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Madagascar suspend French coach who plotted downfall of Nigeria

Sports

Henry Williams

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April 30, 2021

Madagascar suspend French coach who plotted downfall of Nigeria

Madagascar have suspended Nicolas Dupuis, the French coach who plotted a stunning victory over Nigeria when they debuted in the Africa Cup of Nations two years ago.

A national football federation statement said the 53-year-old “is suspended until further notice and will not be paid during the period of suspension”.

France-born former Paris Saint-Germain captain Eric Rabesandratana has been named caretaker coach as Madagascar prepare for 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Benin and Tanzania in June.

The statement accused Dupuis of “engagement with several other entities without prior authorisation from the federation… and interference in the selection process of the national team equipment supplier”.

Dupuis sprang to international prominence by guiding minnows Madagascar to victories over Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo at the 2019 Cup of Nations before losing to Tunisia in the quarter-finals.

Madagascar needed a victory over Niger last month to secure a second successive appearance at the Cup of Nations, but could only draw 0-0 at home and missed out.

Boundless Joy As Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Welcomes First Grandchild

Religion

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April 30, 2021

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Boundless Joy As Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Welcomes First Grandchild

It was just 2018, when Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, president of Loveworld Inc. aka Christ Embassy, gave his daughter, Carissa Sharon Frimpong, away in marriage in a grand royal wedding ceremony.

April 29, 2021, was a day of remarkable joy for the man of God, who announced the good news of becoming a grandfather, as Carissa and her husband, Phillip, welcomed a new baby to the world.

Pastor chris took to kingsChat, to express his gratitude to God, on the new addition to the family.

In his words:

“So thrilled with boundless joy to welcome my new baby grand daughter, Arielle Rachelle-Marise. We are full of praise to the Lord for His priceless gift and grace through Sharon & Phil, parents of the newborn. Glory to God”

Pictures of baby “Arielle Rachelle-Marise” have been flooding social media and congratulatory messages pouring in for the revered man of God, Pastor Chris, on becoming a grandfather.

Sweden’s King Marks 75th Birthday Without Lavish Flair Of Royal Anniversary

Angel Gimalo

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April 30, 2021

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Sweden’s King Marks 75th Birthday Without Lavish Flair Of Royal Anniversary

Sweden’s King Carl XVI celebrated his 75th birthday on Friday, but due to the pandemic celebrations were kept to a minimum, without the lavish flair of a royal anniversary.

In contrast to the monarch’s 70th birthday when people lined the streets of Stockholm to fete him, the Swedish Royal Court said celebrations would be “limited” because of the pandemic.

Instead of playing host to royals from other countries, smaller receptions were planned for the the morning with Prime Minister Stefan Lofven and other senior politicians, and one with representatives from the Swedish military in the afternoon.

His birthday comes after his first appearance on a podcast this week, in which he spoke about how he enjoyed his position, even if the stress of being in the public eye was sometimes difficult.

“It is very tough, it’s draining in my opinion. But I’m not the only one. Any leader, of a company or politician, who shoulders responsibility, ought to feel the same,” the king said.

Born on April 30, 1946, Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus Bernadotte was only nine months old when his father, Prince Gustaf Adolf, was killed in a plane crash in Denmark.

He assumed the throne in 1973 following the death of his grandfather, the long-reigning Gustaf VI Adolf.

The king for many years struggled to shed his image as a car-mad playboy after being thrust onto the throne at age 27, making him at the time the youngest monarch in the world.

In December, the king — who has largely ceremonial powers and does not typically comment on political issues — stoked controversy by saying that Sweden had “failed” to save lives during the pandemic.

Gospel Music Artiste CSO Welcomes First Child With Husband

Entertainment

Koko Lawrence

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April 30, 2021

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Gospel Music Artiste CSO Welcomes First Child With Husband

Gospel music artiste and Loveworld’s finest Carissa Sharon frimpong popularly known as CSO has given birth to her first child and daughter- Arielle Rachelle-Marise.

The Loveworld Music and Arts International Award (LIMAA) winner tied the knot with husband, Phillip frimpong in October 2018.

CSO’s father who is the President of Loveworld Inc. aka Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, took to kingsChat to express his joy and share a photo of his granddaughter.

In his words

“So thrilled with boundless joy to welcome my new baby grand daughter, Arielle Rachelle-Marise. We are full of praise to the Lord for His priceless gift and grace through Sharon & Phil, parents of the newborn. Glory to God”

CSO’s husband, Phillip, also went on social media to share a picture, with the words- “Arielle Rachelle-Marise Frimpong”.

The couple are clearly elated with congratulatory messages flooding social media on their new bundle of joy.

Congratulations to the couple!!!

Zimbabwe Corruption Exposing Journalist Wins Case Against The State

Africa

Zoe Maven

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April 30, 2021

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Zimbabwe Corruption Exposing Journalist Wins Case Against The State

A court in Zimbabwe has dropped a charge against award-winning journalist and government critic Hopewell Chin’ono, who had been accused in January of tweeting falsehoods about alleged police violence.

Chin’ono, has been detained three times since he backed banned anti-government protests on social media in July, when he was first arrested and charged with inciting public violence.

Two tweets landed him back in jail for allegedly obstructing justice in November and then publishing false information in January.

However, The High Court of Zimbabwe dismissed the latter charge on Wednesday, declaring it had no legal basis.

Chin’ono’s lawyers had argued their client had been charged under a section of the criminal code that had been struck down by the Supreme Court in 2014.

The 50-year old journalist was last jailed for posting a video he claimed showed a police officer beating a baby to death — an account that was vehemently denied.

In November, Chin’ono was arrested for posting a Tweet ahead of a judicial decision. He is facing trial for alleged obstruction of justice in that case.

He is freed on bail and banned from using his Twitter account to post anything that might incite the public to revolt against the government.

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa is increasingly under fire for thwarting dissent since he took over from long-time leader Robert Mugabe in November 2017.

Europeans killed in Burkina Faso attack repatriated

Zoe Maven

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April 30, 2021

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Europeans killed in Burkina Faso attack repatriated

The bodies of two Spanish journalists and an Irish wildlife activist who were killed during an anti-poaching patrol in Burkina Faso have been repatriated aboard a military plane.

Journalists David Beriain and Roberto Fraile were accompanying Rory Young, head of the Chengeta Wildlife group, in the Arly National Park on Monday when they were attacked.

The three Europeans were initially reported missing and the subjects of a major search, but the Burkina authorities said Tuesday they had been “executed by terrorists.

An Airbus 310 jet belonging to the Spanish air force touched down shortly after midnight Friday in the capital Ouagadougou then took off again two hours later with the three bodies on board, according to AFP journalists.

They arrived at the airport in large wooden coffins each bearing the name of the victims and were taken directly onto the tarmac before being placed in the plane under the supervision of Spain’s consul to Burkina Faso.

Meanwhile, Spain’s foreign minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya has demanded that the Burkina Faso authorities investigate the events, and identify those responsible so they can be brought to justice.

Addressing a press conference, Gonzalez Laya added that terrible events like this should not be forgotten or go unpunished. The minister said Spain and Burkina Faso agreed to continue the investigation.

Despite an insurgency claiming the attack, the circumstances of their deaths are unknown.

French Prime Minister Jean Castex Leads Poignant Ceremony For Stephanie Monferme

Europe

Angel Gimalo

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April 30, 2021

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French Prime Minister Jean Castex Leads Poignant Ceremony For Stephanie Monferme

Hundreds of people gathered in a quiet town outside Paris on Friday to pay hommage to a police employee targeted in the latest jihadist terror attack to strike France.

Prime Minister Jean Castex led a poignant ceremony for Stephanie Monferme, who was posthumously awarded the Legion of Honour in Rambouillet, where she was stabbed to death at a police station on April 23.

“She was at home everywhere here, where everyone knew her by her first name,” Castex said before placing France’s highest civilian award on a royal blue cushion in a front of a black-and-white photo of the victim.

After a minute of silence under grey skies, a military band played La Marseillaise, the national anthem.

“Fanaticism is a monster that pretends to be the child of religion,” Castex said, citing Voltaire and calling Monferme’s death “an unacceptable wound for the nation”.

“Your colleague was murdered because she served her country,” he added, addressing police.

Her attacker, a 36-year-old Tunisian man identified as Jamel Gorchene, was shot and killed by an officer at the Rambouillet police station. He had no police record and was unknown to intelligence services.

Witnesses say he shouted “Allahu Akbar” (God is Greatest) as he struck, and investigators later found he had watched jihadist videos on his phone moments before the attack.

The government this week unveiled a new anti-terror law aimed at helping authorities identify potential Islamist attackers, amid wider concerns about security ahead of next year’s presidential vote.

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who has assailed President Emmanuel Macron with claims he has not done enough to halt immigration, was among politicians of all stripes who attended the ceremony.

Macron was not present but attended a private funeral for Monferme on Thursday.

More than 250 people have been killed in jihadist terror attacks on French soil since 2015, with security forces often targeted.

Apple Rejects EU Accusations In App Store Case

Angel Gimalo

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April 30, 2021

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Apple Rejects EU Accusations In App Store Case

Apple on Friday firmly rejected accusations by EU regulators that it was illegally using its App Store to squeeze out music streaming rivals, in a case brought by Swedish giant Spotify.

Spotify wants “all the benefits of the App Store but don’t think they should have to pay anything,” an Apple spokesperson said, adding that the EU’s case was “the opposite of fair competition.”

Chad Military In Fresh Clashes With Rebels

Africa

Zoe Maven

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April 30, 2021

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Chad Military In Fresh Clashes With Rebels

Government troops have clashed with rebels in a region of western Chad where the late president Idriss Deby was killed earlier this month, to according military officials.

Junta spokesman General Azem Bermandoa Agouna told Newsmen that fighting is continuing in Kanem and that they would have to continue to fight in order not to be destabilized.

The fighting in the desert region of Kanem, near Chad’s border with Niger, pits Libya-based rebels against forces loyal to a new military junta led by Deby’s son.

For now, the fighting against the Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT), drawn mainly from the Goran ethnic group, is going on about 300 kilometres north of the capital N’Djamena.

The military said late Thursday that an MI24 helicopter had crashed due to a technical fault but did not specify if there were casualties but the rebels on the other hand said they had destroyed it.

The rebels have threatened to march on N’Djamena, where a team from the African Union arrived Thursday to assess the situation and examine ways of a speedy return to democratic rule.

Meanwhile, Prosecutors said Thursday that they were interviewing over 700 people arrested at demonstrations on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Credit Suisse New Chairman Vows To Tackle Risks

Business

Angel Gimalo

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April 30, 2021

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Credit Suisse New Chairman Vows To Tackle Risks

Credit Suisse’s new chairman pledged Friday to tackle risk at the bank as a board member was pushed out following major losses linked to the collapses of two financial firms.

Switzerland’s second largest bank has been under pressure from shareholder groups to clean up its act after being hit hard by bankruptcies at Archegos, a US hedge fund, and British financial firm Greensill.

“The current and potential risks of Credit Suisse need to be a matter of immediate and close scrutiny,” Antonio Horta-Osorio, the former chief of British bank Lloyds, told the Swiss bank’s general assembly.

“I firmly believe that any banker should be at heart a risk manager,” he said shortly after receiving 96.45-percent backing to replace long-time chairman Urs Rohner.

Shockwaves rippled through global financial markets and institutions last month when then little-known Archegos sold at least $20 billion in stocks as it sought to cover obligations to its lenders.

Losses at leading global banks have jumped past $10 billion, with Credit Suisse accounting for around half of the damage.

Credit Suisse had also invested heavily in Greensill, a firm specialised in short-term corporate loans via a complex and opaque business model, and was forced to suspend four funds after the firm declared insolvency last month.