Day: June 5, 2024

Addis Ababa: Chinese Bridge’ Chinese Proficiency Competition was held in Addis Ababa today with a view to improving the Chinese language ability of Ethiopian students.

At the 23rd Chinese proficiency competition, 11 Ethiopian students participated in the annual worldwide Chinese-speaking and performance event.

Each contestant made a Chinese speech, answered two questions related to Chinese cultures and presented his/her talents in Chinese arts.

The champions will be recommended to attend the final competition as a contestant to be held in China this summer and the second winner will be invited to watch the Final Competition.

‘Chinese Bridge’ Chinese Proficiency Competition is an important platform for Ethiopian students to learn Chinese language and cultures, and have a better understanding of China, and has played a positive role in promoting exchanges and mutual learning between our two ancient civilizations.

Since its establishment 23 years ago, the competition has developed into ‘a bridge of culture’
, ‘a bridge of friendship’ and ‘a bridge of heart and soul’ connecting China and the world.

It is also contributing much to the development of China-Ethiopia all-weather strategic partnership and the construction of China-Ethiopia community with a shared future.

Speaking on the occasion, State Minster of Education Kora Tushune said that education and cultural cooperation between the two countries have been growing year by year.

According him, China has been a major scholarship provider to Ethiopia students.

There is burgeoning institutional collaboration between Chinese and Ethiopia Universities which will create more opportunities to jointly work on common problems of the two countries and address global challenges, he noted.

He also mentioned the start of Amharic language in Beijing Foreign Studies University which signifies the mutual nature of partnership.

Chargé d’affaires of China Embassy in Ethiopia Shen Qinmin said the competition is an important platform for Ethiopian students to learn Chinese
language and culture and can play a positive role in promoting, exchange and cultural learning between the two countries.

He expressed his hope that more and more young Ethiopian students will be interested to learn Chinese languages and culture and similarly, more Chinese students will be interested to learn Ethiopian Languages and culture.

By learning from each other languages, we will consolidate the exchanges between the two countries and cement the bridge of brotherhood on shared interests of the two countries, he underscored.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

By Nchendzengang Tatah

Locals of Mutengene and Tiko, two semi urban and historic towns in Cameroon, now have potable water supply for the first time. This is following completion of a one billion German sponsored water supply project.

The two towns united administratively as Tiko Sud-division with an estimated population of 80,00 people have over the years had no proximity potable water source.Children trekked for long distances for water in the risk of the highway.

Following the launch of the FIECOM Meduim City Decentrilisation Programme in 2014, the Tiko Council submitted the Mutengene/Tiko potable water project. The submission of the Tiko Council was fortunate to be chosen.

The project is realised thanks to support from the German Development Bank, KFW, through the Special Council Fund for Mutual Assistance (FEICOM). It was officially commissioned on June 4, 2024 by the Minister of Descentrilisation and Local Development, George Elanga Obam in Mutengene.

In a visit to one of the water project reservo
irs at Dibanda, Minister Elanga Obam explained that the main interest for the government is to have more people receive the water.

He called on the Mayor of Tiko who he highlighted was fortunate to now have flowing taps in his Municipality, to take thorough care of the project in respect of the agreement signed and ensure that the local population are part of the management.

‘The effective exercise of powers transfered to local authorities in the area of water supply, particularly councils has once again been at the center of government concerns with the signing on 22nd May in Yaounde, for the financing agreement for the project to setup an Inter-Council Civil Engineering and Hydrolic Machinery fit,’ Minister Elango Obam announced.

This agreement the minister explained is testimony of the attention given by international partners to the decentrilisation policy on roll in Cameroon. And is equally a decisive turning point in the powers devolved to the local councils which will enable for portable drinking wa
ter and good roads.

The German Ambassador, Dr Corinna Fricke for her part, established that her government is firmly accompanying Cameroon in the Decentrilisation Process.

The Tiko Mayor, HRM Chief Messoso Ikome Peter III filled with great joy at the accomplishment said it was a mile stone which came to change the lives of the locals of his municipality. ‘Today will be recorded in the annals of history and judged positively for posterity. Good morning to my people in Mutengene/Tiko, your day has dawn.’

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Gendarmes from the Mewoulou gendarmerie post in Yaounde’s 6th subdivision seized three bags of cannabis from a suspected drug trafficker, Nté Eric, whom they arrested during a raid on May 26, 2024, at approximately 4:00 pm behind GHS Etoug-Ebe.

During his public presentation to the press on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, the suspect stated that he had engaged in this illicit business to support his impoverished and ill mother.

‘I have a very sick mother, and I am her sole caretaker. I have tried everything to raise funds and assist her. I managed to gather 815, 000 francs but lacked the remaining amount to reach one million,’ disclosed the suspect.

The former taxi driver in Yaounde decided to change his profession by selling cannabis at Omnisport, citing it as a profitable location.

‘I noticed that people were purchasing and using cannabis at the Omnisport stadium, and realized that it was a lucrative market. That’s when I started selling there to generate income, selling each pack for 3,000 francs,’ explained t
he suspect.

Captain Guy Roger ETETA’A AWA’A, the interim commander at the Yaounde II Gendarmerie Company, reported that the three bags of cannabis confiscated from the suspect weighed a total of 45 kilograms.

Acting on information provided by Eric, authorities have launched an investigation to apprehend his accomplices.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

By Charity Nginyu

Councillor Mathias Bang, a prominent figure within the Zhoa Council of Menchum Division, North West Region was brutally assassinated early June 5, 2024, by suspected separatist fighters.

The incident occurred as he was traveling from Wum to Bamenda, with the ambush taking place near Befang in Menchum Division.

Reports indicate that separatist fighters intercepted the bike on which Councillor Bang found himself at Befang Vef launching a sudden and deadly attack.

Councillor Bang fell victim to the violence, succumbing to fatal gunshot wounds inflicted by the armed separatists.

The bike rider accompanying him also suffered severe injuries in the assault and is currently fighting for his life in a local health facility in Befang.

Several bikers who were running through that route, returned to base after being told that bikers were also targeted.

The incident comes a few days after another tragic attack by separatists that claimed the life of a Divisional Delegate for Sports and Physical
Education in the North West Region.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Rabat – The number of victims of the methanol poisoning that recently occurred in the commune of Sidi Allal Tazi (province of Kenitra) has reached 8 deaths, said, on Wednesday, the Rabat-Salé-Kenitra Regional Directorate of Health and Social Protection.

‘Some 114 cases of methanol poisoning were recorded, from Monday at 6:00 pm to Wednesday at 8:00 am in the commune of Sidi Allal Tazi, and confirmed in the laboratory by the Moroccan Anti-Poison and Pharmacovigilance Center (CAPM) in Rabat,’ the same source said in a statement.

According to the Regional Directorate, the consumption of this substance exposed these people to serious complications of intoxication, resulting in the death of eight of them, seven of them at the El Idrissi provincial hospital in Kenitra, while another death was recorded at the Zoubeir Skirej hospital in Souk El Arbaa du Gharb.

’81 other cases are under medical supervision in the region’s various hospitals. These include 28 cases at the El Idrissi provincial hospital in Kenitra, t
hree of whom are admitted to the intensive care unit. 38 people have left the hospital following an improvement in their state of health”, the same source added.

In addition, “40 cases were admitted to the Moulay Youssef Regional Hospital Center in Rabat, two of which were placed in the intensive care unit. The latter two are undergoing, with 20 other cases, hemodialysis treatments at the Hemodialysis Center at the University Hospital Ibn Sina of Rabat, following complications linked to the consumption of this substance.

‘As soon as it was informed of this tragic incident, the Regional Management mobilized its medical and nursing staff, as well as the resources and equipment needed to provide care for those affected, in cooperation with the various authorities and stakeholders, in addition to mobilizing the medical managers and teams placed on alert’, according to the statement.

‘All necessary resources have been mobilized to receive new cases at the region’s health facilities, while close coordination is
being established with local authorities to identify any cases that may have made their way to the region’s health centers and hospitals’, the source stressed.

The Regional Directorate urges ‘citizens in the province of Kenitra to report any similar cases and refer them directly to the nearest health facility in order to receive appropriate care and avoid any serious health complications’.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse