World Lens: Week of Aug. 16

Miss. Haiti competes in Miss. Universe contest; South African workers strike. Plus more.

News Conference - South African runner Caster Semenya appears at a news conference for the ISTAF Athletics Meeting in Berlin, Germany. She’ll run in the 800 meters at the Olympic stadium on Sunday. (AP Photo/Gero Breloer)

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News Conference - South African runner Caster Semenya appears at a news conference for the ISTAF Athletics Meeting in Berlin, Germany. She’ll run in the 800 meters at the Olympic stadium on Sunday. (AP Photo/Gero Breloer)

Strike - In South Africa, a member of the teachers union holds up a sign during a protest in Soweto. On Wednesday, civil servants across the country held a strike to receive higher pay. The strike has taken a toll on public services. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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Strike - In South Africa, a member of the teachers union holds up a sign during a protest in Soweto. On Wednesday, civil servants across the country held a strike to receive higher pay. The strike has taken a toll on public services. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

“A Few Death Threats” Leave Wyclef in “Hiding” - Singer Wyclef Jean has received death threats, warning him to “get out of Haiti.” With former Fugees bandmate Pras Michel, Louis Farrakhan and actor Sean Penn against his candidacy for president of Haiti, the odds seem far from Jean’s favor. In addition, Haiti’s electoral commission has already remarked on the fact that Jean is currently ineligible for the position as he has not lived in Haiti for five consecutive years. Yet the Haitian native stands undeterred in his plight for presidency.

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“A Few Death Threats” Leave Wyclef in “Hiding” - Singer Wyclef Jean has received death threats, warning him to “get out of Haiti.” With former Fugees bandmate Pras Michel, Louis Farrakhan and actor Sean Penn against his candidacy for president of Haiti, the odds seem far from Jean’s favor. In addition, Haiti’s electoral commission has already remarked on the fact that Jean is currently ineligible for the position as he has not lived in Haiti for five consecutive years. Yet the Haitian native stands undeterred in his plight for presidency.

Singer Accused of Withholding HIV-Positive Status - Nadja Benaissa, a member of Germany’s biggest selling girl group, No Angels, was charged in court for knowingly spreading the HIV virus to three sexual partners. Informed of her status 10 years ago at age 17, Benaissa is accused of giving one of her three sexual partners, with whom she was in a relationship, HIV. “I am sorry from my heart,” said the German pop star in a court statement.

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Singer Accused of Withholding HIV-Positive Status - Nadja Benaissa, a member of Germany’s biggest selling girl group, No Angels, was charged in court for knowingly spreading the HIV virus to three sexual partners. Informed of her status 10 years ago at age 17, Benaissa is accused of giving one of her three sexual partners, with whom she was in a relationship, HIV. “I am sorry from my heart,” said the German pop star in a court statement.

Miss Haiti Competes in Miss Universe - In May, 24-year-old Sarodj Bertin was crowned Miss Haiti and in August she was sent to compete in the Miss Universe Pageant, as the first Haitian representative in 22 years. Bertin’s bio is unique; she is a lawyer, speaks four languages, and is the daughter of a Haitian political and social activist who was slain in front of her eyes.

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Miss Haiti to Compete in Miss Universe - Twenty-four-year-old Sarodj Bertin will compete in the upcoming August Miss Universe Pageant, as the first Haitian representative in 22 years. Bertin’s bio is unique; she is a lawyer, speaks four languages, and is the daughter of a Haitian political and social activist who was slain in front of her eyes. She has a lot to gain in this competition and the beauty considers the opportunity a true “privilege and honor,” and a chance to positively “change what people think about Haiti.”

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Floods in Pakistan: 4 Million Homeless - Beginning as ruthless monsoon storms three weeks ago, a flooding crisis has emerged in Pakistan, effecting about 20 million people and has resulted in at least 1,600 fatalities. Officials estimate 3.5 million children are at high risk of cholera or other fatal diseases. The United Nations is calling for $460 million in relief efforts, but has only received less than half of that amount.

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Floods in Pakistan: 4 Million Homeless - Beginning as ruthless monsoon storms three weeks ago, a flooding crisis has emerged in Pakistan, effecting about 20 million people and has resulted in at least 1,600 fatalities. Officials estimate 3.5 million children are at high risk of cholera or other fatal diseases. The United Nations is calling for $460 million in relief efforts, but has only received less than half of that amount.

Southern Sudan’s Plan: Animal-Shaped Cities? - Southern Sudanese officials have mapped out intricate blueprints of animal-shaped cities within their region. This $10 million concept will relocated Juba, the regional capital, to a rhinoceros-shaped plot of land, while Wau, capital of the Western Bahr el-Ghazal state, will take the shape of a giraffe. Oh, and there’s more: the lucky town of Yambio may be pineapple-shaped. Authorities look to investors to fund this plan, set for the not-so-near future.

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Southern Sudan’s Plan: Animal-Shaped Cities? - Southern Sudanese officials have mapped out intricate blueprints of animal-shaped cities within their region. This $10 million concept will relocated Juba, the regional capital, to a rhinoceros-shaped plot of land, while Wau, capital of the Western Bahr el-Ghazal state, will take the shape of a giraffe. Oh, and there’s more: the lucky town of Yambio may be pineapple-shaped. Authorities look to investors to fund this plan, set for the not-so-near future.

Haitian School Founder Pleads Guilty - Douglas Perlitz of Colorado admitted to illicit sexual conduct with eight boys at a now-closed Pierre Toussaint School. Perlitz, in charge of the Haitian school, threatened the impoverished children with expulsion, and bribed them with food and money. Founding the school back in 1997, Perlitz is believed to have engaged in the abuse for at least a decade.

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Haitian School Founder Pleads Guilty - Douglas Perlitz of Colorado admitted to illicit sexual conduct with eight boys at a now-closed Pierre Toussaint School. Perlitz, in charge of the Haitian school, threatened the impoverished children with expulsion, and bribed them with food and money. Founding the school back in 1997, Perlitz is believed to have engaged in the abuse for at least a decade.

Ramadan - In Kenya, a Muslim boy prays during the second Friday of the holy month of Ramadan in Masjid Noor, Nairobi, Kenya. During this time, Muslims across the world abstain from food or drink until sun down. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim)

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Ramadan - In Kenya, a Muslim boy prays during the second Friday of the holy month of Ramadan in Masjid Noor, Nairobi, Kenya. During this time, Muslims across the world abstain from food or drink until sun down. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim)

Pressure on France to Repay Haiti - During the summer, a diverse group of international scholars, including Dr. Cornel West and American linguist Noam Chomsky, wrote a letter to the French President Nicolas Sarkozy insisting that France repay the billions of dollars of debt that Haiti paid for its independence 200 years ago. The New York Times estimates the debt to be currently worth about $22 billion. The 19th century payment, once requested by French slave owners, has been criticized by modern academics as being illegal and ille

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Pressure on France to Repay Haiti - A diverse group of international scholars, including Dr. Cornel West and American linguist Noam Chomsky, have written a letter to the French President Nicolas Sarkozy insisting that France repay the billions of dollars of debt that Haiti paid for its independence 200 years ago. The New York Times estimates the debt to be currently worth about $22 billion. The 19th century payment, once requested by French slave owners, has been criticized by modern academics as being illegal and illegitimate.