Plane carrying former US President Donald Trump makes emergency landing

9, March 2022

Plane carrying former US President Donald Trump makes emergency landing 0

A plane carrying former US President Donald Trump made an emergency landing in New Orleans on Saturday evening after experiencing engine failure over the Gulf of Mexico, a source familiar with the matter confirmed on Wednesday.

The plane, a Dassault Falcon 900, had gone about 75 miles from a New Orleans airport before turning back to the city, the person said. Other passengers included Secret Service agents, support staff and some of Trump’s advisers.

A Trump representative did not immediately return a request for comment on the incident.

The plane was returning Trump to his home in Palm Beach, Florida, from a New Orleans hotel where he was speaking to Republican Party donors at a private event, the person said.

The plane belonged to a donor who loaned it to the former president for the evening, the source said, and Trump advisers secured another donor’s plane to take him back to Florida.

The incident was first reported on Wednesday by Politico and the Washington Post.

(Source: Reuters)

Ukraine, Russia agree to day-long ceasefire to allow evacuation of civilians

9, March 2022

Ukraine, Russia agree to day-long ceasefire to allow evacuation of civilians 0

Russia and Ukraine on Wednesday agreed on a day-long ceasefire around a series of evacuation corridors to allow civilians to escape the fighting. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said Moscow vowed to respect the truce from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm around six areas, including regions near Kyiv, in Zaporizhzhia in the south, and some parts of Ukraine’s northeast.

The Chernobyl nuclear power plant is no longer transmitting data to the UN’s atomic watchdog, the agency said Tuesday. More than 200 technical staff and guards remain trapped at the site, working 13 days straight since the Russian takeover.

US President Joe Biden announced a ban on US imports of oil from Russia in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The UK also said they would phase out Russian oil imports by the end of the year.

The UN said the number of refugees fleeing Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24 surged past 2 million.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed to “fight to the end” in a virtual speech to UK lawmakers that earned him a standing ovation. “We will not give up and we will not lose,” he said.

Source: France 24

Ukraine leader vows: ‘We will fight to the end’, in virtual speech to UK lawmakers

9, March 2022

Ukraine leader vows: ‘We will fight to the end’, in virtual speech to UK lawmakers 0

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, invoking the wartime defiance of British prime minister Winston Churchill, vowed Tuesday (March 8) to “fight to the end” in a historic virtual speech to UK lawmakers.

“We will not give up and we will not lose. We will fight to the end, at sea, in the air. We will continue fighting for our land, whatever the cost, in the forests, in the fields, on the shores, in the streets,” he said.

Federal Republic of Ambazonia: IG seeks to peacefully settle borders with La Republique du Cameroun

9, March 2022

Federal Republic of Ambazonia: IG seeks to peacefully settle borders with La Republique du Cameroun 0

The exiled leader of the Southern Cameroons Interim Government says he would prefer to resolve questions about border demarcation with Biya and French Cameroun peacefully.

Vice President Dabney Yerima told Cameroon Concord News on Tuesday that he favours dialogue between the two Cameroons but reserved the right to strengthen Ambazonia Revolutionary Guards providing security in the Federal Republic of Ambazonia.

Yerima said the situation in the long-running conflict in Southern Cameroons had become critical, and the pro-independence forces in Ground Zero were winning with support from the diaspora. Dabney Yerima accused the Biya Francophone regime in French Cameroun of staging provocations and causing civilian casualties in the Ambazonia homeland.

Yerima noted that the Ambazonia Interim Government authorized the use of explosives which began late last year to enable Ambazonia Revolutionary Guards to focus on defending Southern Cameroons towns and villages.

 “With the dust now settled, Southern Cameroonians can see clearly who their true leaders are. Mobilization is growing and God willing, we as a people will get to Buea” Vice President Yerima added.

Southern Cameroons revolutionary leader President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe proclaimed the independence of British Southern Cameroons five years ago, recognizing the South West and North West regions as the Federal Republic of Ambazonia.

French Cameroun under the 89-year-old Paul Biya rejected the move and started an invasion of Southern Cameroons in 2017.

Both the Ambazonia Restoration Forces and troops loyal to the Biya French Cameroun regime in Yaoundé have been accused of atrocities in the fighting, which according to the International Crisis Group (ICG) has killed more than 6 000 people.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Football: Barcelona and sharp-again Aubameyang in Europa League trophy hunt

8, March 2022

Football: Barcelona and sharp-again Aubameyang in Europa League trophy hunt 0

Barcelona and a rejuvenated Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Europa League specialists Sevilla will spearhead Spain’s challenge in the last 16 of the competition on Thursday.

Sevilla host English side West Ham in the first leg while Barcelona take on Turkish club Galatasaray at the Camp Nou, in two of the most attractive ties of the round.

Five-time European champions Barcelona are still adjusting to the unfamiliar surroundings of the continent’s secondary competition after crashing out of the Champions League in the group stage for the first time in 18 years.

They face Galatasaray at Camp Nou on the back of their best run of the season after four victories in a row, including an impressive 4-2 win away at Napoli in the previous round.

They sit third in La Liga and have not lost in the league since December, boosted by a busy January transfer window in which they signed Aubameyang from Arsenal as well as Ferran Torres and Adama Traore.

Aubameyang and Torres have scored seven goals between them in Barca’s last five games.

“We have four wins in a row and this hasn’t happened for a long time,” said coach Xavi Hernandez on Sunday. “The players believe in what we are doing. We are on the right path.”

The Europa League is still Barcelona’s only realistic hope of winning a trophy this season and there remains a defensive fragility that will offer opponents encouragement.

But Barca will be heavy favourites against a Galatasaray side that have struggled recently, winning only twice in their last 15 matches.

Europa League kings

Sevilla, who have won the Europa League four times in the last eight seasons, will face a West Ham side who are battling for a trophy.

The Hammers’ chances of finishing in the top four of the Premier League are slipping away, with Arsenal now firm favourites to secure the final Champions League spot and Tottenham and United still battling too.

West Ham captain Mark Noble said his team’s fighting performance in the 1-0 defeat to Liverpool last Saturday would restore belief after a rocky patch in which they were also knocked out of the FA Cup.

“That performance will give us a lot of belief and hopefully we can take that into the Europa League now,” Noble said on the club’s website.

“It’s exciting and hopefully we can perform like that because Sevilla are a top team and we are going to need to perform well.”

The shadow of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will hang over Thursday’s matches with the tie between Spartak Moscow and RB Leipzig cancelled, although the Football Union of Russia lodged an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Tuesday seeking to overturn UEFA’s ban on its club playing in European competition.

Wednesday (1745 GMT unless stated)

FC Porto (POR) v Lyon (FRA)

Real Betis (ESP) v Eintracht Frankfurt (GER)

Thursday

RB Leipzig (GER) v Spartak Moscow (RUS) – cancelled

Sevilla (ESP) v West Ham (ENG)

All at 2000 GMT

Atalanta (ITA) v Bayer Leverkusen (GER)

Barcelona (ESP) v Galatasaray (TUR)

Rangers (SCO) v Red Star Belgrade (SRB)

Sporting Braga (POR) Monaco (FRA)

Source: AFP

South Africa: Cameroonians arrested in Joburg for possession of R3 million stash of stolen Transnet and Prasa copper

8, March 2022

South Africa: Cameroonians arrested in Joburg for possession of R3 million stash of stolen Transnet and Prasa copper 0

Two Cameroonian nationals are set to appear in court today after they were arrested by the Joburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) undercover officers for possession of stolen copper in Bramley, north of Joburg.

JMPD spokesperson, Xolani Fihla said the two men were nabbed on Saturday, for possession of the stolen copper with an estimated value of R3 million.

“Working on information received, officers proceeded to corner 11th Road and 3rd Avenue in Bramley, where they observed the suspected property,” Fihla said.

“An unknown male opened the gate of the premises, officers approached him, identified themselves as police and proceeded to search inside the premises.”

While searching, they found another man inside the premises and discovered huge quantities of copper cut up into pieces.

“When questioned, the two males failed to give a valid explanation on how they acquired the copper and were immediately arrested. Upon arrest, the suspects attempted to bribe officers with R10 000 cash,” Fihla said.

City of Joburg’s power utility City Power and officials from state-owned enterprise, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) were called to the scene, to identify the recovered stash of copper.

“It was discovered that the copper belongs to Transnet and Prasa, and it cost an estimated value of R3 million worth of damage to infrastructure,” Fihla said.

The suspects were detained at Bramley SAPS and charged with damage to infrastructure, possession of stolen copper and bribery.

Source: IOL

Iran says puts new military satellite in orbit

8, March 2022

Iran says puts new military satellite in orbit 0

Iran announced Tuesday it had successfully placed a military satellite in orbit, as talks on reviving a 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and major powers reach a critical stage.

“Iran’s second military satellite — named Nour-2 — has been launched into space by the Qassed rocket of the aerospace wing of the Revolutionary Guards and successfully placed in orbit 500 kilometres (310 miles) above the Earth,” the official IRNA news agency reported.

The Revolutionary Guards described the Nour-2 as a “reconnaissance satellite” in a statement on their Sepah News website.

Iran successfully put its first military satellite into orbit in April 2020, drawing a sharp rebuke from Washington.

Sepah News said Tuesday that the Nour-1 was “still fully operational and transmitting data”.

The United States has repeatedly voiced concern that such launches could boost Iran’s ballistic missile technology.

But Iran insists it is not seeking nuclear weapons and that its satellite and rocket launches are for civil or defensive purposes only.

At the end of December, Iran announced it had failed to put in orbit “three research cargos” carried by Simorgh (Phoenix) satellite carrier as the rocket was unable to reach the required speed.

In January, Iran tested a solid-fuel rocket for its satellite programme, state media reported.

Major powers involved in talks on bringing Washington back into the Iran nuclear deal after then president Donald Trump’s 2018 withdrawal have said that an agreement is close.

Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog said Saturday they had agreed an approach for resolving key outstanding issues but new Russian demands stemming from the Ukraine conflict may delay a deal.

Source: AFP

Russia’s war in Ukraine: Latest developments

8, March 2022

Russia’s war in Ukraine: Latest developments 0

Here are the latest developments in Russia’s war in Ukraine:

Evacuations begin

Ukraine begins evacuating civilians from the northeastern city of Sumy under a deal with Moscow to set up humanitarian corridors out of cities besieged by Russian forces.

Dozens of buses ferry the evacuees to the city of Lokhvytsya, around 150 kilometres to the southwest in Ukrainian-held territory.

Kyiv had rejected a previous proposal to evacuate Ukrainians to Russia as a publicity stunt.

Ceasefire

Moscow announces a ceasefire in the five cities worst-hit by the fighting: Chernihiv, Mariupol, Kharkiv, Kyiv and Sumy.

Previous such cessations of fire collapsed at the weekend, with both sides trading blame.

21 killed in Sumy

At least 21 people, including two children, were killed in air strikes on Sumy on Monday night, hours before the evacuations began.

Thousands attempt to board packed trains out of Odessa, Ukraine’s main port which is also bracing for attack.

People to rush to board trains out of the Ukrainian port of Odessa, which is bracing for attack

People to rush to board trains out of the Ukrainian port of Odessa, which is bracing for attack BULENT KILIC AFP

Two million refugees

The UN says the number of people fleeing the war now tops two million.

Poland alone has received 1.2 million people.

Zelensky slams unkept ‘promises’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounces what he calls unkept “promises” by the West to help protect Ukraine.

“It’s been 13 days we’ve been hearing promises, 13 days we’ve been told we’ll be helped in the air, that there will be planes, that they will be delivered to us,” he complains.

China’s Xi urges restraint

Chinese President Xi Jinping urges “maximum restraint” over Ukraine but stops short of condemning the Russian invasion in a video summit with the leaders of France and Germany.

‘Call Russia’

A group of Lithuanians launch a bid to get Russians abroad to call 40 million of their compatriots and tell them what is happening in Ukraine.

Russia has severely restricted reporting of the war on its territory.

Shell quits Russia

Energy giant Shell says it will stop purchasing Russian crude oil and shut down its operations in the country.

 Russian designer cancelled

Russian designer Valentin Yudashkin, who designed the Russian army’s uniforms, has his show at Paris Fashion Week cancelled for his failure to condemn the war.

World Bank cash for Ukraine

The World Bank approves an additional $489-million package for Ukraine, to be made available immediately.

Foreign footballers can leave Russia

Foreign footballers and coaches working in Russia and Ukraine will be allowed to temporarily suspend their contracts and move elsewhere, FIFA announces.

Source: AFP

After a very long wait, new U.S. Ambassador to Yaoundé arrives to take up post

8, March 2022

After a very long wait, new U.S. Ambassador to Yaoundé arrives to take up post 0

Ambassador Christopher John Lamora is finally in Yaoundé almost two years after the departure of his predecessor Peter Henry Barlerin.

Hon. Barlerin took over from Micheal Stephen Hoza just three months after he was accredited to Cameroon. In contrast, Christopher John Lamora landed in Cameroon nearly two years after the departure of Peter Henry Barlerin.

Cameroon Concord News senior political man in the United Kingdom Nelson A. Agbor opined that this is unprecedented in the history of diplomatic relations between Yaoundé and Washington. The reasons for this long wait have not been disclosed.

Proposed by U.S. President Joe Biden since April 2021, the 52-year-old diplomat was sworn in last February 11 in Washington. As diplomatic ritual dictates, he will also go to the Unity Palace in Yaoundé to present his credentials to the 89-year-old President Paul Biya.

Christopher John Lamora is returning to a country he knows well, having served as U.S. Consul General in Douala, the economic metropolis. He also served as Deputy Chargé de Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Ghana before being promoted to the rank of Ambassador.

By Rita Akana

French Cameroun Leadership Crisis: Biya gives green light for Cup finals after eight months of waiting

8, March 2022

French Cameroun Leadership Crisis: Biya gives green light for Cup finals after eight months of waiting 0

PWD of Bamenda and Astres of Douala are now poised to move to Yaoundé to stage the finals of the Cup of Cameroon.

The 89-year-old French Cameroun dictator Paul Biya reportedly rubber-stamped the choice of the venue and the presiding CPDM official.

The finals will hold at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaoundé, and will be presided over by Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute.

After eight months of waiting, the Cameroon Cup finals will be played on Sunday, March 13, 2022 following a correspondence from the Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh to the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi.

Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh stated “I have the honor to inform you that the President of the Republic has given his high approval for the holding of the 2020-2021 edition of the final of the Cameroon Football Cup on Sunday, March 13, 2022 from 15H at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Sports Stadium in Yaoundé.”

By Rita Akana

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