Paul Chouta’s case has witnessed another adjournment in court today. It was adjourned to August 12th, 2020. Chouta was arrested over 14 months ago on orders of Franco-Cameroonian writer, Calixthe Beyala who accused him of defamation.
The Customs office of Idenau now has a new Chief. Epalle George was today installed as Chief of custom for Idenau, one of the main entry points into the South West Region by sea. He will be in charge of instilling a workable trade environment between Cameroon and Nigeria across the border.
GICAM has demanded an exonoration of taxes till the end of 2020 to enable business people to cope with the losses recorded during the coronavirus pandemic. During a gathering to present the findings of a survey on the pandemic impacts, it was revealed that the most affected sectors were the tourism and restauration sector amongst others.
The government has spent close to 2 billion francs cfa in the fight against coronavirus pandemic since its out break on March 6th 2020 in Cameroon. The Minister of public health Dr. Manaouda Malachie mentioned that yesterday on state television (CRTV). He also denied allegations that his ministry mismanaged bags of rice offered to assist victims.
There are 16.708 COVID-19 positive cases in Cameroon. 14.539 have been treated and 385 have died of the virus. The figures were given by the Minister of public health Dr. Manaouda Malachie in a virtual meeting chaired by PM Dion Ngute.
FINEX travel agency had been sealed as investigations continue on the killing a gendarme officer this morning. Video footage from surveillance camera shows a boy hitting the gendarme with a plank on the head. Military men arrested several people at the premises of the agency’s Douala branch in Akwa.
The FINEX scandal has raised wide concerns on social media as to the services rendered by most travel agencies in the country. Many have had divided opinions as to whether passengers should pay for toilet facilities even after paying for their travel tickets.
The headmaster of government primary school Gazawa in the Far North region of Cameroon is in detention for alleged embezzlement of registration fees of classes six pupils in the French sub system of education. Thanks to the prompt intervention of authorities, the 45 pupils were permitted to write.
The Senior Divisional Officer for Mezam Division has banned all collective sporting activities in the Division. Simon Emile Mooh says the decision is to enforce COVID-19 preventive measures. He notes that the population of Mezam has been violating the measures most especially during collective sports.
Heavy rains in Douala early this morning inundated houses in some quarters. At New Town Airport quarter, water flooded houses. The situation is a yearly happening during the raining season.
Examinations organised by the Ministry of secondary education in Cameroon billed for Thursday July 30 and Friday July 31st have been rescheduled. Following a release from Minister Pauline Nalowa Lyonga, the written and practical parts of BEPC, STT, BEP, BP, BACCALAUREATS and PROBATOIRE billed for these days will be written on Saturday 1st August 2020 with time and venues maintained. The Minister says this decision has been provocked by the feast of the Ram programmed on the days.
Muslim faithfuls in Cameroon will commemorate the feast of the Ram on Friday July 31st 2020. Following a press release from the National Moon Crescent Commission, Arafat day will be on Thursday July 30th 2020, followed by the feast of the feast of Tabaski or feast of the Ram
The authorities in Niger have announced that the country’s airspace will reopen for international flights in the coming days. Like most countries around the world, Niger closed its airports and land borders in March as part of efforts to contain coronavirus. In a statement, the government says after assessing the situation, international passenger flights will now resume on 1 August.
American social media giant Facebook says its investments in internet connectivity in Africa will see the continent’s economy grow by nearly $60bn (£47bn) by 2024. A report released by the company shows that an increase in access would significantly lower the cost of internet on the continent. Facebook says it is investing in data centres, submarine cables and wi-fi infrastructure to enable more people in sub-Saharan Africa to access the internet, and spur uptake of e-commerce and online job applications.
Uganda has recorded the country’s first coronavirus death, according to a tweet from the ministry of health. The 34-year-old woman was originally being treated for pneumonia in hospital last week. She died on Tuesday and was buried on Thursday. She was part of the support staff at a health centre and the health ministry says 30 people who have may have come into contact with the woman have been placed under quarantine and the tracing of other people who interacted with her is still ongoing.
Uganda’s ruling party has announced President Yoweri Museveni as its presidential candidate for the general elections scheduled for January 2021. It sets the stage for the 75-year-old president to extend his rule to four decades after rising to power in 1986 through an armed rebellion. The party’s announcement was shared on Twitter by local television channel NTV.
The United Nations has condemned the killing of five aid workers by militants in Nigeria. The militants abducted the five men in the north-eastern Borno state in June. Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has blamed the Islamist militant group Boko Haram for their deaths. UN humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, said “it is unacceptable that those who are trying to help are being attacked and killed”.
Gunmen have kidnapped four Chinese construction workers in the southern Nigerian state of Cross River. The police spokesperson for the state, Irene Ugboh Itohan, confirmed the incident to the BBC. She said a policeman working with the Chinese nationals was killed during the abduction which happened near a quarry site in the remote area of Akampka on Tuesday night. Security personnel have been deployed to search for the expatriates.
