FOR THE RECORDS: Mugabe's Venom Won't Fix Nation –Zimbabwe Independent

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe blames xenophobic violence in South Africa on white people and the legacy of colonialism. Photo: Reuters / Philimon Bulawayo

OPINION

President Robert Mugabe's remarks in Botswana this week that South Africa needs "another liberation" to address structural economic inequalities and empower its black citizens represents a profound irony that cannot escape scrutiny.

Speaking without any sense of irony and deeply steeped in hypocrisy, Mugabe claimed the late South African president Nelson Mandela brought freedom but forgot to address entrenched inequalities between blacks and whites. He said South Africa needs help to dismantle residual apartheid structures. He also made disparaging remarks about San people, saying they were not interested in voting but "killing animals and enjoying their lives", reminiscent of his slurs on whites, Jamaicans, Nigerians and Kalangas, among others.

Saving Migrant Lives At Sea 'Top Priority': UN Chief

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (C) and his wife (L) are welcomed at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, in Hanoi, on May 23, 2015 ©Hoang Dinh Nam (AFP)

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon said on Saturday that saving the lives of migrants stranded at sea in Southeast Asia should be a "top priority" as the region battles with an exodus of boat people fleeing persecution and poverty.

The UN Secretary General said he hoped regional nations would tackle the "root causes" of the current exodus at an upcoming conference in Thailand later this month.

NAFDAC Seals Off Chocolate Royale

NAFDAC Logo

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC,has sealed the elite confectioneries and multinational food outlet, Chocolate Royale, for various unethical practices and non-adherent to good manufacturing and hygienic practices.

The action was as a result of a tip-off and intelligence report which indicted the company of illegal importation, storage and use of expired ingredients and food products for preparing of food and confectioneries served to unsuspecting customers at Chocolate Royale as well as operating and maintaining illegal cold rooms at their Managing Director’s residence where large quantities of various expired and spoilt food ingredients worth millions of naira were uncovered.

The NAFDAC’s action became necessary following an avalanche of complaints of violation and affront of the company to the regulatory body’s regulations.

FIFA Candidates Targeted In Blackmail Scam: Report

FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan, pictured during a press conference in London, in February 2015 ©Adrian Dennis (AFP)

Two men who launched challenges to Sepp Blatter for the leadership of world football body FIFA have been targeted in an attempted blackmail scam, a report said on Saturday.

Prince Ali bin al Hussein and Michael van Praag, who has now pulled out of the race, were both approached by Kenya-based conmen who said Blatter had gathered sensitive information about them.

Singapore's The New Paper and Dutch daily De Volkskrant said the men demanded money to hand over the information from what they claimed was a smear campaign orchestrated by Blatter.

Silence of African Leaders: Activists Denounce Silence Over Migrant Drownings

Picture taken on May 3, 2015 and released by the MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) shows migrants waiting aboard a wooden boat during a rescue operation off the coast of Sicily in the Mediterranean ©Jason Florio (MOAS/AFP)

Despite cries of alarm from European politicians over the deaths of migrants in the Mediterranean, African leaders have been silent over an issue they fear underlines their weak governance, say campaigners.

For years Libya has been a stepping stone for Africans seeking to get to Europe, fleeing conflict, economic hardship and instability often in rickety, unseaworthy vessels.

But the number of deaths has risen dramatically as boats operated by smugglers have capsized off Libya's coast, triggering alarm among European leaders seeking to halt the flow.

The UNHCR, the UN's refugee agency, estimates around 60,000 men, women and children have braved the Mediterranean so far this year in desperate efforts to reach Europe, more than 1,800 perishing in the attempt.

Burundi Protesters Defy Police Crackdown

A woman walks past a burning barricade in the Kinanira neighborhood of Bujumbura on May 21, 2015 ©Carl De Souza (AFP)

Anti-government protesters in Burundi marched on the streets of the capital Bujumbura Friday, defying one of the heaviest pushes by police to end weeks of demonstrations.

At least two protesters were shot dead and eight wounded in clashes on Thursday with police, the Red Cross said, the latest victims of the unrest triggered by President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term, in which more than 20 people have died.

Heavy gunfire was heard all day Thursday in suburbs of the capital, with intense bursts of automatic weapons, as protesters in reply hurled rocks from makeshift barricades. Clashes largely calmed overnight.

CHINA TAKING UNDUE ADVANTAGE: Greenpeace Says Chinese Vessels Illegally Fishing Off Africa, Beijing Disagrees

SERIAL OFFENDER? Sri Lanka Navy Apprehends Two Chinese Fishing Trawlers Engaged in Illegal Fishing

Chinese fishing boats have been illegally fishing off West Africa, Greenpeace said on Wednesday, adding that Chinese companies expanded operations in Africa from 13 vessels in 1985 to 462 vessels in 2013, but the government said they are within the law.

One fifth of China's distant water fishing fleet now operated in Africa, Greenpeace said in a report, and was dominated by bottom trawlers, "one of the most destructive fishing gears in the modern fishing industry."

Over a 10-year period, 183 illegal fishing cases involving 118 Chinese vessels were reported in six West African countries - Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal and Sierra Leone.

New Burundi Defence Minister Wants Army 'Cohesion' After Coup Bid

Soldiers try to contain protestors during a demonstration against the Burundian president's third term in the Musaga neighborhood of Bujumbura on May 20, 2015 ©Carl de Souza (AFP)

Burundi's defence minister has called for army unity after a failed coup against President Pierre Nkurunziza and demanded soldiers hiding "rejoin their units."

Defence Minister Emmanuel Ntahonvukiye, a civilian named on Monday after his predecessor was sacked, made the appeal alongside the Army Chief of Staff Prime Niyongabo late Wednesday, according to a statement.

"The survival of Burundi as a nation depends on the cohesion of the army," the statement read, warning that should the military splinter, it would result in a situation as seen in war-torn Somalia.

UNCONTROLLED IMMIGRATIONS: Illegal Workers' Pay To Be Seized

Prime Minister David Cameron will say uncontrolled immigration can damage UK labour market and push down wages

Illegal workers will be stripped of their earnings under "radical" new laws to control immigration being unveiled by David Cameron.

Foreign criminals who face being kicked out of the country will also be tagged and tracked by GPS satellites while "deport first, appeal later" measures will be extended to all non- asylum cases, the Prime Minister will announce.

The plans to curb legal and illegal migration include "rooting out" those not entitled to be in the country, he will say.

South Africa’s Zuma Apologizes To Mozambique For Xenophobic Attacks

Mozambican national Emmanuel Sithole who was murdered in Alexandra by alleged xenophobic attackers. Picture: Sunday Times twitter

President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday formally apologised to his Mozambican counterpart, President Filipe Nyusi for the death of Mozambican nationals during the recent wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

In an official statement containing his opening remarks at the start of his State visit to Mozambique, Zuma said: “Let me from the onset Mr President extend our deepest condolences to you in person, for the death of Mozambican nationals during the recent horrific attacks in our country.

Court Nullifies Benue Lawmaker-Elect’s Victory For Forgery

Federal High Court HQ, Abuja

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to cancel the certificate of return issued to Christian Abah for the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives of the forthcoming 8th National Assembly.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola, delivering judgment in the suit filed in January 2015 challenging Abah’s eligibility to stand for the election on Wednesday, held that the allegation of certificate forgery levelled against Abah by the plaintiff, Mr. Hassan Saleh, was established to be true.

Abah was said to have forged an Ordinary National Diploma certificate in Accountancy purportedly obtained from the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, in 1985.

U.S. Varsity Names Dare Emeritus Prof

Prof. Dare standing with Bradley University president, Glasser (right)

Professor Olatunji Dare, a communication scholar, author, satirist, famous columnist, and former Chair of The Guardian Editorial Board, has been named Professor of Communication, Emeritus, by Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois, USA.

Bradley University President Joanne K.  Glasser said the appointment was in recognition of Dare’s many years of outstanding service.

“This institution is better for what you have contributed through your talents, energy and dedication” Glasser said.

Dare, the author of Matters Arising and Diary of a Debacle: Tracking Nigeria’s Failed Democratic Transition (1988-1994), formally retired from Bradley University recently. He was honored last July at his 70th in Lagos by colleagues, former students and admirers with a festschrift entitled, Public Intellectuals, the Public Sphere and the Public Spirit: Essays in Honour of Olatunji Dare, edited by Wale Adebanwi of the University of California-Davis, USA.

I Conceded Defeat To Prevent Crisis – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday said he conceded defeat to Muhammadu Buhari in the March 28 presidential election because of his desire to keep the country away from conflict.

He said having been involved in solving many problems in African countries for more than five years, he knew the enormity and cost of conflicts and would not want Nigeria to witness such.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, quoted the President as speaking while receiving members of the African Ambassadors’ Group, who were on a farewell and solidarity visit to his boss at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Crack The Vested Interest, Blair Tells Buhari

Tony Blair

Former British prime minister, Tony Blair, has urged the incoming administration of Muhammadu Buhari to spare no effort in “cracking the vested interest” in the country‎.

Represented by Peter Mandelson, a British Labour politician, Blair, who was speaking in Abuja on Wednesday at the‎ All Progressives Congress’ (APC) two-day policy dialogue on the implementation of the agenda for change, implored the incoming government not to get entangled in the schemes of “vested interest”, but do all it can to crack it.

Blair argued that the people could easily see through a government that was held captive by vested interest, hence the need for the Buhari government to take tough decisions in breaking the vested interest in different sectors of the country.

Four US Cancer Charities Accused Of Pocketing US$187M In Donations

Consumer Alert: Allegations of US Charity Fraud

Four cancer charities and their operators have been charged with shamefully bilking US$187 million from consumers, the Federal Trade Commission announced Tuesday.

According to the FTC, which worked in conjunction with all 50 states, donors were told that their donations would help cancer patients.

"Those were outright lies," said Jessica Rich of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Instead, the FTC said today that the majority of funds went to several charity executives who lined their own pockets and spent donations on cars, vacations, college tuition, gym memberships, Jet Ski outings and dating site memberships. The FTC said that some also allegedly used charity credit cards at Hooters restaurant and to buy lingerie at Victoria's Secret stores.

Adamu Mu’azu Resigns as PDP Chairman

Adamu Mu’azu has resigned as National Chairman of the PDP

The crisis rocking the PDP since its loss at the March 28 Presidential polls took a turn for the worst as the national chairman of the party, Adamu Mu’azu has resigned his position as the national chairman.

His resignation took effect immediately.

The source said although Mu’azu’s resignation had been “effected”, the party was still holding on before issuing an official confirmation. Mu’azu has been out of the country on a medical trip, and it is uncertain when he will return.

Mutiny: Army Move Trial of Gen Ransome-Kuti, 30 Others To Abuja

Nigerian Army

The Court Martial trying Brigadier General Enitan Ransome-Kuti, Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force, who was blamed for the loss of Baga in January has relocated from Lagos to Abuja.

The brigadier general, his chief of staff, Lieutenant Colonel GA Suru, and some other senior officers were arrested for failing to repel terrorists attack on the headquarters of the MNJTF.

The Nigerian Army High Command has ordered 30 of its top officers to proceed to the Army Headquarters Garrison in Abuja in order to face a judicial panel to beat a deadline of May 29.

According to an internal army memo dated March 11, 2015 the officers are to be court-martialed for various offences.

Innocent Ohio Man Sues Cleveland Cops After 40yrs In Jail

Ricky Jackson (Reuters / Kim Palmer)

Ricky Jackson, who spent 39 years in jail for a murder he did not commit, is suing the police officers who allegedly helped frame him. Jackson was convicted on the testimony of a 12-year-old boy who didn’t see the crime and later retracted his statement.

The lawsuit, which was filed on Tuesday against the city of Cleveland, alleges that eight officers, including detectives and their superiors, were involved in framing Jackson and brothers Wiley and Ronnie Bridgeman for the killing of salesman Harold Franks, which occurred in the Cleveland area in 1975. Three of the officers involved in the case have since passed away.

"This lawsuit seeks compensation for that grievous injustice," attorney Jon Loevy said in the statement. "We now know substantially more about the fallibility of eyewitness identifications. Too many people have been sent to prison wrongfully based on bogus identifications."

Italy's PM Renzi Says "Disgusted" By Match-Fixing, Calls For Clean-Up

FIFA - Zurich

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said on Wednesday he was embarrassed and disgusted by the latest match-fixing scandal to hit Italian soccer and called for sweeping changes to clean up the game and attract families to stadiums.

Renzi had already promised to make radical changes to professional soccer a year ago after a supporter was shot dead by a rival fan at the Italian Cup final, but these reforms never materialized.

Police on Tuesday detained around 50 people including team managers, players and a suspected Calabrian mobster accused of fixing dozens of soccer matches in the country's third division and its top semi-professional league.

Extend Same Friendship And Fraternal Cooperation To My Successor, Jonathan Tells ECOWAS

President Goodluck Jonathan has appreciated the economic community of West African states (ECOWAS) for the organ's support to his administration, urging the body to cooperate with the incoming government of Muhammadu Buhari.

Jonathan said he was delighted that democracy had come to stay in West Africa, noting that recent elections in Ghana and Senegal were largely peaceful without controversy, while polls in Benin, Sierra Leone and Togo showed tremendous progress in consolidating democracy in the sub-region.

He was speaking in Accra, capital of Ghana, during the 47th ordinary session of the ECOWAS authority of heads of state and government.

America Names 40 Nigerians For 2015 Mandela Washington Fellowship – FULL LIST

Ambassador Entwistle takes a group photo with the 2015 Mandela Washington Fellows from northern Nigeria. (Photo: Idika Onyukwu/U.S. Embassy)

The U.S. embassy in Nigeria has selected 40 Nigerians to participate in the six-week Mandela Washington Fellowship Programme for Young African Leaders in 20 top U.S. universities.

Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador James Entwistle, congratulated the beneficiaries on their selection.

Mr. Entwistle explained that the 40 Nigerian fellows were selected amongst 7,000 Nigerian applicants and tens of thousands of others throughout Africa.

CHINA ROBBING WEST AFRICAN RESOURCES: China Illegally Fishing In Africa, Greenpeace Study Finds

The number of Chinese-flagged or Chinese-owned fishing boats operating in Africa has soared in recent decades, from just 13 in 1985 to 462 in 2013, Greenpeace says

Chinese companies have been illegally fishing off the coast of West Africa, environmental campaign group Greenpeace said in a study Wednesday, at times sending incorrect location data suggesting they are as far away as Mexico.

The number of Chinese-flagged or Chinese-owned fishing boats operating in Africa has soared in recent decades, from just 13 in 1985 to 462 in 2013, the international advocacy group said.

It said it found 114 cases of illegal fishing by such vessels in periods totalling eight years in the waters off Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal and Sierra Leone. The boats were mainly operating without licences or in prohibited areas.

Rivers Judicial Crisis: AGF Drafts Bayelsa Chief Judge To Swear-In Wike

Attorney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN). Image source: BBC

Bayelsa State Chief Judge is to inaugurate the Rivers State, Governor-elect Nyesom Wike on May 29, it was learnt yesterday.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) said where there is vacuum in the Office of the Chief Judge of Rivers State or the Office of the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, the constitution empowers any person to administer the oath of office on a governor-elect.

The AGF, in a statement issued in Abuja, said: “It will be recalled that Chief  Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON was declared the Governor-elect of Rivers State following the gubernatorial and Houses of Assembly elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on 11th April 2015.

UPDATE: WHO Says Ebola "Won't Go Quietly" As New Case Numbers Edge Up

Bruce Aylward, Special Representative of the Director-General for the Ebola Response and Assistant Director-General, Emergencies of the World Health Organization, WHO, speaks during a press conference about the new operational WHO/WFP partnership to get to zero Ebola cases, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. (Image source: AP)

Guinea and Sierra Leone reported 35 new Ebola cases in the past week, four times as many as the week before, in a reminder that the virus "will not go quietly", a top World Health Organization official said on Tuesday.

"It will take an extraordinary effort to finish the job," the WHO's special representative for Ebola, Bruce Aylward, told a briefing attended by health ministers.

Deborah Eisenberg Wins Malamud Prize For Short Fiction

Deborah Eisenberg - UVA English prof/acclaimed writer Deborah Eisenberg is one of 24 people chosen for the 2009 MacArthur Fellowship, which comes with a no-strings-attached US$500,000. The New York Times predicted her 2006 short fiction collection, Twilight of the Superheroes, would "establish her as one of the most important fiction writers now at work."

Deborah Eisenberg, whose short stories have been widely praised for their concentrated language and striking insights, has received a lifetime achievement award.

Eisenberg is this year's winner of the PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in the Short Story. Prize judges Tuesday cited her as "one of the consummate story makers of our day." Her books include "Transactions in a Foreign Currency" and "Twilight of the Superheroes" and her previous honors include another lifetime achievement prize for short fiction, the Rea Award.

The PEN/Malamud Award, which comes with a US$5,000 cash prize, was established in 1988 and is named for author Bernard Malamud. Previous winners include Saul Bellow, Alice Munro and George Saunders.