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130 Nigerians seek repatriation after latest anti-immigration protests in South Africa

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria will repatriate 130 Nigerians living in South Africa after a new wave of anti-immigration protests in that country, according to the foreign minister, who summoned South Africa’s top representative there on Monday to express concern.

Nigeria’s foreign minister, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, described the repatriation effort as voluntary and said more people were expected to sign up.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu was meeting with South Africa’s acting high commissioner to convey the Nigerian government’s “profound concern.”

No Nigerians were killed in last week’s protests against migrants in South Africa, who have been targeted over the years and accused of taking jobs in a country with high unemployment.

South African officials have condemned the violence and promised to crack down on “xenophobic acts.”

Separately, South Africa’s foreign minister, Ronald Lamola, said he had a phone conversation with his Nigerian counterpart to reflect on the “challenges posed by irregular migration” and work to address the causes and find solutions.

Two Nigerians were killed in separate incidents with South African security operatives last month. After Monday’s meeting, the spokesperson for Nigeria’s foreign ministry said the West African nation has requested an investigation into their deaths and seeks cooperation “in providing autopsy reports” for the families of the deceased.

How do you make vampires fly effortlessly on Broadway? Strong wires, harnesses and lots of practice

NEW YORK (AP) — For their third Broadway show, husband-and-wife choreographing team Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher “Cree” Grant faced a high-stakes challenge: They were asked to make vampires fly. Not just fly, but also fight and hang upside-down, 60 feet off the stage. Not just that but also make it effortless, like gliding. And, of course, completely safely, despite darkness and haze and props whizzing by. Making “The Lost Boys” soar was a little like a real-life game of Tetris, the couple say. And for creating some of the best visuals of the season, the couple has earned their first Tony Award nomination. “You just have to break it down slowly and bit by bit, build one block and then you just keep adding so that no one’s going to get hurt or feel too chaotic. Because gravity is going to gravity," says Yalango-Grant. "As much as Elphaba taught us you can defy it, you cannot.”
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