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Iraq protests: Death toll soars after four days of protests
The death toll in anti-government protests that have swept Iraq the past five days has soared to at least 70, security and medical sources say. The figure has more than doubled since Friday, as clashes between protesters and police intensified.
The military said “unidentified snipers” had killed four people in Baghdad, including two police officers.
However the authorities lifted a daytime curfew in the capital early on Saturday.
Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi earlier said protesters’ “legitimate demands” had been heard, but appealed for calm.
Spontaneous protests erupted on Tuesday amid frustration over Iraq’s high youth unemployment rate, its dire public services and chronic corruption.
It is seen as the first major challenge to Mr Mahdi’s fragile government, nearly a year since he came to power.
PDOIS wants clarification from F. Tambajang
The PDOIS is asking former Vice President Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajnag to clarify whether there was an amendment in the original text of the Coalition agreement which was signed by its members; and if so, whether the amended version has been signed too.
Below is the letter addressed to Ms. Jallow Tambajang:
Dear Honourable Jallow Tambajang,
The media houses have been approaching PDOIS for explanation whether the text of an amendment to the 17th October 2016 Coalition agreement had been agreed upon and signed by coalition partners. We are not aware of the crafting and signing of any text purporting to be an amendment to the original text signed by Coalition partners and are therefore finding it difficult to give accurate information to the media, on the subject matter.
It should therefore be highly appreciated if you would clarify whether any document purporting to be an amended version of the coalition agreement has been signed. If such a document exists please forward it to us before Monday, 7 October 2019, when we intend to issue a Press Releasse on the matte
German gov’t funds €1.3m Gambia’s energy stabilization project
On Wednesday 2nd of October 2019, The German supported project for The Gambia’s energy sector was launched. The 1.3 million euro worth project is to enhance the development of the existing power generation capacities. It’s been funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and implemented by GIZ and NAWEC under the leadership of The Gambia ministry of Energy.
The GIZ project emanated from the visit of the German president to the Gambia in December 2017, who pronounced Germany’s readiness to support The Gambia to stabilize electricity supply.
The project that followed his announcement has helped to reduce the occurrence of total blackouts in the Greater Banjul Area from many hours per day to a current situation of only few blackouts per month.
The minister of Energy and Petroleum, Fafa Sanyang, said the government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Energy accords special priority to improving access to reliable, affordable and efficient electricity to all citizens of the country.
He said The Gambia electricity sub-sector was mainly characterized by insufficient generation capacity, limited transmission and distribution capacity and double-digit technical and commercial losses.
“With support, the electricity sub-sector is gradually changing,” he declared.
Minister Sanyang said the measures will enable NAWEC to run its power plants more reliably, to extend the life span of the engines and to significantly save resources on maintenance.
Managing director of NAWEC, Alpha Robinson, said the project has given them the tools and technology and they must embrace it because technology and innovation are the future.
“The technology is central to the success of NAWEC,” he said.
He said Gambians should embrace change and technology in order to shift beyond where they are today.
The ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in The Gambia, Stephan Roeken, said the partnership is not only in words but in deed.
He said the project is an important element because it will strengthen the partnership between both countries and reduce the blackout in the Greater Banjul areas.
He said government is responsible for people especially in a democratic country to manage NAWEC in the near future.
The German experts of the GIZ offered extensive mechanical and electrical training to NAWEC’s technical experts.
The project funds allows for the procurement of a generator, an oil and fuel lab, and more than 75 km of fibreglass cable, two new radio towers and other things needed to create a digital communication infrastructure for NAWEC.
The project focuses on installation of independent communication infrastructure and data collection on the transmission and distribution network, provision of quality testing equipment for oil and lubricants, procurement of 800KW generator for peak shedding and capacity building for NAWEC staff.
DAY 3: Corby Big Films Week 3.
DAY 4: Corby Big Films Week 3.
MONDAY 21st October
An evening at the SAVOY with BAFTA-winning ‘Blue Planet’, cameraman, Doug Alla
Douglas “Doug” Allan, FRSGS, is a Scottish wildlife cameraman and photographer best known for his work in polar regions and underwater. Allan is one of twin brothers born in Dunfermline in Scotland, the son of a photographer and photojournalist who ran his own photography shop in the town.
7-9pm ‘Frozen Seas’ – the final film of the festival celebrates the team behind David Attenborough with special guest, BAFTA-winning ‘Blue Planet’ Cameraman, Doug Allan taking your questions after the screening. Doug will also be selling and signing copies of his remarkable book ‘Freeze Frame – a wildlife cameraman’s adventure on ice’.
Day 1: Corby Big Films Week 3
EVENING: In association with The Core at Corby Cube, HD Media are pleased to present an evening with mountaineer Simon Yates.
7-8pm ‘My Mountain Life’ an Illustrated talk.
8-9pm ‘Beyond The Void’ Documentary Film
More details and tickets for this event availble from – or call 01536 470470
COST £15/£13 Concessions.
Three Years Jotna expresses disagreement with Coalition stakeholders
We are totally against the decision championed by Fatoumata Jallow-Tambanjang to extend the coalition’s agreed term from 3 to 5 years, Said Hagie Suwaneh, vice chairperson of the operation at the press briefing.
He continued; “Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang individually tasked some members of the Barrow supported camp to join her on the issue of five years.
Mr. Suwaneh said it also came to their attention that some local parties have never supported the president’s five years mandate. “We will never recognize the announcement made by Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang and her co.”
“We are calling on Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang to withdraw her statement given on 27th day of September, 2019.”
DLEAG arrests 2 with cocaine
Both suspects, he said, are under their custody as investigation into the matter continues. “DLEAG will continue on our efforts in making the country free from drugs and its related issues.”
Commenting on the concealment method and the way the cocaine was discovered with the first suspect, PRO Saidybah added: “Some quantities were placed in socks, and hidden in his boxer around his private part and some other quantities in the socks he wore. Our operatives are well trained and are always on alert.”
On The second accused, he said, the suspected cocaine was hidden inside his boxer and placed around the many jujus he tied around his waist. “Both suspects have European residential documents. They were planning on traveling to Spain through Banjul International Airport. From their tickets they were booked with Binter Canary for Las Palmas from Banjul International Airport,” he said.
The DLEAG PRO added that Sequel Balde is a Bissau Guinean residing in France and also holding a Portuguese passport, while Seco Balde is a Bissau Guinean residing in Spain and also holds Spanish residential permit, adding that both suspects were on board a commercial vehicle.
It could be recalled that, Bakary Gassama, the director general of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency The Gambia (DLEAG) once hinted that The Gambia could be a target of Drug Trafficking Organisations who are taking advantage of her strategic location to both South America and Europe as a drug trafficking route.
He said there are indications that the country can be used as a transit point for drugs coming from South America and some parts of Africa to the targeted markets in Europe and U.S.A. “Therefore, it is imperative to prepare well in terms of both human capacity and equipment to respond adequately to the illegal and clandestine activities of these organisations.”
It could be also recalled that DLEAG, The Office Central de Re’pression du Trafic Illicite de Stepfiants (OCRITS) of Senegal and The Judiciary Police of Guinea Bissau two months back signed a ‘historic’ Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the three countries. The MOU is aimed at combating drug trafficking, organised crimes and its related issues.
The MOU will enable the three countries to exchange information and intelligence, join training and border patrols in the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime. The MOU is also capable of tactically re-positioning their front-line officers in making the sub-region a hostile environment for criminals.
Rescue of pregnant teens in Nigeria
Nigerian police raids a suspected child trafficking company and rescued 19 teens and women who are pregnant. This company was suspected to have planned to sell the babies. Said the spokesman of police
The victims, ranging in age from 15 to 28, were found in different locations in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city, in a police raid earlier this month, police said.
Two women accused of operating homes where the victims were found have been arrested on suspicion of selling babies, and investigators are searching for a prime suspect in the case, Lagos police spokesman Bala Elkana said.
Four children also were freed in the raid, police said. The captors also are accused of planning to sell these children; investigators still are trying to determine where these children came from, police said.
The two arrested suspects still were in police custody Monday.
We got reports based on intelligence information about activities of individuals who were keeping pregnant women and babies to sell them after delivery,” Lagos police spokesman Bala Elkana
The pregnant teens and women are from different parts of the country. Some said their traffickers kidnapped them, while others said they were lured to the city by the traffickers who promised them domestic jobs, Elkana said.
Police said some of the victims were persuaded by their traffickers to sell their babies.
“Some were told that there is a place where babies are sold and they came voluntarily. Some were promised jobs that turned out to be fake when they got to the city, and the (traffickers) forced them to stay, ” Elkana
According to police, the traffickers were selling male babies for 500,000 naira (around $1,378) and female babies for 300,000 naira ($827).
Police said the rescued victims will be handed over to Nigeria’s anti-trafficking agency and relevant authorities for rehabilitation.
Senegalese peacekeepers killed in CAR helicopter crash
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) — Three Senegalese UN peacekeeping crew members were killed and the fourth one injured in the crash of an Mi-24 helicopter in the Central African Republic (CAR) on Friday, a UN spokesperson said.
The helicopter was attempting an emergency landing due to bad weather conditions in Bouar west of the Central African Republic. said Stephane Dujarric.
The helicopter was providing air support to a security operation by the UN mission against an armed group in the Nana-Mambere prefecture, Dujarric said.
“The secretary-general, and the United Nations, extend their heartfelt condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers, as well as to the government and people of Senegal,” the spokesman said.
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