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| Obama meets with Nelson Mandela's family as global icon remains in hospital - CBS News Posted: 29 Jun 2013 08:15 AM PDT Updated at 11:06 a.m. ET As former South African President Nelson Mandela remains in the hospital, President Obama visited with his daughters and grandchildren in Johannesburg Saturday, the first full day of the president's two-day trip through South Africa. In a statement, Mr. Obama described the "privilege" of meeting with the family of Mandela, whom many South Africans refer to by his tribal name, Madiba. "Today I had the privilege of meeting with members of the Mandela family at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg, South Africa, and spoke by telephone with Mrs. Graca Machel, who remained by her husband's side in the hospital in Pretoria," he said. "I expressed my hope that Madiba draws peace and comfort from the time that he is spending with loved ones, and also expressed my heartfelt support for the entire family as they work through this difficult time. I also reaffirmed the profound impact that his legacy has had in building a free South Africa, and in inspiring people around the world - including me." The White House initially indicated that first lady Michelle Obama, who is accompanying the president in Africa, had joined her husband in the private meeting with Mandela's family. Later Saturday, the White House said that the first lady was not in the meeting. The president will not meet with Mandela while he is in the hospital. In a statement on Friday, the president said, "I don't need a photo-op, and the last thing I want to do is to be in any way obtrusive at a time when the family is concerned about Nelson Mandela's condition." On Friday, Mandela's former wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, told the press that the former president has shown "great improvement" compared to a few days ago. Earlier Saturday, Mr. Obama traveled from Johannesburg to Pretoria, the country's capital, where he and South African President Jacob Zuma each praised Mandela's legacy as an anti-apartheid leader and the first democratically elected president of South Africa. "Our thoughts, and those of Americans and people around the world, are with Mandela, and his family, and all of South Africa," Mr. Obama said. "The struggle here against apartheid, for freedom, Madiba's moral courage, this country's historic transition to a free and democratic nation, has been a personal inspiration to me, it has been an inspiration to the world." Mr. Obama compared Mandela to America's own founding father, George Washington, who, even without term limits, voluntarily relinquished the presidency to facilitate a peaceful transfer of democratic power. "Nelson Mandela similarly, I think, was able to recognize that despite how revered he was, that part of this transition process was to make sure that it was bigger than just one person, even one of the greatest people in history," Mr. Obama said. "What an incredible lesson that is." Zuma said that Mandela is "much loved by our people and the world" and compared him to Mr. Obama. "I know that he is your personal hero as well, Mr. President; the two of you are also bound by history as the first black presidents of your respective countries," Zuma said. "Thus you both carry the dreams of millions of people in Africa and in the diaspora who were previously oppressed. We continue to pray for Mandela's good health and wellbeing." |
| Phoenix, Las Vegas bake in scorching heat - Memphis Commercial Appeal Posted: 29 Jun 2013 07:25 AM PDT DEATH VALLEY, Calif. (AP) — Dan Kail was vacationing in Las Vegas when he heard that the temperature at Death Valley could approach 130 degrees this weekend. He didn't hesitate to make a trip to the desert location that is typically the hottest place on the planet. "Coming to Death Valley in the summertime has always been on the top of my bucket list," the 67-year-old Pittsburgh man said. "When I found out it might set a record I rented a car and drove straight over. If it goes above 130 I will have something to brag about." The forecast called for Death Valley to reach 128 degrees Saturday as part of a heat wave that has caused large parts of the western U.S. to suffer. Death Valley's record high of 134 degrees, set a century ago, stands as the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth. "The wind out here is like being in front of a blast furnace," Kail said. As temperatures soared in Las Vegas Friday, 200 people were treated for heat problems at an outdoor concert, Clark County spokesman Erik Pappa said. Thirty of them were hospitalized for heat-related injuries at Vans Warped Tour at Silverton Casino as temps reached 115. Most of the others "were essentially provided shade and water and a place to sit down," Pappa said. It was expected to get even hotter in Las Vegas over the weekend. Phoenix reached 116 on Friday — 2 degrees short of the expected high — in part because a light layer of smoke from wildfires in neighboring New Mexico shielded the blazing sun, the National Weather Service said. Phoenix was forecast to hit nearly 120. The record in Phoenix is 122. The heat was so punishing that rangers took up positions at trailheads at Lake Mead in Nevada to persuade people not to hike. Zookeepers in Phoenix hosed down the elephants and fed tigers frozen fish snacks. Dogs were at risk of burning their paws on scorched pavement, and airlines kept close watch on the heat for fear that it could cause flights to be delayed. The heat wasn't expected to break until Monday or Tuesday. The scorching weather presented problems for airlines because high temperatures can make it more difficult for planes to take off. Hot air reduces lift and also can diminish engine performance. Planes taking off in the heat may need longer runways or may have to shed weight by carrying less fuel or cargo. Smaller jets and propeller planes are more likely to be affected than bigger airliners that are better equipped for extreme temperatures. Temperatures are also expected to soar across Utah and into Wyoming and Idaho, with triple-digit heat forecast for the Boise area. Cities in Washington state that are better known for cool, rainy weather should break the 90s next week. "This is the hottest time of the year, but the temperatures that we'll be looking at for Friday through Sunday, they'll be toward the top," said weather service meteorologist Mark O'Malley. "It's going to be baking hot across much of the entire West." The heat is the result of a high-pressure system brought on by a shift in the jet stream, the high-altitude air current that dictates weather patterns. The jet stream has been more erratic in the past few years. Health officials warned people to be extremely careful when venturing outdoors. The risks include not only dehydration and heat stroke but burns from the concrete and asphalt. Dogs can suffer burns and blisters on their paws by walking on hot pavement. "You will see people who go out walking with their dog at noon or in the middle of the day and don't bring enough water and it gets tragic pretty quickly," said Bretta Nelson, spokeswoman for the Arizona Humane Society. "You just don't want to find out the hard way." Cooling stations were set up to shelter the homeless and elderly people who can't afford to run their air conditioners. In Phoenix, Joe Arpaio, the famously hard-nosed sheriff who runs a tent jail, planned to distribute ice cream and cold towels to inmates this weekend. Officials said personnel were added to the Border Patrol's search-and-rescue unit because of the danger to people trying to slip across the Mexican border. At least seven people have been found dead in the last week in Arizona after falling victim to the brutal desert heat. In June 1990, when Phoenix hit 122 degrees, airlines were forced to cease flights for several hours because of a lack of data from the manufacturers on how the aircraft would operate in such extreme heat. US Airways spokesman Todd Lehmacher said the airline now knows that its Boeings can fly at up to 126 degrees, and its Airbus fleet can operate at up to 127. While the heat in Las Vegas is expected to peak Sunday, it's unlikely to sideline the first round of the four-week Bikini Invitational tournament. "I feel sorry for those poor girls having to strut themselves in 115 degrees, but there's $100,000 up for grabs," said Hard Rock casino spokeswoman Abigail Miller. "I think the girls are willing to make the sacrifice." ___ Skoloff reported from Phoenix. Also contributing were Robert Jablon in Los Angeles, Julie Jacobson and Michelle Rindels in Las Vegas, Michelle Price in Salt Lake City, Cristina Silva and Bob Christie in Phoenix, and Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, N.M. Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. |
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