The Lost Boy: Arif’s Story; As told by Alice Farmer, children's rights researcher

This photo shows two asylum-seeking boys standing on a staircase as they are detained at Belawan Immigration Detention Center in September 2012

I was disturbed by this story when reading it on http://www.hrw.org, these boys or rather children are from various nationalities; their story shows they are resilient and brave in finding their path in such  remarkable journeys alone. Read on please....

A story as told by Alice Farmer, children's rights researcher

I met Arif, a 16-year-old boy from Afghanistan, in a Pizza Hut near Jakarta, Indonesia. He dressed neatly, with his hair carefully slicked back. He held himself with confidence, dressed in a pressed, white t-shirt, but beneath the exterior I saw a boy who lived thousands of miles away from his family, who had risked his life repeatedly for safety and opportunity.

We were meeting to discuss Arif’s experiences while locked up in Indonesia’s immigration detention system. But his story began when, at 15, he borrowed $7,000 from his oldest brother, who lived in Australia, to hire smugglers to sneak him out of Afghanistan and into Indonesia. He ultimately planned to join his brother in Australia, where he hoped to claim asylum, go to school and build a new life.

Nigeria Is the 8th Most Corrupt Country in the World

Published By: ireporterstv - Today

According to Transparency International's Global Corruption Barometer 2013, The non-profit anti-corruption body surveyed residents in 107 countries.

Nigeria, Russia and Mexico are among the world’s biggest countries with active corruption indices. Liberia and Mongolia lead the table.

According to the report, the world’s corrupt nations differ in many ways. Four are located in Africa, three in Latin America and two in Asia.

GAMBIA/SENEGAL FINAL COMMUNIQUE

FINAL COMMUNIQUE OF THE 6TH SESSION OF THE JOINT COMMISSION BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA AND THE REPUBLIC OF SENEGAL
BAN JUL,9TH JULY 2013

On the 8 and 9 of July 2013, the 6th Session of the Joint Commission between the Republic of The Gambia and the Republic of Senegal was held in Banjul, under the auspices of Her Excellency Madame Susan Waffa-OGOO, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of The Gambia and His Excellency Mr. Mankeur NDIAYE, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad of the Republic of Senegal.

This high level meeting is part of the framework of implementing executive directives given by His Excellency Yahya A J J JAMMEH, President of the Republic of The Gambia and His Excellency Mr. Macky SALL, President of the Republic of Senegal, who are desirous of seeing that the cooperation reflects the excellent brotherly and friendly relations that happily bind the two countries and their highest authorities.

This 5th Session of the Joint Commission afforded the two Heads of delegation the opportunity to exchange points of view on issues of mutual interest at both the regional and international levels.

Nelson Mandela ambulance broke down on the way to hospital

Nelson Mandela enjoying his 89th birthday celebrations at the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund in Johannesburg. Photograph: Denis Farrell/AP

The emergency ambulance carrying Nelson Mandela to hospital two weeks ago broke down; says South African presidential spokesman. Mac Maharaj confirmed that the vehicle had engine trouble and  the former president was tranferred to another ambulance. But he said there was no threat to Mr Mandela as he was surrounded by intensive  care nurses  the whole time. 

Philipines destroy illegal ivory

The philippines is destroing millions of dollars worth of ivory smuggled in to the country from Africa in a bid to discourage its illegal trade. Heavy machinery began crushing the ivory in a car park on Friday. 

The stockpile was built up over the last decade as customs officials seized several illegal ivory shipments. 

Wildlife campaigners say there has been an increase in the illegal trade in tusks over recent years - much of it reportedly through the Philippines. 

"This act is a strong statement to the rest of the World that the Philippines will not tolerate the illegal wildlife trade,"

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.

Destroying the stockpile ensures that seized ivory cannot be stolen from government warehouses and sold on the black market. 

The international trade in Ivory had been banned since 1989, to protect Africa's elephant populations, some of which are endangered.  

A detained Cameroon fecafoot president wins election

Depspite being detained by the country's authorities, Cameroon Fecafoot president Iya Mohammed  has been re-elected to the role.

According to The Median (24th June 2013), Mohaammed was arrested on 10 June in connection with his job as director-general of the country's state- owned Cotton Development Company. 

He won Wednesday's election after an initial delay, when police blocked delegates fron entering the Fecafoot headquarters for the polls. In his continuing absence, Fecafoot vice-president Mbombo Njoya will take chage of the organisation. 

International Widows' Day

In Douala, economic capital of Cameroon, it was attended and chaired by the followings: Senators, Eposes of administrative authorities,  Female juries, Dignitaries of many feminine NGOs associations, Governor of the littoral regions represented by his secretary, Delegate of public service littoral region, Civil right society officials. Photo credit: Nadine Tonguem of Empower Success In Africa (ESIA)

International Widows' Day was introduced to address poverty and injustice faced by widows and their children in many countries. It was officially recognized by the United Nations in 2010 and is usually observed anually on June 23. 

"No woman should lose her rights when she loses her husband – but an estimated 115 million widows live in poverty, and 81 million have suffered physical abuse. Girls married to much older men are especially vulnerable. Let us use International Widows’ Day to advocate for the rights of all widows so they can enjoy better lives and realize their great potential to contribute to our world." by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Educational: How to spot a sociopath

According to Mike Adams (2012), Sociopaths are masters are presenting themselves as heroes with high morals and philosophy, yet underneath it they are the true criminal minds in society who steal, undermine, deceive, and often incite emotional chaos among entire communities. They are masters at turning one group of people against another group while proclaiming themselves to be the one true savior. Wherever they go, they create strife, argument and hatred, yet they utterly fail to see their own role in creating it. They are delusional at so many levels that their brains defy logical reasoning.

10 signs for spotting a sociopath

Cameroon News: Up to 109 SONARA workers were decorated with Medals

Photo credit: The Post; Minister decorating a worker

On Monday May 6,  the Mister of Labour and Social Security, HE Gregoire Owona decorated some 109 meritorious SONARA (National Oil Refining Company Ltd ) workers with Medals. 

Cameroon News: Charles Metouck At Kondengui prison

The former General Manager of SONARA, who was recently slammed nine years by Limbe High Court was under Questioning at the Special Criminal Court on Wednesday 7th May for alleged corruption charges.  He has been kept in custody at the Kondengui Central Prison.
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Source: Cameroon Tribune