Breaking News

16, September 2016

German Chancellor Merkel says European Union is in a critical situation ⁰

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has acknowledged that the European Union (EU) is in a “critical situation,” as it is struggling to find a way forward without the United Kingdom. Upon her arrival for a summit in the Slovakian capital of Bratislavato on Friday, Merkel said the EU has been facing so many problems that cannot be resolved at one meeting.

“The point is not to simply expect a solution to Europe’s problems from one summit — we are in a critical situation — but rather it is about showing through actions that we can be better,” she told reporters. The leaders of the union, minus those of Britain, have gathered in Bratislavato to discuss the EU’s post-Brexit future.

“I hope that today we can show that we can work together in the EU and that we can solve problems,” Merkel said. “Protecting Europe’s outside borders will also be discussed, but this will all be decided in the coming months, we can then also take concrete steps,” she added.

EU leaders attend a summit in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava, September 16, 2016. (Photo by Reuters)

Merkel further said that European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker “showed in his speech that the European Commission has similar plans.” Juncker earlier warned that the union faces an “existential crisis.”

On the eve of the summit, European Council President Donald Tusk also warned that the remaining 27-member states should not “let this crisis go to waste.” “After the vote in the UK the only thing that makes sense is to have a sober and brutally honest assessment of the situation,” Tusk said in Bratislava.

The leaders, however, are not expected to discuss Britain’s departure from the bloc in any detail in Bratislavato. Tusk formerly called on British Premier Theresa May to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty– the step required to officially begin the withdrawal.May, however, said her government will not begin the negotiation this year. Starting the negotiations would begin a two-year countdown for the UK to separate itself from Brussels.

Presstv

16, September 2016

Commercial Bank-Cameroon: Business as usual ⁰

The atmosphere at the headquarters of the Commercial Bank-Cameroon is reportedly calm, serene and busy. Attention was drawn to the renowned financial establishment following an announcement that the mandate accorded the provisional administrators had come to an end.

The nation’s national daily, Cameroon Tribune revealed that customers were withdrawing their desired amounts or saving without any stress. Some who were gunning for school loans had them on time. Rumour earlier circulated that with the end of the mandate of the Provisional Administrators mindful of the crisis that rocked the bank some years ago, services were going to be affected or weakened.

Some customers recently noted that the fervency of services has signaled that the bank stands a better chance of attracting more potential clients. Payment and savings counters, as well as the automated teller machines have been busy. Affiliated services such as money transfer via Western Union are all impressively patronized.

Cameroon Tribune

16, September 2016

Money transfers from the diaspora to Cameroon hits 1.2 billion dollars ²

It has been revealed that the amount of money transfers from the diaspora to Cameroon is 1.2 billion dollars or nearly 585 billion FCFA. The figures were released by the British company, World Remit, considered the world leader in digital money transfer. Statistically speaking, this means that the diaspora contributed 33% in the Public Investment Budget (PIB) of Cameroon in 2016.

Some financial experts have opined that the figure also an equivalence of over 60% of the necessary funding needed for the implementation of the so called Biya emergency plan or nearly 120% of the funding sought for the construction of the Nachtigal dam.

World Remit also reported that money transfers from the Cameroonian Diaspora have doubled over a two year period. Generally, these funds are used primarily for the basic needs of families back home. World Remit however emphasized that “remittances from abroad play an important role in the economy of Cameroon.”

By Sama Ernest with files from CIN

15, September 2016

Hillary Clinton returns to the campaign trail ⁰

US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has returned to the campaign trail as polls show she is locked in a tight contest against Republican rival Donald Trump. Clinton took the stage in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Thursday, four days after she almost fainted during a ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York. Clinton described her being off of the campaign fray as a moment that reminded her why she’s running for the White House.

“I certainly feel lucky — when I am under the weather, I can afford to take a few days off. Millions of Americans can’t. They either go to work sick or they lose a paycheck,” she said. Clinton said her break from the campaign trail helped her to ponder and “reconnect with what this whole campaign is about.” “I have met so many people living on a razor’s edge, one illness away from losing their job, one paycheck away from losing their job,” she said. “That goes against everything we stand for as Americans, because some things should not come down to luck.”

The 68-year-old former First Lady was forced to abruptly leave a 9/11 memorial in New York on Sunday due to a medical episode, stirring speculations about her well-being. The candidate’s physician, Dr. Lisa Bardack, released a statement via the campaign and said she had pneumonia.

On Thursday, she acknowledged to the Greensboro, North Carolina, crowd that she was forced to stay at home following her pneumonia diagnosis. “As you may know, I recently had a cough that turned out to be pneumonia. I tried to power through it but even I had to admit that maybe a few days of rest would do me good,” she said.

Meanwhile, according to a new poll, Trump and Clinton are tied among likely voters in a four-way race for the White House. The CBS News/New York Times poll, released on Thursday, shows both Trump and Clinton have support of 42 percent. Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson has 8 percent and Green Party candidate Jill Stein has 4 percent.

Among registered voters in that scenario, Clinton has a 2 points lead over Trump, 41 to 39 percent, with Johnson earning 22 percent and Stein only 5 percent. In a two-way race, Clinton also leads Trump among likely voters by 2 points, 46 to 44 percent. She has a 5-point lead over Trump among registered voters, 46 to 41 percent. The poll was conducted from September 9 to 13 among a national sample of 1,433 registered voters. The margin of error is 3 percentage points.

Recent polls have shown that the race between Clinton and Trump is tightening at both the state and national levels before the November election. 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. She is also facing criticism over the delayed release of her pneumonia diagnosis.

Presstv

15, September 2016

Cameroon host celebrations marking International Day of Democracy ⁰

The First Vice President of the National Assembly, Honourable Hilarion Etong has called on the Cameroonian youth to be more involved in the democratic process. The Parliamentarian made the call today the 15^th of September 2016 during a ceremony to launch activities to commemorate the International Day of Democracy under the theme, “Democracy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

To Hon Hilarion Etong, the youth must be included in order to meet the needs of the future generations. He used the forum to remind members of parliament of the fundamental role they must play in mobilizing more youth into the democratization process. He also emphasized that parliament must contribute towards attaining the sustainable development goals while working with government and the civil society to strengthen democracy by 2030.

Some cabinet ministers, opinion leaders and MPs were part of the session which was followed by a round table discussion. The International Day of Democracy was instituted in 2008 and is a day which provides an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world.

CRTV

15, September 2016

Cameroon 2016: The Black Queens will be in Limbe ⁰

The “Black Queens as they are commonly called” is the Female National Football Team of Ghana administered under the Ghana Football Association. It is among the eight partaker of the 2016 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations bid for Limbe- Cameroon this November 2016. The female football squad has been gaining strides under the administration of Yusif Basigi as head coach, Mercy Myles as Captain, Alhaji Adam Munkaila – Chairman of the Management Committee.

The team’s ever first international outing was in February 1991 in Lagos-Nigeria where it bowed to Nigeria one goal to five. Its biggest win was registered on 11th July 2004 where she beat Guinea 13 goals to nil. Its greatest defeat so far was on 22nd July 2016 in Paderborn- Germany during a friendly with Germany, she was battered by 11 goals to nil. Talking about the World cup tournament, it is worth noting that the Black Queens have made it 3 times; first in 1999, and with best results during the first round in 1999, 2003, and 2007.

And finally in the Africa Women’s Championship, it has made 10 appearances, first in 1991 with best results as second position in 1998, 2002, and 2006. But unfortunately has never succeeded to qualify for the Summer Olympic Games. That notwithstanding hopes are high that the team will likely register outstanding performances this 2016 for the fact that it will be appearing for the 11th time in the Africa Women’s Championship- free from the ordeal of “fresh man fright.” The team has twice produced the best players of the year, in the African Women’s football records.

– Alberta Sackey — 2002 African Women Player of the Year
– Adjoa Bayor — 2003 African Women Player of the Year

The Black queens are presently warming up – awaiting the November 2016 Africa Women’s Football Championship in Cameroon with white jerseys set as their first outfit and yellow as the second.

The team is composed by the following categories of players:

Goal keepers

– Fafali Dumehasi
– Patricia Mantey

Midfielders

–    Hillia Kobblah
–    Mary Berko
–    Agnes Quaye
–    Portia Boakye
–    Mary Essiful

Defenders

–    Janet Egyir
–    Juliet Acheampong
–    Grace Asare
–    Cynthia Adobea
–    Mercy Myles
–    Elizabeth Addo
–    Rosemary Ampem
–    Linda Eshun

Midfielders

–    Hillia Kobblah
–    Mary Berko
–    Agnes Quaye
–    Portia Boakye
–    Mary Essiful

Forwarders

–    Faiza Ibrahim
–    Elizabeth Cudjoe
–    Samira Suleman
–    Agnes Aduako
–    Diana Ankomah

Culled from CRTV

15, September 2016

Trump, Clinton are tied among likely voters ⁰

US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic rival Hillary Clinton are tied among likely voters in a four-way race for the White House, a new poll shows. The CBS News/New York Times poll, released on Thursday, shows both Trump and Clinton have support of 42 percent among registered voters. Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson has 8 percent and Green Party candidate Jill Stein has 4 percent. Among registered voters in that scenario, Clinton has a 2 points lead over Trump, 41 to 39 percent, with Johnson earning 22 percent and Stein only 5 percent.

In a two-way race, Clinton also leads Trump among likely voters by 2 points, 46 to 44 percent. She has a 5 points lead over Trump among registered voters, 46 to 41 percent. The poll was conducted from September 9 to 13 among a national sample of 1,433 registered voters. The margin of error is 3 percentage points.

Recent polls have shown that the race between Clinton and Trump is tightening at both the state and national levels before the November election. According to the NBC News/Survey Monkey tracking survey released on Tuesday, Clinton was leading Trump by only 4 points, 48 to 44 percent, among registered voters.

Whereas, Clinton was leading Trump by 10 points in the same poll about five weeks ago. Her lead over her main rival slimmed to 2 points in the poll in a four-way match-up. She received 42 percent to his 40 percent. In that scenario, Johnson earned 11 percent, while Stein bagged 4 percent.

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. Clinton is also facing criticism over the delayed release of her pneumonia diagnosis over the weekend.

Presstv

15, September 2016

Biya and outgoing French ambassador meet for the last time in Etoudi ⁰

President Paul Biya has met for the last time, the outgoing French ambassador to Cameroon, Christine Robichon. Cameroon Concord News was reliably informed that the audience that held on the 14th of September 2016 provided an opportunity for the Cameroonian dictator to thank Madam Robichon for the peaceful co-existence that reigns between Cameroon and the French republic.

The French diplomat read a farewell message to Mr Biya, informing the president that she has come to the end of her three-year mission in the country. During the over 90 – minute tete-a-tete, they reviewed the state of bilateral relations between Cameroon and France. They also revisited the political and security situation in the Central African sub region.

15, September 2016

Cameroon: Senate President grants audiences to French and German diplomats ⁰

The President of the Senate, Marcel Niat Njifenji has held talks with the outgoing French ambassador, Christine Robichon and the new German diplomatic head, Dr Dr Hans-Dieter Stell.

During both audiences, discussions focused on bilateral and parliamentary ties between Cameroon and their respective countries. Christine Robichon who is at the end of her three-year stay in Cameroon hailed Franco-Cameroon relations.

For his part, the new German ambassador, hoped for improved partnerships as he begins his diplomatic mission in the country.

CRTV

15, September 2016

Former Brazilian President charged with corruption ⁰

Prosecutors in Brazil have filed charges of involvement in money-laundering and corruption against former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his wife. Federal prosecutors on Wednesday indicted the couple for alleged implication in graft schemes and the embezzlement of more than $2 billion from the country’s giant state-run oil company, Petrobras.

The former Brazilian president and his wife were also charged with receiving a luxury apartment at a seaside resort in Sao Paulo from a major construction company involved in the Petrobras corruption scandal. The 70-year-old ex-president has strongly denied any wrongdoing and repeatedly declared his innocence, saying the prosecution against him and his associates is politically motivated.

Lula’s lawyers also said that prosecutors lacked evidence to support their allegations, which they said were part of political scheme to hinder his chances to run for the 2018 presidential election in Brazil.

“This Lula-centered farce was trumped up as an affront to the democratic state and intelligence of Brazilian citizens,” Cristiano Zanin, one of his lawyers, said. Despite all accusations targeting Lula and his party, recent opinion polls have indicated that he enjoys sizable popularity among Brazilians and stands a much higher chance to win the next presidential election than potential rivals.

Lula, who was key to bringing the summer Olympics to Rio, left office with huge popularity thanks to social programs during his administration, which lifted tens of millions of Brazilians from poverty. His legacy, however, has been seriously tainted by the emergence of the Petrobras scandal, in which dozens of politicians and executives stand accused of having embezzled from the huge state oil company in a web of inflated contracts, kickbacks and bribes during his presidency.

A scandal also affected Lula’s successor, Dilma Rousseff, leading to her impeachment by Congress last month over breaking budget rules and her handling of Brazil’s worst recession since the 1930s.

Presstv