Monthly Archives: November 2016

3, November 2016

EU: Irish Prime Minister warns of a vicious approach in negotiations over Brexit ⁰

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny has warned of a “vicious” approach by the EU in negotiations over Britain’s exit from the bloc. Speaking among politicians, business leaders, trade unionists and community organizations in the capital Dublin on Wednesday, the premier further assured the nation that Brexit would not limit movement between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland by setting a “hard border.”

He said he had been assured by British Prime Minister Theresa May that there would be “no return to the borders of the past” after Brexit. The prime minister also urged leaders of the European Union not to be “obsessed” with the UK’s gains and losses in Brexit negotiations, asserting that “The other side of this argument may well get quite vicious after a while, because there are those around the European table who take a very poor view of the fact that Britain decided to leave.”

Ireland’s foreign minister, Charlie Flanagan, who also attended the Dublin conference along with all leaders of the nationalist political parties on the island, said London was being pushed over maintaining the “invisible” border after Brexit.

“It is vitally important in the context of the [Brexit] negotiations next year that the matter of the invisibility of the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland is not only featured but is both preserved and maintained,” Flanagan said. On June 23, nearly 52 percent of Britons voted in a referendum to end their country’s 42-year membership in the EU. Nearly 56 percent of the voters in Northern Ireland voted in favor of remaining an EU member.

Presstv

2, November 2016

Kenya to withdraw from UN South Sudan peacekeeping mission ⁰

Kenya says it will withdraw from the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon dismissed the Kenyan commander of the mission over its failure to protect civilians. The Kenyan Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that the country would “withdraw, immediately” its forces from South Sudan in reaction to Ban’s decision.

On Tuesday, the UN secretary general dismissed and called for the immediate replacement of Lieutenant General Johnson Mogoa Kimani Ondieki in reaction to a damning report that showed the failure of the mission to protect civilians and the UN staff during the deadly violence that erupted in the capital Juba in July.

The ministry said it had been informed “with dismay” of Ban’s decision, adding, “The continued deployment of (Kenya’s) troops in South Sudan is no longer tenable and is inimical to their safety and well-being.” It also accused the UN of failing to address the shortcomings of the peacekeeping mission, known as UNMISS. An independent UN inquiry released on Tuesday found that UNMISS had failed to respond to repeated pleas for help from aid workers under attack just a few minutes’ drive away.

A peacekeeper from Nepal deployed by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) patrols outside the premises of the UN Protection of Civilians (PoC) site in Juba, South Sudan, October 4, 2016. (Photo by AFP)

According to the summary of the report, General Ondieki lacked the proper leadership of the mission that “culminated in a chaotic and ineffective response to the violence.” Kenya rebuked the dismissal as lacking transparency and consultation.

“This action is not only wrong but also insulates the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) from the hard questions it needs to answer, and the responsibility it must shoulder to facilitate the proper management of UNMISS,” the Kenyan Foreign Ministry said.

Kenya contributed about 1,000 troops to UNMISS, which is composed of nearly 16,000 soldiers. The ministry added that Kenya would also “discontinue plans to contribute to the Regional Protection Force, and … disengage from the South Sudan peace process.”

South Sudan gained independence in July 2011, but descended into war in December 2013, after President Salva Kiir accused the former vice president, Riek Machar, of plotting a coup to usurp power. Numerous international attempts to reach a truce between the warring sides have failed.

Presstv

2, November 2016

Biya meets commander of United States Africa Command ⁰

President Paul BIYA received the new Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Thomas D. WALDHAUSER at the Unity Palace on Wednesday 2 November 2016 for discussions on a wide range of security matters of concern to the two countries.

It was a get to know each other audience with the new Africom Commander, U.S. Marine Corps General Thomas D. WALDHAUSER, who assumed duties in July 2016. This was in company of the U.S. Ambassador to Cameroon, Michael Stephen HOZA.

Speaking to the press after the audience, General WALDHAUSER underlined the important role Cameroon plays in the security of Africa. He said they reviewed a wide range of security issues especially the way forward in the cooperation between the two countries in military matters.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Michael Stephen HOZA, revealed some of the matters of utmost concern, such as the fight against terrorism, the ongoing conflict in the Central African Republic and maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. The Americans will continue to stand by Cameroon, especially with the training of Cameroonian military staff and the supply of high end equipment.

President Paul BIYA and General WALDHAUSER exchanged souvenir gifts during the audience, a mark of the intimate friendship that underlies cooperation ties between Cameroon and the United States of America.

2, November 2016

9 women killed on the Yaoundé -Bafoussam highway ⁰

9 people were killed on Wednesday morning on the highway code name National Road 2 in the Central region linking Bafoussam in the West.

The 9 people, all women crashed at about 10:30 am on the Yaoundé -Bafoussam axis. The accident occurred between Obala and Ebeda, located in the Ekom-Edjem district some 38 km from Yaoundé.

Cameroon Concord News gathered that the women were returning from a gospel crusade when their car violently collided with a vehicle.

The 9 ladies died on the spot and 1 seriously injured was taken to a hospital in Ebebda.

By Sonne Peter

2, November 2016

Yaounde University II: Chantal Biya to be made Doctor Honoris Causa ¹

Cameroon’s first lady Chantal Biya, will be named as the Mother Teresa of Cameroon soon. The wife of the 83 year old president was the focus of an academic discourse that recently brought together some pro CPDM university lecturers of the University of Yaounde II.

The scantily attended forum that held for three days at the Soa campus recommended that the first lady be made Doctor Honoris Causa for her charity works. At the opening session of the conference on Tuesday, the Executive Secretary of African Synergies, -a foundation created and run by the wife of the head of state using Cameroon tax payer’s money, said Chantal Biya was the “Mother Teresa” of Cameroon.

Just over 65 million FCFA was mobilized and spent for the conference in a country that lacks roads, hospitals, electricity and drinking water. The so-called intellectuals did not explained to the audience why Cameroon’s Mother Teresa has not visited the victims of the intercity train crash several days after the tragedy.

By Rita Akana

2, November 2016

South Korea names new prime minister and finance minister amid scandal ⁰

South Korea has named a new prime minister and finance minister amid a political scandal concerning President Park Geun-hye allegedly letting a close friend meddle in state affairs. Early on Wednesday, presidential spokesman Jung Youn-kuk said Premier Hwang Kyo-ahn had been replaced by Kim Byong-joon in relation to “the current situation.”

Yim Jong-yong, the chairman of the country’s financial services commission, was also named as the new finance minister and deputy prime minister. Meanwhile, Park’s longtime friend, Choi Soon-sil, was held for a second day of questioning after being detained over alleged corruption and influence-peddling on Monday.

The 60-year-old, reportedly a fortuneteller and a cult leader, has been Park’s confidante for decades and is accused of allegedly masterminding government policy and decision making for financial gain. South Korean media portrays Choi as a Rasputin-like figure who wielded an unhealthy influence over Park and interfered in government policy despite holding no official post and having no security clearance.

Earlier in the week, around 8,000 angry people took part in the rally that was held in the capital, Seoul, calling on Park to resign over allegations made against her and Choi.

Culled from Presstv

2, November 2016

Cup of Cameroon 2016: Frank Thierry Boya wins “Man of the Match” award ⁰

Twenty year old midfielder and player with Apejes of Mfou, Frank Thierry Boya has been crowned man of the match, after the highly contested 2016 Cup of Cameroon finals between Apejes of Mfou and Bamboutous of Mbouda. He scored the two goals for Apejes FC and helped the team to claim the title of the 2016 Cup of Cameroon.

The man of the match award conferred on Frank Thierry Boya was accompanied by the sum of FCFA 1 million from the Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT. To gain the status, the evaluation committee attributed 55 points to Frank Thierry Boya and 21 to his teammate and contestant, Nelson Moukeu and 7 to Magloire Moifo of Bamboutous.

After just years in the Elite 1 football championship, Frank Boya seems to be enjoying a rapid development in his career. He was captain of the U-23 National Football team and participated in the 2016 African Nations Championship in Rwanda.

The rising star was in the Indomitable Lions squad that played on the 6th of August 2016 in Limbe during a friendly with Gabon. Signed from a 4th Division side two years ago as a trainee from the Nkufor Football Academy, Frank Thierry Boya has progressed tremendously in skill and character. The man of the match refers to late Marc Vivien Foe as one of his idols.

Culled from CRTV

1, November 2016

Cancer could kill 60 percent more women by 2030 ⁰

Nearly 60 percent more women may fall victim to various types of cancer by 2030, a report says, indicating a rocketing increase in a matter of less than two decades. The Global Burden of Cancer in Women presented on Tuesday at the World Cancer Congress in Paris showed that a shocking figure of 5.5 million women would be killed from cancer each year by 2030, much higher than 3.5 million deaths from 6.7 million cancer cases recorded in 2012.

“These numbers are expected to increase to 9.9 million cases and 5.5 million deaths among females annually by 2030 as a result of the growth and ageing of the population,” said the report, warning that the highest toll will be among women in poor and middle-income countries who could suffer from largely preventable cancers.

The report, compiled by the American Cancer Society and pharmaceutical company Merck, highlighted the large geographic inequality in availability of resources and preventive measures and treatment to combat cancer, saying a much smaller proportion of cancer cases are diagnosed and treated in poorer countries.

It said most cancer cases are still reported in high-income countries in Europe, the Americas and Asia as they have better access to screening and detection. However, a much bigger group dies in poorer countries such as Zimbabwe, Malawi, Kenya, Mongolia and Papua New Guinea.

It also said better basic healthcare being provided in developing countries, which has led to a longer lifespan for people, has exposed them to a growing burden of cancer. It said women in these societies are involved in more physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, obesity, and reproductive factors such as postponing motherhood, meaning that rapid economic transition is increasing the risk of cancer for these countries.

The report said cervical cancer is still the most prevalent in poor countries while the developed ones have more rates of colorectal cancer. It said breast and lung cancers are common in both rich and poor nations. However, it added that all the four types are mostly preventable or can be detected early, when treatment is more successful. Cancer is the second highest cause of death after cardiovascular disease. Estimates show that it is already killing one in seven women around the world.

Presstv

1, November 2016

Gabon: France moving away from Jean Ping ⁰

“It would be better to accept dialogue with President Bongo for an honorable exit” This was the last statement on the Gabonese situation from visiting French Prime Minister in Abidjan. Manuel Valls has made the French position clearer after a failed French attempt to oust President Ali Bongo.

In an interview with the French state media Radio France Internationale, Prime Minister Manuel Valls explained that his country had recognized the results of the Gabonese presidential elections and opted for dialogue initiated by President Ali Bongo. Said the prime minister “I would say it simply: France had recognized the results of the election. There is a president, there will be parliamentary elections.”

It now remains to be seen whether this reversal of the French position on Gabon will be enough to calm down the happenings in Libreville.

By Chi Prudence Asong

1, November 2016

Yaounde: 255 Health practitioners graduate from the Faculty of Medicines ⁰

Some 255 health professionals have graduated from the Faculty of Medicines and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1. The Minister of Higher Education Jacque Fame Ndongo chaired the graduation ceremony during which the students received their end of course certificates on the 31^st of October 2016.

Addressing the laureates, the Minister of Higher Education outlined what it takes to be a good health practitioner who he described as life savers. At the end of the oath taking exercise, the graduates were officially handed over to the Minister of Public Health- ending seven years of training that was punctuated with field work.

The 255 graduates are specialized in general medicine, pharmacy and dentistry. During the ceremony, some outstanding students in each of the fields received awards.

CRTV