Month: August 2023

Spain qualified for the first World Cup final in its history, beating Sweden (2-1) on Tuesday in Auckland, in a semi-final with twists and turns that tipped on a goal in the 90th minute. by Olga Carmona.

With an overpowered strike, the Spanish defender knocked out the Swedes who had equalized a few seconds earlier, by Rebecka Blomqvist (88th).

Padlocked for a long time, the match was unlocked in a last quarter of an hour of madness, following the goal of Salma Paralluelo (81st), the Spanish “supersub” of Equatoguinean origin already decisive in the previous round.

The offensive force of La Roja got the better of the co-best defense of the tournament, surprised by the turn of events, in the New Zealand rain which showered their hopes.

Spain, who were playing in their first World Cup semi-final , remain in contention for a title that would crown their change in status from emerging nation to established power.

Aitana Bonmati ‘s teammates thwarted the odds, despite behind-the-scenes tensions linked to the methods deemed divisive by coach Jorge Vilda , who suffered the revolt of 15 internationals last year who no longer wanted to play under his orders.

One of the youngest selections of the tournament will face, on Sunday in Sydney, Australia or England, two other countries in search of a first star.

The cruel outcome is repeated for Sweden, which loses a third consecutive World Cup semi-final, after 2011 and 2019 – not to mention the semi-final lost last year at the Euro.

The Parallelo joker

The Scandinavians, who had eliminated the United States double defending champions in the eighth round (0-0 aet, 5-4 pens) then Japan in the quarterfinals (2-1), left the competition against a supposedly less experienced opponent.

Their strategy with a strong defensive content, however, kept the Spaniards away from the goal of Zecira Musovic for a long time, who did not have to deploy as she did brilliantly against the Americans.

Spain remained faithful to their possession game, embellished with high-class technical gestures, but without being dangerous, during a balanced first hour, without brilliance on either side.

The entry into play (57th) of winger Salma Paralluelo, in place of the double Golden Ball Alexia Putellas, relaunched the match in favor of La Roja who, finally, got out of the false rhythm imposed by their opponents.

The 19-year-old Barcelona nugget opened the scoring with a fine low shot from the right. It was she who had already scored to qualify Spain for the semi-finals, during extra time against the Netherlands (2-1 ap), a match which she had started as a substitute.

The goal woke up Sweden, who equalized through Blomqvist, whose volley, off a header from Lina Hurtig, seemed to redirect the game into extra time.

It was without counting on Carmona. Following a corner, the Spanish captain sent a powerful shot that Musovic deflected in vain on his bar, then in his goal.

Pope Francis implored the Virgin Mary for peace in Ukraine and other war lacerated places in the world on Tuesday during a special prayer marking the Feast of the Assumption.

Assumption marks Mary’s ascension to heaven, an important holiday for the 1.3 billion catholic believers worldwide.

“Today we will trust in Holy Saint Mary and implore her for peace in Ukraine, in all the places lacerated by war, there are many, unfortunately. The noise of weapons covers the attempts for dialogue. The right to use force prevails over (human) rights. But we will not become discouraged. We will continue to hope and pray because God is the one who guides history, and who listens to us. Today, the day of our Lady, I greet the young people of the Immacolata,” said the Pope.

Hundreds of faithful from around the world gathered below the window of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican to hear the Pope deliver his message.

The Pontiff concluded his remarks by asking the faithful to pray for him.

Authorities in Ethiopia are carrying out mass arrests of hundreds, even thousands, of people in the capital after deadly unrest in the country’s Amhara region, lawyers and witnesses said.

Ethiopia’s Cabinet declared a state of emergency earlier this month in Amhara after local militia fighters known as Fano seized control of several major towns, which the military has since retaken by force. The Fano, who fought alongside Ethiopian military forces in a two-year conflict in the neighboring Tigray region, have resisted being disbanded after a peace deal last November.

Ethiopia’s parliament is to vote Monday on giving formal approval to extraordinary measures which allow authorities to arrest suspects without a warrant, conduct searches and impose curfews. Under the previous state of emergency imposed during the Tigray conflict, tens of thousands of ethnic Tigrayans were rounded up across the country.

This time, “there has been widespread arrest of civilians who are of ethnic Amhara origin,” the state-appointed Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said Monday, calling on the federal authorities to cease the detentions.

Activists say ethnic Amharas are being targeted in the mass arrests.

Two lawyers said the emergency measures also appear to be in effect in the capital, Addis Ababa, where suspects are being held at police stations, schools and other makeshift detention centers after being swept off the streets. The lawyers, like others, spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution.

One lawyer said he visited seven schools and police stations last week where “hundreds” of people were held. The other lawyer, citing police sources, said 3,000 people had been arrested in Addis Ababa.

A third lawyer said he encountered several young people last week at police stations and courts in Addis Ababa who had been arrested and accused of having links to the Fano militia.

The federal government said only 23 people have been arrested under the state of emergency in Addis Ababa. Those include Christian Tadele, an outspoken opposition lawmaker who should have immunity from arrest under Ethiopia’s Constitution as a member of parliament.

“No suspect has been arrested apart from these 23 individuals and the information circulating that there are mass arrests is wrong,” the federal government’s communication service said a statement Friday.

On Saturday, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission urged that the state of emergency be limited to one month and “to the specific place where the special danger is said to have occurred, rather than applying it throughout the entire country.”

The commission on Monday said it had confirmed “heavy fighting in and around cities and towns across the Amhara region, which involved the use of heavy artillery resulting in the deaths and injuries of civilians, as well as damage to property.”

It said prisons and police stations in the region were broken into and that Amhara regional officials were the target of attacks, with some killed, “resulting in the temporary collapse of local state structure in many areas.”

Niger’s mutinous soldiers said they will prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for “high treason” and undermining state security, in an announcement hours after the junta said they were open to dialogue with West African nations to resolve the mounting regional crisis.

If found guilty, Bazoum could face the death penalty, according to Niger´s penal code.

Spokesman Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane said on state television Sunday night that the military regime had “gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute before competent national and international authorities the ousted president and his local and foreign accomplices for high treason and for undermining the internal and external security of Niger.”

The announcement said high-ranking West African politicians and “their international mentors” have made false allegations and attempted to derail a peaceful solution to the crisis in order to justify a military intervention.

It said Bazoum was being charged following his exchanges with these people. The statement did not identify specific Western countries and did not specify a date for the trial.

The Johannesburg High Court has sentenced Gerhard Ackerman, a notorious serial offender, to 12 life sentences for his extensive record of sexual crimes against children in South Africa.

Presiding Judge Mohamed Ismail ruled that the 12 life terms would run concurrently, underscoring the gravity of Ackerman’s heinous acts.

In a landmark trial in April, the court found Ackerman guilty of attempted murder and an array of sexual offenses targeting minors, with a predominant focus on young boys.

Among the grave sexual offences, Ackerman was convicted of rape, human trafficking, the sinister grooming of minors, as well as the production, possession, and distribution of child pornography.

Moreover, the court disclosed that Ackerman is currently under trial for a separate case of child sexual abuse, allegedly committed at a Johannesburg country club back in 2018.

The tragic passing of Paul Kennedy, Ackerman’s alleged accomplice, cast a somber shadow over the proceedings. Kennedy, who held roles as an advocate and acting judge, tragically died by suicide in February 2022, prior to the commencement of the trial.

Kennedy had been implicated in aiding Ackerman’s operation of a harrowing child sex abuse ring, with additional allegations of transmitting HIV to certain victims referred to him by Ackerman.

Following the sentencing, a twist emerged as Ackerman took the surprising step of dismissing his legal representation. Speaking to the press, he staunchly maintained his innocence against the majority, if not all, of the charges levied against him. Ackerman announced his intention to petition for a retrial of the case.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday voiced support for efforts of the West African bloc ECOWAS on Niger without explicitly backing its call at a summit for military intervention.

The United States has in recent days cautioned that military force should be only a last resort and that diplomacy was the best way to resolve the crisis.

“Deputy Secretary of State Nuland as you know was just in Niger. She had an opportunity to speak directly to the military leaders who’ve undertaken this action and made clear to them the imperative of restoring constitutional order as well as everything that’s at risk if they don’t. As significantly, ECOWAS, the organization that brings together West African countries, is playing a lead role in making clear the imperative of the return to constitutional order, and we very much support ECOWAS’ leadership and work on this.”**he said.

The United States will hold the junta that took power in Niger accountable for the safety of democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum, his family, and detained members of the government, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday.

South Africa’s former president Jacob Zuma was admitted to the Estcourt Correctional Centre and released in less than two hours.

The Correctional Services national commissioner said Zuma’s release was part of a remission program aiming to address prison overcrowding.

As pressure from the opposition mounted Friday (Aug. 11), authorities and correctional services defended their decision.

“The law has taken its course with regards to the former president Zuma. The national commissioner has taken a decision and that decision was not interfered with, neither did we meddle with it,” the Justice and Correctional Services minister told the press.

Minister Lamola said, the former leader immediately benefited from a remission of non-violent offenders approved by President Ramaphosa.

9,500 inmates will be released

Under the remissions process authorized by President Cyril Ramaphosa, almost 9,500 inmates will be released from prison and placed under correctional supervision, said Makhothi Thobakgale, correctional services commissioner.

The decision to return Zuma to prison followed a Supreme Court of Appeal judgment that upheld a Gauteng High Court ruling that releasing him from jail on medical parole in 2021 was unlawful and unconstitutional.

However, the court left to Thobakgale the decision of whether Zuma should return to jail or have his time under medical parole considered as time served.

Zuma was jailed in 2021 for defying a Constitutional Court order to appear before a commission of inquiry investigating allegations of corruption during his tenure as president from 2009 to 2018.

He was released on medical parole two months into his 15-month sentence.

Then correctional services commissioner Arthur Fraser, a known ally of the former president, authorized Zuma’s release on medical parole.

The Jacob Zuma Foundation has argued that Zuma served his sentence as he was under correctional supervision while on medical parole.

The Department of Correctional Services said last year that Zuma had been released from its system after serving his sentence.

His incarceration had sparked violent riots in KwaZulu-Natal and property destruction in the province and in the Gauteng province, which includes the economic hub Johannesburg.

According to official government figures, 354 people died during the chaos as police struggled

to quell the spread of the violence and destruction.

The decision to return Zuma to prison followed a Supreme Court of Appeal judgment that upheld a Gauteng High Court ruling that releasing him from jail on medical parole in 2021 was unlawful and unconstitutional.

However, the court left to Thobakgale the decision of whether Zuma should return to jail or have his time under medical parole considered as time served.

The Jacob Zuma Foundation has argued that Zuma served his sentence as he was under correctional supervision while on medical parole.

The Department of Correctional Services said last year that Zuma had been released from its system after serving his sentence.

Air France has extended “until August 18 inclusive” the suspension of its flights to and from Bamako and Ouagadougou “following the coup d’état in Niger and because of the geopolitical situation in the Sahel region”, the airline said on Friday.

The carrier announced on Monday a suspension of its flights to Mali and Burkina Faso until Friday inclusive, shortly after the closure of the airspace of neighbouring Niger.

The Malian and Burkinabè authorities gave their support to the perpetrators of the July 26 coup in Niger. The West African countries of ECOWAS gave the green light on Thursday to the use of force to restore the ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, without however excluding diplomatic means to resolve the crisis.

The closure of Niger’s airspace is forcing companies to make large detours to reach Europe, lengthening flight times.

Air France says it is “in contact with the French authorities” to monitor “permanently the evolution of the geopolitical situation of the territories served and overflown by its aircraft” and recalls that “the safety of its customers and its crews is its absolute priority. ”