South Africa's Zuma says not against anti-graft investigation

South African President Jacob Zuma said on Wednesday he would not oppose an investigation into allegations that he and some allies in the ruling African National Congress have been unduly influenced by outside business interests.

The Public Protector, an anti-corruption watchdog, published a report in November that alleged Zuma and colleagues were influenced in appointing ministers and issuing tenders by the Guptas, a wealthy family of businessmen.

The watchdog recommended a more detailed investigation but Zuma initially criticised its findings as unfair.

Outside influence in government decision making is popularly known as "state capture" in South Africa.

Morocco protests: Thousands demand release of Nasser Zefzafi

Thousands of people have demonstrated in the northern Moroccan city of Al-Hoceima, demanding the release of a well-known activist.

Reports say riot police were involved in a tense stand-off with protesters, but later retreated.

Protesters rallied after Nasser Zefzafi was arrested on Monday charged with threatening national security.

Mr Zefzafi has organised months of protests against unemployment and corruption.

Morocco has been gripped by demonstration since the death of a fishmonger in Al-Hoceima in October.

According to AFP news agency, protesters chanting "We are all Zefzafi" filled streets in Al-Hoceima on Tuesday evening and riot police were deployed in a square to stop their advance.

A stand-off ensued but police eventually backed down without incident.

Marches have also taken place in Casablanca and in the capital, Rabat, AFP reports.

The mass protests were triggered last October by the death of fishmonger Mouhcine Fikri, who was crushed to death by a rubbish truck as he tried to rescue his stock that had been confiscated by the police.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets accusing the authorities of corruption, abuse and injustice.

His death drew parallels to that of a Tunisian fruit seller in 2010 which helped spark the Arab Spring uprisings.

Celebrities Try to Define President Donald Trump's "Covfefe" Tweet

At midnight, President Donald Trump tweeted, "Despite the constant negative press covfefe."

The nonsensical tweet quickly became one of the commander-in-chief's more popular posts of the year. About six hours later, the president deleted the message and poked fun at his viral Twitter typo, writing at 6 a.m. ET, "Who can figure out the true meaning of 'covfefe' ??? Enjoy!"

Needless to say, celebrities had a field day on Twitter:

Kenya launches multi-billion dollar railway amid concerns over costs

Kenya has unveiled its first new railway in a century. The first section of the multi-billion dollar project is now operational after two and a half years of construction.

The route will eventually connect Kenya to several of its neighbours and is the country's biggest infrastructure project since independence in 1963.

But the China-backed project has been surrounded by allegations of corruption, high cost of construction and environmental threats.

Trump typo: 'Covfefe' tweet mocked on internet

Donald Trump made a typo on Twitter and the internet had a lot of fun with it

One word was close to breaking the internet on Wednesday morning: "covfefe".

It was an apparent typo in a tweet by US President Donald Trump, and internet users have been mocking him mercilessly.

"Despite the constant negative press covfefe," he tweeted just after midnight, Washington time.

And he then appears to have gone to bed, without finishing his thought or correcting his mistake.

Although it seems likely the word he was reaching for was "coverage", social media users have been trying to guess other alternatives or motivations.

Others deliberated on the pronunciation, and wondered why no aides had stepped in to alert him to the mistake.

"Despite the constant negative press covfefe," he tweeted

Google Translate recognised the word as Samoan, though could offer no English translation.

(A BBC reader has written in to debunk any suggestion that the president is a secret Samoan speaker. Among many other reasons for this, the language does not even have a letter C.)

South Sudan soldiers accused of rape, murder of aid workers appear in court

Reuters Report 

Thirteen South Sudanese soldiers accused of raping five foreign aid workers and killing their local colleague appeared before a military court on Tuesday, a case seen as a test of the government's ability to try war crimes.

The attack, one of the worst on aid workers in South Sudan's civil war, took place on July 11, 2016 as President Salva Kiir's troops won a three-day battle in Juba over opposition forces loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar.

Witnesses told Reuters at the time that armed men attacked the Terrain Hotel in the capital Juba for several hours. Victims phoned U.N. peacekeepers stationed a mile away and begged for help, but none came, the witnesses said.

The military head of the U.N. peacekeeping mission was fired and the political head resigned over the incident.

"What is concerned here for the court is to address the case in a proper way," Chief Prosecutor Abukuk Mohammed Ramadan said in opening remarks.

U.N. investigators and rights group have frequently accused both the army and rebels of murder, torture and rape since the civil war began in 2013, and say the crimes almost always go unpunished.

Describing the incident, the manager of the Terrain Hotel, Mike Woodward, told the court that "between 50 to 100" soldiers arrived in the hotel in the afternoon of July 11 and began looting an hour later.

"Five women working with humanitarian organizations were then raped. John Gatluak was shot at 6:15 pm," Woodward said.

Peter Malual, the defendants' lawyer, dismissed the charges saying evidence provided by Woodward was not sufficient to prove the allegations.

"What I know the area was under operation at the time and rebels were controlling the area," Malual said.

Prosecutors told Reuters the murderers face a minimum of 10 years in jail with a fine paid to the victim's family, or a maximum of the death penalty. Rapists face up to 14 years.

The three-year conflict has fractured the country along ethnic lines - Kiir is an ethnic Dinka, Machar is a Nuer - and forced a quarter of the 12 million-strong population to flee their homes.

Court officials said the trial would resume on June 6.

Tiger Woods: Alcohol 'not involved' in arrest

Police in Palm Beach County, Florida, released a mugshot of the golfer

Golfer Tiger Woods says alcohol was "not involved" in his arrest while driving in Florida early on Monday.

The player, who was charged with Driving under the Influence (DUI), blamed "an unexpected reaction to prescribed medication".

"I understand the severity of what I did and I take full responsibility for my actions," he said.

Police released a mugshot of Woods, looking unshaven and unkempt, following his arrest in the town of Jupiter.

"I want the public to know that alcohol was not involved. What happened was an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications," he said.

"I didn't realise the mix of medications had affected me so strongly."

He added: "I would like to apologise with all my heart to my family, friends and the fans. I expect more from myself too."

An unwanted image - Iain Carter, BBC Sport golf correspondent

The mug shot shows a disheveled Tiger Woods, bleary-eyed and unshaven - just the sort of image he would not want associated with himself in public.

The picture will haunt him throughout these proceedings and beyond. This is someone who has put back together his public life after that epic fall from grace with all the news of the extramarital affairs that broke in 2009.

What we gather from someone who has a jealously guarded lifestyle in terms of his privacy is he spends most of his time playing computer games. We know he speaks glowingly about being a father and looking after his children.

Police records show the 41-year-old golfer was pulled over at about 03:00 local time (07:00 GMT) near his home in Jupiter and later taken into custody. He was released from Palm Beach County jail at 10:30 local time.

The record says that he was released "on his own recognisance", meaning he promised in writing to co-operate with future legal proceedings

The former world number one has not won a major championship in nearly a decade

Woods has been recovering from back surgery. In his most recent comment about his health, he wrote that the surgery had relieved terrible pain and that he hadn't "felt this good in years".

• Triumph to troubles: Tiger's masterclass 20 years on

The 14-time major champion's personal life came under scrutiny in 2009 when he was charged with careless driving outside his Florida home.

He later admitted to having had extra-marital affairs and made a frank public apology. He said he had received professional help and planned to undergo further therapy.

The golfer lost several sponsors over the scandal and took a break from competition.

Magufuli appoints Sirro as a New IGP

Tanzania President John Magufuli yesterday appointed Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander, Commissioner of Police (CP) Simon Sirro, the new Inspector General of Police (IGP).

Mr Sirro takes over from CP Ernest Mangu who, according to a statement by Directorate of Presidential communication in Dar es Salaam, will be assigned other duties.

The statement quoted the Chief Secretary, Ambassador John Kijazi, saying that the newly appointed IGP will be sworn in this morning at the State House grounds.

There was no mention on the reasons behind the changes at the helm of the police force but speculators link the demotion of IGP Mangu to the spate of killings of police officers and CCM leaders in Coast region.

Several police officers and the ruling party leaders have already died in the hands of unknown people whose motive behind the assassinations remains mysterious, as well.

Ivan Semwanga Dies

Tycoon south African –based Ugandani Ivan Semwanga  passed a way today Thursday Morning, he was admitted to Steve Biko Hospital Pretoria in South Africa after getting a heart attack. It was confirmed by his ex wife Zari Hassan In a statement on her Social media; pages Zari described the deceased as a great man whose works touched many lives.

Zari wrote that

“God loves those that are special and that's exactly who you were & I guess that's why he wanted you to himself. You have touched and helped thousands, you did wonders and I remember you telling me "life is too short let me live it to the fullest", this very dark hour it makes sense why you always said those words to me. To your sons, you were a hero-some kind of superman. Anyone who has ever been in your presence knows what a charming person you were. You will be missed and remembered in so many ways. You were IVAN THE GREAT! Rest in peace DON”

Semwanga own schools and other business in South Africa. In Uganda Ivan was known for his generosity; making huge financial contributions to charity He also donated funds to the Uganda cranes, supporting the national football team during critical moments. Many looked at Semwanga as a role model due to his selflessness and humility.
The deceased was social and easily associated with people from all walks of life.
In Uganda, he was last spotted at Blankets and Wine event at Lugogo Cricket Oval before returning to South Africa a few weeks later, news spread like a train horn that he was admitted in critical condition.The cause of the stroke remains unknown.

Semwanga and Zari have three male children after they separated Zari got married to Diamond Platinums and the have two children.

China says no one should bring chaos to Korean peninsula

China said on Wednesday no one had the right to bring chaos to the Korean peninsula, a day after it pushed for full implementation of U.N. sanctions against neighboring North Korea for its missile and nuclear tests and called for dialogue.

The United States has been trying to persuade China, North Korea's lone major ally, to do more to rein in Pyongyang, which has conducted dozens of missile launches and tested two nuclear bombs since the start of last year, in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

The North has proudly publicized its plans to develop a missile capable of striking the United States and has ignored calls to halt its weapons programs, even from China.

It says the program is necessary to counter U.S. aggression. Its last missile test was on Sunday.

"No matter which party it is, no one has the right to bring war and chaos upon the peninsula," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters after meeting German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel.

He said anyone who did that would bear "historical responsibility".

U.S. President Donald Trump has said "a major, major conflict" with North Korea is possible and that all options are on the table, but that he wants to resolve the crisis diplomatically.

China has been infuriated by the U.S. deployment of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea, saying it is a threat to its own security and will do nothing to ease tensions with North Korea.

The United States and South Korea, which hosts 28,500 U.S. troops, have said the deployment is aimed purely at defending against the North Korean threat.

China fully implements its U.N. Security Council sanction commitments toward North Korea and will continue to play a constructive role in negotiations, Wang said.

Almost a month ago, Washington began discussions with China on strengthening U.N. sanctions. However, a week ago U.S. U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley said Beijing had gone quiet.

Traditionally, the United States and China have negotiated new sanctions before involving the other 13 U.N. Security Council members.

The Security Council first imposed sanctions on Pyongyang in 2006 and ratcheted up the measures in response to five nuclear tests and two long-range missile launches. North Korea is threatening a sixth nuclear test.

(Writing by Christian Shepherd; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Probe team to submit report on mineral concentrate today

President John Magufuli is this morning scheduled to receive the much awaited report on the amount and value of the mineral sand containers exported since 1998.

The special committee which President Magufuli formed and tasked with the investigations on the mineral resources will present its report to the Head of State at the State House in Dar es Salaam.

Several government leaders are expected to attend the event, which will be beamed live on television and radio stations as well as State House official website.

Two probe teams of 16 experts were formed on April 1 and 10 consecutively, with the first committee comprised of eight experts in geological, chemical and scientific backgrounds while the second drew its eight members from economy and law.

Acacia Mining Plc, the leading gold producer in Tanzania, issued a press release on March 24, detailing that the first team inspected over 200 of its export-bound mineral sand shipping containers in Dar es Salaam and also visited its Bulyanhulu and Buzwagi gold mines in Shinyanga region to analyse other gold and copper concentrate containers stock- piled at the mines.

The gold mining firm said following President Magufuli’s directive to ban exports of gold and copper concentrates ef- fective March 3, 2017, it had ceased all exports of mineral sand, including the 277 con- tainers in the Dar es Salaam port and inland container de- pots

. The containers had been approved for export prior to the ban.

Mining contributes 3.5 per cent to the country’s gross do- mestic product, Africa’s fourth- largest gold producer, but the government wants the sector to pay more taxes.

Like other African nations, the fifth government phase has been on a drive to add value to its exports rather than send raw materials abroad.

Trump meets Pope in Vatican, vows not to forget his message

Reuters report By Philip Pullella and Steve Holland | VATICAN CITY

U.S. President Donald Trump met Pope Francis, one of his most high profile critics, at the Vatican on Wednesday and after an exchange of gifts he promised he would not forget the pontiff's message during their half-hour discussion.

Trump and the pope have expressed opposing views on issues such as immigration and climate change and the two men exchanged sharp words during the presidential campaign last year.

Under clear blue skies, Trump received a tribute from the Swiss Guard in a Vatican courtyard where he was greeted by Archbishop Georg Ganswein, the prefect of the pontifical household.

Trump looked uncomfortable as he entered a small elevator taking him to the third floor of the Apostolic Palace, where he was accompanied by Ganswein and other officials along a frescoed corridor to the pope's private study.

Following behind Trump were his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka, her husband, Jared Kushner, a top White House aide, national security adviser H.R. McMaster and adviser Hope Hicks.

The pope smiled faintly as he greeted Trump outside the study. Trump, seeming subdued, said "it is a great honor."

The two men then posed for photographs and the pope kept a stern face while Trump beamed for the cameras.

At the end of the private encounter the pope, smiling and looking far more relaxed, gave the president a small sculptured olive tree symbolizing peace. Trump thanked him and said, "we can use peace."

Speaking in Spanish through an interpreter, the pope also gave Trump a signed copy of the message he delivered at the last World Peace Day and three of his major writings including his 2015 encyclical on the need to protect the environment.

"Well, I'll be reading them," Trump said.

He gave the pope a boxed set of writings by Martin Luther King.

As Trump left he told his host, "thank you, I won't forget what you said."

Trump's meeting with Pope Francis, his third stop on a nine-day foreign tour due to end on Saturday, was part of his world tour of religions after meeting leaders of Muslim nations in Saudi Arabia and visiting holy sites in Jerusalem.

While his talks in Saudi Arabia and Israel were mostly friendly, the meeting between the head of the Roman Catholic Church and the thrice-married, blunt-spoken Trump had the potential to be a little more confrontational.

SHARP EXCHANGES

The pope said last year a man who thinks about building walls and not bridges is "not Christian," a sharp reprimand for Trump's vow to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico.

Trump said it was "disgraceful" of the Argentine-born pope, who represents just over half of the world's two billion Christians, to question his faith.

"If and when the Vatican is attacked by ISIS, which as everyone knows is ISIS' ultimate trophy, I can promise you that the pope would have only wished and prayed that Donald Trump would have been president," Trump said during the campaign.

Trump's softer stance on environmental regulations also is at odds with Francis' view that climate change is caused mostly by human activity.

The Vatican also took a dim view of Trump's anti-Muslim campaign rhetoric, although Trump softened his tone considerably in a major speech in Riyadh.

Francis said last week he would be "sincere" with Trump but did not want to judge him before listening to him in person.

Part of Trump's motivation for meeting the pope was to dramatize how the three major religions should rally against the threat from Islamist militants.

“We thought that this trip was essential to put together the Muslim faith, the Jewish faith and then the Catholic faith, the Christian faith," said a senior White House official who briefed reporters on Trump's Air Force One flight to Rome.

"By putting everybody together you can really build a coalition and show that it’s not a Muslim problem, it’s not a Jewish problem, it’s not a Catholic problem, it’s not a Christian problem, it really is a world problem," the official said.

Trump at first did not plan to stop in Rome during his visit to Europe, which some in the Vatican saw as a snub. When he changed his mind, the Vatican squeezed him in at 8:30 a.m. on a Wednesday morning, an unusual day and an unusually early time.

Francis holds his weekly audience with the general public on Wednesday at 10 a.m. in St Peter's Square.

After the meeting, Trump moves on to Brussels for a NATO summit, followed by the last stop on his trip, at a Group of Seven summit in Sicily.

JPM advise Prof Muhongo to resign after he was implicated in a report

President John Magufuli wants energy and mineral minister Prof Sospeter Muhongo to reconsider his position after he was implicated in the mineral sand saga report.

(Additional reporting by Gavin Jones and Jeff Mason; Editing by Ralph Boulton)

JPM advise Prof Muhongo to resign after he was implicated in a report

Tanzania President John Magufuli wants energy and mineral minister Prof Sospeter Muhongo to reconsider his position after he was implicated in the mineral sand saga report.

President President John Magufuli is receiving a report on mineral sand investigation.

Dar es Salaam. President John Magufuli is receiving a report on mineral sand investigation.

The report is presented to him by Professor Abdulkarim Mruma

The President formed a team of experts in geology, chemicals and scientific analysis to probe mineral sand. 
Read here
Dar es Salaam. President John Magufuli is receiving a report on mineral sand investigation.

He gave the team 20 days to submit a report to the Head of State.

Sir Roger Moore, James Bond actor, dies aged 89

Sir Roger Moore has died at the age of 89 following "a short but brave battle with cancer"

 

Actor Sir Roger Moore, best known for playing James Bond, has died aged 89, his family has announced.

He played the famous spy in seven Bond films including Live and Let Die and the Spy Who Loved Me.

Sir Roger's family confirmed the news on Twitter, saying he had died after "a short but brave battle with cancer".

The statement, from his children, read: "Thank you Pops for being you, and being so very special to so many people."

"With the heaviest of hearts, we must share the awful news that our father, Sir Roger Moore, passed away today. We are all devastated," they said in a Twitter post.

Sir Roger's Bond credits include Moonraker, Octopussy and Live and Let Die

Sir Roger, who died in Switzerland, will have a private funeral in Monaco in accordance with his wishes, they added.

"The love with which he was surrounded in his final days was so great it cannot be quantified in words alone," read the statement from Deborah, Geoffrey and Christian.

"Our thoughts must now turn to supporting Kristina [his wife] at this difficult time."

It added: "We know our own love and admiration will be magnified many times over, across the world, by people who knew him for his films, his television shows and his passionate work for UNICEF which he considered to be his greatest achievement.

Along with his famous Bond role, Moore was also known for 1960s TV series The Persuaders and The Saint.

Sir Roger was also well known for his humanitarian work - he was introduced to Unicef by the late Audrey Hepburn and was appointed as a goodwill ambassador in 1991.

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Moore's Bond movies

Live and Let Die (1973)

The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Moonraker (1979)

For Your Eyes Only (1981)

Octopussy (1983)

A View to a Kill (1985)

Manchester attack: 22 dead and 59 hurt in suicide bombing

Twenty-two people have been killed and 59 injured in what Theresa May called an "appalling, sickening, terrorist attack" at Manchester Arena.

The attack happened in the foyer at 22:33 BST on Monday at the end of a concert by US singer Ariana Grande when a lone male set off a homemade bomb.

Relatives are using social media to hunt for loved ones, and an emergency number, 0161 856 9400, has been set up.

The first victim has been named as student Georgina Callander.

She was studying health and social care at Runshaw College in Lancashire.

In a statement in Downing Street, the prime minister said it was "now beyond doubt that the people of Manchester and of this country have fallen victim to a callous terrorist attack" that targeted "defenceless young people".

She said the security services believe they know the attacker's identity but are not yet able to confirm it.

Mrs May has chaired a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee and is expected to travel to Manchester later.

It is the worst terrorist attack in the UK since the 7 July bombings in 2005 in which 52 people were killed.

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said it was "the most horrific incident" the city had ever faced, and the "fast-moving investigation" was now working to establish whether the attacker "was acting alone or as part of a network".

Sixty ambulances attended the incident and those wounded are being treated at eight hospitals around the city.

Eyewitnesses described seeing metal nuts and bolts among the debris, and spoke about the fear and confusion that gripped the concertgoers.

Andy Holey, who had gone to the arena to pick up his wife and daughter, said: "An explosion went off and it threw me about 30ft from one set of doors to the other set of doors.

"When I got up I saw bodies lying on the ground. My first thought was to go into the arena to try to find my family."

Emma Johnson said she and her husband were at the arena to pick up her children, aged 15 and 17.

"We were stood at the top of the stairs and the glass exploded - it was near to where they were selling the merchandise," she told BBC Radio Manchester.

"The whole building shook. There was a blast and then a flash of fire afterwards. There were bodies everywhere."

Teenager Abigail Walker, who was at the concert, told the BBC: "I had to make sure I had my sister. I grabbed hold of her and pulled hard. Everyone was running and crying.

"We were just trying to figure where everyone was. It was absolutely terrifying."

Charlotte Campbell's daughter Olivia has been missing since the concert.

"She's only a 15-year-old girl, she's out there on her own because her friend has been found," she told the BBC.

"If anyone sees her contact me. Give her your phone and let her ring me. I just want her home."

---

Analysis: Gordon Corera, BBC security correspondent

The UK threat level has been has been judged to be severe for nearly three years - which means an attack is considered highly likely.

But in recent months the tempo of counter terrorist activity has been increasing with - on average - an arrest every day.

After the attack in Westminster by Khalid Masood in March, police and security officials have been warning that further attacks were almost inevitable.

But they also believed that those were more likely to be low-tech involving knives or vehicles. The fact that the Manchester attack involved explosives will worry them.

It may not have been at the level of complexity seen in Paris in 2015, when multiple attackers sent from Syria used guns and suicide belts, but it will still have required planning.

The blast happened close to the entrance to Victoria railway and tram station. The station has been closed and all trains cancelled.

Police also carried out a precautionary controlled explosion in the Cathedral Garden area of the city at about 01:32. The force later confirmed it was not a dangerous item.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said the city would "pull together", adding: "That's what we are. That's what we do. They won't win."

The Manchester Arena or MEN is the city's largest indoor venue with a concert capacity of around 21,000.

Police are encouraging anyone with footage from the scene to upload it at ukpoliceimageappeal.co.uk or ukpoliceimageappeal.com. Other information can be reported to the anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321.

Gambia accuses former president Jammeh of stealing $50m

The country's justice minister said on Monday, in the first major anti-corruption move by the country's new president.
"President Yahya Jammeh personally or under his instructions directed the unlawful withdrawal of at least $50 million," Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou said, describing withdrawals from The Gambia's central bank and linked with state-owned Gamtel between 2013 and 2017.
"We have today obtained a court order freezing or placing a temporary hold on the known assets in the country of former President Yahya Jammeh and companies directly associated with him," Tambadou added.

It's the first time the new government of the west African country has put a figure on the amount it believes Jammeh plundered from state coffers before leaving for exile in Equatorial Guinea in January after 22 years in power.

Kenyans query maize imports amid price hikes

Kenyans have been facing shortages of basic foods following a drought last year that affected the country's food stocks.

The shortage is such that the price of maize flour, with which people make the staple ugali, is currently twice its usual level, and people living close to the border with neighbouring Uganda and Tanzania have taken to shopping there.

One man is even reported to have killed his wife over a portion of ugali that was too small, The Star website reports.

The government last week imported 30,000 tonnes of maize flour, but Kenyans have been eyeing the shipment of food with suspicion, the Standard Digital website says.

Questions have been raised as to whether the government is colluding with companies to take advantage of the shortage, and suspicions have been exacerbated by pointed questions as to how long the government took to import the maize, and initial uncertainty over where it came from.

The government first said it was from Mexico. When this raised questions about how the shipment could have arrived in the six days that it did, the government clarified it had been imported into South Africa last year but not used, Capital FM reports.

Deputy President William Ruto has called the questions "unfair", asking, on Citizen TV: "Do you sincerely believe that we can play that kind of game with a very serious issue like the lives of people? The food of the people. Don't you think that is dangerous?"

The government has also since announced it will subsidise the import of maize to enable the price of a 2kg bag of flour to return to its usual price of about 90 shillings ($0.87, £0.67).

Tanzania's Serengeti Boys

Tanzania's Serengeti Boys boosted their hopes of qualifying for World Cup finals in India after cruising to a 2-1 win over Angola in their Group B match at the ongoing U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in Brazzaville, Gabon yesterday.

5. Biolarvacides: Dar’s ultimate ‘killer’ of the malaria vector

A plant that produces ‘biolarvacides’ or chemicals said to specifically target mosquito larvae, has produced two million litres of the stuff since last year when it started operations, most of it exported to four countries: Serbia, Cuba, Sweden and Niger, the National Assembly heard yesterday.

The factory, located at Kibaha District in the Coast region, is a joint venture between the government of Tanzania and Cuban stateowned firm Entrepreneurial Group Biological and Pharmaceutical Laboratories (Labiofam).

Deputy Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children Dr Kigwangalla said the plant has an installed capacity of producing six million litres, and has since sold the product to Mbogwe and Geita districts.

“We borrowed the technology from Cuba and now Cuba itself is importing the product from Tanzania. And in Tanzania, so far the product has been sold to Mbogwe and Geita districts while Songwe, Kondoa and Namtumbo districts have placed orders for the same”, said Dr Kigwangalla.

He was responding to supplementary questions from Othman Omar Haji (Gando-CUF) and Anthony Komu (Siha-Chadema) who wanted to know why the government had not purchased the product and distributed it across the country.

The MP also wanted to know if the government made any research before applying the technology which is new and unique not only in Tanzania but in Africa as a whole.

Dr Kigwangalla noted that before application of the technology, Tanzania and other users underwent various processes including researches and clinical trials which all proved its effectiveness and efficacy ‘beyond any reasonable doubt.’

He said his ministry had already urged all councils in the country to purchase the product in order to eradicate malaria in their respective areas.

“The ministry cannot use its whole malaria budget to buy this product and distribute it … because there’re other interventions against malaria which also need money.

Exclusive: China to lift curbs on foreign fund offshore investments

China will lift a two-year suspension on foreign funds raising money in the country to invest overseas as early as June, people familiar with the matter said, a sign that Beijing is getting less anxious about capital outflow pressures.

Some industry executives said the expected resumption of the Qualified Domestic Limited Partnership (QDLP) program may mean that an official crackdown on capital outflows and a weakening of the dollar have provided the authorities with more policy flexibility.

The Shanghai Municipal Government Financial Services Office, which runs the QDLP scheme, did not respond to requests for comment, while the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), which controls the capital account, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The QDLP program allows foreign fund managers to raise money within a set quota from high net-worth Chinese investors through a wholly-owned onshore fund management company and invest the cash overseas.

Launched in 2013, QDLP was one of a handful of controlled schemes that allowed Chinese to invest money overseas. It was subsequently informally suspended in 2015 after the stock market crashed and lost around 40 percent of its value.

The licenses and accompanying quota had previously been issued in batches, with authorities expected to issue the long-awaited next round in coming weeks, said two people briefed by regulators on the matter.

One of these people said authorities will, however, be a "little cautious" granting only around half a dozen licenses, these people said. The quota will also be lowered from $100 million per manager during the previous batches to between $50 million and $75 million this time round, one of these people and a third individual briefed on the matter said. That could amount to between $300 million to $450 million in fund flows abroad.

The sources said SAFE must ultimately sign-off on lifting the suspension.

But SAFE may be more comfortable doing so after the yuan rose 1 percent against the dollar this year after falling 6.5 percent in 2016. China's foreign exchange reserves also rose in April for a third straight month, as stringent capital controls and a pause in the dollar's rally helped staunch outflows.

On Friday, SAFE said China's cross-border capital flows were stabilizing and improving.

Some foreign managers such as insurance giant Allianz (ALVG.DE) and Dutch manager Robeco have positioned for the relaxation in curbs since late last year..

The opening-up of the QDLP quota, though small, will also expand the range of investment options global private banks can offer their wealthy clients in China, industry officials said.

Reuters reported in 2015 BlackRock Inc became the first traditional asset manager to receive the QDLP license, joining a handful of other global funds, including Man Group Plc and Och-Ziff Capital Management Group.

QDLP funds are private, meaning data is not publicly available on assets or performance, but industry insiders say they have seen strong demand as wealthy Chinese scrambled to hedge their exposure to the falling yuan by investing offshore.

A growing number of foreign financial institutions, including Aberdeen Asset Management, U.S. hedge fund Bridgewater Associates and Vanguard, have recently set up stand-alone money-management firms in China as Beijing further deregulate the mainland fund industry.

Previously, foreign asset managers looking to distribute investment products in China had to operate through minority-owned joint ventures with domestic firms, but Beijing has been gradually loosening the reins.

(Additional reporting by Sam Shen in SHANGHAI; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

Seeking a new narrative, Trump embarks on trip to Middle East and Europe

U.S. President Donald Trump looks over at Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos (L) during their joint news conference at the White House in Washington, U.S. May 18, 2017. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

With turmoil enveloping his administration at home, President Donald Trump heads abroad on Friday for a trip the White House hopes will shift focus away from domestic controversies and on to his foreign policy agenda.

Trump leaves for Saudi Arabia on Friday afternoon and will make stops next week in Israel, Belgium and Italy. The trip was billed as a chance to visit places sacred to three of the world's major religions while creating face time with Arab, Israeli and European leaders.

But a political uproar in Washington over Trump's firing of former FBI Director James Comey, allegations that he pressed Comey to stop investigating former national security adviser Michael Flynn, and the subsequent appointment of a special counsel to look into allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and potential ties with Trump's campaign threaten to overshadow his trip.

"We look forward to getting this whole situation behind us," the Republican president told a news conference at the White House on Thursday.

The sojourn abroad, his first foreign trip since taking office in January, may or may not help.

Trump is expected to be welcomed warmly by leaders in Riyadh and Jerusalem, but lingering questions over his views on the Iran nuclear deal, commitment to NATO security and skepticism of the Paris climate agreement could generate tension at meetings with European counterparts in Brussels and Sicily.

"It's almost always true that when a president goes on a big foreign trip, especially one that has some important summits ... that dominates the news and knocks most other stuff out," said Republican strategist Charlie Black.

"Whether by accident or design, this will help him in terms of Russia news for a while."

'MESSAGE OF UNITY'

The White House laid out three purposes for the trip: reaffirming U.S. leadership globally, building relationships with world leaders and broadcasting "a message of unity to America's friends and to the faithful of three of the world's greatest religions," said national security adviser H.R. McMaster.

"What President Trump is seeking is to unite peoples of all faiths around a common vision of peace, progress and prosperity," he told reporters.

Trump generated controversy as a presidential candidate with his call that Muslims be banned temporarily from entering the United States. His administration's proposal to limit travel from several Muslim-majority countries is tied up in court.

McMaster said Trump would deliver a speech in Saudi Arabia expressing hope that a peaceful vision of Islam would resonate worldwide.

The national security adviser, who publicly defended Trump this week against allegations that he improperly shared intelligence information with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during an Oval Office meeting, has a lot riding on the trip himself.

"He’s already on thin ice after his attempt to defend the president’s discussion of intelligence with the Russians, and he urged the president to do this trip, which may have been a bad idea," said one U.S. official. "It’s too long and covers too much ground and too many topics. If it goes badly, no matter who’s fault it is, it will be H.R.’s.”

Although he kept a grueling schedule as a presidential candidate, Trump is fond of being home at night, often flying back to New York after campaign events to sleep in his own bed. The nine-day trip will be his longest since becoming president.

(Additional reporting by Steve Holland and John Walcott; Editing by Peter Cooney)

US Navy moves second aircraft carrier near North Korea

 The US Navy is moving the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier to the Korean Peninsula where it will conduct dual-carrier training exercises with the USS Carl Vinson amid heightened tensions in the region, two defense officials told CNN.

The move comes just days after North Korea demonstrated a significant leap forward in their missile program after launching a projectile that achieved "successful" controlled reentry into the Earth's lower atmosphere rather than falling back to the surface, according to a preliminary US intelligence analysis, two US officials tell CNN.

The USS Ronald Reagan departed for the Korean Peninsula on Tuesday after completing a maintenance period and sea trials in its homeport of Yokosuka, Japan, according to the Navy.

"Coming out of a long in-port maintenance period we have to ensure that Ronald Reagan and the remainder of the strike group are integrated properly as we move forward," Rear Adm. Charles Williams said in a press release.

Once it arrives in the region, the carrier will conduct a variety of training exercises but primarily focus on certifying its ability to safely launch and recover aircraft, the Navy said. Defense officials would not comment on long the two carriers would be there, but ultimately the Reagan is expected to replace the Vinson in the region once its deployment ends.

The 1,092-foot Reagan, a Nimitz-class carrier, has a crew of 4,539 and is equipped with roughly 60 aircraft, according to the Navy. It was commissioned in 2003 and cost about $8.5 billion.

The USS Carl Vinson, also a Nimitz-class carrier, arrived at the Korean Peninsula late last month as a show of force in advance of a long-anticipated sixth nuclear test from the North Korean government.

While North Korea has yet to carry out that nuclear test, it did launch a Hwasong-12 missile that achieved an altitude of more than 2,100 kilometers (1,300 miles) on Sunday, according to the North Koreans, the highest launch to date in their missile test program.

Pyongyang said the test was "aimed at verifying the tactical and technological specifications of the newly developed ballistic rocket capable of carrying a large-size heavy nuclear warhead," according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

After the test, North Korea warned the United States not to provoke it, saying the "US mainland and Pacific operations" are within range of North Korean missiles.

N. Korea to US: Do not provoke us 01:30

KCNA said the test showed North Korea "has all powerful means for retaliatory strike" should Washington take any military action to stop its nuclear weapons program.

Tensions have rapidly escalated on the Korean Peninsula since US President Donald Trump declared in early April he would be prepared to act "unilaterally" against Pyongyang -- and North Korea has engaged in a series of military drills and test launches.

China, North Korea's longtime ally, has called on Pyongyang to stop its nuclear program while calling on the US to stop military drills and deployments in the region, which North Korea sees as threatening its security.

Russian President Vladimir Putin weighed in after Sunday's missile test, saying that while Moscow did not support Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, "intimidating (North Korea) is unacceptable."

Putin's comments drew criticism from US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who said Russia had it "all wrong."

"What about North Korea intimidating us?" Haley said.

Analysts said Pyongyang's latest missile test does give Washington something to worry about.

They said the test showed the missile could reach the US Pacific territory of Guam, home to Andersen Air Force Base, through which the US rotates heavy bombers, including B-1s, B-2s and B-52s.

While North Korea's arsenal of missiles is becoming clearer, there is less certainty about how developed its nuclear program is.

To actually deliver such a missile, Pyongyang would have to have advanced technology in both miniaturizing its nuclear weapons as well as in protecting a nuclear warhead from being destroyed upon reentry into the Earth's atmosphere.

Red Cross: 115 bodies found in CAR's Bangassou

Scores of bodies discovered in border town where 26 people were previously reported dead, aid group says.

Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana has committed his future to Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam until June 2021.

The 21-year-old made 32 league appearances this season as Ajax narrowly finished second behind champions Feyenoord.

He joined Ajax in 2015 from Barcelona, having found his way to the famous La Masia academy through a link with the Samuel Eto'o football foundation in Cameroon.

His form this season has been instrumental in Ajax's journey to the Europa League final where they will play Manchester United on 24 May in Stockholm.

"I feel at home at Ajax and in the Netherlands. Now I want to win great prizes with this great club." he told the club's official website.

Onana made his first team debut for the four-time European champions on 20 August 2016 against Willem II.

The former youth international is yet to make his senior international debut for five-time African champions Cameroon.

He was one of seven players to snub this year's Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.

U.S. pledges $526 million aid in 2017 to Tanzania to fight AIDS

The United States on Thursday approved $526 million aid to Tanzania over the coming year to expand the roll out of life-prolonging anti-retroviral drugs to people infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.Some 1.4 million Tanzanians are estimated to be living with HIV in the nation of around 50 million people, with about 850,000 of them currently on anti-retrovirals (ARVs)."This support will bring the total number of Tanzanians on HIV treatment up to 1.2 million," the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania said in a statement.The funds were donated through the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the world's largest provider of AIDS-fighting medicine.

The programme has been credited with saving millions of lives around the world.The financial assistance represents a 12 percent increase over last year’s budget and will also support HIV testing for 8.6 million Tanzanians and provide treatment to an estimated 360,000 people who newly test positive with the virus.The funds will also support the care and treatment of orphans and vulnerable children and voluntary medical male circumcision to further prevent HIV transmission.