IGIHE

Author: Publisher

  • China Bridge Collapse Kills 11

    China Bridge Collapse Kills 11

    {{A bridge has collapsed in southern China, killing 11 people, state media and officials say.

    The stone arch bridge was being constructed illegally at a village in Gaozhou City, Guangdong province, the officials said.

    It collapsed on Saturday, killing five people instantly, while six died later in hospital.

    Authorities are investigating the incident. The contractor has been arrested, state media report.

    The bridge was being built in Liangkengkou village in Gaozhou. Twenty-six people were trapped under the bridge when it collapsed, officials said.

    Survivors were taken to hospital after being pulled from the rubble.

    “I feel much better now. I could not even open my eyes when I was taken to hospital in Shenzhen township,” Qin Zechu, one of the survivors, said.

    Government officials said the village had been ordered to stop building the bridge several times.

    However, the village secretly restarted construction over the May Day holiday, which ran from Thursday to Saturday, they added.}}

  • French Lesbian Couple Blocked From Adopting Child

    French Lesbian Couple Blocked From Adopting Child

    Gay rights groups in France have voiced anger after a judge prevented a French lesbian couple from adopting an infant.

    The boy, now aged four, was conceived through artificial insemination of one of the women in Belgium.

    Under French law that procedure is not explicitly open to lesbian couples. The judge said the law had been violated.

    France legalised gay marriage nearly a year ago. The Versailles judge’s ruling was “homophobic”, said ADFH, a group representing homosexual parents.

    ADFH said French law had failed to protect the rights of the child.

    A lesbian rights activist, Nathalie Allain-Djerrah of Enfants d’Arc-en-ciel (Rainbow Children), said the ruling “shows in a blatant and violent way how inequality persists between the children of homosexual parents and those of heterosexual parents”.

    According to the French newspaper Le Figaro, in similar cases French judges have allowed lesbian couples to adopt infants since gay marriage was legalised.

    France’s same-sex marriage law also legalised gay adoption. Opponents staged huge rallies against it but President Francois Hollande signed the “Taubira” bill into law after months of heated debate.

  • Samsung Ordered to Pay Apple $119.6m

    Samsung Ordered to Pay Apple $119.6m

    {{Samsung has been ordered to pay $119.6m (£71m) to Apple by a US court for infringing two of its patents.}}

    A jury in California delivered its verdict in a federal court in San Jose on Friday in the latest lawsuit involving the two tech giants.

    Apple had sought $2bn at the trial, accusing Samsung of violating patents on smartphone features.

    The court also ruled that Apple infringed Samsung’s patents and awarded $158,000 in damages.

    Apple had sought $2.2bn after accusing Samsung of infringing five of its patents covering functions such as the “slide to unlock” from its devices.

    Samsung denied any wrongdoing and sought $6m after arguing Apple had infringed two of its smartphone patents related to camera use and video transmission.

    “Though this verdict is large by normal standards, it is hard to view this outcome as much of a victory for Apple,” said Brian Love, a Santa Clara University law professor.

    “This amount is less than 10% of the amount Apple requested and probably doesn’t surpass by too much the amount Apple spent litigating this case.”

  • Twin Explosions Kill 3 in Mombasa

    Twin Explosions Kill 3 in Mombasa

    {{Three people have been killed and several wounded in two explosions in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa, police say.}}

    In the deadliest attack, a grenade was reportedly thrown in a bus that had just arrived from Nairobi.

    The other blast happened at a bar near a hotel in the Nyali beach area. There are no reports of casualties there.

    Kenya has been hit by a spate of attacks blamed by the government on Somali Islamist militants.

    The al-Qaeda-linked group al-Shabab has carried out several attacks in Kenya since 2011, when Kenya sent troops into Somalia to battle it.

    No-one has yet claimed responsibility for Saturday’s blasts.

    {{Third attack?}}

    The first blast is believed to have occurred after a grenade was thrown in a Nairobi-Mombasa bus that had just arrived in the busy Mwembe Tayari transport terminal, killing three people and wounding at least four others.

    The second explosion took place at a beach bar near the Nayali Reef Hotel, after a device was left in a plastic bag in the washroom.

    It is thought that a third attack was planned for a nearby cinema complex but was unsuccessful.

    All three incidents happened within minutes of each other, reporters said.

    Tensions have been rising in Mombasa in recent months, with authorities accusing Islamists of radicalising local youths.

    Al-Shabab was blamed for an attack on a church in Mombasa in March that killed six people.

  • Ethiopians Triumph As 2014 Okpekpe Road Race Ends

    Ethiopians Triumph As 2014 Okpekpe Road Race Ends

    {{Ethiopian athletes, Teshone Asafah and Wooden Ayela, yesterday emerged winners in both male and female categories of the second edition of the 2014 Okpekpe Road Race in Edo State, Nigeria.}}

    Asafah emerged victorious in a record time 28.35sec to win the cash prize of $25,000 erasing the 2013 record of 29.49sec while Ayela outrun everybody in the female category also in a record time of 32.4sec and went home with a cash prize of $15,000.

    In the male category, two Kenyans, Amos Mitel and Cornelius Kangogo, placed second and third positions respectively in a record time of 28.53sec and 29. 15sec while the second and third positions for the female category went to Jenneth Yela of Ethiopia and MoheÍn Debaba of Kenya also in a record time of 32.52, sec and 32.59sec respectively.

    In the Executive category, Governor Adams Oshiomhole came first as Isah Aremu was the first runners-up.

    Addressing the crowd of participants and spectators, the host, Governor Oshiomhole said: “It is a thing of joy that Edo State is hosting the world.”
    Oshiomhole who stated that the Okpekpe 10 kilometre Road Race has become one of the events in the Nigeria sporting history, also noted that the race has served as a bridge among different tribes in the society.

    While commending the organisers of the event, he however frowned at the gender discrimination in terms of the prize money given to winners in the male and female categories and henceforth directed that the winners should be treated equally.

    He urged the organisers to immediately commence the planning for a proposed a full marathon race at 52 kilometre road Urhonigbe, Orihionmwon local council in Edo South since the area boost long stretch of roads.

  • US Vows To Rescue Abducted Nigerian Schoolgirls

    US Vows To Rescue Abducted Nigerian Schoolgirls

    {{Americans and US-based Nigerians are raising serious concerns about the fate of the about 270 Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped three weeks ago in Chibok, Borno State. }}

    US Secretary of State, Senator John Kerry, pledged yesterday in Addis Ababa that the US government will do everything possible to rescue the children and bring the perpetrators to justice.

    As Kerry flew out of Washington over the weekend to Ethiopia where he is participating in the fourth session of the US-Africa Union High Level Dialogue, top American groups, including pastors, business investors and public officials are mounting intense pressure on both the Nigerian community and the Nigerian embassy posts in New York, Washington DC and Atlanta.

    For instance, leading African American Pastors like Bishop Jamal Bryant, a top American tele-evangelist and pastor in Maryland State are already organising how to mount pressure on both the US and Nigerian governments to rescue the children.

    Sources at the Nigerian embassies across the US, especially in Washington DC and New York, confirm that US members of Congress, business investors and several other notable Americans have been calling in to confirm the exact situation and inquire about what the Nigerian government is going to do.

    For instance, during the week, a group of bi-partisan US Senators issued a strong resolution condemning the kidnap, calling for an urgent rescue and demanding that justice must be done to the terrorists behind the abduction. Later on Friday, another US Congresswoman, Karen Bass, also released a statement on the issue calling for the release of the Chibok girls.

    In deed, several Nigerian groups in the US, including the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans (CANAN), the Nigeria Democratic Liberty Forum (NDLF) and new groups of Nigerian women in the US, are planning to hold protest rallies in front of the Nigerian embassies in New York and Washington DC this week.

    Speaking with The Guardian over the weekend, Pastor Jamal Bryant explained that he was determined to bring the American public to rise up against the abduction of the girls, adding that his heart is broken over the matter. He said he would be using his global TV platforms, starting tomorrow to highlight the plight of the schoolgirls.

    Also, Bukola Oreofe, the executive director of the NDLF in New York, disclosed that the group would be calling US-based Nigerians and their friends out to protest in front of the Nigerian House this week.

    In a similar vein, Ms. Omolola Adele-Oso, spokesperson for BringBackOurGirls in Washington DC, said a rally is planned for Tuesday this week at the Nigerian Embassy at 10am, “because our children deserve better.”

    According to Adele-Oso, “we want the world to know of the horrors that could happen to the girls, if they are not returned safely.”

    According to Kerry, “Let me be clear, the kidnapping of hundreds of children by Boko Haram is an unconscionable crime, and we will do everything possible to support the Nigerian government to return these young women to their homes and to hold the perpetrators to justice.”

    Continuing, the US Secretary of State under whose leadership the US State Department changed its reluctant views on Boko Haram and unlike his predecessors designated Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation, said to his African fellow ministers, “I will tell you, my friends, I have seen this scourge of terror across the planet, and so have you. They don’t offer anything except violence.

    They don’t offer a healthcare plan; they don’t offer schools. They don’t tell you how to build a nation; they don’t talk about how they will provide jobs. They just tell people, “You have to behave the way we tell you to,” and they will punish you if you don’t.”

    He said while there are some good things to celebrate in Africa, “we are also meeting at a time of continued crisis. Conflicts in South Sudan, which I visited yesterday, Central African Republic, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the events that we’ve just seen in Nigeria, these are among some of the things that are preventing millions of Africans from realising their full potential. And in some places, they are plunging the continent back into the turmoil of the past.”

    Kerry added that, in too many parts of the continent, a lack of security, the threat of violence, or all-out war prevent the shoots of prosperity from emerging. The burdens of past divisions might not disappear entirely, my friends, insisting that such must never be allowed to bury the future of Africa.

    He said this was why the US will continue to provide financial and logistical support to African Union-led efforts in Somalia, where Al-Shabaab is under significant pressure, and also continue to support the African Union Regional Task Force against the Lord’s Resistance Army, where LRA-related deaths have dropped by 75 percent, and hundreds of thousands have returned to their homes.

    In the same vein, Kerry added “ and that’s why we are working to strengthen Nigeria’s institutions and its military to combat Boko Haram, and their campaign of terror and violence.”

  • New Ecobank Group CEO Seeks to Make Bank Biggest in Africa

    New Ecobank Group CEO Seeks to Make Bank Biggest in Africa

    {{The new group Chief Executive of Ecobank, Albert Essien, says his main focus would be to grow the bank to become the biggest in Africa and address corporate governance issues that hit the bank earlier this year.}}

    Mr. Essien was in March this year appointed as Chief Executive of the bank following the exit of Mr Thierry Tandoh.

    Some analysts say that Mr. Tanoh’s exit follows alleged corporate governance flaws at the bank.

    It is however unclear whether, Mr. Tanoh resigned willingly or was forced out by the board, following requests by other executive directors of the pan African bank.

    Speaking to reporters in his first media interview in Accra, Mr. Essein said he also wants to restore investor confidence in the institution after fall outs between top executives of the bank.

    “Essien is bringing confidence and trust, Essien is bring stability to the institution and also making sure that we [Ecobank Group] work as one united team”, he reiterated.

    According to him, most companies have gone through the kind of corporate governance challenges the bank encountered early this year, but while some never survived, Ecobank has survived. “The past is behind us”, he added.

    Prior to becoming the Group Chief Executive of the bank, Mr. Essien was the Regional Head for the Anglophone West Africa (excluding Nigeria) and Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) regions of Ecobank.

    Mr. Essien’s appointment makes him the second Ghanaian Group Chief of Executive ECOBANK, after Dr. Jean Aka Nelson.

    Earlier this year Ecobank earned media spotlight after its Director in Charge of Risk and Finance, Laurence do Rego, accused Kolapo Lawson, the Chairman of the Bank, and Thierry Tanoh, then Chief Executive, of attempting to sell off non-core assets at “well below the market value”.

    She also alleged that she was asked to write off debts owed by a real estate company which Mr Lawson was its Board Chairman and to manipulate the bank’s 2012 financial results.

    Despite public denials of do Rego’s allegations, the Nigeria Securities Exchange Commission began an investigation into the matter.

  • Kagame Receives Former Arsenal FC Captain

    Kagame Receives Former Arsenal FC Captain

    {{President Paul Kagame on Saturday received Tony Adams, former Arsenal Captain and England defender who is in the country as part of the Airtel sponsored Arsenal Clinic Football Academy. }}

    Tony Adams presented a special gift from Arsenal FC Manager, Arsene Wenger, to President Kagame in recognition of his contribution to sports and football, and also for being a prominent Arsenal fan.

    Speaking to journalists after meeting President Kagame, Tony Adams said:

    “We talked about football, Arsenal and the Emirates…..we also talked about what we are doing here, about developing young talents and giving them opportunities to rise as stars. President Kagame is so humble.

    It’s remarkable what he has done in this country. I think Rwandans feel so lucky to have such a great President and leader.”

    The Minister of Culture and Sports, Protais Mitali said Tony Adams explained the activities of the Arsenal Clinic Football Academy as an effort to nurture future football stars and that President Kagame commended the efforts.

    Minister Mitali said Rwandans are optimistic that this initiative will improve the standards of football in the country.

    Arsenal Clinic is a Football Academy sponsored by Airtel for elite players of the Airtel Rising Stars from different partaking countries. This year, Rwanda played host to the Arsenal Clinic from April 28 to May 2.

  • 13 Suspects Arrested Over Illegal Posession of 8 Guns

    13 Suspects Arrested Over Illegal Posession of 8 Guns

    {{Police has produced thirteen suspects before prosecution in connection with the 8 guns found at one of their colleagues home in Musanze district recently.

    Eight Guns and 600 rounds of ammunition excluding other rounds in the magazines. The AK47 rifles looked to be in good condition. The guns were seized during the April 15 Police operation.

    Supt. Hitayezu Emmanuel the Northern Province Police spokesperson says only two of the suspects admitted to illegally owning the guns.

    According to supt. Hitayezu, some of the suspects admitted to have been in contact with the FDLR rebels inside DRCongo and that it’s where they obtained the guns and several rounds of ammunition. }}

  • Zambia Draft Constitution Mystery Continues

    Zambia Draft Constitution Mystery Continues

    {{Under pressure to release the final draft Constitution, Zambia’s Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba said Wednesday he will need the authority of Cabinet to do so.}}

    The move is likely to brew fears the document will be doctored, allegations government denies.

    “Yes, we”ll release the document, but will only release the draft Constitution to the public after Cabinet authority,” State radio quoted Mr Kabimba as saying.

    “The document will be made available very soon, or within a reasonable period of time.”

    The heated debate has been about when the government, seemingly back-tracking on its promise to deliver a new Constitution in 90 days, would release the document to the public.

    In his maiden address to Parliament in 2011 following his election, President Sata, 76, said his government was committed to delivering a people-driven constitution within three months–one of his campaign pledges–which drew widespread praise.

    He later appointed a Committee in 2011 to collect views, but toward the end of its mandate a “tug-of-war” ensued between it and the Executive on the mode of releasing it simultaneously to the President and the public for debate.

    The document is now in government possession.

    The government seemed “uncomfortable” with the idea of releasing the document to the public, which is also demanding a referendum, before it had a “chance” to read through the content, some political commentators say.

    President Sata’s ruling Patriotic Front party, which while in the opposition gave a wide berth to the constitution making during the administrations of former presidents Levy Mwanawasa and Rupiah Banda, has not indicated whether the process would be followed by a referendum, which stakeholders are demanding.

    Zambia got its independence from Britain in 1964 and has struggled to formulate a people-driven constitution for many years now.