Headline News

27, June 2018

President Putin says US-Russia relations not in ‘best state’ ⁰

Relations between Russia and the US are not in the “best state” these days, Russian President Vladimir Putin has told visiting US National Security Adviser John Bolton, citing the ongoing political discord in America as the main reason.

The parties expressed their willingness to search for ways to enhance bilateral relations.

“Unfortunately, I have to say that Russian-US relations are not in their best state now,” Putin said at a meeting with Bolton at the Kremlin on Wednesday. “I have said this in public on many occasions, I would like to repeat at this meeting with you. I believe that to a great extent this is the result of a bitter internal political struggle in the US.”

The Russian head of state expressed hope that the visit would pave the way for restoring ties.

“Your visit to Moscow provides us with hope that we will be able to take at least the initial steps towards restoring full-fledged relations between our countries,” Putin said. “Russia has never sought confrontation.”

Ties between the Kremlin and the White House have fallen to a new low under US President Donald Trump.

US intelligence services have accused Russia of cyber interference in America’s democratic process, specially during the 2016 presidential face-off between Trump and his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.

Trump, who has been willing to extend ties with Moscow, is currently the subject of a high-profile investigation for alleged “collusion” with the Kremlin.

Moscow and Washington have also clashed on a range of other issues, including the war in Syria, the Ukraine conflict and the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Putin told Bolton that both sides should explore ways “to mend full-fledged relations based on equality and respect for each other’s interests.”

Trump’s national security advisor said he wanted to discuss boosting Russian-US cooperation in the areas where both sides see eye to eye.

Hailing Putin’s summit with Trump on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Germany in July last year, Bolton assured the Russian leader that Trump was committed to improving ties.

Earlier in the day, Bolton sat down for talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in a meeting that revolved around bilateral ties.

“The parties held an exchange of opinions on the topical issues of the international agenda, including the situation around Syria and in Ukraine,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“Considerable attention was paid to the issues of bilateral relations,” it added.
Source: Presstv

27, June 2018

South Sudan warring parties sign peace deal ⁰

South Sudan’s president signed a peace agreement with rebels on Wednesday including a ceasefire to start in 72 hours, Sudan’s foreign minister said, but rebels rejected other parts of the deal.

The agreement made in the Sudanese capital Khartoum aims to end a war in which tens of thousands of people have been killed. Previous peace deals have broken down.

“The parties will continue talks in Khartoum to discuss the arrangements for implementing the ceasefire, and after it comes into place the issue of power-sharing will be discussed,” Sudanese Foreign Minister Al-Dirdiri Mohamed Ahmed told Reuters.

The framework agreement comes ahead of a final settlement and would allow access for humanitarian aid, prisoners to be freed and a transitional unity government to be formed after four months, Ahmed said.

It comes after two days of talks between President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar, a former vice president. The country’s civil war began in 2013, less than two years after it gained independence from Sudan.

The war has uprooted a quarter of South Sudan’s population of 12 million, ruined the country’s agriculture and battered its economy.

“This agreement signed today and the ceasefire will end the war in South Sudan and opens a (new) page,” Machar told reporters after the signing ceremony, hailing what he said would be a building of trust with South Sudan’s northern neighbor.

From left to right, South Sudan’s opposition leader Riek Machar, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and South Sudanese President Salva Kiir pose for a group picture before their meeting in Khartoum on June 25, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

The agreement signed with other opposition leaders provides for the new unity government to rule for three years, followed by a general election, Ahmed said.

Kiir said he would “commit respectfully” to the deal.

One of the proposed points of the agreement was to have three different capitals for South Sudan to distribute power but a spokesman for Machar rejected this.

“We will sign the framework today, with some amendments. Most notably, we reject the three capitals – South Sudan is one country – and we reject foreign forces coming into our land,” the spokesman, Mabior Garang Mabior, said, apparently referring to proposed monitoring of the ceasefire by regional African group Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and African Union forces.

“We also reject the resumption of oil production prior to a comprehensive negotiated settlement,” Mabior said.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who hosted this week’s talks, said the agreement was a “gift to the people of South Sudan.”

(Source: Reuters)

27, June 2018

Zimbabwe: The Crocodile links Grace Mugabe to assassination attempt ⁰

Zimbabwea’s Emmerson Mnangagwa has reportedly said that a group linked to former first lady Grace Mugabe could be behind an explosion that rocked a stadium where he addressed his Zanu-PF supporters on Saturday.

The blast came as Zimbabwe prepared to hold its first post-Mugabe presidential election on July 30, with 75-year-old Mnangagwa and 40-year-old Nelson Chamisa, the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, the main contenders.

Authorities gave no details of what had caused the explosion at Mnangagwa’s first rally in Bulawayo, an opposition stronghold where the ruling ZANU-PF has not won in national elections since 2000.

According to BBC, Mnangagwa said he suspected that a group called the Generation 40 (G40), which supported Grace for presidency, was responsible for the explosion.

Mnangagwa further said that investigations were still under way and those behind the attack will soon be apprehended.

Mr Mnangagwa described wife to Mugabe as someone who has in the past directly insulted him

“On what basis would I trust someone who was used by a cabal to say things that had no basis?” he asked.

Despite the apparent attempt on his life, Mr Mnangagwa said there would be no countrywide security clampdown and elections scheduled for next month would go ahead in a free and fair manner.

Zimbabwe was stable and that foreign investors should not worry, he said.

Source: Africa News

27, June 2018

Egypt coach is fired following disappointing World Cup campaign ⁰

Egypt’s national football coach, Hector Cuper has been relieved of his duties by the country’s football association, following the unsuccessful campaign at the World Cup in Russia.

Egypt finished bottom of Group A with zero points after losing all three of its games, 0-1 to Uruguay, 1-3 to Russia and 1-2 to Saudi Arabia. The Pharaohs who did not play with star player Mohamed Salah in their opening game were consequently eliminated, extending their winless record at the World Cup.

Salah’s shoulder injury had dominated the build-up to the tournament, with the team struggling to win any of their warm up games. Salah scored Egypt’s two goals at the World Cup.

Argentine Cuper, 62, who would have been out of contract after the World Cup, had hinted that the Saudi Arabia game on Monday could be his last game in charge of the record African champions.

“I have never excluded anything. It might be my last game and it might not. It will depend on a number of factors,” Cuper, who was named Egypt coach in 2015.

EFA decides to part ways with Cuper

Speaking after the Saudi Arabia loss, he said he would “see what will happen” ahead of a meeting with the Egypt Football Association (EFA).

The EFA said: “We held a meeting after returning from Russia and the entire board decided to say thank you to Cuper and his technical staff.

“We appreciate the work from the coach, from reaching the Africa Cup of Nations after three years of absence and taking Egypt to the World Cup after 28 years of absence.”

EFA also insisted that Salah is happy with the national team and management after media reports suggested he might quit international football for political reasons.

Source: Africa News

27, June 2018

UK: Two dead, 18 injured in bus-lorry crash ⁰

A crash between a double-decker bus and a lorry in Cambridgeshire, eastern England, has left two people dead and 18 others injured, police say.

The collision took place on the A47 Thorney Road in Guyhirn, a village near Wisbech, around 7:30 a.m. local time (0630GMT) on Tuesday.

Reports said the deceased were the bus driver, in his 50s, and a passenger, in his 70s.

“We are sorry to report that two men, traveling in the bus involved in the A47 collision, have sadly died. Our thoughts are with their families at this time,” said Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s official Twitter account. “Seven people have been seriously injured and 11 have minor injuries following the collision.”

Police noted that those who were seriously hurt had a combination of broken bones and head injuries, including brain injuries.

The scene of a crash on the A47 Thorney Road in Guyhirn, Wisbech. (Photo via social media)

Footage from the scene shows the bus, which had been traveling eastbound, rammed into the side of the lorry, which appears to have been heading westbound.

The East of England Ambulance Service said the casualties had been transferred to a nearby hospital for treatment.

A police spokesman announced that investigations continued at the scene of the collision and the road remained closed.

Source: Presstv

27, June 2018

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Yaounde plotting to assassinate Mark Bareta, Tapang Ivo ⁰

A former baron of the Biya Francophone regime with strong ties to the Francophone dominated security services in Yaoundé has hinted Cameroon Intelligence Report that the Cameroon government has hatched diabolic plots aimed at the assassination of prominent Southern Cameroons activists in Europe and America including Mark Bareta, Eric Tataw and Tapang Ivo. The onetime cabinet minister and close aide to President Biya told our chief intelligence officer in Yaoundé that the Biya regime has set up numerous anti Ambazonian cells in Europe and the USA, which are led by the security chiefs of the various Cameroon embassies.

The Biya acolyte whose name we are withholding went on to say Yaoundé has requested and gotten the support of some countries in the CEMAC region to help in carrying out the mission. We also gathered from a well-placed source that discussions were held on whether to recruit the services of assassination squads in Eastern Europe or in South Africa.

A huge number of Francophone army soldiers have been deployed to Southern Cameroons and tasked with gunning down family relations of those serving with the Interim Government of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia. All these would-be assassins have been told to operate as factions within the Ambazonia Restoration Forces but must obey commands being issued by the military leadership based in Buea, our source disclosed.

Ever since the crisis in Southern Cameroons started two years ago, Francophone army officers have tortured and sexually abused hundreds of Ambazonia detainees at their detention centers in Yaoundé, Mbouda, Douala and Buea. Many of the Southern Cameroonians, who are held without charges, have been sodomized, raped, probed and stripped down in Kondengui and New Bell prisons.

Ambazonian detainees who resisted were killed and those still being held are wishing for death every day and can’t find it. The French government is French Cameroun’s key partner in its deadly war against Southern Cameroons. The United Nations announced in a statement recently that the crisis in Southern Cameroons had left 160,000 civilians displaced and many injured. The United Nations also stated that it had registered some 21,000 Southern Cameroons refugees in the Cross River State in Nigeria.

By Chi Prudence Asong

27, June 2018

Argentina strikes late to advance to World Cup knockout stage ⁰

Argentina and Lionel Messi progressed to the last 16 of the World Cup by the skin of their teeth on Tuesday after an 86th minute strike from defender Marcos Rojo gave them a 2-1 win over Nigeria, eliminating the African side.

Croatia advance as winners of Group D with the maximum nine points after beating Iceland 2-1 and Nigeria were just minutes away from joining them before central defender Rojo superbly volleyed home a Gabriel Mercado cross from the right.

Messi had put Argentina ahead in the 14th minute, with a fabulously taken goal but the Africans equalized through a Victor Moses penalty in the 51st minute and the twice World Cup winners struggled to respond to that setback with a ragged second half display.

In front of a massive following of passionate and loud Argentine fans, the game began in ideal fashion for Jorge Sampaoli’s side, who had managed just a point from their opening two games.

A perfectly weighted diagonal ball over the top by Ever Banega was sublimely brought down on the outside of his thigh by Messi who then drove past Nigeria’s teenage keeper Francis Uzoho to open the scoring.

The selection of Banega proved to be an inspired one by Sampaoli with the Sevilla midfielder providing the quality service that had been lacking in their opening two games.

Nigeria’s forward Ahmed Musa controls the ball next to Argentina’s defender Gabriel Mercado (L) and Argentina’s defender Nicolas Otamendi during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group D football match between Nigeria and Argentina at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg on June 26, 2018.

Banega almost inspired a second goal for the Argentines when he put Angel Di Maria clear, the winger being brought down by Leon Balogun and Messi struck the woodwork from the resulting free kick with a curler from the left against the far post.

It had been an impressive half from Argentina but the game was to take a twist shortly after the interval.

Defending a corner, Argentine defender Javier Mascherano jockeyed Leon Balogun inside the area and when the Nigerian fell to the floor, Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir awarded a penalty.

After lengthy and impassioned protests from the Argentine players, Moses managed to keep his cool and slot past Franco Armani to level the scores.

Nigeria wasted several chances to add a second and secure their place in the last 16 before the unlikely source of Manchester United central defender Rojo kept Argentina’s tournament alive and left Nigeria in despair.

Argentina go on to face France in the next round while Croatia take on Denmark.

Source: Presstv

26, June 2018

Russia 2018: Australia leaves World Cup with loss to Peru ⁰

Australia’s hopes for a longer stay in the 2018 World Cup in Russia were have been dashed with a last-game group loss to Peru.

The Peruvians dominated the match in Sochi’s Fish Stadium on Tuesday as they managed to condemn the Socceroos to a 2-0 defeat.

Andre Carrillo scored a stunning volley in the 18^th minute while Paolo Guerrero doubled Peru’s lead on the 50 minutes.

However, the result meant that both Peru and Australia, third and fourth in Group C, were out of the World Cup as France and Denmark, other teams in the group, advanced to the round of 16 with a 0-0 draw in the group’s other match.

Peru’s victory was a first for the country in the World Cup in 40 years and a finish on high note for the Andean nation which had been out of the prestigious tournament for 36 years.

The World Cup is being played in 11 cities in Russia. Teams will begin the round of 16 as of Saturday. France and Denmark would wait until later on Tuesday to see who dominates Group D, where Croatia, assured of a place in the next round, is trailed by Nigeria, Iceland and Argentina.

The tournament will end with the final in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on July 16.

Source: Presstv

26, June 2018

UN experts accuse Congo-Kinshasa troops, militia of ‘crimes against humanity’ ⁰

UN human rights investigators have accused security forces and militia fighters in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) of committing atrocities amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity in the restive central region of Kasai.

In a report denouncing “a serious problem of impunity”, the investigators on Tuesday called on the Kinshasa government to prosecute perpetrators and provide justice to victims.

“Some of the abuses committed by the defense and security forces, the (pro-government) Bana Mura militia and the (rebel) Kamwina Nsapu militia constitute crimes against humanity (and) war crimes,” independent experts said in the report, which will be presented to the UN Rights Council next month.

The UN report, based on interviews with 524 victims, witnesses and perpetrators, focused on violations in Kasai.

The photo shows Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) soldiers sitting at the back of a pick-up truck. (Photo by AFP)

The ethnic conflict was marked by the burning down of villages, the UN report said, and Kamwina Nsapu forced child soldiers to decapitate enemies.

The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and the allied militia opposed the Kamwina Nsapu militia in a partially ethnic conflict that largely ended at the end of 2017. The year-long rebellion killed up to 5,000 people and forced some 1.5 million people from their homes.

“Numerous acts have been committed by the FARDC and the Kamwina Nsapu militia against people not participating directly in the hostilities … including murder, mutilation, rape and other forms of sexual violence, looting … and conscription of children under age 15,” the report said.

“Many children have been abducted, wounded, mutilated, detained or executed,” the report said. “Some saw their parents beaten, decapitated or their mothers raped. Many were forced to fight, put on the front lines without arms or with fake weapons, knives and sometimes traditional rifles. They were forced to kill and decapitate,” it said.

In July 2017, a Congolese court convicted seven soldiers of the murder of suspected militia members in Kasai after a video showed soldiers shooting people at point blank range.

Back in March, militants also killed two UN workers, a Swede and an American, after abducting them in the same region.

Over a dozen people have been detained in connection with the crime but separate UN experts complained that Congolese authorities were obstructing their efforts to assist probe.

The conflict in the previously peaceful Kasai region was one of a series of deadly flare-ups to hit Congo around the time long-serving President Joseph Kabila. The guerrilla movement has been leading a bloody rebellion against moves by Kabila to extend his stay in power.

The UN, which has discovered dozens of mass graves in the area, accuses both security forces and the militants of gross human rights violations.

Millions died in wars around the turn of the century across the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The UN food agency warned last year that more than three million people were at risk of starvation in in Congo’s Kasai province.
Source: Presstv

26, June 2018

Southern Cameroons War: The silence of Ambassador Peter Barlerin is deafening ⁰

Ever since he returned from his holiday, His Excellency Peter Barlerin current US ambassador to Cameroon has been everything but vocal. Before travelling to the US recently, Ambassador Barlerin had commented on a whole host of matters including President Biya’s continued stay in power. To be sure, most of Peter Barlerin’s verbal missiles have targeted matters which are domestic in nature. They range from the issue of ageing leadership, corruption, bad governance, press freedom, and the list goes on.

In recent times, there have been two very significant issues which concern the US-Cameroon relations, but on neither matters we have not heard the customary loud and emphatic pronouncements coming from ambassador Barlerin. They are the fake aid package announced by Prime Minister Philemon Yang for Southern Cameroons refugees and internally displaced persons and the refusal of US visas to the Cameroon women military team.

We understand the United States has reacted positively to the Biya regime initiative to address the problem of humanitarian assistance and access in Southern Cameroons. Ambassador Peter Barlerin was quoted as saying “We will be examining the proposal closely with a view towards considering how we may be able to support it. We call on both sides to renounce further violence and urge broad-based dialogue with no pre-conditions.”

The so-called Cameroon government humanitarian aid package will be paid for through the state budget, a national solidarity fund that has seen barons of the ruling crime syndicate donating millions of FCFA and contributions from international partners such as the USA.

The package includes 7.6 million Euros for reconstruction, 5.7 million Euros for food and 4.7 million Euros for basic necessities such as blankets and mattresses. Southern Cameroonians are happy that the US Chief diplomat spoke of “examining the proposal closely.” Ambassador Peter Barlerin should not put his name on the Honor Roll of Shame in Cameroon. We of the Cameroon Concord News Group are saying that there is really no honour among thieves. The US should start refusing visas for Cameroon government officials including top military officers and visas already issued should be revoked.

The Biya regime has released a list of highly placed Cameroon government officials and members of the Yaounde consortium of crime syndicates who reportedly raised FCFA 230 million to complement Biya’s FCFA 12.7 billion Relief fund for victims of his genocidal war against Southern Cameroonians. Ambassador Peter Barlerin must really wonder where these public servants got the money to make such contributions. If you divide FCFA 12.7 billion by an estimated 200,000 displaced victims, it means every Ambazonian will get approximately FCFA 63,500 to rebuild their homes and businesses that have been destroyed by nihilistic Francophone soldiers. Ambassador Barlerin should not be absolutely silent on the matter. It is part of the function and duty of Mr. Barlerin to stand in support of the people of Southern Cameroons. To the ambassador we say, your silence is deafening on the Southern Cameroons war.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai