Headline News

31, August 2016

Brazil: Heading for a long winter as Dilma Rousseff is removed from office ⁰

This is the day that 61 corrupt men threw away 54 million Brazilian votes in the garbage. Violence, unemployment and a very dark future for Brazil. Dilma Rousseff has been stripped of Brazil’s presidency following a Senate impeachment vote in Brasilia. Senators voted on Wednesday by a majority of 61 to 20 to remove Rousseff from office. She was convicted of breaking fiscal rules in her management of the 2014 federal budget.

The vote was enough to immediately remove Brazil’s first female president from office. Interim president, Michel Temer, who had run the country following the suspension of Rousseff in May, will be sworn in at about 4:00 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) in the Congress.

Temer is scheduled to complete Rousseff’s presidential term until the next scheduled elections in late 2018. The Senate had voted to suspend Rousseff in May. Following the Senate vote, Rousseff fired back by sending a tweet saying that “today is the day that 61 men, many of them charged and corrupt, threw 54 million Brazilian votes in the garbage.” Rousseff was alluding to her re-election in 2014, which she won with more than 54 million votes.

During a 12-hour trial session on August 29, Rousseff denied the allegations and called the impeachment a coup d’état. On Wednesday, senators held another vote on whether she will be deprived of public office for eight years after a ruling by Chief Justice Ricardo Lewandowski, the magistrate overseeing her trial.

The majority of the senators voted against preventing the leftist president from holding any public office for the next eight years. Only 42 of the 81 members backed the move to bar Rousseff from holding public jobs. Under Brazil’s constitution, a sacked president loses political rights for eight years and should be banned from holding any public job for eight years.

Presstv

31, August 2016

Clinton and Trump: Two most unpopular presidential nominees in more than 30 years ⁰

US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s unpopularity among American voters has reached a new high, according to a new poll, putting her on par with her Republican rival Donald Trump. The latest findings by the ABC News/Washington Post poll solidify Clinton and Trump’s positions as the two most unpopular presidential nominees in more than 30 years. Among all adults, 56 percent now have an unfavorable view of Clinton, an increase of 6 points in three weeks, compared to 63 percent who have the same view about Trump.

Among registered voters, the two nominees have near-identical unfavorable ratings — 59 percent for Clinton and 60 percent for Trump. Clinton’s growing unpopularity follows renewed focus on her use of a private email server while she served as secretary of state, as well as alleged conflicts of interest over her connections to the Clinton Foundation fundraising.

The shift erases a gain in popularity for Clinton after the Democratic National Convention last month. Her favorable rating ticked up from 42 percent in July to 48 percent in early August, before dropping to 41 percent in this poll. Notably, Clinton’s unpopularity among women has rose from 43 percent to 52 percent during the last month, the first time in a year that most women have viewed her unfavorably.

Previous polls taken in the past several months have shown that Clinton and Trump were ranked among the most unpopular presidential candidates in America’s history. Clinton and Trump’s historic low popularity raise uncertainties about voter turnout in the November election.

US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks at a rally at Xfinity Arena in Everett, Washington on August 30, 2016. (AFP photo)

Trump, on the other hand, has not experienced a change in popularity overall, but some shifts among groups. Most notably, his favorability has dropped 6 points among men while increasing 7 points among women, perhaps a reflection of his recent attempts at “softening” some of his positions.

Trump’s campaign has been marked by controversy from the beginning, including disparaging remarks about women, Mexican immigrants and Muslims.

Presstv

31, August 2016

Gabon: National Vote Counting Commission declares President Ali Bongo winner ⁰

The re-election of President Ali Bongo has been announced live on the airwaves of Gabonese national television by the minister of interior. Ali Bongo therefore obtained 49.80% (177,722 votes) and 48.23% for Jean Ping.

Minister Pacome Mouboulet Boubeya read the results one by one from all the nine provinces of the country as tallied by the National Autonomous and Permanent Electoral Commission (Cenap). Opposition leader, Jean Ping immediately responded by saying his victory was “stolen”.

By Chi Prudence Asong

31, August 2016

Secondary and High School teachers on faked transfers ordered to return to their initial schools ¹

Some 367 government secondary and high school teachers who faked transfers to other schools have been asked to return to their initial schools. The decision was made by the Minister of Secondary Education Jean Ernest Bibehe after a thorough cross check of their files by the Human Resource Management of the Ministry.

According to officials at the Ministry of Secondary Education, 369 files in question were crosschecked out of which only 2 were genuine. Moreover, out of the 369 files, only 146 teachers in question presented their documents as demanded by the Ministry. It is but normal that the others did not border to present theirs since they are mindful of the foul game.

It was also reviewed that some of the fake transfers were orchestrated by some government officials. To this, the Ministry has embarked into strict investigation to track down the said unscrupulous agents. The teachers in question are expected in their initial Schools latest on 1st September 2016, after which their Principals will have to establish certificates of resumption which will be forwarded to the Ministry of Secondary Education by 30th September 2016. Any teacher who fails to adhere to the call will receive sanctions from both the Ministry of Secondary Education and the Public Service.

CRTV

31, August 2016

Clinton Njie moves to Marseille ⁰

Clinton Njie is now a Marseille player. The Cameroon international, 23, has left Spurs and has reportedly signed a one year loan deal.

The agreement also states that Olympique de Marseille has an option to grant the athlete a permanent deal valued at € 7 million. The Cameroonian striker has already passed a medical. He will join OM this Wednesday.

By Chi Prudence Asong

31, August 2016

Indomitable Lions: Hugo Broos says there are no big guns in the squad ⁰

The coach of the Indomitable Lions, Hugo Broos has said there are no big guns in the squad meaning there are no players who should be called up every time. He made the declaration in a press conference at the CAF Excellence Centre in Mbankomo where the Lions are currently training in view of the upcoming encounters against The Gambia and Gabon on September 3^rd and 6^th respectively. “I am counting on a nucleus of 30 players to grow together,” he said asserting that performance is the only criteria for selection.

He said he is trying to inject fresh blood into the squad due to the fact that most of the players of the national team are above thirty years. “For the 2017 AFCON there is no problem but for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, some of the players will be too old and might not even still be with us, hence the need to rejuvenate the squad”, he added. He said the matches against the Gambia and Gabon will enable him to determine the real mettle of the players especially the local ones as the poor pitches on which they play do not enable to show the full measure of their talents.

Commenting on the absences in the squad, the coach said Choupo Moting sustained an injury and will not be available for the two games while Clinton Njie was still suffering from indecision owing to his transfer saga. Allan Nyom also declared his forfeiture pending clarifications as to what club he would play for. Tony Tchani had a problem with the passport but will be coming today.

Also present at the press conference were Benjamin Moukandjo and the newcomer, Ndip Tambe. Moukandjo said he was happy defending the national colours after a long absence due to injury. Meanwhile Tambe said is coming to the national selection was a like a dream come true and that he was going to work harder so as to cement his place in the team. The press conference was preceded by a training session during which the Lions worked essentially on the offensive tactics.

Cameroon Tribune

31, August 2016

Cameroon: Finance Minister happy with debt situation and a political budget ⁰

Cameroon at the end of July this year had a debt situation of 4,754 billion FCFA, representing 27.3 per cent Gross Domestic Product, far below the 70 per cent ceiling set by the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, CEMAC, sub-region. This satisfactory situation will be maintained in the long-run if stakeholders continue to upgrade skills on mobilizing resources for the State properly and in a more disciplined manner.

The Minister of Finance, Alamine Ousmane Mey, however says there is need to remain cautious when analyzing the figures, given the implementation of projects for transforming the country into a middle income economy by 2035 as planned by the Head of State. The Minister made the disclosure in Yaounde yesterday August 30, at a ceremony to present the texts, missions and working procedures of the National Committee in charge of Public Debt, (NCPD). It was set up in 2008 by the Prime Minister to coordinate and follow-up the implementation of the national public indebtedness and public debt management policy with focus on developing objectives for State financial resources.

The Minister, who is also NCPD Chairperson, said government was committed to righting the wrongs of the past with the Heavily Indebted Poor Country Initiative (HIPC) of the early 2000 that led to the freezing of the country’s debts by partners. Making sure that the country was on the right path to “borrowing cautiously and spending wisely,” with focus on enabling future generations to repay debts normally, was primordial, Finance Minister stated. “We have to be careful in the conception, evaluation and mobilisation of resources to develop the country”, he said, stressing that NCPD members must know the position of the country’s debt policy where; “If we are not watchful enough while looking for resources to finance our development projects, we may end up in a situation where sustainability is not ensured.” Public debt concerns countries all over the world because of the risks involved. The one-day dialogue was part of efforts to maintain Cameroon’s possibility of mobilizing resources for development. Cameroon therefore needs to maintain the quality of its signature in the financial market as well as with its donors so as to mobilize enough resources for development.

Cameroon Tribune

30, August 2016

Douala: 5 armed robbers in police drag net ⁰

Elements of the national gendarmerie from the Douala 2 brigade have intercepted and arrested five men of the underworld suspected to be one of the gangs instilling fear through underground operations in the city. The group was dismantled on Saturday 27 August 2016 thanks to a mission led by the commanding officer and some elements of the Rapid Intervention Battalion, BIR.

Reports indicated that the notorious gang was uncovered at a club at the Akwa neighbourhood feasting after one its fruitful missions. Accordingly, their location was disclosed to the forces of law and order by a young girl believed to be one of the many victims to these wrongdoers. The girl immediately alerted the gendarmerie unit after discovering a clandestine transport car used by the five for their operations.

With this information at hand, elements of the Mobile intervention unit (GMI) in Douala 2 were immediately deployed leading to the subsequent arrest of the suspects. The members of the gang are presently behind bars at the Littoral Judicial Police Unit.

CRTV

30, August 2016

Cameroon: United Nations Development Program boss is in Yaounde ⁰

The visiting Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Helen Clark has re-pledged her organisation’s support to Cameroon in its youth empowerment programmes and moves at attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Helen Clark reaffirmed this on Monday 29th August 2016 as she began a two-day working visit in Cameroon.

The UNDP boss arrived Yaounde from Nairobi, Kenya and was received by Cameroon’s Minister of External Relations, Lejeune Mbella Mbella. Other officials of the UNDP branch in Cameroon were also on hand to welcome her like the UNDP Country Representative, Najat Rochdi.

During an audience with Minister Lejeune Mbella Mbella, Helen Clark expressed her organisation’s solidarity with the internally displaced persons and refugees following the Boko Haram attacks. The tete-a-tete was also forum for both diplomats to evaluate cooperation ties between Cameroon and the UNDP.

At the end of the UNDP scribe promised to continue supporting development efforts in the country. Over at the Prime Minister’s Office in an audience with Head of Government, Philemon Yang, Helen Clark not only pledged to support the empowerment of the youth but also recommended a holistic approach to economic growth, while encouraging inclusive growth in the country.

This 30th August 2016, the UNDP Administrator left Yaounde for Maroua in the Far North Region, to meet with the internally displaced persons and visit UNDP projects in the region.

Culled from CRTV

30, August 2016

“Donald Trump has serious health issues” ⁰

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump may not be mentally fit to serve as the president of the United States, suggests Mika Brzezinski, an American author, journalist and television host.

Brzezinski said on Monday’s “Morning Joe” on MSNBC that “it’s time to hear from somebody in the mental health community, to look at this person who has been on television for months and give us a sense of what we have going on here.” “Let’s stop pretending we’re dealing with someone who we can completely understand,” she said. “When you see someone who you think has problems, you know it. And there’s not anybody at this table who doesn’t think he has some sort of problem. Let’s ask the questions.”

The guests on the show included Eddie Glaude Jr., a professor of Religion and African-American Studies at Princeton University, and former Ted Cruz spokesman Rick Tyler. Brzezinski said that she and Joe Scarborough, the co-host of the program, have been asked multiple times about Trump’s mental health by people. Brzezinski is the daughter of Zbigniew Brzezinski, the national security adviser for former US President Jimmy Carter.

Scarborough argued that psychiatrists cannot appear on the show on and diagnose Trump, but Brzezinski pointed out they could look at character traits that “we are seeing repetitively here.” On Sunday, Trump called on his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, to release “detailed medical records,” adding he would have “no problem” issuing his own medical report. But his only public medical record — a letter written by his physician that was released in December — has recently been under scrutiny.

The New York billionaire’s doctor, Harold Bornstein, wrote in December that Trump’s medical examination “showed only positive results.” “If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency,” Bornstein wrote in the letter dated December 4. Doesn’t a positive result mean a negative outcome in medical examinations? Trump’s opponents have asked.

Presstv