Istanbul – A Turkish man was handed a prison sentence of 13 year and nine month for insulting the national flag during a protest in the predominantly-Kurdish south-east of the country, local media reported on Friday.

Prosecutors had accused the man of carrying out the act in the name of a terrorist organisation, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported. The defendant denied the charges.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Durban – A motorcyclist was killed when he lost control of his bike on the M19 near Blair Atholl in Durban on Tuesday, paramedics said.

“Crisis Medical paramedics arrived on scene shortly after the collision, however the gentleman had suffered extensive injuries and sadly there was nothing they could do for him. He was declared dead on arrival,” spokesperson Kyle van Reenen said.
For more http://www.news24.com

Johannesburg – The SA National Defence Force on Tuesday reacted with “utter dismay” to reports that its troops in Sudan where “held hostage” during a court bid to have President Omar al-Bashir arrested while he was in South Africa.

“There is no iota of truth in these allegations. There is equally no substance to support these allegations. The SANDF did not come under any threat during this period,” it said in a statement.
For more http://www.news24.com

Pretoria – From a 20-year-old doctor to an 18-year-old pilot, South Africa has a good story to tell when it comes to its youth.

This is according to President Jacob Zuma, who was speaking at the commemoration of Youth Day in Tshwane on Tuesday.

“While working to solve all the problems affecting young people, we are also celebrating the achievements of our youth.”
For more http://www.news24.com

Pretoria – The African Union also commemorates Youth Day across the continent as the “Day of the African Child”, President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday.

“The AU designated this day in memory of heroism of South African youth on June 16. The day is used to highlight the rights of the African child,” he said.

He was speaking at a Youth Day event in Tshwane.
For more http://www.news24.com

Port Elizabeth – The African National Congress’s greatest crime is not Nkandla, but a poor education system, Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane said on Tuesday.

“The ANC’s greatest crime is not Nkandla, it is the fact that they have failed the education system of South Africa. It is a crime that on June 16, 21 years later, our education is considered one of the worst in the world,” he said at a Youth Day event at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
For more http://www.news24.com

Polokwane – The 1976 generation did not fight for young people to be drug and alcohol addicts or engage in unprotected sex, Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema told a Youth Day rally near Polokwane on Tuesday.

“The 1976 generation of youth never fought for the youth to smoke drugs and abuse alcohol, or for you to sleep with each other without a condom,” Malema told thousands of EFF supporters at the University of Limpopo’s Turfloop campus.
For more http://www.news24.com

Polokwane – EFF leader Julius Malema says his party will persuade other African states to make an about-turn on Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, ensuring he “rots in jail”.

Malema was speaking at his party’s Youth Day commemoration in Limpopo.

Al-Bashir flew out of South Africa on Monday before the North Gauteng High Court ruled that he should be arrested on the warrant issued by the ICC.
For more http://www.news24.com