Priest Found Guilty, Sentenced To Eight Years In Prison For ‘Conspiracy’

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January 18, 2023

The dictatorship of President Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua has found a Catholic priest, imprisoned since August 2022, guilty of “conspiracy” against the state.

According to the Nicaraguan media outlet 100% Noticias, Judge Nancy Aguirre of the Tenth Criminal District Trial Court of Managua found Father Oscar Benavidez Dávila guilty of the crimes of “conspiracy to undermine national security and sovereignty” and “spreading fake news.”

The prosecution is now asking for a sentence of eight years in prison for the priest, the pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in the town of Mulukukú in the Diocese of Siuna.

The accusations against the priest were made in September 2022 after he was held under arrest for 42 days in the Directorate of Judicial Assistance (DAJ) in Managua, better known as El Chipote, a prison notorious for torturing political opponents of the regime. The priest was apprehended Aug. 14, 2022, after celebrating Mass and was taken to the prison.

At that time, the Diocese of Siuna published a statement stating it didn’t know “the causes or reasons for his arrest and we hope that the authorities will keep us informed.”

The diocese also asked for prayers for Benavidez, whose “sole mission is and has been to announce the good news of Jesus Christ, who is the word of life and salvation for all.”

According to the priest’s defense, his “crime” was supposedly expressing his opinion in a social media post.

The Nicaraguan newspaper La Prensa reported that the priest was transferred in October 2022 to the Jorge Navarro Penitentiary System, a prison known as “La Modelo” located in the town of Tipitapa.

In total there are nine Nicaraguan priests that the dictatorship has accused of the crime of “conspiracy,” including the bishop of Matagalpa, Rolando Álvarez. At a Jan. 10 hearing, the bishop’s case was referred to trial.

Mang’u High School Receives Boost to Scale Aviation Studies

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John Mutiso

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January 18, 2023

KCB Bank Kenya has partnered with Mang’u High School to scale its aviation training programme in what will see hundreds of students benefit in the next five years.

KCB will facilitate the equipping of the School’s aviation center, providing the students with hands-on experience in aviation and prepare them for careers in the aviation industry.

Kenya Airways has donated an aircraft—Boeing 737-700—to the school and KCB will facilitate its transfer from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to the Thika-based facility and support in kitting the aviation center. The Bank has put in KShs.5 million towards the project.

“KCB remains committed in supporting the youth agenda and that includes access to skills development, business development support and financing. We believe that a strong investment in our youth today is a recipe for economic growth. Through this sponsorship, our goal is to inspire students to take up a career in the aviation sector with a long-term goal of mainstreaming it in our curriculum,” said KCB Group CEO Paul Russo while making the donation.

The programme is expected to train a critical mass of future air traffic controllers, aircraft engineers, pilots among others.

Mang’u High School is one of the few schools in Kenya that offer aviation training, focusing on technical skills such as propulsion, thermodynamics, & meteorology. The aviation students undertake most of their studies at Wilson Airport & Moi Air Base in Eastleigh.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support we have received from KCB and other organisations. We believe that a strong aviation program is essential for preparing students for the future in this field,” said Mang’u High School Board of Management Chairman, Mr. Anthony Maina Mithanga.

Government statistics show that Kenya has a deficit of over 2000 pilots and has an ambition of training at least 800 annually in the next five years.

Saudi Businessman Pays $2.6m For Ronaldo-Messi Match Ticket

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John Mutiso

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January 18, 2023

A Saudi real estate mogul has won a ticket to see Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi face off in a friendly after bidding $2.6m at auction, an official said.

The match on Thursday in Riyadh is set to pit Messi’s Paris Saint-Germain against a select side made up of players from Ronaldo’s new club Al Nassr and their Saudi rivals Al Hilal.

It will mark the first time Ronaldo has played any football in the kingdom since signing a contract with Al Nassr that runs until 2025 and is worth more than 200 million euros ($214m), according to sources close to the club.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is scheduled to make his Saudi Pro League debut for Al Nassr on Sunday.

To promote Thursday’s friendly, Turki al-Sheikh, an adviser at the Royal Court and head of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, announced a charity auction for a special ticket that would come with perks like photo opportunities with players and access to the locker rooms.

Bidding started at 1 million Saudi riyals ($266,000) and the auction closed at 11:30pm (20:30 GMT) on Tuesday.

Al-Sheikh then announced on Twitter the winning bid of 10 million riyals ($2.6m) had come from Mushref al-Ghamdi.

“Congratulations, you deserve it, and may God reward you with good,” Sheikh said.

The proceeds from the auction are due to go to the national charity campaign known as Ehsan.

Besides Messi, the PSG players expected to play on Thursday include France striker Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi, who last year in Qatar helped make Morocco the first Arab and African team to reach the World Cup semifinals.

The Saudi select team includes Salem al-Dawsari, who scored the winning goal in the Green Falcons’ shock defeat of Argentina in the World Cup’s group stage.

Defending Champion Rafael Nadal Knocked Out Of Australian Open

By

John Mutiso

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January 18, 2023

Rafael Nadal’s Australian Open title defense came to a premature end on Wednesday as he lost 4-6 4-6 5-7 against American Mackenzie McDonald in the second round.

The 36-year-old Nadal struggled with a left hip injury throughout the match and needed treatment during the second set on Rod Laver Arena.

He managed to finish the match, eventually going down to McDonald in two hours and 32 minutes for his earliest exit from a grand slam since the 2016 Australian Open.

“I didn’t want to retire [as] the defending champion here. I didn’t want to leave the court with a retirement,” Nadal told reporters.

“It’s better like this at the end. I lost, nothing to say, congratulate [my] opponent. That’s the sport at the same time – just try your best until the end.”

McDonald made a fast start to the match when he broke Nadal’s serve in the opening game.

He then did the same in the second set, taking control of the contest with consistent, powerful hitting from the baseline.

Nadal, who was looking to extend his men’s record of 22 grand slam titles at the Australian Open, left the court for a medical timeout at 5-3 in the second set.

The Spaniard was clearly struggling with his movement in the third set but nevertheless remained on serve until 5-5.

But then McDonald gained the upper hand, securing the crucial break with a backhand passing shot as both players came to the net.

He wrapped up the contest the next game when Nadal dropped a backhand return into the net to signal the biggest victory of the 27-year-old’s career.

McDonald, unseeded for the tournament, now has a chance to match his best-ever run at a grand slam if he manages to beat Dalibor Svrcina or Yoshihito Nishioka in the third round.

“He [Nadal] is an incredible champion,” McDonald said in his on-court interview. “He’s never going to give up, regardless of the situation, so even closing it out against a top guy like that is always tough.

“I was trying to stay so focused on what I was doing. He kind of got me out of the rhythm with that but I’m happy I kept focusing on myself in the end and got through.”

After the match, Nadal said he would receive treatment to ascertain the exact nature and extent of the injury.

“It’s difficult to make a resolution if it’s a muscle, if it’s the joint, if it’s the cartilage … Let’s see how the injury is, and then let’s see how I can manage to follow the calendar,” he told reporters.

Kingi Convenes Special Senate Sitting To Consider IEBC Amendment Bill

By

John Mutiso

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January 18, 2023

The Senate Speaker, Amason Jeffah Kingi, has announced that there will be special Senate sittings on Thursday, January 19, 2023.

The Senate Majority Leader requested the sittings, which will take place in the Senate Chamber of the Main Parliament Buildings in Nairobi, and they have the support of the required number of Senators.

“The sittings shall be held at the Senate Chamber, Main Parliament Buildings, Nairobi as follows— (a) morning sitting — 10.00 am to 12.30 p.m. and(b) afternoon sitting — 2.30 p.m. until the conclusion of the business of the day,” the gazette notice reads.

The Senate will swear in William Kipkemoi Kisang as Senator-elect for Elgeyo Marakwet County during the special sittings. They will also take into account the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2022 (National Assembly Bills No. 49 of 2022).

The morning sitting is scheduled to last from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and the afternoon sitting is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. and last until the day’s business is completed.

According to Standing Order 33(5) of the Senate Standing Orders, the only business before the Senate during the special sittings will be that specified in this notice.

Following the special sessions, the Senate will be adjourned until 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 14, 2023.

The Senate will then resume its regular sessions in accordance with the Senate calendar.

Mama Lucy Hospital Staff To Take The Stand On Baby Trafficking Charges

By

Cyrus Kimanga

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January 18, 2023

Two officers who were accused of trafficking children at Mama Lucy Hospital have a case to answer.

Milimani Law Courts Principal Magistrate Esther Kimilu found two employees of Nairobi Metropolitan Services charged with trafficking babies from Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital with a case to answer.

The two suspects, Makallah Fred Leparan and Selina Awuor Adundo are charged with stealing three infants from Mama Lucy Kibaki hospital on diverse dates between March and November 2020.

The three infants were aged: 8 days, 2 weeks and 2 months respectively.

In reading the ruling, the Magistrate said the prosecution had proved their case beyond reasonable doubt that indeed the two NMS employees, knowingly caused the three children to be in need of care and protection by failing to protect them.=

According to the Law, after this ruling, the two suspects will take the stand on March 7,2023 to prove their innocence before the court retires to write Judgement.

Mr. Makallah Fred Leparan informed the Court that during his defense, he will give unsworn evidence with his co-accused Selina Awuor Adundo choosing to give sworn evidence.

According to Mr Magaka, a BBC reporter and the key prosecution witness in the case, the three babies had been abandoned at the Hospital by their mothers and were later taken by the administration for treatment and care.

In the first instance, video was played in Court during the hearing of the case.

Mr. Leparan is seen going into the hospital, and then coming out to meet a woman, who is then handed the baby by a nurse before she drives off.

The deal was sealed after several meetings between the journalist, and Mr Leparan.

Mr Leparan allegedly received three bundles of Sh100,000 each from the buyers. Before handing over the baby boy to the woman, Mr Leparan had asked the woman what gender she preferred, to which she replied that gender did not matter. Mr Leparan was asked by the BBC reporter who had pretended to be a buyer whether the baby was healthy, and he replied that he was, thus “confirming his intent to steal and sell the child”.

Two Die As Car Plunges Into A Dam In Juja

By

John Mutiso

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January 18, 2023

Police in Juja, Kiambu County, are looking into the circumstances surrounding a car sinking into a dam, which resulted in the deaths of two people.

According to eyewitnesses, the victims, a man and a woman, were in their vehicle, a Nissan X-Trail, when it gently moved and sunk in the dam.

It remains unclear what led to the car plunging into the river without the two attempting to hop out.

By last evening, rescuers had managed to recover the body of the female victim, while efforts to recover the body of the male victim and the vehicle were still ongoing.

Martin Ngugi, a fire officer from the county, told journalists that the vehicle that is still inside the dam had two occupants. The vehicle, he said, has already been spotted but will be recovered after the male victim’s body is removed from the dam.

“We only managed to retrieve the body of the woman. She had tried to swim and had moved towards the bank but didn’t make it. We have already located where the car is and the man’s body,” Ngugi said.

The man’s body was finally retrieved on Wednesday and taken to General Kago Funeral Home together with the woman’s body.

The vehicle was yet to be retrieved from the dam as of the time of publishing this story.

Murera Ward MCA, Ngatha Wambiri, spoke at the scene and revealed that the Ward has five dams, some of which have been dangerous to locals and should now be fenced to protect lives.

“I’m urging the national government, or even the county government, to fence off the five dams in Juja. Many people usually come here to relax. However, where alcohol is involved, judgement is usually impaired, leading to unfortunate incidents that could have been avoided,” he said.

Revelers have been thronging the area for “park and chill” activities while indulging in merry-making.

Rescue efforts are still underway, led by the Kiambu County rescue team and divers in collaboration with the police.

The victims’ identities have not yet been released, and the cause of the accident is still being investigated.

Police Arrest Most Wanted Fraudster in Nairobi

By

Vanessa Kariuki

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January 18, 2023

Written By Vanessa Kariuki ||

Police Officers have arrested a most wanted person suspected of multiple fraud.

According to Police officers, the suspect was intercepted while boarding a plane at the Wilson Airport.

“Abdiqafar Abdirashid Abey was nabbed at Wilson Airport while awaiting to board a plane to Elwak,” said National Police Service.

According to information from Nyanchwa Police Station in Kisii County, he is suspected of scamming the public out of millions of shillings.

“We thank members of the public for providing crucial information that led to the timely arrest of the suspect,” said NPS.

WhatsApp To Allow Voice Notes On Status Updates

By

John Mutiso

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January 18, 2023

WhatsApp is testing a new feature that will let users upload a 30-second voice note as their status.

The feature is currently being tested by a selection of beta participants and seems to be rolling out to more.

Voice notes are very popular with some WhatsApp users, it allows them to effectively leave a voicemail on a whim, and share it with a group, when necessary.

WhatsApp’s current Status feature allows users to add text that will appear for 24 hours or share an image with a caption, that will also disappear in a day’s time, a bit like an Instagram Story.

Now, though, it looks as though users will be able to share a voice note of up to 30 seconds using this feature.

The new feature was found by WABetaInfo, in the latest Android beta of WhatsApp, version 2.23.2.8.

A screenshot shows the usual screen when posting a status, but now features a microphone icon in the bottom right-hand corner.

Tapping this icon will allow users to record a voice note, which can then be shared as their status.

Beta testers are seeing this feature after installing the latest update, but the report suggests that more users will get the feature in the coming weeks.

Unfortunately, there is no further information at this time, and we don’t know if or when this feature will make it to the iOS version.

WhatsApp has also been testing a feature that will enable users to migrate their chat history between Android phones.

World’s Oldest Known Person, French Nun, Dies At 118

By

John Mutiso

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January 18, 2023

French nun Sister André, the world’s oldest known person, died on Tuesday at the age of 118 in the southern city of Toulon.

The city’s mayor, Hubert Falco, announced the news of her death on Twitter, writing that “it is with immense sadness and emotion that I learnt tonight of the passing of the world’s oldest person #SisterAndré.”

The nun’s spokesman, David Tavella, said she died on Tuesday at 2 a.m. local time and lived near Toulon. “There is great sadness, but she wanted it to happen, it was her desire to join her beloved brother. For her, it is freedom,” Tavella said.

Born as Lucile Randon on February 11, 1904, Sister André dedicated most of her life to religious service, according to a statement released by Guinness in April 2022.

Before becoming a Catholic nun, she looked after children during World War II and then spent 28 years caring for orphans and elderly people at a hospital.

She was also the oldest nun to ever live, according to Guinness.

When she turned 118 in 2022, the nun received a handwritten birthday note from French President Emmanuel Macron – the 18th French president of her lifetime. There have also been 10 different Popes presiding over the Catholic Church since she was born.

She became the world’s eldest following the death of Kane Tanaka, a Japanese woman previously certified as the world’s oldest person, who died at the age of 119 on April 19.

The title of the oldest person ever recorded also belongs to a French woman. Born on February 21, 1875, Jeanne Louise Calment’s life spanned 122 years and 164 days, according to the Guinness World Records statement.