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Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cameroon's Biya, 92, reshuffles military top brass ahead of vote
By Amindeh Blaise Atabong YAOUNDE (Reuters) -Cameroon's 92-year-old President Paul Biya, the world's oldest head of state, has overhauled the military's top ranks in what analysts say is an effort to ensure the armed forces back his bid for an eighth term after a public outcry. The personnel moves, announced late on Tuesday in a series of presidential decrees, affect nearly all branches of the armed forces. They include the appointment of new chiefs of staff for the infantry, air force and navy as well as the promotion of eight brigadier generals to the rank of major general. One of the promoted generals is the coordinator of the elite Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR), a special forces unit often deployed in counter-terrorism operations and seen as central to Biya's security apparatus. The decrees also named a new special presidential military adviser. The decrees were published two days after Biya, in power since 1982, announced he would run for his eighth term in office in Cameroon's presidential election scheduled for October 12. The seven-year term could keep him in office until he is nearly 100. The announcement prompted an unprecedented public outcry in the press and on social media in Cameroon, where Biya's age and long absences have raised questions about his fitness to rule. The government has said Biya is in good health and dismissed any suggestions otherwise. The decrees concerning the armed forces reflect "a strategy by President Biya and his collaborators to consolidate power by building a fortress of loyal army generals around him" that can suppress any protest to his continued rule, said Anthony Antem, peace and security analyst at the Nkafu Policy Institute in Yaounde. Celestin Delanga, researcher at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), said the decrees "come in a unique political and security context." Biya wants to ensure stability during and after the election and "additional trusted personnel are needed" for that, he said. The cocoa- and oil-producing Central African nation also faces a host of serious security challenges, notably a conflict with Anglophone separatists and threats from Nigeria-based Islamist fighters in the north. The government gave no explanation for the overhaul. The last significant military shake-up in Cameroon came just last year, shortly after Biya returned in October from his latest extended stay abroad which revived speculation about his health. (Reporting and writing by Amindeh Blaise Atabong; Editing by Robbie Corey-Boulet and Aidan Lewis)
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Robinson and quicks earn NZ win over South Africa
Tim Robinson and debutant Bevon Jacobs have put together an unbeaten century stand to provide the basis of New Zealand's 21-run victory over South Africa in a T20 tri-series match in Zimbabwe. Robinson smashed 75 not out off 57 balls and Jacobs smacked three sixes in his unbeaten 44 at Harare on Wednesday to propel New Zealand to 5-173 after they had crumbled to 5-70. South Africa, who made three changes from the team that beat Zimbabwe, were bowled out for 152 in 18.2 overs with fast bowlers Jacob Duffy (3-20) and Matt Henry (3-34) sharing six wickets between them. Tim Robinson's 2nd T20I half-century and new career-best (75*) leading the way. #SAvNZ #CricketNation 📷 = Zimbabwe Cricket — BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) July 16, 2025 Lhuan-dre Pretorius had provided South Africa with a brisk start by hitting six boundaries in his knock of 27 before Henry and Duffy hit back with two quick wickets. Pretorius tried to guide Henry's slower ball down to third man but got a thick outside edge to wicketkeeper Tim Seifert, while Rubin Hermann was outdone by Duffy's short ball and was caught at mid-wicket for just one. South Africa promoted debutant left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy to No.4, but the left-hander got his middle stumped knocked over by Ish Sodhi soon after the batting powerplay. Captain Rassie van der Dussen (six) was brilliantly run out by his counterpart Mitchell Santner at the non-striker's end as South Africa slumped to 5-62 in the ninth over. Dewald Brevis put the chase back on track with 35 off 18 balls and George Linde made a brisk 30 off 20 but both holed out while looking for big hits against Henry and Duffy, respectively. Duffy was on a hat-trick when he dismissed Linde and Kwena Maphaka off successive balls but No. 11 Lungi Ngidi survived before Henry finished off the game by having Gerald Coetzee caught at mid-wicket. New Zealand's top-order crumbled against the short ball as Devon Conway's return to T20s after three years lasted only seven balls for nine before he top-edged Maphaka (2-38). Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Hay both fell for single digits while James Neesham got his seventh duck in T20s when he pulled Maphaka to deep square leg and was caught by Corbin Bosch. But Robinson and Jacobs revived the Black Caps with their 103-run partnership and got the perfect finish by scoring 63 off the last five overs. Robinson completed his half-century with a six off Coetzee, who came back to international cricket after a nine-month injury lay-off and conceded 19 runs in the final over to finish with 1-39.
Reuters
17 minutes ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Cameroon's Biya, 92, reshuffles military top brass ahead of vote
YAOUNDE, July 16 (Reuters) - Cameroon's 92-year-old President Paul Biya, the world's oldest head of state, has overhauled the military's top ranks in what analysts say is an effort to ensure the armed forces back his bid for an eighth term after a public outcry. The personnel moves, announced late on Tuesday in a series of presidential decrees, affect nearly all branches of the armed forces. They include the appointment of new chiefs of staff for the infantry, air force and navy as well as the promotion of eight brigadier generals to the rank of major general. One of the promoted generals is the coordinator of the elite Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR), a special forces unit often deployed in counter-terrorism operations and seen as central to Biya's security apparatus. The decrees also named a new special presidential military adviser. The decrees were published two days after Biya, in power since 1982, announced he would run for his eighth term in office in Cameroon's presidential election scheduled for October 12. The seven-year term could keep him in office until he is nearly 100. The announcement prompted an unprecedented public outcry in the press and on social media in Cameroon, where Biya's age and long absences have raised questions about his fitness to rule. The government has said Biya is in good health and dismissed any suggestions otherwise. The decrees concerning the armed forces reflect "a strategy by President Biya and his collaborators to consolidate power by building a fortress of loyal army generals around him" that can suppress any protest to his continued rule, said Anthony Antem, peace and security analyst at the Nkafu Policy Institute in Yaounde. Celestin Delanga, researcher at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), said the decrees "come in a unique political and security context." Biya wants to ensure stability during and after the election and "additional trusted personnel are needed" for that, he said. The cocoa- and oil-producing Central African nation also faces a host of serious security challenges, notably a conflict with Anglophone separatists and threats from Nigeria-based Islamist fighters in the north. The government gave no explanation for the overhaul. The last significant military shake-up in Cameroon came just last year, shortly after Biya returned in October from his latest extended stay abroad which revived speculation about his health.
News24
18 minutes ago
- Politics
- News24
Child sex accounts boast of ‘suicides'; Cop vs cop: Today's top 7 stories in 7 minutes
News24 brings you the top 7 stories of the day. News24 brings you the top stories of the day, summarised into neat little packages. Read through quickly or listen to the articles via our customised text-to-speech feature. POLICE WARS | Cop vs cop as Sibiya accuses Mkhwanazi of running rogue investigation - Deputy police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya has accused KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi of running parallel investigations into dockets related to the disbanded political killings task team. - Sibiya has been placed on a leave of absence following President Cyril Ramaphosa placing Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave due to accusations of improper conduct and criminal links. - President Ramaphosa has announced a commission of inquiry to investigate infiltration and corruption within law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Ramaphosa not empowered to put Mchunu on leave, make Cachalia acting minister – EFF's lawyer - The EFF has claimed that President Cyril Ramaphosa acted unlawfully by placing Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on leave and appointing Professor Firoz Cachalia as acting minister, arguing the Constitution doesn't allow for ministers to be put on leave. - The party also argues that the Constitution only allows the president to appoint, assign powers and dismiss ministers, not put them on leave, and that a minister without powers is unlawful. - Reserving the right to take legal action, the EFF has demanded clarification from Ramaphosa by Monday on several points, including Mchunu's powers while on leave, Cachalia's appointment procedure, and the president's reasons for not dismissing Mchunu. Ashraf Hendricks/GroundUp 'There won't be remorse': WhatsApp, Instagram child sex accounts boast of alleged suicides - The Digital Law Company is taking legal action against Meta to stop an anonymous user from posting private and pornographic material of South African schoolchildren on WhatsApp and Instagram. - While Meta has shut down some accounts, others remain operational, and Meta has yet to comply with an order to identify the user, leading to potential contempt of court action. - The anonymous user has posted content highlighting alleged suicides caused by their actions and claims no responsibility, while the Digital Law Company emphasises the real threat of suicide and self-harm linked to such Theunissen | The Afrikaner horsemen of SA's looming economic apocalypse - A video by Afrikaner leaders claims the US set preconditions for trade with South Africa, including classifying farm attacks as priority crimes and exempting US companies from BEE. - The claims surfaced before Trump threatened tariffs on South African imports, but the US has not formally communicated these preconditions to Pretoria. - The Afrikaner delegation, which argues that South Africa's economic policies are destructive and warrant diplomatic pressure, says it lobbied the US not to impose tariffs. Bidders Choice Group MaMkhize's Royal AM cars fetch R8.2m at auction; rare car pulled from sale - Ten cars linked to Shauwn Mkhize and Royal AM were auctioned for R8.2 million to settle tax debts. - A rare Mercedes-Benz Maybach was withdrawn from the auction, while a Bentley Continental GTC fetched the highest price. - The auction occurred as a court rejected Royal AM's attempt to rejoin the Premier Soccer League and Mkhize became president of Mbabane Highlanders FC. F1 to SA? Minister McKenzie backing corporates – even Johann Rupert – to help land dream deal - South Africa is making progress in its bid to host a Formula One race, with renovations to the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit expected to be completed in four to six months. - The project is supported by contributions from businesspeople and companies, including Johann Rupert, MTN, MultiChoice and Heineken, reducing the financial burden on the government. - The FIA has approved the final design proposals to upgrade the Midrand circuit to Grade 1 status, paving the way for Africa's return to the F1 calendar. Quickpic - Stellantis plans to launch new models from Alfa Romeo, Citroën and Opel in the coming year and will introduce the Leapmotor brand to its South African portfolio in September. - Citroën continues to be a top seller for Stellantis in South Africa, with the C3 and C3 Aircross contributing significantly to sales, and the brand is expanding its offerings with models like the C3 Basalt and Hola panel van. - Stellantis is proceeding with the construction of a manufacturing facility in the Eastern Cape, which will now assemble three different platforms, including a new energy model, instead of solely focusing on the Peugeot Landtrek.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Robinson and fast bowlers earn New Zealand a 21-run victory over South Africa
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — An unbeaten century stand between Tim Robinson and debutant Bevon Jacobs earned New Zealand a 21-run victory over South Africa in a T20 tri-series match Wednesday. Robinson smashed 75 not out off 57 balls and Jacobs smacked three sixes in his unbeaten 44 to propel New Zealand to 173-5 after it crumbled to 70-5 inside the first half of its innings. Advertisement South Africa, which made three changes from the team that beat Zimbabwe, was bowled out for 152 in 18.2 overs with fast bowlers Jacob Duffy (3-20) and Matt Henry (3-34) sharing six wickets between them. South Africa falls well short Lhuan-dre Pretorius provided South Africa with a brisk start by hitting six boundaries in his knock of 27 before Henry and Duffy hit back with two quick wickets. Pretorius tried to guide Henry's slower ball down to third man but got a thick outside edge to wicketkeeper Tim Seifert, while Rubin Hermann was outdone by Duffy's short ball and was caught at mid-wicket for just 1 run. Advertisement South Africa promoted debutant left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy to No. 4, but the left-hander got his middle stumped knocked over by Ish Sodhi soon after the batting powerplay. Captain Rassie van der Dussen (6) was brilliantly run out by his counterpart Mitchell Santner at the non-striker's end as South Africa slumped to 62-5 in the ninth over. Dewald Brevis put the chase back on track with 35 runs off 18 balls and George Linde made a brisk 30 off 20 balls but both holed out in the outfield while looking for big hits against Henry and Duffy, respectively. Duffy was on a hat trick when he dismissed Linde and Kwena Maphaka off successive balls but No. 11 Lungi Ngidi survived the hat-trick ball before Henry finished off the game by having Gerald Coetzee caught at mid-wicket. Advertisement Robinson and Jacobs revive Black Caps New Zealand's top order crumbled against short balls as Devon Conway's (9) return to T20s after three years lasted only seven balls before he top-edged Maphaka (2-38). Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Hay both fell for single digits while James Neesham got his seventh duck in T20s when he pulled Maphaka to deep square leg and was caught by Corbin Bosch. But Robinson and Jacobs revived the Black Caps with their 103-run partnership and got the perfect finish by scoring 63 runs off the last five overs. Robinson completed his half-century with a six against Coetzee, who came back to international cricket after a nine-month injury layoff and conceded 19 runs in the final over to finish with 1-39. ___ AP cricket:
