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U.N. says concerned over Libya migrant arrests

U.N. says concerned over Libya migrant arrests

THE United Nations mission in Libya said it was concerned by the arbitrary arrest of migrants and asylum seekers in the country, accompanied by what it called a disturbing rise in hate speech and racist discourse. The mission said Libyan authorities had detained thousands of men, women and children from the streets and their homes, or following raids on alleged traffickers' camps and warehouses. It said many of them, including children and pregnant women, were being detained in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions and that thousands of others, including some who entered Libya legally, had been collectively expelled. Last week eastern…
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South Africa’s governing ANC party expels former top official

South Africa’s governing ANC party expels former top official

SOUTH Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC) said it has expelled former secretary general Ace Magashule after he was found guilty of violating the party's constitution. Magashule was suspended from the day-to-day running of the ANC in May 2021 as part of tougher rules for party members charged with corruption. Shortly after his suspension, Magashule attempted to suspend President Cyril Ramaphosa saying he had the authority to do so as secretary-general, which failed. The ANC said its disciplinary committee found Magashule guilty of violating several rules of the party's constitution, which include failing or refusing to comply with stated party policy, resolutions and regulations.…
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40 killed in attack on DRC camp

40 killed in attack on DRC camp

MORE than 45 civilians were killed in a militia attack on a camp for displaced people in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's Ituri province early on Monday, the United Nations peacekeeping mission said. The Cooperative for the Development of the Congo (CODECO) group, one of many militias operating in the conflict-ridden east, was responsible for the killings at the "LALA" camp, the mission, known as MONUSCO, said in a statement. CODECO claims to defend the interests of Lendu farmers, who have long been in conflict with Hema herders. Its fighters have killed hundreds of civilians in Ituri province and…
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Nigeria: Meet famous veiled Muslim chef

Nigeria: Meet famous veiled Muslim chef

SHERIFA Yunus Olokodana developed a love for cooking during her pre-teen years in the 1980s when she and her mother would watch a popular Nigerian cooking show, 'Maggi Kitchen', hosted by Aunty Funmi (Princess Deborah Funmilayo Namabiri). "It was Aunty Funmi that made me really love to cook. It is only funny that I'm doing something totally different from what Aunty Funmi did, she was using Maggi cubes and I definitely do not do that," she said. When she and her children started experiencing frequent hospital visits, Sharifa decided to make sure that their diet improved. She stopped using bouillon…
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South Africa’s drinking water quality has dropped because of defective infrastructure and neglect – new report

South Africa’s drinking water quality has dropped because of defective infrastructure and neglect – new report

A report released by the South African government paints a grim picture of the country’s water resources and water infrastructure as well as the overall quality of its drinking water. The Blue Drop Watch Report – an interim report because it only assessed a sample of the facilities across the country – focused on the condition of the drinking water infrastructure and treatment processes from a technical standpoint. It also reported on water quality. Author ANJA DU PLESSIS, Associate Professor and Research Specialist in Water Resource Management, University of South Africa The issues of biggest concern that it identified included…
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Nigeria’s small businesses feel squeeze after petrol subsidy scrapped

Nigeria’s small businesses feel squeeze after petrol subsidy scrapped

IN a small factory in Nigeria's northern Kano city, Muhammad Khamis Umar stares at stacks of plastic products that have not been sold for over a week since new President Bola Tinubu scrapped a fuel subsidy, sharply driving up the cost of petrol. Most of Umar's customers came from across Nigeria's northern states to buy plastic plates, bowls and buckets in bulk, but demand has fallen since transport fares and the cost of filling a vehicle's tank surged after gasoline prices nearly tripled on May 31. "More than 80% of my customers have stopped coming to take products from us because of…
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Three British tourists missing after fire on boat in Red Sea

Three British tourists missing after fire on boat in Red Sea

THREE British tourists were missing and 12 had been rescued after a motor boat caught fire on Sunday off the Egyptian Red Sea coast, Egyptian officials and security sources said. The survivors were brought to safety in the nearby diving resort of Marsa Shagra, about 21km (13 miles) north of the town of Marsa Alam, along with 12 Egyptian crew and guides, according to a statement from the Red Sea State governor's office and two security sources. The fire was caused by an electrical short circuit on the boat, which was named Hurricane and had been on a trip since…
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These dynamic women seafarers are charting a new course for African women in the blue economy

These dynamic women seafarers are charting a new course for African women in the blue economy

"WITNESSING the vastness and the beauty of the ocean, encountering diverse marine wildlife and navigating through challenging breathtaking waterways are some of the remarkable aspects of the job," Elizabeth Marami says passionately as she describes her role piloting one of the newest vessels in a growing global fleet of cruise ships. "Each voyage presents opportunities to learn and adapt to new situations," she says of her role behind the wheel of luxurious Celebrity Cruise ships, capable of holding up to 3,260 passengers and 1,400 crew members. While the experience of sailing along the Indian Ocean and exploring the sunny coastlines,…
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Designer calls for rebrand of youth sex education

Designer calls for rebrand of youth sex education

A decade ago, the Kenyan government withdrew its TV advertisement promoting condom use after an outcry from religious leaders and citizens who believed the advert encouraged infidelity. The Kenyan Anglican Church's Bishop at the time, Julius Kalu, told the country's Daily Nation newspaper that the advert on free-to-air TV stations had promoted extra-marital affairs and sex among school children. "The advertisement depicts this nation as Sodom and Gomorra and not one that values the institution of marriage and family," Sheikh Mohammed Khalifa, from the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya, also said. Fast-forward to 2023, and speaking about sexuality…
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South Africa’s Johannesburg feels tremors after 5.0 magnitude quake

South Africa’s Johannesburg feels tremors after 5.0 magnitude quake

A 5.0 magnitude earthquake shook South Africa's Johannesburg on Sunday morning, the U.S Geological Survey (USGS) said. The USGS said the earthquake occurred at 0038 GMT at a depth of 10 km (6 miles). Some Johannesburg residents reported feeling tremors. "Earth tremor in Johannesburg. Longest and strongest I have felt! Went on for about 30 seconds, it felt like," one resident wrote on Twitter. Security risk and crisis management consultancy Crisis24 said there were no reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake. Source: U.S. Geological Survey Thomson Reuters Foundation
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