Thousands arrive for Obama's tribute to Charleston victims

20:44 26/06/2015
Charleston - The first black president of the United States prepared Friday to eulogize the victims of a mass shooting at a historic African-American church, a tragedy that one civil rights activist said was a sign of "how far yet" the nation has to go to put racial tensions behind it.

Thousands of mourners gathered to hear President Barack Obama pay tribute to the Rev. Clementa Pinckney and eight parishioners of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. The nine were shot dead at the church during a Bible study session last week in what authorities are investigating as a racially motivated attack.

Police said they had to turn away hundreds of people who were still standing in a line that stretched several blocks. Some people cried after they were turned away.

The 21-year-old suspect in the shooting, Dylann Roof, was questioned three months before the deadly shooting rampage by a police officer who found AR-15 gun magazines in his trunk, according to a police document released Friday. The officer found six 40-round magazines as well as part of an AR-15. Roof was questioned but not charged.

Roof has been charged with nine counts of murder. Police say he used a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun in the attack.

The first two funerals for victims were held Thursday amid tight security. The mourning began as the debate over the Confederate flag and other Old South symbols continued around the region. A growing number of leading politicians said Civil War symbols should be removed from places of honor, despite their role as elements of Southern identity.

Haley started the move against Confederate icons Monday by successfully calling on South Carolina lawmakers to debate taking down the Confederate battle flag flying in front of the Statehouse. Then Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, also a conservative Republican, brought down four secessionist flags at the Capitol there.

Some authorities have worried openly about a backlash as people take matters into their own hands.
"Black Lives Matter" was spray-painted on a monument to Confederate President Jefferson Davis in Richmond, Virginia, on Thursday, only the latest statue to be defaced.

The shooting suspect, 21-year-old Dylann Storm Roof, appeared in photos with a Confederate license plate, waving a Confederate flag, burning and desecrating U.S. flags on a website created in his name months before the attacks.

Attorney Boyd Young, who represents Roof's family, issued a statement saying they will answer questions later, but want to allow the victims' families to grieve. "We feel it would be inappropriate to say anything at this time other than that we are truly sorry for their loss," the statement said.

- AP2

Vitesse hire yet another player from Chelsea

20:44 26/06/2015
Amsterdam - Vitesse Arnhem have signed Chelsea's junior international Lewis Baker on loan for the coming eason, the Dutch club said on Friday.

The 20-year-old, who has played for England at under-20 level, has come through the youth system at Chelsea and had loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday and MK Dons. He has played once for Chelsea in a FA Cup tie against Derby in 2014.

Last season Vitesse took Bertrand Traore, Josh McEachran and Wallace on loan from the English champions.

The season before last they had several players on loan from Chelsea, including Lucas Piazon, Sam Hutchinson and Christian Atsu.

The Russian owner of Vitesse, Aleksandr Tsjigirinski, is reportedly a good friend of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

- Reuters

Obama says gay marriage ruling 'victory for America'

07:05 27/06/2015
Washington - US President Barack Obama hailed the Supreme Court ruling in favor of gay marriage Friday, saying it shows social changes once thought impossible can become reality.

"Today we can say in no uncertain terms that we've made our union a little more perfect," Obama said in a White House address shortly after the court issued its decision.

"It's a victory for the allies and friends and supporters who spent years, even decades working and praying for change to come. And this ruling is a victory for America."

The Supreme Court ruling that the constitution protects the right of all Americans in all states to form same-sex marriages was a victory for gay rights campaigners.

But it will also be seen as a success for Obama, whose own position shifted between his first presidential campaign and his second, and who now supports marriage equality.

"This ruling is a victory for Jim Obergefell and the other plaintiffs in this case," Obama said, referring to one of the people who brought the case all the way to the high court.

"It's a victory for gay and lesbian couples who fought so long for their basic civil rights. It's a victory for their children whose families will now be recognized as equal to any other," he said.

"This decision affirms what millions of Americans already believe in their hearts, when all Americans are treated as equal, we are all more free."

But he also asked Americans to be "mindful" of those who do not approve of gay marriage.
"I know that Americans of goodwill continue to hold a wide range of views on this issue. Opposition in some cases has been based on sincere and deeply held beliefs. All of us who welcome today's news should be mindful of that fact," he said.

- AFP

AU calls on UK to release Rwanda's spy chief

07:05 27/06/2015
Addis Ababa - The African Union has called for Britain to release Rwanda's intelligence chief after his arrest on a warrant issued by Spain, which accuses him of killings after the 1994 genocide, Rwanda's foreign minister said on Friday.

British police arrested Karenzi Karake, 54, at Heathrow airport on Saturday on a warrant issued in Spain, a move the Rwandan government condemned as an "outrage".

Karake was released on bail on Thursday and has said he would fight the extradition. A full extradition hearing has been set for October 29-30.

After a meeting of the AU's Peace and Security Council, Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo told reporters in Addis Ababa that the continental body had asked for Karake's release.

"The outcome of this discussion has been the urgent call for the unconditional and immediate release of General Karenzi and an awakening of the Peace and Security Council and indeed the continent to the grave danger that faces Africa with the abuse of international law..." she said.

Mushikiwabo said Rwanda was in touch with the United Kingdom on the issue and that the arrest was a mistake.

"We have communicated back and we are in constant discussion, because to this hour we do not see why the United Kingdom would arrest General Karenzi," she said.

Karake was part of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), the then-rebel force led by Paul Kagame, who is now president of Rwanda. The RPF halted genocidal attacks being carried out in Rwanda, mostly against minority Tutsis, making Karake a hero to his supporters.

The Spanish warrant stems from a lengthy indictment issued by a judge in 2008 which accused 40 senior Rwandans, including Karake, of war crimes in the aftermath of the genocide. Karake is also accused of ordering the killing of three Spanish volunteers from a medical charity in 1997.

The RPF government has long accused Western nations of failing to act to prevent the genocide and many of them have acknowledged the failing and since poured in aid.

- Reuters

Flood-hit Cameroon to demolish low-lying homes

Elias Ntungwe Ngalame  
07:05 27/06/2015
Douala - Climate change and unregulated housing development are to blame for the devastation brought by floods that have so far killed at least 4 people and forced more than 80 000 from their homes in Cameroon's economic capital, experts say.

Heavy rains that began on Monday triggered major flooding in the Douala V district area, submerging over 60 000ha of land and forcing thousands to flee for safety.

"Many families, mostly children and mothers who found refuge on rooftops, were rescued from the deluge by the army's firefighting brigade," said Beti Assomo, governor of the Littoral region.

As the rains persist, the governor and other local authorities have advised people to evacuate the area.
Though living in the swampy Douala V area is unlawful because of the high risk of flooding, the land is cheap, attracting many of the city's urban poor.

"Inhabitants of squatter settlements such as  the Douala V council area and other flood-prone areas of the economic capital live in constant fear of every drop of rain," Didier Yimkoua, an environmentalist and secretary general of the National Salvation Front political party, told the Cameroon Tribune.

On Wednesday, officials announced that anyone refusing to leave the Douala V area will be forcefully evicted and that most of the housing - much of it built with wooden plants and other makeshift materials - will be torn down over the coming days.

"We think the only way to put an end to such catastrophe in the future is to demolish and force people out of these risky and vulnerable zones," said Fritz Ntone Ntone, the government delegate to the Douala city council.

Experts say several factors, including climate change, deforestation, rapid population growth and poor town planning, are exacerbating the effects of the rainy season, making the current flood among the most destructive in the town's history.

Manage disaster risks
With over 3 million residents, Douala is one of Cameroon's most densely populated cities. Flooding is not uncommon in the area, but the scale of the devastation wrought by this latest flooding is unprecedented, said Ntone.

Many of the affected people say they have lost everything: their crops, livestock, homes and businesses. In some parts of flooded area, only the tops of houses and trees can be seen emerging from the water.

"This is one of the worst floods we have had in Douala, a clear sign that climate change is on our doorsteps," said Samuel Nguiffo, executive director of the Center for Environment Development (CED), a non-governmental organisation focused on the environment and land rights.

Environmental experts say natural disasters in Cameroon continue to hit communities hard but local governments lack the ability and means to manage disaster risks adequately.

Cameroon's government needs to give local authorities more autonomy over disaster risk reduction and development practices to improve the situation, they say.

Cameroon recently announced the launch of a new meteorological and hydrological services network, which authorities hope will help the country combat the effects of climate change by providing governments with accurate, real-time weather information.

- Reuters

Flying Eagles Quartet finally arrive at Dream Team Camp

07:05 27/06/2015
Lagos - Four of the Flying Eagles players invited by Samson Siasia to the Dream Team VI have finally arrived the team’s camp beating the deadline given by the coach.


First to hit camp was winger Godwin Saviour who arrived at the team’s Serob Legacy Hotel, putting his team mates hugging and back slapping him, some hailing him on his performance at the U-20 world cup.

Taiwo Awoniyi also arrived at the camp at about 10.15am on Friday morning looking trim and getting set to go, not long after the U-20 captain defender Musa Mohammed stormed the camp in his all jean dressing, then as the team was getting set to have their lunch, in came goalkeeper Dele Alampasu.

With the arrival of the four players, the camp is now in full swing as preparation for the 1st leg U-23 Africa Championship qualifier game heats up.

Kingsley Sokari was supposed to join the team today, but is now expected to join two weeks to the game against Congo as he has signed for Tunisian club, Esperance.

Coach Siasia has meanwhile released players to play for their clubs in this weekend's Glo Premier League, expecting them to return to camp on Monday.
    

NBC urges public to ignore radio Biafra

07:05 27/06/2015
Abuja - The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), on Friday, urged the public to ignore radio Biafra transmission.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs of the commission, Alhaji Awwalu Salihu, made available to the media in Abuja.

The statement said the commission had become aware of a pirate radio station transmitting seditious and divisive content contrary to the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code and law.

It assured the public that it was working in conjunction with security forces to track the source of the broadcast.

It urged the public to ignore the inflammatory content of the broadcast and continue to work toward a strong, united and prosperous nation.

- NAN