Monthly Archives: July 2018

4, July 2018

Bundes: Merkel reaches deal with rebellious Interior Minister ⁰

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her rebellious interior minister have reached a compromise on a refugee dispute that threatened to disintegrate her coalition government.

Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, the leader of Bavaria’s Christian Social Union (CSU), told reporters after five hours of talks on Monday that he would maintain his post, saving Germany’s fragile government coalition.

He had threatened on Sunday to resign if he did not reach a deal with Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) on refugees.

“After intensive discussions between the CDU and CSU, we have reached an agreement on how we can in future prevent illegal immigration on the border between Germany and Austria,” Seehofer said late on Monday evening as he left the CDU’s Berlin headquarters.

Under the compromise, the refugees who have already applied for asylum in other European Union countries will be held in transit centers on the border while Germany negotiates bilateral deals for their return.

Merkel sounded pleased with the compromise.

“The spirit of partnership in the European Union is preserved and at the same time, an important step to order [has been taken],” the German chancellor said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is given her handbag by her spokesman, Steffen Seibert, as she arrives for a parliamentary group meeting of the conservative CDU/CSU union at the Bundestag (lower house of parliament) in Berlin, on July 2, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

Merkel’s CDU relies on the CSU to maintain power through a coalition. The CDU/CSU bloc took 33 percent of the votes in September 2017 elections.

In March, Merkel’s conservative alliance (the CDU/CSU bloc) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) reached a coalition deal after weeks of fierce negotiations that saw Merkel relinquish the key ministry of finance, among other concessions, further weakening her hold on the government.

Both the CDU and SPD performed poorly in the general elections last year. The SPD initially resisted going into a coalition with the CDU but relented after Merkel failed to reach a deal with two lesser-known parties.

Merkel’s 2015 decision to open the doors to over a million refugees, many fleeing war in the Middle East, fueled the rise of anti-immigration parties, including the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which now threatens to unseat the CSU in regional elections scheduled for October.

Europe has faced its worst refugee crisis since World War II. The continent has been hit since 2014 by an unprecedented influx of refugees fleeing conflict-ridden zones in North Africa and the Middle East, in particular Syria.

Source: Presstv

4, July 2018

2018 World Cup: England beat Colombia 4-3 on penalties ⁰

England have finally ended the decades long penalty jinx after beating Colombia on spot kicks at 4-3 to set up a quarterfinal match against Sweden.

England’s players pose before the Russia 2018 World Cup round of 16 football match between Colombia and England at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow on July 3, 2018. (AFP)

England’s defender Ashley Young (L) and Colombia’s forward Falcao vie for the ball during the Russia 2018 World Cup round of 16 football match between Colombia and England at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow on July 3, 2018. (AFP)

Colombia’s and England’s players argue with the referee during the Russia 2018 World Cup round of 16 football match between Colombia and England at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow on July 3, 2018. (AFP)

England’s forward Harry Kane (9) scores the opening goal from the penalty spot during the Russia 2018 World Cup round of 16 football match between Colombia and England at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow on July 3, 2018. (AFP)

The 3-Lions got on the score-sheet when Harry Kane netted his 6th goal of the tournament from the spot, 8 minutes after the break. But, Yerry Mina equalized in the 3rd minute of injury time with a towering header to send the match into Extra Time.

England’s forward Harry Kane (R) is congratulated by teammates after scoring the opening goal during the Russia 2018 World Cup round of 16 football match between Colombia and England at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow on July 3, 2018. (AFP)

Colombia’s defender Yerry Mina (3R) scores a goal during the Russia 2018 World Cup round of 16 football match between Colombia and England at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow on July 3, 2018. (AFP)

Colombia’s defender Yerry Mina celebrates after scoring the equalizer during the Russia 2018 World Cup round of 16 football match between Colombia and England at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow on July 3, 2018. (AFP)

In the shoot-out, Colombian keeper David Ospina saved Jordan Henderson’s penalty to give Colombia the advantage, but Mateus Uribe struck the crossbar and Jordan Pickford denied Carlos Bacca brilliantly to give Eric Dier the chance to win it for England.

Colombia’s team players react during the penalty shoot-out of the Russia 2018 World Cup round of 16 football match between Colombia and England at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow on July 3, 2018. (AFP)

England’s players before the penalty shootout during the Russia 2018 World Cup round of 16 football match between Colombia and England at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow on July 3, 2018. (AFP)

England’s goalkeeper Jordan Pickford saves a penalty kicked by Colombia’s forward Carlos Bacca during the penalty shootouts during the Russia 2018 World Cup round of 16 football match between Colombia and England at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow on July 3, 2018. (AFP)

England’s players celebrate after winning the penalty shootout at the end of the Russia 2018 World Cup round of 16 football match between Colombia and England at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow on July 3, 2018.

England’s coach Gareth Southgate celebrates his team’s victory at the end of the Russia 2018 World Cup round of 16 football match between Colombia and England at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow on July 3, 2018. (AFP)

Source: Presstv

3, July 2018

Russia 2018: No Zlatan effect as Sweden reaches World Cup quarter-finals ⁰

A Swedish national football team that resisted having famed Zlatan Ibrahimović in its World Cup 2018 roster has stunned many by advancing to the quarter-finals of the top global soccer event.

It was a deflected shot from Emil Forsberg on the 66 minutes that sealed Sweden’s 1-0 victory against Switzerland in St Petersburg on Tuesday.

The mostly dull game between the two European teams had nothing special to offer to the cheerful Swedish and Swiss fans as both teams hardly reached the area and had very few shots on target.

However, the Swedes outclassed their opponents in creating a few clear chances in the box with Marcus Berg and Albin Ekdal missing notable opportunities in the first half. It was RB Leipzig’s Forsberg, whom many have seen as a right replacement for Zlatan, who struck with a deflection off Swiss defender Manuel Akanji.

Sweden could make it 2-0 in the stoppage time when the referee first awarded a penalty but then revised his decision after consulting the video assistant referee (VAR) to award a free kick, which was saved by Swiss goalie Yann Sommer.

Sweden’s fans celebrate victory at the end of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia round of 16 football match between Sweden and Switzerland at Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg on July 3, 2018. (AFP photo)

Sweden opened the World Cup against the backdrop of rumors that Zlatan was ready to rejoin the national team two years after he had announced retirement. Coach Janne Andersson rejected the offer and said the towering forward, known for his long and productive career in some of Europe’s top clubs, would have no place in his World Cup squad.

In the quarter-finals, Sweden will take on the winner of the last game of the round of 16 between England and Colombia later on Tuesday.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia will end on July 15 with the final match in Moscow. Teams will begin the round of eight on Friday.

Source: Presstv

3, July 2018

Maradona offers to coach Argentina for free ⁰

Former Argentine great Diego Maradona has offered to coach his country for free, eight years after his last attempt ended in World Cup failure.

Maradona, who watched his side eliminated 4-3 by France last weekend in Kazan, was asked if he fancied another shot at the job, even though current coach Jorge Sampaoli has a contract until 2022.

“Yes, and I would do it for free,” Maradona said on a Venezuelan TV show. “I wouldn’t ask for anything in return.”

Maradona the coach

The former Boca Juniors and Napoli player coached Argentina at the 2010 World Cup, where his team were beaten 4-0 by Germany at the quarter-final stage.

Since then, the player who guided Argentina to their last World Cup win in 1986, has only coached two club sides in the United Arab Emirates.

He is still one of the most controversial faces in football, and he hit the headlines in Russia for his colourful appearances at Argentina games.

Never a stranger to extremes, Maradona produced some of this World Cup’s lasting images, celebrating victories in iconic poses, giving the finger to fans, and being helped into a hospitality box to be seen by doctors after suffering from low blood pressure.

“People think I am happy but my heart is heavy,” Maradona said about Argentina’s elimination. “I feel really bad that everything we built with so much effort we destroyed so easily.”

REUTERS

3, July 2018

Yaounde: Parliamentary elections postponed ⁰

Parliamentary elections in Cameroon have been postponed a year until October 2019 after lawmakers adopted a bill on Monday.

“The mandate of the deputies is extended for a period of twelve months, from October 29, 2018,” read the bill, supported by President Paul Biya.

Biya has been in power since 1982, making him one of Africa’s longest serving leaders, and could run again for another presidential term in an election scheduled in principle for October this year.

The 85-year-old had told politicians that the holding of presidential, legislative and municipal elections in the same period would be “difficult” due to “overlapping electoral operations”.

Tensions have repeatedly flared in the French-speaking majority country where separatist rebels in its anglophone regions have been fighting government forces since proclaiming an autonomous republic of “Ambazonia” in October last year.

The jihadist group Boko Haram is also active in the country’s far north. Since 2014, the group has killed 2,000 civilians and soldiers and kidnapped about 1,000 people in northern Cameroon, according to an analysis by the International Crisis Group (ICG) think tank.

Cameroon, along with Chad and Niger, has joined a military effort by Nigeria to fight the insurgents.

Source: AFP

3, July 2018

Russia 2018: Belgium moving slowly but surely ⁰

Belgium threw caution to the wind to reach the World Cup quarter-finals as substitute Nacer Chadli scored in the dying seconds against Japan to snatch a 3-2 comeback win on Monday and set up a clash with five-time champions Brazil.

The distraught Japanese, who went 2-0 up with goals by Genki Haraguchi and Takashi Inui early in the second half, fell to the turf after Chadli poked the ball home from Thomas Meunier’s cross four minutes into added time at the Rostov Arena.

Belgium, who had taken a conservative approach to the game, got back into contention with late goals by Jan Vertonghen and substitute Marouane Fellaini before Chadli struck.

“That’s what happens in the World Cup. It was a test of character and a test of the team. It tells you everything about this group of players,” said Belgium coach Roberto Martinez.

One of the most exciting teams of the group phase, Belgium faced an embarrassing exit but finally clicked to become the first team to win a World Cup knockout game from two goals down since West Germany beat England 3-2 after extra time in 1970.

Belgium’s ‘golden generation’ have now scored 12 goals in four games in Russia ahead of a mouthwatering last eight clash with Brazil who beat Mexico 2-0 earlier on Monday.

With center back Vincent Kompany back in the lineup for the first time since picking a groin strain in a warm-up game, Belgium had looked safe at the back but uninspired up front.

Both teams fought a tight midfield battle but their forwards froze in the area and Belgium’s wide players, Meunier and Yannick Carrasco, did not take risks going forward, effectively turning a 3-4-3 formation into a more conservative 5-2-3 system.

Japan got closest to a goal in a dull first half when Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois let the ball slip from his hands and between his legs but recovered before it crossed the line.

The Japanese were ahead soon after the break, though, when Haraguchi beat the offside trap and ran into the area to beat Courtois with a cross-shot in the 48th minute.

Belgium responded but Hazard’s shot rattled the post and Japan doubled their tally in the 52nd when Inui picked up the ball 25 metres out and fired a missile into the back of the net.

The Red Devils were still struggling but they pulled a goal back after 69 minutes when Vertonghen looped a header from a high clearance back across goal into the far top corner.

Japan’s goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima reacts during the Russia 2018 World Cup round of 16 football match between Belgium and Japan at the Rostov Arena in Rostov-On-Don on July 2, 2018.

The momentum had shifted and in the 74th, Eden Hazard’s cross was met by Fellaini, who equalized from close range with a powerful header.

Belgium continued to push forward and both Chadli and Lukaku forced Japan keeper Eiji Kawashima into a couple of spectacular saves with powerful headers four minutes from full time.

In stoppage time, Keisuke Honda’s 30-metre free-kick was parried away by Courtois. The keeper then launched the ball to Kevin De Bruyne, who made a beeline through the field before finding Meunier, whose cross was met by Chadli for the winner.

Culled from Presstv

3, July 2018

Another boat capsizes off Libya, 63 refugees go missing ⁰

Another boat carrying refugees has capsized while making the risky journey across the Mediterranean Sea from Libya to Europe, leaving 63 asylum seekers missing.

The boat sunk off the coast of Libya, according to a spokesman for the North African country’s navy on Tuesday, who cited eyewitness accounts.

Navy spokesman General Ayoub Kacem said that 41 asylum seekers who had been wearing life jackets were rescued.

According to the survivors, there were 104 people on board the inflatable dinghy, which sank off Garaboulli, east of Tripoli.

A Libyan coastguard boat returned to Tripoli Monday with another 235 migrants — including 54 infants and 29 women — rescued in two other operations in the same area.

Spain to the rescue, once again

Meanwhile, a humanitarian boat carrying 59 asylum seekers was on Tuesday heading to Spain after Italy and Malta — both much closer to the place of rescue — refused to let it dock in their ports.

The boat, Open Arms, run by the Spanish Proactiva Open Arms charity, was offered a safe port by Barcelona’s mayor.

Spain had earlier allowed in another group of refugees also turned away by Italy and Malta.

Media reports say around 204 people have died in the past few days after trusting smugglers, who use unsafe vessels to get them to Europe.

On Friday alone, 103 people lost their lives when one such vessel sank.

Libya is a main departure point for asylum seekers trying to cross the Mediterranean. Many of those who succeed to cross the sea have landed in Italy and Malta over the past four years.

Human traffickers have been taking advantage of the security gap in Libya that has existed since the toppling of long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed in October 2011.

According to UN figures, more than 1,000 people have drowned in the Mediterranean this year while making the perilous journey from Libya to Europe.

Source: Presstv

3, July 2018

Yaounde has no idea how many innocent Southern Cameroonians it’s killing ⁰

Two years after President Biya launched his so-called war on separatists, an untold number of Southern Cameroonian civilians have been killed by disease, illness and by the French Cameroun military campaign. A Southern Cameroonian serving in French Cameroun as Prime Minister and Head of Government recently announced some kind of a humanitarian reconstruction aimed at minimizing the displacement of Ambazonians and the damage to infrastructure and the disruption of services in Southern Cameroons. The Philemon Yang Plan is still not working.

Ever since the Francophone dominated army started its genocidal campaign in Southern Cameroons, thousands of Ambazonia lives have been turned upside down, lawlessness has been allowed to fester and spread, and the one and indivisible Cameroon is now a nation at risk of fracturing apart. Moreover, an untold number of Southern Cameroons innocent civilians have been killed – by disease, illness, in gruesome tortures performed by French Cameroun army soldiers and French military advisers.

In recent days, the US ambassador Peter Barlerin has forced the Biya regime to address the painful issue of Southern Cameroons civilian casualties following a publication by Amnesty International which found that, contrary to the claims of the Biya Francophone regime, all French Cameroun military actions in Southern Cameroons resulted in civilians’ deaths. Figures also released by the International Crisis Group indicate that Southern Cameroonians killed was 57 times higher than what the Biya regime has acknowledged.

The Prime Minister Philemon Yang diabolic humanitarian scheme was a hit back at the Amnesty International report. Cameroon Intelligence Report believes some 865 civilians have been intentionally killed by French Cameroun troops since the operations against Ambazonian Restoration Forces started.

The unfortunate death of Southern Cameroons civilians is a fact of the war that does not weigh heavy on the hearts of President Biya and his crime syndicate. The truth is that nobody knows how many Ambazonian civilians have been killed in Southern Cameroons since the 85 year old dictator launched the military campaign.

The French Cameroun army is now keeping painstaking records of its soldiers killed in both the Southern and Northern Zones of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia-120 French Cameroun soldiers as revealed by Defense Minister Beti Assomo. Yet, Yaoundé have never tried to make an overall tally of Southern Cameroons civilian deaths or those killed in other theatres in Nigeria.

The Interim Government of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia has been making several attempts to come up with a figure in a project that maintains a tally of casualties based on media reports. However, the Ambazonia Communication Secretary, Hon. Chris Anu admitted to Cameroon Concord News Group that the Interim Government figures are based on reports in the media, which are themselves limited in scope and detail.

The truth of the matter is that nobody knows. The figure could be 800; it could be 1000 or more. And when you add the civilian casualties in the Cross River and Benue States in Nigeria and in the forest where the Biya Southern Cameroons war has played out – it becomes even more of a guessing game.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

3, July 2018

Ambazonian refugees get relief materials in Akwa’Ibom ⁰

Cameroonian refugees have received relief materials consisting of rice, salt, tin tomatoes, detergent, maggie seasoning, cooking oil and toiletries worth thousands of naira from a non Governmental Organisation, Rhema Care Integrated Development Centre.

Speaking after the donation at the weekend in Ekpuk Community, Mkpat Enin Local government Area, Mr Eric Shu, Chief Executive Officer, Rhema Care Integrated Development Centre, said the organisation was moved by the plight of refugees in the camp.

Noting that the relief materials would go a long way to improve the living condition of the refugees, Shut added that the donation was in line with the objectives of the NGO to render assistance to the poor and vulnerable ones, as well as transform deprived communities in Africa.

He said the Centre was also involved in establishing projects like borehole, shelter and construction of schools to enable deprived persons feel accepted in the community.

“Rhema Care has been working in Nigeria with the poor and vulnerable population in various areas in Nigeria.

“When we heard of the refugees situation in Nigeria, with Cameroonians coming in, we felt that this is our area of operation. So, we initiated an intervention; Akwa Ibom is one of those areas we are intervening.

“Even when the National commission for refugees and United Nation have registered the refugees in Akwa Ibom, not all were registered.

“Apart from the relief materials, we are also looking at the areas of water, sanitation and hygiene for this community. We believe that we would be able to rehabilitate the borehole that has been completely blocked; there is also the issue of shelter and education, ” he said.

He commended the indigenes of Ekpuk community for their hospitality towards the refugees, and appealed that they should not relent in their humanitarian gesture.

Also speaking, the National Coordinator, Bakassi IDPs in Akwa Ibom Mr Aston Joseph, said the political unrest in Cameroon led many Cameroonians to migrate into Nigeria.

Advising the refugees to be law abiding, maintain the peace and unity which has been in existence in the state, before their arrival, Joseph said, “Since October 2017, there had been a serious political unrest in Cameroon, that made many Cameroonians to migrate into Nigeria and some of them are Nigerians who were born and brought up in Cameroon.”

The Chairman of the Ekpuk community, Mr Sunday Mboso, commended Rhema Care Integrated Development Centre, for their kind gesture in providing assistance to the refugees.

“I want to thank Rhema Care Integrated Development Centre for helping the people. it is not an easy task and God will continue to bless you people.

“I also want to assure you that the refugees will always be accepted and protected in the community,” he said.

In their appreciation, Miss Epolle Njume, one of the leaders in the camp and a beneficiary, thanked the organisation for the assistance rendered to them.

She appealed to other NGOs and philanthropic organisations to emulate the Rhema Centre and provide youths in the camp with skills to empower them to be self-reliance.

“I am so delighted, but we still have other challenges like where to sleep, food, as well as lack of medical assistance. We are also pleading that the State Government and other agencies help us by training us to acquire skills that will enable us take care of ourselves,” she said.

Culled from Oracle News

2, July 2018

German parliament to discuss the Southern Cameroons Crisis ⁰

Cameroon Intelligence Report has gotten clearance from the FDP parliamentary office in Berlin and can now reveal that there is a bill sponsored by the Free Democrats Party (FDP) to be discussed in the German lower house on the Southern Cameroons crisis.

Our chief correspondent in Mulheim an der Ruhr said the bill is yet to be discussed but pointed out that much of the document´s content includes the narrative of the Southern Cameroons crisis and its ramifications, German relations with Cameroon and the explosive risk if the 85 yrs old dictator Biya, should be allowed to stand in for the next presidential election.

With this bill the FDP is hoping to request the German government to pressure the Biya regime to engage in reforms and inclusive dialogue with the representatives of the Anglophone community.

The key essential points include the following:

The German Bundestag (lower house of German parliament) calls on the German Government to

To resolve the conflict together with their European partners
Calling on all parties involved in the conflict to respect human rights and to avoid violence;
To call on the Cameroonian Government to denounce the increasing escalation of violence;
The Government of Cameroon should comply with constitutional standards in the use of security forces;
The Government of Cameroon; to release all political prisoners;
To work within the framework of the United Nations for education in the course of the current human rights violations in accordance with Geneva convention
To seek support for a peaceful solution from the African Union towards the crisis;
To dialogue on reforms between the government and representatives of the Anglophone regions and promote inclusive dialogue formats;
To include the churches in the mediation between government and Anglophone representatives;
Include the civil society actors in the Anglophone parts of the country to this effect so as to strengthen the base for a common position.
Assist the Government of Cameroon in complying with the constitutional requirements to implement political decentralization; to strengthen the electoral commission and to support its independence;
In the field of development cooperation, projects with local civic-society organizations should be intensified and implemented with development partners.