Headline News

3, November 2017

‘I’m the only one that matters’, Trump says on unfilled positions ⁰

US President Donald Trump has pushed back against concerns about a number of critical positions that still remain unfilled in his administration, saying he is “the only one that matters.”

“Let me tell you, the one that matters is me, I’m the only one that matters because when it comes to it that’s what the policy is going to be,” Trump said on Fox News when asked about vacancies at the State Department.

“We don’t need all the people that they want,” he continued. “Don’t forget, I’m a business person and I tell my people, well you don’t need to fill slots, don’t fill them.”

A number of top positions remain vacant at the State Department, among other agencies, including officials overseeing Southeast Asia and arms control.

In June, the administration proposed $37.6 billion budget for the State Department and the US Agency for International Development, a drop of about 30 percent.

Foreign policy experts decried the move, warning that it could drastically affect US foreign policy in volatile regions of the world.

“It’s called cost-saving,” Trump said. “I want my vision, but my vision is my vision anyway. It’s called cost-saving. There’s nothing wrong with cost-saving.”

Despite the unfilled positions and reports of tensions with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Trump suggested that the top diplomat was giving his best effort on matters of foreign policy.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (file photo)

“Rex is in there working hard,” the president said. “He’s doing his best.”

Trump is way behind his four predecessors in the number of appointments confirmed by the Senate at this stage of his presidency, according to The Washington Post.

The president blamed Senate Democrats for this, while acknowledging that he has nominated fewer people.

“We have almost about half the number of people coming through as Obama had,” Trump said.

Source: Presstv

3, November 2017

‘Children killed by girl bomber’ in Cameroon ⁰

Five children were killed and two others wounded by a suicide bomber in northern Cameroon on Tuesday night, two security sources have told the AFP news agency. “A suicide bomber blew herself up at around 19:45 [18:45 GMT]” in the village of Zamga, about 2km (1.2 miles) from the Nigerian border, a security officer in the area is quoted as saying.

The bomber, who is believed to be a young girl, was also killed in the explosion. A group of children were playing when “a young girl slipped in” among them and triggered her explosives, the officer told AFP. For several years, fighters from the Nigerian-based Islamist group Boko Haram have been crossing the border to carry out attacks in Cameroon. Cameroon’s army has been battling Boko Haram militants for several years.

Source: BBC

3, November 2017

Ambazonia: Balla attacks interim president, Reveals he is pushing a personal agenda ⁰

In one of the most revealing and self-destructing recording audios ever released, Agbor Balla has opened up to the world about his warped mind. In a struggle that has seen hundreds killed and thousands of Southern Cameroonians flee to seek refugee status in Nigeria, Agbor Balla has finally revealed what he sees as a game to fulfil his personal ambitions.

Whilst millions of British Southern Cameroonians dream of a day when they will be free from the shackles and manacles of Paul Biya’s servitude, Agbor Balla describes their dream as ‘living in a fairy-tale world’. With an aura of invincibility, he boosted about his elfin postings with the United Nations to shady and wretched countries which belong at the bottom of any reputable diplomat’s wish list.

AUDIO………………………………….

No matter the hatred that people have for me today, I will be president of Ambaland.

I’ll not insult you that you are living in your fairy-tale world if you want secession.

‘If we have a Southern Cameroon State today, I’ll be the president. I am realistic so I want federalism so we can work towards secession.

I’ll beat Sessekou Ayuk in an election. I have an interest for us to have an Ambaland because I know I will be elected as the president.

I worked in Afghanistan and went to Congo and came back. What can someone tell me?

1999 I wrote a thesis on self-determination about southern Cameroon right to self-determination.

In 2002 I was with Albert MUKONG in the EU commission.

17 years ago, where was Tassang? 17 years ago, where was Sessekou?

What have you guys done by protesting outside embassies. I hear you guys are saying that I was released because of your protests?

In 2001 I protested with Cho Ayaba. To march in Europe is easy. I have done this already.

I have a pedigree that none of them have and they know that. That is why SCAFUF is scared of me. If I am invited to their conference to speak, none of them would be able to speak. I’ll ask them individually what they have done for the struggle. What all them are doing can’t match what I can do alone.
By Chi Prudence Asong in London

2, November 2017

Yaounde: Father who killed his three kids pinned note to door warning family members to call the police ⁰

A man whose identity has not been revealed reportedly killed his three children aged 13, 6 and 3 years respectively in the night of Wednesday November 1, 2017 in their family home in the Kondengui district in Yaounde.
Cameroon radio and television announced that after his crime, the alleged murderer who returned to Cameroon after spending 20 years in Switzerland,rushed to the Swiss Embassy in Yaounde and reported his crime.

2, November 2017

Ambazonian appointed CEMAC Commissioner ⁰

Shey Jones was appointed on Tuesday the 31st October 2017 during the Extraordinary Summit of Heads of States of the Economic Community of Central African States, CEMAC that held in the Chadian capital, Djamena.

His appointment like those of every other ruling CPDM baron adds to his position as Board Chair of the Douala Port Authority. State radio and television reported that Shey Jones has held several posts of responsibilities including Board Chair of the National Civil Engineering Laboratory; LABOGENIE, CEO of MAG LLC Construction Company, Secretary of State in four ministerial departments and Secretary of State at the Ministry of Town Planning and Housing.

With political support from Prime Minister Simon Achidi Achu he served as Secretary of State at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. He was Director at the Grand Travaux Yaounde. The chartered member of the ruling CPDM crime syndicate was a student at the National Polytechnic School Yaounde. He migrated to the Federal Republic of Germany where he studied at the University of Essen. Shey Jones hails from the Donga Mantung State in the Federal Republic of Ambazonia.

Source: CRTV

2, November 2017

French Cameroun: Douala to host CEMAC regional stock exchange ⁰

During a forum that was boycotted by the Heads of State of Gabon and Congo-Brazaville recently in Chad, the CEMAC zone leaders decided that Douala, the economic metropolis of Cameroon will now host the headquarters of the regional stock exchange of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC).

This is one of the main decisions taken by the heads of state of the subregion, gathered at N’Djamena in Chad at the recent extraordinary summit of CEMAC.

“Considering the issue of the merger of regional and national value exchanges, the conference decided to set the headquarters of the regional financial market regulator in Libreville and that of the regional stock exchange in douala,” read the final statement.

The Conference of Heads of State designated the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) as Central Depository.

In addition, the heads of state decided to unlock 1.7 billion CFA francs. This money will finance a police force to monitor the borders follwoing the lifting of all border checks for all citizens of the 6 countries.

By Chi Prudence Asong, CCN

2, November 2017

Trump moving to terminate immigration lottery ⁰

US President Donald Trump, during a White House Cabinet meeting Wednesday, said he wants to terminate the Diversity Visa Lottery, a program that distributes around 50,000 visas to countries where there is a low rate of immigration to the US.

“I am, today, starting the process of terminating the diversity lottery program,” Trump said. “I am going to ask Congress to immediately initiate work to get rid of this program, diversity lottery, diversity lottery. Sounds nice, it is not nice, it is not good. It hasn’t been good and we have been against it,” he added.

1, November 2017

Eritrea: 28 killed in Asmara protest ⁰

Protests in Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, have left at least 28 killed as people have reportedly become discontented with a government decision to take over control of an Islamic school.

Reports on Wednesday said some 100 people had also been injured in the protest, which began earlier Monday and escalated on Tuesday.

Nasredin Ali, a spokesman for the Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization, a group based in neighboring Ethiopia, said clashes began after people resisted to hand over to government forces control of a Muslim community school in Asmara.

“Following the refusal to hand over the school, some 40 people were arrested and this led to the massive protests,” he said, adding that a tense atmosphere continued to dominate Asmara on Wednesday as people gathered to hold a funeral ceremony for those slain in the clashes. Ali even said that the Eritrean army was deploying troops to the city.

Authorities denied there were fatalities with Information Minister Yemane Meskel saying police had managed to disperse without any casualty the “small demonstration by one school in Asmara.”

Officials representing Eritrea in the African Union mission in Ethiopia were not available for comment on the reports of unrest.

Sunni Muslims comprise half of Eritrea’s population while there are other practices of Islam that the government bans. The government also allows religious education in private schools but it strictly monitors if there is any political activity.

Eritrea has also faced criticism from the West over its harsh military conscription laws. Many say those laws and lack of freedom for the youth have been mainly responsible for the influx of refugees from Eritrea into Europe.

Source: Presstv

1, November 2017

A new republic is born: The Federal Republic of Ambazonia’s future ⁰

The Southern Cameroons Ambazonia Governing Council has announced a series of reforms and changes in the ruling body following the successful holding of the 4^th conclave in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The 27th to the 31st October 2017 forum unanimously agreed that the territory will henceforth be known as “The Federal Republic of Ambazonia.”

The delegates confirmed His Excellency Sesekou Julius Tabe Ayuk as interim Head of State and also decided to set up a government with a Vice President and seven cabinet ministers. In a powerful press release issued on 1 November 2017, the leadership of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia revealed that 34 resolutions were reached ( See http://www.cameroonconcordnews.com/resolution-of-the-4th-scacuf-conclave-held-from-the-27th-31st-of-october-2017/)

Among others, the executive council of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia called on the French Cameroun dictator, Paul Biya and his gang of Francophone political elites to stop interfering in the internal affairs of the good people of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia. The Ambazonia administration also appealed to the government of La Republique du Cameroun to release Bibixy Mancho and all those who were arrested in connection with the Anglophone crisis. They reiterated the urgent need for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prosecute President Paul Biya and some members of his regime for crimes against humanity and genocide.

The Acting President, Seseku Julius Ayuk Tabe was mandated to form his first cabinet composed of a vice-president and seven government departments, namely; defense ; Homeland and Security; Finance and Economy; Education; Health and Social Services, Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, Communication and Technology “.

The Ambazonia governing council denounced the rapes of students, fires in schools and the destruction of property “perpetrated by the French Cameroun military and law enforcement officers deployed to Ambazonia from La Republique du Cameroun. The “Governing Council” was dissolved following the creation of an interim government which will now be responsible for managing the affairs of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia.

By Chi Prudence Asong, CCN

1, November 2017

Pope Francis ‘saddened’ by recent acts of terror around the world ⁰

Pope Francis says he was “saddened” by recent terrorist attacks around the world, including in New York. “I am saddened by the terrorist attacks in recent days in Somalia, Afghanistan and yesterday in New York,” the pontiff said during his Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square on Wednesday.

He called on people to pray that God “converts the hearts of terrorists and frees the world of hatred and murderous madness, which abuses the name of God to disseminate death.”

The pope further said that he was praying for the victims and their families.

At least eight people were killed and 11 others injured after a pickup truck plowed into a pedestrian and cycle path in Lower Manhattan, New York City, on Tuesday. The suspect, reportedly a 29-year-old Uzbek immigrant, was shot and injured by police.

Also on Tuesday, at least five people were killed after a bomber blew himself up in the diplomatic zone of Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul.

At least 27 people lost their lives on October 28 in a high-profile attack targeting the Somali capital, Mogadishu, which was claimed by al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab militants.

Source: Presstv