ANC's Julius Malema apologises for Botswana remarks

Mr Malema said the league's remarks damaged its ties with "the mother body" and "we should have known better".

Last month, Mr Malema, 30, said the Botswana government was a puppet regime and a serious threat to Africa.

The ANC - which has already criticised Mr Malema for the remarks - is due to discuss the matter in the coming days.

"We felt it is necessary to apologise and withdraw the statement of the NEC (National Executive Committee) of the Youth League publicly, because we have noted that that statement has poisoned the environment," Mr Malema said on South Africa's state radio SAFM on Sunday.

He also expressed hope that the ANC would accept his apology at its meeting expected on Monday.

"We are a young people who will time and again commit mistakes and are prepared to learn from those mistakes."

The firebrand league leader has been at the centre of controversy before.

He has repeatedly called for the nationalisation of South Africa's mines and farms - striking a chord with the country's poor black population, but unnerving investors.

Earlier this year, he was criticised by South Africa's Afrikaans community for singing a controversial apartheid-era song with the words "shoot the Boer".

Source: BBC

Toddler rescued from rubbish container in Spain

They say the toddler was rescued after residents of the town of Cabezo de Torres, near Murcia, heard sobbing sounds coming from a container.

The residents found the girl inside, saying she was "crying and sweating" with signs of panic on her face.

Her parents were detained after the incident late on Saturday.

The parents - who are reportedly of North African origin - are now awaiting trial on suspicion of neglect.

Police have not released the names of the suspects.

Source: BBC