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Monday 21 August 2017

The Latest: S African airways to resume flights to Zimbabwe


The Latest: S African airways to resume flights to Zimbabwe HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — The Latest on Grace Mugabe returning to Zimbabwe (all times local): South Africa granted diplomatic immunity to Zimbabwe's first lady, who was accused of assaulting a woman in a Johannesburg hotel a week ago. South Africa's foreign minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, granted immunity to Grace Mugabe in a government gazette notice that was published Sunday. The notice recognizes "the immunities and privileges of the First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr. Grace Mugabe." Grace Mugabe returned to South Africa with President Robert Mugabe early Sunday. Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace are not attending a state funeral in Harare after their return from Johannesburg, where the first lady faced calls for prosecution for allegedly assaulting a woman. The president usually leads such high-profile ceremonies, but Zimbabwe's Home Affairs Minister Ignatious Chombo told mourners Sunday that the president won't attend because he "has just returned home." Chombo said one of Zimbabwe's two vice presidents, Phelekezela Mphoko, will instead preside over the funeral for Shuvai Ben Mahofa, a senior member of Zimbabwe's ruling party who died a week ago. The Mugabe couple returned early Sunday from South Africa, where the president attended a summit of southern African countries. Grace Mugabe was accused of attacking a 20-year-old model with an extension cord in a Johannesburg hotel on Aug. 13. The South African government said Saturday that it was deciding whether to grant diplomatic immunity to Grace Mugabe at the request of the Zimbabwean government, though there was no immediate comment from South African authorities on Sunday. South African Airways says it will resume flights between South Africa and Zimbabwe after they were blocked by Zimbabwe, which imposed restrictions amid a scandal over an assault claim against the wife of President Robert Mugabe. The announcement by South Africa's state-owned airline came hours after Zimbabwe's state broadcaster reported that Grace Mugabe had returned home with her husband on an Air Zimbabwe flight Sunday morning. There was no immediate comment from the South African government, which had been deliberating whether to grant diplomatic immunity to her at Zimbabwe's request. South African Airways said it has clearance to fly to and from Zimbabwe on Sunday after the lifting of restrictions that were announced on Saturday. Zimbabwe's action followed the grounding of an Air Zimbabwe flight at Johannesburg's main international airport on Friday evening. Both countries say they imposed restrictions because planes did not have a "foreign operator's permit." South African Airways said it has prepared and submitted required documents after the cancellation of flights between Johannesburg, the Zimbabwean capital of Harare and the Zimbabwean city of Victoria Falls. The wife of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe returned home from South Africa on Sunday despite calls that she be prosecuted for allegedly assaulting a young model at a luxury hotel in Johannesburg. Get news headlines sent daily to your inbox A report by Zimbabwean state broadcaster ZBC showed Grace Mugabe greeting government and military officials at the Harare airport after returning on an Air Zimbabwe flight with her husband, who had attended a summit of southern African leaders in Pretoria. The South African government said Saturday that it was deciding whether to grant diplomatic immunity to Grace Mugabe at the request of the Zimbabwean government, though there was no immediate comment from South African authorities on Sunday. South African police had issued a "red alert" at borders to ensure she didn't leave undetected and said they were waiting for a government decision on the immunity appeal. Gabriella Engels, a 20-year-old model, said Zimbabwe's first lady attacked her on Aug. 13, whipping her with an extension cord that cut her forehead. In reaction to the news that Grace Mugabe had returned to Zimbabwe, a group representing Engels said Sunday they will go to court to challenge the South African government if it is confirmed that immunity was granted to Mugabe. "We will take a long term approach on this," said Willie Spies, legal representative at AfriForum, an organization that primarily represents South Africa's white Afrikaner minority. "She may be back in Zimbabwe, but it may mean that she will find it very difficult to come back to South Africa in the future," Spies said. The Zimbabwean president's outspoken wife has been criticized for a fiery temper and lavish shopping expeditions, but her rising political profile has some asking whether she is maneuvering to succeed her husband. She recently said that Zimbabwe's ruling party should restore a provision in its constitution stating that one of the party's vice presidents should be a woman, and has publicly challenged her 93-year-old husband to name a successor. President Mugabe is expected to preside at a state funeral for a former minister in Harare on Sunday; it is unclear whether his wife will attend. Amid the scandal over Grace Mugabe, Zimbabwe blocked flights by South Africa's government-owned airline on Saturday after an Air Zimbabwe flight was grounded at Johannesburg's main international airport on the previous evening. Both countries said they imposed restrictions because planes did not have a "foreign operator's permit." Associated Press writer Christopher Torchia contributed to this report from Johannesburg. Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Frazier HR, 3 hits, Pirates top Cards 6-4 to end 6-game skid PITTSBURGH (AP) — Adam Frazier and the Pittsburgh Pirates finished off a win at PNC Park, then packed their bags for a trip — to another home game about 200 miles away. Frazier homered, doubled and singled to help the Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-4 Saturday, ending a six-game losing streak in a matchup delayed nearly two hours by rain. On Sunday morning, both teams will fly to central Pennsylvania to play in the Little League Classic later that night in Williamsport. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said they sent Sunday starter Ivan Nova ahead earlier Saturday. With him already in place, the rain didn't disrupt the Pirates much, but it could have if the game went on any longer. "(Nova is) already there," Hurdle said. "Probably just finishing up dinner. The key is to keep the guys fresh. I didn't think there were any challenges. If we played longer tonight, there could've been some different challenges." The game will be held at the home of the Williamsport Crosscutters, the Philadelphia Phillies' affiliate in the Class A New York-Penn League. Following the rain delay in the second, Frazier and Starling Marte hit two-run homers in a five-run inning. Pinch-hitter Jose Osuna homered in the sixth. The Cardinals scored 11 runs in each of their two wins to start this series. Paul DeJong hit a two-run homer in the eighth and Jose Martinez homered in the ninth. "I put us within striking distance, and Jose puts us a little closer," DeJong said. "You can't give away at-bats, late in a game, down by five runs, rain delay all those factors. You've just got to try to help the team win every time." Chad Kuhl (6-8) responded well following the rain delay, giving up one run and three hits in five innings. Felipe Rivero got his 13th save. Hurdle said Kuhl "was willing to pitch if he had to wait until tomorrow" for the rain to stop. Kuhl said he felt sharper once he returned to the mound. "I had all the confidence in the world that I was going to be back out there," he said. "(It was) never really was a question in my mind with the state of our bullpen not being so rested. I was 100 percent. No matter how long it took, I was ready." Michael Wacha (9-6) was tagged for five runs and seven hits in four innings. Wacha retired the side in order in the first, but the Pirates scored five times in the second. A leadoff walk set up Frazier's home run, and Kuhl later doubled before Marte connected. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny couldn't say if the delay impacted Wacha. "You can't take anything out of the equation," Matheny said. "He was good in the first. It's a long wait, but it's a long wait for their guy, too, and he got out there and he looked better when he got back out." MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT Cardinals: RHP Josh Lucas, 26, came in to start the fifth inning in relief of Wacha. He worked around a pair of singles in his first inning and gave up Osuna's homer the next inning. St. Louis recalled Lucas, who allowed one run on four hits with two strikeouts in two innings, from Triple-A Memphis and optioned RHP Mike Mayers on Friday. ROSTER MOVE Pirates: RHP Dovydas Neverauskas was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis while LHP Steven Brault was optioned to Indianapolis. He pitched a perfect fifth inning with one strikeout Saturday. Brault was recalled on Friday, after LHP Wade LeBlanc was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a left quad strain. UP NEXT Cardinals: RHP Mike Leake (7-11, 3.88) will try to bounce back from a poor start when he takes the mound against the Pirates in Williamsport. He surrendered eight runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings against the Boston Red Sox last time out. Pirates: Nova (10-10, 3.77) will look to build off his last start when he faces the Cardinals. He took the loss his last time out, but allowed just one earned run in six innings against Milwaukee. ___ More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball Cubs' Lester allows 9 runs before exiting in 2nd vs. Reds La Crosse, WI (54601) Today Cloudy this morning with thunderstorms developing this afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 83F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely, especially this evening. Low 64F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Updated: August 21, 2017 @ 5:53 am

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