Hundreds of migrants have been relocated from government-run detention centres in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, after getting trapped by clashes between rival groups, UN and aid sources said on Thursday.
The migrants had been abandoned after their guards fled fighting pitting rival groups vying for power and state funds, a recurring theme in the North African country since the chaotic overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in a 2011 NATO-backed uprising.
Hundreds of migrants had been brought to a “safer place’’ from two centres run by the UN-backed government from the Ain Zara area in southeastern Tripoli, aid workers said.
The UN refugee agency UNHCR “in coordination with other agencies and the Department for Combatting Illegal Migration (DCIM) facilitated the transport of all persons in Ain Zara,’’ it said in a statement.
The migrants were mainly Eritrean, Ethiopian and Somali nationals, who were brought to a separate detention centre away from fighting.
However, a few people were still awaiting their evacuation at Ain Zara, an official at a separate international organisation said.
Libya is the main departure point in North Africa for migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea to Europe, mainly from other parts of Africa.
The number of crossings has sharply fallen off since Italy provided the coast guard with more boats and brokered deals with local groups in a smuggler hub in 2017. (Rueters/NAN)
The UK is giving 16 million dollars in education support to 100,000 children affected by the Boko Haram crisis in Northeast Nigeria.
Amb. Jonathan Allen, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, said in his remarks to journalists at the UN headquarters in New York
Allen said the fund was part of the package from the visit of Prime Minister Theresa May, who was on bilateral visit to Nigeria on Wednesday.
Talking about security in Africa, he said it was a good moment to remind that May had been visiting South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya over the last few days.
The UK envoy added that the security agreement signed by the prime minister included the offer of joint training with Nigeria for four army units going to the northeast.
Allen said: “Perhaps of most relevance in the Security Council is the agreements she came to in Nigeria on security and defence partnership, which will see greater equipment and training for the Nigerian military.
“This includes the offer of joint training with Nigeria for four army units going to the northeast; of education support for children in areas where schools have to close because of the conflict, to the tune of $16 million for affecting 100,000 children; and in countering Boko Haram propaganda.
“She also announced the opening of new embassies in Chad and Niger, which will strengthen the case, response and ability to work in partnership with countries in the Sahel, particularly if that gets to the Lake Chad Basin, which is an issue of great concern for this Council”.
During May’s visit to Nigeria, UK signed a security pact with Nigeria aimed at helping the country combat the militant group Boko Haram through better military training and anti-terrorist propaganda techniques developed in the UK.
The British prime minister’s agreement with Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari was announced at a summit between the two leaders in Abuja.
“We are determined to work side by side with Nigeria to help them fight terrorism, reduce conflict and lay the foundations for the future stability and prosperity that will benefit us all,” she said.
Under the pact, the UK would provide training to the Nigerian military to help it contend with improvised explosive devices used by Boko Haram.
The security and defence agreement also hoped to cut the flow of new recruits by working with local communities “to push out counter-narratives” to Boko Haram. (NAN)
“The America of John McCain has no need to be made great again because America was always great,” she said to extended applause.
Meghan spoke at the funeral for her late father, which was attended by Barack Obama and George Bush, two former presidents from opposing parties. The two former leaders united in the momentous funeral that championed his aspirations of political comity but also rebuked the tribalism and division trafficked by Donald Trump.
Trump was conspicuously absent at the event as he chose to go and play golf in Virginia.
Cindy McCain, left and other members of the family at the funeral
Millions of Americans tuned in to the nationally televised memorial attended by the breadth of Washington powerbrokers.
And while Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama offered subtle swipes at the current commander in chief, McCain’s daughter Meghan used the words of Trump’s campaign slogan to deliver a searing, unmistakable rebuke.
As Bush and Obama praised McCain for repeatedly placing country over party or self, the stunning contrast between the unifying ceremony under the neo-Gothic arches of Washington National Cathedral and an outcast Trump only highlighted the astonishing state of US politics.
US Servicemen carrying the casket of Senator McCain
Hailing his friend as “an extraordinary man” who embodied what is best in America, Obama said McCain, who battled fiercely but respectfully in the political arena, “made us better presidents — just as he made the Senate better, just as he made the country better.”
He was echoing similar sentiments expressed minutes earlier by Bush, who defeated McCain in a “hard fought” Republican primary battle in 2000, only to see that bitter rivalry melt away into a lasting friendship.
While Bush and Obama hail from different parties, their message Saturday was clear: US politics can and should rise to a higher level with the example set by McCain.
“We never doubted the other man’s sincerity or the other man’s patriotism — or that when all was said and done, we were on the same team,” Obama said of his rough but respectful campaign battles with McCain.
So much of today’s politics, “our public discourse, can seem small and mean and petty, trafficking in bombast and insult,” he added.
“It’s a politics that pretends to be brave and tough but in fact is born of fear. John called on us to be bigger than that.”
McCain’s final public ceremony before his private burial Sunday at the US Naval Academy in nearby Annapolis, Maryland highlighted the warrior politician’s call for healing.
“Perhaps above all John detested the abuse of power, could not abide bigots and swaggering despots,” said Bush, as Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner sat in attendance.
Trump’s Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly were also present.
But it was the gathering of heavyweights from both parties past and present that drew more attention, including Bill and Hillary Clinton; former vice presidents Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Joe Biden; and former secretaries of state Henry Kissinger, Madeleine Albright and John Kerry.
International dignitaries were also in attendance. On the guest list provided by funeral organisers was President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine, where McCain helped support opposition to Russian aggression, and Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza.
McCain, who died last Saturday at age 81, has been lionised over the past week of emotional commemorations, including his congressional colleagues bestowing him the rare honor of lying in state in the US Capitol on Friday.
At the funeral, which McCain spent months organizing as he battled cancer, Meghan McCain delivered a tear-filled tribute to her father.
Hailing his friend as “an extraordinary man,” warrior and patriot who embodied what is best in America, former president Barack Obama said John McCain “made us better presidents — just as he made the Senate better, just as he made the country better”
And while Trump’s name was not mentioned during the ceremony, McCain’s daughter drew a clear and damning distinction between her father and Trump’s combative politics.
“We gather here to mourn the passing of American greatness — the real thing, not cheap rhetoric from men who will never come near the sacrifice he gave so willingly,” she said, criticizing “those who lived lives of comfort and privilege while he suffered and served.”
Earlier Saturday, the flag-draped casket of McCain, a prisoner of war in Vietnam for more than five years, was taken by honor guard from the US Capitol and placed in a black hearse.
It stopped at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to allow his widow Cindy McCain to lay a wreath honouring all who died in the conflict.
She had been stoic throughout days of commemorations for her husband, but on Saturday during opera singer Renee Fleming’s performance of the ballad “Danny Boy,” she lay her head on son Jack’s shoulder and wept.
Aside from Trump, another notable figure not invited to the funeral was McCain’s 2008 running mate Sarah Palin, who became associated with the far-right movement that in some ways nurtured white identity politics.
(Reuters/NAN)China is still determined to reform and wants to work with all parties to
build an open world economy, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Sunday, reiterating Beijing’s message
amid a bitter trade war with Washington.
Meeting UN Secretary-General António Guterres in Beijing ahead of a major China-Africa summit, Xi made no
direct mention of the trade tensions with the United States, referring instead to “unilateralism and
protectionism rearing its head”.
“China’s determination to fully deepen reforms will not change,” China’s Foreign Ministry paraphrased Xi
as telling Guterres.
“We are willing to use practical actions to drive all parties to jointly adhere to trade liberalization
and facilitation and build an open world economy,” Xi added.
The ministry’s statement did not elaborate.
The two countries have been rolling out a series of tariffs on each other’s exports as U.S. President Donald
Trump’s administration seeks to tackle a range of issues from the large trade imbalance with China to forced
technology transfers.
China has criticised the U.S. for resorting to protectionist and unilateral measures and says it will keep
opening up its economy, providing a fair and transparent environment for foreign businesses.
U.S. and Chinese officials ended two days of talks last month without a major breakthrough as their trade war
escalated with the activation of a further round of tariffs on 16 billion dollars worth of each other’s goods.
The two countries have now targeted 50 billion dollars of each other’s goods and threatened duties on most of
the rest of their bilateral trade, raising concerns that the conflict could dent global economic growth.
Trump administration officials have been divided over how hard to press Beijing, but the White House appears
to believe it is winning the trade war as China’s economy slows and its stock markets falter.
Economists estimate that every $100 billion of imports hit by tariffs would reduce global trade by around
0.5 per cent. (Reuters/NAN)
Russian investigators could not confirm Poland’s claims that there was an explosion on board Polish ex-President Lech Kaczynski’s Tu-154M plane prior to a fatal crash in 2010.
The Investigative Committee Spokesperson, Svetlana Petrenko, made the announcement on Friday in Moscow.
“Russian investigators have no more questions about the cause of the crash. It was caused by multiple factors,’’ Petrenko said.
They included the plane crew’s failure to act in time and fly to an alternate airfield as well as the mistakes they made during the low-visibility landing, according to the spokeswoman.
“Therefore, Poland wants an additional examination of the plane’s debris, a request which we are prepared to fulfill within the framework of the close cooperation in this criminal investigation,’’ Petrenko stressed.
Polish investigators are expected to examine the plane’s debris in Smolensk on Sept. 3 to 7.
It will be their 12th visit to Russia.
In April, the Polish commission revisiting the investigation into the 2010 plane crash issued a report saying that it was caused by a mid-air explosion on the aircraft.
The commission also said on June 5 that it had found traces of explosives on the aircraft wreckage as well as on the body of one of the victims of the crash.
On April 10, 2010, a Polish jet carrying Kaczynski, his wife and officials crashed amid heavy fog as it attempted to land at an airfield near Smolensk.
All 96 people on board died in the crash. (Sputnik/NAN)
President Muhammadu Buhari Friday in Abuja said his administration will always uphold the sanctity of the rule of law in governing the country, while assuring German Chancellor Angel Merkel that all agreements will be fully respected.
President Buhari received the German Chancellor, who was accompanied by top government officials and a business delegation, at the Presidential Villa.
In his remarks during a bilateral meeting, the President said unity and harmony in every society can only be preserved by observing the rule of law, and ensuring that agreements reached in good faith are followed through to the mutual benefit of countries.
President Buhari told Chancellor Merkel and members of her delegation that the rule of law embodies all the rightful mechanisms for conflict resolution, both within the country, and in dealing with all foreign partners, assuring that his administration remains focused on delivering a peaceful, economically viable and politically stable polity to all Nigerians.
The President said Nigeria remains grateful to the German government for the fair treatment of migrants.
President Buhari said Nigeria looks forward to improving its trade figures with Germany, which had taken strong interest in investing in the country and supporting the government in providing effective services in security, education and creation of jobs.
The President said his administration instituted reforms in the economy to make it more internationally attractive and business friendly for investors, noting that infrastructure development had been a priority, especially in power supply, road and rail constructions.
President Buhari said the economy was already responding to the diversification reforms and the stimulus of the government as growth is now largely driven by the non-oil sector.
The President said Nigeria was politically stable, urging German investors to take advantage of the friendly climate.
“I enjoin you to invest in Nigeria because this is the best time to do so,’’ he added.
President Buhari noted that the successful political transitions since 1999 were clear indications of the country’s stability and preparedness to welcome more investments that will bolster the economy.
In her remarks at the meeting, Chancellor Merkel said Germany is prepared to further strengthen bilateral and business relations with Nigeria, which, according to her, controls 60 per cent of ECOWAS economy.
The German Chancellor said the population growth and opportunities in the economy can always be explored to improve employment situation in the country.
Chancellor Merkel said the three Memoranda of Understanding signed during the visit represent a starting point for a healthier and deeper partnership with Nigeria in areas of security, trade, immigration and education.
The Federal Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Volkswagen of South Africa for the manufacturing of Volkswagen vehicles in Nigeria, while Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL Plc) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Petkus Technologies GMBH for the supply of seed and grain processing machines.
The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with German African Business Association on fostering trade and investment.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday accused Google’s search engine of hiding “fair media” coverage of him and said he would address the situation, without giving any details.
In a pair of tweets, Trump said Google search results for “Trump News” showed only the reporting of what he terms fake news media.
“They have it RIGGED, for me & others,” he said, blaming Google, part of Alphabet Inc, for what he said was dangerous action that promoted mainstream media outlets such as CNN and suppressed conservative political voices.
“This is a very serious situation-will be addressed!” Trump added, without offering any details.
Representatives for the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Google also could not be immediately reached.
Trump has long criticized news media coverage of him, frequently using the term fake news to describe critical reports.
He has made social media, particularly Twitter, an integral part of his presidency.
He has previously accused social media companies, which include Twitter and Facebook, of censorship.
Trump’s accusation of bias on the part of Google comes as social media companies have suspended accounts, banned certain users and removed content as they face pressure from the U.S. Congress to police foreign propaganda and fake accounts aimed at disrupting American politics, including operations tied to Iran and Russia.
Companies such as Facebook and Twitter have also been pressed to remove conspiracy driven content and hate speech.
Tech companies have said they do not remove content for political reasons.
Some Republican U.S. lawmakers have also raised concerns about social media companies removing content from some conservatives, and have called Twitter’s chief executive to testify before a U.S. House of Representatives committee on Sept. 5.
Earlier in the month, Alphabet’s YouTube joined Apple Inc and Facebook in removing some content from Infowars, a website run by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
Jones was also temporarily suspended on Twitter.(Reuters/NAN)
Survivors and relatives at Ramstein in Germany gathered at the base on Tuesday to mark the 30th anniversary of the air show tragedy.
This is a tragedy where 70 people were killed when three Italian jets collided during a military air show over the U.S. base
“The truth does not endure forgetfulness,’’ Giancarlo Nutarelli, the brother of one of the pilots, said during an ecumenical church service. “The pain affected all of us, but also united all those involved with each other.’’
The jets from the Frecce Tricolori (Tricolour Arrows), the Italian military aerobatic team, collided over the base on August 28, 1988.
One fell into the crowd, killing 67 spectators subsequently all three pilots also died.
70 candles were lit in the church at Ramstein-Miesenbach during the service and six wreaths were laid on the altar.
“The air show disaster at Ramstein is more deeply anchored in the memory of our state than virtually any other tragedy,’’ Malu Dreyer, the prime minister of the state of North Rhine Westphalia, said.
Some 100 relatives and survivors were present.
“It’s like a family gathering,’’ a woman who was one of the 350 seriously injured in the accident said. “I saw a huge fireball. It was as though the sky was on fire.’’
“It’s a pity that we meet so seldomly,’’ said Marc-David Jung, who lost his father in the accident.
The U.S. airbase at Ramstein is the largest of its kind outside the United States. (dpa/NAN)
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed if Ethiopia says
the 2020 election will be free and will not be delayed by his sweeping reforms to
the African nation’s politics, economy and diplomacy.
Ahmed, who took office in April, has pledged to open up the state-dominated economy and has taken steps
to end decades of hostility with neighbouring Eritrea — moves that could reshape the country
and the broader Horn of Africa region.
He said on Saturday at his first news conference that the World Bank would provide one billion dollars
in budget support in the next few months, explaining that “this is due to the reforms taking place
in the country.”
Since winning office, Ahmed has loosened the grip of a state that had ruled with an iron fist.
He has ordered the release of political prisoners and decried abuses by security forces as state terrorism.
“My dream and ambition is for democratic elections to be held,” the 42-year-old prime minister said.
“Otherwise, what legitimacy can any official have without the mandate earned through elections?”
He said elections, due in 2020, should not be delayed until the reforms he has announced are completed.
He said the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) coalition’s focus i 2019
would be on “preparations for free elections to be held.”
Abiy has promised to give more room to opponents in a nation of 100 million where no opposition lawmakers
sit in parliament.
He has lifted a state of emergency put in place after his predecessor resigned in February following three
years of protests in which hundreds were killed by security forces.
The World Bank and other donors suspended budgetary help following a vote in 2005 that was disputed
by the opposition and accompanied by violence that killed 200 people.
The ruling coalition, in power since ousting dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1991, has long been accused
by the opposition of crushing dissent, a charge it had denied, though Ahmed has spoken frankly since
taking office about past abuses.
Some political dissidents have voiced scepticism about change as long as Abiy’s EPRDF remains in power.
Protests that led to the resignation of his predecessor were partly driven by Ethiopia’s disillusioned
youth, suffering high levels of unemployment.
Although it has been one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, Ethiopia’s export sector – mainly
garment manufacturing and farming – has struggled, meaning the economy is not generating
enough dollars to pay for imports.
The dollar shortages have been exacerbated by the government’s massive investment in infrastructure
over the last decade.
The government in July called on Ethiopians to bring their hard currency into banks to ease the shortage,
a move which closed the once yawning gap between the official and black market exchange rates for the
birr currency.
On Saturday, Ahmed said “economic sabotage” had taken place and adding that “large groups” were still
hoarding foreign exchange, without giving details.
Though the government has pledged to partially privatise several key state-owned companies, including
the telecoms monopoly, the form liberalisation will take and the speed with which it will be carried
out have not been announced.(Reuters/NAN)
