Global Condemnation Pours in Over Deadly Terror Attacks in Tehran

Wed Jun 7, 2017 2:9PM
presstv.ir

The international community has strongly condemned the twin terrorist attacks against the Iranian Majlis (parliament) building and the mausoleum of the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Seyyed Rouhollah Khomeini, which killed over a dozen civilians and wounded many more.

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini (pictured below) conveyed her heartfelt condolences to the Iranian authorities and nation over the attacks, stressing that she will communicate with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif over the latest related development.

“Let me start with a world of condolences to the victims of the attacks we saw in Tehran. In these hours, we are following very closely what is happening. It is still very unclear... This is obviously a very sad day again for us anytime there is a terrorist attack anywhere in the world,” she told reporters in Brussels on Wednesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a message addressed to his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani, expressed condolences to the Iranian nation and government over terrorist attacks in the Iranian capital, and prayed for the quick recovery of those injured.

He said such assaults necessitate the need for the expansion of international cooperation to fight terrorism.

Moscow strongly condemns the attacks, and is prated to cooperate with Tehran in the fight against terror, the Russian leader pointed out.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (seen below) also stated that terrorist attacks on the Iranian parliament and the Imam Khomenei’s mausoleum in Tehran show terrorists continue their acts without respite.

Russia is ready to take all necessary measures to contain terrorists, he said in a joint press conference with his Spanish counterpart Alfonso Dastis.

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denounced the acts of terror, calling for the expansion of the joint fight against terrorism.

“The ongoing terrorist attacks emphasize the need to join our efforts in the fight against terrorism, particularly against the Daesh terror group,” he told reporters in Moscow on Wednesday.
‘Attacks to bolster Iran’s resolve against terrorism’

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, in separate messages to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, President Hassan Rohani and Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, slammed the attacks, stating that Iran will remain at the forefront of the campaign against terrorism.

“Such terrorist attacks will bolster the Islamic Republic’s resolve and determination to uproot terrorism. Iran will remain the flag-bearer of the fight against terrorist bids and sponsors of terrorist plots,” Berri wrote in his message to Ayatollah Khamenei.

“These criminal acts will further strengthen your country’s resolve to defeat terrorists and fully uproot them. They will increase your (Iran’s) role in the war against terrorism,” the read Lebanese diplomat’s message to Rohani.

Additionally, the United Arab Emirates condemned the twin Wednesday attacks in the Iranian capital.

“Our position on terrorism is very clear... Any terrorist attack in any country, in any capital, directed at innocent people is something that the UAE abhors and the UAE condemns,” Emirati State Minister for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash commented.

Meanwhile, Pakistani Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria denounced the terrorist attacks, stating that Islamabad stands in solidarity with the people of Iran in their hour of grief.

He also expressed condolences to the Iranian nation, government and the bereaved families, and prayed for the quick recovery of those injured.

Zakaria said terrorism is a global phenomenon requiring a resolute and coordinated approach to eradicate.

Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni also slammed the Tehran terrorist attacks, stressing the need for a long-term strategy in the fight against terrorism.


Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentilon (Photo by AFP)
“Terrorism targets anywhere in the world, and this time it struck a sensitive region like Iran. Italy guarantees its supports by presence in all areas of conflict,” Gentiloni told reporters in a joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian in Rome.
Nalbandian also strongly condemned the attacks.

“We strictly condemn the attacks carried out on Iran’s parliament and Imam Khomeini’s mausoleum. We express solidarity to the people of Iran,” he said.

Furthermore, France's Foreign Ministry denounced the fatal attacks in the Iranian capital.

“We strongly condemn the attacks that targeted the Iranian parliament and the Imam Khomenei’s mausoleum in Tehran,” the ministry said in a statement.

It said its embassy in the Islamic Republic was monitoring the situation and passed on its condolences to the families of the victims.

'Terrorists hell-bent on destroying region'

Moreover, Iraqi President Fuad Masum and First Deputy Parliament Speaker Sheikh Humam Hamoudi censured the deadly terrorist attacks in Tehran.

“It is obvious that some parties are seeking to drag the Middle East region into fire and a major war, and plunge regional nations into turmoil. These parties are hell-bent to prolong conflicts, mass murders and destruction in the region,” Hamoudi said in a statement.

Iraqi First Deputy Parliament Speaker Sheikh Humam Hamoudi
He also called for collective and effective measures against terrorist threats, emphasizing that the failure to do so will burn regional states in the fire of terrorism.

Hamoudi also expressed condolences to the Iranian nation and government over terrorist attacks in the Iranian capital, and prayed for the quick recovery of those injured.

Furthermore, the Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the terror attacks, extending its deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Iranian government and people.

The ministry stressed in a statement that such “heinous” terrorist attacks will not deal a blow to Iran’s and Syria’s determination to continue the fight against terror.

The statement noted that funneling money and munitions to terrorist groups together with the spread of the extremist Wahhabi ideology will drag the Middle East and the entire world into instability.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry also denounced the acts of terror carried out on Iran’s parliament and Imam Khomeini’s mausoleum.

According to reports, a dozen people have been killed in Wednesday's attacks while another 42 have been injured and admitted to 3 hospitals to receive treatment. The Daesh Takfiri terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

World Bank Raises Forecast for Nigeria’s Economic Growth to 1.2% 

JUNE 7, 20172:35
By Babajide Komolafe
Nigerian Vanguard

The World Bank yesterday upgraded its forecast for Nigeria’s economic growth to 1.2 per cent for 2017, citing improved oil production due to decreased militant activities.

The World Bank disclosed this in its June 2017 Global Economic Prospects report, saying:  “Nigeria is forecast to go from recession to a 1.2 percent growth rate in 2017, gaining speed to 2.4 percent in 2018.”

The World Bank noted that: “In Nigeria, militants’ attacks on oil pipelines decreased. The economic recession in Nigeria is receding. In the first quarter of 2017, GDP fell by 0.5 percent (y/y), compared with a 1.7 percent contraction in the fourth quarter of 2016.

“The Purchasing Managers’ Index for manufacturers returned to expansionary territory in April (Figure 2.6.1), indicating growth in the sector after contraction in the first quarter.

“Oil exports are rebounding in Nigeria on the back of an uptick in oil production from fields previously damaged by militants’ attacks. Mining companies across the region are resuming production and exports. In contrast, current account balances have remained under pressure in a number of non-resource intensive countries.”

The World Bank also projected 2.6 per cent economic growth for the Sub-Saharan African region. It stated: Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is forecast to pick up to 2.6 percent in 2017 and to 3.2 percent in 2018, predicated on moderately rising commodity prices and reforms to tackle macroeconomic imbalances.

However, per capita output is projected to shrink by 0.1 percent in 2017 and to increase to a modest 0.7 percent growth pace over 2018-19.

At those rates, growth will be insufficient to achieve poverty reduction goals in the region, particularly if constraints to more vigorous growth persist.

Growth in South Africa is projected to rise to 0.6 percent in 2017 and accelerate to 1.1 percent in 2018. Growth in non-resource- intensive countries is anticipated to remain solid, supported by infrastructure investment, resilient services sectors, and the recovery of agricultural production.

Ethiopia is forecast to expand by 8.3 percent in 2017, Tanzania by 7.2 percent, Côte d’Ivoire by 6.8 percent, and Senegal by 6.7 percent.”

The World Bank forecasts that global economic growth will strengthen to 2.7 percent in 2017 as a pickup in manufacturing and trade, rising market confidence, and stabilizing commodity prices allow growth to resume in commodity-exporting emerging market and developing economies.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/06/world-bank-raises-forecast-nigerias-economic-growth-1-2/

Unemployment Rises to 14.2% in Q4 2016

June 7, 2017

• 55m Nigerians lost jobs under the administration
• Report: Kogi, Benue, Bayelsa, 18 other states owe workers’ salaries, pensions

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja
Nigeria ThisDay

The unemployment report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Tuesday has shown that no fewer than 5.5 million Nigerians became unemployed in the two years of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, even as the unemployment rate rose to 14.2 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2016, from 13.9 per cent in the preceding quarter.

Coming on the heels of the NBS report was a nationwide survey conducted by BudgIT showing that Kogi, Benue, Bayelsa, Abia, Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti and 14 other states in the country owe their workers and retirees salaries and pensions ranging from one to 36 months.

According to the latest report released by the NBS, the unemployment rate was 4.2 per cent higher than the rate recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Consequently, 61.6 per cent of Nigerians in the labour force (not the entire population), aged between 15 and 24 were either unemployed or underemployed in Q4 2016, compared to 59.9 per cent in Q3, 58.3 per cent in Q2, 56.1 per cent in Q1, and 53.5 per cent in Q4 2015.

The statistical agency also said the population of the unemployed rose from 11.19 million at the end of the third quarter of 2016 to 11.55 million in the fourth quarter of 2016.

The economically active population or working age population (persons within ages 15 and 64) also increased from 108.03 million to 108.59 million, representing a 0.5 per cent increase over the previous quarter and a 3.4 per cent increase when compared to Q4 2015.

In Q4 2016, the labour force population (those within the working age population willing, able and actively looking for work) increased to 81.15 million, from 80.67 million in Q3 2016, a 0.6 per cent rise in the labour force during the quarter.

The NBS stated that this meant that about 482,689 persons from the economically active population entered the labour force during the quarter (individuals who were able, willing and actively looking for work).

But the magnitude of this increase between Q3 and Q4 2016 was smaller when compared to Q2 and Q3 2016, which recorded an increase of 782,886 in the labour force population.
Within the reference period, the total number of persons in full time employment (who did any form of work for at least 40 hours) decreased by 977,876 or 1.8 per cent, compared to the previous quarter, and decreased by 1.92 million, or 3.5 per cent when compared to Q4 of 2015, translating to a total of 52.58 million persons in full time employment.

“With an economically active or working age population of 108.59 million and labour force population of 81.15 million, it means 27.44 million persons within the economically active or working age population decided not to work for one reason or the other in Q4 2016, hence were not part of the labour force and cannot be considered unemployed.

“The number of underemployed in the labour force (those working but doing menial jobs not commensurate with their qualifications or those not engaged in fulltime work and merely working for a few hours) increased by 1,109,551 or 7.0 per cent, resulting in an increase in the underemployment rate from 19.7 per cent (15.9 million persons) in Q3 2016 to 21.0 per cent (17.03million persons) in Q4 2016,” the agency said.

Also, underemployment remained predominant in rural areas, as 25.8 per cent of rural residents were underemployed compared to 10.5 per cent of urban residents during the review period.

The unemployment rate in the urban areas was 18.4 per cent compared to 12.3 per cent in the rural areas, as the preference was more for formal white-collar jobs, which are located mostly in urban centres.

21 States Owe Workers, Pensioners

In a related development, a survey by BudgIT has revealed that Kogi, Benue, Bayelsa, Abia, Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti and 14 other states in the country owe their workers and retirees salaries and pensions ranging from one to 36 months.

BudgIT, in a statement Tuesday, said it decided to conduct a qualitative analysis of the frequency of salary payments of six different categories of workers in all 36 states, namely, primary school teachers, secondary school teachers, local government workers, state independent workers, pensioners, and state secretariat workers.

Of the 36 states of the federation, BudgIT’s survey showed that only 15 states – Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Lagos, Ogun, Plateau, Sokoto and Yobe – had no outstanding salaries and pension obligations to their workers and retired public servants.

Twenty-one other states still owe workers and pensioners their entitlements despite the N1.75 trillion extra-budgetary disbursements, better known as bailouts, from the federal government under the current administration.

The bailouts comprised the N575 billion bond restructuring programme; N92.18 billion NLNG dividend paid to the states; N3.59 billion solid minerals revenue savings; N338 billion CBN loans for the payment of salaries; N7.85 billion NLNG windfall; N117.3 billion excess petroleum profit tax savings; N90 billion conditional loan facility; and N552 billion Paris Club deduction refunds.

BudgIT is a civic technology organisation with a focus on raising the standards of transparency, citizen engagement and accountability, most especially in public finance.
“In particular, we discovered that many states have defaulted in the payments of pensions and gratuities.

“From the survey carried out, we discovered that apart from the fact that 16 states which are yet to pay the pensions of former civil servants in their service, eight of these states have not paid their pensioners at least 12 months’ pensions, while states like Rivers, Imo, Taraba and Niger owe pensions of about two to three years.

“Notably, these pensioners expressed how unhappy they are, their dissatisfaction with the state governments and how hard it has been for them to survive,” it said.

In addition to outstanding pensions, BudgIT noted in its survey that across all categories, states like Kogi, Abia, Benue, Oyo, Ekiti and Ondo have not paid their workers’ salaries for this year 2017, owing at least four months’ salary.
“However, the likes of Lagos and Rivers have been consistently impressive with their up to date and full payment of civil servants’ remuneration,” the survey showed.

BudgIT acknowledged that there had been several newspaper publications on states’ civil servants being owed salaries, adding: “We are also aware that due to the recent economic downturn, FAAC allocations to states and their internally generated revenue have reduced drastically, making them unable to pay their staff salaries and run their states effectively.”

According to the agency, “State governors have recently canvassed that the federal government should provide another tranche of Paris Club refund to offset salaries and other liabilities.

“We hereby ask that the federal government should tighten its accountability structures for the series of extra-statutory funds that are provided to state governments, which currently has reached N1.75 trillion.

“We also demand that state governments need to do more in the transparency of the use of the funds and it is pertinent that only seven out of 36 states, namely, Bauchi, Kogi, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Gombe and Yobe have provided their full 2017 budgets to the public.”

2.1 Million Nigerians Lost Their Jobs in 2016 –NBS

Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer National Bureau of Statistics, Dr.Yemi Kale

Ifeanyi Onuba, Abuja
Nigerian Punch
June 7, 2017

The National Bureau of Statistics has said that the number of Nigerians who became unemployed rose by 2.1 million to 11.55 million at the end of 2016 from 9.48 million at the beginning of the year.

The NBS stated this in its unemployment report, which was released on Monday night.

The NBS report stated that the unemployment rate was highest for persons in the labour force between the ages of 15-24 and 25-34, which represents the youth population in Nigeria.

For instance, it stated that the unemployment rate was highest for those within the age bracket of 15 to 24, rising from 25 per cent to 25.2 per cent.

For the 25 to 34 age group, the unemployment rate, according to the report increased from 15 per cent to 15.4 per cent.

It noted that unemployment and underemployment were higher for women than men in the fourth quarter of 2016.

For instance, 16.3 per cent of women in the labour force were unemployed as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2016, according to the report.

On the other hand, it added that 12. 3 per cent of males were unemployed in the fourth quarter of last year.

The report stated, “The economically active population increased from 108.03 million to 108.59 million; this represents a 0.5 per cent increase over the previous quarter and a 3.4 per cent increase when compared to fourth quarter 2015.

“In the fourth quarter of 2016, the labour force population increased to 81.15 million from 80.67 million in the third quarter of 2016, representing an increase of 0.6 per cent in the labour force during the quarter.

“This means about 482,689 persons from the economically active population entered the labour force during the quarter, that is individuals that were able, willing and actively looking for work.”

Nigeria’s Economy Has Gone From Recession to Depression Under Buhari – Analyst

Nigerian Beacon

It is very unfortunate to note that the Federal Government’s delay, reluctance, refusal or even neglect to settle its huge indebtedness to domestic economic agents, including contractors and others is one of the reasons the economy remains comatose and the suffering in the land remains excruciating. For obvious economic and social reasons, such as addressing rising unemployment rates, stimulating consumption and reducing the risk of bank failures, the government ought to pay its debts but sadly and quite disappointingly, such wise counsel remains unheeded.

Now that the economy has progressively transited from recession to depression perhaps, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government must stop to acknowledge the loud and persistent call and take immediate action to kick-start the economy with a redemption of genuine local debts.

Given the recent report of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) after its last Monetary Policy Committee meeting that “federal government’s indebtedness to the domestic economy was crippling economic activities and threatening the health of the nation’s financial system”, the seriousness of the situation and the need to tow the path of reason should dawn on the managers of the economy.

The CBN, statutory banker and financial adviser to the Federal Government, did not stop at pointing out the implications of not settling the debts, it also advised the government to “urgently assess the extent of its indebtedness to domestic economic agents and develop a framework for securitising the debts in order to settle its outstanding domestic contractual obligations which cut across all sectors of the economy”.

Besides the above, the CBN governor, in seeming exasperation, further advised the government to support the monetary policies with effective implementation of fiscal policies, as there was nothing more the monetary policy side of the equation could do to cause a stimulation and growth of the economy.

No doubt, the absence of a clear fiscal policy and an economic direction for the country has been one defining attribute of the current government which all Nigerians have lamented.

Indeed, if the apex bank was offering all the above advice and suggestion to the government for the first time, it can be accused of not having been alive to its duties and responsibilities. This is because, the attitude of the government in not taking the settlement of its debt obligations seriously and the attendant negative implications on the economy should have been a crusade for the CBN which has long been hammered by some stakeholders. However, it is reasonable to conclude that for the CBN to have gone public with its position suggests that its silent observations or suggestions might not have received the attention of the appropriate authorities and mindful of the risks which continued delay in paying the debts portend and the blames that may arise, it decided to go public.

Of course, public officials must consciously restrain themselves from communications that, no matter how factual and well intentioned, may send the wrong signals to the not-so-sophisticated public. For instance, if the the CBN governor is understood, rightly or wrongly, to be overwhelmed by what is happening in the economy that he has been charged as an expert to find solutions to, what would he or anyone else expect from the ordinary citizens?

The governor might have been conveying CBN’s advice and suggestions to the appropriate authority without eliciting expected actions or reactions, but it is not part of his charge to publicly throw-up his hands in surrender or defeat. What is expected of him is to find tolerable ways to secure not just the attention of the President but also his full understanding and appreciation of the matters on the ground with a view to achieving desired actions. The unacceptable alternative, as was in the reported case, is to give the impression that the economy has become intractable. And because many people will believe the governor, stakeholders’ negative reactions may ensue and worsen the already bad situation.

That stated, further delay by the government to commence aggressive settlement of its debts to domestic economic players, after learning the harms the outstanding indebtedness are causing the society and the economy, will amount to a destructive insensitivity on the part of the government. It will certainly mean that financial institutions that had advanced money to those government’s creditors will remain at grave risk of distress as the level of their non-performing credits (whether sub-standard, doubtful or lost), become exacerbated. Indeed, the CBN has warned that the level of bad credits in banks is rising dangerously. If at this time of economic depression a bank in Nigeria becomes distressed or fails, the economic and social consequences will be explosive.

The CBN has recommended that the government should consider securitising its debts to raise money with which to meet its already outstanding debt obligations. Yet another alternative that should be considered is borrowing from the international financial markets where there are some low-cost funds with generous concessionary repayment terms. A combination of these two options can also be considered. Importantly, the reported huge credit balance in the Treasury Single Account (TSA) provides a good starting point pending conclusion of other feasible arrangements.

Finally, preventing the looming socio-economic dangers in today’s Nigeria requires the Buhari-led administration’s immediate injection of huge amount of funds into the economy.

While the government may wish to get involved in new projects, settlement of its domestic indebtedness in all sectors of the economy must be given top priority.

Source: Critical News

Nigerian Government to Establish ICT Development Bank

By Ag. Editor - June 6, 2017
Nigerian National Accord

… Says Nigeria should no longer be a dumping ground for ICT products and services

BY VICTOR EFFIONG : In a bid to enhance business in the ICT sector, the federal government said it is planning to establish an Information and Communications Technology, ICT bank.

The Minister of Communications, Barrister Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu who said this in the ongoing 2017 Digital Africa Conference & Exhibition in Abuja, emphasized that the government is “contemplating on the need to establish a Communications Bank which will be a development bank that will assist in the financing of ICT companies based in Nigeria,” a statement said.

Shittu said “the recent inauguration of the reconstituted Nigerian National Broadband Council and the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Smart City Project is aimed at assisting the government in providing diverse and global input in developing a comprehensive framework to help public and private stakeholders to make informed decisions about Smart City investment strategies.

“The goal is to accelerate economic diversification, boost technology tourism, generate the much needed revenue for government, and create employment for the teeming youthful population.

In the same vein, the minister said the ministry has resolved to make sure the country no longer serve as dumping ground for ICT products.

“Let me reiterate that Nigeria should no longer be a dumping ground for ICT products and services. Therefore, the Ministry will support the establishment of companies or organizations in the areas of hardware and software by ensuring that they are protected through regulations or other means. We will assist them to grow.

“We have accepted that Nigeria must take the leadership role in Africa’s ICT ecosystem. Therefore, we are amenable to PPP relationships to drive the Ministry’s projects; 2017 must be a year of action.

“The Ministry of Communications has the mandate of the Federal Government to promote and facilitate the development of the ICT industry and increase its contribution to GDP; .Utilize ICT to drive transparency in governance and improve the quality and cost effectiveness of public service delivery in Nigeria, among others.

The minister also stated  that the Ministry of Communications is determined to diversify the economy by leveraging on ICT as its benefits cannot be over-emphasized.

“I have instructed that a committee be raised comprising the ministry’s agencies and the Nigerian Computer Society on the new Digital Single Market paradigm ahead of the EU/Africa Summit holding November 2017 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,” Shittu said.

Nigeria’s Portfolio Investment Deal Crash by 83%

By Ag. Editor - June 6, 2017
Nigeria National Accord

FROM BAYO AZEEZ, LAGOS : The value of monthly foreign portfolio investment (FPI) transactions in Nigeria has fallen by 83 per cent in April 2017.

According to the monthly poll of trading figures from major custodians and market operators on their conducted by Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the decline was occasioned by a sharp fall in total transaction value on the bourse.

Foreign transactions decreased by 83.06 per cent from N132.51 billion in March to N22.45 billion in April, 2017, an indication of unmotivated participation by foreign investors in the capital market.

Although, of the month’s total FPI deals,  foreign inflows outpaced outflows even as the inflows decreased by 38.49 per cent from N23.64 billion in March to N14.54 billion in April.

Foreign outflows also followed suits, declining by 92.73 per cent from N108.87 billion in March to N7.91 billion in the month under review.

When however compared with the same period in 2016, total FPI transactions from January to April 2017 has increased by 56.85 per cent from N148.87 billion to stand at N233.51billion this year.

Meanwhile, total transactions at the nation’s bourse decreased significantly by 80.74 per cent from N285.05 billion recorded in March 2017 to N54.90 billion in April.

Domestic investors outperformed there foreign counterparts by 18.22 per cent.

Total domestic transactions of  N32.45 billion in April, which represents 59.11 per cent of total transaction value in the month, is by 78.73 per cent lower than  N152.54 billion recorded in March this year.

Just as the FPI, the worth of total domestic transactions so far recorded  this year has grown by 27.85 per cent from N215.77 billion to N275.87 billion in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

Senate to Probe Ogoni Clean Up Project

By Onyedi Ojiabor, Abuja
The Nation, Nigeria
June 6, 2017

The Senate on Tuesday mandated its committee on environment to investigate the implementation of the Ogoni clean-up exercise.

The Federal Government launched the project in June last year with initial cost of $1 billion.

Apart from investigating the Ogoni clean-up, the same committee was also asked to assess the progress of the Great Green Wall programme initiated to control desertification in the country.

The resolutions followed a motion on “World Environment Day” sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central) and members of her committee.

Tinubu expressed worry that despite the launch of the project, work has not commenced in the area.

Senator Magnus Abe also told the Senate that there was nothing on ground to show that the Ogoni clean-up exercise designed to clean the area including farmland and rivers of oil spill is a government priority.

He urged federal government to review the country environmental regeneration programmes

Aisha Back, Says Buhari Will Return Soon

June 6, 2017
The Nation, Nigeria

Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari on Tuesday morning returned to the country from London where she visited her husband who is undergoing treatment.

She was received on arrival by officials at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

According to a statement by her Director of Information, Suleiman Haruna, the President’s wife expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their constant prayers.

While stating that President Buhari is recuperating fast, she disclosed that he will soon return to the country

She called on Nigerians to continue to be strong in the face of challenges and to support the Federal Government in implementing the agenda for which the present administration was elected.

“Mr. President thanked the acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for his loyalty and called on Nigerians to continue to support the acting President in his effort to actualise the mandate of the All Progressives Congress,” Mrs. Buhari stated.

Aisha Buhari Returns After Sick Visit to Husband

By Editor
Nigeria Guardian
06 June 2017   |   8:09 am

The wife of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari returned from London Tuesday after visiting her ailing husband, who is receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness, her office said.

Aisha Buhari left for the British capital last week to “spend some time” with her 74-year-old husband, who left Nigeria on May 7 and has not been heard from or seen since.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has been formally deputising.

Aisha Buhari thanked Osinbajo for his work and said her husband would return “soon… as he is recuperating fast”, without elaborating.

Before his latest trip, Buhari had previously spent almost two months in Britain being treated for what he described as one of the worst illnesses of his life.

The presidency has repeatedly rejected rumours that Buhari is terminally ill or even dead but refused to disclose his illness or what treatment he is having.

Nigeria’s Low Ranking in Global Healthcare Index

By Editorial Board
Nigeria Guardian
06 June 2017   |   4:00 am

The result showed that virtually all countries improved over the period but many, especially, in Africa and Oceania fell further behind in providing basic care for their citizens. Nigeria, of course, lagged far behind most other African countries, which is shameful. PHOTO: macleans.ca

That Nigeria was ranked low in the recently released global healthcare ranking is not surprising. The state of healthcare delivery in the country is appalling and there has been too much national lamentation over the situation for too long.

The report merely reinforced what is already known over which calls have been made for government to make improvements.

The first global healthcare ranking, which was based on a qualification of personal access and quality for 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2015 placed Nigeria at the 140th position. Nigeria reportedly scored 51 points on the healthcare Access and Quality Index and that report was published in May 18 edition of the medical journal, The Lancet.

The study reportedly assessed the countries and ranked them from 0 to 100 with researchers creating a Healthcare Access and Quality Index based on the number of deaths from 32 causes that could be avoided by “timely and effective Medicare.”

The Healthcare Access and Quality Index tracked progress in each country compared to the benchmark year of 1990. The 32 diseases for which death rates were tracked include tuberculosis and other respiratory infections; illnesses that can be prevented with vaccines (diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and measles); several forms of treatable cancer and heart disease and maternal and neonatal disorders.

The result showed that virtually all countries improved over the period but many, especially, in Africa and Oceania fell further behind in providing basic care for their citizens. Nigeria, of course, lagged far behind most other African countries, which is shameful.

With the exception of Afghanistan, Haiti and Yemen, the 30 countries at the bottom of the ranking were all in sub-Saharan Africa, with the Central African Republic suffering the worst standards of all.

Tunisia ranked highest among the African nations at 89th position, followed by Libya at 90 and Egypt at 107. Other African countries that ranked ahead of Nigeria include Namibia at 117, South Africa at 118, Gabon at 120, Botswana at 121, Swaziland at 125, Algeria at129, Cape Verde at 131 and Morocco at 132.

The top raking countries were Andorra, Iceland, Switzerland, Sweden and Norway. Others were Finland, Spain, the Netherlands and Luxemburg in that order. The United Kingdom and United States were ranked 30 and 35 respectively.

All the 20 countries on top of the list, with the exception of Australia and Japan, are in Western Europe, where virtually every nation has some form of universal health coverage.

The need for improved healthcare system in Nigeria, therefore, cannot be over-emphasised. A lot has been written on this important issue. As a matter of fact, virtually, all the issues bordering on healthcare provision in Nigeria stem from the objectionable poor health infrastructure, administration and funding by the government.

Otherwise, every other critical ingredient of world-class medical care is available in the country. Nigeria is, indeed, blessed with some of the best medical doctors and health practitioners in the world.

Unfortunately, most of those highly educated and talented medical professionals are out in foreign countries excelling where the conditions and atmosphere are better. Nigeria’s poor healthcare infrastructure in particular, coupled with poor remuneration, is therefore responsible for the mass migration of Nigeria’s best hands in health care.

Without being prodded, government ought to recognise that the country is in trouble if there is no adequate healthcare for its teeming population. There is need for a re-calibration of the healthcare system for accessibility and efficiency in order to serve the population.

This, of course, is a challenge to the nation’s leadership at all levels.

A former Minister of Health, the late Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, raised the nation’s healthcare delivery system to a historic world standard through his focus on primary healthcare programme that attracted international support and which he vigorously drove with his personal commitment as well as integrity. Many international agencies supported the programme and funded it. UNICEF vehicles and personnel were found everywhere in the country, especially, in the rural areas implementing different aspects of the primary health care programme.

It is a national embarrassment of intense proportions that wealthy Nigerians, who can afford it, continue to flock to foreign countries to seek medical help while the poor are left with no option than to probably die. That is a sad testimonial for a country that is supposed to be the giant of and a model for Africa.

There is a need to raise the benchmark of funding of the health sector, no doubt. There is an urgent need to build the critical infrastructure as well as foist the right environment for good healthcare delivery system in Nigeria.

It is a worn phrase but no improvement can be made on the saying that a healthy nation is a wealthy one.

Qatar Airways Suspends Flights to UAE, Egypt, Bahrain

A Qatar Airways plane is seen in Doha, Qatar June 5, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer

Qatar Airways has canceled flights to Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates from Tuesday until further notice, the airline said on its website, a day after it had suspended flights to Saudi Arabia.

The airline said passengers holding a confirmed Qatar Airways ticket to any of the four countries between June 5 and July 6 are permitted to rebook their flights up to 30 days after their current departure date.

Qatar Airways said its offices will continue to operate as normal in affected countries until further notice.

On Monday, EgyptAir, flydubai and Bahrain's Gulf Air joined Etihad and Emirates in saying they would suspend all flights to and from Doha.

The move came after Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain severed diplomatic relations with Qatar in a coordinated move, accusing it of support for Islamist militants and Iran.

(Reporting by Saeed Azhar and Jamie Freed, Editing by Sylvia Westall)

Sudan Calls to Ease Tensions Between Qatar and Gulf Countries

June 5, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan has called for easing tensions between several Gulf and Arab countries and Qatar, while President Omer al-Bashir backed Kuwaiti efforts to mediate a negotiated settlement to overcome the dispute.

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Libya’s eastern-based government severed diplomatic ties with Qatar and closed land, sea and air links with Doha.

Qatar is accused of supporting Islamist groups particularly the Muslim Brotherhood which are considered by several countries as a dangerous political enemy if not terrorist groups.

The Gulf News on its editorial of 25 May said the "Emir of Qatar, Shaikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, during a military ceremony on Tuesday (23 May), in which he appeared to defy not only the official GCC policies on most critical issues, particularly Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah".

Also, the Saudi news agency SPA has said on Monday that "(Qatar) embraces multiple terrorist and sectarian groups aimed at disturbing stability in the region, including the Muslim Brotherhood, ISIS (Islamic State) and al-Qaeda, and promotes the message and schemes of these groups through their media constantly".

"Sudan calls for refraining from escalation and to overcome differences with wisdom, and keenness to the interests of the countries and peoples of the Arab nation," said a written statement released by the foreign ministry in Khartoum.

The foreign ministry further expressed Sudan readiness to exert efforts with the other brother countries to stop escalation and to reconcile between Qatar and the other six Arab countries.

On Monday night, the official news agency SUNA reported that al-Bashir discussed the rift with the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

"The Emir of Kuwait assured President al-Bashir that he would leave for Saudi Arabia to meet the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud and would try to contain the crisis with the State of Qatar and try to arrange the Arab House to ward off the dangers surrounding the Arab and Islamic world," said the agency.

Al-Sabah on Monday urged Qatar’s Tamim in a phone call to refrain from escalating tensions with the other Gulf states and to give efforts at mediation a chance to contain differences.

The Kuwait’s emir "expressed his wish" that Qatari ruler "work on easing tensions and refrain from taking any decision that might cause escalation", said KUNA the official Kuwait state news agency.

Sudan has strong relations with Qatar which brokered a mediation to end Darfur conflict. Doha also backed Khartoum financially to overcome its financial crisis after the secession of South Sudan.

Since Last year Khartoum, also, participates in the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen.

(ST)

Sudan’s al-Bashir Renews Calls for Rebels to Join Peace Efforts

Sudan's Bashir speaks at the opening session of the third Arab Conference for Agriculture Investment in Khartoum on 27 February 2017 (ST Photo)

June 5, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir Monday has renewed calls for the armed movements to renounce violence and join the peace process pointing to continued efforts to develop the military capabilities and defence system of the army.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) rebels in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan, also known as the Two Areas since 2011 and a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

Last August, peace talks between the Sudanese government and rebels under the auspices of the African Union failed to reach a cessation of hostilities agreement in Darfur and the Two Areas.

Al-Bashir, who addressed the meeting of the National Council for Strategic Planning (NCSP) at the Republican Palace Monday, pledged to continue efforts to develop the armed forces according to the highest standards of quality.

“Our call to achieve a lasting peace will not prevent us from seeking to build and develop our military capabilities and defence systems because peace that is not guarded by force will be subject to abortion and collapse,” he said.

He vowed to continue efforts to sustain dialogue among the various social and political forces to achieve development and improve the living standards of the Sudanese.

The Sudanese president pointed out that the national dialogue has offered answers to issues that have been the subject of controversy since independence, renewing commitment to implement the output of the national dialogue conference.

He noted that the outcome of the national dialogue would be integrated into the country’s 2017- 2020 strategic plan, saying the plan, once approved, would become the criterion against which the performance of the government of national concord would be measured.

WAR IN YEMEN

Meanwhile, Al-Bashir stressed that the Army, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and rest of the regular forces are ready to perform their duty when asked to do so, praising the role played by the armed forces to restore the legitimacy in Yemen and to combat terrorism.

He further vowed to continue to participate in Saudi-led alliance in Yemen until it achieves its goals.

The Sudanese army has been participating in the Saudi-led military coalition since 2015 in a regional effort to back the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after he was ousted from the capital Sanaa by the Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels.

Late last month, Sudanese military sources dismissed media reports that 80 Sudanese troops have been killed in Yemen saying only 21 were killed, including 4 officers.

Until 13 May, only 8 Sudanese troops have been killed since launching the Saudi-led Operations “Decisive Storm” and “Restoring Hope” in Yemen in 2015.

(ST)

South Sudan Rebels Downplay Significance of Kampala Peace Accord

June 5, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudan armed opposition faction under the leadership of the country’s former First Vice-President, Riek Machar have downplayed the significance of a peace deal inked between government and a rebel faction based in Yei River state.

The accord was signed on Sunday by Brig. Gen. Hillary Edson Yakani on behalf of Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In-Opposition (SPLA IO). Maj. Gen. Marshal Babanen signed on behalf of the government.

The rebel faction, according to a communiqué issued after days of negotiations in the Uganda capital, Kampala, declared a permanent ceasefire that took immediate effect from 5 June, 2017.

But Col. Lam Paul, a deputy rebel spokesperson in a statement issued Monday, described the Kampala talks as “nonsense”, saying the agreement served individuals with no political and military might.

“Hilary Yakani has never been a member [of the SPLM-IO], leave alone an officer of the SPLA -IO, he was rescued together with some of our politicians from Juba last year after the July fight. He was not trained or commissioned by the SPLA-IO and so he cannot sign any agreement on behalf of the SPLA –IO,” Lam told Sudan Tribune.

The SPLM-IO official also questioned the credibility of the defectors, and wondered why senior military officer allied to the group in Yei River state did not know about the Kampala peace agreement.

“SPLA-IO is under the leadership of Dr. Riek Machar Teny [and] that means any agreement has to be signed by him. He should be the one to do it as our commander in chief, not any other person. What is happening in Kampala is just a project of Governor [Moses] Lokonga and his agent Bishop Elias to help them during these economic crises in South Sudan,” Lam further said.

“This group that met in Kampala does not have foot soldiers on the ground in Yei River state and so government should not think they can roam around Yei without clashing with the SPLA-IO,” he added.

According to the rebel official, any meaningful peace deal capable of the ending the conflict in South Sudan should involve all leaders.

Renewed violence broke out in the South Sudan capital, Juba in July 2016, forcing the country’s rebel leader who was part of the coalition government to flee the young nation. He now lives in South Africa.

The South Sudanese conflict has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced over two million people from their homes, while thousands have been earmarked to face starvation in coming months.

(ST)

South Sudan Rebel Faction and Government Sign Peace Pact

June 4, 2017 (JUBA) – A South Sudanese rebel faction base in the country’s newly-created Yei River state country on Sunday signed a peace agreement with the government to end months of fighting.

The accord was signed by Brig. Gen. Hillary Edson Yakani on behalf of Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In-Opposition (SPLA IO) while Maj. Gen. Marshal Babanen signed on behalf of the Juba government.

The armed opposition faction, according to a communiqué issued after days of negotiations in the Uganda capital, Kampala declared a permanent ceasefire that takes effect from 5 June, 2017.

Babanen vowed to implement the signed agreement within 18 weeks, further adding that the rebels fighting in other states of the world’s youngest have expressed willingness to abandon rebellion.

South Sudan’s cabinet affairs minister, Martin Elia Lomoru and generals from both warring sides attended the Kampala gathering.

In March this year, however, South Sudan’s armed opposition faction loyal to Riek Machar distanced themselves from armed rebel groups who negotiated a similar agreement with Juba in Kampala, Uganda.

The negotiations were reportedly aimed at forging a new separate peace deal between the Juba government and the rebel faction.

Gabriel Lam, a rebel deputy spokesman, was quoted saying groups that meet in Kampala were individual of refugees status who fled to Uganda and denied they had connection with the armed opposition faction allied to Machar.

(ST)

South Sudan Dialogue Body Tells Machar to Denounce Violence

South Sudan’s rebel leader Riek Machar addresses a press conference in his private residence in Addis Ababa, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. (Photo AP/Mulugete Ayehe)

June 5, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudan former First Vice President and rebel leader Riek Machar will only be allowed to participate in the country’s national dialogue initiative if he denounces rebellion, a member of the dialogue committee said on Monday.

"We are not saying Machar should not participate in the dialogue. No this is not our position, we don’t determine who should participate in the dialogue and who should. We are only facilitating the dialogue by ensuring that all the stakeholders take part in a more inclusivity, transparent, open and participatory manner,” said the co-chair of the national dialogue committee, Angelo Beda.

He added, “What we emphasise is that any participation must be on non-violence basis. We want to replace violence with peaceful means".

According to the official, the dialogue committee appointed by the president barely three weeks ago is working out a mechanism aimed at encouraging inclusivity and transparency of the dialogue process.

He, however, hinted that the dialogue committee would ask President Salva Kiir to allow Machar return to the war-torn nation.

"Riek Machar is a South Sudanese. He has his birthright to return to the country as a normal citizen. This is what the committee is working on it. It would ask President Salva Kiir to allow his return to the country,” said Beda.

“And if Machar is for peace and stability of the country as this is his own country, the people who are suffering are his own people, brothers and sisters, he would accept this proposal so that this war stops and the country returns to normal functions", he added.

The national dialogue committee co-chair said the South Sudanese rebel leader is constitutionally mandated to contest for any elective post, provided peace is restored and people allowed to freely vote.

Meanwhile the committee, its co-chair said, has started communicating with armed opposition groups to solicit their views and confirm their readiness to participate in the dialogue process.

He did not, however, disclose which group had already been contacted, but said the unity government will provide protection to all armed groups, including representatives of Machar’s faction who will come to Juba to participate in the national dialogue initiative.

"This is a home based initiative. The stakeholders will have to come and participate inside here. Their security will be granted. They will be protected under general amnesty which the president will declare together with the permanent ceasefire," stressed Beda.

President Kiir officially launched the national dialogue initiative in the capital, Juba two weeks ago. The national dialogue initiative is both a forum and process through which the people South Sudan shall gather to redefine the basis of their unity as it relates to nationhood, redefine citizenship and belonging, as well as restructure the state for national inclusion.

Since mid-December 2013, tens of thousands of people have been killed and over two million displaced in South Sudan’s worst ever violence since it broke away from Sudan in 2011.

(ST)

Eight People Die of Hunger in South Sudan’s Boma: Official

People in conflict-affected areas of South Sudan collect food from WFP (WFP/eter Testuzza Photo)

June 5, 2017 (JUBA) - At least 18 people starved to death in Eastern South Sudanese state of Boma, a local official said on Monday.

"There is no food in Jebel Boma area of Boma state and as such, eighteen people died of hunger," said Achuan John, the minister of information in Boma, one of five states created out of former Jonglei.

Achuan said the areas affected by acute food shortage have no road connection to Pibor, the headquarters of Boma state.

"There are airstrips in Boma and if the humanitarian agencies, whom we are requesting to help, can drop food, that will make a difference," he said.

There is an economic crisis in South Sudan and the local currency, the South Sudanese pound has lost about 90% of its value leading to a surge of market commodities including food items imported from neighbouring countries. Economists estimate South Sudan inflation at 900%, one of the highest in the world.

The UN’s World Food Program, which distributes most of the food items in South Sudan has not confirmed the death in Boma state.

Humanitarian agencies warned in February when famine was declared in Unity state that 7.5 million South Sudan, or more than half the country’s population, will need food assistance this year.

(ST)

Flint Official Resigns After Using Racial Slur to Describe Residents With Water Problems

by SAFIA SAMEE ALI
NBC News

A Michigan official that manages tax foreclosed homes for the county where Flint sits has resigned after an audio recording of him blaming the city’s water problems on "n---ers (who) don't pay their bills" surfaced online.

Phil Stair, who was a sales manager at the Genesee County Land Bank, was recorded using racial slurs by local water activist Chelsea Lyons who later posted the recordings to the website Truth Against the Machine.

In the recording, Stair is heard saying "Flint has the same problems as Detroit, f--ing n---ers don't pay their bills, believe me, I deal with them,” he said.

“They just don’t pay their bills. Well, Detroit, didn’t collect on their bills, so they charged everybody else, but — Flint — Flint had to pay their bill to Detroit.”

Lyons was worried about the Land Bank, which is tasked with the sale, rehabilitation, and demolition of tax-foreclosed homes in the county, being Flint's largest property owner to, she told MLive.com on Monday.

"The Land Bank is taking up all of the properties in Flint," Lyons told the publication. "They are pushing people out of neighborhood."

Thousands of Flint residents are facing foreclosure due to unpaid water bills — water that many are still not able to fully use.

The recordings took place over two days and began after Lyons and another woman met Stair at a local bar, she said.

Michele Wildman, the executive director of Genesee County Land Bank confirmed Stair's resignation to NBC News on Monday.

"We are deeply troubled by the offensive and inexcusable comments," she said. "This individual does not reflect our values as a company, and we are engaging with the community to restore and regain public trust," she said.

Flint, which is over 56 percent black, was the center of the nation’s largest water crisis that resulted in a surge of lead poisoning, especially among children.

Flint's water was contaminated with lead for at least 18 months after the city tapped the Flint River as its water source to save money. But the water was not treated to reduce corrosion and toxicity rampantly spread to all those utilizing the city’s water.

A U.S. district judge in Detroit approved a settlement in a lawsuit in March, freeing up almost $100 million in state money to tear out lead or galvanized steel water lines leading to at least 18,000 Flint homes by Jan. 1, 2020.

Several officials have faced criminal charges over the handling of the city's water.

Trump Grows Discontented With Attorney General Jeff Sessions

By PETER BAKER and MAGGIE HABERMAN
New York Times
JUNE 5, 2017

President Trump with Attorney General Jeff Sessions at an event on Capitol Hill last month. Credit Doug Mills/The New York Times

WASHINGTON — Few Republicans were quicker to embrace President Trump’s campaign last year than Jeff Sessions, and his reward was one of the most prestigious jobs in America. But more than four months into his presidency, Mr. Trump has grown sour on Mr. Sessions, now his attorney general, blaming him for various troubles that have plagued the White House.

The discontent was on display on Monday in a series of stark early-morning postings on Twitter in which the president faulted his own Justice Department for its defense of his travel ban on visitors from certain predominantly Muslim countries. Mr. Trump accused Mr. Sessions’s department of devising a “politically correct” version of the ban — as if the president had nothing to do with it.

In private, the president’s exasperation has been even sharper. He has intermittently fumed for months over Mr. Sessions’s decision to recuse himself from the investigation into Russian meddling in last year’s election, according to people close to Mr. Trump who insisted on anonymity to describe internal conversations. In Mr. Trump’s view, they said, it was that recusal that eventually led to the appointment of a special counsel who took over the investigation.

Behind-the-scenes frustration would not be unprecedented in the Oval Office. Other presidents have become estranged from the Justice Department over time, notably President Bill Clinton, who bristled at Attorney General Janet Reno’s decisions to authorize investigations into him and his administration, among other things. But Mr. Trump’s tweets on Monday made his feelings evident for all to see and raised questions about how he is managing his own administration.

“They wholly undercut the idea that there is some rational process behind the president’s decisions,” said Walter E. Dellinger, who served as acting solicitor general under Mr. Clinton. “I believe it is unprecedented for a president to publicly chastise his own Justice Department.”

In his Twitter posts, Mr. Trump complained that his original executive order barring visitors from select Muslim-majority nations and refugees from around the world was revised in hopes of passing legal muster after it was struck down by multiple federal courts. The second version, however, has also been blocked, and last week the Justice Department appealed to the Supreme Court.

“The Justice Dept. should have stayed with the original Travel Ban, not the watered down, politically correct version they submitted to S.C.,” Mr. Trump wrote.

Then he added, “The Justice Dept. should ask for an expedited hearing of the watered down Travel Ban before the Supreme Court — & seek much tougher version!”

But the messages caused considerable head scratching around Washington since it was Mr. Trump who signed the revised executive order and, presumably, agreed to the legal strategy in the first place. His posts made it sound like the Justice Department was not part of his administration.

The White House had little to add to the president’s messages on Monday. Asked why Mr. Trump signed the revised order if he did not support it, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a White House spokeswoman, said he did it only to convince a California-based appeals court. “He was looking to, again, match the demands laid out by the Ninth Circuit and, for the purpose of expediency, to start looking at the best way possible to move that process forward,” she said.

Alan M. Dershowitz, a professor emeritus at Harvard Law School who has frequently defended Mr. Trump on cable news, said the president was clearly voicing frustration with Mr. Sessions. But he said it was not clear to him that it was a personal issue as opposed to an institutional one with the office.

“What he’s saying is, ‘I’m the president, I’m the tough guy, I wanted a very tough travel ban and the damn lawyers are weakening it’ — and clients complain about lawyers all the time,” Mr. Dershowitz said. “I see this more as a client complaining about his lawyer. The lawyer in this case happens to be Jeff Sessions.”

David B. Rivkin Jr., a lawyer who served in the White House and Justice Department under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush, said Mr. Trump clearly looked at the case from the lens of a businessman who did not get his money’s worth.

“He’s unhappy when the results don’t come in,” Mr. Rivkin said. “I’m sure he was convinced to try the second version, and the second iteration did not do better than the first iteration, so the lawyers in his book did not do a good job. It’s understandable for a businessman.”

Mr. Sessions and the Justice Department remained silent on Monday. But at least one lawyer close to the administration suggested that there was consternation in the department over the president’s messages. George T. Conway III, who until last week was Mr. Trump’s choice for assistant attorney general for the civil division and whose wife, Kellyanne Conway, is the president’s counselor, posted a Twitter message suggesting that Mr. Trump’s tweets “certainly won’t help” persuade five justices on the Supreme Court — the majority needed — to uphold the travel ban.

In subsequent posts, Mr. Conway said that “every sensible lawyer” in the White House Counsel’s Office and “every political appointee” at the Justice Department would “agree with me (as some have already told me).” Mr. Conway stressed that he strongly supports Mr. Trump — “and, of course, my wonderful wife” — and was making his points because the president’s supporters “should not be shy about it.”

The frustration over the travel ban might be a momentary episode were it not for the deeper resentment Mr. Trump feels toward Mr. Sessions, according to people close to the president. When Mr. Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation, Mr. Trump learned about it only when he was in the middle of another event, and he publicly questioned the decision.

A senior administration official said Mr. Trump has not stopped burning about the decision, in occasional spurts, toward Mr. Sessions. Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein, who was selected by Mr. Sessions and filled in when it came to the Russia investigation, ultimately appointed Robert S. Mueller III, a former F.B.I. director, as special counsel to lead the probe.

In fact, much of the past two months of discomfort and self-inflicted pain for Mr. Trump can be tied in some way back to that recusal. Mr. Trump felt blindsided by Mr. Sessions’s decision and unleashed his fury at aides in the Oval Office the next day, according to four people familiar with the event. The next day was his fateful tweet about President Barack Obama conducting a wiretap of Trump Tower during the campaign, an allegation that was widely debunked.

However, Mr. Trump is said to be aware that firing people now, on the heels of dismissing James B. Comey, the F.B.I. director, would be risky. He has invested care and meticulous attention to the next choice of an F.B.I. director in part because he will not have the option of firing another one. The same goes for Mr. Sessions, these people said.

Mr. Dershowitz said he thought any frustration over Mr. Sessions’s recusal, like the travel ban, was probably not personal. “I think that’s also institutional,” he said. “Almost any A.G. would recuse himself. I think he’s railing against lawyers.”

Follow Peter Baker on Twitter at @peterbakernyt and Maggie Haberman at @maggienyt.

Intelligence Contractor Is Charged in First Leak Case Under Trump

By CHARLIE SAVAGE
New York Times
JUNE 5, 2017

The deputy attorney general, Rod J. Rosenstein, in Washington last month. “Releasing classified material without authorization threatens our nation’s security and undermines public faith in government,” he said. Credit Joshua Roberts/Reuters

WASHINGTON — An intelligence contractor was charged with sending a classified report about Russia’s interference in the 2016 election to the news media, the Justice Department announced Monday, the first criminal leak case under President Trump.

The case showed the department’s willingness to crack down on leaks, as Mr. Trump has called for in complaining that they are undermining his administration. His grievances have contributed to a sometimes tense relationship with the intelligence agencies he now oversees.

The Justice Department announced the case against the contractor, Reality Leigh Winner, 25, about an hour after the national-security news outlet The Intercept published the apparent document, a May 5 intelligence report from the National Security Agency.

The report described two cyberattacks by Russia’s military intelligence unit, the G.R.U. — one in August against a company that sells voter registration-related software and another, a few days before the election, against 122 local election officials.

The Intercept said the N.S.A. report had been submitted anonymously. But shortly after its article was published, the Justice Department said that the F.B.I. had arrested Ms. Winner at her house in Augusta, Georgia, on Saturday. It also said she had confessed to an agent that she had printed out a May 5 intelligence file and mailed it to an online news outlet.

It was not immediately clear who is serving as the defense lawyer for Ms. Winner, who has been charged under the Espionage Act.

An accompanying F.B.I. affidavit said she has worked for Pluribus International Corporation at a government facility in Georgia since Feb. 13. While it did not identify the agency or the facility, the N.S.A. uses Pluribus contractors and opened a branch facility in the suburbs outside Augusta in 2012.

The F.B.I. affidavit said reporters for the news outlet, which it also did not name, had approached the N.S.A. with questions for their story and, in the course of that dialogue, provided a copy of the document in their possession. An analysis of the file showed it was a scan of a copy that had been creased or folded, the affidavit said, “suggesting they had been printed and hand-carried out of a secured space.”

The N.S.A.’s auditing system showed that six people had printed out the report, including Ms. Winner. Investigators examined the computers of those six people and found that Ms. Winner had been in email contact with the news outlet, but the other five had not. In a statement, the deputy attorney general, Rod J. Rosenstein, praised the operation.

“Releasing classified material without authorization threatens our nation’s security and undermines public faith in government,” he said. “People who are trusted with classified information and pledge to protect it must be held accountable when they violate that obligation.”

Espionage Act charges carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, although conventional leak cases have typically resulted in prison terms of one to three years.

Once rare, leak cases have become far more common in the 21st century, in part because of electronic trails that make it easier for investigators to determine who both had access to a leaked document and was in contact with a reporter. Depending on how they are counted, the Obama administration brought nine or 10 leak-related prosecutions — about twice as many as were brought under all previous presidencies combined.

Mr. Rosenstein helped prosecute one of them, a case against James E. Cartwright, a retired four-star Marine general and a former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff accused of disclosing classified information to reporters. General Cartwright pleaded guilty to lying to investigators about his conversations with journalists but was later pardoned by President Barack Obama.

Mr. Trump called for a crackdown in the context of leaks about what surveillance has shown about his own associates’ contacts with Russian officials. The report Ms. Winner is accused of leaking, by contrast, focuses on pre-election hacking operations targeting voter registration databases and does not mention the Trump campaign.

The American intelligence community has concluded that Russia conducted a broad influence campaign for the purpose of undermining Hillary Clinton’s candidacy and sowing doubts about the democratic process if she had won.

In October, when the Obama administration accused Russia of stealing and releasing Democratic emails, it also said there was a pattern of probing of voter registration-related systems that were traceable to Russian servers, but stopped short of saying the Russian government was behind them. The intelligence report, citing unspecified information the N.S.A. obtained in April, suggests the government is now satisfied that Moscow was the culprit.

Both attacks described in the report relied on so-called spear phishing, a tactic that uses spoof emails to trick users into clicking links or opening attachments that then install malicious software on their computers. The G.R.U. sent the emails from two free American web-based email providers, Google’s Gmail and Microsoft’s Outlook.com, it said.

The first attack, on Aug. 24, involved an attack on an American company “evidently to obtain information on elections-related software and hardware solutions.”

That attack was most likely successful. The report said the G.R.U. used data most likely obtained from it to conduct the second set of attacks, a “voter registration themed spear-phishing campaign targeting U.S. local government organizations.”

Specifically, it said, in late October or early November, the G.R.U. sent to 122 local elections officials emails designed to look like they were from that company and containing attachments designed to look like an updated system manual and checklist. Opening the attachment would download malicious software from a remote server, the report said.

The report masked the name of the software vendor, referring to it as “U.S. Company 1,” in keeping with standard minimization rules for intelligence reports based on surveillance. However, the report contained references to an electronic voter identification system used by poll workers and sold by VR Systems, a Florida company.

VR Systems’ website said its products were used by jurisdictions in California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. In a statement, VR acknowledged that there had been a problem, while stressing that none of its products dealt with vote marking or tabulation.

“When a customer alerted us to an obviously fraudulent email purporting to come from VR Systems, we immediately notified all our customers and advised them not to click on the attachment,” it said. “We are only aware of a handful of our customers who actually received the fraudulent email and of those, we have no indication that any of them clicked on the attachment or were compromised as a result.”

Egypt Gives Qatari Ambassador 48 Hours to Leave Following Severing of Diplomatic Ties

Ahram Online
Monday 5 Jun 2017

On Monday, Egypt said it was cutting diplomatic relations with Qatar "in light of the continued insistence of the Qatari government to take a stance against Egypt"

Egypt announced on Monday that Qatar's ambassador to Cairo had 48 hours to leave the country following a decision earlier in the day to sever ties with the Gulf state, state news agency MENA reported.

Egypt said it was cutting ties with Qatar due to its insistence on "supporting terrorist organizations" and meddling in Egypt's internal affairs.

Meanwhile, Egypt informed its charge d'affaires in Doha that he should return to Cairo within the next 48 hours.

The decision to cut ties with Qatar followed a move on the part of Bahrain to sever diplomatic and transport links with the Gulf state. This in turn prompted similar actions on the part of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Yemen and the eastern-based government of Libya.

All of the governments said that their decision was based on Qatar's ongoing support for terrorist organisations such as Daesh and Al-Qaeda, as well as interference in the internal affairs of nations in the region.

Egypt said it took the decision "in light of the continued insistence of the Qatari government to take a stance against Egypt."

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/270281.aspx

Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and UAE Cut Ties to Qatar

Ahram Online
Monday 5 Jun 2017

Several Arab Gulf countries and Egyptbroke diplomatic relations with Qatar, citing its "support of terrorism", the countries announced in the early hours of Monday.

Egypt announced the closure of its airspace and seaports for all Qatari transportation to protect its national security, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Egypt accused the Gulf Arab state of supporting "terrorist" organisations including the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's state news agency reported.

Bahrain accused Qatar of backing terrorism and interfering in its internal affairs.

A brief statement on the official Bahrain news agency said Bahrain, a close ally of Saudi Arabia, was also cutting air and sea contact with Qatar and was giving its citizens in Qatar 14 days to leave.

Saudi Arabia said the move was necessary to protect the kingdom from what it described as terrorism and extremism.

The official state news agency, citing an official source, said Saudi Arabia had decided to sever diplomatic and consular relations with Qatar "proceeding from the exercise of its sovereign right guaranteed by international law and the protection of national security from the dangers of terrorism and extremism".

Saudi Arabia cut all land air and sea contacts with Qatar "and urges all brotherly countries and companies to do the same.

The United Arab Emirates cut ties and gave Qatari diplomats 48 hours to leave the country, citing their "support, funding and embrace of terrorist, extremist and sectarian organisations", state news agency WAM said.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/270238.aspx

US-backed Kurdish Forces: Raqqah Liberation Imminent

Sat Jun 3, 2017 8:34PM
presstv.ir

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) forces hold up their weapons in the north of Raqqah city, Syria on February 3, 2017. (Photos by Reuters)

US-backed Kurdish forces in Syria say that major operations to liberate Raqqah from Daesh will begin over the next few days.

"The forces reached the outskirts of the city, and the major operation will start ... in the coming few days," said YPG spokesman Nouri Mahmoud on Saturday.

The US currently provides air support for members of the SDF -- a Kurdish-dominated and anti-Damascus alliance.

The so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is led by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) which Ankara views as a terrorist organization over its alleged links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

"The battle will not be easy…Of course Daesh has tunnels, mines, car bombs, suicide bombers, and at the same time it is using civilians as human shields," added Mahmoud.

Daesh seized Raqqah in 2014, the same year when it started its campaign of terror in Syria. It then proceeded to capture large swathes of Syrian territory.

"Daesh will resist because Raqqah is its capital and if Raqqah goes, that means the entire caliphate is gone," he added.

SDF forces seized Tabqah city, west of Raqqah in May. They have advanced to within several kilometers of the center of Raqqah over the past few months.

A spokeswoman for the Raqqah campaign, Jihan Sheikh Ahmed, also confirmed that the final attack on the city would begin in the "coming few days."

A spokesman for the US-led forces in Syria said that the SDF have reached within three kilometers of Raqqah from the north and east and within 10 kilometers from the south.

“This advance will allow the SDF to expand its control on the southern banks of the Euphrates River and stabilize the western front of Raqqa before launching the final battle to expel Daesh from the city," said the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) troops ride a military vehicle north of Raqqah city, Syria March 8, 2017.

"We're nearing the major battle," added Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman.

Different foreign-backed terrorist groups have been wreaking havoc in Syria since 2011.

Over the past few months, Syrian forces have made sweeping gains against Takfiri elements who have lately increased their acts of violence across the country following a series of defeats on the ground.