ABUJA Nigeria: We Had No Political Prisoners in My Government -Jonathan

Thisday Online: October 31, 2016

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has stated that no Nigerian became a political prisoner or prisoner of conscience for criticising him or his administration.

Jonathan made the remark during his keynote speech, which was delivered weekend at the annual Merit Awards Dinner of the Nigerian Lawyers Association of the United States.

The former president, who urged the U.S.-based lawyers to help preserve democratic institutions, also said diversity was an advantage only when all interest groups in the society feel safe and secure in their day-to-day activities.

Putin Rejects Russian Defense Ministry's Request to End ‘Humanitarian Pause’ in Syria

The Moscow Times, October 31, 2016

President Vladimir Putin has rejected a request by the Russian Defense Ministry to resume the bombing of Aleppo, saying humanitarian relief efforts need more time, according to the RIA Novosti agency. 
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s official spokesperson, told reporters that Russia would also wait to resume airstrikes against Aleppo, so that “our American partners can fulfill previous commitments and promises to demarcate the so-called moderate opposition and terrorist groups.”

Morocco protests: Death of fish seller triggers rare demonstrations

Source: BBC, October 31, 2016

Thousands of Moroccans have held protests in several towns and cities after a fish seller was crushed to death in a refuse lorry trying to retrieve fish confiscated by police.

The death of Mouhcine Fikri in the northern town of Al-Hoceima on Friday drew widespread anger on social media.

FBI obtains warrant to examine Clinton emails

Source: REUTERS October 31, 2016

Federal investigators have secured a warrant to examine newly discovered emails related to Hillary Clinton's private server, a source familiar with the matter said on Sunday, as a prominent Democrat accused FBI Director James Comey of breaking the law by trying to influence the election.
The warrant will allow the Federal Bureau of Investigation to examine the emails to see if they are relevant to its probe of the private email server used for government work by Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, while she was secretary of state from 2009 to 2013.

Trump attacks Clinton on trade, says he should be handed victory

Reuters October 28, 2016

TOLEDO, Ohio; WINSTON SALEM, N.C. U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump criticized Democrat Hillary Clinton on Thursday over her trade policies, saying she would handle trade deals so badly that the country should "just cancel the election" and name him the victor.
Speaking to supporters in Toledo, Ohio, Trump said the North American Free Trade Agreement signed by Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, had led to the outsourcing of thousands of Ohio jobs to Mexico, a practice he vowed to stop if elected president on Nov. 8.
"We should just cancel the election and just give it to Trump, right?" he said. "What are we even having it for? Her policies are so bad."

Putin Distances Himself From Remarks by the Kremlin's ‘Chief Propagandist

The Moscow Times, October 28, 2016

Vladimir Putin has publicly distanced himself from Dmitry Kiselyov, the man known around the world as “the Kremlin’s chief propagandist.”
Earlier today while speaking at the Valdai International Discussion Club, Putin said he doesn’t welcome remarks Kiselyov made more than two years ago, when the pundit reminded viewers on national television that “Russia is the only country in the world capable of turning the United States into radioactive ash.”
The episode aired on March 16, 2014, the day Crimea held a controversial secessionist referendum. Two days later, Moscow formally annexed the peninsula, exacerbating an already deteriorating relationship with the United States.

Buhari to Launch $10bn Niger Delta Reconstruction Fund

Source: THISDAY LIVE October 28

The federal government under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari plans a $10 billion infrastructure development fund for the oil-rich but restive Niger Delta, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, said yesterday in Abuja.

“We are launching $10 billion infrastructural rebirth investment programmes in the Niger Delta region. This is not money that is going to come strictly from the federal government. It is going to come from investors, individuals who are ready to do private sector infrastructure, obviously states and federal governments as the case may be and international organisations who have shown interest to help,” he said at the unveiling of the Roadmap for the Petroleum Industry tagged “7 Big Wins to Grow Nigeria’s Oil and Gas.”
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South Sudan: 145 child soldiers released - Unicef

Source: BBC October 28, 2016

Some 145 child soldiers fighting for two rebel groups in South Sudan have been released, Unicef has announced.

The children were recruited by the Cobra Faction and the SPLA In Opposition, two armed groups which have been fighting the government.
They were freed in the eastern region of Pibor and "disarmed and provided with civilian clothes," Unicef said in a statement.
About 16,000 children are still in "armed groups", it says.

Ghana passes law 'to evict presidents'

BBC October 27, 2016

Outgoing presidents in Ghana could be forcibly evicted from their official residences if they fail to move out in time, under new laws.

Presidents and vice-presidents will have to hand over official homes and vehicles at least two weeks before the inauguration of a new leader.
Ministers and other officials will have one month to do the same.
With general elections due on 7 December, the law aims to reduce delays in transferring government property,

Ukraine's ‘Amazing Idiots’ and ‘Crimes Against Humanity’

The Moscowtimes October 27, 2016

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to Yalta on the contested Crimean peninsula, where he addressed a forum by the All-Russia People's Front, a political movement Putin started in 2011 to coexist with the United Russia political party.
Hours after Putin’s speech, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry sent Moscow a formal letter of protest, claiming that Putin failed to obtain Kiev’s permission to set foot in “Ukrainian territory occupied by the Russian Federation.” This wasn’t the first time Ukraine has sent such a letter, and it’s not likely to be the last.
Moscow has exercised de facto sovereignty over Crimea for more than two years now, and Putin has visited a handful of times. The Moscow Times reviews five major points the president made in his speech today.

Russia to Increase Military Spending While Slashing Welfare Budget

Source: The Moscow Times, October 4, 2016

Russia’s military spending is set to increase by 679 billion rubles ($10 billion) despite the welfare budget decreasing by 375 billion rubles ($6 billion), the Gazeta.ru news website reported Tuesday, citing a source in the government.

The government's finance ministry published a bill of amendments to the welfare budget on Monday, announcing that it will shrink from 13.1 trillion ($210 billion) to 12.7 trillion ($203 billion dollars). This spending cut already includes the government’s decision to give pensioners a one off payment of 5,000 rubles instead of indexing pensions at the rate of inflation.

EU Advises Nigeria to Devalue Naira

Source: THISDAY LIVE, October 4, 2016

A European Union (EU) official, Fillippo Amato, has advised the federal government to devalue the naira as part of measures to tackle the economic recession.

Amato, Counsellor, Head of Trade and Economics Section of EU, made this known in an interview with journalists yesterday. The EU official, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said recession could not be addressed with traditional development tools.

He added the recession was a recent development which was due to a number of factors, including the fall in oil prices and resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta.