Archive: News In Brief

Sudan: Southern Sudanese have voted whether or not to remain one. 60% of votes counted points to the direction of having a new African country. Sudan is the biggest African country

Nigeria: Incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan, wins his party (PDP) primary ahead of elections in April

Tunisia: Govt promises freedom of press and internet as the country engulfed in different protests due to rising in unemployment

Ivory Coast: Atta John Mills of Ghana says his country would not take sides in Ivory Coast political stalemate.

Hungary: Ceremony held to inaugurate Hungary EU's presidency
 
Ivory Coast Crisis Updated: UN to request extra 2000 "peacekeepers" for Ivory Coast as situation escalates...
 
France, Germany & other so-called western nations have advised their nationals to leave Ivory Coast as drum of war sounds. United Nations extends mandate, demands Gbagbo stand down. ECOWAS, AU, EU, UN, US & others back Ouattara as the winner of Ivory Coast presidential election

Nigerian MRP expiration deadline now April 30, 2011 instead of December 31, 2010

Visa solution: The visa problem confronting west-African applicants due to the sudden closure of Hungarian embassy in Abuja may soon be solved. ANH sources said that plans are in place to alleviate the sufferings of the applicants from that region regarding visa process.

FG increases bar on tokunbo vehicles, approves textile import

Euro crisis: The zone faces crisis of investors confidence & invariably casting worldwide shadow

Ivory Coast winner named; army seals borders: The head of Ivory Coast's election commission on Thursday declared challenger Alassane Ouattara provisional winner of a presidential run-off, but the top legal body rejected it and the army sealed all borders. The Constitutional Council, the body that must ratify the result, said the commission's announcement was illegal. Later, Ivory Coast's military sealed air, land and sea borders, without giving any reasons for the move. The media regulator said it had suspended the signal for French broadcaster, Canal Plus Horizon. Satellite channel France24 and Radio France International FM were also off air. After repeated delays due to wrangling within his organization over the results, election commission chairman Youssouf Bakayoko announced that Ouattara had won the November 28 vote with 54.1 percent of the vote. "The electoral commission has, in accordance with the law, handed over to the Constitutional Council the results it has received and validated, accompanied by the result sheets," Bakayoko said at a hastily-organized news conference. President Laurent Gbagbo's party, which is seeking the cancellation of results from four northern regions that are Ouattara strongholds, rejected the result. Soon after the election commission statement, Paul Yao N'dre, a staunch ally of Gbagbo's who heads the Constitutional Council, which must confirm the results, said the poll body had missed a Wednesday deadline to issue provisional results...African Examiner

FG increases bar on tokunbo vehicles, approves textile import: LAGOS - THE Federal Government has reviewed the bar on used vehicles otherwise known as Tokunbo by increasing the age limit from 10 years to 15 years. Similarly, textile materials fabric, embroidered garments and other printed materials that were banned before now have also been removed from the prohibition list A circular from the office of the Minister of Finance stated that President Goodluck Jonathan approved the removal of furniture from the prohibition list but with a 20 per cent import duty and 20 per cent levy. The circular with reference number BD.12237/S.403/VOL.1/206 and dated November 19, 2010 has also been sent to the relevant agencies which include the Nigeria Customs Service and the three destination inspection services providers- Cotecna, SGS and Globalscan. The circular entitled: “Revision of schedule three-import prohibition list (trade) of the 2008-2012 Common External Tariff (CET)” and signed by the Minister of Finance, Mr Olusegun Aganga, is to take effect this month. Part of the Circular reads: "This is to confirm that Mr President has granted approval for the under listed products to be removed from the import prohibition list.”Furthermore, Mr President has approved an import duty rate of 10% plus 10% levy on health and energy drinks which has been excluded from the import prohibition and extension of the age of used motor vehicles to be imported into the country from the 10 years to 15 years from the year of manufacture" …Vanguard

X-Faxtor: Shodehinde Dorka is out of the RTL CLUB singing competition. Her elimination technically places her in the 7^th position

Iran executes 2 Africans: African diplomats have demanded an explanation from the Iranian Government after a Nigerian and a Ghanaian were executed in the northeast of the country without their embassies being notified, reports the Nation. Paul Chindo, from Nigeria, was hanged last month at Vakilabad prison in Mashhad. Akwasi Akuaba, from Ghana, was executed in August.

 Ireland debt crisis: Dublin has not asked for help but bail out plan is taking place, reports CNN

Promoting tolerance: Two foundations namely Far From Home and Barefoot jointly organised a series of events to mark the International Day for Tolerance on November 16 at Szént Isztván tér 15. The event features art exhibition; film show & photo display. Musical show was performed by the trio of Said Tichiti, Ilan Shapír and Zoltán Pintér while Afrobreakz treated audience with African drum beat. Guests had the opportunity to taste yam as Oliver (I-Ration from Tilos Radio) rendered the air with the latest songs in town.

FIFA scandal: FIFA has banned and fined two executive members who were found guilty of selling their votes for cash. Amos Adamu was banned for three years with a fine of 10,000 dollars while Reynald Femarii was banned for one year with a fine of 5,000 dollars. Responding to the sanction, Adamu said he was disappointed by the verdict and that he would soon appeal. The case, according to Jerome Valcke, FIFA Secretary General, has been a great damage to FIFA. Sunday Times of London had allegedly accused the two men of willing to sell their votes for cash. Votes to decide which countries host 2018 c 2022

Lawyer fired, case postponed

Budapest court has again postponed the case involving two Africans allegedly accused of possessing illicit drugs. The case is now fix for November 19th @ 12:00. African News Hungary gathered that one of the accused had fired her lawyer therefore no one to represent her in court.  

I/Coast: Run off vote in Nov 28

President Laurent Gbabgo is to face ex-prime minister Alassane Ouattara later this month in a run-off vote for the country's leader, reported CNN. The former won 38.3 while the latter won 32.08 according to final results announced Thursday by the Independent Election Commission. More than 50 percent of the vote is needed to win the election. The results must be validated by the Constitutional Council before they can be proclaimed as official. A runoff date had been scheduled for November 28. Ivorians voted Sunday after several delays. Elections were expected in 2005, but they have been postponed five times.

Gov't to cut allowance for high-income families

The government is planning to cut the family allowance for families with an outstandingly high income next year, Miklos Soltesz, state secretary for social and family affairs, has told HIRTV. The state secretary said that the government was working out a family support system linked to its efforts to build a new and proportionate tax system, and said that families with a monthly income "in the million (forint) range" would no longer receive the allowance based on the number of children. The politician noted that the planned measure would not discourage couples from having children. The opposition Socialist Party said in a statement that the measure was inspired by a bad conscience, because the ruling Fidesz party's ministers and state secretaries would benefit from next year's tax rules and save millions of forints themselves. "Their sense of guilt is understandable, since all new taxes levied by the centre-right government are paid by residents through increased banking fees and energy or food prices," said Socialist spokesman Zsolt Torok in the statement. (MTI)

South Africa leads in gold

Do you know? Do you know that 41% of Africa's gold comes from South Africa? Now you know

Slavery In America!

More than 10,000 are reportedly being held against their will in 90 cities throughout the United States of America. They are being forced into domestic work, farm labour and sex industry. Amanda Bonella, a sex slave survivor who was forced into prostitution at age 15, said on CNN Larry King Live that she managed to escape the horrific situation and now helping others who may be in similar situation. Among her clients she said were: Priests, lawyers, doctors, police, psychologists etc. Many people are willing to pay between 500-1000 dollars to sleep with underage preferably 11-12 years. Another victim, Florencia Molina also described how she was held in captivity in factory without shower where she had to sleep on the floor and worked 17 to 20 hours everyday. One million are said to be exploited for sex worldwide. Estimated 800,000 people are trafficked across worldwide borders each year, while 32 billion dollars are generated from Human Trafficking

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Diplomat Posting

The Embassy of Nigeria, Budapest has got a new First Secretary in the person of Mr. Alwan Abdussalam who will run the information and commercial desk respectively. African News Hungary wishes him the best in his new assignment. We hope to see creativity and improvement in this particular desk which suppose to be the link between the Embassy and the public, especially the media. Abdussalam replaces Mrs Abimbola Samuel Reuben

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Ivory Coast Election 

Presidential vote takes off on October 31st in Ivory Coast after being postponed six times
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 Chile Evacuates All Miners 

All the 33 miners trapped for more than two months in Copiapo Chile have been successfully rescued. The rescue has topped twister trending topic with many people viewing their opinions around the world as 69-day journey ended in joy
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Aluminium Chief Released, Plant Reopens Monday

 Hungarian court has released the aluminium chief who was arrested earlier in connection with the toxic flood that officials said had claimed nine lives in what is being described as the worst ever chemical spill in Hungary. Meanwhile the plant where the incident occurred is said to reopen on Monday
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Toxic Flood 

Hungary is dealing with what officials described as worst ever chemical spill as state of emergency declared in 3 western counties of Koloutar, Devecser and Somlóvás. 4 people have reportedly dead. It is said to be waste product from aluminum manufacturing. But plant owner said that it is not hazardous waste and that he has not done anything wrong. Anna Nagy, govt spokesperson told Euronews that the spill has not reached the Danube. While she said that the govt is doing everything possible to curtail the spill, it looks for assistance from the EU...
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Investment In MadagascarMadagascar has initiated an investment opportunity for the Hungarian business executives and investors who may be willing to take advantage of the country's tropical weather. This opportunity was presented at the fifth Africa Summit in Budapest. Blessed with 20 million people, Madagascar's area of opportunity includes but not limited to tourism, fisheries, renewable resources, communication technology, waste management...For detail info, contact Randrianasolo Richard, Honorary consul (konzul@madagaszkar.hu)
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Nigerian-Hungarian WorkshopNigerian-Hungarian business workshop is expected to hold in January. This was disclosed at the Nigerian seminar held @ the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs in Budapest........................................
Women Will Change The FutureThe US Assistant Secretary of State has declared that women will change the future. She said this as a closing note during a BBC programme called World Debate anchored by Zeinab Dabawi
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Court Case
The case of two Africans on a charge of selling & being in possession of illicit drugs has been postponed until November 4 because some key witnesses were absent. African News Hungary will bring you details as the case progresses...