Egyptian rights researcher sentenced to three years in prison

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Egyptian rights researcher sentenced to three years in prison | Africanews

Egyptian rights researcher, Patrick Zaki, sentenced to three years in prison for article on discrimination against Coptic Christians

Source: Africanews | Latest breaking news, daily news and African news from Africa

OVER 160 squatters at Ngozi Mine in Bulawayo had their only source of water turned off, which forced them to petition councillor Joyce Ndlovu to ensure provision of water as the community faces a health crisis. BY SILAS NKALA The squatters usually access water at the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) dumpsite offices whose taps were turned off, resulting in them failing to access the precious liquid. The petition, which was signed by 160 squatters had two demands: That the BCC should open the water taps at their offices to allow people to access it, or install at least two communal taps at Ngozi Mine offices as a long-term measure. The petition reads: “We understand that Bulawayo has a water shortage problem, but we note that as human beings within the city of Bulawayo, we also have human rights as stated in the Constitution of Zimbabwe, including the right to water. “As a long-term measure, BCC must put at least two communal taps within the Ngozi Mine area. Our promise is that should the council do the above, as a community through our committee, we shall be responsible to ensure that we collect the water in an organised and orderly manner, to make sure that there is no vandalism of council infrastructure or property in the area where we collect water and there are no acts of violence during collection of water.” The petitioners claimed that the BCC was refusing them access to water because they were illegal settlers. They questioned why council failed to recognise their existence, yet during elections they are lured to vote at the Ngozi Mine polling station. Gideon Tshuma, the chairperson of the Ngozi Mine dwellers, said there were more than 250 families affected by the closure of the water taps. He said as a result people were forced to fetch water from a stream that is contaminated with sewage, thereby posing a serious health risk to the community. “We do not even have water bowsers to deliver the precious liquid to us. We used to rely on the council’s two taps at the offices there, but after the transfer of the officer who was there a new officer was deployed who then turned off the taps, accusing us of insulting her,” Tshuma said. Another squatter, Maxwell Khumalo, said the problem was that the council was collecting people from areas around the city and dump them at Ngozi Mine. He said it was surprising that when the squatters asked for assistance, council ignored them. “We appeal for water supply. Even if they give each family a bucket, it would be better because we are in a desperate situation,” Khumalo said. Asked to comment on the matter, Bulawayo deputy mayor Mlandu Ncube said he was not aware of the petition.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand yesterday announced that public schools will be reopening their doors from November 9th to hold classes for students of grades 10, 11 and 12 and she assured that COVID-19 best practices would be in place to ensure the safety of both teachers and their charges.

The article Public schools reopening November 9th for grades 10, 11 and 12 appeared first on Stabroek News.

The upcoming UK lockdown will not force the Premier League and other elite sports to shutdown but amateur sport will be prohibited.

Mayor Pete Buttigieg was mistaken about 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden’s financial agenda being higher for Individuals, statedTrump 2020 Communications Director Tim Murtaugh on Sunday, two days away from…

By JIM SALTER and GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press ST. LOUIS (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson steadfastly refused to mandate mask-wearing even as the coronavirus spread across his state this year, telling a group of cattlemen in July, 'You don't need government to tell you to wear a dang mask. If you want to wear a dang mask, wear a mask.' In late September, the Republican governor and his wife both tested positive for the coronavirus, and COVID-19 is now spreading rapidly throughout the state, with rising cases and deaths. Parson, who took office in 2018 after Eric Greitens resigned, […]

The post Races for governor take top billing in Missouri, Montana appeared first on Black News Channel.

Anand Parekh, chief medical advisor for the Bipartisan Policy Center, lists eight things that federal, state and local governments need to prioritize to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.

Why is voting important? If the people do not vote, the country will be reduced to a government neither for the people nor by the people.

Hamlet: Lady, shall I lie in your lap?Ophelia: No my LordHamlet: Did you think I meant country matters?Ophelia: I think nothing my LordHamlet: That's a fair thought, to lie between maid's legs.- Shakespeare, Hamlet, 3, 2ï¿½

THE National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has approached government for financial support to procure 41 locomotives, 300 wagons and 300 coaches as part of its turnaround strategy. BY SILAS NKALA This was revealed last Friday by Transport minister Joel Biggie Matiza in Bulawayo during the commissioning of the NRZ Railway Museum as a national tourism development site, where he also said most locomotives, wagons and coaches are more than a decade old. “The NRZ has suffered in terms of spares for the locomotives, most of which are imported, and yet sanctions have not spared the parastatal as its locomotives are originally from countries that imposed sanctions on us like America and Canada,” Matiza said. “It is in this light that the new NRZ management has requested the government to support the NRZ drive to get 41 locomotives, 300 wagons and 300 coaches to improve the parastatal’s capacity so that it breaks even,” he said. Matiza said the NRZ should be capacitated in order to play its role in the economy and transport bulk goods which are often transported by road due to capacity problems at the rail company. He said the NRZ last bought locomotives in 1992, and coaches in 1997. As a result, Matiza said the parastatal had resorted to hiring equipment and rehabilitating old wagons and coaches. The Transport minister also disclosed that the NRZ had accumulated huge debts due to decreased capacity levels which had seen the organisation reducing its workforce, as well as sharp reduction in tonnage from a high of 14 million tonnes in 1998 to a low of 2,7 million tonnes annually. “At present the entire railway industry in the country needs a concerted rehabilitation on track. While all over the world passenger train services are not profitable, the NRZ believes if the government supports its initiatives especially around commuter and intercity trains, it can find ways of breaking even especially by balancing the resources, vis-à-vis the service,” Matiza said. “We request the government to support the passenger train services project with 300 state of the art coaches that can signal our drive towards government’s vision 2030 expectations.” He said the NRZ was struggling to attract both long-term and short-term capital and was facing a huge debt burden which he said had literally put it in an insolvency state. He appealed to the government to instil confidence in the NRZ through a Debt Assumption Bill to ensure that it focuses on an upward trajectory. The Transport minister lauded the NRZ board led by Mike Dinha and the new general manager Joseph Mashika, saying they had worked hard to turn around the parastatal. “Since we started our restructuring at NRZ this new team has set the organisation on a positive trajectory focused on achieving the government's vision 2030,” Matiza said.  Follow Silas on Twitter @silasnkala

BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) says it is facing challenges to mobilise funds to revamp most of its recreational facilities due to the economic challenges affecting the country. BY PATRICIA SIBANDA This was revealed last Saturday by BCC housing and community services department, conservation and education officer Thulani Magagula during a clean-up campaign at Centenary Park. Magagula said the situation had affected the standards at public toilets and the recreational parks which used to be green and had beautiful flowers and playgrounds. The clean-up campaign was sponsored by Club Likoma, Global Institute, Heads and Hooves and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. “We have been failing to maintain recreational parks due to the general collapse of the economy,” Magagula said. “Now we are also experiencing water problems and financial challenges to ensure the parks are well-taken care of. If people look at the recreational facilities now, they will think that it is BCC which is failing to plant trees and lawns, yet there is no water and more resources are needed,” he said. Magagula said even the recycled water from Thorngrove was now rarely available as the city faces crippling water challenges. He said with the limited resources at BCC, they were trying to prioritise revamping water and sewer systems. “We are now prioritising water, sewage reticulation and ensuring that there is enough lighting in the city. After that, we can then talk about revamping of recreational facilities,” he said. Magagula said companies and other stakeholders that used to support the BCC were also struggling and were unable to support council with resources to take care of recreational facilities. lFollow Patricia on Twitter @patrici60905217

WARRIORS gaffer Zdravko “Loga” Logarusic has defended the inclusion of Ovidy Karuru (pictured) in his 24-man provisional Warriors squad for the back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against the reigning champions Algeria in a week’s time. BY TERRY MADYAUTA Karuru is currently unattached after he parted ways with South Africa’s DStv premiership side Stellenbosch under unclear circumstances, but Logarusic is optimistic the midfielder will add more impetus to his arsenal amid question marks over his inclusion. Addressing a Press conference in Harare yesterday, Logarusic said Karuru’s previous exploits for the Warriors helped him earn a spot in the provisional squad, admitting that he was charmed by his commitment. “When we made the squad, we did not know where Ovidy was and we made the squad not knowing whether they were changing clubs or not. I spoke to him and he showed commitment, saying that he was working. He also told me that he was not injured,” Loga said. “When I talked to my assistants, they told me he was one of the best players when the Warriors played against Botswana and Zambia. That means he didn’t disappoint when he played for the country last time. “For the moment if Ovidy does not have a club, I think that’s part of this sport and in the future he will still be part of this sport. Those in South Africa have only played two games that means if he did not play the last two games we should not chase him away especially considering that he impressed in the previous games. He should be part of this squad because eventually, we will have 23 players to travel. We know our 15 players, but the other seven, we have to think about the future. “We have King Nadolo there because we also have the Chan [African Nations Championship] and those boys should be comfortable to avoid them relaxing. We must give them a chance.” Assistant coach Llyod Chitembwe also stood by their decision affirming that Karuru will help the squad grind a positive result. “The whole idea on Ovidy is that we are trying to come up with a team that is good enough to give us what we can expect, a team that is good enough to represent the country,” said Chitembwe. “I think all these years, Ovidy has played an important part within the set-up and one thing which is undisputed is that he is a quality player. He proved against Botswana when we played them at the National Sports Stadium. He equally proved this when we played away to Zambia. “The point here is that he is unattached, he is neither here nor there, the South African league is still in its infancy and they have just played two games. I am sure he deserves a chance, let’s give the coach a chance to assess the player’s fitness. I am sure he has the intelligence to play and give us what we want.” While Karuru’s inclusion has been questioned, perhaps the other selection question mark is the inclusion of Tendai Darikwa who has not been having game time at his England Championship side Nottingham forest. Darikwa was injured just before the 2019-2020 season started and has been on the side

FRRC is a grassroots, membership based organization run by returning citizens who led efforts in restoring voting rights in FL by passing Amendment 4.

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Facing financial difficulties aggravated by the coronavirus pandemic, the southern African nation of Zambia appears headed... View Article

The post Zambia’s risk of default highlights Africa’s debt crisis appeared first on TheGrio.

A custody battle for Jodian Fearon’s six-month-old daughter Peyton-Grace is threatening to inflict fresh wounds in the relationship between the deceased first-time mom’s loved ones even as they try to come to terms with her tragic passing under...

… friend and Third Ward native, African-American George Floyd, died in May … into huge voter turnout for Black Americans in some parts of the … city’s crown jewels for African-American culture, including Texas Southern University …

T.I. was repudiated by an Atlanta couple embroiled in a discrimination controversy at a local sushi restaurant after he used his clout to intervene in […]

FIRST Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, who was fingered alongside her son Collins as owners of the gold bars weighing 6kg intercepted at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport last Monday, yesterday challenged the police to prove that she was an accomplice in the foiled attempt by businesswoman Henrietta Rushwaya to smuggle the mineral. BY MOSES MATENGA Auxillia absolved herself and her son, and dared the Zimbabwe Republic Police to “clarify” how she was fingered by Rushwaya’s alleged accomplice Gift Karanda (44), who told police detectives that the gold, worth over US$300 000, belonged to her and Collins. She also claimed her son Collins, was a “hard-working individual” and was not involved in any illegal activities. This was after a leaked internal police memorandum seen by NewsDay on Friday showed that following Rushwaya’s arrest at the airport with the gold, Karanda, a Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) secretary for external affairs, tried to save his president (Rushwaya) by dropping the name of Mnangagwa and her son. Karanda told detectives at the airport that the gold Rushwaya was carrying “belonged to the First Lady and one Collins, a son to the First Family, who was supposed to have brought it, but due to other commitments had requested Rushwaya to transport it on his behalf”. In her statement, the First Lady defended herself saying she served the interests of the nation first and not of any individual. The police yesterday sought to clear her name saying Karanda’s claims that the First Family was involved were “false” and “malicious”. “I do not engage in illegal narrow-minded pursuits like gold smuggling. I am challenging the police through their relevant office to issue a statement. I am a strong advocate for transparency and honesty and any continued silence by the police may be misconstrued as a cover-up,” Auxillia said. “If there is any incriminating evidence against me, I challenge the police to present it to the nation without fear or favour. If there be none, I also challenge the police to say so.” She claimed that she was an anti-corruption advocate, adding that the statement by Karanda was part of malicious attempts to cow her not to support anti-graft activities. On her son, Collins, she said: “It pains me that my son, who is hardworking and is an obedient son, is being attacked for no reason other than being a member of the First Family. He is a hard-working person and strives to improve himself day-by-day. As a mother, I am proud of his work ethics and encourage him not to be affected by malicious rumours. “I am an advocate for peace and love and work hard at helping those who I can. I am greatly aggravated by the continuation of these false stories and claims. However, I remain unshaken and will continue to serve my nation in its entirety to the best of my ability.” However, Collins was previously linked to a US$60 million COVID-19 procurement scandal involving former Health minister Obadiah Moyo who was arrested along with Drax International local representative Delish Nguwaya. Both of them are out

By MEHMET GUZEL and ZEYNEP BILGINSOY Associated Press IZMIR, Turkey (AP) — Rescue workers extricated a 70-year-old man from a collapsed building in western Turkey on Sunday, some 34 hours after a strong earthquake in the Aegean Sea struck Turkey and Greece, killing at least 64 people and injuring more than 900. It was the latest series of remarkable rescues after the Friday afternoon earthquake, which was centered in the Aegean northeast of the Greek island of Samos. Search-and-rescue teams were working in nine toppled or damaged buildings in Izmir, Turkey's third-largest city, but appeared to be finding more bodies […]

The post 70-year-old pulled out alive in Turkey as quake toll hits 64 appeared first on Black News Channel.

It wasn't just that Allen West defended a caravan of pro-Trump truck drivers surrounding a Biden campaign bus in an apparent act of intimidation. How he defended it matters too.

By ELLIOT SPAGAT and SOPHIA TAREEN Associated Press SAN DIEGO (AP) — The head of the agency handling citizenship and visa applications was surprised when he faced blowback for cutting a reference to the U.S. being a 'nation of immigrants' in its mission statement. The son of a Peruvian immigrant added language about 'protecting Americans' instead. L. Francis Cissna argued that America is indisputably a nation of immigrants but that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' mission statement wasn't the place to say so. Joseph Edlow, who now oversees the agency, said he hasn't thought about the 2018 kerfuffle, but it […]

The post Under Trump, citizenship and visa agency focuses on fraud appeared first on Black News Channel.

VACAVILLE One enterprise that has not seen a lower in exercise on this unprecedented yr has been the insurance coverage enterprise. Susan Rose turned an unbiased agent in 2019 with…

As many as 12 million Americans didn’t get their stimulus payment. Usually it’s because their income was too low. Here’s what they can do: Apply through the government’s glitchy platform (if they even qualify), and do so before Nov. 21. byLydia DePillis, Propublica.org It’s been 217 days since Congress instructed the IRS to send $1,200 […]

The post Millions Still Haven’t Gotten Stimulus Checks, Including Many Who Need Them Most appeared first on The Orlando Advocate.