Iranian refugee who set himself on fire dies in Australia

Pushed to breaking point after suffering three years of detention on Nauru island, a young Iranian migrant protested by setting himself on fire on Wednesday. The distressing scene was filmed by several other migrants. After being airlifted to Australia, he died in a hospital in Brisbane. 

Hundreds of migrants, including around 40 children, are currently being held in a detention centre on Nauru. Most of them end up on the island after trying to reach Australia. However, under a controversial agreement in place between the Australian government and Nauru, migrants caught trying to make their way to Australia are often transferred directly to a detention centre in this tiny island state.

Following the visit of a team from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to the camp, 23-year-old Omid set himself on fire.

One of the videos currently making the rounds on social media networks shows the man lashing out at the UNHCR team as it left the camp.

French politicians are decrying the violence

French politicians are decrying the violence that erupted at the edges of anti-labor reform protests in Paris and other French cities.

French Interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve said 214 people have been arrested nationwide and 78 police officers suffered injuries during clashes on Thursday.


In all, 961 people have been arrested during protests in the last few months, Cazeneuve said in a speech Friday in the eastern city of Strasbourg.

Paris police overnight evicted anti-reform demonstrators from the "Nuit Debout" ("Night Rising") group from their encampment in the city's Place de la Republique.

French protests are routinely marred by clashes as masked rioters smash shops or pelt riot police with projectiles. But Thursday night's clashes were particularly violent. Paris police said they were challenged by about 100 "particularly virulent" demonstrators while trying to clear Place de la Republique early Thursday.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said while she supports the right to protest, "violence is unacceptable."

Cristiano Ronaldo will "decide on the day" whether he fit enough to play in Real Madrid's Champions League semi-final second leg against Manchester City, says Guillem Balague.

After a 0-0 draw at the Etihad on Tuesday, which Ronaldo missed with a thigh injury, the forward is in a race against time to be fit for Wednesday night's crucial return leg at the Bernabeu.

Ronaldo - who will sit out Saturday's league game against Real Sociedad - would be a huge miss for Real having scored 16 goals in 10 Champions League games this season, and Balague says the fact the 31-year-old has chosen to take treatment away from the club is indicative of the "medical crisis" at Real.

Nigeria: Enyeama Rated Europe's 6th Best Goal Keeper

Former Super Eagles captain and Lille OSC goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, has been rated the sixth best goalkeeper in Europe for the 2015/16 season by the Swiss-based CIES Football Observatory.

The former Super Eagles goalkeeper is the only African on the top 10 list, making him the best on the continent.

Shatta Wale to face off with Flavour at ‘Ghana meets Naija

Self-acclaimed dancehall king, Shatta Wale will square up with Nigerian artiste Flavour in this year’s edition of ‘Ghana Meets Naija’.

Pappy Kojo, E.L, and Mr. Eazi will all line-up for Ghana while Flavour will be joined by Olamide and Harry Song to represent the oil producing West African nation.

In its 6th edition, Ghana meets Naija has become the most anticipated event on the Ghanaian entertainment calendar.

It is the only event that provides the opportunity for artistes in Ghana and Nigeria to show who is who in the music industry among the two rival nations.

This year’s event will held at the Accra International Conference Center on Saturday 21 May.

Ghana Meets Naija is powered by Empire Entertainment and sponsored by Tigo.

7 Listed Banks Record Huge Losses On GSE

Seven out of 11 financial stocks listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) have registered negative returns thus losing millions of Ghana cedis in value since the beginning of the year.

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), parent bank of Ecobank Ghana was the biggest loser on the Accra Bourse as at Friday April 15, 2016 with a year-to-date of -33.30 percent and a market capitalization of GH¢4.3 billion.  GCB Bank followed suit with an annual return of -7.70 percent and a market capitalization of GH¢927.50 million.

The two companies are currently trading at 18 pesewas and GHc3.6 pesewas per share respectively on the GSE.

Ecobank Ghana, CAL, HFC, Stanchart and Trust Bank Gambia all recorded negative returns at the end of trading on Friday April 15, 2016.

Their annual returns stood at -2.30 percent, -3.0 percent, -5.60 percent, -1.20 percent and -5.40 percent respectively.

Due to this, their market capitalizations have gone down.

Enterprise Ghana Limited which over the years has been one of the outstanding stocks on the Ghana Stock Exchange and UT Bank are the only two financial stocks that have registered gains since the year began.

They have recorded 2.10 and 10.0 percent year-to-date gain respectively. Their market capitalization stood at GHc326.51 million  and GHc50.19 million respectively while they are trading at about GHc2.45 and 11 pesewas  on the GSE.  

Analysts attribute UT’s recent positive return to a restructuring programme that the bank is undertaking to clean its books from high impairment and bring it to profitability.

SocieteGenerale and SIC Insurance were the two firms that recorded no change in value at the end of April 15, 2016.

The situation appears to be similar in the consumer sector where Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited and PZ Cussons have all registered losses in value.

The GSE Financial Sector Index as at Friday April 15, 2016 stood at -7.02 percent in cedi term.

The GSE recorded a negative return in both US dollar and the Ghana cedi for investors for the first quarter of this year.

While the Ghana Stock Exchange Composite Index (GSE CI) recorded -4.15 percent return in cedi term for the first three months of 2016, it registered a -5.64 percent return in dollar term despite a relative stability in the local currency.  

Beside the Nigerian Stock Exchange which recorded -10.9 percent return for investors in the first quarter, all other stock exchanges in Africa did better than the Accra Bourse.

The market capitalization of the 36 listed firms on the main market stood at GH¢54. 7 billion at the end of March 31, 2016 compared with GH¢57.11 billion at the end of December 31, 2015.  

SIC, BOPP and HORDs listed on the SME market were the best performing stocks during the first three months of 2016. They ended the period trading at 18 pesewas, GH¢3.13 and 10 pesewas respectively

The worst performing stocks were Aluworks, Cocoa Processing Company and Starwin Ghana.

Prince found dead at recording studio age 57

The singer Prince has died at his recording studio, age 57.  

Entertainment website TMZ said his body was discovered at his compound in Chanhassen, Minnesota this morning. A spokesperson confirmed his death to The Independent. "The news is devastatingly true," they said. 


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Tributes flood in for Prince who has passed away aged 57
Carver County Chief Deputy Jason Kamerud told Fox 9 that they responded to a medical call at 9.43 am. The cause of death is not yet clear. 

The iconic singer, real name Prince Rogers Nelson, was hospitalised after his jet made an emergency landing on Friday morning. 

A spokesperson later said he was suffering from the flu prior to the performance and that the plane landed at Moline so he could receive treatment there. Prince later flew on and returned home. 

Stephen Appiah to open official Vodafone unity match

Primeval Media in conjunction with Stephen Appiah, former captain of the Black Stars, will  this  Friday organize a Press Soiree at the Multi Purpose Court of the Accra Sports Stadium, aimed at interacting with various stakeholders in the football fraternity, members of the sporting media and corporate world.
 A statement from the Communications Directorate of Primeval Media, said the event would also be used to formally announce the head line sponsors; Vodafone Ghana Limited.
According to the statement, the event which, has now be christened “Vodafone Unity Match” would create a platform for the media to interact with organizers, other stakeholders as part of efforts to build an exciting moments for the match.
It said, the headline sponsors, would also be presented with an opportunity to tell the world through the media, about their association with the event

Agya Koo still remains unbeatable - Manager

A Film Producer and Manager of Ace Actor Agya Koo, Ernest Atta Aboagye has taken a swipe against comments that Agya Koo did not resurrect Ghana movie industry from its abyss.

A Kumasi Based Film Director Jackson K. Bentum last week shared some facts about the origination and ownership of the Ghana Movie Industry since Alexander Kofi Adu known as Agya Koo is gaining credit as a resurgence of Ghana Movies.

Mr. Bentum, who won best script writer in 2012 Kumawood awards, was emphatic that the movie industry is a collective idea so any individual who claim credit for resurrecting the film industry is a big lie.

But reacting to the comment on Ashh fm E-zone in Kumasi, Ernest Atta Aboagye said his client remains unbeatable in the Ghanaian local movie industry.

According to him, no one can talk about the revival of the Ghana movie industry without giving credits to Agya Koo.

Atta Aboagye told Nana Amoako host of the show that, Agya Koo’s achievement in the movie industry is unarguable.

“The truth is one, no one can say for a fact that Agya Koo’s is not a’’ resurrector’’ of the Ghana Movie Industry. If you talk of industry players who deserve credit in the industry there is no way you can mention without my client’s name’’

Atta Aboagye insisted that he doesn’t sight with Jackson Bentum’s comment, though he is entitled to his opinion.

He said the absence of Agya Koo in the movie has bitterly affected the industry, the film industry is not booming anymore for that matter majority of the producers have invested in other business.

Exports From Ghana To EU To Stop If…

Ghana’s delay in signing a substantive Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU) has got exporters worried as a 20.5 percent tariff increment looms. 

Government has until October 1, this year to sign unto the agreement even though its intentions are unclear, sending mix signals to exporters who fear higher taxes would be slapped on their produce making it less competitive. 

Some of the producers and exporters who have expressed worry include; agro processing companies such as Golden Exotics, HPW Fresh and Dry, Blue Skies, Barry Callebaut and other cocoa processing companies producing for the EU market. 

Also, canned tuna exporters such as Pioneer Food Carney will be affected. 

Reports are already stating that the tuna export company has cut down on its investments to prevent excess production if the tariff in increased. 

The parent company of the firm is said to have always invested between $4 million and $5 million every year to expand the company but the figure is already indicating a drop. According to the General Manager of the company, Mr. Nichol Elizabeth , the future of the company looked uncertain as industry watchers are left to wonder on government’s decision. 

He stated that since the company exports about 95 percent of its products to the EU region, it would be the hardest hit, affecting the over 2,000 workers employed by the company. He expressed fears that Ghana may risk a ban as the EU parliament moves closely to rise in August, a situation that would make it difficult for ECOWAS or Ghana to get their ban withdrawn. 

Interim Agreement in 2007 It would be recalled that in December 2007, Ghana initialed an interim EPA to avoid a similar tariff action after the preferential trade agreement enjoyed under a previous treaty , named the Cotonou Accord expired in the year 2000. 

Since 2000, African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP) had been working with the EU Commission to sign a non-preferential bilateral trade treaty in which either side would offer both tariffs and concession, but in a regime that favours the ACP countries more.

ECOWAS member states including Ghana have been working since 2000 to sign the pact as a sub-region with the EU. 

Trade volume between EU and Ghana Trade volume between the EU and Ghana as at 2013 was estimated at 11.2 billion euros from 1.9 billion euros in 2000. Currently, the EU is Ghana’s biggest trading partner as trade volumes is further estimated to surge. 

Trade analysts and financial experts have expressed worry over government’s lack of clear direction on the matter as income from EU is crucial for Ghana’s investment and economic expansion. Introduction of the EPA ECOWAS as regional bloc deliberated over the issue to sign on to the EPA to benefit the sub-region as a whole. 

As the regional bloc still deliberated, Cote d’Ivoire signed a substantive agreement with the EU in 2007 to secure its exports to benefit from ‘duty-free’ and ‘quota-free’ on some items such as agricultural and food items. Under the EPA, some commodities have been selected for duty-taken off the zero tariff regime.

The consequences are that if a country of origin does not have an agreement, the EU under its market access regulation which conforms to World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, will ‘slap’ higher tariffs on the country. 

The WTO rules do not allow developed economies to grant preferential market access to countries not categorized as ‘least developed’. 

Ghana was unable to qualify as it was elevated to join a league of lower middle income countries.

Fan Pays $90,000 For A Kiss With Hitmaker Ricky Martin

A female Ricky Martin fan paid an eyewatering $90,000 for a kiss with the hitmaker.

Ana Paola Diniz placed the highest bid at an auction to raise money for AIDS charities and planted the kiss on her idol at the amfAR Inspiration Gala in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Friday. 

The 44-year-old singer passionately embraced the dog breeder, who owns a pet resort, at the event and did not hold back as they locked lips following the whopping bid. 

Busy To Sponsor 7th Oil, Gas And Power Summit

Ghana’s leading internet service provider, Busy, which recently launched its 4G LTE mobile service, has been named as the official 4G Wifi sponsor for the 7th Oil, Gas and Power Summit which opens in Accra on Wednesday, 20th and ends on Thursday 21st April, 2016.

The Oil, Gas & Power Summit and Exhibition is viewed by industry players as the only event committed to driving Ghana’s oil, gas and power potential forward. It is the official meeting of the Government, decision makers of the oil, gas and power sector of Ghana and where energy policies are discussed and developed. The event has a strong local as well as international attendance for strategic networking and partnerships.

According to the Chief Executive Of

ficer of Busy, Mr Praveen Sadalage, “Busy is poised to leverage the opportunity offered by the summit to delight the participating organisations with our wireless routers and MiFis at different data bundle prices”. 

He said Busy will showcase its Business Ultra, a product that guarantees unlimited Internet access solutions for mid to large businesses. “Business Ultra is the ideal solution for businesses with multiple users of bandwidth-heavy applications such as video streaming, video chatting and File Transfer Protocol (FTP) downloading”, he stated. 

“Currently, Busy’s 4G data services extends from Kasoa to Prampram in the Greater Accra Region and to Ayi Mensa, near Aburi.”, Mr. Sadalage revealed.

The Ghana Oil, Gas & Power Summit is the most reputable oil, gas and power event in Ghana bringing together the Government, international and regional experts, key decision makers, contractors and service providers under one roof

Never been approached to be brand ambassador of Incredible India: Amitabh Bachchan

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan says that he has never been approached to be Brand Ambassador for the 'Incredible India' campaign contrary to media reports that his name might be put on hold after the Panama Papers leak.

Cote d'Ivoire: Ivorian Football Star Drogba Threatens Legal Action Over Attacks On His CharityDakar

 — Ivorian football star Didier Drogba said on Thursday he would take legal action over accusations that his charity set up to help children in Africa had spent less than one percent of money raised on worthwhile projects.

he Daily Mail, Britain's second biggest selling newspaper, said on its website that just 14,000 pounds out of 1.7 million pounds ($2.4 million) donated to the Didier Drogba Foundation had been used to benefit children in his homeland Ivory Coast.

Britain's Charity Commission, a state-backed watchdog, said it was investigating the charity set up in Britain in 2009 by the former Chelsea striker, citing "serious regulatory concerns".

Drogba, who now plays for Canadian Major League Soccer club Montreal Impact, denied the allegations in a strongly worded statement in which he said he would issue legal proceedings against the newspaper for "incorrect and libellous" information.

He could not be reached for further comment.

"Despite their claims, there is no fraud, no corruption, no mismanagement, no lies, no impropriety," Drogba said in a statement on Twitter and Instagram where he has 1.1 million and 3 million followers respectively.

Drogba, 38, founded the charity in Ivory Coast in West Africa in 2007 and its British arm was launched two years later.

According to the World Bank, 46 percent of the 20 million population of Ivory Coast live in poverty, and four out of every 10 children of primary school age are not in education.

The Daily Mail said the charity had spent almost half a million pounds since 2009 on fundraising parties attended by celebrities including footballers Pele and David Beckham and Swiss tennis star Roger Federer.

World's 'oldest dog' dies at 30

Maggie, who was thought to be the world's oldest dog, has died in Australia aged 30 - or 133 in human years.

The Kelpie was owned by Victoria dairy farmer Brian McLaren.

He told a local newspaper that she died on Sunday night in her basket.

"She was 30. She was still going along nicely last week. She was walking from the daily to the office and growling at the cats and all that sort of thing," Brian told the Weekly Times.

"She just went downhill in two days and I said yesterday morning when I went home for lunch, 'She hasn't got long now.'

Maggie's age can't be verified because Brian says he lost the dog's paperwork when she was a puppy.

Brian McLaren says his youngest son, Liam, was four years old when they bought Maggie. He's now 34.

Before she died, the farm dog was deaf and had been losing her vision.

The official holder of the world's oldest dog is held by an Australian Cattle Dog called Bluey who died in 1939 aged 29.

Guinness World Records says he was bought as a puppy in 1910 in Victoria and worked among cattle and sheep for nearly 20 years before being put to sleep.

Most dogs live for between eight and 15 years.

Authentic records of dogs living for more than 20 years are rare and generally involve smaller breeds.

Stonebwoy is not for the Ghanaian stage anymore – Nana Otu Gyandoh

Stonebwoy's international exploits this year has been remarkable; from mounting stages upon stages, headlining his own international shows and more.

The BET award-winner has really carved different niche for himself more or less proving to all and sundry that he is not a local champion.

Since the beginning of the year, Stonebwoy has been out of the country playing for several shows, engaging himself in more international link-ups.

After sharing stage with multiple award-winning American singer Lauryn Hill, Stonebwoy received various positive reviews after this performance.

Content manager and presenter at Pluzz Fm and manager of Kwame Dzokoto, Nana Otu Gyandoh has also pat Stonebwoy on the back for his achievements so far, and according to him Stonebwoy is just not for the Ghanaian stage anymore.

He added that maybe he should just once in a while come into the country and mount a local stage but he should now consider playing more international gigs because he has it all to rock any stage, anywhere.

Disclosing on his show on Sunday, he said, “Bruv, Stonebwoy is gone, forget it. Stonebwoy is just not for the Ghanaian market anymore. The materials in him are just not for the Ghanaian market anymore, you should have seen him perform at the Lauryn Hill TiDal concert.”

He continued, “I watched the live stream by TiDal, and you should have seen the way the camera captured him and the reaction of the fans. Bruv, the guy is far gone, far gone.” He disclosed.

Nana Otu Gyandoh has been one serious critic of Stonebwoy, so with this words coming out from his mouth, it really mean a lot for Stonebwoy.

Huge Rise In Child Suicide Bombers

Boko Haram's use of child bombers has increased over the last year with one in five suicide attacks now done by children, the UN's child agency says.

Girls, who are often drugged, were behind three-quarters of such attacks committed by the militant Islamist group in Cameroon, Nigeria and Chad.

It is an 11-fold increase with four attacks in 2014 compared to 44 in 2015 and January 2016.

The change in tactics reflects the loss of territory in Nigeria by the group.

The seven-year insurgency, which has mainly affected north-eastern Nigeria as well as its neighbours around Lake Chad, has left some 17,000 people dead.

Unicef says up to 1.3 million children have been forced from their homes across four countries: Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria and Niger.

The UN report has been released as Nigeria approaches the second anniversary of the kidnapping by Boko Haram of more than 200 girls from their boarding school in the Nigerian town of Chibok.

The report, Beyond Chibok, says that boys abducted and recruited into Boko Haram's ranks are forced to attack their own families to demonstrate their loyalty.

Girls are exposed to severe abuse including sexual violence and forced marriage to fighters.

Tyga to Have His Lamborghini Repossessed, Sued for $450,000 for Failing to Make Payments

 The 'Hookah' rapper is being sued by a car loan company for failing to make payments on a Lamborghini Aventador he purchased back in 2013 and a 2014 Bentley Mulsanne, which has already repossessed.

Tyga will have his Lamborghini repossessed after he failed to make payments. Choice Motor Credit is suing the "Hookah" rapper for owing the company $357,250 for a Lamborghini Aventador he purchased back in 2013 and $91,150 for a 2014 Bentley Mulsanne, which has already repossessed back in February. 

According to the suit, obtained by Gossip Cop, Choice Motor Credit (CMC) claims it financed Tyga's purchase of a Lamborghini in June 2013, with a plan that called for the rapper to make payments of $11,520.10 a month for seven years (for a total of $967,688.40). While Tyga made some payments, according to the su

it, he has fallen very far behind and "ignored CMC's demands" for payment. 

CMC also claims it helped Tyga purchase a 2014 Bentley Mulsanne in March 2015. That financing plan had Kylie Jenner's boyfriend paying $5,966.95 for 73 months (for a total of $435,587.35), but he allegedly fell so quickly behind with his payments on the Bentley that the company repossessed it in February. 

"CMC sold the Bentley in order to mitigate its damages, but the sale resulted in a deficiency balance of $91,152.67," reads the lawsuit. CMC also wants Tyga to pay back the money. 

Tyga's rep hasn't commented on the issue yet.

FBI paid professional hackers one-time fee to crack San Bernardino iPhone

The FBI cracked a San Bernardino terrorist’s phone with the help of professional hackers who discovered and brought to the bureau at least one previously unknown software flaw, according to people familiar with the matter.
The new information was then used to create a piece of hardware that helped the FBI to crack the iPhone’s four-digit personal identification number without triggering a security feature that would have erased all the data, the individuals said.
The researchers, who typically keep a low profile, specialize in hunting for vulnerabilities in software and then in some cases selling them to the U.S. government. They were paid a one-time flat fee for the solution.
Cracking the four-digit PIN, which the FBI had estimated would take 26 minutes, was not the hard part for the bureau. The challenge from the beginning was disabling a feature on the phone that wipes data stored on the device after 10 incorrect tries at guessing the code. A second feature also steadily increases the time allowed between attempts.
The bureau in this case did not need the services of the Israeli firm Cellebrite, as some earlier reports had suggested, people familiar with the matter said.
The U.S. government now has to weigh whether to disclose the flaws to Apple, a decision that probably will be made by a White House-led group.
The people who helped the U.S. government come from the sometimes shadowy world of hackers and security researchers who profit from finding flaws in companies’ software or systems.
Some hackers, known as “white hats,” disclose the vulnerabilities to the firms responsible for the software or to the public so they can be fixed and are generally regarded as ethical. Others, called “black hats,” use the information to hack networks and steal people’s personal information.
At least one of the people who helped the FBI in the San Bernardino case falls into a third category, often considered ethically murky: researchers who sell flaws — for instance, to governments or to companies that make surveillance tools.
This last group, dubbed “gray hats,” can be controversial. Critics say they might be helping governments spy on their own citizens. Their tools, however, might also be used to track terrorists or hack an adversary spying on the United States. These researchers do not disclose the flaws to the companies responsible for the software, as the exploits’ value depends on the software remaining vulnerable.
In the case of the San Bernardino iPhone, the solution brought to the bureau has limited shelf life.
FBI Director James B. Comey hassaid that the solution works only on iPhone 5Cs running the iOS 9 operating system — what he calls a “narrow slice” of phones.
Apple said last week that it would not sue the government to gain access to the solution.
Still, many security and privacy experts have been calling on the government to disclose the vulnerability data to Apple so that the firm can patch it.
If the government shares data on the flaws with Apple, “they’re going to fix it and then we’re back where we started from,” Comey said last week in a discussion at Ohio’s Kenyon College. Nonetheless, he said Monday in Miami, “we’re considering whether to make that disclosure or not.”
The White House has established a process in which federal officials weigh whether to disclose any security vulnerabilities they find. It could be weeks before the FBI’s case is reviewed, officials said. The policy calls for a flaw to be submitted to the process for consideration if it is “newly discovered and not publicly known.”
“When we discover these vulnerabilities, there’s a very strong bias towards disclosure,” White House cybersecurity coordinator Michael Daniel said in an October 2014 interview, speaking generally and not about the Apple case. “That’s for a good reason. If you had to pick the economy and the government that is most dependent on a digital infrastructure, that would be the United States.”
But, he added, “we do have an intelligence and national security mission that we have to carry out. That is a factor that we weigh in making our decisions.”
The decision-makers, which include senior officials from the Justice Department, FBI, National Security Agency, CIA, State Department and Department of Homeland Security, consider how widely used the software in question is. They also look at the utility of the flaw that has been discovered. Can it be used to track members of a terrorist group, to prevent a cyberattack, to identify a nuclear weapons proliferator? Is there another way to obtain the information?
In the case of the phone used by the San Bernardino terrorist, “you could make the justification on both national security and on law enforcement grounds because of the potential use by terrorists and other national security concerns,” said a senior administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the matter’s sensitivity.
A decision also can be made to disclose the flaw — just not right away. An agency might say it needs the vulnerability for only a few months.
“A decision to withhold a vulnerability is not a forever decision,” Daniel said in the earlier interview. “We require periodic reviews. So if the conditions change, if what was originally a true [undiscovered flaw] suddenly becomes identified, we can make the decision to disclose it at that point.”

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat trick to gain victory over Wolfsburg.........

Cristiano Ronaldo scores superb hat-trick to complete Real Madrid comeback against Wolfsburg

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat trick to lead Real Madrid into the Champions League semifinals with a 3-0 victory over Wolfsburg, overturning a two-goal aggregate deficit.
Two Ronaldo goals in as many minutes brought Madrid back level inside 20 minutes, and a free kick in the 77th minute completed the turnaround at the Santiago Bernabeu.
With Wolfsburg protecting their 2-0 advantage from the first leg, Real Madrid quickly went on the attack, with Sergio Ramos' looping header striking the top of the bar.
Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 16th minute when Dani Carvajal's cross took a deflection off of Wolfsburg defender Vieirinha directly into the Portuguese's path.
And a minute later Ronaldo had his second from a glancing head following a Toni Kroos corner.

From that point Wolfsburg enjoyed slightly more possession, though they could only force some simple saves from Keylor Navas.
The visitors' best chance came when Bruno Henrique found himself with space in the box but a poor first touch allowed Real's defenders to recover in time to block his shot.
Real Madrid thought they had the lead early in the second half when Ramos' header from a corner glanced off the inside of the post and bounced behind a surprised Diego Benaglio, though the Wolfsburg keeper was able to cover before it crossed the line.
A Luis Gustavo foul on Luka Modric set up Ronaldo for a free kick in the 77th minute, and he delivered with a low shot around the Wolfsburg wall that crept inside the post.
With 16 goals in the Champions League this season, Ronaldo is one tally away from his own competition record.
A Wolfsburg goal still would have put the Bundesliga side through, but they could not find the opportunity and Real actually had the better of chances with Benaglio denying both Benzema and Gareth Bale.

Ghanaian businesses cry foul over take over by Chinese

Ghanaian businesses engaged in the sale of fishing gears and other equipment, are crying foul over an alleged take-over of their businesses by Chinese traders. According to them, the situation, coupled with the harsh economic condition is impacting adversely on their operations compelling some of them to fold up. 

The businesses, mostly located at Cow lane, a business enclave in the economic hub of the nation’s capital, are threatening to take the law into their own hands if authorities fail to heed their demands. 

“Whether it is right by law or not, we are not going to compromise.We are not going to sit down. We will take the law first into our own hands by locking their shops and whatever happens there, the government is liable,” the Organizer of Association of Importers and Distributors of Fishing Gear, Bright Asare remarked. He further retorted, “If the little food that Ghanaians eat, you bring in foreigners, be their front runner, and ask them to employ few Ghanaians so that they pay them, what do I do with my kids at school? How do I pay school fees? How will I be able to service the loans I’ve taken from the banks? I can’t do that.” 

Another trader, Ofoe Ametepey observed, “I want the government to intervene and help us because we have suffered so much. The fishermen complain that they are not getting harvest, but i always tell them the situation is because of the poor quality of fishing nets that the Chinese businesses sell to them.” 

A fisherman who also spoke to Citi Business News intimated, “My colleagues who patronise the Chinese products are compelled to do so because the goods belonging to Ghanaians are usually locked up at the ports as a result of the high taxes making it difficult to clear them as quickly as possible.”

Kwaw Kese performs at VGMA Nominees Jam after wedding

Rapper Kwaw Kese, real name Emmanuel Kwesi Botchwey, stormed Volta regional capital, Ho to perform right after his wedding, Saturday.
The rapper and Doris Kyei Baffour tied the knot hours earlier at a colourful ceremony followed by a successful engagement on Thursday.
Shortly after the wedding at Ursula Owusu’s house at East Legon in Accra, Kwaw Kese stormed the Ghana Music Awards Nominees Jam in Ho in his wedding attire to perform.

Mario Balotelli regrets choosing Italy over Ghana.....!!!

Ghanaian-born Italian international Mario Balotelli has regretted choosing the European nation over his native country Ghana, according to his biological father, Thomas Bawuah.

Balotelli, born to Ghanaian parents opted to play for European giants after shooting to fame in 2011 when he won the UEFA Champions League with Inter-Milan.

The 25-year-old despite several attempts by the Ghana Football Association decided to feature for the former World Champions.

Having made 33 caps for the Gli Azzurri, Balotelli seems to have fall out of favor by his adopted country due to his lost of form.

The AC Milan attacker is likely to miss the cut for the 2016 EURO Championships in June this year.

Thomas Bawuah, father of the former Manchester City striker has revealed his son’s regret for choosing Italy over the African giants (Ghana).

“Himself (Balotelli), has started realising he made a big mistake playing for the Italian National Team and he has told friends about it”, Barwuah told GazzettaGhana.com

“He is not being treated well, true they don’t show him the love he deserves for his great talent and skill. I think that all he gets is abuse, especially from the media here and that is because he is black”.

“They don’t like him and it started from the beginning, they didn’t want to see a black boy like himself taking glory of the Italian National Team”,

Balotelli, represented Italy at the 2012 goes down to become the first and only Black African who has featured for the European country.

Russia says one of its attack helicopters crashes in Syria

A Russian Mi-28N Night Hunter attack helicopter crashed in Syria in the early hours of Tuesday morning killing both pilots, Russia's Defence Ministry said.

The ministry said the helicopter, which crashed in Homs province, had not been shot down, but the cause of the incident was unclear.

"A group of specialists is working at the crash site to investigate the incident," the ministry said in a statement. The pilots' bodies had been recovered and brought back to Russia's air base in Hmeymim in Latakia province, it said.

President Vladimir Putin announced on March 14 that Russia was withdrawing the bulk of its military contingent in Syria. Around half its fixed-wing strike aircraft flew out in the days that followed.

But Russia continued to ship significant quantities of military supplies to Syria and analysts said the Kremlin had changed rather than diluted its military capabilities, increasingly relying on helicopters to support the Syrian army.

Mi-28N helicopters, broadly equivalent to America's Apache gunship, took part in the Syrian government operation to push Islamic State out of the ancient city of Palmyra last month, firing anti-tank rockets at armoured vehicles.

The crash is the third aircraft Russia has acknowledged losing in Syria. Turkey shot down a Russian Sukhoi-24 bomber near the Syrian-Turkish border on Nov. 24 and a helicopter sent to rescue the pilots was then destroyed by rebels after landing.

Brazil’s Neymar in for Olympics but Also Aims for Copa America

Neymar had already said he wants to represent Brazil in the Rio 2016 Games, and is now hoping his club will also release him for the Copa America.
By Jay Forte, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Earlier this month Brazil’s football (soccer) head coach Dunga traveled to Europe to negotiate and secure some of the nation’s top players – including Barcelona star Neymar – for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in August. Neymar had already said he wants to represent Brazil in the Rio 2016 Games, and is now hoping his club will also release him for the Copa America.

Brazil's Neymar playing for Barcelona, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Brazil News, football, soccer
Neymar playing for Barcelona in February 2015, photo by Alex Fau/Wikimedia Creative Commons License.

Asked about this in early March, Dunga said: “I would hope that it’s true. It’s good for a player to want to be in the Brazilian football museum and when their families walk by, they can say, ‘My name’s there. I won.’”

Yet speaking at a press conference on March 3rd – who himself was a silver medallist at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games – said it was necessary to have the agreement of the clubs.

“The player spends the majority of their time with their club and a very short period with the national side. We have to deliver these players to their clubs in the best condition. We don’t want to exhaust anyone.”

On March 25th it was reported that Neymar admitted he has ‘made it clear’ he wants to represent Brazil at both Copa America and the Rio Olympics this summer ‒ but concedes it is out of his control. “The will of the player always prevails, but in this case it’s a little different as it doesn’t only depend on me. […] I’ve made ​​it clear I want to play in both, but it’s something Dunga and Luis Enrique are discussing and nothing’s been decided yet.”

The Copa America is a hundred year old contest with sixteen teams playing 32 games across ten cities across the U.S., and in 2016 it will be the first time the tournament is held outside of South America. Last year it was held in Chile, and the home team beat Argentina in a scoreless regular time penalty kick shootout (4×1).

The 2016 Copa America begins on June 4th and ends on June 26th, just a month before the Olympic Games (August 5th – 21st). The host cities will be; Chicago (IL), East Rutherford (NJ, just outside of New York City), Foxborough (Boston, MA), Glendale (outside Los Angeles, CA), Houston (TX), Orlando (FL), Pasadena (outside Los Angeles, CA), Philadelphia (PA), Santa Clara (CA) and Seattle (WA).

In the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Brazil lost 2-1 to Mexico in the finals, finishing runner-up for the third time. The five-time FIFA World Cup champions have never won Olympic gold.

At least 92 killed, 77 injured by landslide in Pakistan's Kohistan

Pakistani people stand on a road destroyed by landslide in northwest Pakistan's Kohistan on April 6, 2016. 

KOHISTAN, April 6, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani people stand on a road destroyed by l
andslide in northwest Pakistan's Kohistan on April 6, 2016. At least 92 people were killed and 77 others injured in separate rain-related accidents in northwestern Pakistan over the last five days, local media and officials said on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Stringer)

Nigerian Singer Olumuyiwa Osinuga Dies

Olumuyiwa Osinuga, popularly known as Nomoreloss, will be remembered for his hit singles Iyawo Asiko and Ololufe.

Togo replace coach Tom Saintfiet with Claude LeRoy

Togo have appointed Claude LeRoy as their new national team coach to replace Tom Saintfiet.

Frenchman LeRoy, 68, has worked on the continent for almost 30 years and has coached at a record eight Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

He has signed a three-year contract and is tasked with trying to qualify Togo for the 2017 Nations Cup in Gabon.

Togo are third in their qualifying group, two points behind leaders Liberia, who they play away in June.

LeRoy admitted: "We need a miracle to qualify for the 2017 Nations Cup, perhaps as the best second-placed team."

However, Le Roy has the pedigree to turn around Togo's fortunes.

He guided Cameroon to the 1988 Nations Cup title and has only failing to reach the quarter-finals once.

Among the other countries he has coached at the continental championship are Senegal, Ghana, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Is Nollywood's Oge Okoye engaged?

Oge Okoye, might be getting set to tie-the-knot sooner than you guys think.

According to Naijagists, the actress reportedly received the ring from her boyfriend who is based abroad.

Okoye showed off what appears to be an engagement in one of her recent pictures.

She has been seen looking extraordinarily happy in recent weeks, attending to her various charity missions with the same glow Tonto Dikeh had before getting married.

Okoye was formerly married to a man named Stanley Duru, but their marriage crashed when the actress allegedly cheated with his bestfriend.

Stanley then went on to marry actress, Sylvanus Nkiru, which sparked husband snatching accusations.

Okoye appears to have moved on from her past mistakes. According to Naijagists, she is now painting the town red in a glowing engagement ring.

London-born Okoye is considered one of the talented actresses in Nollywood. She has the capability to play different roles.

She has been able to do this in movies such as Blackbery Babes (2010), War Game (2006), The Snake Girl (2006) and so on.

Five things you didn’t know about the first modern Olympic Games in Athens 120 years ago

Google has marked the 120th anniversary of first modern Summer Olympics, which took place in Athens in 1896

The first tournament in the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens in 1896 Henry Guttman/Getty Images
Today marks the 120th anniversary of the modern incarnation of the ancient Olympic Games which were staged in Athens in 1896. 

Only 14 countries participated in the original tournament and there were only 43 events, but over the next century it grew in prestige to the international sporting festival it is today. 

Here are some of things you may not know about the revival of the Olympics:

It was not the first attempt to revive the ancient tournament in Greece

The “pagan” sporting festival was banned by Roman Emperor Theodosius I in 394AD as part of his campaign to make Christianity the official religion of the Empire. 

In the 19th century, European philanthropists were inspired to revive the ancient tournament as a way to improve the “moral and physical education” of the masses. 

Greek philanthropists Evangelos and Konstantinos Zappas paid for the restoration of the ancient Panathenaic Stadium where they sponsored the first games held there in 1859, then again in 1870 and 1875. 

Who Will Take Over as Nigeria Actors' Guild Boss?

Lagos — The National Secretary, Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Femi Durojaiye, has asked Ibinabo Fiberesima-Egbuka, to obey a court order and relinquish the position of President of the body to Nollywood actor, Emeke Ike.

A statement issued on Thursday in Lagos by Durojaiye said that Fiberesima-Egbuka should step down as the president while Emeka Ike takes over.

It would be recalled that Ike and Fiberesima-Egbuka had been involved in a feud over who should occupy the position of the president of the AGN.

The statement read: "The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos at the application and argument of counsel to the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Mr Peter Andor Oboyi, struck out Ibinabo and the Board of Trustees' (BoT) suit challenging the nullification of her election.

"The implication of this judgment is that the Emeka Ike- led executive council remains the only authentic and lawful leaders of Actors Guild of Nigeria.

"The Honourable Court vehemently reiterated the position of the judicial authority that, Ibinabo Fiberesima-Egbuka, her purported executive council members and the Board of Trustees (BoT) vacate forthwith the office of AGN both at the National and State levels.

"Accordingly, they should surrender all AGN assets in their possessions to the incumbent, Emeka Ike's Government."

ANP-says-brazil-pre-salt-production-increases-six-percent-in-february

The ANP reports that the production of oil and gas in the pre-salt fields recorded an increase of six percent in February.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The National Agency of Petroleum (ANP), reported yesterday, April 4th, that the production of oil and gas in the pre-salt fields recorded an increase of six percent in February, compared with the previous month. This was just days after the organization announced they are planning investments of R$1.24 billion in the four-year period of 2015-2018.

Pre-Sale Oil, ANP, Petrobras, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Brazil News
Yesterday the ANP said in a statement, “The production of pre-salt, coming from 54 wells was 873,500 barrels per day of oil and 34.6 million cubic meters per day of natural gas, totaling 1.091 million of barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), an increase of six percent over the previous month.”

According to the agency, the natural gas utilization in the month was 95.2 percent. “The burning of gas in February was 4.7 million cubic meters per day, an increase of 43.8 percent compared to the previous month and 44.3 percent over the same month in 2015. The increase in burning natural gas in the month was mainly due to the commissioning of the FPSO Cidade de Marica platform, which started operations in February.”

Total production of oil and natural gas in Brazil, in February, according to the ANP totaled 2,950 million barrels of oil equivalent per day. On the other hand, the total oil production in February 2016 was about 2.335 million barrels per day, a decrease of 0.8 percent compared to the previous month and 4.0 percent over the same month in 2015.

On April 1st, the ANP announced they foresee investments of R$1.24 billion in the four-year period of 2015-2018, according to the new phase of the Multi-Year Plan of Geology Studies and Geophysics agency. In the first phase, between 2007 and 2014, the total investment was R$1.1 billion.

Of this total, R$820 million is the budget of the agency, which depend on the federal government releasing funds, and R$420 million can be realized by the private sector or research and development resources.

Some of the projects included in the plan are new seismic surveys in the basins of rivers Parnaíba, Paraná and Parecis; the exploratory well drilling in pre-salt, among others.

- See more at: http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-business/anp-says-brazil-pre-salt-production-increases-six-percent-in-february/#sthash.CV2gmM0l.dpuf

US employment jumps in Febuary, adds 242,000 jobs

U.S. employment gains surged in February, the clearest sign yet of labor market strength that could further ease fears the economy was heading into recession and allow the Federal Reserve to gradually raise interest rates this year.

Nonfarm payrolls increased by 242,000 jobs last month, the Labor Department said on Friday. The unemployment rate held at an eight-year low of 4.9 percent even as more people piled into the labor market.

“This is the best news the Fed could have expected going into the meeting. With jobs bouncing back, you can be sure that rate hikes are just around the corner,” said Chris Rupkey, chief economist at MUFG Union Bank in New York.

The economy added 30,000 more jobs in December and January than previously reported. The only blemish in the report was a three-cent drop in average hourly earnings, but that was mostly because of a calendar quirk.

The average length of the workweek also fell last month.

Economists had forecast employment increasing by 190,000 last month and the jobless rate holding steady.

The employment report added to data such as consumer and business spending in suggesting the economy had regained momentum after growth slowed to a 1.0 percent annual rate in the fourth quarter. Growth estimates for the first quarter are around a 2.5 percent rate.

Fears of a recession in the wake of poor economic reports in December and slowing growth in China sparked a global stock market rout at the start of the year, causing financial market conditions to tighten.

Financial markets have priced out bets of a rate rise at the Fed’s March 15-16 policy meeting and see a roughly 50 percent chance of a hike at the September and November meetings, according to CME FedWatch.

Economists, however, believe the strong jobs market and improved growth outlook, together with signs that inflation is creeping up, could prompt the Fed to lift borrowing costs in June.

The Fed raised its key overnight interest rate in December for the first time in nearly a decade.

Prices of U.S. Treasuries fell after the data, while U.S. stock index futures rose. The U.S. dollar gained against the euro and hit session highs against the yen and Swiss franc.

Slower wage growth

Fed Chair Janet Yellen has said the economy needs to create just under 100,000 jobs a month to keep up with growth in the working-age population.

The labor force participation rate, or the share of working-age Americans who are employed or at least looking for a job, increased two-tenths of a percentage point to 62.9 percent, the highest level in just over a year.

Adding to the report’s strength, a broad measure of joblessness that includes people who want to work but have given up searching and those working part-time because they cannot find full-time employment fell two-tenths of a percentage point to 9.7 percent.

The employment-to-population ratio also increased to 59.8 percent last month, the highest since April 2009, from 59.6 percent in January.

While wage growth weakened in February, it was largely payback for January’s jump, which was driven by a calendar quirk. Growth in wages is seen accelerating as the labor market settles into full employment.

The drop in average hourly earnings lowered the year-on-year gain in earnings to 2.2 percent from 2.5 percent in January. The average workweek fell to 34.4 hours from 34.6 hours in January.

In February, job gains were almost broad-based, though manufacturing and mining employment fell. The services sector created 245,000 jobs after adding 153,000 jobs in January. Mining lost a further 18,000 jobs after shedding 9,000 positions in January.

Mining payrolls have declined by 171,000 jobs since peaking in September 2014, with three-fourths of the losses in support activities. More losses are likely after oilfield services provider Halliburton Co said last month it would cut a further 5,000 jobs because of a prolonged slump in oil prices.

Manufacturing employment lost 16,000 jobs, reversing some of January’s surprise increase. Private education jobs rebounded after plunging in January. Construction payrolls increased 19,000 and government added 12,000 jobs.

Torres slams Uefa after red card against Barcelona

Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres says hit out at Uefa after being sent off against Barcelona, suggesting referee Felix Brych was not ready for such a big game.

Torres was given his marching orders after picking up two yellow cards in the first half at Camp Nou, with defending champions Barca eventually emerging 2-1 victors against 10 men.

The former Liverpool striker took responsibility for his side's defeat but accused Uefa of being more interested in potential kit clashes - with both sides wearing their away strip on the night - than competent refereeing.

"It's a shame that UEFA are so preoccupied with changing our kits and putting a referee that has failed to be at the level of a Champions League quarter-final," Torres told reporters after the match.

I was unhappy when I got to Kenya - Mike Ezuruonye

Celebrated Nigerian actor Mike Ezuruonye has said he was surprised when he arrived in Kenya and realized that the country has much more to offer than just the Maasai culture and great athletes.

Mike says the predominant perception held by the international community is that Kenya is a land inhabited by members of the Maasai community and medal-winning runners – and that when he got to have a real feel of what Kenya has to offer, he was “saddened” by the fallacious stereotype.

The actor, who was in the country for a three-day location and talent scouting exercise, spoke to Citizen Television’s Lillian Muli on Friday when he made his revelation.

“I am so elated being here (Kenya), but at the same time when I came, I was sad. Sad because Kenya hasn’t been shown as what Kenya truly is to the world,” the gifted actor explained.

In the same breath, he challenged the government to promote a more holistic picture of the country.

“And this is a challenge to the Ministry of Information, Ministry of Culture and Tourism; you are losing a lot with regards to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). If you go outside and think of Kenya; what comes to the minds of people is the Maasai people or the athletes – that’s it. But Kenya is way beyond that, you people have a lot of infrastructure,” Mike said.

The actor was so taken by the overall experience he had that he expressed a willingness to portray the “complete picture” of Kenya: “If I had the opportunity I would showcase to the world what Kenya truly is.”

During his visit to Kenya over the weekend, Mike, who was accompanied by film director Charles Uwagbai, met a number of Kenyan actresses and actors.

He also made a courtesy call to Governor Evans Kidero’s office and visited a possible movie location in Namanga, Kajiado County.

This was Mike Ezuruonye’s second trip to Kenya, with his first tour of the country being five years ago.

Man pours groundnut soup and paint on police officers

A 31-year-old man who poured groundnut soup and paint on two police officers in an attempt to escape arrest is to be put before court for assault.

According to the Police, Umar Mohammed who is involved in a stealing case at Okorase, a suburb of Koforidua, was said to have poured the soup and the paint on the two officers last Saturday when they tried to arrest him for the crime.

The Police say Mohammed on seeing the officers – Sgt. Eunice Ankrah and Const. SibichanDacosta – “became offended, resisted arrest and poured groundnut soup he had prepared and a white oil paint on the two officers”.

Eastern Regional Police Public Affairs Officer, ASP Yaw Nketia-Yeboah in a statement Monday said notwithstanding, Mohammed was overpowered by the officers who arrested him.

Two ex-LA airport baggage handlers arrested on drug trafficking charges...!!!

Two former baggage handlers who prosecutors say used their security identifications to help a nationwide drug ring smuggle "samples" of cocaine through Los Angeles International Airport were arrested on drug trafficking charges on Monday.

Adrian Ponce, 27, and Alberto Preciado Gutierrez, 26, were each charged in federal court in Los Angeles with conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine, U.S. Attorney Eileen Decker said.

"These defendants are charged with abusing their privileged access on behalf of drug dealers," Decker said in a statement. "This case is yet another example of employees associated with airports assisting drug traffickers."

According to prosecutors, Ponce and Preciado are accused of helping couriers smuggle one-kilogram (2.2 lbs) "samples" of cocaine onto commercial airliners at LAX to distribute to customers on the East Coast.

Law enforcement agents seized a kilogram from Preciado in December as he was delivering it to an alleged drug courier in an LAX terminal restroom, prosecutors said.

Under questioning by law enforcement officers, Ponce, who had been waiting for Preciado outside the terminal, admitted to working with a large-scale drug supplier, according to prosecutors

Ponce told authorities that Preciado would typically give the samples to couriers once they had passed through normal airport security, prosecutors said. If the East Coast customers approved of the samples, 100-kilogram shipments would be delivered by the drug ring using trucks driven across the country.

If convicted of the charges, both men face 10 years to life in federal prison.

In March a JetBlue flight attendant who ran from an LAX terminal moments before a search of her luggage turned up 66 pounds (30 kg) of cocaine was arrested in New York. Marsha Reynolds, 31, was charged with possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute the drug.

Pillow Fight Day Observed Worldwide

US overtakes France as Germany’s largest trading partner

The United States overtook France to become Germany's most important trading partner last year for the first time in 40 years, official data showed on Wednesday.

The development, which had already started to become discernible in the middle of last year, was confirmed by provisional data published by the federal statistics office Destatis: for the first time since 1975, France is no longer Germany's biggest trading partner.

Exchange rate fluctuations and the vigour of the US economy are largely behind the change in ranking.

But the development appears to carry special political resonance at a time when Europe is fighting to hold together against the backdrop of the refugee crisis.

France has always been seen as Germany's primary trading partner in the past, underlining the close political and economic ties between Europe's number one and number two economies.

But the weakness of the euro against the dollar and the pick-up in the US economy has boosted Germany's transatlantic trade.

"According to provisional data, goods worth a total 173.2 billion euros ($188 billion) changed hands between Germany and the US in 2015," the federal statistics office Destatis calculated.

"That meant the US was Germany's most important trading partner in 2015, followed by France with 170.1 billion euros worth of goods and the Netherlands with 167.6 billion euros," the statement said.

In terms of exports, the US was the biggest foreign buyer of German-made goods in 2015, with exports amounting to 113.9 billion euros last year.

Exports to France, the country to which Germany has exported the most every year since 1961, amounted to 103 billion euros.

The United Arab Emirates followed in third place, with exports totalling 89.3 billion euros.

On the import side, Germany imported the most goods from China last year -- 91.5 billion euros in all.

The Netherlands and France followed in second and third places with imports of 88.1 billion euros and 67 billion euros respectively, Destatis calculated.

'Long-term phenomenon'

Anton Boerner, president of the German exporters' federation BGA, saw the development as a "turning point, a long-term phenomenon," even if France would definitely remain "a very important partner, and politically the most important one" for Germany.

Chancellor Angela Merkel is scheduled to travel to Paris on Friday to meet with President Francois Hollande, ahead of a crucial EU summit on refugees next week.

For France, Germany remains its biggest trading partner, with 16 percent of French exports destined for its European neighbour and 17 percent of its imports coming from the other side of the Rhine.

But in the US, the economic upturn there has led to a rise in demand for German-made goods, with chemical exports to the US rising by 10 percent, machinery exports up 12 percent, cars and car parts up 23 percent.

The US has even overtaken China as the biggest customer for machine tools made in Germany, said Ralf Wiechers, economist of the specialist industry federation VDMA.

The machine tool sector accounts for nearly 10 percent of all German exports and France remains the number three customer.

"But we're starting to worry about the tissue of French industry," said Wiechers.

"For years now, France has pursued an industrial policy favouring large companies" and that has eroded the base of dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises.

The health of Europe's two biggest economies also diverges profoundly in terms of competitiveness, trade balance and public finances.