The political unrest in Zimbabwe has been grabbing zillions of headlines around the world… including right here at France 24.

But what’s been less talked about is the ramifications that the mass exodus of migrants and refugees - from beleaguered nations like Zimbabwe and Malawi - have had on neighboring South Africa.

An article in today’s edition of the ‘South African Times’ says that more foreigners in the country are being attacked than ever before…’in a wave of xenophobic violence that has sent hundreds fleeing for their lives’.

Since 2005 there have been more than 16 reported attacks on foreigners throughout the country.

That may not sound like much – but most of them occurred in the past 6 months and they’re said to be just the tip of what the paper terms a ‘xenophobic iceberg’.

Worryingly foreigners report being told to leave the country by South African attackers… who accused them of being ‘smelly criminals, hell-bent on taking their jobs’.

The piece really brings home the fact that as its struggles to build a strong national identity for itself post -Apartheid…this country is having to figure out how to get to grips with its new diverse South African family.

South African Times (South Africa)

‘ Recent attacks just the tip of a xenophobic iceberg’

Moving on to more violence…but of the cyberspace kind…lawmakers in the US state of Missouri have voted and given final approval to a bill which will deal with cyber-harassment.

According to the ‘Los Angeles Times’ ‘the bill is expected to cover several aspects of the new wave of technology, identifying as illegal cyber-bullying from computers, text messages and many other electronic devices.’

This groundbreaking law comes after ‘Lori Drew, 49, was indicted on Thursday for her alleged role in an online hoax that led to the suicide of her 13-year-old neighbour Megan Meier back in 2006.

Drew was accused of creating a fake MySpace identity under the name of “Josh Evans”, a 16 year old boy, making friends and later harassing Megan not long before she committed suicide.’

Talk about brutal and really weird…

Los Angeles Times (US)

‘Missouri lawmakers pass bill against cyber-harassment after MySpace suicide case’

So clearly things are currently a bit of a bummer in South Africa and cyberspace …

So a girl’s gotta wonder what’s the happiest place to be right now?

Care to hazard a guess?

Well apparently the answer is Iceland…

According to a great piece in today’s edition of the British Guardian the world of Bjork is in fact some sort happy happy joy joy la la land.

This despite the fact that it boasts ‘the highest birth rate in Europe + highest divorce rate + highest percentage of women working outside the home’.

And why’s that you ask? Because they have a hardy self-confidence inherited from their ancestors…those lovable looters and rapists known as the Vikings.

If you still don’t believe me take note, this finding came from the same United Nations study that found that the world’s most unhappy country is Russia.

Putin’s going to be sending me more hate mail…

The Observer (UK)

‘No wonder Iceland has the happiest people on earth’

Speaking of unhappiness, pity the poor polar bear.

Well last week the beautiful beast was put finally put under the protection of the endangered species act by the Bush Administration.

An official acknowledgement that the bear is seriously at risk because its hunting ground is being diminished by shrinking summer snow.

Sounds good right? Well not according to an editorial in today’s edition of the New York Times…

Which says this act in no way addresses the gravest threat to the bears survival: oil and gas drilling as well as global warming.

So way to go Mr Bush…

New York Times (UK)

’Not Much Help for the Polar Bear’

Anyhoo, one endangered species that’s back with a vengeance…much to my delight is Indiana Jones…

As everybody and their mother knows by now tonight is the big premiere of the 4th in the series at Cannes.

If by perchance you needed to brush up your Indy knowledge before seeing it for yourself there’s a handy guide in the ‘Miami Herald’.

Miami Herald

‘ Indiana Jones Man of Adventure’

With sizzling pics of the man in the hat to boot or might not even bother after reading a piece in the ‘British Daily Express’ that says don’t believe the hype.

As some bloggers who’ve already seen the film are giving it the big thumbs down.

But whatever. The filmmakers are still going to be laughing all the way to the bank, because silly girls like me are going to want to see if Harrison Ford still has whip-appeal well in his 60s.