Friday, December 9, 2016
Nigeria: Suicide attacks kill dozens in Madagali
Two schoolgirl suicide bombers killed 45 people and wounded dozens in a coordinated attack on a crowded market in the northeastern Nigerian town of Madagali, an army spokesman said.
"From our updated records we have 45 dead and 33 injured in the twin suicide bomb explosions in Madagali," said Sa'ad Bello of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Adamawa state.
Friday's attack on Madagali, which was recaptured by Nigerian forces from Boko Haram fighters in 2015, was carried out by two female school children, according to officials.
Ahmadu Gulak, a driver who was buying tea at the market, said the two blasts struck simultaneously on Friday morning at opposite ends of a grains and vegetable market. He saw many wounded taken to a nearby hospital by ambulance.
"The two bombers were disguised as customers, detonated their suicide belts at the section of the market selling grains and second-hand clothing," said Yusuf Muhammad, the chairman of Madagali local government.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the blasts bore all the hallmarks of Boko Haram, which has carried out numerous suicide attacks in its seven-year campaign against the Nigerian government in the troubled region.
CIA probe 'finds Russia tried to sway US election in Trump's favour'
A secret CIA assessment has found that Russia tried to tip last month's US presidential election in Donald Trump's favour, according to reports.
President Barack Obama ordered a review of all cyberattacks during the 2016 election cycle, amid growing calls by Congress on the extent of Russian interference in the process.
The Washington Post on Friday, citing an official, reported that individuals with connections to Moscow provided website WikiLeaks with emails hacked from the Democratic National Committee, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's campaign chief and others.
Those emails were steadily released through WikiLeaks in the months before the election and damaged Mrs Clinton's campaign.
The newspaper reported that the aim was to help Mr Trump win, not just to undermine the US election process.
The official was quoted as saying: "It is the assessment of the intelligence community that Russia's goal here was to favour one candidate over the other, to help Trump get elected."
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has denied links with Russia's government.
White House deputy press secretary Eric Schultz said Mr Obama had called for the cyberattack review this week to ensure "the integrity of our elections".
He said: "This report will dig into this pattern of malicious cyberactivity timed to our elections, take stock of our defensive capabilities and capture lessons learned to make sure that we brief members of Congress and stakeholders as appropriate."
The US President wants the report to be completed by his term ends on 20 January.
The Democratic party has put pressure on the White House to reveal details of Russian hacking in the election.
On 7 October - a month before the election - the Department of Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence announced that "the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of emails from US persons and institutions, including from US political organisations".
Mr Trump's campaign team hit back at the CIA assessment, claiming "these are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction".
His transition team added: "The election ended a long time ago in one of the biggest Electoral College victories in history. It's now time to move on and 'Make America Great Again'."
President Barack Obama ordered a review of all cyberattacks during the 2016 election cycle, amid growing calls by Congress on the extent of Russian interference in the process.
The Washington Post on Friday, citing an official, reported that individuals with connections to Moscow provided website WikiLeaks with emails hacked from the Democratic National Committee, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's campaign chief and others.
Those emails were steadily released through WikiLeaks in the months before the election and damaged Mrs Clinton's campaign.
The newspaper reported that the aim was to help Mr Trump win, not just to undermine the US election process.
The official was quoted as saying: "It is the assessment of the intelligence community that Russia's goal here was to favour one candidate over the other, to help Trump get elected."
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has denied links with Russia's government.
White House deputy press secretary Eric Schultz said Mr Obama had called for the cyberattack review this week to ensure "the integrity of our elections".
He said: "This report will dig into this pattern of malicious cyberactivity timed to our elections, take stock of our defensive capabilities and capture lessons learned to make sure that we brief members of Congress and stakeholders as appropriate."
The US President wants the report to be completed by his term ends on 20 January.
The Democratic party has put pressure on the White House to reveal details of Russian hacking in the election.
On 7 October - a month before the election - the Department of Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence announced that "the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of emails from US persons and institutions, including from US political organisations".
Mr Trump's campaign team hit back at the CIA assessment, claiming "these are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction".
His transition team added: "The election ended a long time ago in one of the biggest Electoral College victories in history. It's now time to move on and 'Make America Great Again'."
Ghana: Akufo-Addo wins presidential election
Ghana's main opposition leader Nana Akufo-Addo won the country's national election, defeating President John Mahama, electoral commissioner Charlotte Osei said.
Crowds of jubilant supporters gathered outside the house of the 72-year-old New Patriotic Party (NPP) leader, who had already claimed victory on Thursday, a day after the voting took place.
Akufo-Addo defeated President Mahama by 53.8 percent to 44.4 percent, Osei said.
"It is my duty and my privilege to declare Nana Akufo-Addo as the president elect of Ghana," she told a news conference in the capital, Accra, on Friday.
Prior to Osei's announcement, Akufo-Addo said on Twitter that Mahama called him "congratulating me on winning the 2016 presidential election".
"I make this solemn pledge to you tonight: I will not let you down. I will do all in my power to live up to your hopes and expectations," Akufo-Addo told supporters in front of his residence.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Akufo-Addo explained what he believed to be the hopes and expectations of Ghanians: "The expectations they have of me, that I'm gonna bring them a new government, a new style; a government of honesty, a government that is concerned about the welfare of our people - that basic commitment is the one I am determined to fulfill."
Al Jazeera's Nicolas Haque, reporting from Accra, described the campaign as "bitterly fought".
"This is the moment so many people had been waiting for here at Akufo-Addo's house since the end of the voting," he said.
"It's been a long wait, especially with the delay by the election commission. Their systems broke down and they had to fax through polling sheets from 29,000 stations."
Earlier, Mahama had appealed for calm and told his supporters he would respect the outcome of the vote whether he won or lost, in comments aimed at defusing tension ahead of the release of official results of the vote.
"I want to assure the nation that we will respect the outcome of the election, positive or negative, and so let us just be calm," he told supporters gathered outside his house.
Mahama, who came to power in 2012 after beating Akufo-Addo, urged voters to "stay the course", promising to deliver more infrastructure projects.
Akufo-Addo was making his third bid for the top job.
Ghana's elections have been historically close, with Mahama narrowly winning against Akufo-Addo in 2012 with 50.7 percent. Akufo-Addo unsuccessfully challenged Mahama's victory in the courts.
Ghana is the world's second biggest producer of cocoa after Ivory Coast and Africa's second biggest gold producer after South Africa.
But it was forced to turn to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2015 for a bailout as global commodity prices tanked.
Crowds of jubilant supporters gathered outside the house of the 72-year-old New Patriotic Party (NPP) leader, who had already claimed victory on Thursday, a day after the voting took place.
Akufo-Addo defeated President Mahama by 53.8 percent to 44.4 percent, Osei said.
"It is my duty and my privilege to declare Nana Akufo-Addo as the president elect of Ghana," she told a news conference in the capital, Accra, on Friday.
Prior to Osei's announcement, Akufo-Addo said on Twitter that Mahama called him "congratulating me on winning the 2016 presidential election".
"I make this solemn pledge to you tonight: I will not let you down. I will do all in my power to live up to your hopes and expectations," Akufo-Addo told supporters in front of his residence.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Akufo-Addo explained what he believed to be the hopes and expectations of Ghanians: "The expectations they have of me, that I'm gonna bring them a new government, a new style; a government of honesty, a government that is concerned about the welfare of our people - that basic commitment is the one I am determined to fulfill."
Al Jazeera's Nicolas Haque, reporting from Accra, described the campaign as "bitterly fought".
"This is the moment so many people had been waiting for here at Akufo-Addo's house since the end of the voting," he said.
"It's been a long wait, especially with the delay by the election commission. Their systems broke down and they had to fax through polling sheets from 29,000 stations."
Earlier, Mahama had appealed for calm and told his supporters he would respect the outcome of the vote whether he won or lost, in comments aimed at defusing tension ahead of the release of official results of the vote.
"I want to assure the nation that we will respect the outcome of the election, positive or negative, and so let us just be calm," he told supporters gathered outside his house.
Mahama, who came to power in 2012 after beating Akufo-Addo, urged voters to "stay the course", promising to deliver more infrastructure projects.
Akufo-Addo was making his third bid for the top job.
Ghana's elections have been historically close, with Mahama narrowly winning against Akufo-Addo in 2012 with 50.7 percent. Akufo-Addo unsuccessfully challenged Mahama's victory in the courts.
Ghana is the world's second biggest producer of cocoa after Ivory Coast and Africa's second biggest gold producer after South Africa.
But it was forced to turn to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2015 for a bailout as global commodity prices tanked.
Gambia's Jammeh rejects result of presidential election
Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has said that he rejects the outcome of last week's election that he lost to opposition leader Adama Barrow, only days after he conceded defeat to him in a public address.
The fresh announcement he made on state television on Friday throws the future of the West African country into doubt after the unexpected election results ended Jammeh's 22-year rule.
Jammeh had conceded defeat on state TV last week, prompting wild celebrations over the ending of a government that human-rights groups accused of detaining, torturing and killing opponents.
"After a thorough investigation, I have decided to reject the outcome of the recent election. I lament serious and unacceptable abnormalities which have reportedly transpired during the electoral process," Jammeh said, changing his position on the election results.
"I recommend fresh and transparent elections which will be officiated by a god-fearing and independent electoral commission," he said.
Jammeh's announcement presents an unexpected and severe challenge to the incoming Barrow administration, which was already grappling with how to take the reins of power and deal with the army that for two decades was loyal to the president.
Latest official figures gave Barrow 43.29 percent of the votes in the presidential election, while Jammeh took 39.64 percent. The turnout was at 59 percent.
Gambians worried
Soldiers were seen placing sandbags in strategic locations across the capital Banjul on Friday, a development that triggered widespread unease among the already-spooked population, who had been panic-buying food before the vote due to fear of unrest.
Witnesses told the Reuters news agency that Banjul was quiet overnight, and that there was particular nervousness about the president's statement that he would deal harshly with any troublemakers who took to the streets.
Opposition spokeswoman Isatou Touray criticised on social media a "violation of democracy" and called for people to "remain calm, lucid, vigilant and not retreat."
The US state department said in a statement that Jammeh's rejection of the results was an egregious attempt to undermine a credible election and remain illegitimately in power.
Senegal's Foreign Minister, Mankeur Ndiaye, called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council and "solemnly" warned Jammeh not to harm Senegal's interests or its citizens in Gambia.
Senegal, which has Gambia's only land border and entirely surrounds the small riverside country, is a non-permanent member of the Security Council. Its army intervened in Gambia in 1981 during a coup.
The fresh announcement he made on state television on Friday throws the future of the West African country into doubt after the unexpected election results ended Jammeh's 22-year rule.
Jammeh had conceded defeat on state TV last week, prompting wild celebrations over the ending of a government that human-rights groups accused of detaining, torturing and killing opponents.
"After a thorough investigation, I have decided to reject the outcome of the recent election. I lament serious and unacceptable abnormalities which have reportedly transpired during the electoral process," Jammeh said, changing his position on the election results.
"I recommend fresh and transparent elections which will be officiated by a god-fearing and independent electoral commission," he said.
Jammeh's announcement presents an unexpected and severe challenge to the incoming Barrow administration, which was already grappling with how to take the reins of power and deal with the army that for two decades was loyal to the president.
Latest official figures gave Barrow 43.29 percent of the votes in the presidential election, while Jammeh took 39.64 percent. The turnout was at 59 percent.
Gambians worried
Soldiers were seen placing sandbags in strategic locations across the capital Banjul on Friday, a development that triggered widespread unease among the already-spooked population, who had been panic-buying food before the vote due to fear of unrest.
Witnesses told the Reuters news agency that Banjul was quiet overnight, and that there was particular nervousness about the president's statement that he would deal harshly with any troublemakers who took to the streets.
Opposition spokeswoman Isatou Touray criticised on social media a "violation of democracy" and called for people to "remain calm, lucid, vigilant and not retreat."
The US state department said in a statement that Jammeh's rejection of the results was an egregious attempt to undermine a credible election and remain illegitimately in power.
Senegal's Foreign Minister, Mankeur Ndiaye, called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council and "solemnly" warned Jammeh not to harm Senegal's interests or its citizens in Gambia.
Senegal, which has Gambia's only land border and entirely surrounds the small riverside country, is a non-permanent member of the Security Council. Its army intervened in Gambia in 1981 during a coup.
Controversial director Paul Verhoeven to head Berlin Film Festival jury
Controversial director Paul Verhoeven has been named as president of the jury at this year's Berlin International Film Festival.
The Dutch filmmaker, famous for erotic thrillers Basic Instinct and Showgirls, will decide which film gets this year's Golden Bear Award at the prestigious festival.
"With Paul Verhoeven as jury president, we have a filmmaker who has worked in a variety of genres in Europe and Hollywood," organisers said.
"His creative, multifaceted boldness and his willingness to experiment are reflected in the spectrum of his works."
The 78-year-old director has made a successful return to filmmaking after being absent from the festival circuit for nearly a decade.
After making a name for himself in Hollywood in the 1990s with classics such as Robocop and Total Recall, Verhoeven now returns to his more traditional topics - sex and violence.
His new film Elle stars Isabelle Huppert as a businesswoman victim of sexual assault, who decides to take revenge on her attacker.
The film got rave reviews and was nominated for the Palme d'Or in next year's Cannes International Film Festival.
Elle has also been nominated for the European Film Awards in three categories, as well as in two categories for the US Critics' Choice Awards.
The Berlinale - the first of the year's major European film festivals - runs from 9 to 18 February.
The Dutch filmmaker, famous for erotic thrillers Basic Instinct and Showgirls, will decide which film gets this year's Golden Bear Award at the prestigious festival.
"With Paul Verhoeven as jury president, we have a filmmaker who has worked in a variety of genres in Europe and Hollywood," organisers said.
"His creative, multifaceted boldness and his willingness to experiment are reflected in the spectrum of his works."
The 78-year-old director has made a successful return to filmmaking after being absent from the festival circuit for nearly a decade.
After making a name for himself in Hollywood in the 1990s with classics such as Robocop and Total Recall, Verhoeven now returns to his more traditional topics - sex and violence.
His new film Elle stars Isabelle Huppert as a businesswoman victim of sexual assault, who decides to take revenge on her attacker.
The film got rave reviews and was nominated for the Palme d'Or in next year's Cannes International Film Festival.
Elle has also been nominated for the European Film Awards in three categories, as well as in two categories for the US Critics' Choice Awards.
The Berlinale - the first of the year's major European film festivals - runs from 9 to 18 February.
Modern Family star Sofia Vergara being sued 'by own embryos'
Sofia Vergara is facing a lawsuit brought on behalf of two frozen embryos she created with an ex-partner.
The two embryos, listed as plaintiffs "Emma" and "Isabella", are the subject of a year-long legal battle between the Modern Family star and ex-fiancee Nick Loeb.
In papers filed with a Louisiana court this week, Mr Loeb ended a former lawsuit against the actress and replaced it with a new one.
According to the second claim, not allowing the embryos to be born is depriving them of their inheritance.
Louisiana is a pro-life state where embryos are given rights as people.
"Emma" and "Isabella" are currently frozen at a California fertility clinic, where Vergara wants to keep them indefinitely.
Mr Loeb said: "A woman is entitled to bring a pregnancy to term even if the man objects.
"Shouldn't a man who is willing to take on all parental responsibilities be similarly entitled to bring his embryos to term even if the woman objects?"
The two embryos, listed as plaintiffs "Emma" and "Isabella", are the subject of a year-long legal battle between the Modern Family star and ex-fiancee Nick Loeb.
In papers filed with a Louisiana court this week, Mr Loeb ended a former lawsuit against the actress and replaced it with a new one.
According to the second claim, not allowing the embryos to be born is depriving them of their inheritance.
Louisiana is a pro-life state where embryos are given rights as people.
"Emma" and "Isabella" are currently frozen at a California fertility clinic, where Vergara wants to keep them indefinitely.
Mr Loeb said: "A woman is entitled to bring a pregnancy to term even if the man objects.
"Shouldn't a man who is willing to take on all parental responsibilities be similarly entitled to bring his embryos to term even if the woman objects?"
North Korea 'capable of attaching nuclear warheads to missiles'
North Korea is now capable of attaching nuclear warheads to missiles but has not mastered hitting a target, a senior US defence official has said.
Pyongyang has conducted a series of missile launches in the wake of its fourth nuclear test in January, despite international condemnation.
Experts have concluded North Korea is able to make nuclear warheads small enough to arm Scud missiles, but it is unclear if they can put weapons on larger rockets which travel further and can deploy warheads from space.
The defence official said: "Truthfully, they have the capability right now to be able to deliver a nuclear weapon, they are just not sure about re-entry, that's why they continue to test their systems out there."
He added that he believed North Korea can already "mate" a missile with a warhead.
The US is deploying an advanced missile defence system in South Korea in the wake of increased testing by North Korea leader Kim Jong-Un.
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