Year: 2018

Venezuela President Maduro ‘survives drone attack’

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro says he has survived an assassination attempt involving explosive drones.

Mr Maduro was speaking at a military event in Caracas when the alleged attack occurred.

Live footage of Mr Maduro's speech shows the president suddenly looking upwards - startled - and dozens of soldiers running away.

Mr Maduro has blamed Colombia for the attack - something denied by Bogota as a "baseless" accusation.

Seven soldiers were injured, and several people were later arrested, the Venezuelan authorities said.

What is known about the alleged attack?
The incident happened when Mr Maduro was speaking at the event to mark the 81st anniversary of the national army.


Two drones loaded with explosives went off near the president's stand, Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez said.

Mr Maduro later said in a national address: "A flying object exploded near me, a big explosion. Seconds later there was a second explosion."

Photos on social media showed bodyguards protecting Mr Maduro with bulletproof shields after the alleged attack.

Mr Maduro accused neighbouring Colombia and elements within the US of instigating "a right-wing plot" to kill him.

He added that he had "no doubt" Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos was "behind this attack".

The Venezuelan leader, who has previously accused the US of plotting against him, provided no evidence to back his claim.

The Colombian government has denied any involvement, saying there is "no basis" to Mr Maduro's allegations.

By contrast, Mr Rodriguez accused Venezuela's right-wing opposition of carrying out the attack.

"After losing the vote, they failed again," Mr Rodriguez said.

He was referring to May's presidential elections, where Mr Maduro was re-elected for another six-year term.

Maduro wins second term amid claims of vote rigging
However, Hasler Inglesias, a youth leader with the opposition Voluntad Popular Party, told the BBC: "We didn't know what was happening. It's hard to believe that the opposition is going to make an attempt when they have never made an attempt in this way in 20 years."

Meanwhile, a little-known group called Soldiers in T-shirts said on social media that it was behind the alleged attack.

It said it had planned to fly two explosives-laden drones at Mr Maduro, but they were shot down by the military.

The claim was not backed up by any evidence, and the group did not respond to media requests for comment.

To add further to the confusion, firefighters at the scene disputed the government's version of events, the Associated Press reports.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, three of them said the incident was actually a gas tank explosion inside an apartment, but did not provide further details, the news agency says.

Has anything similar happened before?
In June 2017, a helicopter attacked and dropped grenades on Venezuela's Supreme Court.

Oscar Pérez, a rogue elite helicopter pilot, claimed he carried out the helicopter attack and called on Venezuelans to rise up against the government of President Maduro.

He was killed by police in a siege near Caracas in January.

Who is President Maduro?
Mr Maduro has managed to split opinion almost as much as his predecessor in office, Hugo Chávez.

Since assuming office in 2013, Mr Maduro's administration has drawn widespread condemnation from a string of nations worldwide for undermining democracy and violating human rights in his country.

His opponents paint him as a ruthless despot who detains his political rivals on overly harsh charges pressed by a judiciary under his party's control, while his followers say he is protecting the country from another coup.

His re-election in May came amid a deep economic crisis which has been driving hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans from the oil-rich country.

However, there is still a loyal core of people who support Mr Maduro and his United Socialist Party (PSUV), saying Venezuela's problems are caused not by the government but by imperialist forces such as the US.

Credit: The BBC

Iran condemns US ‘psychological warfare’

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has hit out at the United States over its reinstatement of economic sanctions.

He described the measures, which came into effect overnight, as "psychological warfare" which aimed to "sow division among Iranians".

 

The sanctions take aim at various sectors, with further punitive action planned against Iran's oil trade.

The European Union has spoken out against the measures, vowing to protect firms doing "legitimate business".

It follows the US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also known as the Iran nuclear deal, earlier this year.

The deal, negotiated during the presidency of Barack Obama, saw Iran limit its controversial nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.


Mr Trump says the deal is "one-sided" and he believes renewed economic pressure will force Iran to agree to a new deal and end its "malign" activities.

What are the sanctions?

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order which brought sanctions back into place at 00:01 EDT (04:01 GMT) on Tuesday. They target:

  • The purchase or acquisition of US banknotes by Iran's government
  • Iran's trade in gold and other precious metals
  • Graphite, aluminium, steel, coal, and software used in industrial processes
  • Transactions related to the Iranian rial currency
  • Activities relating to Iran's issuance of sovereign debt
  • Iran's automotive sector

A second phase is planned to come back into effect on 5 November which will have implications for Iran's energy and shipping sectors, petroleum trading and transactions by foreign financial institutions with the Central Bank of Iran.

Why is the US implementing them?

The imposing of sanctions follows Mr Trump's withdrawal from the 2015 deal earlier this year.

Mr Trump had long spoken out against the agreement, labelling it "disastrous" and the "worst deal I've ever seen".

Only the US has withdrawn, with other signatories remaining committed to the original agreement. But Iran's currency has lost almost half of its value since, squeezing the economy.

Mr Trump says Iran faces a choice to "either change its threatening, destabilizing behaviour and reintegrate with the global economy, or continue down a path of economic isolation".

"I remain open to reaching a more comprehensive deal that addresses the full range of the regime's malign activities, including its ballistic missile program and its support for terrorism," Mr Trump said on Monday.

What has the reaction been?

Mr Rouhani rebuked Mr Trump's decision to reinstate sanctions, saying the US government had "turned their back on diplomacy" with the action.

"They want to launch psychological warfare against the Iranian nation." Mr Rouhani said. "Negotiations with sanctions doesn't make sense."

"We are always in favour of diplomacy and talks... but talks need honesty."

He also accused the Trump administration of using Iran as domestic political leverage ahead of November's midterm elections in the United States.

The foreign ministers of Germany, the UK and France released a statement on Monday that said the nuclear deal remained "crucial" to global security.

They also unveiled a "blocking statute" which is intended to protect European firms doing business with Iran despite the new US sanctions.

The US had previously rejected calls to offer exemptions, with Mr Trump vowing "severe consequences" against firms and individuals who continued to trade with Iran.

An anonymous senior official told US media that the administration was "not particularly concerned" by EU protection efforts.

Saudi Arabia freezes Canada trade ties, recalls envoy

Saudi Arabia has said it is freezing all new trade and investment with Canada over its "interference" in the Gulf Kingdom's internal affairs.

In a series of tweets, the Saudi foreign ministry said it was expelling the Canadian ambassador and recalling its own envoy in Canada.

 

The move comes after Canada said it was "gravely concerned" about the arrest of several human rights activists.

Among those arrested was Saudi-American women's rights campaigner Samar Badawi.

Ms Badawi had been calling for an end to Saudi Arabia's male guardianship system.

What did Saudi Arabia say?


The foreign ministry said it "will not accept any form of interfering" in its internal affairs.

It referred to last week's statement by the Canadian foreign ministry, which urged Riyadh to "immediately release" civil society and women's rights activists.

The Saudi ministry described Canada's position as "an attack" on the kingdom, saying it would now:

  • Freeze all new trade and investment transactions between the two countries
  • Consider the Canadian ambassador persona non grata and order the envoy to leave within 24 hours
  • Recall the Saudi envoy in Canada
  • Reserve the right to take further action

Canada's government has so far made no public comments on Saudi Arabia's diplomatic measures.

The arrests are at odds with the progressive image the government has projected this year under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

He drew widespread praise last year when they announced that the decades-old ban on women driving would end on 24 June.

Saudi women's rights activists, including those who have been imprisoned for defying the ban, had celebrated the decision.

But they also vowed to continue campaigning for the end of other laws they consider discriminatory.

Women must adhere to a strict dress code, be separated from unrelated men, and be accompanied by or receive written permission from a male guardian - usually a father, husband or brother - if they want to travel, work or access healthcare.

The Saudi crown prince has also spearheaded a sweeping anti-corruption drive which resulted in dozens of princes, government ministers and businessmen being detained in November and generated an estimated $107bn ($80bn) in settlements.

Credit: BBC

Call for a ban on people eating dog meat in the UK

UK law says that you can't buy or sell dog meat, but if you humanely kill a dog you own, you can eat it.

But there have been calls to make it illegal, including from SNP MP Dr Lisa Cameron who believes the public would be "right behind legislation calling for a ban".

 

A spokesman for the prime minister says the UK has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world and "we wish to maintain that".

Dr Cameron is the chair of the All-party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group.

She told Newsbeat she wants a law banning eating dog meat to be passed quickly, adding: "I don't imagine that there will be any party in parliament which would stand against that."

A ban is also backed by Foreign Office minister and Conservative MP Sir Alan Duncan who told the Sun it is "absolutely right".


Dr Cameron says there has been a rise in the consumption of dog meat in the UK, but two animal welfare organisations that Newsbeat spoke to say that they don't have evidence for this.

The World Dog Alliance says it doesn't know if there are people in the UK who eat dog meat - but still wants it to be made illegal.

Humane Society International told Newsbeat it has "never come across any evidence to suggest that dog meat is being consumed in the UK".

Some countries in Asia eat dogs, and it is also said to happen in Switzerland, although it isn't widespread.

Animal organisations claim that some dogs which are eaten in other countries are stolen pets, are kept in horrible conditions and are tortured before they're killed.

Kike Yuen is project executive at the World Dog Alliance, based in Hong Kong, which campaigns to promote laws on banning dog meat consumption around the world.

The organisation has been lobbying for a similar law in the US. There have been few reported cases of people eating dog in the country.

Proposals for a law banning eating dog meat in America is currently working its way through US Congress.

"The reason why we did the legislation in the United States is because we found that there are some Asian immigrants eating dogs there," Kike told Newsbeat.

He adds: "We are worried that it is going to happen in the UK."
Humane Society International runs campaigns to end the dog meat trade in countries including Indonesia, China and South Korea.

Spokesperson Wendy Higgins says she "wouldn't want anyone to think that dog meat eating is rife in the UK or that it has anything to do with the number of people that we have living in this country from Asia".

She added: "Most people across Asia are united in wanting to see an end to the dog meat trade and I don't see numbers of people from Asia in the United Kingdom having any impact on that whatsoever."

Despite there being no evidence that people in the UK eat dogs, Dr Cameron said "the government has to take action to nip it in the bud".

She added: "I think it's a concern if it is happening at all, no matter where it is happening. I'm not aware that it's linked with any particular groups in terms of research outcome."

Theresa May's official spokesman said: "The commercial trade in dog meat in the UK is illegal, but we will look closely at the decision taken in the US.

"Britain is a nation of animal lovers and we continue to have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world.

"We wish to maintain that."

 

Zimbabwe police arrest top opposition leader

A senior member of Zimbabwe's opposition MDC Alliance, Tendai Biti, has been arrested at the border with Zambia, his lawyer is quoted as saying.

Police had issued a search warrant for Mr Biti, accusing him of "unlawfully" announcing that his party's leader, Nelson Chamisa, won last Monday's presidential election.

He is also accused of inciting the violence when MDC Alliance supporters clashed with security forces two days later, leaving six people dead.

His lawyer, Nqobizitha Mlilo, told the AFP news agency that Mr Biti had been heading to Zambia to seek asylum.

Mr Biti was the minister of finance in a unity government that was formed after disputed elections in 2008 - and is credited with helping stabilise the economy after years of hyperinflation.

The election was won by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, but the opposition says the result was rigged.


 

Wife stages own kidnap to defraud husband

A 45-year-old housewife, Hadijat Kabir, arrested by police in Lagos for allegedly faking her kidnap and that of her 18-year-old daughter to defraud her husband of N15 million (about $42,000), claimed she committed the act because her husband took a second wife and abandoned them.

According to Hadijat Kabir, who was paraded alongside other notorious suspects at the state police command, Ikeja, she wasn’t kidnapped but hid herself and daughter so the husband would think that they were kidnapped.

“I did not ask for N15 million; I only asked for N500,000. I did that because I have a family. My parents are alive and I have responsibilities. Each time my parents called that they needed help, I could not assist them, because I did not have the means despite the fact that my husband is wealthy.

“He has refused to live up to his responsibilities because he married another wife. He abandoned our children, even when he knows that one of our daughters is mentally challenged.

“My husband keeps building houses everywhere in Lagos and yet anytime I requested for money, he shouts that he does not have money. If he does not have, can’t he at least tell me gently instead of shouting at me each time I make financial request?

“We have been married for 27 years, yet there is nothing he has done for me despite the fact that I struggled with him when he had nothing. I was with him when he established his company and because of the company that is why my daughter is not alright. I did not use my daughter for ritual. I don’t want to harm my daughter.


“My daughter who is mentally challenged had convulsion when she was a baby and it affected her. She is 18 years old. I am from Ibadan. I don’t know any of the other suspects.”

‘Kidnap,’ ‘rescue’
It was learned that on July 2, Alhaji Kabir Muraino reported to the Police that his wife Hadijat Kabir and his daughter Hamidat Kemi, who is of unsound mind, were kidnapped on their way to Psychiatric Hospital, Oshodi, Lagos.

He said the kidnappers were demanding N15 million before the hostages would be released. Based on this, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, directed the Anti-Kidnapping Squad to ensure speedy rescue of the hostages and arrest the suspects.

The operatives mobilised to Ado-Odo, Ogun State, and invaded the camp of the kidnappers. The “hostages” were rescued and two suspects, Ahmed Kudos and Hadijat Rufai, were arrested while the rest fled the scene.

However, trouble started when one of the hostages, Hadijat Kabir, confessed that she planned her kidnap with the suspects to defraud her husband.

She named Wasiu Rufai a.k.a Ojulyawodon (her native doctor), Luqmon Ahmed and Jossy, now at large, as parties in the kidnap plot.

How she carried out plot—Husband
Denying his wife’s claim about his wealth, Alhaji Muraino said: “I am really surprised at what is happening. I don’t have 10 houses. The problem is she is never satisfied. I have given her money several times to start business with, but she has never raised any meaningful thing from it.

“So many times, she has stolen my money. The last was N200,000. On Thursday she told me that she wanted to take our daughter, who is physically challenged, to a hospital at Oshodi for treatment.

“I was surprised about the sudden demand, since I have been spending on medication for the child. But I still gave her some money. Later that morning, I called her three times, but she was not reachable.

“Then by 2p.m., I received a call from her number, but the voice was strange. The stranger said my wife and child had been kidnapped, and that I must pay N15 million for their release.

“My wife also spoke to me in tears, that I should release the money to them. After much plea, they agreed to collect N1.7 million. But by then, I had reported the matter to the Police. So the Police trailed them. But I paid nothing, before the Police apprehended them."

Double-intake system of SHS will fail — MP

The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Shai-Osudoku Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, Mrs Linda Akweley Obenewaa Ocloo, has said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government was going to seriously disappoint and disturb Ghanaians with the intended introduction of the double-intake system of the free senior high school (SHS) programme.

She asked: “What preparations at all has the government made for the introduction of the new programme which is going to disturb the already faulty start of the free SHS since last academic year?”

The MP said the NPP government had nothing good to offer in education to the country but rather they were only rushing the programme just to fulfil the manifesto promise of their party and not what would benefit the Ghanaian populace.

She noted that what was very important for the government to do in the interest of the whole country was to complete all the infrastructural projects started all over the country by the Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.

According to her, even the programme which was started last year was done in a rush, hence the serious congestions in the various SHSs because the schools lacked infrastructure to accommodate the large intake of 90,000 students the previous year, asking: “How are we going to contain 180,000? We are going from frying pan to fire.”

Choirs’ Union


The lawmaker made the remarks when she addressed the Dangme–Tongu Presbytery Choirs’ Union at its 45th anniversary conference held at Mount Zion Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana at Dodowa last Sunday.

The four–day programme was on the theme: “Let the earth hear the voices that proclaim God’s message.”

The Dangme-Tongu Presbytery, with its headquarters at Odumase-Krobo, is made up of 16 districts and 46 choirs.

Take a second look

Mrs Ocloo said the double-intake system of the SHS that the government intended rolling out in September should be evaluated in order not to destroy the future of the youth who were the hope of the country.

According to the MP, there was nothing concrete in terms of financial preparation for the double-intake system in the mid-year review budget that the Finance Minister presented to Parliament recently. She asked: “Where will the government get the money for the programme when the budget has not captured it?’’

She also suggested to the government to implement its promise of one million dollar per constituency as was stated in the party’s manifesto.

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Shai–Osudoku, Mr Daniel Akufo, in his remarks earlier at the opening of the conference urged parents and guardians to take advantage of the double-intake system of the free SHS programme to educate their children.

The Dangme-Tongu Presbytery Chairperson, Rev. Samuel Atteh Odjelua, in his sermon entreated members of the choirs’ union to be one another’s keeper.

62 vetted to contest Eastern Region NDC regional election

Sixty-two (62) candidates have been vetted to contest for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Eastern Regional executive elections.

A total of 68 people initially picked forms to contest for the over 15 positions however, only 62 were able to file as at the close of nominations and had been vetted to contest for positions at the upcoming regional delegates congress of the party.

 

In the chairmanship race, four candidates including; the incumbent regional chairman, Bismark Tawiah Boateng, Basil Ahiable, Alhaji Sumaila Mahama and John Owusu Amankra are contesting.

The incumbent secretary, Mark-Oliver Kevor face strong competition from Baba Jamal Konneh, the Regional Communication Director, while the position of Deputy Secretary position is being contested by Sawodji Kwame Stephen and Cudjoe Adukpo.

Ms Shirley Naana Osei-Ampem, the 2016 NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Lower West Akim Constituency is contesting Evelyn Korang the incumbent Women’s Organiser for her position, while the former District Chief Executive of Akyemansa District, Tom Budu Kenneth is contesting with Hackman Kabore for the position of Regional Organiser.

The vice chairman position is being contested by nine people, while the deputy organiser has four candidates.


Five candidates are contesting for the treasurer position, while four candidates are contesting for the deputy treasurer position.

The communication and deputy communication positions have three and five candidates contesting respectively and the deputy women’s organizer position has four candidates contesting.

The youth organizer position has three people contesting and seven others contesting for the deputy youth organiser and six candidates are vying for the Zongo caucus position.

7 New MCEs sworn into office in Greater Accra

Seven out of the 10 nominated Municipal Chief Executives(MCEs) in the newly created assemblies in the Greater Accra Region have been sworn into office and charged to live up to the responsibilities, trust and the confidence reposed in them by their people.

The MCEs are to serve the people in the various communities within their areas of jurisdiction to improve on their general living conditions.

Ms Gertrude Ankrah, representing the Ga North Municipal Assembly, Mr Aminu Mohammed Zakari for Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly, and Mrs Salma M.S. Adams for the Ayawaso East Municipal Assembly, were sworn into office on Tuesday.

Others are Mr Kofi Ofori for the Ablekuma North Municipal Assembly, Mr George Cyril Bray for the Ablekuma West Municipal Assembly, Mr Boye Laryea for the Okaikoi North Municipal Assembly, and Mrs Adwoa Amoako for the Tema West Municipal Assembly.

Effective local governance

Swearing in the MCEs, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Ishmael Ashitey, urged the MCEs to promote effective and efficient local government administration and participatory democracy at the local level.


"As the chief executive of the assembly, you have become part of the local governance system. As such you have become a legislator, planner and manager of human and natural resources of your municipality. You have it as a core duty to deepen our democratic credentials, promote local economic development and at the same time promote effective and efficient local government administration and participatory democracy at the local level," he said.

Legislative instruments

Mr Ashitey implored the MCEs to, as a matter of urgency, acquaint themselves with the requisite legislative instruments governing the performance of their duties.

Mr Ashitey also made the MCEs aware that their continuous stay in office to a large extent would depend on their performance and the extent to which they adhered to the rules and regulations governing the conduct of the business of the assembly.

Response

For his part, the MCE for Okaikoi North Municipal Assembly, Mr Boye Laryea, on behalf of the team assured the minister  of their readiness to take up their task and  live up to their mandate.

"We assure you that we are ready and  will not disgrace you and our party. We will ensure that all specified  rules and regulations are adhered to," he added.

Kweku Ricketts Hagan writes to join NDC flagbearer race

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Cape Coast South, George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, has written to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) General Secretary, officially informing the opposition political party of his intention to join the flagbearer race.

The legislator in December 2017 informed his colleague Minority Members of Parliament of his interest to become president on the ticket of the NDC.

 

The General Secretary of the NDC, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia last week announced the readiness of the party to allow flagbearer hopefuls to begin their campaign, but indicated that, anybody interested in the race should first inform the national executives for the permission to start campaign.

Confirming his intention and letter to the NDC in a radio interview on Accra based Citi FM Friday evening, Mr Ricketts Hagan said: “We went into an election in 2016 and lost…we have come back to the drawing board to strengthen ourselves with new ideas, with new vision and that is what I believe I will be able to offer my ideas to the party going forward and that is the reason why I have put my heart in the ring among others.”

Mr Ricketts Hagan said he sees himself as a better candidate to lead the NDC into the future.

Informing his colleague MPs in December last year, about his desire to lead the NDC towards Election 2020, Mr Ricketts Hagan said: "I have taken almost one year, since we lost the elections to do some retrospection of what has gone wrong with our dear party and the possibilities for the future, and how we can reset and reposition our party strongly and strategically to stand a chance of winning power again."


"I have also done my own introspection and soul searching, and my readiness to lead our great party. And I can confidently say to you that I am ready to lead our great party to victory, if I am given the opportunity,’’ he said.