Society

After the painful disappearance of the mother of President Laurent Gagbo of the Ivory Coast late last year,the mother of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has also passed away at the age of 90. Sekineh Payvandi, who departed this life after months of illness, had been in hospital for several days before her demise.

Following Payvandi's passing, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz called on Hossein Fereydoun, the brother of and special aide to President Rouhani, at the residence of the Iranian negotiating team in the Swiss city of Lausanne to extend their condolences on the demise of the president's mother. The two US officials are currently in Lausanne along with Iranian negotiators for talks on Tehran's nuclear program. Fereydoun has left the negotiations in Lausanne for Iran.

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Ngwa Bertrand

20.Mar.2015

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The Mayor of Lagdo is among 15 other passengers abducted in the night of Thursday in a bus travelling from Garoua Boulai to Bertoua in the eastern region by heavily armed men, Cameroon Concord has learnt. As we earlier reported today, Cameroon government sources have hinted that the gun men were from rebel groups from the Central African Republic.  We understand Mama Abakai went to the East region to attend a funeral ceremony of the step mother of the the Sub-Prefect of Lagdo.

Local media reports say  Lagdo is in total confusion and sadness  as the inhabitants do not know the fate of their mayor and the other passengers in the bus. The proliferation of weapons in the Central African Republic has puts the Eastern Region of Cameroon in constant insecurity. Kidnapping of villagers are now common and rampant.

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Ngwa Bertrand

20.Mar.2015

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Even if you've been living under a rock, a rock with no internet access or cable, for the past year, you can't have not heard the reports of police brutality exacted on black men. And yet, a California man decided to spray paint himself black to try and evade the cops. He remained in jail on Wednesday charged with auto theft and violating probation, with his booking photo showing his blackened face. "The camouflage was ineffective," police concluded.

City of Madera Police Department posted a picture of the felon on its Facebook page as a deterrent, writing: "Last night Jose Espinoza fled from a stolen car. Officers arrested Jose later in the evening after he fled a second time. This time Jose spray painted his face black in an effort to camouflage himself." It was a better effort than Crewe Police Department in Virginia, which recently asked followers to step forward if they left some cocaine at a convenience store, leading to confusion and the idea that police might actually return it to the owner.

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Ngwa Bertrand

19.Mar.2015

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Millions of people around the world are wearing green today, drinking Guinness and soliciting kisses because they're Irish, even if they're not — but hey, everyone's a little Irish on St. Patrick's Day right?

From the Colosseum in Rome to hotel towers in Abu Dhabi to the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, landmarks and buildings around the globe will be lit green in honour of the Irish. Waterways were dyed green and parades were held everywhere from Tokyo to Toronto over the weekend. Cameroon Concord's Dublin correspondent witnessed it in Swords, Rush and Skerries.

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Ngwa Bertrand

17.Mar.2015

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The Chamber of first instance of the International Criminal Court ( ICC) has decided to withdraw the charges of crimes against humanity labelled against Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta. After the withdrawal by the prosecution of the charges against Mr Kenyatta, the first Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) decided to terminate the proceedings in this case and remove the summons against him.

"Although the procedure was terminated, the court retains jurisdiction for any interference with a witness or with evidence collection and the protective measures ordered for witnesses and victims continue or, subject to review by the Court" the statement said

Elected to the Kenyan presidency on March 2013, Uhuru Kenyatta was accused of haven fomented post-election violence in 2007-2008 that caused the deaths of 1200 people.

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Ngwa Bertrand

13.Mar.2015

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Issa Tchiroma Bakary, Cameroon's Communications Minister, has brought a denial on the photo polemic on the presidency official website on Monday. The photo reportedly showed President Biya, bowing to bodies of dead soldiers in a military ceremony that President did not attend.

The controversial government spokesman said in a press release read on state radio and television that the montage photo was the handiwork of a hacker.  The minister added that the image was intended by desire to harm the honour and dignity of the Head of State and the Cameroon army.  

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Ngwa Bertrand

12.Mar.2015

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