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Theo Bos (Belkin) won a crash marred stage two of the Tour de Langkawi, ahead of his teammate and lead-out man Greame Brown.
Bos managed to avoid the chaos going on around him to take his first win of the season. Brown stayed in front of the remaining pack to snatch second with Marco Haller (Katusha) finishing in third.
Astana’s Andrea Guardini has had some big successes at the race, but couldn’t contest the sprint after being caught up in the incident. The Italian rider was seen in the back of an ambulance after the finish with a puncture wound in his foot. He is now a doubt to start stage three on Saturday.
Despite the joy at his victory, Bos gave little celebration in respect to his fellow competitors. “I don’t want to salute and be so much happy (because of the crash), some see...
Friday, February 28, 2014
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Eritreans in Britain forced by embassy to pay 2% diaspora tax
On the morning of the 18 December last year Sam* walked up the narrow steps of a nondescript building in the back streets of Islington, north London. He was visiting the Eritrean embassy to inquire about his "clearance". This is the process every Eritrean in the diaspora must undergo if they want to have any dealings with their home country.
However, being cleared entails paying a 2% tax on all UK earnings to the Eritrean authorities. Without clearance Sam could not have his passport renewed, apply for a business permit in his home country, or even send a parcel of secondhand clothes to his family.
The diaspora tax was banned by the UN security council in 2011 (pdf). Resolution 2023, supported by the UK, condemned the tax because it was being used to fund "arms and related material"...
Israel Begins Deporting Sudanese, Eritrean Asylum Seekers
Israel has begun deporting African asylum seekers from Sudan and Eritrea to Uganda, according to reports by an Israeli news outlet. Quoting senior government officials, Haaretz reported that over the past months dozens asylum seekers had either left or agreed to leave Israel for Uganda.
The state does not forcefully deport citizens of Eritrea due to the danger they face in their repressive home country known as the North Korea of Africa, and in the absence of diplomatic relations with Sudan the country is also unable to facilitate deportations of Sudanese nationals there.
However, the government has upped its monetary incentive to Africans to leave under its "voluntary departure" scheme from $1,500 to $3,500.
Eritreans Sudanese are among the largest migrant group, accounting for...
Foreign Ministry Secretary General Receives Ambassador of Eritrea
Muscat, Feb 27 (ONA)
Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud al-Busaidi, Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry met here today with Mohammed Omar Mahmoud, non – resident ambassador of Eritrea to the Sultanate, to bid him farewell at the end of his tour of duty.
During the meeting, cordial conversations were exchanged and affirmed on the existing good relations between the Sultanate and Eritrea, as well as keenness of both sides in promoting them.
Foreign Ministry Secretary General expressed his sincere wishes to the ambassador to carry out his new duties.
The credentials presentation ceremony was attended by Ali bin Abdullah al-Mahrouqi, acting Head of the West Africa Departmen...