The US embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine has temporarily closed after receiving “specific information of a potential significant air attack on 20 November”.
In a statement, the embassy also recommended that US citizens should prepare to shelter in the event an air alert is announced. It said:
<blockquote>
The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has received specific information of a potential significant air attack on November 20. Out of an abundance of caution, the Embassy will be closed, and Embassy employees are being instructed to shelter in place. The U.S. Embassy recommends U.S. citizens be prepared to immediately shelter in the event an air alert is announced.
</blockquote>
The development comes after Ukraine on Tuesday launched US-supplied long-range missiles into its Bryansk region, marking the first use of the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) against Russia’s internationally recognised territory.
According to Russia’s Ministry of Defence, five missiles were intercepted, and one missile’s fragments caused a fire at a military facility in the region. There were no reported casualties.
The attack hit an ammunition depot near the town of Karachev, around 100 km from the Russian border, causing multiple secondary explosions.
In response, Russia has vowed an “appropriate and tangible response” to any further such attacks.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

The US embassy in Ukraine closed because of a possible big air attack from Russia. US citizens are told to be ready to go inside if needed. Ukraine shot missiles into Russia, but only small damage happened. Russia promises to fight back if there are more attacks. No one was hurt in the missile attack on a Russian military base. The US government is taking steps to protect its people in Ukraine from possible danger.

US Embassy In Ukraine Closes Over Threat of Major Russian Airstrike

The Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe has criticised the United States government after the country’s Ambassador-Designate to Zimbabwe, Pamela Tremont, claimed that Chinese investments in Africa do not benefit ordinary people but benefit those in power.
Tremont made the remarks while responding to questions from US senators about how America can better counter Chinese influence in Africa and growing investment during the nomination hearings on 1 March.
In a statement issued on Sunday, 19 March, the Chinese Embassy said the United States should respect the right of Zimbabweans and Africans to choose their friends without external interference. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
The US senators and government officials wantonly discussed Zimbabwe’s internal affairs and even smeared China-Zimbabwe cooperation.
I want to challenge them, ‘Who gives them the right to point fingers at other countries’ diplomatic relations?’ The US’ old habit never changes’.
We strongly suggest that the US politicians should study the word ‘respect’ and respect Zimbabwe’s independence and sovereignty, respect the African countries and African people, and respect the normal cooperation between Zimbabwe and other countries.
Zimbabwe has the right to develop friendly relations with any other country without external influence or pressure.
Please remember, Zimbabwe should not be used as a battlefield for the US to counter China, and should not be used as a wrestling ground for major-country rivalry.
We believe that the Zimbabwe government and its people will not allow this to happen in their territory.
</blockquote>
The Chinese Embassy rejected Tremont’s assertion that Chinese projects such as the new Parliament building in Mount Hampden will not benefit the people of Zimbabwe, saying:
<blockquote>
Is the US Capitol not serving the interests of the US people, and is it just benefiting the US congressmen and senators?
If so, the US should stop its budget for maintaining and protecting the Capitol. The US always advocates its model of “democracy”.
Why does Zimbabwe not need a new Parliament building to develop the nation’s democracy?
… It’s easy to find out where the Chinese funds are used and what benefits are generated. This is the best transparency.
If the US failed and even doesn’t want to find out the truth, it is not qualified to comment. We noticed that the new ambassador alleged the US invested US$4.5 billion in Zimbabwe. It is more than one-third of the foreign currency inflows of Zimbabwe for a whole year.
We are curious where the money went, what projects have been completed, what benefits have been brought to the Zimbabwean people, and how much has been spent on “defending democratic space to improve the election system.
If anyone wants to talk about competition, let’s compete on ‘Who contributes more to the development of Zimbabwe?’
If anyone wants to counter something, let’s counter-hegemony and interference in other countries’ internal affairs.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Chinese Embassy In Zimbabwe Criticises United States Over Diplomat's Remarks

United States of America Ambassador-Designate to Zimbabwe, Pamela Tremont, says Zimbabweans are aware that Chinese investment in the country does not benefit ordinary people but benefits those in power.
Tremont made the remarks while responding to questions from US senators about how America can better counter Chinese influence in Africa and growing investment during the nomination hearings on 1 March.
She claimed the US$4.5 billion investments by the United States directly benefited Zimbabweans while Chinese investments, such as the Parliament building do not necessarily benefit the Zimbabwean people. <a href="https://cite.org.zw/zimbabweans-aware-chinese-investments-dont-really-benefit-them-us-official/">CITE</a> quoted Tremont as saying:
<blockquote>
Yes, Zimbabwe and China have a long-standing relationship that goes all the way back to Zimbabwe’s war of independence.
I think the difference between Chinese investments in Zimbabwe and perhaps other places in Africa, is the US investments of US$4.5 billion that we have invested in Zimbabwean people, have been for the people.
700 000 Zimbabweans benefited from our food security and agricultural programme last year.
It is tremendously important in light of the food shortages brought on by Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine whereas the Chinese investments are much more for the government of Zimbabwe.
</blockquote>
She was responding to Senator John Barrasso’s observation that in 2022, President Emmerson Mnangagwa commended Zimbabwe’s “excellent relations” with China.
The Chinese built Zimbabwe’s new Parliament building in Mount Hampden at a cost of US$200 million “for free”.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Chinese Investments Do Not Benefit Ordinary Zimbabweans - US Diplomat

The United States Embassy to South Africa on Wednesday, 26 October raised the alarm about possible terror attacks targeting large gatherings at an unspecified location in Sandton, Johannesburg.
In a security alert, the embassy said it did not have further information, but urged staff to avoid gatherings in the area this coming weekend. <a href="https://za.usembassy.gov/security-alert-u-s-embassy-possible-attack/">It said:</a>
<blockquote>
The U.S. government has received information that terrorists may be planning to conduct an attack targeting large gatherings of people at an unspecified location in the greater Sandton area of Johannesburg, South Africa, on 29 October 2022.
There is no further information regarding the timing, method, or target of the potential attack.
</blockquote>
The U.S. Embassy has advised staff to avoid crowds of people and other large public gatherings in the greater Sandton area of Johannesburg during the weekend of 29-30 October 2022.
SA State Security Agency spokesperson Mava Scott told <a href="https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/us-embassy-issues-warning-of-possible-terror-attacks-in-sandton-20221026">News24</a> the department was aware of the alert and was investigating its authenticity.
The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, asexual (LGBTQIA+) community was expected to host its Pride Parade in Sandton at the weekend.

US Embassy To SA Issues Warning Of Possible Terror Attacks In Sandton

US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Brian A. Nichols and Director of the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations Tad Davies, with local officials, dedicated the new U.S. Embassy in Harare yesterday. U.S. Embassy officials regard the gesture as a display of the US friendship with Zimbabwe. Read the full text below:
<h3>Related:</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/watch-the-official-opening-of-the-us-embassy-in-harare/" rel="bookmark">WATCH: The Official Opening Of The US Embassy In Harare</a></li>
<li><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/great-zimbabwe-inspired-new-us-embassy-ambassador-nichols/" rel="bookmark">Great Zimbabwe Inspired New US Embassy – Ambassador Nichols</a></li>
<li><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/watch-apostolic-sect-members-protest-against-sanctions-at-us-embassy/" rel="bookmark">WATCH: Apostolic Sect Members Protest Against Sanctions At US Embassy</a></li>
</ul>
More: <a href="https://twitter.com/usembassyharare/status/1123953941815930881" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">U.S. Embassy Harare</a>

FULL TEXT: The Official Opening Of The New US Embassy In Harare

Members of the Apostolic sect staged a demonstration at the US embassy in protest of the renewal of sanctions on Zimbabwe.
Some of the placards wielded by the demonstrators read ‘Liberate Zimbabwe remove sanctions’. Watch the video of the members demonstrating below:
<div class="wp-video" style="width: 640px;">
<video class="wp-video-shortcode" controls="controls" height="362" id="video-82036-1" preload="metadata" width="640"><source src="https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/7yT5YxNHB98F8N5q.mp4?_=1" type="video/mp4"/><a href="https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/7yT5YxNHB98F8N5q.mp4">https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/7yT5YxNHB98F8N5q.mp4</a></video></div>

WATCH: Apostolic Sect Members Protest Against Sanctions At US Embassy

Top journalist and documentary filmmaker Hopewell Chin’ono, who said he visited the US Embassy in Harare for a Visa recently, recounted the painful experience of watching a young woman denied a Visa to the US.
Here’s part of the account:
<blockquote>…She paid US$160 for her visa interview, they don’t take Bond notes or debit and credit cards at the US embassy. Strictly greenbacks.
The young lady was called to the interviewing window, she said that she was a waitress who earns $300 plus tips. She added that she was going on holiday and that she would stay with her friend who is a house wife in Texas.
I could see that the story was now unraveling and going South. The visa immigration officer gave away the verdict by her grimacing looks before she had even finished the interview.
The young girl lives in Mbare with her parents, she is a waitress at a bar in town, she earns $300, has no family in the US except a High School friend who is a house wife, needs a plane ticket which will cost at the very least $1600 and she is going to America on holiday.
I felt for her, but if I was the immigration officer I would have reached the same decision. She didn’t get the visa.
Now she spent just over half of her monthly wages on a futile pursuit for as America visa. These are the real struggles that everyday people are going through whilst trying to escape the grinding poverty in their homeland.
You could hear a pin drop in the interviewing room when she tried to hold herself together, then her tears started rolling down her cheeks followed by sobs. She had just seen her dream of going to America shattered and felt humiliated in front of her compatriots.
She simply said “thank you very much” to the immigration officer and walked away back into the very cold world she was trying to escape. That is the pain that many Zimbabweans of her age are going through due to an environment devoid of choices….</blockquote>
Chin’ono uses the story to note how, as the 2018 elections approach, Zimbabweans are mostly quarrelling, shouting and having partisan arguments not rooted in answers. He notes that we’re not “talking about what is good and how we can get it”.
More: <a href="http://nehandaradio.com/2018/03/28/hopewell-chinono-i-bore-witness-to-a-painful-experience-at-the-us-embassy-in-harare/#comments">Nehanda Radio</a>

Painful Account Of A Denied Visa At US Embassy In Harare

<blockquote>Harare, November 30 2017- The U.S. Department of State is currently experiencing technical problems with its visa system, which are affecting global operations. This issue is worldwide and is not specific to any particular country or visa category. We recognize and deeply regret the inconvenience to travelers. We are doing everything possible to return passports with visas as soon as we are able to complete processing. We regret that we are currently unable to predict how long the delay will be.
Applicants who interviewed with the U.S. Embassy after November 21 and would like their passports returned to them without the U.S. visa may contact the US Embassy Consular Section, with their name and passport number.
Applicants who have an urgent need to travel to the United States may call on 250594 ext 4373 with their name, passport number, and nature of the emergency. Please understand that only true emergencies of an extraordinary humanitarian nature can be considered for exceptional handling.
We appreciate your patience as we work to resolve this matter and apologize for the inconvenience.
By U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe | 30 November, 2017</blockquote>

US Embassy Advises That It Is Experiencing Technical Problems With Its Visa System

The United States Embassy Harare has released a statement announcing that the embassy has suspended visa operations for this week. However, the embassy expects the visa operations to resume some time early next week.
<blockquote>Embassy Harare Statement on Visa Operations
Due to limited staffing at the U.S. Embassy in Harare on November 17th and 18th, the Consular Section has suspended visa operations for this week. At this time we hope to return to normal visa operations early next week, but we will continue to monitor the situation closely. Visa applicants whose appointments were cancelled this week will be informed soon as to a date when their visa appointments will be rescheduled. Those applicants do not need to make a new appointment.</blockquote>

US Embassy Suspends Visa Operations

The United States Embassy in Harare has released an update on the political situation in Zimbabwe. It has said that it continues to monitor the unfolding political situation in Zimbabwe and urges all American citizens to remain vigilant, calm and safe.
Watch video below:
 
<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en">
We continue to monitor the unfolding political situation in Zimbabwe. We urge all to remain vigilant, calm and safe <a href="https://twitter.com/StateDept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StateDept</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Zimbabwe?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Zimbabwe</a> <a href="https://t.co/hHWZpdVo3I">pic.twitter.com/hHWZpdVo3I</a>
— U.S. Embassy Harare (@usembassyharare) <a href="https://twitter.com/usembassyharare/status/930849793915703298?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

VIDEO: US Embassy gives update on Zimbabwe situation

Statistics contained in the report released by the US embassy in Harare on Monday state that 493 Zimbabweans were victims of organised violence and torture by State security agents and Zanu PF activists between January and August 2016.
Part of the United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour human rights report reads:
<blockquote>Human rights groups reported the continuance of physical and psychological torture perpetrated by security agents and Zanu PF supporters. Reported torture methods included beating victims with sticks, clubs, whips, cables, and sjamboks (a heavy whip); burning; falanga (beating the soles of the feet), electric shock, solitary confinement, sleep deprivation and forcing victims into sex acts. According to one [non-governmental organisation] NGO, from January through August, 493 victims of organised violence and torture sought medical treatment and counselling after sustaining injuries in separate incidents across the country. The NGO reported the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) was responsible for 66% of the violations, while Zanu PF supporters were responsible for 25% of the violations.</blockquote>
Among the victims mentioned in the report are a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) official from Gwanda who was allegedly tortured by State security agents before he was released. Tajamuka/Sesijikile activist Sylvanos Mudzvova, who was abducted from his home in Harare, was subjected to electric shocks on his feet and genitals while being interrogating before his interrogators left him unconscious several miles outside of Harare.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2017/03/08/state-sponsored-violence-hit-493-zim/">NewsDay</a>

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