Monthly Archives: June 2018

27, June 2018

Zimbabwe: The Crocodile links Grace Mugabe to assassination attempt ⁰

Zimbabwea’s Emmerson Mnangagwa has reportedly said that a group linked to former first lady Grace Mugabe could be behind an explosion that rocked a stadium where he addressed his Zanu-PF supporters on Saturday.

The blast came as Zimbabwe prepared to hold its first post-Mugabe presidential election on July 30, with 75-year-old Mnangagwa and 40-year-old Nelson Chamisa, the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, the main contenders.

Authorities gave no details of what had caused the explosion at Mnangagwa’s first rally in Bulawayo, an opposition stronghold where the ruling ZANU-PF has not won in national elections since 2000.

According to BBC, Mnangagwa said he suspected that a group called the Generation 40 (G40), which supported Grace for presidency, was responsible for the explosion.

Mnangagwa further said that investigations were still under way and those behind the attack will soon be apprehended.

Mr Mnangagwa described wife to Mugabe as someone who has in the past directly insulted him

“On what basis would I trust someone who was used by a cabal to say things that had no basis?” he asked.

Despite the apparent attempt on his life, Mr Mnangagwa said there would be no countrywide security clampdown and elections scheduled for next month would go ahead in a free and fair manner.

Zimbabwe was stable and that foreign investors should not worry, he said.

Source: Africa News

27, June 2018

Egypt coach is fired following disappointing World Cup campaign ⁰

Egypt’s national football coach, Hector Cuper has been relieved of his duties by the country’s football association, following the unsuccessful campaign at the World Cup in Russia.

Egypt finished bottom of Group A with zero points after losing all three of its games, 0-1 to Uruguay, 1-3 to Russia and 1-2 to Saudi Arabia. The Pharaohs who did not play with star player Mohamed Salah in their opening game were consequently eliminated, extending their winless record at the World Cup.

Salah’s shoulder injury had dominated the build-up to the tournament, with the team struggling to win any of their warm up games. Salah scored Egypt’s two goals at the World Cup.

Argentine Cuper, 62, who would have been out of contract after the World Cup, had hinted that the Saudi Arabia game on Monday could be his last game in charge of the record African champions.

“I have never excluded anything. It might be my last game and it might not. It will depend on a number of factors,” Cuper, who was named Egypt coach in 2015.

EFA decides to part ways with Cuper

Speaking after the Saudi Arabia loss, he said he would “see what will happen” ahead of a meeting with the Egypt Football Association (EFA).

The EFA said: “We held a meeting after returning from Russia and the entire board decided to say thank you to Cuper and his technical staff.

“We appreciate the work from the coach, from reaching the Africa Cup of Nations after three years of absence and taking Egypt to the World Cup after 28 years of absence.”

EFA also insisted that Salah is happy with the national team and management after media reports suggested he might quit international football for political reasons.

Source: Africa News

27, June 2018

UK: Two dead, 18 injured in bus-lorry crash ⁰

A crash between a double-decker bus and a lorry in Cambridgeshire, eastern England, has left two people dead and 18 others injured, police say.

The collision took place on the A47 Thorney Road in Guyhirn, a village near Wisbech, around 7:30 a.m. local time (0630GMT) on Tuesday.

Reports said the deceased were the bus driver, in his 50s, and a passenger, in his 70s.

“We are sorry to report that two men, traveling in the bus involved in the A47 collision, have sadly died. Our thoughts are with their families at this time,” said Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s official Twitter account. “Seven people have been seriously injured and 11 have minor injuries following the collision.”

Police noted that those who were seriously hurt had a combination of broken bones and head injuries, including brain injuries.

The scene of a crash on the A47 Thorney Road in Guyhirn, Wisbech. (Photo via social media)

Footage from the scene shows the bus, which had been traveling eastbound, rammed into the side of the lorry, which appears to have been heading westbound.

The East of England Ambulance Service said the casualties had been transferred to a nearby hospital for treatment.

A police spokesman announced that investigations continued at the scene of the collision and the road remained closed.

Source: Presstv

27, June 2018

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Yaounde plotting to assassinate Mark Bareta, Tapang Ivo ⁰

A former baron of the Biya Francophone regime with strong ties to the Francophone dominated security services in Yaoundé has hinted Cameroon Intelligence Report that the Cameroon government has hatched diabolic plots aimed at the assassination of prominent Southern Cameroons activists in Europe and America including Mark Bareta, Eric Tataw and Tapang Ivo. The onetime cabinet minister and close aide to President Biya told our chief intelligence officer in Yaoundé that the Biya regime has set up numerous anti Ambazonian cells in Europe and the USA, which are led by the security chiefs of the various Cameroon embassies.

The Biya acolyte whose name we are withholding went on to say Yaoundé has requested and gotten the support of some countries in the CEMAC region to help in carrying out the mission. We also gathered from a well-placed source that discussions were held on whether to recruit the services of assassination squads in Eastern Europe or in South Africa.

A huge number of Francophone army soldiers have been deployed to Southern Cameroons and tasked with gunning down family relations of those serving with the Interim Government of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia. All these would-be assassins have been told to operate as factions within the Ambazonia Restoration Forces but must obey commands being issued by the military leadership based in Buea, our source disclosed.

Ever since the crisis in Southern Cameroons started two years ago, Francophone army officers have tortured and sexually abused hundreds of Ambazonia detainees at their detention centers in Yaoundé, Mbouda, Douala and Buea. Many of the Southern Cameroonians, who are held without charges, have been sodomized, raped, probed and stripped down in Kondengui and New Bell prisons.

Ambazonian detainees who resisted were killed and those still being held are wishing for death every day and can’t find it. The French government is French Cameroun’s key partner in its deadly war against Southern Cameroons. The United Nations announced in a statement recently that the crisis in Southern Cameroons had left 160,000 civilians displaced and many injured. The United Nations also stated that it had registered some 21,000 Southern Cameroons refugees in the Cross River State in Nigeria.

By Chi Prudence Asong

27, June 2018

Argentina strikes late to advance to World Cup knockout stage ⁰

Argentina and Lionel Messi progressed to the last 16 of the World Cup by the skin of their teeth on Tuesday after an 86th minute strike from defender Marcos Rojo gave them a 2-1 win over Nigeria, eliminating the African side.

Croatia advance as winners of Group D with the maximum nine points after beating Iceland 2-1 and Nigeria were just minutes away from joining them before central defender Rojo superbly volleyed home a Gabriel Mercado cross from the right.

Messi had put Argentina ahead in the 14th minute, with a fabulously taken goal but the Africans equalized through a Victor Moses penalty in the 51st minute and the twice World Cup winners struggled to respond to that setback with a ragged second half display.

In front of a massive following of passionate and loud Argentine fans, the game began in ideal fashion for Jorge Sampaoli’s side, who had managed just a point from their opening two games.

A perfectly weighted diagonal ball over the top by Ever Banega was sublimely brought down on the outside of his thigh by Messi who then drove past Nigeria’s teenage keeper Francis Uzoho to open the scoring.

The selection of Banega proved to be an inspired one by Sampaoli with the Sevilla midfielder providing the quality service that had been lacking in their opening two games.

Nigeria’s forward Ahmed Musa controls the ball next to Argentina’s defender Gabriel Mercado (L) and Argentina’s defender Nicolas Otamendi during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group D football match between Nigeria and Argentina at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg on June 26, 2018.

Banega almost inspired a second goal for the Argentines when he put Angel Di Maria clear, the winger being brought down by Leon Balogun and Messi struck the woodwork from the resulting free kick with a curler from the left against the far post.

It had been an impressive half from Argentina but the game was to take a twist shortly after the interval.

Defending a corner, Argentine defender Javier Mascherano jockeyed Leon Balogun inside the area and when the Nigerian fell to the floor, Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir awarded a penalty.

After lengthy and impassioned protests from the Argentine players, Moses managed to keep his cool and slot past Franco Armani to level the scores.

Nigeria wasted several chances to add a second and secure their place in the last 16 before the unlikely source of Manchester United central defender Rojo kept Argentina’s tournament alive and left Nigeria in despair.

Argentina go on to face France in the next round while Croatia take on Denmark.

Source: Presstv

26, June 2018

Russia 2018: Australia leaves World Cup with loss to Peru ⁰

Australia’s hopes for a longer stay in the 2018 World Cup in Russia were have been dashed with a last-game group loss to Peru.

The Peruvians dominated the match in Sochi’s Fish Stadium on Tuesday as they managed to condemn the Socceroos to a 2-0 defeat.

Andre Carrillo scored a stunning volley in the 18^th minute while Paolo Guerrero doubled Peru’s lead on the 50 minutes.

However, the result meant that both Peru and Australia, third and fourth in Group C, were out of the World Cup as France and Denmark, other teams in the group, advanced to the round of 16 with a 0-0 draw in the group’s other match.

Peru’s victory was a first for the country in the World Cup in 40 years and a finish on high note for the Andean nation which had been out of the prestigious tournament for 36 years.

The World Cup is being played in 11 cities in Russia. Teams will begin the round of 16 as of Saturday. France and Denmark would wait until later on Tuesday to see who dominates Group D, where Croatia, assured of a place in the next round, is trailed by Nigeria, Iceland and Argentina.

The tournament will end with the final in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on July 16.

Source: Presstv

26, June 2018

UN experts accuse Congo-Kinshasa troops, militia of ‘crimes against humanity’ ⁰

UN human rights investigators have accused security forces and militia fighters in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) of committing atrocities amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity in the restive central region of Kasai.

In a report denouncing “a serious problem of impunity”, the investigators on Tuesday called on the Kinshasa government to prosecute perpetrators and provide justice to victims.

“Some of the abuses committed by the defense and security forces, the (pro-government) Bana Mura militia and the (rebel) Kamwina Nsapu militia constitute crimes against humanity (and) war crimes,” independent experts said in the report, which will be presented to the UN Rights Council next month.

The UN report, based on interviews with 524 victims, witnesses and perpetrators, focused on violations in Kasai.

The photo shows Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) soldiers sitting at the back of a pick-up truck. (Photo by AFP)

The ethnic conflict was marked by the burning down of villages, the UN report said, and Kamwina Nsapu forced child soldiers to decapitate enemies.

The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and the allied militia opposed the Kamwina Nsapu militia in a partially ethnic conflict that largely ended at the end of 2017. The year-long rebellion killed up to 5,000 people and forced some 1.5 million people from their homes.

“Numerous acts have been committed by the FARDC and the Kamwina Nsapu militia against people not participating directly in the hostilities … including murder, mutilation, rape and other forms of sexual violence, looting … and conscription of children under age 15,” the report said.

“Many children have been abducted, wounded, mutilated, detained or executed,” the report said. “Some saw their parents beaten, decapitated or their mothers raped. Many were forced to fight, put on the front lines without arms or with fake weapons, knives and sometimes traditional rifles. They were forced to kill and decapitate,” it said.

In July 2017, a Congolese court convicted seven soldiers of the murder of suspected militia members in Kasai after a video showed soldiers shooting people at point blank range.

Back in March, militants also killed two UN workers, a Swede and an American, after abducting them in the same region.

Over a dozen people have been detained in connection with the crime but separate UN experts complained that Congolese authorities were obstructing their efforts to assist probe.

The conflict in the previously peaceful Kasai region was one of a series of deadly flare-ups to hit Congo around the time long-serving President Joseph Kabila. The guerrilla movement has been leading a bloody rebellion against moves by Kabila to extend his stay in power.

The UN, which has discovered dozens of mass graves in the area, accuses both security forces and the militants of gross human rights violations.

Millions died in wars around the turn of the century across the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The UN food agency warned last year that more than three million people were at risk of starvation in in Congo’s Kasai province.
Source: Presstv

26, June 2018

Southern Cameroons War: The silence of Ambassador Peter Barlerin is deafening ⁰

Ever since he returned from his holiday, His Excellency Peter Barlerin current US ambassador to Cameroon has been everything but vocal. Before travelling to the US recently, Ambassador Barlerin had commented on a whole host of matters including President Biya’s continued stay in power. To be sure, most of Peter Barlerin’s verbal missiles have targeted matters which are domestic in nature. They range from the issue of ageing leadership, corruption, bad governance, press freedom, and the list goes on.

In recent times, there have been two very significant issues which concern the US-Cameroon relations, but on neither matters we have not heard the customary loud and emphatic pronouncements coming from ambassador Barlerin. They are the fake aid package announced by Prime Minister Philemon Yang for Southern Cameroons refugees and internally displaced persons and the refusal of US visas to the Cameroon women military team.

We understand the United States has reacted positively to the Biya regime initiative to address the problem of humanitarian assistance and access in Southern Cameroons. Ambassador Peter Barlerin was quoted as saying “We will be examining the proposal closely with a view towards considering how we may be able to support it. We call on both sides to renounce further violence and urge broad-based dialogue with no pre-conditions.”

The so-called Cameroon government humanitarian aid package will be paid for through the state budget, a national solidarity fund that has seen barons of the ruling crime syndicate donating millions of FCFA and contributions from international partners such as the USA.

The package includes 7.6 million Euros for reconstruction, 5.7 million Euros for food and 4.7 million Euros for basic necessities such as blankets and mattresses. Southern Cameroonians are happy that the US Chief diplomat spoke of “examining the proposal closely.” Ambassador Peter Barlerin should not put his name on the Honor Roll of Shame in Cameroon. We of the Cameroon Concord News Group are saying that there is really no honour among thieves. The US should start refusing visas for Cameroon government officials including top military officers and visas already issued should be revoked.

The Biya regime has released a list of highly placed Cameroon government officials and members of the Yaounde consortium of crime syndicates who reportedly raised FCFA 230 million to complement Biya’s FCFA 12.7 billion Relief fund for victims of his genocidal war against Southern Cameroonians. Ambassador Peter Barlerin must really wonder where these public servants got the money to make such contributions. If you divide FCFA 12.7 billion by an estimated 200,000 displaced victims, it means every Ambazonian will get approximately FCFA 63,500 to rebuild their homes and businesses that have been destroyed by nihilistic Francophone soldiers. Ambassador Barlerin should not be absolutely silent on the matter. It is part of the function and duty of Mr. Barlerin to stand in support of the people of Southern Cameroons. To the ambassador we say, your silence is deafening on the Southern Cameroons war.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

26, June 2018

Media Entrepreneur Peace Hyde opens the Aim Higher Africa (AHA) Skills Acquisition Centre in Lagos ⁰

Named as a powerful woman on the continent by CNN, Media Entrepreneur and Head of Digital Media and Partnership for Forbes Africa, Peace Hyde, has opened another branch of her innovative entrepreneurship development and skills acquisition non-profit, Aim Higher Africa (http://AimHigherAfrica.com/) in Lagos.

Located in the Silicon Valley of Nigeria, Yaba, The AHA skills acquisition center is designed to train unemployed youth and grassroot entrepreneurs as well as startups through its innovative Mind-set Reorientation and Design Thinking Curriculum (MRDT) to build scalable and sustainable businesses that will create value for their communities and also provide opportunities for the thousands of unemployed youth in Lagos.

“Aim Higher Africa MRDT Curriculum responds to the problem of unemployment through youth entrepreneurship, which offers innovative solutions for economic growth among young people. To address these critical issues, we are working with international organizations, the private sector and development organizations to increase and improve young people’s access to financial services, financial literacy and entrepreneurship and employment skills training,” says Hyde.

This year, the organization was profiled on CNN for its impact and building over 600 businesses in West Africa leading to some 3000 jobs for youth. Hyde who also has a background as a senior management executive from a leading UK education institution where she also taught as a Science teacher for 7 years, created the MRDT curriculum along with innovation and entrepreneurship professor, Dr. Gordon Adomdza, PHD. holder from the University of Waterloo and a lecturer at Harvard University.

“Our new center has a vision of helping entrepreneurial youth, build their business skills, their links to markets and access support such as from financial services and through mentoring. The world is bursting with opportunity; every day, new inventions answer questions we had never thought to ask.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Aim Higher Africa.

26, June 2018

Russia 2018: VAR stirs World Cup drama and endless debate ⁰

VAR has grabbed centre stage at the World Cup, with the system that was supposed to provide “minimum interference” instead having a major and highly controversial impact.

The final games in Group B on Monday were heading into injury time with Portugal on course to top their group and Spain set to finish second, when the advice of the Video Assistant Referee officials in two separate games changed everything.

In Kaliningrad, Spain were awarded an equaliser to snatch a 2-2 draw against Morocco when an Iago Aspas goal was given after VAR helped Uzbek referee Ravshan Irmatov to reverse a mistaken offside call.

At the same time in Saransk, Paraguay official Enrique Caceres was persuaded to give Iran a penalty for a handball by Portugal’s Cedric Soares that could hardly be considered deliberate.

Karim Ansarifard netted the spot-kick, earning Iran a 1-1 draw, and relegating the European champions to second place in the section.

Now Cristiano Ronaldo and his team must face Uruguay in the last 16. In contrast, Spain will probably be happier with a tie against hosts Russia in Moscow and could now have a theoretically easier path to the final.

That hardly sits well with FIFA’s statement as they introduced the new system to the biggest tournament on Earth, saying: “Our goal is minimum interference for maximum benefit.”

Of course, that was a reference to the flow of the game itself rather than the potential impact decisions could have further down the line.

Morocco’s Noureddine Amrabat made clear his feelings at the end of Monday’s game as he looked into a television camera and mouthed: “VAR, it’s bullshit”.

– Fudged decisions? –

But while Spain’s equaliser was correctly given, the decisions in Saransk were more controversial.

Ronaldo missed a penalty awarded after the referee reversed his decision, and was later shown a yellow card following a review of a possible elbow offence.

It had the look of a fudged decision when an elbow would normally lead to a red for violent conduct.

“An elbow is a red card in the rules. In the rules it doesn’t say if it is (Lionel) Messi or Ronaldo,” fumed Iran coach Carlos Queiroz, who said VAR was “not going well”.

Iran are now out, and they leave a competition that is being dominated by VAR to an extent possibly greater than the system’s critics could have imagined.

There have already been 20 penalties given at this World Cup, a tournament record before the group stage has even concluded.

Many of those, such as Andreas Granqvist’s winner for Sweden against South Korea, were awarded after confirmation by VAR.

Yet the Swedes were also the victims of a major officiating error when they were denied an early penalty in their defeat against Germany for a foul by Jerome Boateng on Marcus Berg that was clear on slow-motion replays.

“If we have the system it’s very unfortunate that he doesn’t feel he can go and have a look,” said Sweden coach Janne Andersson of Polish referee Szymon Marciniak.

– Not flawless –

As the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the guardians of the laws of the game, say, only the referee can initiate a review.

One of the officials in the Video Assistant Referee team sees an incident and tells the referee, who then decides whether to review it. The system is clearly not flawless, and that inevitably leads to frustrations.

There might also be a concern that reviews of slowed-down replays can make in-game incidents appear worse than they were in reality.

In addition, the system can still lead to confusion for fans in the stadium who do not have the same grasp of what is happening as television viewers.

FIFA will have been braced for the criticism, and will defend the system during a briefing on Friday, at the end of the group stage, at which refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina and VAR project leader Roberto Rosetti will appear.

“It will enable us to present detailed analysis and statistics illustrating the results of VAR during the initial phase,” world football’s governing body told AFP.
Culled from AFP