South Africa Vision

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) announced on Friday that it will soon launch a nationwide operation to arrest holders of unregistered firearms, following a low response to a month-long amnesty that began on Sept. 1.

The amnesty allows individuals to surrender illegal firearms and ammunition without fear of arrest.

However, only eight firearms had been turned in by Friday, prompting police spokesperson Paul Nyathi to issue a warning. “The police are concerned with reports of armed robberies throughout the country which show that unregistered firearms and ammunition are in the wrong hands. These are most likely being used to commit criminal acts,” Nyathi said in a statement posted on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

The ZRP has been reporting an uptick in armed robberies across the country, involving homes, churches, businesses and highways. “We urge the public to take advantage of this opportunity to surrender firearms and ammunition voluntarily, without fear of questioning or arrest b
y the police,” Nyathi said.

He also urged companies, farmers, miners, hunters, gun dealers, gun clubs and security firms which are no longer authorized to possess firearms to surrender them at their nearest police station. Additionally, licensed firearm holders were reminded to update their records and inform authorities of any changes in residential or business addresses.

Nyathi said that after the amnesty period ends, a nationwide operation will be conducted to crack down on illegal firearms, with arrests expected to follow.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Around 10 people were trapped under the debris of a building that collapsed in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, a local official confirmed to media.

The mishap occurred in Zakir residential colony of Meerut area. Rescue work was underway.

Commissioner of Meerut division Selva Kumari said a building collapsed in Zakir colony, and eight to 10 people were trapped under it.

According to Kumari, police and firefighters carried out rescue operation. Enditem

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Cambodia cracked down on 104 human trafficking and sexual exploitation cases in the first half of 2024, according to a National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT) report on Saturday.

Twenty-two cases involved human trafficking and 82 cases were related to sexual exploitation during the January-June period this year, the report said, adding that during the crackdowns, the authorities had arrested a total of 134 suspects, including four foreigners.

“A total of 290 victims including 241 females had been rescued,” the report said, adding that 134, or 46 percent, of them were under the age of 18.

Interior Ministry’s Secretary of State Chou Bun Eng, who is also the NCCT’s permanent vice-chairwoman, said human trafficking cases were linked to crimes of fraud, labor disputes, illegal work, and illegal immigration, among others.

“The royal government will continue to do its best to eliminate all forms of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in order to promote the respect for human rights, dignity and s
ocial justice,” she said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Iran on Saturday morning launched research satellite Chamran-1 into orbit, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

The satellite was launched by the homegrown three-stage solid-fuel Qaem-100 rocket, according to the report.

Chamran-1 was designed and built by the space group of Iran Electronics Industries in cooperation with the country’s Aerospace Research Institute and private tech firms, according to Fars.

Weighing nearly 60 kg, the satellite’s main mission was to test the software and hardware systems to validate the technology for orbital maneuvering.

It is also tasked with assessing the performance of the cold gas propulsion subsystems in space systems and the navigation and attitude control subsystems, according to Fars.

The launch was the second operation carried out by the Qaem-100 carrier rocket, which was designed and developed by the Aerospace Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps.

The Chamran-1 satellite, which is operating in an orbit 550 km above Earth, has sent back its fi
rst signals, according to Iran’s official news agency IRNA. Enditem

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

China is expected to see 74 million railway passenger trips during the five-day travel rush for the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, official data showed on Saturday.

According to the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd., the average daily passenger trips will reach an estimated 14.8 million between Sept. 14 and Sept. 18.

Passenger trips are expected to peak on Sunday, the first day of the three-day holiday for the Mid-Autumn Festival, said the company, noting that 16.8 million trips are estimated on that day.

During the holiday, the railway passenger flow will sustain at a high level as people tend to visit tourist attractions or go home for family reunions, and local railway departments will work to improve travel services.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on Sept. 17 this year, is usually marked by family reunions, enjoying the full moon, and eating mooncakes.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

A cultural event titled “Written in the Sky: My China Story” was held in Berlin on Saturday to celebrate the upcoming 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

Officials from the Chinese Embassy in Germany, the Center for Language Education and Cooperation under China’s Ministry of Education, and the Association of German China Societies participated in the event. Teachers and students from the German Burg Chinese Chorus, and various schools and universities were also among the nearly 200 attendees.

At the event, the German Burg Chinese Chorus performed several classic songs, including “To the Cloud” and “Jasmine Flower,” in both Chinese and German.

All attendees also watched a special video message sent by the astronauts of Shenzhou-18 from the space station.

In his speech, Chinese Ambassador to Germany Deng Hongbo emphasized that both China and Germany share a profound cultural heritage, and mutual appreciation, attraction, and learning have never ceased. He also highlighted th
at in an era of both opportunities and challenges, the world needs more exchange and cooperation than ever before.

Ivan Pavlovic, one of the chorus members, is pursuing a degree in Modern East Asian Studies with a focus on the Chinese economy at the University of Duisburg-Essen.

“My story with China is more than an academic connection. The bond (with China) has shaped my life in many ways and continues to challenge and enrich me in new and unexpected ways,” he said.

The “Written in the Sky: My China Story” event will also be held at the United Nations headquarters and in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. Enditem

Source: The Namibia Press Agency