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UN says tuberculosis epidemic is taking more lives than thought

13, October 2016

UN says tuberculosis epidemic is taking more lives than thought 0

The United Nations’ public health authority has criticized the international community for not doing enough to deal with the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic, saying the infectious disease is taking more lives than thought.

Latest data published on Thursday by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its 2016 Global Tuberculosis Report show that countries needed to move much faster to prevent, detect and treat tuberculosis.

TB kills 1.8 million people worldwide each year, not the 1.5 million previously estimated, according to the WHO’s Global TB Report 2016. The tuberculosis epidemic is larger than previously thought, while research into vaccines and cures is “severely underfunded,” WHO warned.

The report emphasized that countries needed to tackle the epidemic through “bold political commitment and increased funding.” The amount of money being spent on research and development for TB treatments needs to be at least $2 billion per year, it added.

Presstv

Nigeria says military operation against Boko Haram will continue

13, October 2016

Nigeria says military operation against Boko Haram will continue 0

The Nigerian government says the military operation against Boko Haram will continue even though the Takfiri militant group released several of girls who had been held captive for more than two years. Nigeria’s Information Minister Lai Mohammed said Thursday that Boko Haram’s release of 21 girls who had been kidnapped in the northeastern town of Chibok in 2014 would not change the status quo regarding Abuja’s fight against the terrorist group.

The announcement came hours after officials announced the release of 21 girls by the Boko Haram militant group. A local source claimed that the girls had been swapped for four Boko Haram prisoners held in the recently liberated northeastern town of Banki, which borders Cameroon. The Nigerian minister said the release of the girls was not linked to any alleged agreement between the government and Boko Haram, stressing that Abuja had not swapped any militant prisoner for the Chibok girls.

Of the total of 276 girls that Boko Haram kidnapped from a secondary school in Chibok in April 2014, about 60 had managed to escape. The government has been under immense pressure to secure the release of the remaining captives. A campaigning group for the girls, known as Bring Back Our Girls, said Thursday that the identity of the girls had yet to be confirmed.

In August, Boko Haram released a video purportedly showing some of the girls and demanding the release of comrades in exchange for the freedom of the abductees. A masked member of the group speaking in the footage claimed some of the girls were still alive, and that the others had been killed in airstrikes carried out by the Nigerian air force on the Boko Haram hideout. Boko Haram’s seven-year militancy has killed around 20,000 people in northern Nigeria and neighboring countries.

Presstv

Biya regime told to complete the construction of the Kumba-Mamfe road

13, October 2016

Biya regime told to complete the construction of the Kumba-Mamfe road 0

The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) has issued licenses to 23 enterprises doing business in Cameroon to export products tax-free to the ECCAS member countries.

The representatives of the 23 enterprises were handed over their licenses in a ceremony chaired by the Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Antangana.

Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana said the licenses are proof of government’s will to strengthen the private sector and reinforce sub regional integration.

The permits will enable the enterprises reach a larger market of about 160 million customers, improve the quality of products through competition and account for a turnover of about 408 billion FCFA.

The representatives for their part called on the Cameroon government to complete the construction of the Kumba – Mamfe road so as to improve business between Cameroon and neighbouring Nigeria.

CRTV

Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, has died at age of 88

13, October 2016

Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, has died at age of 88 0

Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, has died at age of 88, casting uncertainty over the Southeast Asian state’s political future. “His Majesty has passed away at Siriraj Hospital peacefully,” the Royal Household Bureau said in a statement on Thursday, adding that he died at 15:52 local time.

The palace did not reveal the reason for the king’s death, but it had warned days ago that his health was “not stable.” Thailand’s parliament is to hold a special session at 21:00 local time to discuss the new development.

The monarch’s demise has plunged the political future of Thailand in doubt as his presumed successor, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, 63, lacks the widespread popularity his father enjoyed during his 77-year reign.

The transition of power following the king’s death could become an important juncture in a country ruled by a military junta and long divided by rival political parties.

The former general, Prayuth Chan-ocha, has been at the helm of the county since the last democratic government of Yingluck Shinawatra was toppled after years of political turmoil in a 2014 coup d’etat.

The king, who essentially had a symbolic role, had been in poor health for some time, and spent most of the past six years in Bangkok’s Siriraj hospital.

This file photo taken on December 24, 1998 shows Thai Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn reviewing an Indian honor guard during an official welcoming ceremony at the presidential palace. (Photo by AFP)

The king had been receiving treatment for a respiratory infection, a buildup of fluid surrounding the brain and a swollen lung in the past few months.

King Bhumibol was re-admitted in Siriraj hospital in May 2015 and was last seen in public in January, when he spent several hours visiting his Bangkok palace.

The majority of the country’s 68 million population viewed the monarch as a traditional pillar of Thailand’s unity as well as stability in rapidly-changing times.

King Bhumibol ascended to the throne on June 9, 1946, and his reign witnessed 10 military coups, the most recent in May 2014 led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon was quick to offer condolences to Thailand on the king’s passing, expressing hope that the country would honor his legacy of commitment to universal values and respect for human rights.

Presstv

East Region CPDM Man arrested for illegally keeping elephant tusks in his house

13, October 2016

East Region CPDM Man arrested for illegally keeping elephant tusks in his house 0

An official of the Regional Delegation of the Ministry of Forestry and Wild Life for the East Region who also moonlights as a chartered member of the ruling CPDM party, Poye Narcisse Alex has been arrested for illegally keeping elephant tusks in his house.

Poye Narcisse who got a part time job at the regional delegation via his political connections found himself in police drag net on the 2nd of October 2016 at Kika Village a locality situated at the border with the Republic of Congo.

The Brigade Commander of the Gendarmerie for the East Region, Paul Nseng Aka’a who ordered the arrest, revealed that Narcisse Alex while on duty came across four illegal Nigerian traffickers of elephant tusks who abandoned their belongings and escaped. Alex Narcisse then picked up the elephant tusks left behind by the Nigerian businessmen and instead of reporting the happenings to the Gendarmerie, decided in a typical CPDM pattern to transport the items to his residence.

A day after the incident, he personally told the Gendarmerie Legion Command that he had impounded 4 elephant Tusks from some illegal traffickers instead of 11. An investigation led the forces of law and order to his home where they discovered the rest of the tusks. The 30 year old Narcisse Alex and one other suspect are presently under detention in an undisclosed National Gendarmerie Post in the East Region pending further investigation.

Rita Akana with files from CRTV

Trump under pressure as more women claim to have been sexually abused by the billionaire businessman

13, October 2016

Trump under pressure as more women claim to have been sexually abused by the billionaire businessman 0

US presidential nominee Donald Trump has again come under pressure as more women claim to have been sexually abused by the billionaire businessman from New York. The allegations were reported on Wednesday by The New York Times,The Palm Beach Post and Yahoo News. This comes after the release of a 2005 tape in which Trump is heard making vulgar comments about women and having a conversation about trying to have sex with a married woman.

One woman told the Times she was seated next to the Republican nominee during a flight to New York some three decades ago, and Trump started groping her suddenly.    “He was like an octopus,” Jessica Leeds, now 74, told the paper. “His hands were everywhere. It was an assault.” Another woman, Rachel Crooks, also told the Times that he kissed her without her permission. “I was so upset that he thought I was so insignificant that he could do that,” she said.

The Trump campaign has denied many of the allegations made against him, and called the Times article “a completely false, coordinated character assassination.” “It is absurd to think that one of the most recognizable business leaders on the planet with a strong record of empowering women in his companies would do the things alleged in this story, and for this to only become public decades later in the final month of a campaign for president should say it all,” Trump spokesman Jason Miller said in a statement.

“To reach back decades in an attempt to smear Mr. Trump trivializes sexual assault, and it sets a new low for where the media is willing to go in its efforts to determine this election,” the statement added. “None of this ever took place,” Trump told the Times on Tuesday night, and threatened to sue the publication if the paper went ahead to run the story. “You are a disgusting human being,” he told the reporter, who contacted him before publishing the story. “I don’t do it. I don’t do it,” he said.

And in a letter to New York Times editor Dean Baquet on Wednesday night, Trump’s lawyer said the article is an attempt to damage Trump’s presidential campaign. “Your article is reckless, defamatory and constitutes libel per se. It is apparent from, among other things, the timing of the article, that it is nothing more than a politically-motivated effort to defeat Mr. Trump’s candidacy,” Marc E. Kasowitz wrote.

After The Washington Post released a recording last week that shows Trump making vulgar remarks about women, Republican officials, including governors, senators and congressmen across the US have disavowed the billionaire. Trump’s apology for the remarks also failed to quell the unprecedented controversy over his comments, prompting growing demands by Republicans for him to quit the race.

Even Trump’s vice presidential candidate Mike Pence refused to defend the billionaire politician on Saturday, saying that he was “offended” by the obscene comments. On Monday, however, Pence reiterated his support for Trump, saying he expressed remorse for his controversial comments.

Presstv

Female Africa Cup of Nations: General mood in Cameroon moves from pessimism to optimism

13, October 2016

Female Africa Cup of Nations: General mood in Cameroon moves from pessimism to optimism 1

When Cameroon won the bid to host the 2016 women AFCON, there was a general feeling of pessimism about the country’s ability to host the tournament. The fears were entertained by the slow pace of executing of construction work on the sports infrastructure to host the showpiece. However, with the appointment of a new Minister of Sports and Physical Education, things sped up as government minister as well as the Governor of the South West Region multiplied field visits to mount pressure on the contractors. Even when it was clear Cameroon was going to be ready for the competition on time, skeptics still entertained the view the country was not going to be ready and that the hosting right was going to be withdrawn from Cameroon after the CAF inspection mission.

However, the skeptics were silenced when the head of the CAF inspection mission to Cameroon, Leodega Tenga declared at the end of their visit that Cameroon was ready. “Cameroon is ready to host the 2016 AFCON”, he said. “There are good quality hotels. No doubt about the training grounds. The Limbe stadium is one of the best on the continent. The pitches are ready for play even if the tournament was to take place today. We are extremely satisfied with what we saw and I think it is going to be an exceptional tournament in Cameroon”, Leodega Tenga added.

Despite the satisfaction of CAF, the Minister of sports and Physical Education, Bidoung Mkpatt declared that the government and entire citizens of Cameroon were mobilized towards organizing the competition with panache. To match words with action, the minister of Communication declared that though CAF recommends outside broadcasting vans with eight cameras, the country had ordered for two O.B. vans with twenty cameras for the TV production of the tourney. The litmus test on Cameroon’s ability to host the tournament was the draws ceremony on September 18, which Cameroon passed in flying colours as the event was of an unprecedented magnitude as testified by the president of CAF, Issa Hayatou who said it was the first time he was taking part in a draws ceremony in a football competition other than the men’s AFCON.

With about a month to go to the kick off of the competition on November 19, the momentum generated by the draws ceremony continues gathering steam raising great expectations. It is said the draws ceremony was just the tip of the iceberg as compared to what the opening and closing ceremonies of the tourney will be as it has been conferred in the hands of experts from Europe.

Culled from Cameroon Tribune

Camair-Co crisis deepens as Transport Minister snubs Board Chair Mefiro Oumarou

13, October 2016

Camair-Co crisis deepens as Transport Minister snubs Board Chair Mefiro Oumarou 0

Transport Minister, Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo’o, and his new corporate executive staffs of Camair-Co met on Wednesday, October 12, 2016 in Yaounde with officials of the Audit Consulting firm Boeing. Amid tension with the new board chair of the airline company, Mefiro Oumarou, the transport minister reportedly told the Americans that President Biya has chosen Boeing and that the plan developed by Boeing has already been validated and stressed that the new Camair- Co leaders should rally behind Boeing as soon as possible and move towards the implementation phase.

Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo’o did announce the release of part of the funding needed to redress the airline company. Said the minister, “I am able to tell you that FCFA 30 billion is already available for Boeing to accompany Camair-Co in the implementation of this plan.”

The hard-line position adopted by Minister Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo’o has openly contradicted statements released by the President of the Board of Camair-Co, Mefiro Oumarou. Mefiro recently opined that there was need to put aside the recovery plan submitted to the President of the Republic by Boeing Consulting.

The Boeing plan hinted our informant in Yaounde will allow Camair-Co to fly to 27 destinations: 9 domestic, 13 regional and 5 intercontinental. There is a proposal to acquire new aircrafts over a period of five years by 2020. Boeing also requested the Cameroonian government to inject 60 billion FCFA in the computerization of the company and building sheds.

Culled from Cameroon Intelligence Report

New dress code for Yaounde University II students

12, October 2016

New dress code for Yaounde University II students 0

The Rector of the University of Yaounde II, Soa, Ibrahima Adamou has prescribed a new dress code for students in the university. The prescription is contained in a communiqué signed in September 2016.

Accordingly, the Rector prohibits indecent dressing, unnecessary piercings, excessive adorning with jewellery and extravagant hairdos. Both boys and girls on campus are exhorted to abide by these prescriptions which require that student tone down their general external looks.

In this light, short dresses above knee level, tight-fitting clothes, sleeveless tops, irregular hair colours and styles, extra-high shoes, slippers, earrings (for boys), caps and anklets, amongst others are prohibited on campus. The Rector of the University argues that the decision is intended uphold decency, virtuous behaviour and the respect of ethics in the University.

If the Rector’s instructions are heeded to, the University of Yaounde II, Soa will measure up with most professional schools where the administration has succeeded in keeping a keen eye on decency.

As tension mounts in Congo-Kinshasa: President Denis Sassou Nguesso envoy in Yaounde for talks

12, October 2016

As tension mounts in Congo-Kinshasa: President Denis Sassou Nguesso envoy in Yaounde for talks 0

Cameroon’s  Minister Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh has reportedly met with Jean-Claude Gakosso, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Congo. Cameroon Concord News was reliably informed that both men had the audience inside the Unity Palace on the 11th of October 2016.

With political tension and violence increasing at catastrophic rapidity in neighbouring Congo-Kinshasa, the Congolese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation was bearer of a sealed envelope from President Denis Sassou Nguesso to President Paul Biya.

The Congolese envoy in a chat with journalists of the state radio and television blatantly refused to disclose the content of the letter. He however observed that the letter was a message appealing to President Biya to focus on consolidating peace in the region.

Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh and the special envoy of President Denis Sassou Nguesso took the opportunity to revisit the bilateral cooperation between Cameroon and Congo Brazzaville.  Jean-Claude Gakosso was accompanied to state house by the ambassador of the Republic of Congo, Gisele Bouanga Kalou.

By Chi Prudence Asong

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