Council strongly condemns the military takeover of power in the Republic of #Gabon which ousted President Ali Bongo @PresidentABO on 30 August 2023;
Decides to immediately suspend the participation of #Gabon in all activities of the #AU, its organs and institutions until the restoration of constitutional order in the country, in line with #AU instruments @ 1172nd #AUPSC Mtg.
Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba is under house arrest and one of his sons has been arrested for "treason", military officers said Wednesday, hours after announcing they had overthrown the government.
Ousted President, Ali Ondimba Bongo was 'elected' President in 2009, just after the death of his father and predecessor, Omar Bongo, who was President from 1967 until his death.
The ousted Bongo, in 1977, released a funk album titled, "A Brand New Man," which was produced by Charles Bobbit.
Children in French state schools will no longer be allowed to wear the abaya, a long loose-fitting dress worn by some Muslim women.
The French education minister announced the ban on Sunday ahead of the school term starting at the start of September.
France has a strict ban on religious symbols in state schools and has banned pupils from wearing headscarves since 2004.
"When you walk into a classroom, you shouldn't be able to identify the pupils' religion just by looking at them," education minister Gabriel Attal told France's TF1 TV.
"I have decided that the abaya could no longer be worn in schools."
The abaya is usually defined as a loose over-garment, essentially a robe-like dress, frequently worn by women in parts the Arabian Peninsula, most of the Middle East and sometimes in North Africa.
But the question of whether the abaya is a religious symbol is the subject of debate.
Late last year, former education minister Pap Ndiaye identified the abaya as a garment that can "take on a possible religious character" even if it is not an explicitly religious symbol.
The debate continued to escalate this year.
France's Council of Muslim Worship said the abaya is "mistaken" by some as a Muslim religious sign.
"Any item of clothing is not a religious sign in itself," the group said in a statement in June.
"You only have to travel through Muslim-majority countries to realise that the citizens of these countries, of all faiths, are indistinguishable based on the clothes they wear," it added.
In 2010, France banned full face veils in public, angering some in its five million-strong Muslim community.
The country is governed by strong rules on secularity that mean no displays of religion in public institutions.
In schools, the laws were originally aimed at removing any traditional Catholic influence from public education, but have been updated over time to include other religions.
Jewish kippah, "oversized" crosses and other religious symbols are also banned from state schools.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcKtGmzl2tE Putin’s introduction of a mandatory oath for employees of Wagner and other private military contractors was a clear move to bring such groups under tighter state control
President Vladimir Putin has ordered Wagner fighters to sign an oath of allegiance to the Russian state after a deadly plane crash killed Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the private mercenary group.
Mr Putin signed the decree bringing in the change with immediate effect after the Kremlin described western suggestions that Mr Prigozhin had been killed on its orders as an “absolute lie”.
The Kremlin declined to definitively confirm his death, citing the need to wait for test results.
Russia’s aviation authority said the Wagner chief was on board a private jet which crashed on Wednesday evening northwest of Moscow with none of the 10 passengers surviving, and coming exactly two months after he led a failed mutiny against Russia’s army chiefs.
President Putin sent his condolences to the families of those killed in the crash, referring to Mr Prigozhin in the past tense.
He cited “preliminary information” as indicating that Mr Prigozhin, his former ally and long-term acquaintance, and his top Wagner associates had all been killed.
While praising the Wagner boss, whose fighters have been crucial to aspects of Russia’s military offensive in Ukraine, Mr Putin, however, said he had made some “serious mistakes”.
The decree, published on the Kremlin website, obliges anyone carrying out work on behalf of the military or supporting what Moscow calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine to swear a formal oath of allegiance to Russia.
A military intervention in Niger by the countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is unacceptable because it will destabilize the situation in many African countries, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday.
"The decision on a military intervention in Niger is unacceptable. It will lead to destabilization in many African countries. I hope that peace and stability in Niger will be reached as soon as possible," the TRT television channel quoted him as saying upon his return from a visit to Budapest.
According to the Turkish leader, Ankara may play an important role in settling the conflict in Niger and talks on this matter are being held by the foreign ministry. He also called for holding democratic elections in Niger in the near future.
In late July, a group of military rebels in Niger announced the removal of President Mohamed Bazoum. They then established the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (Conseil national pour la sauvegarde de la patrie, CNSP), headed by General Abdourahmane Tchiani, to run the country.
ECOWAS leaders demanded the rebels in Niger, which is a member of this organization, release Bazoum and warmed about a military resolution of the situation if he is not released. Apart from that, the ECOWAS imposed tough sanctions on Niger.
ECOWAS commissioner for political affairs Abdel-Fatau Musah said after a meeting of the bloc’s military chiefs in Ghana on August 18 that the exact date for the intervention in Niger had been determined, but it is yet to be officially announced.
Manchester United has concluded its internal investigation into the allegations made against Mason Greenwood.
Our process commenced in February 2023, following all charges against Mason being dropped. Throughout, we have taken into account the wishes, rights and perspective of the alleged victim along with the club’s standards and values, and sought to collate as much information and context as possible. This has required us to proceed with sensitivity and care to obtain evidence not in the public domain, including from those with direct knowledge of the case.
Based on the evidence available to us, we have concluded that the material posted online did not provide a full picture and that Mason did not commit the offences in respect of which he was originally charged. That said, as Mason publicly acknowledges today, he has made mistakes which he is taking responsibility for.
All those involved, including Mason, recognise the difficulties with him recommencing his career at Manchester United. It has therefore been mutually agreed that it would be most appropriate for him to do so away from Old Trafford, and we will now work with Mason to achieve that outcome.
There are strong indications that members of the Niger junta have begun to evacuate their families to Bukina Faso and Dubai over the threat of invasion by the Economic Community of West African States.
The exercise was, reportedly, carried out at the country’s Agadez Airport, a few days ago, and it involved Gulfstream G550 jets.
A source familiar with the movement said, “In the night of Friday, 11th to Saturday 12th of August 2023, the Nigerien junta, under the command of General Tchiani, evacuated all the putschists’ families. Indeed, several Gulfstream G550 type aircraft (in particular flight No. BFY824R) took off from Agadez Airport to Burkina Faso and Dubai with their women and children on board.”
According to the source, “General Tchiani appears to have had intelligence of an imminent attack by ECOWAS. He protects his family and leaves Nigerien people behind to a certain death. While he shelters his family, Tchiani is ready to send soldiers into a fratricidal war.
“Like any selfish and totalitarian putschists, he already uses state finances for personal purposes. It is at the expense of the Nigerien state that he sends his family to live richly under the Dubai sun. The junta does not hesitate a moment to set ablaze Niger while preparing a golden exit in Dubai.”
This is as ECOWAS said it was ready to intervene militarily in Niger Republic if diplomatic efforts to persuade the ruling military junta, which ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in a July 26 coup, to restore democracy in the country failed. ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, disclosed this Thursday in Ghana at a gathering of West African defence chiefs, who were meeting to deliberate on a standby force.
“Let no one be in doubt that if everything else fails, the valiant forces of West Africa…are ready to answer to the call of duty,” Reuters quoted Musah as saying. “By all means available, constitutional order will be restored in the country,” he added
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, said at the start of the two-day meeting in Accra, “Democracy is what we stand for and it’s what we encourage…
“The focus of our gathering is not simply to react to events, but to proactively chart a course that results in peace and promotes stability.”
The meeting to discuss Niger’s crisis came after the August 6 deadline for the mutinous soldiers to release and reinstate Bazoum or face military intervention. Bazoum has remained under house arrest with his wife and son in Niger’s capital, Niamey.
ECOWAS had long deliberated on the use of force, which it described as a “last resort” due to several mediation teams it sent to Niamey and also for a lack of consensus within its ranks.
Burkina Faso and Mali, which have experienced multiple coups since 2020, warned that any military intervention in Niger would be declared as an act of war, revealing a fracture in the region between its coastal countries and those in the volatile Sahel.
Guinea, which is also under military rule and had condemned any external aggression, refrained from making any other comments.
The top security body of AU met on Monday to consider whether it would support military intervention, but had yet to make its decision public.
The AU’s Peace and Security Council could overrule a military intervention if it feels the wider stability on the continent will be threatened. If it rejects the use of force, there are few grounds under which ECOWAS can claim legal justification.
happney65: He called the Govornor of Georgia when counting was ongoing and told him to find him votes. It was all recorded.
The beauty of this is Georgia is a republican state and the court case can be televised unlike the federal courts.
Except he takes a plea deal which might mean he drops his presidential ambition and Biden gives him a pardon, He is toast!
He doesn't need a Biden pardon, it's a State case. A US President cannot pardon anyone in a non-Federal case except in the District of Columbia.
If at all, he is convicted, it's within Kemp's jurisdiction even though he doesn't have the direct power. He will nominate an independent 5 persons (most likely Republicans) to look into the matter.
Those indicted in Georgia: Rudy Giuliani, Trump lawyer Mark Meadows, White House chief of staff John Eastman, Trump lawyer Kenneth Chesebro, pro-Trump lawyer Jeffrey Clark, top Justice Department official Jenna Ellis, Trump campaign lawyer Robert Cheeley, lawyer who reportedly promoted fraud claims Mike Roman, Trump campaign official David Shafer, Georgia GOP chair and fake elector Shawn Still, fake GOP elector Stephen Lee, pastor tied to intimidation of election workers Harrison Floyd, leader of Black Voices for Trump Trevian Kutti, publicist tied to intimidation of election workers Sidney Powell, Trump campaign lawyer Cathy Latham, fake GOP elector tied to Coffee County breach Scott Hall, tied to Coffee County election system breach Misty Hampton, Coffee County elections supervisor Ray Smith, Trump campaign attorney
1. Violation of the Georgia RICO Act 2. Solicitation of Violation of Oath by Public Officer 3. Conspiracy To Commit Impersonating a Public Officer 4. Conspiracy To Commit Forgery in the First Degree 5. Conspiracy To Commit False Statements and Writings 6. Conspiracy To Commit Filing False Documents 7. Conspiracy To Commit Forgery in the First Degree 8. Conspiracy To Commit False Statements and Writings 9. Filing False Documents 10. Solicitation of Violation of Oath by Public Officer 11. False Statements and Writings 12. Solicitation of Violation of Oath by Public Officer 13. False Statements and Writings
We are following our normal practice, no matter your status, we will have mugshots ready for you
-Sherriff in Fulton County, Georgia (referencing Trump & 18 others)
MUST WATCH: The Sheriff in Fulton County, Georgia just said President Trump will have a mugshot taken.
“We’ll have mugshots ready for you”, he said for when President Trump is arraigned in this latest WITCH HUNT out of Georgia. Nothing more than ELECTION INTERFERENCE! #Trump2024pic.twitter.com/R2jwTwgdpP
An admirer of former U.S. President Donald Trump, Milei says Argentina’s Central Bank should be abolished, thinks climate change is a lie, characterizes sex education as a ploy to destroy the family, believes the sale of human organs should be legal and wants to make it easier to own handguns
Argentina’s central bank devalued its currency, the peso, by close to 18% and hiked its benchmark interest rate by a whopping 21 percentage points to 118% on Monday following a shock primary election win by far-right libertarian Javier Milei.
The moves were a bid by the government to calm markets in the wake of the Argentinian congressman’s surprise victory, which gave him the largest share of votes in the country’s presidential primary election at roughly 30%, far exceeding forecasts.
Markets had been betting on favorable results for moderate candidates. Argentina’s presidential election will be held in October.
Argentinian stocks and its sovereign dollar bonds were also lower Monday.
The central bank said Monday that the peso would be held at 350 to the dollar until the October vote.
Milei, riding on a wave of popular discontent, has vowed to get rid of the central bank and dollarize Argentina’s economy. He has also advocated for sharp spending cuts.
Latin America’s third-largest economy, Argentina has been mired in economic and financial crisis for years. The country’s foreign reserves are shrinking fast and its inflation is forecast at 142.4% for the year.
Argentina is on the brink of its sixth recession in a decade. Milei is a vocal critic of what he calls the corrupt political class, saying the country’s leaders have thrown it from one crisis to another. He believes replacing the peso with the dollar could calm inflation, but many economists warn that would trigger financial chaos.
RAF Typhoon jets have intercepted Russian bombers flying north of Scotland, the UK government has said.
Typhoon fighters were launched to intercept two Russian long-range maritime patrol bombers as they transited near the Shetland Islands within NATO's northern air policing area, the government added.
Minister for the Armed Forces, James Heappey, said: "RAF crews at Lossiemouth maintain a constant watch over UK airspace and are always ready to take action at a moment's notice to keep our country safe.
"Pilots launched in their Typhoon jets to intercept two Russian long-range bombers this morning, monitoring them as they passed north of the Shetland Islands, ready to counter any potential threat to UK territory."
FC Bayern have signed Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur. The 30-year-old England striker has agreed terms with the German record champions until 30 June 2027 and will wear the number 9 shirt for the Munich club.
1. Directs the Committee of the Chief of defence staff to activate the ECOWAS standby force with all its elements immediately.
2. Order the deployment of the ECOWAS standby force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.
3. Underscore its continued commitment for the restoration of constitutional order through peaceful means.
4. Direct the President of the Commission to monitor the implementation of previous sanctions.
5. Call on the African Union to endorse all the decisions taken by the ECOWAS authority on the situation in Niger.
6. Warn member states who by their action directly or indirectly, hindered the peaceful resolution of the crisis in Niger about the consequences for their action before the community.
Bayern Munich have reached an agreement with Tottenham Hotspur to sign Harry Kane, sources in Germany indicate.
A proposal from the Bundesliga side, believed to be worth more than €100million (£86.4m, $110m), was accepted by their Premier League counterparts on Wednesday.
Kane must now decide whether or not he will make the move.
The 30-year-old wanted the situation resolved before Tottenham’s opening fixture of the season at Brentford on Sunday.
He is known to be enjoying life under new Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou and has been leaning towards staying.
But it is unclear how the striker will react to this development.
Kane is into the final 12 months of his contract and Tottenham want to tie him to fresh terms.
There has been no progress on that so far, which has led the club to consider selling their talisman in the current transfer window rather than running the risk of losing him as a free agent next summer.
The military leaders in Niger who seized power in a coup in July have formed a new government, according to a decree read out on national television on Thursday.
Newly appointed Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine will lead the 21-member government with generals from the new military governing council heading the defence and interior ministries.
The World Bank Group today released the following statement on Uganda:
“Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act fundamentally contradicts the World Bank Group’s values. We believe our vision to eradicate poverty on a livable planet can only succeed if it includes everyone irrespective of race, gender, or sexuality. This law undermines those efforts. Inclusion and non-discrimination sit at the heart of our work around the world.
Immediately after the law was enacted, the World Bank deployed a team to Uganda to review our portfolio in the context of the new legislation. That review determined additional measures are necessary to ensure projects are implemented in alignment with our environmental and social standards. Our goal is to protect sexual and gender minorities from discrimination and exclusion in the projects we finance. These measures are currently under discussion with the authorities.
No new public financing to Uganda will be presented to our Board of Executive Directors until the efficacy of the additional measures has been tested.
Third-party monitoring and grievance redress mechanisms will significantly increase, allowing us to take corrective action as necessary.
The World Bank Group has a longstanding and productive relationship with Uganda; and we remain committed to helping all Ugandans—without exception—escape poverty, access vital services, and improve their lives.
Foreign Affairs › African Union Suspends Gabon by HonNL(op): 9:17pm On Aug 31, 2023
