Tag Archives: Role

Ban Ki-moon Apologizes For UN Role In Haiti Cholera Epidemic

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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has apologised for the first time to the people of Haiti for the international organisation’s role in a deadly cholera outbreak that has killed more than 9,300 people and infected over 800,000.

“On behalf of the United Nations, I want to say very clearly we apologise to the Haitian people,” he said three times, in Haitian Creole, French and English, to the UN General Assembly on Thursday.

“We simply did not do enough with regards to the cholera outbreak and its spread in Haiti … We are profoundly sorry for our role,” Ban said.

According to numerous independent experts, cholera was introduced to Haiti by infected Nepalese UN peacekeepers sent to the Caribbean country after the massive 2010 earthquake.

Cholera, a disease that is transmitted through contaminated drinking water and causes acute diarrhea, is a major challenge in a country with poor sanitary conditions.

The UN reiterated its rejection of claims that it is also legally responsible for the damages from the health emergency.

“We do not change our basic legal position,” UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson told reporters on Thursday.

The UN chief also formally presented the 193-nation General Assembly with a “new approach,” a two-pronged programme to help the families of the cholera victims and support the battle against the disease.

The UN hopes the new proposal will raise $400m over two years, but funding for prior UN assistance to Haiti has been slow to arrive.

Read More: aljazeera

Daniel Craig Reportedly Offered $150m To Reprise James Bond’s Role In Two More Films

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Who will play the tuxedo-clad secret agent in the next James Bond movie? This is one question that has been playing on the minds of fans and there have been numerous rumours suggesting various stars could step in actor Daniel Craig’s shoes. However, a latest report has claimed that the actor, who could be cast in the coveted role, is none other than Craig himself.

The news will sure surprise fans of the spy series as the 48-year-old English actor had earlier rejected the idea of reprising the role of the secret agent and said, “I would rather break this glass and slash my wrists [than do another movie].”

Craig has been seen in the role of agent 007 since 2005 and has been reportedly offered a whopping $150m (£113m) to return to the thriller franchise for two more films. “The studio is desperate to secure the actor’s services while they phase in a younger long-term successor,” a source told gossip website Radar Online.

As per the report, Craig’s reluctance to reprise the role seems to have worked in his favour. Shedding further light on the scenario, the source explained, “[Craig] has played a genius hand. Everyone knows how much executives adore him, and the idea of losing him at such a crucial time in the franchise isn’t an option as far as all the studio honchos are concerned.”

“Daniel’s the key for a seamless, safe transition as far as Sony and Bond bosses are concerned, and they’re prepared to pay a king’s ransom to make it happen,” the report mentioned.

As far as the role of the spy agent is concerned, several frontrunners have surfaced in recent times with names such as Idris Elba, Tom Hiddleston, Adian Turner and even Tom Hughes making the rounds. While neither Sony nor Craig have officially announced anything about the role, if the report turns out to be true, the Spectre actor could be seen in two back-to-back films.

“Then they will shoot two more films, which will be made virtually back-to-back, preferably featuring Daniel as 007 before he passes the figurative baton to someone else for a third movie that will mark the start of the new era,” the source added.

Credit: ibtimes

Jonathan’s ADC States Role In N10b Gift For PDP Chiefs

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Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s detained ex-Aide-de-Camp (ADC) Col.  Ojogbane Adegbe has passed the buck on the N10billion gift for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) delegates.

He has told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ask Dr. Jonathan’s former Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, Waripamowei Dudafa to account for the cash, a source said yesterday.

The ADC said when the suitcases containing the cash were brought as messages for the President, he merely handed them over to Dudafa.

He said military law forbids him from opening any message meant for the President, unless otherwise directed.

Also, one of the Army officers being questioned over the $2.1 billion arms purchase scandal, Col. N. Ashinze , the former Special Military Assistant to the ex-NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), is stranded as he could not resume in his new posting as the nation’s Military Attache to the Nigerian Embassy in Germany.Although Col. Ashinze has been released from EFCC custody and restricted to the Officers Mess, there was anxiety yesterday  that he might be dropped from the foreign mission.

Although Col. Ashinze has been released from EFCC custody and restricted to the Officers Mess, there was anxiety yesterday  that he might be dropped from the foreign mission.

Also yesterday, it was learnt that the embattled ex-Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, has been linked with the ongoing probe of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Air Chief Marshal Badeh was moved to Lagos last week as part of the investigation of NIMASA.

The EFCC is believed to be tidying up some loose ends in its investigation of military officers suspected to have been involved in the $2.1b phoney arms deals.

The N10billion withdrawn from the oil block account at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for PDP delegates to its nomination convention has been a knotty issue because it was based on the instruction of the former President, according to a source close to the investigation.

The source said: “The ADC has spoken with investigators. He said when the suit cases containing the N10billion were brought as messages for the ex-President, he did not open them but he handed over the items to SA Domestic Affairs.

“He said as ADC, the military law forbids him from opening any message meant for the President, unless directed by the C-I-C.

“So, it is only the SA Domestic Affairs, who has sneaked out of the country, who will need to provide the list of beneficiaries. This is the status of the case.

“If Dudafa does not show up, we may declare him wanted in connection with the N10billion cash or seek the court’s permission to attach his property.

“We are exploring mutual legal assistance with some countries to fish out Dudafa wherever he is hiding abroad.”

Col. Dasuki said he handed over the N10billion given to the delegates to Dudafa and the ADC.

The ex-NSA  opened up in his Statement of Witness/Accused Person which has been filed in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT)

Credit: Nation

Okonjo-Iweala Denies Role In Arms Deal

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Former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has requested the Federal Government to call Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole to order over what she called efforts to link her name to the alleged $2.1 billion arms issue.

A statement from her media Adviser, Paul Nwabuikwu, said Mrs Okonjo-Iweala “has absolutely nothing to do with the issue”.

Okonjo-Iweala described as “an abuse of public office, the judicial process and her human rights for Governor Oshiomhole whom she stopped from taking a highly suspicious N15 billion loan to make false allegations against her while hiding behind the constitutional immunity granted state governors.”

Credit: Nation