a boost for the rules-based international order that the United States has been championing. In reality, the ruling could also pose profound challenges for the future of U.S. South China Sea policy under the Obama administration and beyond. Full Article
south Taiwan must tread carefully on South China Sea ruling By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 Taipei’s claims are similar to Beijing’s. How it responds to the tribunal’s decision could put it at odds with its U.S. ally. Full Article
south The day after: Enforcing The Hague verdict in the South China Sea By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 The U.N. arbitral tribunal's decision was an unequivocal rebuke of China’s expansive maritime claims and increasingly assertive posturing in adjacent waters. But, as Richard Heydarian argues, despite the Philippines' landmark victory, what is at stake is no less than the future of the regional security architecture. Full Article
south Community-Centered Development and Regional Integration Featured at Southern Africa Summit in Johannesburg By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:00:00 -0400 Volunteer, civil society and governmental delegates from 22 nations gathered in Johannesburg this month for the Southern Africa Conference on Volunteer Action for Development. The conference was co-convened by United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and Volunteer and Service Enquiry Southern Africa (VOSESA), in observance of the 10th anniversary of the United Nations International Year of Volunteers (IYV).Naheed Haque, deputy executive coordinator for United Nations Volunteers, gave tribute to the late Nobel Laureate Wangari Mathai and her Greenbelt tree planting campaign as the “quintessential volunteer movement.” Haque called for a “new development paradigm that puts voluntarism at the center of community-centered sustainable development.” In this paradigm, human happiness and service to others would be key considerations, in addition to economic indicators and development outcomes including health and climate change. The international gathering developed strategies to advance three key priorities for the 15 nations in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC): combating HIV/ AIDS; engaging the social and economic participation of youth; and promoting regional integration and peace. Research data prepared by Civicus provided information on the rise of voluntary service in Africa, as conferees assessed strategies to advance “five pillars” of effective volunteerism: engaging youth, community involvement, international volunteers, corporate leadership and higher education in service. VOSESA executive director, Helene Perold, noted that despite centuries of migration across the region, the vision for contemporary regional cooperation between southern African countries has largely been in the minds of heads of states with “little currency at the grassroots level.” Furthermore, it has been driven by the imperative of economic integration with a specific focus on trade. Slow progress has now produced critiques within the region that the strategy for integrating southern African countries cannot succeed on the basis of economic cooperation alone. Perold indicated that collective efforts by a wide range of civic, academic, and governmental actors at the Johannesburg conference could inject the importance of social participation within and between countries as a critical component in fostering regional integration and achieving development outcomes. This premise of voluntary action’s unique contribution to regional integration was underscored by Emiliana Tembo, director of Gender and Social Affairs for the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). Along with measures promoting free movement of labor and capital to step up trade investment, Tembo stressed the importance of “our interconnectedness as people,” citing Bishop Desmond Tutu’s maxim toward the virtues of “Ubuntu – a person who is open and available to others.” The 19 nation COMESA block is advancing an African free-trade zone movement from the Cape of South Africa, to Cairo Egypt. The “tripartite” regional groupings of SADC, COMESA and the East Africa Community are at the forefront of this pan-African movement expanding trade and development. Preliminary research shared at the conference by VOSESA researcher Jacob Mwathi Mati noted the effects of cross border youth volunteer exchange programs in southern and eastern Africa. The research indicates positive outcomes including knowledge, learning and “friendship across borders,” engendered by youth exchange service programs in South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya that were sponsored Canada World Youth and South Africa Trust. On the final day of the Johannesburg conference, South Africa service initiatives were assessed in field visits by conferees including loveLife, South Africa’s largest HIV prevention campaign. loveLife utilizes youth volunteer service corps reaching up to 500,000 at risk youths in monthly leadership and peer education programs. “Youth service in South Africa is a channel for the energy of youth, (building) social capital and enabling public innovation,” Programme Director Scott Burnett stated. “Over the years our (service) participants have used their small stipends to climb the social ladder through education and micro-enterprise development.” Nelly Corbel, senior program coordinator of the John D. Gerhart Center for Philanthropy and Civic Engagement at the American University in Cairo, noted that the Egyptian Arab Spring was “the only movement that cleaned-up after the revolution." On February 11th, the day after the resignation of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, thousands of Egyptian activists removed debris from Tahrir Square and engaged in a host of other volunteer clean-up and painting projects. In Corbel's words: “Our entire country is like a big flag now,” from the massive display of national voluntarism in clean-up projects, emblematic of the proliferation of youth social innovation aimed at rebuilding a viable civil society. At the concluding call-to-action session, Johannesburg conferees unanimously adopted a resolution, which was nominated by participating youth leaders from southern Africa states. The declaration, “Creating an Enabling Environment for Volunteer Action in the Region” notes that “volunteering is universal, inclusive and embraces free will, solidarity, dignity and trust… [creating] a powerful basis for unity, common humanity, peace and development.” The resolution, contains a number of action-oriented recommendations advancing voluntarism as a “powerful means for transformational change and societal development.” Policy recommendations will be advanced by South African nations and other stakeholders at the forthcoming Rio + 20 deliberations and at a special session of the United Nations General Assembly on December 5, the 10th anniversary of the International Year of the Volunteer. Authors David L. Caprara Image Source: © Daud Yussuf / Reuters Full Article
south Africa in the news: South Africa looks to open up; COVID-19 complicates food security, malaria response By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Sat, 25 Apr 2020 11:30:28 +0000 South Africa announces stimulus plan and a pathway for opening up As of this writing, the African continent has registered over 27,800 COVID-19 cases, with over 1,300 confirmed deaths, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Countries around the continent continue to instate various forms of social distancing restrictions: For example, in… Full Article
south WATCH: South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan on the country’s challenges, potential, and resilience By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Thu, 05 May 2016 10:15:00 -0400 At a time of decelerating regional growth in sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa—one of the continent’s leading economies—is facing the brunt of concurrent external and domestic growth shocks. During a Brookings event on April 14, 2016 moderated by Africa Growth Initiative Director Amadou Sy, South African minister of finance, the Honorable Pravin Gordhan, provided cause for encouragement, as he highlighted strategies that South Africa is implementing to reverse slowing growth trends, boost social cohesion, and springboard inclusive, sustainable development. Throughout the event, Minister Gordhan emphasized that South Africa is refocusing its efforts on implementing homegrown policies to mitigate the effects of global and domestic shocks: “Our approach is not to keep pointing outside our borders and say, ‘That’s where the problem is.’ We've got our own challenges and difficulties, and potential and opportunities. And it's important to focus on those, and rally South Africans behind that set of initiatives so that we could go wherever we can in terms improving the situation.” He began by explaining the major growth problems facing South Africa, including first-level structural challenges—consistent electricity supply and labor relations—as well as deeper structural challenges, for instance, reforming the oligopolistic sectors of its economy. To address these issues, he expanded on what collaborative, multi-stakeholder efforts would be necessary. Watch: Pravin Gordhan notes the major growth challenges in South Africa Contending with infrastructure needs—particularly energy and logistical, but also social, such as water and sanitation, health care, and educational facilities—will play a significant role in overcoming these aforementioned challenges. Minister Gordhan explained how the government aims to fill existing infrastructure gaps through innovative financing mechanisms. Watch: Pravin Gordhan on addressing South Africa’s infrastructure gaps Later in the event, Sy pressed Minister Gordhan on plans for implementation for the country’s ambitious goals. As an example, Minister Gordhan underlined “Operation Phakisa,” a results-driven approach to fast-track the implementation of initiatives to achieve development objectives. The government intends to use this methodology to address a number of social priorities, including unlocking the potential of South Africa’s coastlines and oceans. Watch: Pravin Gordhan on implementation of South Africa's development objectives Urbanization in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa as a whole is widespread and increasing, creating a demand for governments to both maintain their infrastructure as well as harness their energy and human capacity. Cities, especially those in South Africa’s Gauteng Province (Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Ekurhuleni), will continue to be crucial engines of economic development if municipal governance systems effectively manage the region’s expected rapid urbanization in the years to come. Minister Gordhan discusses some of the lessons learned from the Gauteng city region. Watch: Pravin Gordhan on the vital role of cities in economic development in South Africa In sum, referring to the confluence of adverse global conditions and internal problems currently affecting South Africa, Minister Gordhan stated, “Whenever you are in the middle of a storm it looks like the worst thing possible—but storms don’t last forever.” He did not doubt the ability of the South African people to weather and emerge stronger from the storm, offering: “Ultimately South Africans are hopeful, are optimistic and resilient.” You can watch the full event here. Video Pravin Gordhan notes the major growth challenges in South AfricaPravin Gordhan on addressing South Africa’s infrastructure gapsPravin Gordhan on implementation of South Africa's development objectivesPravin Gordhan on the vital role of cities in economic development in South Africa Authors Amy Copley Full Article
south How surveillance technology powered South Korea’s COVID-19 response By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Wed, 29 Apr 2020 17:30:00 +0000 South Korea has been widely praised for its use of technology in containing the coronavirus, and that praise has, at times, generated a sense of mystique, suggesting that Korea has developed sophisticated new tools for tracing and stopping the outbreak. But the truth is far simpler. The tools deployed by Korean authorities are readily available… Full Article
south The South Asia Papers : A Critical Anthology of Writings by Stephen Philip Cohen By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Tue, 12 Apr 2016 00:00:00 -0400 Brookings Institution Press 2016 192pp. Join us May 19 for the official launch event for The South Asia Papers. This curated collection examines Stephen Philip Cohen’s impressive body of work. Stephen Philip Cohen, the Brookings scholar who virtually created the field of South Asian security studies, has curated a unique collection of the most important articles, chapters, and speeches from his fifty-year career. Cohen, often described as the “dean” of U.S. South Asian studies, is a dominant figure in the fields of military history, military sociology, and South Asia’s strategic emergence. Cohen introduces this work with a critical look at his past writing—where he was right, where he was wrong. This exceptional collection includes materials that have never appeared in book form, including Cohen’s original essays on the region’s military history, the transition from British rule to independence, the role of the armed forces in India and Pakistan, the pathologies of India-Pakistan relations, South Asia’s growing nuclear arsenal, and America’s fitful (and forgetful) regional policy. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Stephen P. Cohen Ordering Information: {BE4CBFE9-92F9-41D9-BDC8-0C2CC479A3F7}, 9780815728337, $35.00 Add to Cart Full Article
south Passages to India: Reflecting on 50 years of research in South Asia By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Wed, 18 May 2016 13:30:00 -0400 Editors’ Note: How do states manage their armed forces, domestic politics, and foreign affairs? Stephen Cohen, senior fellow with the India Project at Brookings, has studied this and a range of other issues in Southeast Asia since the 1960s. In a new book, titled “The South Asia Papers: A Critical Anthology of Writings,” Cohen reflects on more than a half-century of scholarship on India, describing the dramatic changes he has personally witnessed in the field of research. The following is an excerpt from the book’s preface. [In the 1960s, questions about how states manage their armed forces] were not only unasked in the South Asian context by scholars; they were also frowned on by the Indian government. This made preparation both interesting and difficult. It was interesting because a burgeoning literature on civil–military relations in non-Western states could be applied to India. Most of it dealt with two themes: the “man on horseback,” or how the military came to power in a large number of new states, and how the military could assist in the developmental process. No one had asked these questions of India, although the first was relevant to Pakistan, then still governed by the Pakistani army in the form of Field Marshal Ayub Khan. *** During my first and second trips [in the 1960s] my research was as a historian, albeit one interested in the army’s social, cultural, and policy dimensions. I discovered, by accident, that this was part of the movement toward the “new military history.” Over the years I have thus interacted with those historians who were interested in Indian military history, including several of my own students. While the standard of historians in India was high in places like the University of Calcutta, military history was a minor field, just as it was in the West. Military historians are often dismissed as the “drums and trumpets” crowd, interested in battles, regiments, and hardware, but not much else. My own self-tutoring in military history uncovered something quite different: a number of scholars, especially sociologists, had written on the social and cultural impact of armed forces, a literature largely ignored by the historians. While none of this group was interested in India, the connection between one of the world’s most complicated and subtle societies, the state’s use of force, and the emergence of a democratic India was self-evident. *** A new generation of scholars and experts, many of them Indians (some trained in the United States) and Indian Americans who have done research in India, have it right: this is a complex civilizational-state with expanding power, and its rise is dependent on its domestic stability, its policies toward neighbors (notably Pakistan), the rise of China, and the policies of the United States. The literature that predicts a conflict between the rising powers (India and China), and between them and America the “hegemon,” is misguided: the existence of nuclear weapons by all three states, plus Pakistan, ensures that barring insanity, any rivalries between rising and established states will be channeled into “ordinary” diplomatic posturing, ruthless economic competition, and the clash of soft power. In this competition, India has some liabilities and many advantages, and the structure of the emerging world suggests a closer relationship between the United States and India, without ruling out much closer ties between China and India. There remain some questions: Can the present Indian leadership show magnanimity in dealing with Pakistan, and does it have the foresight to look ahead to new challenges, notably environmental and energy issues that require new skills and new international arrangements? Importantly, some of the best work on answering these questions is being done in India itself, and the work of Kanti Bajpai, Amitabh Mattoo, Harsh Pant, C. Raja Mohan, Rajesh Basrur, and others reveals the maturity of Indian thinking on strategic issues. It has not come too soon, as the challenges that India will face are growing, and those of Pakistan are even more daunting. Authors Stephen P. Cohen Full Article
