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Et Alain Juppé vola au secours de Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet. La candidate à la primaire de la droite, qui profite de l'été pour faire la tournée des plages françaises, a rencontré hier le favori de son...

L’ancien ministre de l’intérieur évoque une « tâche d’intérêt public » et dit qu’il ne se « dérobera pas ».

South Africa's Wayde van Niekerk breaks Michael Johnson's 17-year-old 400m world record to win Olympic gold at Rio 2016.

Community-based Dialogues Project Steering Committee holds dialogue with CHR Regional Directors

Két hét szünet után ismét jelentkezik rejtvényműsorunk, folytatva az operairodalommal kapcsolatos kérdéseket. Ezúttal olasz és német remekművek kerültek előtérbe. Összeállította: László Tibor...

The first Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) for Japan was photographed at the Fort Worth production facility in mid-August. The images, released by the Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) on 14 August, show aircraft 69-8701 (also designated AX-1) in its completed state

Key Points New Zealand has given further details of a new fleet tanker that it is acquiring from South Korea Besides replenishment of naval vessels, the platform can also be deployed on HADR missions The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) has given further specifications of a new fleet tanker that it

The US Air Force (USAF) has progressed the rolling out of an internal smart-weapons capability for its Boeing B-52H Stratofortress bomber fleet, with the first test drop of the Joint Attack Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) in mid-August. The test, which was conducted by the 775th Test Squadron at

Key Points The recovery system and the newly designated RQ-20B are undergoing at-sea tests Upgrades to the Puma AE include an improved battery for longer endurance The US Navy (USN) is testing a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) recovery system aboard the Raleigh Burke-class guided missile

Americas

• After a long wait, the KC-46A tanker has been cleared for production. The Milestone C approval was awarded by US Under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, Frank Kendall, following a series of stringent refueling tests of various USAF and Navy aircraft. Contracts are expected to be awarded to Boeing within the next 30 days for the first two low rate initial production lots, totaling 19 aircraft.

• A B-52H bomber equipped with the new Conventional Rotary Launcher (CRL) has successfully dropped three AGM-158 Joint Attack Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) from its internal weapons bay for the first time. While the bomber is capable of carrying 12 of the cruise missiles on its wing pylons, the inclusion of the Conventional Rotary Launcher now enables it to hold a further eight internally, a payload increase of 60%. Next in store for the launcher is more of the same testing but with the inclusion of live weapons followed by final validation of the CLR system’s full capability.

• The AIM-9X Sidewinder has become the first short range air-to-air missile to be fully integrated on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Testing of the missile so far has lead to a three for three success with a fourth guided test expected by the end of the year alongside final integration work. The F-35 is capable of holding two AIM-9Xs on its wings, and when configured for air superiority missions, can hold four AIM-120s internally.

Middle East North Africa

• Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has showcased their Drone Guard system to a number of armed forces in order to show its operational capabilities. Designed with the threat of small UAVs carrying explosives in mind, the trails saw the system disrupt a number of different UAVs which can be detected from as far as 3kms. Once identified, Drone Guard can then send the UAV back to its launch point, or hold it in a certain space until its battery or fuel runs out.

Europe

• The US State department has cleared a $231 million munition sale to a number of European NATO members. Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Spain are to receive 2,040 joint direct attack munition (JDAM) guidance kits of various iterations, as well as computer control groups, joint programmable fuzes, and bomb fin assembly and airfoil groups. Also included in the deal would be laser sensors, proximity sensors, avionics kit interfaces, electronic bomb fuzes, repair and return services, transportation, engineering services, and other support services.

• Saab has received a number of contracts for munition and development work for the Swedish military. A $14.3 million deal has been awarded for the provision of a variety of ammunition for the Carl-Gustaf recoilless rifle, an anti-armor weapon. The company has also been tapped to undertake a $15.29 million project to design, develop and deliver vehicle electronics to Germany’s Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Gmbh for use in Leopard 2 tanks used by Sweden.

• The British government has launched a $1 billion defense innovation initiative aimed at fast tracking future defense solutions and changing the MoD’s creative culture. Individuals and companies will be able to avail of the fund over the next ten years, and follows the mentioning in the 2015 Strategic Review for the need to include the cutting edge in departmental culture. Technologies believed to benefit from the extra funding include Birmingham University’s sensors that can survey underground tunnels in minutes, and Animal Dynamics’ work on tiny drones inspired by dragonflies.

Asia Pacific

• Taiwan has agreed to part of a US weapons package that will see delivery of 13 sets of Phalanx close-in weapons systems (CIWS) and other equipment set to the tune of $286.6 million. While not due for delivery until at least 2024, the new CIWS systems will add to one MK 15 Block 1B CIWS system found on one of its Kidd-class destroyers and give an uplift in capabilities to the older Phalanx systems currently in use. The deal is part of a wider $1.83 billion defense package that includes two Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigates, 36 AAV-7 amphibious assault vehicles, and 250 Block I-92F MANPAD Stinger missiles.

Today’s Video

IAI’s Drone Guard:

L’armée du pays attribue l’attaque qui a fait plus de 40 morts dans l’est du pays à des rebelles musulmans ougandais, présents dans la région depuis 1995.

The US Marine Corps (USMC) has started repair work on its CH-53E Super Stallion heavy lift helicopters to fix system issues.

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division has successfully tested the precision aircraft landing system (PALS) aboard the US Navy's first Ford-class aircraft carrier, Gerald R Ford (CVN 78).

August 14, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese capital, Khartoum will host on Thursday the Arab Forum for Combating Terrorism (Role of the Arab Media in Combating Terrorism) which is jointly organized by the Arab League and Sudan's Information Ministry.

SAF troops march during the concluding ceremony of Northern Thunder in Saudi Arabia on March 12, 2016 (ST Photo)

In a press conference on Sunday, Sudan's Information Minister Ahmed Bilal said the forum was one of the recommendations of the 47th session of Council of Arab Ministers of Information.

He added that the forum would be held in three of the Arab capitals, pointing to Sudan's rich experience in fighting against extremism and terrorism.

Bilal pointed that the forum would be based on the Islamic-Arab strategy to fight against the phenomenon of terrorism, saying that Islam is a religion of peace and respect for human life.

The Sudanese minister further mentioned several reasons behind the emergence of the phenomenon of extremism and terrorism, saying the forum seeks to achieve a unified vision to fight against these phenomena.

He said that Sudan is among the countries with least numbers of youths who joined the extremist groups' camps, saying however the government is not satisfied with the current situation and would continue to protect the youths intellectually via the various means in order not to join these groups.

Last year, Sudan's interior ministry said that about 70 Sudanese, of both sexes have joint the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria and Libya.

Bilal underscored completion of all arrangements to hold the forum on Thursday, saying it would discuss three working papers besides holding a symposium.

He added that the opening session will be addressed by the First Vice-President Bakri Hassan Salih, and the Arab League's Secretary General, Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian Islamic thinker Fahmi Huwaidi said he declined to accept an invitation extended to him by the Sudanese embassy in Cairo to attend the forum, expressing resentment over what he called “State Terrorism” which became the basis of actions of undemocratic regimes.

In an article published by the Egyptian-based Al Shorouk newspaper Saturday, he said the Sudanese authorities continued crackdown on press, pointing to mass confiscation of newspapers and attacks against journalists.

“Hence it was not surprising that Sudan ranked 174th out of 180 countries in the 2015 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index” he said.

(ST)

August 14, 2016 (JUBA) – The official spokesperson for the leader of the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO), has described as “self-deception” President Salva Kiir's cabinet resolution on Friday which resolved to integrate SPLA-IO forces, saying the “illegal” new First Vice President, Taban Deng Gai, has no army to integrate.

“This is a self-deception. The new illegal First Vice President, Taban Deng Gai, has no army to integrate, or actually to surrender to his new commander-in-chief, Salva Kiir,” said James Gatdet Dak, official spokesman for the SPLM-IO leader, Riek Machar.

Dak was responding to the resolution passed in Juba in the Council of Ministers meeting chaired by President Kiir during which it resolved to integrate SPLA-IO forces.

Information and Broadcasting Minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, announced on Friday that the cabinet had agreed to approve the establishment of the cantonment sites and to integrate members of the SPLA-IO forces after getting into the assembling points.

But Dak said SPLA-IO army is with Machar including the top army leadership, saying Gai had only defected to President Kiir's faction with his bodyguards.

He said even another SPLA-IO General which Gai lured to his side in Unity state also defected with only less than 50 soldiers, adding “unless this is the number they wanted to integrate.”

Dak however claimed that the numbers of SPLA-IO forces are in hundreds of thousands and are all loyal to Machar across the country.

“SPLA-IO forces are the ones now besieging Juba, closing all routes from different directions. They are in full control of Juba-Yei road. They are in full control of Juba-Mundri road. They are in control of northwest of Juba city. They have cut off Lobonok, southwest of Juba. They are closing Juba-Bor road. Soon they will also close Juba-Nimule and Juba-Torit roads. And they will soon move on Juba to capture it and restore law and order. These are the members of the SPLA-IO forces under the leadership of Dr. Riek Machar, the legitimate First Vice President and Commander-in-Chief of the SPLA-IO army,” Dak said.

He said the cabinet should have asked Taban Deng Gai if the SPLA-IO forces who have been fighting President Kiir's forces around Juba and closing all roads are the ones he claimed to be commanding and should be integrated.

Dak also said the peace agreement did not provide for immediate integration of the SPLA-IO forces, but rather gradual “reunification” of the two armies “unit by unit” after implementation of security sector reforms which would take at least two years into the transitional period.

He said Kiir and Gai are violating the peace agreement to avoid reforms, saying Gai was trying to surrender the SPLA-IO army as he has already surrendered the parliamentary leadership to President Kiir.

He also said it will not be surprising if Gai will also surrender and approve the controversial 28 states.

(ST)

August 14, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudanese civilians whose items were stolen during the fighting in Juba last month have questioned sincerity of the South Sudanese national army, the SPLA, to return the loots.

SPLA spokesman Brig. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang announced on Friday that items including generators, cars and other valuable households have been recovered from soldiers allied to President Salva Kiir. But Koang said owners must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the items are theirs.

"We would like the owner to come forward with engine number, serial number and the power number, the capacity of the generators and cars,” said Lul in a recovered message to state-owned SSBC TV.

He said failure to present those identifiers, anyone claiming ownership may not be allowed to take it.

But South Sudanese whose items were looted from their shops and homes decried the conditions laid down by the military. John Andruga had his shop broken into in Gudelle, a western suburb of Juba that witnessed fierce clashes between the SPLA in Government (SPLA-IG) loyal to President Salva Kiir and those SPLA in Opposition (SPLA-IO) loyal to former First Vice President, Riek Machar.

"The soldiers took my generator and damaged the shop after looting everything," he said, speaking to Sudan Tribune on Sunday.

"So I don't have any document because all items were destroyed or completely taken away by the soldiers," he added.

He said he cannot remember the serial number of his generator.

"If the SPLA is serious about returning the looted items, let them ask the soldiers from whom the item was recovered to tell them where he got it," he added.

Alongside Gudelle, Jebel Market, the second largest shopping center in Juba, was also vandalized. David Madavi, a Ugandan trader, owned a shop in Jebel Market. His items were taken when soldiers broke the door to his shop.

"I am completely frustrated and last thing I can remember about my stolen items is their serial numbers," said Madavi, who has refused to return to Uganda after Kampala evacuated her citizens last month.

Deng, a South Sudanese national who wished to be identified by one name, said his car was robbed by soldiers with all the documents including car logo book and other registration documents.

"Now, if the army is saying we should go to Bilpam [headquartes of the SPLA in Juba], where will I get the identification documents to claim my car?" said Deng.

"I think the SPLA is not sincere. They simply don't want to return the loots items to owners," he added.

Government soldiers, who forced small number of SPLA in opposition forces out of Juba in fierce streets battle for four days in Juba, turned to shops, homes and took civilians items.

The army headquarters in Juba constituted a martial court to try soldiers accused of engaging in looting but the court has not sat yet. SPLA spokesman, Koang, said 19 soldiers have been arrested and will be arraigned in the military court soon.

South Sudan army is struggling to modernize its ranks amidst accusations of abusing their power against civilians. The former rebels became the national army at independence from Sudan in 2011 but the 2013 conflict led to division along tribal lines.

Critics say the current army constituting SPLA under President Kiir and SPLA IO under Machar are tribal armies fighting for political power of their bosses.

(ST)

August 14, 2016 (BOR) - Hundreds of ghost names are expected to be eliminated in the payroll system in the newly created Jonglei state's government institutions. The move is expected to reduce the financial constraints on the budget overstretching.

Jonglei state governor, Aguer Panyang joined by others to light candles in Bor on July 31, 2016 (ST)

To curve down the existence of ghost names, and a huge number of absentees who are still paid, the cabinet resolved that the previous committees that were formed to conduct and oversee payment of salaries in the state, were to be extended to the counties to continue polishing and clean out ghost names in the payrolls.

After the siting on Thursday, the state minister of information, Akech Deng, told Sudan Tribune, that the state had had a lot of financial difficulties as all the state money goes to salaries.

“We have a huge chapter one, employees are more than anything, and even the ghost names are many. There are those who are paid like twice, or three times in the state, it becomes awesome,” the minister explained to Sudan Tribune over the weekend.

“If you have two jobs, you may not do a half of your job, so the government is taking measures to make sure that every civil servant should be in the right work place. Any ghost name should be screened out, so the council has extended the committees of payments until farther notice,” Deng explained on Thursday.

The state government formed payment committees three months ago to screen out ghost names in the ministries' headquarters. These committees were said to have recovered thousands of money in the process, but the concerned officials from the finance ministry failed to tell the exact amount of money recovered, or the number of employees screened out by the committees.

Attempts made by Sudan Tribune to find out about the state grant that normally comes from the central government in Juba had not been successful. Even the total number of employees that existed in the state before this screening exercise, was not communicated either.

“All what we get from Juba goes to chapter one. Every now and then, there is money being recovered for people who don't report to work, or may be from the ghost names,” Deng continued.

This month salaries would be paid through the committees, if possible, in the counties.

“The people in the counties are going to be paid by the committees, to make, if you are not at your work place, the government will not pay you. If you have two names in the government, know that you will only go home with one salary,” he cautioned.

The cabinet also thought of reshuffling the cashiers and account controllers who served in grades 3 to 5, so that this issue of ghost names is completely brought to an end.

“Cashiers and account controllers, from grade three to five will be reshuffled in the ministries, so that there is a change,” Deng noticed.

Among the key ministries under question, education was expected to be the major ministry in which people had either resigned without giving notice to the management, or served in other places, thereby creating doubling of names.

“In education a lot of work needs to be done, because many teachers are not at the work stations. They have resigned without giving their resignation or they are working with NGOs [Non-governmental Organizations],” Deng said.

(ST)

August 14, 2016 (MAYOM) - At least 22,000 people have been displaced due to heavy rainfall in Mayom county of Unity region, west of the state capital of newly created Northern Liech state, according to an official on the ground.

Heavy rain in July flooded the temporary shelters of displaced people at a UNMISS camp in Unity state's Rubkotna area (Facebook photo)

John Bol Mayak, county commissioner of Mayom county, told Sudan Tribune that the situation is dire as majority of the surrounding villages and payams have been heavily flooded.

“As I speak to you now all houses in the surrounding areas have been occupied by the water, and thousands of people are displaced and they have nowhere to go,” he told Sudan Tribune over satellite phone interview.

He said areas submerged under water include Riak, Kuerbokni, Ruathnybol, Wangkei, Bieh, and Mayom headquarters, and described the situation as worse ever seen.

Commissioner Mayak added that most of the crops in those areas under current flood were all destroyed, adding the lives of the community members remain unpredictable after the heavy rainfall.

He further said that many of victims had no food after they lost everything in the current violence, adding most areas remain inaccessible putting the lives of the residents at great risk.

“A lot of people are now at great risk of death, the situation is very terrible no humanitarian organization intervention on the ground right now,” he said.

He explained that over 15 people have died as a result of Malaria outbreak and other waterborne diseases in the areas which are flooded by water.

“Many of [the] residents are dying every day, the health facilities on the ground are not enough and the long distance walk is putting at risk the people,” he said.

He called on the humanitarian organizations and other United Nations aid agencies in South Sudan to come and assist the tens of thousands who are in dire need for emergency assistance.

(ST)