Feed aggregator

In an exclusive interview with Sputnik, Russian economist, author and politician Nikolai Starikov shared his views on the controversy surrounding the famine of 1932-33 in the USSR and shed some light on the Western anti-Soviet sanctions policy in the early 1930s.

Derrière l’intouchable Filippo Lombardi, la bataille fait rage au Tessin.

Au Bénin, le procès de l’assassin présumé de Pierre Urbain Dangnivo et de son complice présumé a repris mardi devant les assises spéciales à la cour d’appel de Cotonou après deux reports. Pierre Urbain Dangnivo est ce fonctionnaire du ministère des Finances, militant de l’opposition, qui a disparu dans des conditions non élucidées, en août 2010. Fait divers ou affaire d’Etat ? C’est ce que le procès doit montrer.

Cécile Duflot (EELV), Pierre Laurent (PCF), Clémentine Autain (Ensemble) et Noël Mamère doivent également participer au meeting, organisé à Montpellier.

November 11, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour held talks with his Maltese counterpart prior to the opening of a major migration summit that brought leaders from the African continent and the European Union (EU).

Sudanese foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour (L) shaking hands with Malta's foreign minister George William Vella November 11, 2015 (Malta MFA)

At his meeting with Ghandour, Malta's foreign minister George William Vella referred to the ongoing cooperation between the two countries in the field of migration following a previous visit to Khartoum by a Maltese delegation in 2012.

According to a press release by the Maltese foreign ministry, Ghandour gave a detailed overview of the complex migration scenario in Sudan with the country being both a country of origin and of transit.

The two sides also agreed that Libya was central to an effective mitigation of the migration situation in the Mediterranean.

On bilateral relations, the two ministers identified the sectors of education, training and institution-building upon which tangible cooperation could be established in the immediate term.

Vella underlined the need for Khartoum and Juba to fully implement the security and economic agreements relating to the normalization of relations between the two countries.

Ghandour is leading Sudan's delegation to the summit as Malta is member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) which has two arrest warrants outstanding for president Omer Hassan al-Bashir.

There was confusion earlier today on Sudan's level of attendance as the official summit participants' list was empty from any Sudanese official.

The EU is expected to offer African states a range of aid as well as easier visa access and lower costs for migrants sending cash home in return for help to curb migration into the European bloc, including by taking back illegal immigrants.

(ST)

Die EU-Kommission hat eine Kennzeichnung von Produkten aus israelischen Siedlungen in besetzten Gebieten beschlossen und damit die israelische Regierung entzürnt: Diese Entscheidung bringe "dunkle Erinnerungen zurück", kritisiert Israels Regierungschef Netanjhahu und verweist damit indirekt auf d

This feature seeks to provide a long-term outlook for global armoured vehicle production, highlighting in particular where potential investors in the protected mobility industry should be looking, in order to secure the highest possible return. Several major defence primes across Europ

November 11, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - A huge fire broke out at the Quran University in Khartoum on Wednesday morning, after a Molotov cocktail attack by Darfurian Students who protested against tuition fees.

black smoke rising from a building of the University of Quran in Omdurman as two people spray water trying to control fire on 11 November 2015 (ST Photo)

Since 2013, the federal authorities and the Darfur Regional Authority agreed that only sons of refugees and displaced persons are eligible for the exemption of tuition. But several Darfurians student unions regularly contest this decision.

Student from Darfur region protested at the University of Quran in Omdurman twin's city of Khartoum on Wednesday morning demanding to be exempted from tuition fee in line with the Abuja and Doha peace agreements.

The protest took place as the university administration rejected their claim, saying that the exemption cannot cover all the students from the western Sudan region.

Eyewitnesses told Sudan Tribune that some students thrown Molotov cocktails on the University campus causing the fire.

They added that the fire reached many buildings including the dean office, the teachers' offices, some halls and libraries. The police then cordoned the university and evacuate the students from the campus.

In a statement issued after the incident, the ministry of interior accused unidentified Darfurian students of causing riots at the university.

''A limited number of Darfur students had caused riots at the faculty of education of university of Quran."

The ministry further explained that three offices, the deanship faculty office, lecture hall and one of the financial offices have been burnt down.

"When the university's administration was asked about the cause, it reported that the fire was caused by some Darfur students who were protesting against the administration refusal to grant them exemptions of tuition fee,'' said the statement.

Meanwhile, an university official who asked for anonymity said that the campus was set on fire at 6:00 AM and continue for long time before the arrival of firemen.

He further revealed that the university board was called for an extraordinary meeting to discuss the incident.

(ST)

Nicoletta della Valle will Schweizer Jihad-Reisende aufhalten – auch ohne Strafverfahren. Deshalb fordert die Chefin des Bundesamts für Polizei ein präventives Ausreiseverbot für radikale Muslime.

La première journée du sommet sur la migration à Malte s'est achevée mercredi soir par un dîner de travail des chefs d'Etat africains et européens. La réunion se poursuit ce jeudi avec le lancement d'un fonds fiduciaire de 1,8 milliard d'euros pour financer des projets de développement et de gestion de la migration en Afrique. L’ouverture a été marquée par un consensus sur la nécessité de stopper la tragédie des morts en mer ou dans le désert.

La première journée du sommet sur la migration à Malte s'est achevée mercredi soir par un dîner de travail des chefs d'Etat africains et européens. La réunion se poursuit ce jeudi avec le lancement d'un fonds fiduciaire de 1,8 milliard d'euros pour financer des projets de développement et de gestion de la migration en Afrique. L’ouverture a été marquée par un consensus sur la nécessité de stopper la tragédie des morts en mer ou dans le désert.

Hétfőn esténként láthatjuk a Vajdasági RTV műsorán a Harapd meg a nyelved, vagyis a Pomeri se s mesta című, 24 részes, kétnyelvű sorozatot. Ez folytatása a télen forgatott háromrészes sorozatnak, amelynek Praznična Trilogija, vagyis Ünnepi trilógia volt a címe.

KÉZILABDA

Férfi-BL, 7. forduló, A csoport: Kiel–PSG (18.45, Arena Sport 1, Sport1), D csoport: Metalurg Szkopje–Motor (17.45, Arena Sport 5).

KOSÁRLABDA

Férfi-Euroliga, 5. forduló, A csoport: Bayern München–Crvena zvezda (20.45, Sportklub 3), B csoport: Efes–Olimpiakosz (19.00, Digi Sport 2, Sportklub 2), Limoges–Milano (20.30), C csoport: Barcelona–Lokomotiv Kubany (20.45, Digi Sport 1, Sportklub 2), D csoport: Maccabi Tel-Aviv–Darüşşafaka (20.15, Digi Sport 3).

18.00, Digi Sport 1: PEAC-Pécs–Fribourg (női Eurokupa, F csoport, 3. forduló).

1.30, péntek, Sport1: Miami Heat–Utah Jazz (NBA, alapszakasz).

LABDARÚGÁS

Vb-selejtezők, Dél-Amerika, 3. forduló: Bolívia–Venezuela (21.00, Arena Sport 1), Ecuador–Uruguay (22.00, Arena Sport 3), Chile–Kolumbia (0.30, péntek, Arena Sport 3), Argentína–Brazília (1.00, péntek, Arena Sport 1).

18.45, Arena Sport 3: Franciaország–Észak-Írország (U21-es barátságos mérkőzés).

20.45, M4, Sportklub 1: Norvégia–Magyarország (Eb-pótselejtező, első mérkőzés).

RÖPLABDA

18.00, RTS2: Partizan–Ribnica (szerbiai férfi élvonal, 4. forduló).

Trois adolescentes de 14 à 17 ans d’un camp de personnes déplacées par les combats désignent des casques bleus congolais, un contingent déjà mis en cause en août.

Mise en place il y a un mois au Burkina Faso, la commission d’enquête sur le coup d’Etat de l’ex-Régiment de sécurité présidentielle, avec à sa tête le général Gilbert Dienderé, a déposé son rapport. Près de 211 personnes ont été entendues, ce qui lui a permis d’identifier les commanditaires et les auteurs présumés du putsch du 17 septembre dernier.

Trente-quatre députés de l'opposition ont déposé mercredi sur le bureau de l'Assemblée nationale une requête de mise en accusation du président Issoufou pour « haute trahison ». Les députés l'accusent de divers griefs, dont celui d'avoir bradé les ressources naturelles du pays. Un tir de barrage qui intervient à trois mois de la présidentielle, mais qui a peu de chance de produire des résultats.

Le Maroc a décidé d'interdire les sacs en plastique. La chambre basse du Parlement marocain a adopté mardi à l'unanimité cette nouvelle mesure, qui concerne non seulement son utilisation mais aussi sa fabrication, son importation et sa commercialisation. Pour être appliquée, la loi se veut contraignante et accompagnée d'une batterie de mesures, comme des amendes pouvant atteindre les 100 000 euros pour les fabricants.

November 11, 2015 (JUBA) - South Sudanese will continue feeling the pinch of the current economic meltdown unless the conflict completely subsides, an official warned.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir voices his reservations before signing a peace deal in the capital Juba, South Sudan Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2015. (Photo AP/Jason Patinkin)

"There is no magic that will revive the economy. It is important to implement the people's will in a peaceful manner for the sake of the country”, the finance minister, David Deng Athorbei told Sudan Tribune Wednesday.

Before war broke out in the young nation nearly two years ago, South Sudanese Pound was relatively stable against the United States Dollar, trading at about 4SSP for a dollar.

Athorbei saidvPresident Salva Kiir was determined to stop the war and restore stability.

“He [Kiir] is determined, really determined to stop this war", said Athorbei, while stressing the South Sudanese leader's commitment to end the suffering of the population.

The minister's remarks followed the coutry's vice president's warning directed at officials perceived to be playing a negative role towards implementation of peace agreement in fear of losing political positions if the deal is implemented to leave the young nation.

“Over 99% of our people want peace. So if you have your own personal interest that makes you unwilling to accept peace, you better go to another country”, he told a forum reviewing the country's education sector in the capital, Juba on Tuesday.

Igga said the implementation of the peace deal with the armed opposition leadership under his predecesor would end random shooting, killings and robberies in the country.

The absence of war, he emphasized, would also allow the South Sudanese government to give priority to restore security and improve availability of food to the nation's citizens.

(ST)

November 11, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) said it has received an invitation from the African Union High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) to resume talks on the Two Areas next Wednesday in Addis Ababa.

SPLM-N secretary-general Yasir Arman (Photo: Reuters)

On Tuesday, the AU officially announced that talks on security arrangements between the Sudanese government and the rebel groups in Blue Nile and South Kordofan states and Darfur region will be held on 18 to 19 November.

In press statements extended to Sudan Tribune Wednesday, SPLM-N secretary general Yasir Arman welcomed the resumption of talks on the humanitarian cessation of hostilities, reiterating that his group would only accept a comprehensive solution and a cessation of hostilities from Blue Nile state to Darfur region.

Arman, who is also the SPLM-N chief negotiator, said they received the AUHIP invitation for the tenth round of talks with the government, stressing the two sides will discuss a cessation of hostilities for humanitarian purposes.

“We welcome the invitation particularly as it pertains to the right of civilian population for humanitarian assistance and the refusal of the Sudanese government for that right over the past years is considered a war crime,” he said.

He added that their delegation would head for the talks with an open mind and heart in order to reach an agreement on delivering humanitarian assistance and ceasing hostilities.

The border states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile state have been the scene of a violent conflict since 2011 when fighting broke out between the SPLM-N and Sudanese army.

Nine rounds of talks between the two sides have stalled over issues pertaining to the security, humanitarian and political arrangements.

SPLM-N chief negotiator expressed hope that the upcoming round of talks would dissipate the negative climate created by the government's ongoing summer campaign in northern Blue Nile and its significant military reinforcements in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

He also condemned the government ban on travel of the leaders of the “Sudan Call” forces to Paris to attend the meeting of the alliance, saying the ban coincides with the repeated government statements on dialogue and the escalation of the arrest campaign against opposition activists.

Arman further directed harsh criticism to the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) leaders, saying they send large troops to combat zones while simultaneously speak about the peaceful solution at the government-led dialogue conference.

He stressed that the NCP refuses the national dialogue preparatory meeting and also rejects the participation of the opposition alliance of the National Consensus Forces (NCF) and the original dialogue body known as 7+7 which signed the Addis Ababa agreement in September 2014.

“We are now [meeting] in Paris and we will send a clear message about the unity of the opposition [forces] and the need to develop the “Sudan Call” [charter],” he added

The opposition “Sudan Call” forces include the rebel umbrella Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF), National Umma Party (NUP), NCF and the civil society organizations.

Khartoum had previously refused to participate in a comprehensive preparatory meeting including the NCF and civil society groups. Only it reiterated its readiness to meet the rebels to discuss the conditions and guarantees related to their participation in the internal process.

However, the Sudanese president Omer al-Bashir last month instructed the 7+7 committee to meet with the signatories of Addis Ababa agreement including the SRF and the NUP.

The SRF and the NUP from one side and 7+7 committee from the other side signed an agreement on identical terms with the AU High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) “on the national dialogue and constitutional process” on 5 September 2014.

APPEALING TO SAUDI ARABIA

Meanwhile, Arman said his movement rejects the decision of Saudi Arabia to fund the construction of three water dams in the River Nile and Northern states.
Last week, Sudan and Saudi Arabia signed a framework agreement to fund the building of Kajbar, Dal and Al-Shiraik water dams.

Following the signing of the deal, Sudan's finance minister Badr al-Din Mahmoud disclosed that Saudi Arabia has committed to invest 1.7 Billion U.S dollars for the dam projects.

Arman called upon the Kingdom to refrain from funding those projects, saying the dams would be built against the will of the Sudanese peoples particularly the population in the River Nile and the Northern states.

“Those dams represent a cultural genocide and they would wipe out a precious part of Sudan's history … they [dams] were being rejected by the residents of the area who lost martyrs [in the protests] against [the construction of the dams],” he added

He said that Sudan's land must not be offered as a guarantee for any foreign loans, stressing that interests of the Sudanese people must come first.

SPLM-N secretary general stressed the Sudanese regime will be gone soon, saying it represents all forces hostile to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States.

“Those nations [Gulf States] have no interest in supporting this regime because it would be against the desire of the Sudanese people,” he said.

He added the Sudanese regime is involved in the ongoing war in Libya and part of the plots against neighbouring countries, saying it is the Sudanese people who will remain in place and the regime would eventually be removed.

(ST)

November 11, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) –Ethiopia's refugee agency has launched an urgent appeal for food aid to assist hundreds of thousands of refugees particularly South Sudanese refugees.

A South Sudanese refugee with her child on one of the buses that moved volunteers from the flood-prone Leitchuor and Nip Nip refugee camps in western Ethiopia (Photo courtesy of the UNHCR)

Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA), a local implementing partner of UNHCR has called for supplies of food for over 730,000 refugees from South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea and Sudan who are being sheltered at different camps in Ethiopia.

ARRA Director-General Ayalew Awoke Wednesday told reporters that the refugees mainly those from South Sudan, are in a critical state as the national refugee agency has run short of supplies of food for the refugees.

“The 730,000 refugees from South Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia will soon face chaos as the food aid in stock will be totally consumed by the end of December,” Awoke warned.

He had therefore issued a desperate call to international aid agencies to take swift action to deliver essential food aid.

Ethiopia has been working with various aid agencies to provide the necessary assistance to the refugees from neighbouring countries, he said.

“Some 90 per cent of the refugees sheltered in the camps are women and children,” Ayalew further said .

“Talks are under way with aid agencies,” he disclosed in statements to the official Ethiopian news agency.

However, according to Ayalew, even if the ARRA received a positive response from the agencies, it would take about two months for the food to finally reach to the needy which amplified the problem.

The appeal comes as Ethiopia battles to feed some 8.2 million of its nationals starving after El Nino weather phenomenon and drought, worst in over a decade hit the Horn of Africa's nation and other countries in the region.

The United Nations is warning that Ethiopians who will need food aid by 2016 could nearly double unless help arrives in time.

Ethiopia's government has mobilized $33 million in emergency aid.

The UN recently said it needs $230 million by the end of the year; however the Ethiopia's government says it needs an additional $596 million in international assistance to avert a potential famine.

Ethiopia from 1983 to 1985 has experienced a significant famine which has cost the lives of more than 400,000 people and the government assures a magnitude of famine like then won't happen.

Ethiopian officials say a long-running food security programme (Productive Safety Net Program) is protecting the poorest from starvation and the country hopes it will ultimately control the crises without any drought-imposed disaster.

Meanwhile the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on Tuesday announced it is providing nearly $97 million in additional food aid to assist populations in Ethiopia who currently are severely impacted by the El Nino weather phenomenon.

The American government humanitarian agency said the additional aid is to support the millions of Ethiopians in need of immediate food aid as well as to refugees from Somalia, South Sudan and Eritrea.

“USAID is contributing $58 million to its partner Catholic Relief Services for 105,700 tons of U.S. food; providing $19 million to the UN World Food Program (WFP) for its drought relief operation, and $20 million for its refugee assistance,” it said.

The United States has also pre-positioned relief commodities in Ethiopia to meet anticipated increased needs from El Nino.

“USAID food assistance contributions have been early and robust, thanks to the early warning and careful tracking of the progression of El Niño in the Horn of Africa” it said.

The projected level of need for emergency aid in Ethiopia has seen a sharp rise from 2.9 million people in early 2015 to 4.5 million people in August and to 8.2 million people as of mid-October.

USAID warns Ethiopia could likely face both prolonged drought and intense flooding that will further deteriorate food security as El Nino progresses into 2016.

(ST)