Limbe Festival of Arts & Culture Begins on Saturday April 7

By Boris Esono  in Buea

The annual Limbe FESTAC is melting pot for cultures from around Cameroon and Africa

The fifth edition of the Limbe Festival of Arts and Culture, FESTAC officially kicks off this Saturday April 7, 2018. This year’s cultural jamboree coincides with the 160th anniversary of the founding of Victoria now Limbe (1858-2018)

            The event under the distinguish patronage of the Minister of Arts and Culture; Narcisse Mouelle Kombi will take place at the Limbe community field. During the opening ceremony, there will be the inauguration of the 160th anniversary monument, a walk around town, carnival and a musical concert.

            The one week event will see the participation of various cultural groups in the country and beyond. The organizers have brought in other countries such as Togo, Nigeria, Ghana and the Republic of Benin to take part in the rich cultural display that will also feature various traditional groups from across the country.

            In a press briefing earlier, the government delegate to the Limbe City council, Andrew Motanga Monjimba indicated that all was set for the smooth start of the cultural event. He further called on the population to come out massively as Limbe FESTAC is meant for them.

            “We all should come out on that day and exhibit our different cultures because Limbe FESTAC demonstrates a peaceful coexistence of all cultures”. “I want to appreciate the entire population of Limbe for their sense of responsibility, maturity and discernment which has contributed immensely in lifting our municipality and making it unique amongst others”.

Suspected “Ambazonia Soldier’’ Killed At Meme SDO’s Residence

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

SDO, Chamberlin Ntou’ouNdong

A suspected Ambazonia assailant was Monday March 26 killed as he attempted to attack armed security officers at the Meme SDO’s residence at up-station Kumba. The SDO, Chamberlin Ntou’ouNdong, told reporters the attack took place at about 1:20am on the night of Sunday breaking Monday and that the assailant was shot and killed as he attempted to force his way into his residence with a knife. 

            One of the soldiers on guard told us the attackers were many, but the one that was shot had maybe advanced to check if the position of the armed guards and maybe distract them so that the others could launch their attack.

            The security officer noted that the other fighters that were hiding in the surrounding bushes fled for their lives, as soon as they realized their colleague had succumbed to the gun shots from the security.

Hundreds of Carved Ivory Seized in Yaounde Hotel

A man has been arrested with hundreds of carved ivory pieces in a shop that sells arts objects and located at the ground floor of a popular hotel in Yaounde. The arrest that took place last week was carried out by wildlife officials from the Centre Regional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife.

            Accompanied by police officers from the judicial police, they arrived the hotel and move into the shop where they waited for a couple of minutes for the storekeeper who was absent to come. He was presented with the search warrant and the store thoroughly searched to reveal over 200 carved ivory pieces among the other arts objects on display. He was taken to the office of the judicial police chief where the owner of the shop, on hearing the arrest, would turned up a day later. They were both interrogated and statements taken down.

            The operation, is basically the first of its kind in several years as traffickers have mostly resorted to selling raw ivory tusks which are then illegally exported out of the country. This situation was very peculiar because one could clearly see carved ivory pieces among other wooden artefacts on the shelves of the shop in  a very popular hotel that is visited by so many people. Prices were equally found on the carved ivory pieces.  The operation was carried out with the technical assistance of LAGA (EAGLE Cameroon).

Cameroon listed among most attractive investment destinations in Africa

By Innocent Kum in Yaounde

President Biya has succeeded to put Cameroon on the list of investment destination countries

Cameroon has been ranked amongst most attractive investment destinations in Africa.

            According to the latest Africa Investment Index 2018 by Quantum Global Research Lab, an independent research arm of Quantum Global, Cameroon was ranked 12 out of some 54 countries survey across Africa.

            Though the Central African giant nation was classified amongst the first ten most attractive destinations, experts say the country remains fertile ground for foreign investment in the continent.

            Meanwhile going by the same index, Morocco was named first most attractive investment destination in Africa, followed closely by Egypt and Algeria.

            The index which was released on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, it should be said measures six major factors including growth, liquidity, risk, business environment, demography and social capital, to determine the investment attractiveness of countries in the medium term.

            Ivory Coast which is the fastest growing economy in Africa was ranks 5th on the investment index while Botswana, previously ranked as Africa’s top investment destination in the first edition, ranks 4th scoring well in risk factors as well as the business environment.

My Wish is to Stay at Real

- Zidane

Madrid (AFP) - Zinedine Zidane indicated on Friday that he wants to stay at Real Madrid next season.

            But Real´s coach admitted his future will depend on results, with his team sitting third in La Liga, 15 points adrift of Barcelona, and relying on the Champions League for a major trophy this term.

            Zidane had previously stayed guarded over his desire to remain at the club but appears now to have declared his hand. Real travel to Las Palmas in the league on Saturday.

            "Yes, I would still like to stay as coach of Real Madrid," Zidane said. "Here we depend on the results, it has not changed, it will not change, it is the requirement of this club and I accept it.

            "I've been here 18 years, I know how Real Madrid functions," said Zidane, who arrived at the club in the summer of 2001.

"I do what I like doing, I do it thoroughly and if the question is, do you want to continue? Then yes I will continue. I do not feel tired, not at all."

            Despite winning the Champions League in each of his two seasons in charge at Real, as well as the La Liga title last year, Zidane has come under pressure in recent months.

            Real's limp defence of their domestic crown, a shock exit to Leganes in the Copa del Rey, and their poor start in Europe, where they finished second in the group behind Tottenham, combined to put Zidane's position in doubt.

Real Madrid's James Rodriguez prefers Bayern over move to Premier League

Rodriguez, currently on a two-year loan with the Bundesliga champions, has been linked with moves to Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal in the past year.

"At Bayern I'm fine, I'm good at Bayern," Rodriguez told The Sun.

            "In France [at Monaco] I was playing, now at Bayern I'm always playing and I think that's good to arrive [at the World Cup] with a good rhythm."

            Man United were offered the chance to sign the Colombian in the summer, according to ESPN sources, while Liverpool are thought to be long term admirers of the Colombian.

No British Referee Chosen for Russia 2018

There will be no British referee at the World Cup this summer for the first time since 1938. Fifa has chosen 36 officials for the tournament in Russia but none from England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

            Mark Clattenburg was the only Briton on Fifa's long list of officials, collated in summer 2016, from which it would choose the final selection for Russia.

            But he left his job with the Premier League and forfeited his place.

            Clattenburg, who took charge of the Euro 2016 final when Portugal overcame hosts France, quit his job as a top-flight official in February 2017 to become Saudi Arabia's new head of referees.

            The Football Association did ask world governing body Fifa to replace him with another official but it rejected the request.

            There are also no British officials among the 63 assistant referees selected, while video assistant referees (VAR) will be chosen from the pool of officials at the tournament.

            VAR is being used at the World Cup for the first time.

            The World Cup did not take place for 12 years after 1938 because of World War Two, and since it resumed in 1950 there has been at least one English referee at each tournament.