By Alex Osei-Boateng


ACCRA Nike Air Max 97 Bianche Scontate , Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Ghana maintained its 52nd position in the latest FIFA world rankings released on Monday, despite gaining five points in its point buildup.


The Black Stars, which also retained its 8th slot on the continental pecking order, increased its total point accumulation from 646 points in September to 651 points this month.


The ranking comes at the backdrop of Ghana's inability to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia after drawing goalless against Uganda at the penultimate qualifier in Kampala on October 7.


Ghana however defeated the Green Falcons of Saudi Arabia 3-0 in a FIFA international friendly last Tuesday.


Leading the African ranking is Tunisia, ranked 28th in the world, with Egypt (30) and Senegal (32) at the second and third positions respectively.


With the World Cup qualification obviously over for Ghana, the West African soccer powerhouse now turns its focus to preparations for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) which resumes in March, next year.


Ghana finished second at the 2015 edition of the AFCON in Equatorial Guinea after losing 9-8 on penalties to neighbors Cote d'Ivoire.


BUCHAREST, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- The three new members of Romania's reshuffled cabinet took the oath of office Tuesday before President Klaus Iohannis in a ceremony at Cotroceni Presidential Palace.


Earlier, Iohannis signed the decrees appointing Paul Stanescu as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Regional Development, Public Administration and European Funds; Felix Stroe as Minister of Transport; and Marius Nica as Minister-delegate for European Funds.


The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Mihai Tudose, Deputy Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, two MPs, as well as presidential adviser Cosmin Marinescu.


Iohannis did not speak as usual at the end of the ceremony.


This may be the most deserted and shortest swearing ceremony in recent years, as both heads of Parliament chambers announced not to attend the ceremony, as an expression of the further frigid relations between the leadership of governing coalition and the head of state.


The prime minister on Monday sent to the presidency the new proposals for ministers which were approved last week at a National Executive Committee meeting of the main ruling Social Democratic Party.


There are indications that discordance began to be felt inside the ruling coalition made of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, especially within the Social Democrats.


The discord between the prime minister and his party leader Liviu Dragnea became apparent after the former announced early last week at a private television station that he would reshuffle his cabinet by replacing several ministers and would consider resigning if the party leadership would refuse his request.


He also mentioned his dissatisfaction over the party's involvement in certain cabinet decisions.


The cabinet reshuffle will temporarily ease the tensions between the prime minister and the party's leaders, but local analysts generally believed that the prime minister would continue to argue for greater government decision-making power, meaning that the struggle within the ruling party would continue.




KANDAL, Cambodia, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Cambodians flocked to Vihear Sour pagoda here on Monday to watch buffalo races along a dirt track as part of a ceremony marking the end of Pchum Ben, an annual 15-day festival honoring the dead.


Sam Sophy, director of Kandal Provincial Tourism Department, said 24 water buffalos were registered for the 450-meter-race on a muddy road leading to the pagoda.


"The event is aimed to preserve and promote our Cambodian culture and tradition to national and international tourists," he told Xinhua.


Thai Thang, chairman of the racing committee, said each of the participants was given five U.S. dollars.


Rider Cho Sok-hen, 35, said he has joined the race for 15 years in order to preserve this traditional sport and to celebrate the Pchum Ben.


"We do not compete for the championship