Nigeria's Army Says 3,000 People Who Fled Boko Haram Return to Hometown

MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA — 

More than 3,000 people in northeast Nigeria who were forced to flee the seven-year insurgency waged by Islamist militants have returned to their hometown following the reopening of major roads in the area, the army said on Tuesday.

Damasak - in the northwest of Borno, the state worst hit by the militants - was taken over by Boko Haram in late 2014, when it controlled an area the size of Belgium in northeast Nigeria. The insurgents were pushed out of the town by the army in July.

President Muhammadu Buhari said on Saturday that the army had taken back Boko Haram's main camp in the Sambisa forest.

On Sunday, the government said it was reopening two roads between Borno's capital, Maiduguri, and the northern towns of Damasak and Baga.

Army spokesman Sani Usman said more than 3,000 people used one of the roads to return to Damasak on Monday.

Reuters was unable to independently verify his statement.

"They were residents of Damasak displaced by the insurgency staying as refugees in the neighboring Niger Republic and internally displaced people in Maiduguri," he said.

Usman said the returnees went through military security checks when they arrived and were met by local government officials and community leaders.

More than two million people have been displaced during the insurgency as Boko Haram tries to establish an Islamic state, run using a strict interpretation of sharia, in the northeast. About 15,000 people have been killed.

After the announcement that the Sambisa camp had been taken, the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, said the former game reserve would be used as a military training base to prevent the insurgents returning.

Security analysts say Boko Haram split this year with one faction led by Abubakar Shekau operating from the Sambisa forest and the other, allied to Islamic State and led by Abu Musab al-Barnawi, based in the Lake Chad region.

Despite having been pushed back by a military offensive in the last few months, Boko Haram still stages suicide bombings in northeast Nigeria and in neighboring Niger and Cameroon.

Onyango ranked ahead of Arsenal and Barca goalkeepers in 2016

Uganda Cranes goalkeeper Denis Masinde Onyango has been ranked among the top 10 goalkeepers in the World in the year 2016.

The Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper is ranked 10th in the world by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) with 5 points.

Onyango won the ABSA Premiership, the CAF Champions League and is also among the nominees in the CAF Player of the Year Awards for the category of those based in Africa.

In 10th, Onyango has been ranked ahead of Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech of Cech Republic and FC Barcelona’s German keeper Marc Andre Ter Stegen who are 11th and 13th with 4 and 1 point respectively.

The Top 13 Ranked Goalkeepers in 2016 by IFFHS

1. Manuel Neuer (Germany/FC Bayern München)                    156 points
2. Gianluigi Buffon (Italy/Juventus Torino FC)                          91 points
3. Rui Patricio (Portugal/Sporting Portugal)                               50 points
4. Claudio Bravo (Chile/FC Barcelona/Manchester City FC)   45 points
5. David De Gea (Spain/Manchester United FC)                        37 points
6. Jan Oblak (Slovenia/Club Atletico de Madrid)                       31 points
7. Hugo Lloris (France/Tottenham Hotspur FC)                        29 points
8. Keylor Navas (Costa Rica/Real Madrid CF)                            18 points
9. Thibaut Courtois (Belgium/Chelsea FC)                                  13 points
10. Denis Onyango (Uganda/Mamelodi Sundowns)      5 points
11. Petr Cech (Cech Republic/Arsenal London FC)                      4 points
12. Samir Handanovic (Slovenia/FC Inter Milano)                      2 points
13. Marc André Ter Stegen (Germany/FC Barcelona)                 1 point

Reaction to death of DP's Mathias Nsubuga

Democratic Party secretary general Mathias Nsubuga died two days after suffering a stroke.

After news emerged of the death of Democratic Party (DP) secretary general Mathias Nsubuga, the public took to social media to pay tribute to the former Bukoto South MP.

DP president general Norbert Mao, who confirmed Nsubuga’s death on his social media page, described him as the “most clean hearted person”.

One user on Facebook called him one of the "strongest pillars" of DP, saying that despite all the "ups and downs, he didn't quit his role".

Another, by the names of Amooti Gibson, wrote that "Uganda will always remember you for your democratic struggles".

Nsubuga died at Case Clinic in Kampala on Sunday, two days after suffering a "massive stroke" at Mukono Bookshop.

He was offered First Aid by a woman who would later be identified as Dr. Angellica Etima Kasozi.

- See more at: http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1442322/reaction-death-dps-mathias-nsubuga#sthash.Nr8SAqxD.dpuf

Gambian President-Elect Says Jammeh Should Accept Defeat

Gambian President-Elect Says Jammeh Should Accept Defeat 

 

The winner of Gambia's presidential election says efforts by incumbent Yahya Jammeh to toss out the results are illegal.
Adama Barrow told VOA's French-to-Africa service that Jammeh, who has ruled Gambia for 22 years, does not have the authority to cancel the election.
"He does not have those powers and whatever he is doing is illegal and let him accept defeat," Barrow said in the interview Wednesday. "He called me to say that we have the best election in the world and he should stick to that."
Barrow said he met with West African leaders who also met with Jammeh on Tuesday and told them, "I am the president-elect and Yahya Jammeh is the outgoing president. He accepted defeat, congratulated me, and turned around and said he has annulled the election."
On Tuesday, the security forces took over the offices of Gambia's electoral commission, the same day members of the ruling party asked the country's Supreme Court to void the election results.
Barrow told VOA that the head of the Gambian Armed Forces called and congratulated him after the election, but still lacks government protection.
"I am still concerned about my security," he said. "I am using my local security, the security I was using during the campaign."
Barrow, running as the main opposition candidate, defeated Jammeh in the December 1 election by a margin of 45 to 36 percent, according to the electoral commission.

In a Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 file photo, Gambia's president Yahya Jammeh shows his inked finger before voting in Banjul, Gambia.

Afterward, state media broadcast a phone call in which President Jammeh congratulated Barrow for his "clear victory," praised the election as "transparent" and said, "Allah is telling me my time is up."
A week later, Jammeh rejected the results and said he wants to see a new election.
Jammeh, 51, has ruled the tiny West African nation since taking power in a 1994 military coup. He won four subsequent elections that critics said were neither free nor fair, and once said he could rule Gambia for "a billion years."

Mumbere applies for bail

He argues that it’s his constitutional right to be granted bail.

 Mumbere leaving court. Photo by Tonny Tombya

The Omusinga (king) of Rwenzururu, Charles Wesley Mumbere, has applied for bail before Jinja High court.  

Mumbere said he has a substantial sureties and a permanent place of residence. He argues that it’s his constitutional right to be granted bail.

Through his lawyers Alaka & Co Advocates and Ochieng Associates, Mumbere said he will not interfere with police investigations once released from jail.

Mumbere and his 152 guards were remanded over charges of terrorism, treason, murder and attempted murder all connected to the recent Kasese clashes.

About 100 people, including 16 police officers, were killed in the attacks in Kasese on last month following fresh clashes between security forces and suspected Rwenzururu kingdom loyalists.

This was after a group of alleged royal guards of Omusinga hurled an improvised grenade at Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) and Police officers.

The UPDF and Police were patrolling Kasese town when the improvised grenade was reportedly hurled at them. The joint security forces responded with gunfire which sparked off retaliation attacks by suspected kingdom loyalists on Police Posts across the district.

Fleeing from gunfire, some of the suspected loyalists sought refuge in the palace of Omusinga Charles Mumbere.

The UPDF ordered the Mumbere to direct the kingdom loyalists to get out of the palace or let the government forces in, but the orders were reportedly ignored.

The joint forces forcefully gained entry into the palace, opening fire on the suspected loyalists inside the facility.

Obama: ‘We Will’ Take Action Against Government That Meddled in US Election 

 

U.S. President Barack Obama says the United States will take action against Russia or any other foreign government that tries to meddle in U.S. elections.
“I think there is no doubt that when any foreign government tries to impact the integrity of our elections ... we need to take action. And we will,” the president told National Public Radio in an interview to be broadcast Friday morning.
“Some of it may be explicit and publicized, some of it may not be,” he said.
The CIA has concluded that Russian hackers broke into the Democratic Party computers to leak potentially embarrassing emails about the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign with the apparent aim of helping Republican Donald Trump win last month’s election.
Officials: Putin knew
Top White House officials say such a thing could not have happened without Russian President Vladimir Putin’s involvement or direct knowledge. Moscow called the allegation “laughable nonsense.”
Obama told NPR there is still a “whole range of assessments” going on among U.S. intelligence agencies, and he is waiting for a final report on exactly who was involved and why they did it.
“But that does not in any way detract from the basic point that everyone during the election perceived accurately that in fact what the Russian hack had done was create more problems for the Clinton campaign than it had for the Trump campaign,” Obama said.
Trump, however, has asked in a Twitter comment, “If Russia, or some other entity, was hacking, why did the White House wait so long to act? Why did they only complain after Hillary lost?”

If Russia, or some other entity, was hacking, why did the White House wait so long to act? Why did they only complain after Hillary lost?

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 15, 2016

Obama declined to say whether he thought the Russian computer hacking cost Hillary Clinton the election. He said many factors can make the difference in a presidential vote, but there was no doubt it had an impact.
He also would not say whether he believed the Trump campaign played any role in the hacking other than exploiting the leaked emails for political advantage.
Obama said he is mystified by Trump’s insistence that Russia did not hack into Democratic Party computers and by the president-elect’s pro-Russian stance.
“There’s been a pretty sizable wing of the Republican Party that has consistently criticized me for not being tough enough on Russia,” he said. “Some of those folks during the campaign endorsed Donald Trump ... that kind of inconsistency I think makes it appear at least that their particular position on Russia on any given day depends on what’s politically expedient.”
Ben Rhodes, a top foreign affairs adviser to Obama, told MSNBC, “Everything we know about how Russia operates and how Putin controls that government would suggest that, again, when you’re talking about a significant cyber intrusion like this, we’re talking about the highest levels of government. And ultimately, Vladimir Putin is the official responsible for the actions of the Russian government.”

 

White House spokesman Josh Earnest, speaking with reporters, pointed to the U.S. intelligence community’s October assessment that “only Russia’s senior-most officials could have authorized these activities.” He said the reference to “senior-most officials” wasn’t supposed to be subtle. “It’s pretty obvious,” he said.
Earnest dismissed concerns about efforts to delegitimize Trump’s presidency, saying Obama has made clear that he is committed to a smooth and effective transition. But he also encouraged Trump to be supportive of a thorough, transparent and non-political investigation into the hack.
One of Trump’s top aides, Kellyanne Conway, in a TV interview rebuked Earnest for suggesting Wednesday that Trump might have known during the campaign of the Russian interference in the U.S. presidential contest and that “their involvement was having a negative impact” on Clinton’s campaign.

Amber Heard files legal documents claiming Johnny Depp has not paid divorce settlement

Amber Heard files legal documents claiming Johnny Depp has not paid divorce settlement

 

Amber Heard has filed legal documents claiming Johnny Depp has not paid the divorce settlement, according to US reports.
The Danish Girl actress had reached an agreement with the 52-year-old actor in August that he would pay her $7 million, which she wanted to be donated to charity, but her legal team have filed a Request for Order with Los Angeles Superior Court accusing the actor of failing to pay the money.

Real Madrid extended their unbeaten run to 36 games by beating Club America 2-0 to reach the Fifa Club World Cup final.

 

Karim Benzema gave the European champions the lead with a clipped finish after a Toni Kroos pass.
Cristiano Ronaldo sealed the win - and a place in Sunday's final against Kashima Antlers - by drilling a second in added time amid some confusion.
Referee Enrique Caceres briefly asked for a video assistant consultation before allowing the goal to stand.
This year's Club World Cup is the first tournament to use video assistant referees. A pitchside monitor is available to referees to review decisions.
However, Caceres did not view the incident on the monitor before restarting the game and awarding the goal.

In the other semi-final, referee Viktor Kassai stopped the game after being alerted to an incident by his assistant, then viewed footage on a monitor and gave a penalty to Kashima Antlers in their win over Atletico Nacional.
The Club World Cup features champion club sides from each of Fifa's six continental confederations.
Before Real Madrid's match began, there was a minute's silence at the Yokohama Stadium, in tribute to the victims of the air crash on 28 November that killed 71 people, including 19 players and staff of Brazilian team Chapecoense.
Ronaldo, who won the Ballon d'Or for a fourth time earlier in the week, had hit the post with a glancing header from Lucas Vazquez's cross before Benzema scored.
The Portuguese then had a shot blocked and headed wide before scoring.

 

New poll reveals that most Ugandans are opposed to another term for President Museveni.

The poll was commissioned by Uganda Governance Monitoring Platform was carried out between September and October this year across Uganda with a sample of 2,252 respondents.

 

A new opinion poll, Citizen’s perception on Uganda’s governance, reveals that 74% of the respondents think that President Yoweri Museveni should not contest again after his current term which ends in 2021.
The poll conducted by Research World International and commissioned by Uganda Governance Monitoring Platform was carried out between September and October this year across Uganda with a sample of 2,252 respondents.

 

Kiir calls for 'national dialogue' to end war.

Kiir said a panel of "eminent personalities and people of consensus" would guide the national dialogue which would involve "all the people of South Sudan" but did not say who the panel members would be.  

President Salva Kiir called Wednesday for a "national dialogue" to end the three-year-long civil war in South Sudan.

In a speech to parliament, Kiir, whose wrangling for power with his former deputy Riek Machar plunged the world's newest nation into a brutal, destructive and ongoing civil war in December 2013, said the dialogue would "consolidate peace" in South Sudan.

Kiir said a panel of "eminent personalities and people of consensus" would guide the national dialogue which would involve "all the people of South Sudan" but did not say who the panel members would be.

The ambitious aims of the initiative, he said, are to "save the country from disintegration and usher in a new era of peace, stability and prosperity."
"As long as I am your president, I will not allow the suffering of our people to continue and I will not also allow this country to fall apart," Kiir said.
Kiir's troops and allied militia have been accused of ethnic massacres, rape and sexual slavery, looting, pillage and the forced recruitment of child soldiers. Rebels have perpetrated similar crimes.
In recent weeks fresh ethnic killings -- most allegedly carried out by Kiir's forces -- in and around the southern town of Yei have triggered genocide warnings from the UN.
In his speech Kiir asked forgiveness "for any mistakes I might have committed" but did not specify what they might be.
Neither was there any mention of justice for crimes committed, nor of his arch enemy Machar who is currently in exile in South Africa after being chased from the country during battles that raged in the capital Juba in July.
Nevertheless, Kiir issued a directive to both government and rebel forces "to immediately cease hostilities, protect their fellow citizens and prepare the ground for a more peaceful, secure and joyous Christmas and New Year."
Kiir's call comes at the start of the traditional fighting season, after the rains have stopped, and on the eve of the civil war's third anniversary.

Ballon d'Or: Cristiano Ronaldo voted best footballer in the world for 4th time

#LATEST_IN_SPORTS
Five moments that won Ronaldo the Ballon d'Or
For the fourth time in his career Cristiano Ronaldo was crowned the best player in the world by winning the Ballon d'Or on Monday.
Here, AFP Sports looks at five key moments from 2016 that landed the Portuguese the biggest individual prize in football.
#FiveMoments:
>Snaps unbeaten Barca run.
>Wolfsburg wounded
>Spot-on in Milan
>Halts early Portugal exit
>Calderon goodbye

Commonwealth boss condemns corruption

Commonwealth boss condemns corruption
Corruption steals ideals and subverts innovation. It undermines the inventive and intellectual drive that animates technological progress and cultural creativity, robbing scientists, engineers, artists and athletes of the rewards that are their due,” Scotland said. - See more at: http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1441801/commonwealth-boss-condemns-corruption#sthash.0GTowRmI.dpuf

Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland has condemned corruption describing it as “a scourge which holds in thrall millions of our Commonwealth sisters and brothers, condemning them to servitude, poverty, disease, indignity and misery’.

“Corruption steals ideals and subverts innovation. It undermines the inventive and intellectual drive that animates technological progress and cultural creativity, robbing scientists, engineers, artists and athletes of the rewards that are their due,” Scotland said. - See more at: http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1441801/commonwealth-boss-condemns-corruption#sthash.0GTowRmI.dpuf

Government orders kingdoms to reduce royal guards

Following the recent attack on the Rwenzururu Kingdom palace in Kasese District in an operation that left more than 100 people dead and 139 arrested, government has ordered all cultural institutions.

Possible health benefits of tomatoes

Tomatoes are packed full of beneficial nutrients and antioxidants and are a rich source of vitamins A and C and folic acid. 

High fruit and vegetable intake is also associated with healthy skin and hair, increased energy and lower weight. Increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables significantly decreases the risk of obesity and overall mortality. Cancer As an excellent source of vitamin C and other antioxidants, tomatoes can help combat the formation of free radicals known to cause cancer. Prostate Cancer According to John Erdman, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of the department of food science and human nutrition at the University of Illinois, "There's very good, strong, epidemiological support for increased consumption of tomato products and lower incidence of prostate cancer. Among younger men, diets rich in beta-carotene may play a protective role against prostate cancer, according to a study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health's Department of Nutrition.  Colorectal Cancer Beta-carotene consumption has been shown to have an inverse association with the development of colon cancer in the Japanese population. High fiber intakes from fruits and vegetables are associated with a lowered risk of colorectal cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, some studies have shown that people who have diets rich in tomatoes may have a lower risk of certain types of cancer, especially cancers of the prostate, lung, and stomach. Further human-based research is needed to find out what role lycopene might play in the prevention or treatment of cancer. Blood pressure Maintaining a low sodium intake helps to keep blood pressure healthy; however, increasing potassium intake may be just as important because of its vasodilation effects. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, fewer than 2 percent of U.S. adults meet the daily 4700 mg recommendation.3 Also of note, a high potassium intake is associated with a 20 percent decreased risk of dying from a - See more at: http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1441901/health-benefits-tomatoes#sthash.IeXWo2Cq.dpuf