17, June 2018

Lionel Messi ruthlessly trolled online as costly penalty miss sees Argentina draw with Iceland ⁰

Viewers of the clash between Argentina and Iceland have taken to social media in their droves to (rather harshly) take aim at Lionel Messi, after the Barcelona star’s missed penalty ultimately cost the Albiceleste all 3 points.

The two countries went head to head at the Spartak Stadium in their respective World Cup openers this afternoon, with Argentina having understandably come into proceedings as heavy favourites.

However, Iceland, having famously ousted England from Euro 2016, were widely known to be a tough nut to crack, with Heimir Hallgrímsson’s men having also topped their World Cup qualifying group ahead of the likes of Croatia and the Ukraine.

Line-ups

This afternoon’s matchup started out in hectic fashion, as both sides exchanged early chances before Sergio Aguero’s sensational turn and finish gave Argentina a deserved lead. However, the advantage held by Jorge Sampaoli’s men lasted less than 5 minutes, as Iceland’s Alfred Finnbogason slammed home following a poorly-directed save from Willy Caballero.

Proceedings soon calmed, as Iceland looked increasingly happy to hold out for a draw. Argentina did have the opportunity to get their noses back in front just past the hour mark, though, when Lionel Messi’s lofted pass saw Maximiliano Meza felled in the Iceland box.

Messi stepped up to take the ensuing spot-kick, but his disappointing effort was well saved by Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Thor Halldorsson:

And, despite their best efforts over the remaining half-hour, Argentina failed to break down Iceland’s stout backline, as the latter held out for another famous result.

Slated

Unsurprisingly, despite Lionel Messi having had to carry Argentina for the entirety of this afternoon’s fixture, fans online (particularly those who favour Ronaldo in the debate between the two) quickly took aim at the Barcelona superstar.

Source: 101 greatgoals

17, June 2018

Exposed: Your beer is supporting the genocide in Southern Cameroons ⁰

Brasseries du Cameroun and its subsidiaries are donating huge sums of money to support the Biya Francophone government in its genocidal war currently going on in the Federal Republic of Ambazonia/Southern Cameroons, Cameroon Intelligence Report has learned. The senior managers of Brasseries have also personally made financial donations to the French Cameroun army via the ministry of defense worth millions of FCFA.

The Brasseries du Cameroun donations comes at a time when Cameroon government forces were violently attacking Southern Cameroons towns and villages and have eventually forced more than 40,000 men, women and children to flee into neighboring Nigeria. The United Nations also reported recently that some 160,000 Southern Cameroonians have been displaced internally.

The Interim Government of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia with the support of human rights group has documented numerous crimes against humanity amid the violence, which included killings, rapes, torture, village burning and forced starvation tactics.

Brasseries du Cameroun’s first donation was handed over to the Minister Delegate in-Charge of Defense, Joseph Beti Assomo in the presence of the Cameroon army chief, General Rene Meka. We understand that these donations are funding the operations of military units involved in crimes against humanity in Southern Cameroons. To be sure, Brasseries du Cameroun and other brewery companies with headquarters in French Cameroun have endorsed the Biya war against the people of Southern Cameroons.

By donating to the military jointly and severally, Brasseries by extrapolation has worsening the human rights situation in Southern Cameroons. Cameroon Concord News Group is calling for a boycott of all Brasseries products in Southern Cameroons. We also call on Acting President Dr. Ikome Sako to ban the sale of Brasseries du Cameroun products in Ambazonia.

By Chi Prudence Asong, London

16, June 2018

Italy prevents two more refugee boats from docking ⁰

Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Salvini has warned yet another refugee rescue mission off the Libyan coast that it would not be allowed to unload its “human cargo” at an Italian port.

Salvini’s warning came days after the new right-wing and anti-refugee Italian government denied a safe harbor to the Aquarius, a French NGO-operated charity ship, to unload its more than 600 rescued refugees and asylum seekers on board, causing uproar and a sharp spat with France.

“While the Aquarius is sailing toward Spain, two other Dutch NGO-operated vessels (Lifeline and Seefuchs) have arrived off the Libyan coast, to wait for their human cargos once the people smugglers abandon them,” the Italian minister said in a Facebook post on Saturday.

“These gentlemen should know that Italy no longer wants to be complicit in the business of illegal immigration and they will have to look for other ports to go to,” further said Salvini, who heads the far-right League party, adding that he took the action “for the benefit of all.”

Following Italy’s controversial decision to bar the Aquarius from docking, however, Malta quickly followed suit, leaving the ship stranded at the Mediterranean until Spain offered to the vessel a safe harbor. The Aquarius, which is jointly run by SOS Méditerranée and Doctors Without Borders (MSF), is due to arrive in Valencia on Sunday.

The handout picture obtained from French non-governmental organizations Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and SOS Méditerranée on June 14, 2018, shows migrants waving onboard an Italian coastguard ship. (Via AFP)

Meanwhile, Ferdinando Pagnoncelli, president of polling company Ipsos Italia, said that based on a survey conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday, almost 60 percent of Italians were in favor of closing the country’s ports.

Libya is the main departure point for asylum seekers attempting to reach Europe by sea. Many refugees have crossed the central Mediterranean to Italy over the past four years as human traffickers took advantage of a security vacuum in Libya after the toppling of its long-time ruler.

Thousands of other asylum seekers have perished at sea.

To stop the flow of the refugees headed for Europe, the Libyan coastguard has stepped up its interception operations. To carry out those operations, the Libyan coastguard has been funded, equipped, and trained by European countries.

The Libyan coastguard has previously accused NGOs of creating panic and confusion by their presence during rescue operations as the refugees and asylum seekers all surge to reach the charter boats to avoid being returned to crisis-hit Libya.

Source: Presstv

16, June 2018

Congo-Kinshasa: Kabila, going, going, gone ⁰

Democratic Republic of Congo’s parliament will, at President Joseph Kabila’s request, hold a special session to consider legislation providing legal protection for former presidents, lawmakers said.

The announcement could be a further sign that Kabila intends to step down after an election in December despite speculation that he is trying to circumvent term limits that forbid him from running again.

Kabila to contest or not

Prime Minister Bruno Tshibala told Reuters this week that Kabila would not be a candidate, the clearest declaration yet from a senior government official on the matter.

But Kabila himself has refused to publicly commit to leaving office and some of his supporters have in recent weeks floated a legal rationale that would allow him to stand again.

“At the request of the president of the republic, an extraordinary session will be convened,” lower house speaker Aubin Minaku told deputies on Friday at the close of the latest parliamentary session.

“We will examine several items including the law on the status of former chiefs of state, the designation of a new member of the constitutional court and the law on the tax to promote industry,” he said.

It was not immediately clear when that session would take place.

Protecting Kabila to facilitate transition

Under the constitution, former presidents already receive broad immunity from prosecution as senators for life.

Modeste Mutinga, a senator from an opposition party, introduced legislation in 2015 to reinforce those protections in an effort to encourage Congo’s first ever democratic transition.

It stipulates that former presidents and their aides will not be liable for arrest for common law violations committed in the exercise of presidential functions. It also provides for bodyguards for ex-presidents and increases in their pension.

However the bill never came up for a vote.

“As the initiative for taking up this law during the extraordinary session comes from those who blocked the law, we think that this time we are really going to examine (it),” Mutinga told Reuters.

Kabila’s tumultous reign

Kabila succeeded his assassinated father as president in 2001. He was required by the constitution to step down in December 2016 but the election to replace him has been repeatedly delayed.

Since then, security forces have killed dozens of anti-Kabila protesters while surging militia violence has raised the spectre of a repeat of civil wars around the turn of the century that cost millions of lives.

The special session will also select a new Constitutional Court justice to replace Felix Vunduawe Te Pemako, who was named president of a separate court this week.

Last month, Kabila and parliament named two close Kabila allies to the court in moves analysts say could be geared either at securing a judgment that allows him to run again or bolstering the chances that his preferred successor will win.

REUTERS

16, June 2018

Russia 2018: Pogba snatches winner in 2-1 victory over Australia as technology proves useful ⁰

France needed the help of the first World Cup penalty awarded after a video review and a deflected Paul Pogba goal to get their World Cup campaign underway with a 2-1 win over Australia on Saturday (June 16).

Striker Antoine Griezmann lashed home the historic spot kick in the 58th minute but Australia hit back with a penalty of their own when Samuel Umtiti inexplicably handled the ball in the box four minutes later.

Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak sent his French counterpart Hugo Lloris the wrong way to give Australia hopes of forcing a draw at the Kazan Arena but Pogba grabbed the winner in the 81st minute.

Even that goal might not have counted in the days before technology was brought into the game with Pogba’s shot looping off the shin of Aziz Behich, hitting the crossbar and bouncing down inside the goal before coming back out.

Uruguayan referee Andres Cunha checked the goal-line monitor on his watch and awarded the goal as Australia keeper Mat Ryan stood holding the ball in his hands.

Cunha had earlier watched the challenge by Josh Risdon on Griezmann on the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) monitor by the side of the pitch and decided the Australia right back had brought the French striker down in the area.

Didier Deschamps’s France side will move on to their remaining Group C clashes against Denmark and Peru, who meet later on Saturday, with three points but plenty to do to justify their place among the pre-tournament favourites.

Australia and their 10,000 gold-shirted fans will be disappointed that all their hard work earned them nothing as they seek to get out of the group stage for the second time in their fifth World Cup.

Reuters

16, June 2018

Biya CPDM Politics: Without the Goat and Without the Rope ⁰

For years, the Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement (CPDM) of President Biya has been described as a one man show with the 85 year old as the Right Royal Chairman. In the words of some senior Cameroon political commentators, the ruling CPDM party has always been fractious. Yes, the CPDM party has always had internal divisions but Yaoundé has never seen it like this. Ahead of the 2018 presidential elections, the ruling party is divided at all levels with local officials calling on Mr. Biya not run for the presidency. The split between those who want to keep Biya at the head and those who want Biya to step aside is tearing up not just the governing party as a whole, but each of its barons individually including the nation.

The rift has a geo-political angle, too, with many militants and elite organizations blaming the political elites of the Centre and South regions for poor handling of the crisis in Southern Cameroons. Infighting had long been a hobby for the ruling CPDM crime syndicate that led to the arrest of many including former Prime Minister Chief Inoni, Jean Atangana Mebara, Marafa Hamidou Yaya and Mendo Ze.

The general feeling in the nation’s capital Yaoundé is that it’s horrifying and many Francophone political elites are now wondering aloud how the CPDM get to this point. As we see it, it is fair to say that Biya’s management style played in. To see how things are falling apart deep within the CPDM, you have to rewind to its very beginning, when the government started toying with the idea of democracy and multiparty politics.

Early —very early— in that 1990 process, President Biya commenced with the organization of counterfeit parliamentary and presidential elections and money became the vital tool in Cameroon politics. Correspondingly, citizens bothered less about the electoral conditions that were on offer and as a consequence, the task of splitting Cameroonians became straightforward.

The main opposition parties were drawn into some form of political negotiations and the more radical leaders like John Fru Ndi issued guarantees to the regime and vowed to play the role of a collaborator. As expected, the SDF and Fru Ndi painted themselves into a corner and were forced to choose between splitting the already fragmented opposition in two by calling for a boycott of the 1992 parliamentary elections.

The end result was predictable and dispiriting as well. By all accounts, Biya’s candidacy for the 2018 presidential elections hasn’t exactly caught fire with the CPDM electorate and the Cameroonian people, meaning Biya now faces a very real prospect of ending up without the goat and without the rope. The 85 year old Biya has cancelled the 2018 electoral calendar. Municipal and parliamentary elections have all been postponed indefinitely and no one knows if the presidential elections will hold.

The Yaoundé regime has cited security concerns and lack of financial resources to stage these elections. Biya has now won a contested vote without having to falsify the final tally but that could put the final nail on his coffin. It could still be his wildest dream come true.

Read and Succeed with the Cameroon Concord News Group

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

16, June 2018

French president calls for unified European response to refugee crisis ⁰

French President Emmanuel Macron has criticized Europe’s handling of the influx of refugees to the continent, calling for a collective European response to the worsening crisis.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Italy’s new Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Friday, Macron said “the proper response is European, but the existing European response is not adapted” to the times.

Macron criticized Europe over its failure to fulfill its role with regard to Italy as the first European country on the migration route from North Africa.

The French president called for greater protection of European borders, noting that “the existing system does not work.”

Europe’s refugee crisis escalated earlier this week after Italy and Malta turned away Aquarius rescue ship carrying 629 refugees and kept it waiting in international waters between the two countries for over 30 hours with limited food and drink supplies and in bad weather conditions, facing potential death.

Spain eventually offered to take in the ship amid safety fears due to deteriorating weather conditions and offered its port in Valencia as a place for the asylum seekers to land in Europe.

The photo shows refugees onboard the MV Aquarius stranded at international waters between Italy and Malta on June 14, 2018. (Photo by French NGO Doctors Without Borders via AFP)

Following the incident, UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi urged the EU to sort out its “shameful” refugee policy.

Macron later rebuked Italy for “irresponsibility” over the matter. Italy’s new populist administration censured what it referred to as “hypocritical lessons” from countries such as France on refugees, publicly displaying one of the most serious disagreements between two EU member states.

Italy also summoned France’s ambassador over the issue.

After their meeting on Friday, Macron and Conte seemed to have settled their diplomatic row, with the Italian premier saying, “We are in perfect agreement.”

Macron urged the Italian premier to work with France, Germany and Spain on resolving refugee issues instead of siding with an anti-immigration “axis” recently proposed by Austria’s right-wing Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.

“I hope deeply that France and Italy will work hand-in-hand, together, to propose and contribute European solutions, in particular with partners like Spain and Germany,” Macron said.

The French president warned that such an axis was a reminder of Europe’s darkest times — when Germany and its allies were called the Axis powers during World War II– and noted that only a head of state can speak on behalf of a country.

“Italy has a head of government, France has a head of state, Germany has a head of government. If countries are to agree on something, it should be at that level, because only they answer to their people,” Macron said.

Germany’s interior minister had said earlier this week that his country should form the anti-immigration “axis” with Austria and Italy. However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned EU countries on Wednesday against pursuing a unilateral policy with regard to the refugee crisis and called on the bloc’s member states to overcome their differences and take a unified approach over the issue.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a press conference in Berlin on June 15, 2018. (AFP photo)

The Italian premier appeared to dismiss joining forces with the anti-immigration “axis” and said that he “agreed with the words of my friend Macron” with regard to the need for an EU-wide approach to reforming immigration rules.

“I would like an axis of the willing that includes all the European countries,” he said.

Conte underlined the need for the formation of European-run immigration offices outside the continent for assessing asylum requests in an attempt to prevent “voyages of death.”

Europe has faced its worst refugee crisis since World War II. The continent has been hit since 2014 by an unprecedented influx of refugees fleeing conflict-ridden zones in North Africa and the Middle East, in particular Syria.

Over the past five years, more than 600,000 refugees have reached Italy by risking their lives on rickety human smuggler boats in the sea. Some 500,000 of them are still staying in the country.

According to the UN migration agency (IOM), over 3,000 refugees lost their lives died crossing the Mediterranean in 2017.

The majority of refugees from Africa take the sea route from Libya to Italy to reach Europe, while some others depart from Morocco to Spain.

Source: Presstv

16, June 2018

Nigeria, Lionel Messi’s Argentina in action on Day 3 of 2018 FIFA World Cup ⁰

All of Africa will be rooting for Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Saturday as they take on European side Croatia in the opening game of the ‘official’ 2018 World Cup of Death, Group D.

Nigeria who will be fielding the youngest team at the World Cup have had scandal free preparations in the camp, but have been the center of all headlines, thanks to their fashionable jersey and off-the-pitch outfits.

Nigeria’s coach Gernot Rohr said on Friday that the team is ‘physically and mentally ready’ for the opening game at the Kaliningrad Stadium, adding that he hopes to get support from the hosts Russia.

Nigeria’s World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United), Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba), Francis Uzoho (Deportivo Coruna)

Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes), Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion), Tyronne Ebuehi (ADO Den Haag), Elderson Echiejiole (Cercle Brugge), Brian Idowu (Amkar Perm), Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa), Abdullahi Shehu, William Ekong Troost (both Bursaspor)

Midfielders: Oghenekaro Etebo (Las Palmas), John Obi Mikel (Tianjin Teda), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City), Joel Obi (Torino), John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva), Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor)

Forwards: Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai), Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal), Victor Moses (Chelsea), Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow), Simoen Nwankjwo (Crotone).

Croatia’s World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Danijel Subasic (Monaco), Lovre Kalinic (Gent), Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb)

Defenders: Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow), Domagoj Vida (Besiktas), Ivan Strinic (Sampdoria), Dejan Lovren (Liverpool), Sime Vrsaljko (Atletico Madrid), Josip Pivaric (Dynamo Kiev), Tin Jedvaj (Bayer Leverkusen), Duje Caleta-Car (Red Bull Salzburg)

Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona), Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid), Milan Badelj (Fiorentina), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan), Filip Bradaric (Rijeka)

Forwards: Mario Mandzukic (Juventus), Ivan Perisic (Inter Milan), Nikola Kalinic (AC Milan), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Marko Pjaca (Schalke), Ante Rebic (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Argentina vs Iceland

Lionel Messi’s Argentina will be taking on the adored European side, Iceland who were the surprise package at Euro 2016.

Argentina’s coach Jorge Sampaoli has already named his starting eleven for the game, choosing to go with the potenet attacking duo of Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero.

Argentina starting XI: Willy Caballero, Eduardo Salvio, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Rojo, Nicolas Tagliafico, Lucas Biglia, Javier Mascherano, Maximiliano Meza, Lionel Messi, Angel di Maria, Sergio Aguero.

France Vs Australia

In Group C, 1998 world champions France will be taking on Australia and expectations will be weighing heavy on this generation of Frenchmen to replicate the success of their heroes, whose captain Didier Deschamps is back at the World Cup as the coach.

Featuring players like Manchester United’s Paul Pogba, PSG’s Kylian Mbappe and Athletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezman, France are not only group favorites, many fancy them to go all the way and lift the trophy.

Peru vs Denmark

Both teams will play with an unwritten script that they says they are fighting for the second spot in Group C along with Australia.

Peru have been buoyed by news that their all time scorer Paolo Guerrero is fit to start for them in the game aginst Denmark after being freed from a doping ban.

Guerrero missed the play-offs against New Zealand after he tested positive for a cocaine byproduct contained in a tea.

Source: Africa News

16, June 2018

Russia 2018: Ronaldo reigns supreme on Day 2 as Salah-less Egypt, Morocco lose ⁰

After a brilliant opening game by the hosts Russia who thrashed Saudi Arabia by 5 goals to nil, expectations for day 2 of the 2018 FIFA World Cup had been high, especially given the line up of games at hand.

Six time African champions Egypt would be taking on Group A favorites Uruguay and the big question was whether the ‘Egyptian Pharaoh’ Mohamed Salah would play a role in the game.

In the end, Salah didn’t play and Uruguay edged Egypt with an 89th minute winner scored by Jose Gimenez.

“In the history of football we have broken a spell. We either die or we kill, we have to keep progressing,” said Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez at the end of the game.

Egypt’s coach Hector Cuper explained that it was too early to risk Salah.

“At the end of the training session we examined him and there was some doubt if he fell or was hit by another player, and we wanted to avoid a risk today,” Cuper said. “We want to have him in top form for Russia and Saudi Arabia.”

Egypt next play Russia in St Petersburg on Tuesday, giving Salah four more days to work on his fitness while Uruguay take on Saudi Arabia on Wednesday in Rostov.

Moroccan hearts broken by late Iran Goal

Up next were Morocco who were taking on Iran, in the less fancied game of Group B that also has European champions Portugal and 2010 world champions Spain.

Morocco dominated the game for the bigger part of the 90 minutes, but then in stoppage time, disaster struck.

Iran left back Ehsan Hajsafi whipped in a free kick five minutes into added time and Bouhaddouz launched himself at the ball, flashing a header past his own keeper Munir Mohamedi.

The Iranians, who had not won a World Cup game since their victory over the United States in 1998, celebrated as if they had won the tournament, leaving the field only reluctantly after lengthy and emotional embraces.

“Our strategy was from the first minute to create a mental collapse in the Moroccan players. We tried to do that by creating frustration and blocking all their creative players,” said Iran’s coach Carlos Queiroz, the former assistant to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United and ex-Real Madrid coach.

“My players are down, but we can only blame ourselves,” was all Morocco coach Herve Renard could say.

In a group where Spain and Portugal are strong favourites to qualify for the knockout stage, the outcome gives Iran an outside chance of an upset but was a bitter blow for an enterprising Moroccan side.

Ronaldo reigns supreme in 3-3 Portugal vs Spain thriller

The much anticipated match of the day didn’t disappoint as five time World Player of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo scored an early goal from the penalty spot in the 4th minute to give Portugal the lead.

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa equalised in the 24th minute, before Ronaldo restored Portugal’s lead in the 44th minute, thanks to a goalkeeping blunder from Span’s David De Gea.

Costa scored yet another equaliser in the 55th minute, which was quickly followed by a stunner from Nacho to give Spain the lead for the first time.

But it was Ronaldo who had the last word when he scored a spectacular free-kick in the 88th minute to tie the game and score a career 51st hat trick.

Both teams will be back in action on Wednesday June 20th as Portugal takes on Morocco while Spain will play against the current group leaders Iran.

Argentina, Nigeria in action on Saturday

Day 3 of the 2018 FIFA World Cup will see Ronaldo’s nemesis Lionel Messi step up as his team plays against Iceland in the opening game of Group D. Nigeria will play against Croatia in the other game of the group.

There will also be action in Group C as 1998 world champions play against Australia while Peru will play against Denmark.

Source: Africa News

15, June 2018

Yaounde: Issa Tchiroma says Amnesty International report is “crude and slanderous”. ⁰

Cameroon has accused Amnesty International of disseminating “crude lies” after it said security forces had committed summary killings, arrests and property destruction to try to crush a separatist insurgency.

The report “is stuffed with crude lies, hasty deductions (and) slanderous, unacceptable manoeuvering, which are part of a strategy of harassment and destabilisation of our country in its fight against the terrorist threat,” Communications Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary said.

The government “rejects this supposed report with the greatest firmness,” he said in a statement received on Friday.

In a 37-page report, Amnesty said it had catalogued “unlawful killings, destruction of private property, arbitrary arrests and torture” by the security forces in two restive regions of the West African country.

The unrest is unfolding in the Northwest and Southwest Regions, home to most of Cameroon’s English-speaking minority, which account for about a fifth of a population of 22 million.

Years of resentment at perceived discrimination at the hands of the country’s French-speaking majority culminated in protests in October and November 2016, which escalated in the face of a government refusal to make concessions.

In late 2017, violence surged after radicals declared an independent state — an entity named Ambazonia that has not been recognised internationally — and launched an armed campaign, which met with a crackdown.

Amnesty said it had conducted interviews with more than 150 victims of, or eyewitnesses to, violence committed either by the security forces or by separatists.

While accusing government forces of abuses, it also said separatists had killed “at least” 44 members of the security forces, and also targeted ordinary people, including traditional chiefs, whom they suspected to be informants.

Source: Timeslive