‘Stop eating dog meat’

Food safety officials in Ho Chi Minh City have urged locals to stop eating dog meat in an effort to improve the national image, an official on Monday said.
“This is advice, it’s not an order, so we haven’t introduced any fines,” Phan Thi Hoai Tran, head of communications at Ho Chi Minh City’s Food Safety Management Board, said.

Eating dog meat is not uncommon in Vietnam, yet while it is not illegal to eat dogs, the meat has never been formally included on the list of animals suitable for humans as a food, the watchdog claims.

Health risks associated with eating the meat include parasites that can affect internal organs, while chemicals found in poisons used to kill the dogs also threaten consumers, Associate Prof. Pham Khanh Phong-Lan, head of the board, told local media.

“Eating dog meat is not a good habit so people should kick it, especially in this era of international integration,” the Board said on its website last week.

Vietnam’s dog meat consumption has made it the target of animal welfare campaigns in the past, and the Asia Canine Protection Alliance estimates that five million of the animals are killed and eaten in the country annually.

Eating dog meat, however, is more common in Hanoi, which also attempted to curb dog meat consumption in 2018.

It is estimated that the capital is home to almost 500,000 dogs and cats, as well as around 1,000 restaurants and shops which sell their meat.(NAN)

Political newcomers claim win in Tunisian elections

Kais Saied, left Nabil Karoui (right) appear to be headed to the runoff in Tunisia’s presidential elections

With formal results yet to be announced, conservative law professor Kais Saied and detained media magnate Nabil Karoui cited exit polls late on Sunday to say they had advanced to a deciding run-off that will be held next month.

If confirmed by official results later on Monday or on Tuesday, it would represent a strong rejection of successive governments that have struggled to improve living standards or end corruption.

Saied described the exit poll results, which showed him with most votes, as “like a new revolution” in a radio interview, a reference to Tunisia’s 2011 uprising that brought in democracy and set off the Arab Spring revolts elsewhere.

Tunisia’s prime minister, two former prime ministers, the defence minister and a former president were among the political heavyweights competing, as was a candidate of the moderate Islamist Ennahda party.

“We received the message sent by the Tunisian people,” Prime Minister Youssef Chahed said late on Sunday, conceding defeat.

Banned before the revolution and once seen as the main anti-establishment force in Tunisia, Ennahda has been a big player in successive coalition governments caught between the public desire for more spending and a need to reduce debt.

With a low turnout of 45% – down from 63% in 2014 – the result underscored widespread frustration over the sluggish economy, high unemployment, poor public services and persistent corruption.

Karoui, in a message read by his wife after the exit polls were published, said it was a message to a political elite that he accuses of using the judicial process to try to silence him.

He was detained weeks before the election over allegations of tax evasion and money laundering made three years ago by a transparency watchdog.

“You punished those who tried to steal the votes by putting me in prison without trial, and who prevented me from speaking to people in the campaign,” his message said.

Africa.cgtn.com

187 Nigerians return from South Africa

187 Nigerians return, South Africa employs rules to stop others Published September 12, 2019 Adelani Adepegba, Maureen Ihua-Maduenyi and Anna Okon The number of Nigerians that made it back to Nigeria drastically reduced following moves by the South African government to frustrate the evacuation efforts. Only about 187 adults and children were successfully evacuated on Wednesday as against the 320 Nigerians expected back home. The flight arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at 9.43pm. One of the returnees, Uche Victor, told journalists that he left his wife who he said was a Cameronian and a young daughter behind. He said, “I’m bleeding because I left my wife and baby but I have to come back because my mother cries for me to return. If something happens to me she will suffer. “I left my business, I came back with nothing. South Africans believe all Nigerians are drug pushers, but I don’t know the colour of any drug.” Victor, who explained that he left Nigeria for South Africa in 2007, explained that the attacks were anger against the government. “They are only venting their anger on foreigners. They started with black and will move to whites,” he said. According to him, the flight would have returned earlier but the South African government made it difficult. “The didn’t want us to go but for Nigeria’s consulate,” he added. Another returnee from Abia State, who gave his name as Onuoha, said a lot of Nigerians were still stranded as they could not return with their properties. Aliu Saheed, from Osun State, said his shop was burgled and he came back home empty-handed. “But I’m happy to be home, I’m not going back again,” he said. S’A cancels visas issued to returning Nigerians One of our correspondents learnt that the South African authorities went further to cancel visas that were issued to the returning Nigerians. A picture on Facebook showed a Nigerian passport with a cancelled South African visa as of September 10. The Chairman, Nigerian Diaspora Commission, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said there was 15 hours delay before the flight left South Africa. She had earlier told journalists that the South African authorities brought new immigration rules before the affected Nigerians could be allowed to board the aircraft. According to Dabiri-Erewa, the Federal Government is giving N40,000 worth of airtime to last them for two months as well as stipend of N10,000 for transport. She also said there were plans for the Bank of Industry to provide some money for the returnees to start small businesses. Meanwhile, the Chief Operating Officer of Air Peace, Mrs Toyin Olajide, said the evacuation would cost the airline about N300m. South Africa South Africa returnees xenophobia Xenophobic attacks NEXT ARTICLE

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