International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda's entry visa to the United States revoked

United States authorities revoked International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda's entry visa to the United States.

"It is our understanding that should not have an impact on the Prosecutor's travel to the US to meet her obligations to the UN, including regular briefings before the UN Security Council. The Office of the Prosecutor has an independent and impartial mandate under the Rome Statute of the ICC. The Prosecutor and her Office will continue to undertake that statutory duty with utmost commitment and professionalism, without fear or favor," her office said in a statement. 

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced in mid-March that the US would revoke or deny visas to ICC personnel a move meant to deter a potential investigation by the Hague-based judicial body into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by US troops in Afghanistan.

Pompeo said the restrictions apply to "persons who take or have taken action to request or further such an investigation." Pompeo also warned about potential economic sanctions "if the ICC does not change its course."

The US is not a member of the ICC. In November 2017, Bensouda sought authorization to open an investigation into crimes connected to the conflict in Afghanistan. According to a statement from the time, Bensouda's office "determined that there is a reasonable basis to believe" that members of the US armed forces and the CIA committed "war crimes."

The ICC has not yet made a decision on whether to authorize that investigation. Pompeo slammed the potential investigation an example of "politically motivated prosecutions of Americans. The first and highest obligation of our government is to protect its citizens and this administration will carry out that duty," Pompeo said at the time.

The secretary of state also warned in March that "these visa restrictions may also be used to deter ICC efforts to pursed allied personnel including Israelis without allies' consent." The Palestinians have asked the ICC to investigate Israel for alleged human rights abuses.

Government of Zimbabwe under fire after spending thousands of dollars to import judges' wigs from UK

The Zimbabwe government has come under fire after information emerged that it spent thousands of dollars on importing legal wigs from the UK for local judges, with critics lambasting the purchase as a colonial hang-up and a waste of money.  

The Zimbabwe Independent newspaper reported that the country's Judiciary Service Commission placed an order for 64 horse-hair wigs from Stanley Ley Legal Outfitters in London, at a cost of £1,850 ($2,428) per wig and totaling £118,400 ($155,000). Wigs from the outfitter range in price from £457.50 ($599) for a standard barrister's wig, to £2,495.83 ($3,265) for a judge's ceremonial wig. Stanley Ginsburg, the owner of Stanley Ley, confirmed to CNN that his company had sold wigs to Zimbabwe, but he said the actual number of wigs ordered was "no way near the number" quoted by the Zimbabwe Independent.

Nonetheless, lawyers and rights campaigners have expressed anger at the purchase, arguing that the tradition of wearing expensive wigs represents a mismanagement of financial resources, and also fails to improve access to legal services for average Zimbabweans.

"The judicial wig (colonial) tradition continues in Zimbabwe with all its costs and controversy, without any meaningful benefit to access to justice," Arnold Tsunga, Africa director at the International Commission of Jurists, wrote on Twitter.

Hopewell Chin'ono, a leading Zimbabwean journalist and documentary filmmaker, wrote: "I have argued that this country suffers from a catastrophic mismanagement of resources. How do you explain a government allocating $155,000 for wigs to be bought in England when the same government is failing to buy bandages and betadine for infants in pediatric wards. These are people who shout about sovereignty and anti-colonial rhetoric and yet they are still wearing hideous wigs."

Chin'ono said the former colonial powers are "having a laugh" at Zimbabwe, stating: "You can take Zimbabwe out of the empire, but you can't take the empire out of Zimbabwe."

On Thursday, a group of United Nations experts warned that the Zimbabwe government's policies aimed at tackling its fiscal deficit were pushing its people deeper into poverty.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie covers Marie Claire Brazil

 

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, is the cover star on the recent edition of Marie Claire Brazil.

The Nigerian writer shared a photo of the front cover to her Instagram account and thanked everyone at the "Marie Claire Brazil team for taking a stand for feminism."

Her caption reads:

Delighted to be on the cover of Marie Claire Brazil. And to highlight the work of talented designers

Meanwhile, Nigerians on socia media are so impressed that they've taken to various social media platforms to praise Ms Adichie for breaking barriers.

Egyptian Mohamed Salah becomes fastest player in Liverpool history to reach 50 Premier League goals

  

Mohamed Salah has become the fastest player in Liverpool history to reach 50 Premier League goals.

The 26-year-old Egyptian striker scored an important second-half goal for the Reds against Southampton with 10 minutes left to play on Friday night.

The goal which came in his 69th appearance for Merseyside club, confirmed he reached a half-century three games quicker than previous record holder Fernando Torres.

After the match, Salah told Sky Sports: ‘I think that’s goal number 50 for Liverpool in the Premier League so that’s special - and after nine games [without one], but Henderson scored I think for the first time in maybe 30 games so we are both happy.

‘Not at all [I didn’t think about passing], as a striker I need to score, I am thinking to score. Maybe if someone is in a better position I can think but I just took my decision to shoot and I scored so I’m very happy about it.’

The goal was also his first goal after nine games for Liverpool without a single goal.

45 percent of Japanese 'workaholic' citizens are 'unhappy' about being given ten-day holiday to mark the coronation new emperor

Half of Japan's 'workaholic' citizens are reportedly unhappy they are given a ten-day holiday to mark the abdication of Emperor Akihito after 30 years on the Chrysanthemum Throne.

According to Daily Mail, a series of special holidays to mark Akihito's stepping-down - and the presumed coronation of his son Crown Prince Naruhito on May 1 - will combine with the annual 'Golden Week' of four public holidays into a 10-day break. 

But a survey conducted by Asahi Shimbun newspaper has revealed 45 percent of citizens 'felt unhappy' about getting a week-and-half off, with only 35 percent saying they 'felt happy.

Some reportedly said they would have nowhere to go for a break, while others said they were so busy that they would still have to go to work.

Working parents were also said to be unhappy about having to make alternative childcare arrangements.

'For parents in the service sector, the 10 days of holiday is a headache. After-school care, nurseries -- everything is closed,' one tweeted. 

Pizzeria worker Takeru Jo, 46, said: 'I won't be able to take days off. On the contrary, we'll be super-busy.' 

'To be honest, I don't know how to spend the time when we are suddenly given 10 days of holidays,' finance worker Seishu Sato, 31, complained. 

'If you want to go traveling, it's going to be crowded everywhere and tour costs have surged... I might end up staying at my parents' place.' 

Nigerian footballer Peter Odemwingie announces retirement from football

Former Super Eagles of Nigeria forward, Peter Odemwingie, has announced his retirement from football at the age of 37.

The ex-West Brom and Stoke striker who played for Nigeria more than 60 times, scoring at the 2014 World Cup, including scoring 36 goals in 129 Premier League appearances between 2010 and 2016, made the announced at UEFA’s Equal Game conference at Wembley on Wednesday.

On his retirement, Odemwingie said: "It's an emotional day, so many memories go through your head.

"I didn't know how to do it or where to do it, but I think this is the right place to do it. Wembley is a place with a lot of history in football."

Odemwingie, who last played for Indonesian side Madura United intends to embark on a coaching career.

"The next chapter is slowly building up to a coaching career and hopefully I will be coaching in the Premier League one day," he said.

The father of two started his senior career with Bendel Insurance in 2000, and later moved on to Belgium's La Louvière. He also played for  Lille, Lokomotiv Moscow, West Bromwich Albion, Cardiff City, Stoke City, Rotherham United, and Madura United.

Nigerians react after Ooni of Ife said the Igbo race first discovered and nurtured prosperity and wealth

Nigerians on twitter are reacting to the comment made by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, that the Igbo race is the race that first discovered properity and wealth. Speaking at an event recently, the Ooni said

''Truth be told, the race that first discovered prosperity and wealth and they really nurtured it are the Igbo race. The Igbos first discovered it through their ancestral background, the linage of Obatala. They discovered the lineage of prosperity and wealth in terms of the divinity world and that is the reason why today, the Igbo race have very good expertise when it comes to commerce. They are very distinct. There is no place you would go in the world that you would not find an Igbo man. And the same goes with the jews. There is this mistake the world makes that the Igbos came from the Jews. No! It is the other way round. Truth be told, the first human race that existed was the Ibos before the jews and we were all living together at the center of tropical rain forest before they started moving towards the Eastern part of the world where they started settling. So the race of the Jews and the Igbos are very similar but the Igbos are way older than the jews''.

Some Nigerians including comedian Wale Gates are not pleased with the Ooni's comment. See their reactions below

Watch the video below