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Updated at 7.53pm
THE SOUTH AFRICAN President Jacob Zuma has confirmed Nelson Mandela will be afforded a state funeral to take place Sunday week, 15 December.
Mandela is to lie in state at the seat of government, the Union Buildings in Pretoria, between next Wednesday and Friday, he added. The political icon is to be laid to rest in his home village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape.
South Africa has declared a period of mourning all next week, beginning on Sunday with a “national day of prayer and reflection”.
Áras an Uachtarain has confirmed tonight that President Michael D Higgins will fly out for the State Memorial Service, to be be held in Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium on Tuesday.
The White House also confirmed US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle will travel to South Africa in the coming days to pay their respects.
Press Secretary Jay Carney said they would “participate in memorial events” for the iconic leader, who died yesterday at the age of 95.
Political leaders, royalty and famous figures from the worlds of music, sports and entertainment are expected to travel to South Africa in the coming days ahead of what’s likely to be one of the most important funerals of recent decades.
Jimmy Burns from Sandyford signs the book of condolence for former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela at the Mansion House [Photocall Ireland]
There was a steady stream of people turning out at the Mansion House in Dublin today, where Lord Mayor Oisín Quinn opened a book of condolence to mark Mandela’s passing.
The book will be open again tomorrow and on Sunday, between 10am and 5pm. It will then be moved and opened at the South African Ambassador’s Residence at Shrewsbury Road, Ballsbridge.
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin will also open a book of condolence tomorrow. The Cathedral is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and from 9am to 10.30am and 12.30pm to 2.30pm on Sunday.
A book of condolence has also been opened at City Hall in Cork. In Limerick, books are open at County Hall in Dooradoyle and at City Hall on Merchant’s Quay.
International reaction
The news of Mandela’s death was featured on all the front pages around the world, while messages of tribute flooded in from international statesmen such as Obama, David Cameron, and President Michael D Higgins.
From Beijing to Kiev to London, members of the public offered spontaneous celebrations of Mandela’s life to sit alongside official displays of mourning.
A statue of Mandela outside the British parliament was the focus for one of the biggest tributes, while mourners left floral offerings at South African embassies around the globe in a sign of his far-reaching influence.
People also left South Africa scarves, candles and portraits at the foot of the huge bronze statue. One woman taped a picture of Mandela to the stone plinth next to where his name is carved.
One card read: “Thank you for the sacrifices you made for all of us”, while another said: “May God shine light on your homecoming in heaven. Rest in Peace Mr Mandela.”
London Mayor Boris Johnson declared that the square was “now a garden of remembrance for those wanting to leave floral tributes.”
Hundreds of people lined up to pay tributes at South Africa House, the country’s embassy in London, which sits on the corner of the famed Trafalgar Square.
Half mast
Many countries, such as Government Buildings in Dublin, ordered their flags to be flown at half mast, as did the European Union in Brussels.
Flags are flown at half mast at Leinster House today [Niall Carson/PA Images]
In Ukraine, where protesters angered by the government’s decision to reject a historic deal with the EU have taken over the main square in Kiev, one demonstrator hailed Mandela’s influence.
“For Ukraine he is a symbol of democracy and equality between all nations and races. He was a major figure, we respect him,” said Viktor, 58.
In the Chinese capital Beijing, people left huge wreaths of flowers outside the South African embassy. College students also left bunches of yellow flowers by a photo of Mandelaset up in Hengyang, central Hunan province.
In Paris, an enormous portrait of Mandela was displayed on the facade of the Quai d’Orsay, the palatial 19th-century building that houses the French foreign ministry on the banks of the River Seine.
Floral tributes were also left in front of South African embassies in Brussels and the Australian capital Canberra.
Additional reporting Daragh Brophy and - © AFP, 2013
Originally posted 2.25pm
Nelson Mandela: Prisoner, president and father of ‘Rainbow Nation’
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In pictures: Mandela’s Irish visits
Nelson Mandela: A life in pictures
Obama: “He no longer belongs to us. He belongs to the ages.”
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Did I just read this..jasyus I did…I did need to get out more..but nobody has ever explained to me why Broccoli goes cold as soon as you cook it..I’ve never had hot Broccoli yet..
@sparky: Broccoli has a very high surface area per unit weight compared to other veg. This high surface area allows for higher rates of heat transfer to occur between the broccoli and the air. The stems of the broccoli are also a lot less dense than other vegetables too so heat transfer occurs more rapidly for that reason as well.
@sparky: always preheat your plate.
Another valuable scientific endeavour….
Thank God for religion, that’s all I can say.
Stephen Hawking must be glad he is still alive to read this. Good to know scientists have their prioritys right. Serious illnesses & research is not important if shoelaces become undone according to these scientists. This is an insult to scientists everywhere.
@Abcd: If you’d bother to actually read the article you’d see that it does have a serious side in preventing injury.
@Jack Cassady: Guess what Jack… turns out God didn’t do this either…
@Paddy Ryan: My shoelaces have not undone since i was about 6. We where taught too secure all footwear & loose clothing especially near any machinery.
@Abcd: move on to ‘é’ and the rest of the alphabet as soon as you can. Then complete your education, concentrating on logic, but not forgetting reading and comprehension. Then read this article once more. If you do not understand it differently the second time around, you are probably ineducable.
Jasus, this article had me in knots.
Double knot always works for me. Takes2 seconds longer to untie but worth it for one pair of athletic shoes with laces that untie within 10 minutes of tying the knot.
Bunny ears, bunny ears, playing by a tree. Criss-crossed the tree, trying to catch me. Bunny ears, Bunny ears, jumped into the hole, popped out the other side beautiful and bold.”
@Colleen McGovern: what you rabbitin’ on about, Willis?
“…unable to lift his foot off the gas…”
Enough of the Yankisms
Hahaha, yet you use an Americanism in your appeal to eschew a ‘Yankism’!
Enough with the Little Englander mentality. The world uses American English and in Ireland we use, increasingly, American spelling. You can color it whatever way you wish, but the English used in Ireland and in our neighboring island is moving toward the American standard.
Seriously
My guess is it’ll be a combination of vibration from the foot/shoe in normal thread action and the laces swinging. The result of both actions causing the knot to work itself loose.
@Paul Downes: My guess is its explained in the article.
Good on you journal. That’s a fine piece of copy and pasting from a piece of news that was reported on around the globe last week.
So, am I right in thinking a bunch of scientists have basically determined through scientific research that lases come undone because we/i don’t make a proper knot?? Out with lases in with velcro. I think we need a tribunal!
Ah lads, this was solved a long time ago. It’s to do with the direction in which you tie the knot. 3 min video on Ted Talks explains it.
Terry Moore: How to tie your shoes
http://go.ted.com/NQ2rKQ
I kid you knot!!!
Who the hell finds this kind of research ? The scouts ?
#Funds#
Jesus these lads are busy
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