France, Britain Beef Up Patrols Over Illegal Migration

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July 21, 2021

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro says he would veto a new 5.7 billion reais or $1.09 billion electoral fund, potentially setting himself up for a fight with lawmakers whose support is crucial to fending off impeachment proceedings.

Bolsonaro, a far-right former army captain who was elected on a wave of anti-corruption sentiment, has been under pressure from his supporters to kill the generous, self-appointed package.

The fund mechanism was set up in 2017, as Brazil was roiling from years of high profile graft scandals.

A ban on corporate donations coupled with the drying up of under-the-table contributions in the wake of the scandals left lawmakers struggling to raise campaign cash, so they created the taxpayer-paid fund to offset the losses.

Bolsonaro was also under pressure to veto a 2 billion reais fund for local elections in 2020, but eventually did not, alleging he had no choice. However, the latest 5.7 billion reais package seems to be a step too far for him.

The fund was meant to be part of improvements to Brazil’s discredited political system to reduce a proliferation of parties that has made it hard to govern Latin America’s largest nation without unwieldy coalitions based on self-interest.

But critics say it only serves to provide funds for lawmakers seeking re-election in order to use the congressional immunity, and shield themselves from prosecution for corruption.

Court Grants Delay In Jacob Zuma’s Corruption Trial

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July 21, 2021

A South African court has granted former president Jacob Zuma’s request for a delay in his arms deal corruption trial, adjourning proceedings for three weeks.

Zuma who is accused of receiving kickbacks over a $US2 billion arms deal from the 1990s, pleaded not guilty in May to charges including corruption, fraud and money laundering.

Zuma has evaded prosecution for more than a decade, portraying himself as the victim of a politically motivated witch hunt. He started a 15-month sentence for contempt of court, appeared before the Pietermaritzburg court virtually and stayed silent.

His legal team argued that a postponement should be granted so he could appear in person.

Zuma’s jailing this month triggered some of the worst unrest of the post-apartheid era in which over 200 people were killed and over 2,500 people were arrested.

It was driven by widespread anger over the poverty and inequality that persist nearly three decades after the end of white minority rule.

There were fears that Mr Zuma’s latest court appearance could lead to a flare-up of violent protests from his support base.

But that has not materialised so far, with President Cyril Ramaphosa saying that calm has been restored to most of the affected areas.

Ethiopia Completes 2nd Year Target For Grand Renaissance Dam

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July 21, 2021

Ethiopia says it has attained its second-year target for filling a mega-dam on the Blue Nile River that has stoked tensions with downstream countries Egypt and Sudan.

Water Minister Seleshi Bekele later confirmed the milestone, which officials had earlier predicted would come in August

He said the first filling already was done last year while the second one was already done today and that the second filling would be announced shortly, adding there is now enough water stored to begin producing energy.

In a post on social media he attributed the accelerated timeline to “extreme rainfall” in the Blue Nile basin.

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has been at the centre of a regional dispute ever since Ethiopia broke ground on the project in 2011.

Egypt and Sudan view the dam as a threat because of their dependence on Nile waters, while Ethiopia deems it essential for its electrification and development.

Talks held under the auspices of the African Union (AU) have failed to yield a three-way agreement on the dam’s filling and operations, and Cairo and Khartoum have demanded Addis Ababa cease filling the massive reservoir until such a deal is reached.

But Ethiopian officials have argued that filling is a natural part of the dam’s construction process and cannot be stopped.

The UN Security Council met earlier this month to discuss the project, although Ethiopia later slammed the session as an “unhelpful” distraction from the AU-led process.

Egypt claims a historic right to the Nile dating from a 1929 treaty that gave it veto power over construction projects along the river.

ECOWAS Citizens Protest New Immigration Law In CAR

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July 21, 2021

Nationals of West African states have staged a protest in the Central African Republic (CAR) capital, Bangui to denounce the new fees for acquiring residence permits.

The protestors rallied outside the Nigerian embassy in Bangui where they criticized the charges as exorbitant and discriminatory.

Central African Republic’s parliament recently approved changes to the immigration law, which prescribes 100,000 Francs or $110 as fees for residence cards for citizens of the ECOWAS bloc and 50,000 Francs or $55 for nationals of Central African states.

Mark John, a protester said they were being forced to pay 650,000 ($708), which is why all the ECOWAS countries are gathered this morning at the Nigerian Embassy to voice their anger over what is happening in CAR.

There’s been no word from the country’s authorities on the allegations.

Central African Republic is home to many foreigners from West Africa who mostly work in the business and retail sectors. But with order returning, the country is keen to regularize immigration.

Authorities have previously accused some migrants of being mercenary fighters.

Tokyo 2020 – Missing Ugandan Athlete In Tokyo Found By Police

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July 20, 2021

The Ugandan weightlifter missing since Friday from a training camp in Japan has been found “safe and sound”, according to the Japanese police.

Julius Ssekitoleko had disappeared after failing to appear for a Covid-19 test.

An official of the Osaka police on Tuesday told reporters that the man was found in the prefecture of Mie without any injury and without any criminal involvement.

The official said he was found in a house belonging to people connected to him, adding that the sportsman had offered “no resistance and that they were still questioning him about his motives.

The 20-year-old athlete had disappeared from the hotel in Izumisano, near Osaka (west) where he was staying with his group, announced the authorities of this municipality which hosts their base camp.

Julius Ssekitoleko, who recently won the bronze medal at the African Weightlifting Championships, was on a waiting list for the Olympics but recently lost all hope of participating due to Olympic quotas.

He was expected to return to his country soon and was part of the first group of nine Ugandan athletes, coaches and managers who arrived in Japan in mid-June.

Police said Tuesday that the man had traveled to Nagoya and then to Gifu Prefecture, before heading south to Mie.

Drastic restrictions have been planned in Japan for all participants in the Tokyo Olympics (July 23-August 8), while the reported health crisis worsens in the country.

The athletes must be tested daily and their movements are extremely restricted, limited between their accommodations, their training centers and their competition places.

Anthony Joshua Versus Oleksandr Usyk Confirmed For Tottenham On 25 September

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July 20, 2021

Joshua had been poised to fight Tyson Fury, which would have seen all four heavyweight titles on the line for the first time

Anthony Joshua’s world heavyweight title defence against Oleksandr Usyk will take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 25 September.

Joshua, 31, will risk his IBF, WBA and WBO belts against the Ukrainian, who is his mandatory challenger.

Usyk, 34, has not fought for a title as a heavyweight but held all four belts a division lower at cruiserweight.

Joshua was ordered to defend his WBO title after the collapse of his bout with fellow Briton Tyson Fury.

“We are two Olympic gold medallists who have fought our way to the top and never avoided challenges,” Joshua said.

“The venue is exceptional, the atmosphere will be electric, I’m honoured to be the first person to fight in such an awe-inspiring venue. The stage is set and I am ready to handle business.”

Despite months of negotiations, a fight between Joshua and WBC world champion Fury for all four belts failed to materialise.

Joshua called Fury “a fraud” after their proposed meeting on 14 August in Saudi Arabia was called off.

Fury will face American Deontay Wilder, who he defeated to become a two-time world heavyweight champion in his most recent bout in February 2020, for a third time in Las Vegas on 24 July.

Former undisputed world cruiserweight champion Usyk has 18 wins from 18 bouts.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has a capacity of over 60,000, although vaccination proof may be required to attend sports events of about 20,000 or more capacity by the end of September.

UK Demands Answers On Nigerian Separatist’s Arrest

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July 20, 2021

The United Kingdom has asked Nigeria to explain where and how a Nigerian separatist leader, who holds British citizenship, was arrested.

Nnamdi Kanu – the leader of the group Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) – was on the run outside Nigeria for four years until he was brought to court in the capital Abuja last month to face several charges including treason.

His lawyer says he was detained and mistreated in Kenya before being extradited.

A junior minister in Britain’s Foreign Office, Tariq Ahmad, said the UK government was seeking clarification from the Nigerian government about the circumstances of Kanu’s arrest and detention.

Meanwhile, colleagues of a Yoruba separatist leader – known as Sunday Igboho – say he has been arrested in neighbouring Benin.

Peru Elections: Pedro Castillo Declared President

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July 20, 2021

Former school teacher Pedro Castillo has won the disputed election in Peru and will become the country’s next president, election officials said.

The presidential vote, which had taken place on June 6, had been held up by claims of election fraud by his right-wing rival Keiko Fujimori.

Castillo had led unofficially by a narrow margin of 44,000 votes. The Organization of American States, the European Union, Canada, Britain and the US State Department had all maintained that the elections were clean.

But Fujimori, the daughter of imprisoned former President Alberto Fujimori, challenged the count.

On Monday, however, she said she was going to recognize the official results because it was mandated by “the law and the constitution that I have sworn to defend.” At the same time, she restated her claim that thousands of votes have been stolen and urged her supporters to continue protests.

She added the truth was “going to come out anyway.”

This is Fujimori’s third attempt to claim Peru’s highest office. The 46-year-old has been hounded by corruption charges over her two earlier presidential bids. She now faces an imminent graft trial that would otherwise be delayed until after her presidential term.

With the outcome of the election in the balance, people took to the streets to support their candidates

The National Jury of Elections (JNE), the official election body, rejected the final five appeals presented by Fujimori’s Popular Force party last week.

Castillo is expected to take office next week for a five-year term.

“I ask that Keiko Fujimori not place barriers in the way, so that we may move forward and make this a government of all Peruvians,” he said.

Peru has been rocked by protests for over a month as ardent supporters of both camps took to the streets and electoral officials delayed on naming the winner.

The 51-year-old Castillo, born to illiterate peasants in rural Peru, saw enthusiastic support from his rural base. Hundreds of his voters came from the countryside to the capital, Lima, to camp outside the office of the JNE last month.

Similarly, Fujimori was endorsed by members of right and center-right parties and retired military personnel. During their marches, her supporters had held up banners that read “no to communism,” in reference to Castillo’s leftist ideas.

Zimbabwean President Mnangagwa Government Buys Israel-Made Spy Software

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