Latest news with #CAR
CAF
3 hours ago
- Sport
- CAF
TotalEnergies CAF CHAN 2024: Central African Republic team profile
Published: Wednesday, 30 July 2025 The Central African Republic (CAR) is set to make history with their maiden appearance at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Nations Championship (CHAN). This monumental achievement has been celebrated as one of the most exciting surprises of the 2024 tournament. Under the guidance of coach Sébastien Ngato, the Bas-Oubangui Wild Beasts stunned Cameroon in the qualifiers, marking their entry into the African elite. Factfile Nickname : Wild Beasts of Bas-Oubangui : Wild Beasts of Bas-Oubangui Number of Appearances : First : First Best Performance: N/A How They Qualified In a historic feat, CAR overcame Cameroon in the qualification round. After suffering a narrow 0-1 home defeat in the first leg in Abidjan, the team pulled off a remarkable 2-1 victory in Bafoussam, Cameroon, thanks to a late goal from Bertillon Arnold Yangana. Players to Watch Bertillon Arnold Yangana (Red Star de Bangui): Yangana became a national hero after scoring the decisive goal against Cameroon in the qualifiers. Known for his speed and clinical finishing, he will be the focal point of CAR's attacking play in the tournament. Saturnin Ngarsouma (Goalkeeper): Ngarsouma's agility and exceptional reflexes were key in CAR's qualification. His ability to make game-changing saves will be critical in the team's CHAN debut. Coach Sébastien Ngato: A visionary tactician, Ngato has guided the Central African Republic to unprecedented heights. Known for his defensive solidity and effective counterattacking strategies, he employs a 4-3-3 formation tailored to the strengths of his players. With previous successes at the U20 level, Ngato's leadership has been instrumental in reshaping CAR's football narrative. What to Expect Despite their underdog status, CAR enters the CHAN tournament with momentum and confidence. Their upset against Cameroon demonstrates their ability to challenge more experienced teams. With a balanced mix of determination and strategic play, the Wild Beasts aim to make their debut a memorable one by progressing beyond the group stage. Fan Zone Did You Know? Before CHAN 2024, the Central African Republic's only participation in major African tournaments was through their U20 team in 2021 and 2023.
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
Runway 2 used by 3K flights sans adequate fire safety for 6 months
Chennai: More than 3,500 flights operated on Chennai airport's secondary runway during simultaneous use of the two runways between April and October 2024 without adequate fire safety measures, an audit by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) found. The audit, done in October 2024 found the airport had only four crash fire tenders instead of the stipulated six — three each for the main runway and secondary runway. There was only one fire tender for the secondary runway, that too had suffered multiple technical snags and failed to meet the requirements. "At least three fire tenders were unserviced and lacked equipment, and a non-functional dry chemical powder tender was deployed as a responding vehicle for several days," said the report. It also noted that two fire tenders in use since 2008 were past their shelf life of 10 years. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai The survey highlighted 63 safety parameters as unsatisfactory, including three 'level-1 lapses' to be complied with on a priority basis before Nov 2024. The task and resource analysis (TRA) for Chennai airport was not updated after 2022 in line with the simultaneous operations on the runways. Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) Services is the first line of defence during any aircraft-related emergency at airports. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Learn More - How Donating Sperm May Support Your Income SpellRock Undo Their role spans rescue, fire control, passenger safety, and coordination, making them vital to aviation safety and disaster preparedness. They are aligned with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) and DGCA standards to respond to the situation and initiate rescue operations within three minutes. DGCA said ambulances stationed at the airport were past their expiry date. Other deficiencies included expired proximity suits, inadequate breathing apparatus for firefighters, and lower quality of foam used to extinguish fire. An airport official said the airport needed just three fire tenders as per DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), but it had an additional tender. "We responded to the DGCA report and addressed the lapses. The ambulances were replaced in June this year, and two new crash fire tenders were added in May," said an official. Reply to an RTI application revealed reduced simultaneous operations on the two runways after the DGCA report. While the number of flights operated from the secondary runway ranged from 700 to 950 between April and Oct, it came down to around 300 in the following months as flights were operated on the secondary runway when the main runway was closed for operations twice weekly. Captain Ranganathan, a former pilot and air safety expert, said that ARFF, unlike other fire services, is not about precaution but a mandatory procedure. "For even abnormalities during take-off and landing of flights, the airport should be prepared for crash landing, for which the ARFF should be ready to respond," he said. He recalled the Air France crash at Chennai airport in 1999 and the Air India Express flight crash in Mangaluru in 2010 and said the casualties would have been fewer had the ARFF teams reached the site immediately. DGCA can initiate action for not complying with 'level-1 lapses' beyond the deadline, he said.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
What Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Said In Parliament On Air India Crash, Technical Defects In Aircrafts
Commercial airlines in India have reported a total of 2,094 technical defects between 2021 and June 2025, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday. The year-wise data shows that 514 defects were recorded in 2021, rising slightly to 528 in 2022. The numbers then declined to 448 in 2023, 421 in 2024, and 183 defects in the first half of 2025. The Minister also provided data on passenger complaints received over the last five years. The DGCA received a total of 21,368 complaints from flyers over the same period. The highest number of complaints, 5,513, was registered in 2023. The annual breakdown includes 4,131 complaints in 2021, 3,783 in 2022, 4,016 in 2024, and 3,925 in the first half of 2025. These complaints reflect growing dissatisfaction and potential safety and service lapses in airline operations. This disclosure comes as a response to a starred Question raised by MP Mukul Balkrishna Wasnik in the Rajya Sabha. Mr Naidu informed the House that these defects, which include minor and serious snags, are required to be reported, investigated, and rectified under the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Mr Naidu also outlined, "All aircraft operators shall have a system in their organisation to ensure that all defects, minor or others, whether reported by flight crew or observed by maintenance crew, are recorded and investigated for taking appropriate rectification action. All serious defects shall be intimated immediately by all operators to DGCA." AI171 Crash In response to a query raised about the current steps taken by the government to enforce safety standards, considering the recent AI 171 crash, the minister said that the DGCA has enhanced checks and inspections of critical aircraft components and systems. Safety assurance processes have been intensified to detect and resolve systemic risks. Additionally, Indian regulations are being continuously updated to align with international norms, including those laid out by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). While the decline in reported defects in recent years may reflect improved maintenance practices, the consistently high number of investigations and passenger complaints highlights the need for more robust safety enforcement. As a preventive safety measure, the DGCA, on June 13, a day after the crash, directed additional inspections of all 33 Boeing 787-8/9 aircraft operated by Air India. Of these, 31 aircraft have been checked, with minor issues found in 8 planes, which were cleared after rectification. Two aircraft remain under scheduled maintenance. An official investigation into the probable causes of the incident has been launched by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) under Rule 11 of the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents & Incidents) Rules, 2017. The DGCA continues its systematic safety oversight through audits, spot checks, ramp inspections and night surveillance. The regulator's Annual Surveillance Plan (ASP) guides routine checks across all aircraft and airport operators. On Helicopter Crashes To a question asked by the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol said, "12 helicopter accidents have taken place in five years and the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has tightened safety for Char Dham operations." 12 helicopter accidents have been reported in the last five years, including seven in Uttarakhand, the highest among all states. Four accidents have taken place in Maharashtra and one in Chhattisgarh. The minister said, "DGCA has reinforced safety protocols for helicopter operations, particularly during the Chardham Yatra, with Stricter access control, improved helipad parking and slot management, mandatory pilot training upgrades, enhanced surveillance and safety audits and emphasis on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to prevent future mishaps."
Russia Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
ICC jails former football chief for war crimes
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has sentenced the former chief of the Central African Republic (CAR) football federation, Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona, to prison after finding him guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Ngaissona was convicted alongside Alfred Yekatom, a rebel leader known as 'Rambo', during a ruling in The Hague on Thursday, with judges handing them prison terms of 12 and 15 years respectively. 'The convictions were across multiple charges, including murder, attacks against a civilian population, forcible transfer, torture and other inhumane acts, and persecution,' the court said in a press release. The charges relate to their roles as leaders of a Christian-dominated armed group called Anti-balaka (meaning 'anti-machete'), which carried out deadly attacks against Muslim communities in the Central African Republic between December 2013 and December 2014. Anti-balaka was formed in 2013 to counter the Muslim-majority Seleka coalition, which seized power after ousting then-President Francois Bozize. Prosecutors accused Ngaissona, also a former government minister, of supplying funds and weapons to Anti-balaka units operating in towns including Bossangoa, Gaga, and Berberati. Yekatom, a former parliamentarian, is said to have commanded an estimated 3,000 fighters and directed attacks in areas such as the capital, Bangui, and Lobaye. According to court documents, witnesses described his forces using grenades, machetes, and assault rifles in raids that terrorized Muslim civilians. Both men had pleaded not guilty when the trial opened in February 2021, after being extradited to The Hague. The ICC said it heard from around 75 witnesses, including victims and insiders from the armed groups. 'The Chamber found Mr Ngaissona and Mr Yekatom guilty beyond any reasonable doubt of a number of war crimes and crimes against humanity,' the court stated. The Central African Republic has experienced decades of militant violence and political insecurity, including six coups, since gaining independence from France in 1960. UN peacekeepers have been deployed under the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSCA) since 2014, but rebel violence against the government has persisted.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former head of Central African football body jailed for war crimes
The former head of the Central African Republic (CAR) football federation, Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona, has been found guilty of committing 28 war crimes and crimes against humanity by judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC). He was accused, alongside Alfred Yekatom, of co-ordinating attacks against the country's Muslim population in 2013-14. Yekatom was found guilty of 20 charges. The judges gave their verdict after a trial lasting almost four years involving more than 170 witnesses and nearly 20,000 items of evidence. Ngaïssona was sentenced to 12 years and Yekatom 15 years. Violence has gripped the CAR for much of the past decade, but a recent peace deal led to the dissolution of two rebel groups this month. CAR was plunged into turmoil in 2013 when predominately Muslim rebels from the Séléka group seized power in the majority Christian country. A band of mostly Christian militias, called the anti-Balaka, rose up to counter Séléka after then-President François Bozizé was ousted. Ngaïssona and Yekatom were convicted of numerous crimes, including murder, torture and persecuting a religious group. The prosecution set out the alleged system of command, saying Ngaïssona provided funds and instructions to anti-Balaka groups in 2013 and 2014. Yekatom, nicknamed Rambo, was a commander who allegedly led fighters into the capital, Bangui, on 5 December 2013 where civilians were slaughtered. The prosecution said the pair's strategy was to make all Muslims their target, describing them as "enemies of the nation". Yekatom authorised his fighters to attack Muslim civilians, including to slit throats, cut off ears and bury people alive, the prosecution alleged. Asked to enter a plea at the start of the trial, both men rejected all the charges. Media reports at the time indicates that at least 1,000 people were killed in tit-for-tat clashes in Bangui in December 2013, and half the city's population fled in that month alone. Who is Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona? He was the self-declared political co-ordinator of anti-Balaka forces. Ngaïssona was barred from running for CAR president in 2015 because of his alleged role in the atrocities. He is a former head of the CAR's football federation and briefly served as sports minister before being elected to the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) in February 2018. His appointment was criticised by several human rights groups. "If the allegations were true, I wouldn't be here today," he told AFP news agency at the time. "[I don't] mix politics and sport - everything I've done has been for the good of my country." French authorities arrested him in December 2018 and he was transferred to the ICC in January 2019. Who is Alfred Yekatom? Yekatom was elected as an MP in 2016, despite being subject to UN sanctions. He was arrested in October 2018 after he fired a gun in parliament, then ran away, after a row with a fellow MP. His extradition to the ICC was the first from CAR. The International Federation for Human Rights (known by its French acronym FIDH) said it signalled the authorities there were committed to fighting impunity. More about CAR from the BBC: Grenade attack survivor sings for peace Central African Republic's road to anarchy Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts Focus on Africa This Is Africa
