News

Syria: French President Francois Hollande says Paris will not change its stance on Moscow

17, October 2016

Syria: French President Francois Hollande says Paris will not change its stance on Moscow 0

French President Francois Hollande says Paris will not change its stance on Moscow’s support for the Syrian government, but is willing to discuss the conflict in the country with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Vladimir Putin does not want to seriously discuss Syria. I am ready at any time, but I will not ease the pressure,” said Hollande during a Sunday interview.

He noted that the subject of the talks would be the halting of anti-terrorist bombing raids, a ceasefire, and the transfer of humanitarian aid. On October 19, a meeting between Putin and Hollande in Paris was canceled after the French president announced he was only willing to talk about the conflict in Syria.

Earlier on Sunday, Putin censured France over its lack of contribution to international efforts aimed at ending the crisis in Syria, saying Paris has not properly responded to Russia’s calls for joint action on Syria.

Russian President Vladimir Putin 

While noting that “France is not so deeply involved in the settlement of the Syrian conflict,” Putin added that Russia is always prepared to talk about Syria, especially with France.

He also stressed that Putin’s Paris trip was canceled by French authorities who suddenly decided to change the agenda of the trip and raise the issue of Syria.

“We have other issues apart from Syria, we could have discussed other issues,” he said.

Paris-Moscow tensions escalated since Russia vetoed a French resolution at the United Nations Security Council which called for a halt to the bombing of the Syrian city of Aleppo.

Syrian militants fire an anti-aircraft machine gun mounted on a vehicle deploy during clashes in the northern Syrian village of Yahmoul in the Marj Dabiq area north of the embattled city of Aleppo on October 10, 2016.

Putin had accused France of deliberately pushing for the UN proposal to heap pressure on Russia as it knew that Moscow would veto the resolution. He said the move was aimed at “inflaming the situation and fanning hysteria around Russia.” Syria has been gripped by foreign-sponsored militancy over the past five and a half years.

Presstv

11 new CPDM campaign vehicles handed over to the Minister of Forestry and Wild Life

15, October 2016

11 new CPDM campaign vehicles handed over to the Minister of Forestry and Wild Life 0

The Ministry of Forestry has on the 14th of October 2016 received 11 brand new pick-up vehicles from the Debt Reduction Development Program C2D an- initiative of the French Development Agency. The handing over ceremony was chaired by the Minister of Forestry and Wild Life Ngole Philip Ngwese, in the presence of C2D’s National Coordinator, Bruno Mfou’ou Mfou’ou in Yaounde.

The vehicles which were donated to ease the job of Forestry and Environmental experts and to boost production in the Forestry sector were distributed according to the following order: 7 vehicles will serve the need at the Regional Delegations of Forestry, 2 at the Forestry Training Centre and 2 for the Environmental Training Centre. The ministries always use these vehicles for political campaigns.

CRTV

Nigeria: Buhari tells wife “you belong to my kitchen and my living room”

15, October 2016

Nigeria: Buhari tells wife “you belong to my kitchen and my living room” 0

President Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to his wife’s statement that she may not support him if he runs again. Buhari who is on a state visit to Germany reacted to the interview saying, “I don’t know which party my wife belongs to, but she belongs to my kitchen and my living room and the other room”

In an interview with the BBC Hausa service Aisha Buhari said her husband does not know many of his top government appointees. President Muhammadu Buhari has laughed off his wife’s statement that she may not support him if he runs again, saying, “I don’t know which party my wife belongs to, but she belongs to my kitchen and my living room and the other room,” The Associated press reports.

Culled from Naija.com

Cameroon to celebrate International Day of the Rural Woman

14, October 2016

Cameroon to celebrate International Day of the Rural Woman 0

Cameroon will on the 15th of October 2016 join the International Community to observe the International Day of the Rural Woman commemorated under the theme, “Empowering Rural Women, Ensuring Food Security and Ending Poverty.” Discussions have already started with some elite attempting to answer the question of who is a rural woman and how the rural communities are coping with the challenges of the 21st century. In Cameroon, a rural woman is considered as one who dwells in a rural area and depends largely on agriculture, livestock, fishing and mining.

Cameroon’s rich landscape makes her activities relatively easy even though she faces a number of challenges including access to funding. Cameroon’s rural women however, have been exposed to a number of positive changes which has affected their mentality over the years. The mentality change, some of the women have opined is thanks to their affiliation to little groupings and associations where they have been made to understand they are worth more than just the farmlands and the animal farming they are involved in.

Some government officials have observed that the rural women have been taught how to develop their businesses and they have also been introduced into other self-reliant activities including “njangis”, thereby partly resolving the issue of funding. The CPDM government through the Ministry of Women Empowerment and the Family has also been actively involved in upgrading the status of rural women in the country. Their production rate has increased due to training, counselling and donation of farm tools and seedlings from NGOs and government.

Celebrations this year will also focus on some setbacks including insufficient access to information, inaccessible roads, isolation, influence of stereotypes and difficult access to land among others faced by the women.

CRTV

Mayor Ekema Patrick honoured by Manyus in Buea

14, October 2016

Mayor Ekema Patrick honoured by Manyus in Buea 0

img-20161013-wa0004The Lord Mayor of the Buea city council, Ekema Patrick Essunge has been given a civic reception by the Manyu Youth Association based in Buea. The mayor was honoured in a reception recently that was purely traditional and was rich in pomp and colour.  In a rare recognition of new generation leadership in the South West constituency, the Manyu Youth led by its Fako branch president, Ako Julius was full of praise for the mayor who is reportedly doing a remarkable job in the city of Buea.

During the unique occasion that also witnessed a powerful display of the rich Manyu culture, Mayor Ekema Patrick was decorated with the Manyu traditional regalia in the presence of the Manyu Youth National President and some prominent South West elites. The Manyu community assured the Mayor of their unflinching support in his fight aimed at transforming Buea and reiterated the fact that they were at his service whenever the need arises.

The Manyu citizens made an appeal to the Lord Mayor to make available a small piece of land in his municipality for them to build a Manyu Youth Centre in Buea. The renowned National President of the Manyu Women, Meg Agbor in her key note address revealed that Mayor Ekema was a true son of the South West region, a great Cameroonian and a brother to the Manyu community.

In his reaction to the huge Manyu presence at his residence in Buea, the lord Mayor Ekema observed that “I am very honoured and touched that you have bothered to organise this occasion for me.”  The mayor added that the Manyus were the first in the South West region after the North West Fons to honour him. Mayor Ekema explained during the forum that the ongoing activity in Buea is not to demolish houses but to get rid of some existing structures that were constructed some half a century ago.

The man of action did praise the Manyu Youth for their sense of responsibility and thanked them for the honour. In his Mola Ekema style, the mayor granted the request of the Manyu people and noted that he was going to speedily obtain the piece of land for them to build their youth hall. Manyu traditional rites were performed amid heavy applauds for peace and prosperity to reign in Fako Division.

By Eyong Paolo

Dusseldorf City News Buea

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

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

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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