DUTCH REFEREE ROB DIEPERINK DIES WEEKS AFTER REMOVAL FROM WORLD CUP OFFICIATING LIST. (PHOTO).

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 Dutch referee Rob Dieperink dies weeks after removal from World Cup officiating list Dutch referee Rob Dieperink has died at the age of 38, weeks after FIFA removed him from its list of officials for the World Cup. The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) confirmed his death in a statement, saying it was “shocked and deeply saddened” by the news. His cause of death has not been disclosed. Dieperink was arrested in April by the Metropolitan Police in the United Kingdom following a report of an alleged sexual assault involving a teenage boy in London. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said officers responded on April 9 to a report of sexual assault at an address in Croydon and arrested a man in his 30s on suspicion of the offence. Police later said that after reviewing available evidence, including CCTV footage and digital devices, the investigation had concluded that “the evidential threshold had not been met” and no further action would be taken. Following the investigation, FIFA co...

MALI SEIZES 3 TONNES OF GOLD FROM CANADIAN FIRM BARRICK. (PHOTO).


 Mali seizes 3 tonnes of gold from Canadian firm Barrick


Mali's military government has started seizing gold stocks of the Canadian mining company Barrick as part of a legal battle over the share of revenue owed to the West African state, according to an internal Barrick letter seen by The Associated Press.


The letter from CEO Mark Bristow to staff, dated on Monday, says Barrick is “awaiting official confirmation of the proper receipt by the Malian Solidarity Bank,” a government entity.


The seizure follows a warning letter to Barrick earlier this month from Mali's senior investigating judge, Boubacar Moussa Diarra, saying three tonnes of gold would be seized.


On Monday, a senior Barrick manager confirmed that three tonnes had been seized by the military government and placed in the capital, Bamako. The manager spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly.


Arrest warrant for CEO


According to the senior manager, the gold was taken from a mine near Kayes in the west and transported by plane and truck to the capital late on Saturday.


The Malian authorities did not immediately respond for comment.


Valued at around $180 million, the gold seizure is part of the dispute over revenues owed to the state.


In December, Mali issued an arrest warrant for Bristow for charges of alleged money laundering, and ordered the seizure of Barrick's gold reserves. The company has offered to pay $370 million.


Placed under pressure


Mali's military government previously arrested four senior executives of the Canadian mining company as part of the dispute.


They were quickly released.


Mali is one of Africa’s leading gold producers, but it has struggled for years with militant violence and high levels of poverty and hunger.


The military seized power in 2020, and the government has placed foreign mining companies under growing pressure as it seeks to shore up revenues.


Tax dispute


In November, the CEO of Australian company Resolute Mining and two employees were arrested in Bamako.


They were released after the company paid $80 million to Malian authorities to resolve a tax dispute and promised to pay a further $80 million in the coming months.

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