Desmond Tutu news stories on Newser

South Africa Blocks Dalai Lama Visit

Rob Quinn — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 01:00:00 CDT

The Dalai Lama helped in the fight against apartheid but now South Africa won't even allow him in, a furious Archbishop Desmond Tutu charged yesterday. The Tibetan spiritual leader canceled a planned trip to South Africa this week after it became apparent that he would not receive a visa in...

Retiring Desmond Tutu: 'Justice Will Prevail'

Unaffiliated — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:49:06 CDT

South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu turns 79 today and is retiring from public life to spend more time with family and friends. In an interview with Time , he shares some of what he's learned: On good and evil, he's found "that in spite of all the horror of injustice and...

Medals of Freedom Will Go to Milk, Kennedy, Poitier

Harry Kimball — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:15:01 CDT

This year's Medal of Freedom recipients share a capacity to change the world, President Obama said today in naming the eclectic group. Among the 16 honorees are Sen. Ted Kennedy, slain gay-rights activist Harvey Milk, actor Sidney Poitier, tennis great Billie Jean King, and retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day...

Burma Will Allow Diplomats to Visit Suu Kyi

Jason Farago — Wed, 20 May 2009 05:17:20 CDT

Burma's ruling junta will take the unusual step of allowing diplomats to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition leader currently on trial, reports CNN. Officials from Russia, Singapore, and Thailand are expected to meet Suu Kyi later today. On the third day of the trial, the government allowed...

Peace Meeting Called Off Over Dalai Lama Ban

Kevin Spak — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:14:24 CDT

South Africa’s decision to bar the Dalai Lama from entering the country has scuttled this week’s scheduled conference for Nobel laureates, the BBC reports. Laureates were to discuss how next year’s soccer World Cup could fight racism and xenophobia, but homegrown winners Desmond Tutu and FW de Klerk pulled the...

South Africa Bars Dalai Lama From Peace Conference

Kevin Spak — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:26:00 CDT

One notable Nobel laureate won’t be at this week’s peace conference in South Africa: The Dalai Lama. South Africa has denied the Tibetan spiritual leader entry, bowing to pressure from trading partner China, the Times of London reports. The Nobel laureates organizing the event are outraged, with Archbishop Desmond Tutu...

Tutu Urges Obama to Apologize for Iraq

Matt Cantor — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 10:37:01 CST

Desmond Tutu says Barack Obama's election made him want "to jump and dance and shout," and he's encouraging the new president to apologize for the invasion of Iraq. Obama “could easily squander the goodwill that his election generated if he disappoints,” the Nobel Peace Prize winner tells the BBC. “It...

Tutu Pleads for End to Immigrant Attacks

Rob Quinn — Tue, 20 May 2008 05:03:25 CDT

Archbishop Desmond Tutu pleaded yesterday with his South African countrymen to end a vicious surge of anti-immigrant violence that has killed at least 22 people, AP reports. Extra police were sent to squatter camps as roaming mobs continued to stab, beat and burn immigrant workers in some of the worst...

Tutu 'Hopeful' About Kenya Mediation

Jason Farago — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 08:35:47 CST

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki has said he is open to the possibility of a coalition government—if the opposition consents to his terms, Reuters reports. South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu said after a meeting with Kibaki that "there is a great deal of hope" in ongoing talks and that both...