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

26, June 2018

Media Entrepreneur Peace Hyde opens the Aim Higher Africa (AHA) Skills Acquisition Centre in Lagos ⁰

Named as a powerful woman on the continent by CNN, Media Entrepreneur and Head of Digital Media and Partnership for Forbes Africa, Peace Hyde, has opened another branch of her innovative entrepreneurship development and skills acquisition non-profit, Aim Higher Africa (http://AimHigherAfrica.com/) in Lagos.

Located in the Silicon Valley of Nigeria, Yaba, The AHA skills acquisition center is designed to train unemployed youth and grassroot entrepreneurs as well as startups through its innovative Mind-set Reorientation and Design Thinking Curriculum (MRDT) to build scalable and sustainable businesses that will create value for their communities and also provide opportunities for the thousands of unemployed youth in Lagos.

“Aim Higher Africa MRDT Curriculum responds to the problem of unemployment through youth entrepreneurship, which offers innovative solutions for economic growth among young people. To address these critical issues, we are working with international organizations, the private sector and development organizations to increase and improve young people’s access to financial services, financial literacy and entrepreneurship and employment skills training,” says Hyde.

This year, the organization was profiled on CNN for its impact and building over 600 businesses in West Africa leading to some 3000 jobs for youth. Hyde who also has a background as a senior management executive from a leading UK education institution where she also taught as a Science teacher for 7 years, created the MRDT curriculum along with innovation and entrepreneurship professor, Dr. Gordon Adomdza, PHD. holder from the University of Waterloo and a lecturer at Harvard University.

“Our new center has a vision of helping entrepreneurial youth, build their business skills, their links to markets and access support such as from financial services and through mentoring. The world is bursting with opportunity; every day, new inventions answer questions we had never thought to ask.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Aim Higher Africa.

26, June 2018

Russia 2018: VAR stirs World Cup drama and endless debate ⁰

VAR has grabbed centre stage at the World Cup, with the system that was supposed to provide “minimum interference” instead having a major and highly controversial impact.

The final games in Group B on Monday were heading into injury time with Portugal on course to top their group and Spain set to finish second, when the advice of the Video Assistant Referee officials in two separate games changed everything.

In Kaliningrad, Spain were awarded an equaliser to snatch a 2-2 draw against Morocco when an Iago Aspas goal was given after VAR helped Uzbek referee Ravshan Irmatov to reverse a mistaken offside call.

At the same time in Saransk, Paraguay official Enrique Caceres was persuaded to give Iran a penalty for a handball by Portugal’s Cedric Soares that could hardly be considered deliberate.

Karim Ansarifard netted the spot-kick, earning Iran a 1-1 draw, and relegating the European champions to second place in the section.

Now Cristiano Ronaldo and his team must face Uruguay in the last 16. In contrast, Spain will probably be happier with a tie against hosts Russia in Moscow and could now have a theoretically easier path to the final.

That hardly sits well with FIFA’s statement as they introduced the new system to the biggest tournament on Earth, saying: “Our goal is minimum interference for maximum benefit.”

Of course, that was a reference to the flow of the game itself rather than the potential impact decisions could have further down the line.

Morocco’s Noureddine Amrabat made clear his feelings at the end of Monday’s game as he looked into a television camera and mouthed: “VAR, it’s bullshit”.

– Fudged decisions? –

But while Spain’s equaliser was correctly given, the decisions in Saransk were more controversial.

Ronaldo missed a penalty awarded after the referee reversed his decision, and was later shown a yellow card following a review of a possible elbow offence.

It had the look of a fudged decision when an elbow would normally lead to a red for violent conduct.

“An elbow is a red card in the rules. In the rules it doesn’t say if it is (Lionel) Messi or Ronaldo,” fumed Iran coach Carlos Queiroz, who said VAR was “not going well”.

Iran are now out, and they leave a competition that is being dominated by VAR to an extent possibly greater than the system’s critics could have imagined.

There have already been 20 penalties given at this World Cup, a tournament record before the group stage has even concluded.

Many of those, such as Andreas Granqvist’s winner for Sweden against South Korea, were awarded after confirmation by VAR.

Yet the Swedes were also the victims of a major officiating error when they were denied an early penalty in their defeat against Germany for a foul by Jerome Boateng on Marcus Berg that was clear on slow-motion replays.

“If we have the system it’s very unfortunate that he doesn’t feel he can go and have a look,” said Sweden coach Janne Andersson of Polish referee Szymon Marciniak.

– Not flawless –

As the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the guardians of the laws of the game, say, only the referee can initiate a review.

One of the officials in the Video Assistant Referee team sees an incident and tells the referee, who then decides whether to review it. The system is clearly not flawless, and that inevitably leads to frustrations.

There might also be a concern that reviews of slowed-down replays can make in-game incidents appear worse than they were in reality.

In addition, the system can still lead to confusion for fans in the stadium who do not have the same grasp of what is happening as television viewers.

FIFA will have been braced for the criticism, and will defend the system during a briefing on Friday, at the end of the group stage, at which refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina and VAR project leader Roberto Rosetti will appear.

“It will enable us to present detailed analysis and statistics illustrating the results of VAR during the initial phase,” world football’s governing body told AFP.
Culled from AFP

26, June 2018

Douala: Tenants face soaring rents under ‘pay-in-advance-to stay’ policy ⁰

Getting an accommodation in Cameroon’s Douala city is a nightmare, as one is required to pay 6 months or even a year’s rent advance. As a result, many young working people who are faced with this harsh reality, prefer to stay longer with their parents.

Socrate Tanleu is a tenant and is frustrated by this practice.

“For example, I have had to pay up to 12 months to get an apartment and for a young person who is just entering the workforce, it is not easy to find 12 months to pay a landlord to get an apartment’‘, Tanleu told Africanews.

The practice is illegal, but many apartment owners are defiant.

“Legally, this practice is not normal because rent is payable after occupation. The rent advance is not legal”, said Cameroonian-based lawyer, Nicolas Ntamag.

But for many homeowners, this practice is a safety net against an unstable labour market.

Bertrand Tashinda owns an apartment in Douala.

“We have the public sector which employs very few people and with the private sector, there is no guarantee of employment. At any time you can lose your job for more misleading reasons than any other. So it makes the landlords think it’s better to take a year and with a year he can even build up a little reserve of money to be able to repair his apartment if necessary”, said Tashinda.

Like Ivory coast, Cameroon wants to put in place a more advanced legal framework for tenants and property owners.

The country plans to limit payment of rent advance and the deposit to two months. It hopes this will facilitate access to housing for many Cameroonians.

Source: Africa News

26, June 2018

Russia 2018: Egypt’s eliminated, but record breaking goalkeeper saves penalty ⁰

Egypt were eliminated from the World Cup with no win and no points earned, but the country’s goalkeeper Essam El Hadary will leave Russia with his head held high, having saved a penalty on the day he became the oldest player in World Cup history.

El Hadary, 45 years and 161 days old, started the Group A tie against Saudi Arabia in Volgograd on Monday, having sat on the bench for defeats to Uruguay and Russia.

The Pharaohs veteran beat the record set by Faryd Mondragon, who appeared for Colombia at Brazil 2014 three days after his 43rd birthday.

El Hadary marked his landmark occasion in sensational fashion, tipping Fahad Al Muwallad’s 41st-minute penalty onto the woodwork to retain Egypt’s 1-0 advantage, earned through Mohamed Salah’s second goal of the tournament.

He is the second keeper to save a penalty on his World Cup debut in Russia; Iceland’s Hannes Thor Halldorsson having denied Lionel Messi from 12 yards.

El Hadary, who is nicknamed “High Dam”, made his debut for Egypt in 1996, a year before his Egyptian squad mate Ramadan Sobhy was born.

Agencies

26, June 2018

North, South Korea mull connecting railways ⁰

Officials from North and South Korea have met to discuss connecting the railways that run useless across their border amid a rapprochement on the long-divided peninsula.

The talks were held in the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas on Tuesday, the first on the issue in 10 years.

A train line connecting Seoul to Pyongyang and on to Sinuiju on the Chinese border already exists. It was built by Japan in the early 20th century, long before the 1950-53 Korean War, which politically divided the two Koreas.

Linking up the railways and modernizing the North’s aging rail infrastructure would benefit trade-dependent South Korea as it would give it a land route to the markets of China, Russia, and on to Europe.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have significantly eased since January this year, when North Korean leader Kim Jong-un expressed interest in the betterment of relations with South Korea. Vigorous diplomacy soon followed, and Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in then met in a historic summit.

Later, the US, too, engaged in diplomacy with Pyongyang, which culminated in a summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12.

The two Koreas have, however, advanced their relations far more swiftly than Washington and Pyongyang. The US continues to maintain harsh sanctions on the North.

South Korea’s chief delegate Kim Jeong-ryeol said in the Tuesday meeting that progress on the railway issue would only become possible after international restrictions on North Korea are eased.

“But, he said, “we can thoroughly research and study various projects we can pursue after the sanctions are lifted.”

26, June 2018

US to ‘reassess’ N Korea talks if Kim fails to deliver ⁰

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the United States stays committed to talks with North Korea but will “reassess” all ties if North Korea leader Kim Jong-un fails to deliver on denuclearization promises that he made to President Donald Trump.

Speaking to CNN in a phone interview on Monday, the top US diplomat said both sides were working together to achieve what Kim and Trump agreed upon during their historic summit on June 12 in Singapore.

“I am not going to put a timeline on it, whether that’s two months, six months, we are committed to moving forward in an expeditious moment to see if we can achieve what both leaders set out to do,” Pompeo said.

Pompeo emphasized that future of the talks depended on Pyongyang’s steps towards nuclear disarmament and Washington would “constantly reassess” progress in this regard.

In exchange for Kim’s promise to dismantle his nuclear weapons program, Trump has put on hold joint military drills with South Korea and Japan off the Korean Peninsula.

“The President was clear. Each of the actions we have taken, his decision to suspend the high level war games, it’s only so long as there is a good faith negotiation progress, productive results being achieved,” Pompeo said.

“If we can’t do that, if it turns out that there is no capacity to deliver the outcome that both presidents said they wanted, yeah, we reassess,” he added.

‘Unequivocal’ Kim

Pompeo claimed that Kim sounded “unequivocal” on denuclearization both during the Trump meeting and before that, when he personally met the North Korean leader as CIA director.

“I heard it myself when I visited there as CIA director, I heard it myself when I visited Pyongyang as Secretary of State and I heard it again where there was a group together with the President and Chairman Kim,” he said.

Pompeo said it was too soon to expect a clear roadmap for ending decades of tensions between the two sides, but they were on the right track.

“So long as that commitment stays in place, the United States is prepared to do exactly what the president said,” the state secretary added.

Despite the new developments, Washington has made it clear that it won’t lift tough economic sanctions against Pyongyang until its complete denuclearization.

Source: Presstv