Showing posts with label Foreign. Show all posts

Thursday, 13 December 2018

Kim Jong Un's Step-grandmother Dies

Kim Jong Un's Step-grandmother Dies

Kim Jong Un
By Eje Peter,
The second wife of North Korea’s founder Kim Il Sung — the step-grandmother of Pyongyang’s current leader Kim Jong Un — has died, the South’s government said on Wednesday.

Kim Song Ae, who was born in 1924, is said to have been sidelined in a power struggle decades ago and put under house arrest after failing to promote her own son Pyong Il — now the North’s ambassador to the Czech Republic — as the founder’s heir.

“We are going to update our Who’s Who of North Korea by factoring in her death,” a spokesman at Seoul’s Unification ministry said, without saying when she had died or giving any further details.

Kim Song Ae reportedly married North Korea’s founder and leader Kim Il Sung in 1953, four years after the death of his first wife Kim Jong Suk — the mother of his successor Kim Jong Il and grandmother of the incumbent.

She was seen standing alongside her husband greeting former US president Jimmy Carter when he visited Pyongyang in 1994 during the first crisis over its nuclear development.

This is not the first time reports of her death have emerged.

In 2014 North Korean Intellectuals’ Solidarity, a group of North Korean defectors in the South, said she had died in Kanggye where she had been living incommunicado.

The North is highly secretive and the last time she was mentioned by its state media was in 1995, when she was listed as a mourner at the funeral of former defence minister O Jin U.

Kim had another son and a daughter. Her second son Kim Yong Il died in Germany in 2000, aged 45, while the daughter lives in Austria with her husband, according to the South’s Y onhap news agency.

TEV_media

Asamoah Gyan files for divorce; demands DNA test to determine he is kids’ father

Eje Peter Foreign ,

Asamoah Gyan files for divorce; demands DNA test to determine he is kids’ father

Asamoah Gyan with his wife Gifty
By Eje Peter
Ghanaian footballer and captain of the Ghana Black Stars, Asamoah Gyan has allegedly filed for divorce from his wife, Gifty Gyan, at the Divorce and Matrimonial Division of the High Court, Accra.

The footballer has also denied fathering their three children and is demanding a DNA test to be carried out on all three to ascertain if he is the father of the children.

GhanaWeb.com is reliably informed that Gyan and his wife Gifty have not seen eye to eye in the last few months, but the desire of the Black Stars captain to officially terminate the five-year marriage is a clear indication that their differences have now become irreconcilable.

The news outlet is also reliably informed that the footballer, who filed for divorce in August this year is currently making preparation to marry an Accra-based business woman, once his marriage to Gifty is annulled by the court.

Although Gyan has had a ‘scandal-laden’ career, he has successfully shielded his wife and three children from the public eye and media scrutiny.

Details of why Asamoah Gyan’s marriage to Gifty has hit the rocks are unknown but sources close to the estranged wife say Gyan grew cold towards Gifty after another woman came into his life.

The said woman was in June this year mistaken for Asamoah Gyan’s wife at the grand opening of his new sports bar located in Osu, Accra.

Interestingly, the same lady was mentioned as Asamoah Gyan’s wife when Emmanuel ‘Game Boy’ Tagoe fought his last bout in defense of his IBO World title this month.

She was also spotted in town with the footballer when he came to Ghana recently for his summer vacation.

When rumors started making the rounds earlier this year about a possible love-affair between Gyan and the said woman, the business woman denied it.

She explained that her relationship with Gyan was purely professional as she owns a property that houses one of Gyan’s companies. But investigation by GhanaWeb reveals that the relationship between the business woman and Asamoah Gyan is beyond ‘landlord- tenant’ relationship as the two are currently courting and set to marry after his divorce to his current wife Gifty Gyan.

The latest indication of the current troubles in the marriage was the alleged seizure of Gifty’s passport by Baffour Gyan, who is the elder brother of Asamoah Gyan, to supposedly prevent her from returning to Asamoah’s residence in the United Kingdom.

Gyan and Gifty have been together since 2003 and got married in 2013 after their second child was born.

Sources close to Asamoah Gyan confirmed GhanaWeb’s s tory but declined to comment publicly.

TEV_media

Biden hopes Democrats don't impeach Trump right away

Eje Peter Foreign ,

Biden hopes Democrats don't impeach Trump right away

By Eje Peter,

(CNN)Former Vice President Joe Biden said he hopes Democrats do not impeach President Donald Trump right away if they take control of the House, arguing they should wait until the conclusion of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation to determine their approach.

"I hope they don't. I don't think there's a basis for doing that right now," Biden said in an interview with "CBS This Morning" co-host Nora O'Donnell. "I think we should wait until the report comes out."

Asked if Mueller should release his report before the midterm elections, Biden said, "I think it should be issued when they finish the investigation. I've been around a long time. You wait until the investigation's finished. You don't put an arbitrary end to it. You wait till it's finished, and let's see what it has to say."

While some Democrats, including billionaire donor Tom Steyer, are pushing for impeachment, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who could become speaker if Democrats win back control, has tried to quiet impeachment speculation.

"Our priority (is) unifying. Impeachment is a very divisive approach. Elections should determine who is in office," Pelosi told CNN last month. "If the President has broken law, he's not above the law, but that remains to be seen."

A CNN poll conducted by SSRS last month found that nearly half of Americans in the poll -- 47% -- said Trump should be impeached and removed from office. That figure was up from a June poll that found 42% said Trump should be removed from office.

In the same interview, the former vice president also criticized Trump's handling of the disappearance of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi Arabia's government, in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

"I'm very worried that the President seems to have a love affair with autocrats," Biden said. "The idea that he's already making excuses before the facts are known ... it's typical but it hurts us internationally."

Biden said his doubts about Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman have "been confirmed."

"My doubts are that there is very little sense of rule of law, respect for human rights, dignity and you know, the allegations that are made so far -- I don't know yet -- are not inconsistent with the way the kingdom would act," he said.

The former vice president argued there should "absolutely positively" be consequences if it is found the crown prince ordered Khashoggi's apparent murder and floated the cancellation of US arms sales to Saudi Arabia as a possible retaliatory measure.

Asked to explain Trump's behavior, Biden said, "I don't want to speculate on my worst fears but either he doesn't know what he's doing or he has an absolutely convoluted notion of what allows America to lead the world."

TEV__media

From Portugal: Real Madrid forced Ronaldo to pay alleged rape victim

Eje Peter Foreign ,

From Portugal: Real Madrid forced Ronaldo to pay alleged rape victim

By Eje Peter
Another twist to an already complicated case of rape accusations related to Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo.

According to the paper, Cristiano Ronaldo signed the agreement with Kathryn Mayorga in 2010, pledging to pay compensation to the woman, under pressure from Real Madrid.

The source also reveals that Ronaldo has chosen not to rely on David Chesnoff as his lawyer, but has turned to Peter Christiansen, another criminalist in Las Vegas, the place where the alleged rape took place.

Correio continues that Ronaldo's lawyers aim to dismantle the prosecution point by point and also bring Real Madrid into play. The alleged crime happened when Ronaldo had just moved to the Los Blancos and the club feared for his image.

For these reasons, in the months following the summer holiday, the club and the player's lawyers decided together the best strategy to deal with the case. Until the signing of the agreement in January 2010, signed by Ronaldo against his will, because he had always declared himself innocent.

TEV_media

Woman jailed after sex act photo leads to boyfriend's murder

Eje Peter Foreign ,

Woman jailed after sex act photo leads to boyfriend's murder

Sarah Bramley from Darlington sent image to ex-partner who then killed Michael Lawson

By Eje Peter

Sarah Bramley, 29, revelled in the drama of having David Saunders and Michael Lawson vying for her attention because she had “lost her moral compass”, her barrister told Teesside crown court.

She sent an intimate photograph of herself performing a sex act on Lawson to Saunders, her former partner, “tipping him over the edge”, the court heard.

In the early hours of 1 July last year, Saunders stabbed Lawson through the heart with a kitchen knife.

Bramley, from Darlington, was jailed on Monday after she admitted encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence.

Saunders was jailed for life in December and ordered to serve a minimum of 22-and-a-half years for murder.

The court heard how Bramley and Saunders were involved in a love-hate relationship that frequently mixed messages of love with highly personal abuse.

Saunders, 33, stalked Lawson before getting a taxi to Bramley’s home and launching a surprise attack, stabbing his victim once in the heart.

Saunders and Bramley exchanged furious text and Facebook messages in the hours before the attack, the court heard.

Bramley admitted sending Saunders images of herself performing a sex act on Lawson, before urging him to “feel free to smack the cunt”.

Nick Dry, prosecuting, said it was this chain of events set in motion by Bramley that ultimately gave Saunders the motivation to kill the mild-mannered Lawson, noting she “appeared to revel in the drama” of the situation.

The court was told that after sending the explicit images Bramley forced Lawson out of her home on to the street, fearing Saunders would forcibly enter her home.

Saunders was nearby when Lawson was forced out of the house, and the stabbing occurred after a short chase.

Robert Newcombe, defending, said his client “had lost her moral compass at the time she was affected by substance abuse and alcoholism”.

Newcombe made an apology on her behalf to the court and to Lawson’s family, who sat in the public gallery.

The judge, Stephen Ashurst, said: “Although you did not contemplate that Saunders would go on to kill Michael Lawson, I take the view it is hard to conceive a more serious case of encouraging the commission of a common assault.”

He noted that the sexual contact between Bramley and Lawson and the messages she sent Saunders that night took place when her two young sons were in the property.

Bramley did not visibly react as she left the dock

TEV_media

GOP defeats Dem filibuster, keeps Kavanaugh on track

Eje Peter Foreign ,

GOP defeats Dem filibuster, keeps Kavanaugh on track

By Eje Peter

Republicans beat back a Democrat-led filibuster Friday and kept Supreme Courtnominee Brett Kavanaugh on track, in a vote freighted with meaning far beyond simply adding a ninth justice to the bench.

The 51-49 vote saw one defection from each party, canceling each other out and giving the judge enough leeway to clear the procedural hurdle. A final confirmation vote now looms on Saturday, and that remains in doubt.

But overcoming the filibuster was still a major step for Republicans, who cast Friday’s vote as a chance to send a message to the public at a time of deep divisions and historic partisan rancor.

“We know the Senate is better than this. We know the nation deserves better than this,” said Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

The vote was unclear until the end, with four members publicly undecided: GOP Sens. Susan Collins, Jeff Flake and Lisa Murkowski, and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin.

Ms. Murkowski joined Democrats in their filibuster, but the other three voted to end debate and advance to a final vote.

‌

Ms. Collins, though, has signaled that her vote Friday morning was only to overcome the filibuster, and she will announce her final stance on confirming Judge Kavanaugh later in the day.

Democratic leaders denounced the entire confirmation process that led to Friday’s vote, blaming the GOP for trying to push the judge through too quickly, complaining that he would be too conservative, and spinning theories that President Trump picked Judge Kavanaugh to try to shield himself from legal troubles from the special counsel’s Russia probe.

Most of all, they cited the recent sexual misconduct allegations against the judge, relating to decades-old high school and college parties.

“Based on all the factors we have before us, I do not believe Judge Kavanaugh has earned this seat,” said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the California Democrat who found herself at the center of the confirmation battle, pressured by her party’s left wing to do everything possible to defeat the nominee.

But Democrats also doubted they could have backed any pick Mr. Trump was likely to make.

“The well as poisoned from the outset,” said Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat.

Republicans had hoped to have Judge Kavanaugh on the high court in time for the justices’ new session, which began earlier this week. But last-minute sexual assault allegations derailed that schedule, forcing a new round of hearings and an updated FBI investigation.

Though the hearing produced some stunning political moments, neither it nor the FBI probe appeared to settle the deep divide among Americans over whether they believe Judge Kavanaugh or his chief accuser, Christine Blasey Ford.

Ms. Blasey Ford says the judge assaulted her at a high school party in 1982.

The people she has identified as potentially corroborating witnesses have refuted her story, and Judge Kavanaughhas indignantly denied her claim.

Yet support for her remains strong, particularly among anti-Trump activists who viewed the judge’s confirmation as their chance to deal a major defeat to the president. They also fear Judge Kavanaugh would be too conservative, predicting his vote would be the tipping point for a nine-justice court and sending it careening into right-wing activism.

Those fears helped fuel wild protests both inside and outside the Senate this week, with hundreds arrested inside congressional office buildings on Thursday.

For Democratic senators, there was little they liked about the judge and the process.

Though a record number of documents were produced to the Judiciary Committee to review, millions of pages were not produced — and Democrats said they suspected serious smoking guns remained hidden. They also complained that Judge Kavanaugh, who had won rave reviews for his judicial temperament during 12 years on the circuit court of appeals in Washington, D.C., had shown decidedly non-judicial behavior in his angry denunciation last week of the allegations against him.

“Judge Kavanaugh made partisan statements last week that I never thought I would hear from a nominee seeking a lifetime appointment to the highest courtin the land,” Sen. Richard Durbin, Illinois Democrat, said on Twitter.

Friday’s vote to overcome a filibuster sets up a final vote Saturday — though there are still some potential hiccups.

One Republican senator plans to attend his daughter’s wedding Saturday, which could complicate timing of a vote.

And Sen. Jeff Merkley is still pursuing a long-shot lawsuit to ask a judge to intervene and order the release of more documents from Judge Kavanaugh’s past, which the Oregon Democrat hopes would spur a new delay in confirmation.

(TEVB)

Macron security official filmed hitting protester

Eje Peter Foreign ,

Macron security official filmed hitting protester

AGENCY REPORT /EJE PETER

Le Monde newspaper published a video showing Alexandre Benalla hitting and then stamping on a young man while wearing a police visor during a demonstration in central Paris on May 1.

Benalla, who is not a policeman and previously worked as bodyguard, had been given permission to “observe police operations” during a day-off on the May 1 public holiday, Macron’s office said.

The presidential palace added that Benalla had been suspended for two weeks after the incident came to light and had been transferred out of his job, which was organising security for Macron’s trips.

“This sanction was to punish unacceptable behaviour and it was a final warning before being sacked,” presidential spokesman Bruni Roger-Petit told reporters.

Prosecutors in Paris opened a probe on Thursday into possible charges of violence by a public official, pretending to be a policeman and the illegal use of police insignia.

Benalla was a popular and ever-present member of Macron’s campaign team, usually found several steps behind the then-candidate, and transferred to the presidential staff in May 2017.

Opposition MPs immediately suggested there had been a cover up and questioned why the incident had not been referred to the police when it came to light in May.

Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure said there was a “a double standard” in how Benalla had been treated compared to any ordinary French citizen.

Alexis Corbiere, an MP for the hard-left France Unbowed party, said Benalla “deserves to be punished with a prison sentence, at least a suspended sentence and with very heavy sanctions.”

Supporters of Macron claimed that the punishment handed down to Benalla — suspension without pay for two weeks and a transfer to an administrative job — was appropriate.

“Someone was found to have unacceptable behaviour and there was a sanction,” Social Cohesion Minister Julien Denormandie said on France Inter on Thursday, without naming Benalla. “It was immediate… meaning a suspension and a job change.”

Richard Ferrand, a senior MP from Macron’s party and top figure in the campaign team, said “it was not a close aide, it’s someone who was responsable for security of the president during the election campaign and then joined the Elysee.”

Benalla was suspended from May 4-19.

(TEVB)

Weinstein lawyers claim actress Judd made sexual ‘deal’ with disgraced mogul

Eje Peter Foreign ,

Weinstein lawyers claim actress Judd made sexual ‘deal’ with disgraced mogul

AGENCY REPORT /EJE PETER

Harvey Weinstein’s lawyers are calling on a US judge to dismiss a lawsuit from actress Ashley Judd — who accuses the disgraced mogul of torpedoing her career — on the grounds that she had made a sexual “deal” with him.

The 50-year-old actress says the once-influential Hollywood producer sabotaged her career by convincing Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson not to cast Judd after she rejected Weinstein’s sexual advances.

Weinstein fell from grace after scores of women came forward with allegations against him ranging from harassment to rape.

But in a motion filed Tuesday in a Los Angeles court, Weinstein’s defense team insisted Judd had struck a “deal” with Weinstein allowing him to touch her if she “won an Academy Award in one of his films.”

Weinstein’s attorneys claim the ex-movie mogul then “attempted to live up to his part of the bargain” by working to cast Judd in “as many roles as possible” — including opposite Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting, a role for which Minnie Driver ultimately won an Oscar nomination.

His action “reflects his motivation to advance her career, not ruin it” and undermines Judd’s “defamation claim (as well as her retaliation claim) in its entirety,” the court documents say.

In a statement responding to the filing, a spokesperson for Judd said: “Mr. Weinstein’s arguments seeking to escape the consequences of his despicable misconduct are not only baseless, they are offensive.”

“We look forward to opposing his flawed motion, moving forward with discovery into his outrageous behavior, and proving to a jury that Mr. Weinstein maliciously damaged Ms. Judd’s career because she resisted his sexual advances.”

Judd says Weinstein told director Jackson he’d had a bad experience with Judd, calling her a “nightmare.”

The New Zealand filmmaker said he had no direct knowledge of sexual misconduct allegations against Weinstein, but that the producer pressured him not to hire Judd or Mira Sorvino.

“I recall Miramax telling us they were a nightmare to work with and we should avoid them at all costs. This was probably in 1998,” Jackson was quoted as telling Fairfax New Zealand.

“At the time, we had no reason to question what these guys were telling us — but in hindsight, I realize that this was very likely the Miramax smear campaign in full swing.”

Weinstein, 66, is fighting rape and sexual assault charges against three women, as New York prosecutors build a high-stakes legal battle targeting the father of five.

The #MeToo movement that grew in the wake of his downfall has seen people around the world come forward with cases of sexual mistreatment, leading to the ouster of powerful men across multiple industries.

(TEVB)

Meet Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic, Beautiful Croatian President.

TheEaglesVoice Foreign ,

The Croatian president Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic has created a storm by her beauty and selfless support of her national team. But do we know what lies beneath her beauty? Born on 29 April 1968, she is a graduate in English and Spanish literature. She has done post-graduation in international relations. She is a Fulbright scholar, who studied at George Washington university, Harvard and John Hopkins university. At the age of 46, in the year 2015, she became president and started pursuing her doctorate in international relations. Don't get waylaid by her beauty because she is an ex army commando and an ace marksman too. From 2007 to 2011 she was the ambassador of Croatia to US. Then she became the first woman to be the NATO assistant secretary general for public diplomacy. In that capacity she visited Afghanistan number of times to raise the morale of NATO troops deployed there. In the NATO circle she is known as SWAMBO. That is she who must be obeyed. Known as a no nonsense woman, she instilled discipline and dedication, leading by her own example. She has been voluminously praised by both George Bush Jr and Barack Obama. She bought her own economy class ticket and came to Russia to see Croatia playing. She put on Croatian Jersey and sat at the VIP box breaking all norms. She mingled with spectators and hugged the players, who were sweating and in briefs in the dressing room. She fluently speaks Croatian, English, Spanish and Danish language. Moreover, she is fairly adept in speaking in German, French, Russian and Italian. She was seen speaking to both Putin and Macron fluently in Russian and French respectively. Therefore, she is epitome what a nation's leader should be, brilliant, savvy and inspiring !

#IStealAm!#

North Korea’s Kim writes Trump

Eje Peter Foreign ,

North Korea’s Kim writes Trump

By Eje peter

North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-Un, has written a note to U.S. President Donald Trump, describing the American leader as “energetic and extraordinary”.

Trump, in a tweet acknowledging the letter, described it as “a very nice note” adding, “great progress being made’’.

“A very nice note from Chairman Kim of North Korea. Great progress being made!’’ Trump tweeted.

In the letter, dated July 6, Kim recalled the historic meeting between the two leaders in Singapore on June 12, saying it was the start of a meaningful journey.

Kim said: “The significant first meeting with Your Excellency and the joint statement that we signed together in Singapore 24 days ago was indeed the start of a meaningful journey.

“I deeply appreciate the energetic and extraordinary efforts made by Your Excellency Mr President for the improvement of relations between the two countries and the faithful implementation of the joint statement.

“I firmly believe that the strong will, sincere efforts and unique approach of myself and Your Excellency Mr President aimed at opening up a new future between the DPRK and the U.S. will surely come to fruition.

“Wishing that the invariable trust and confidence in Your Excellency Mr President will be further strengthened in the future process of taking practical actions.

“I extend my conviction that the epochal progress in promoting the DPRK-U.S. relations will bring our next meeting forward’’.

There were reports that North Korea had, rather than dismantled its nuclear programme, satellite images showed that it was actually upgrading its nuclear facilities.

Following the reports, Trump had, however, expressed “confidence” that Kim would honour the contract they signed in Singapore.

Trump, on Monday, tweeted: “I have confidence that Kim Jong Un will honour the contract we signed &, even more importantly, our handshake.

“We agreed to the denuclearisation of North Korea.

“China, on the other hand, maybe exerting negative pressure on a deal because of our posture on Chinese Trade-Hope Not!’’

(TEVB)

Despite summit, North Korea still a nuclear threat, says Trump.

Eje Peter Foreign ,

Despite summit, North Korea still a nuclear threat, says Trump.

AGENCY REPORT/Eje peter

US President Donald Trump on Friday cited “an unusual and extraordinary threat” from North Korea’s nuclear arsenal to extend sanctions on Kim Jong Un’s regime, despite touting the success of a historic summit earlier this month.

After flying back to Washington last week, boasting of success, the US leader tweeted: “There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea.”

“Sleep well tonight!” he added on June 13, a day after the Singapore meeting.

But a presidential declaration sent to Congress on Friday struck a different note as it explained why the administration would keep in place tough economic restrictions first imposed by former president George W. Bush.

“The existence and risk of proliferation of weapons-usable fissile material on the Korean Peninsula and the actions and policies of the Government of North Korea continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States,” it said.

“I am continuing for one year the national emergency with respect to North Korea,” added the statement.

Though the notice is considered pro forma, the disparity in tone reflects the work that US officials concede remains to be done as negotiators thrash out the details of Pyongyang’s disarmament.

At their summit, Kim and Trump signed a pledge “to work towards complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” a stock phrase favored by Pyongyang that stopped short of longstanding US demands for North Korea to give up its atomic arsenal in a “verifiable” and “irreversible” way.

Critics have pointed to the vague wording of the non-binding summit document and raised fears that the summit could weaken the international coalition against the North’s nuclear program.

– More drills shelved –

Also Friday, the US and South Korea agreed to indefinitely suspend two exchange program training exercises, to support diplomatic negotiations with North Korea, the Pentagon said.

The move came after the two countries had previously announced the shelving of the large-scale Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises slated for August, making good on a pledge by Trump during his summit.

The decision followed a meeting between Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joe Dunford, and National Security Advisor John Bolton.

“To support implementing the outcomes of the Singapornuclear threate Summit, and in coordination with our Republic of Korea ally, Secretary Mattis has indefinitely suspended select exercises,” Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said in a statement.

Two Korean Marine Exchange Program training exercises scheduled to occur in the next three months have now been shelved.

US and South Korean forces have been training together for years, and routinely rehearse everything from beach landings to an invasion from the North, or even “decapitation” strikes targeting the North Korean regime.

Pyongyang typically reacts furiously. Following drills last year, the North fired ballistic missiles over Japan, triggering global alarm.

(TEVB)

‘Racist’ tweet could inspire Senegal in World Cup showdown.

Eje Peter Foreign ,

‘Racist’ tweet could inspire Senegal in World Cup showdown.

AGENCY REPORT/EJE peter

Senegal face Japan on Sunday at the World Cup fired up by an “ignorant” tweet by a British tycoon and reality television star that has become the talk of the team.

Along with Nigeria, a powerful Senegal side spearheaded by Liverpool striker Sadio Mane are flying the flag for Africa in Russia.

After battling to a 2-1 opening win over Poland in Group H, Aliou Cisse’s Senegal can take a major step towards the last 16 with victory over Japan in Yekaterinburg.

They unwittingly found themselves at the centre of a Twitter storm this week after businessman Alan Sugar tweeted a picture of the Senegal team with the caption, “I recognise some of these guys from the beach in Marbella”.

Alongside the picture, the billionaire Briton posted images of sunglasses and handbags for sale.

The Apprentice presenter took down the post and later apologised after being accused of racism, but the incident angered Senegal and could serve to further inspire them against Japan.

Ndongo Ndiaye, a former basketball player and now an adviser to Senegal President Macky Sall, told The Times at the team’s base in Kaluga, south of Moscow: “Everyone here is talking about this tweet, it has made headlines in Senegal too.

“I think it is very ignorant from someone in his position,” said Ndiaye, calling for Sugar to be sacked by the BBC.

“Of course, there must be freedom of speech but this was wrong and it is hurtful to the players and people from Senegal.”

Livewire forward Mane is Senegal’s prime dangerman, but it was the raw pace and power of Mbaye Niang and a mistake by Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny that clinched victory on Tuesday after Thiago Cionek’s own goal put the Africans ahead.

Cisse and his men are now dreaming of a repeat of their run to the quarter-finals in 2002 — he captained that team.

“Of course we represent our country but I can also guarantee that the whole of Africa is supporting us,” said Cisse, the only black coach at the World Cup.

– Weak second half? –

A week ago, Japan — who sacked Vahid Halilhodzic and brought in Akira Nishino as coach just weeks before the World Cup — looked the easiest game in the group.

But a shock 2-1 win over Colombia made them the first Asian side to beat a South American team at a World Cup and will have infused the Japanese with badly needed belief.

In mitigation, Colombia played almost the whole game with 10 men after Carlos Sanchez was sent off on three minutes.

Japan’s attacking midfielder Keisuke Honda said on Friday they were wary of Senegal — but could also see a major weakness.

“It’s going to be tough, they have great players. They’re physical, they’re fast and they’ll play in front of a big crowd,” he said.

“But I know the weakness of some African teams… You know, no one can play perfectly for 90 minutes, and African players especially lack concentration, particularly in the second half.”

(TEVB)

Man gets life sentence for smuggling 1kg of cocaine

Eje Peter Foreign ,

Man gets life sentence for smuggling 1kg of cocaine

AGENCY REPORT/eje peter

David Catry, 34, was arrested in January at Phnom Penh’s airport with the contraband in his suitcase, which he had carried from Brazil.

He was found guilty of drug smuggling, according to Y Rin, a spokesman for Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

“The court sentenced the Belgian man to life imprisonment,” and fined around $20,000, Y Rin added.

Catry’s lawyer could not be immediately reached for comment.

Cambodian media said the Belgian had told the court he was promised $30,000 to smuggle the drug into Cambodia by a man in Brazil.

Catry, whose Facebook profile says he lives in Phnom Penh, reportedly travelled from Brazil to Ethiopia, then to Thailand and onto Cambodia where he was arrested.

Cambodia has become a popular smuggling route for narcotics, particularly methamphetamine and heroin, since neighbouring Thailand toughened its stance on illegal drugs in the early 2000s.

Cambodia has intensified its battle to control drugs in recent years.

There have been hundreds of arrests, some involving senior officials and foreigners

(TEVB)

US withdraws from UN rights council.

Eje Peter Foreign ,

US withdraws from UN rights council.

AGENCY REPORT/Eje peter

The United States withdrew from the United Nations Human RightsCouncil on Tuesday, condemning the “hypocrisy” of its members and its alleged “unrelenting bias” against Israel.

The US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, came to Washington to announce the decision alongside President Donald Trump’s top diplomat, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Both insisted the United States would remain a leading champion of human rights but, for many, the decision will reflect Trump’s general hostility to the world body and to multilateral diplomacy in general.

The announcement came after the top UN human rights official criticized Washington for separating migrant children from their parents who are seeking asylum after crossing into the country from Mexico.

But Haley and Pompeo stressed the decision had been made after a long year of efforts to shame the council into reform and to remove member states that themselves commit abuses.

“These reforms were needed in order to make the council a serious advocate for human rights,” Haley said.

“For too long, the Human Rights Council has been a protector of human rights abusers, and a cesspool of political bias. Regrettably, it is now clear that our call for reform was not heeded.”

The Geneva-based body was established in 2006 to promote and protect human rights worldwide, but its pronouncements and reports have often clashed with US priorities.

In particular, the council’s focus on Israeli behavior towards Palestinians in the territory it occupies on the West Bank and in Gaza has infuriated Washington.

But, as Haley stressed, Washington also believes it comes up short on criticizing even flagrant abuses by US opponents like Venezuela and Cuba.

“Countries have colluded with each other to undermine the current method of selecting members,” Pompeo said.

“And the council’s continued and well-documented bias against Israel is unconscionable,” he said.

“Since its creation, the council has adopted more resolutions condemning Israel than against the rest of the world combined.”

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the US move, branding the council “a biased, hostile, anti-Israel organization that has betrayed its mission of protecting human rights.”

Haley, who issued a warning a year ago that Washington would make good on its threat to leave the council if reforms were not carried through, used even starker language.

“We take this step because our commitment does not allow us to remain a part of a hypocritical and self-serving organization that makes a mockery of human rights,” she said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres regretted the US decision, adding: “The UN’s human rights architecture plays a very important role in the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide.”

On Monday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein — a Jordanian — had rebuked Trump over the US practice of splitting up migrant families detained on the Mexican border.

“The thought that any state would seek to deter parents by inflicting such abuse on children is unconscionable,” he said.

– Defending Israel –

Independent watchdog Human Rights Watch criticized the move, warning Washington’s absence at the council would put the onus on other governments to address the world’s most serious rights problems.

“The Trump administration’s withdrawal is a sad reflection of its one-dimensional human rights policy: defending Israeli abuses from criticism takes precedence above all else,” executive director Kenneth Roth said.

“The UN Human Rights Council has played an important role in such countries as North Korea, Syria, Myanmar and South Sudan, but all Trump seems to care about is defending Israel.”

US criticism stems from the fact that Israel is the only country that has a dedicated agenda item at council meetings, one defended in particular by the Arab bloc of countries.

Known as “Item 7”, this items means that Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians comes under scrutiny at each of three annual sessions.

The United States refused to join the body when it was created in 2006, when George W. Bush was in the White House and his ambassador to the UN was John Bolton — now Trump’s UN-skeptic national security advisor.

After Barack Obama came to power, Washington joined the council in 2009.

But when Trump took office, he adopted a hostile approach to world governance, leading Washington to quit the UN cultural agency UNESCO, cut UN funding and planning to leave the Paris climate agreement.

(TEVB)

Trump hosts Japan PM, five days before summit with Kim

Eje Peter Foreign ,

Trump hosts Japan PM, five days before summit with Kim

AGENCY REPORT

Eje peter

With less than a week to go before meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, US President Donald Trump plays host Thursday to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who wants his voice heard ahead of the unprecedented talks.

Trump and Abe will hold a joint press conference at the White House in the early afternoon, before heading to Canada for what promises to be a tense Group of Seven summit clouded by the US leader’s aggressive trade policies.

Since the first inkling that a Trump-Kim summit could be on the cards, Japan has repeatedly insisted that Washington be mindful not to let its guard down with the nuclear-armed regime in Pyongyang.

And by coming to Washington to see Trump for the second time in less than two months, Abe wants to be sure to get his point across to the US president, amid the intense diplomatic flurry over the future of the Korean peninsula.

Before leaving Tokyo, the Japanese leader emphasized that during his lightning visit to Washington, he hoped to “closely coordinate and agree” with Trump on an approach to the North Korea issue.

And he clearly outlined what would need to happen for the June 12 summit in Singapore to be a success: tangible progress on curbing the North’s nuclear and ballistic missiles programs, as well as answers about Japanese nationals kidnapped by Pyongyang in the 1970s and 1980s.

At their last meeting at Trump’s Florida retreat in April, the US president promised Abe to raise the politically sensitive abductions issue in any talks with Pyongyang.

But the subject is hardly a priority for the businessman-turned-president, whose strategy appears to be in constant flux.

Above all, Trump seems most enthused by the notion of being the first sitting US leader to hold direct talks with a scion of the ruling Kim dynasty.

The intensifying diplomacy on North Korea has so far left Abe as the odd man out: Trump is preparing to meet Kim, while Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korea’s Moon Jae-in have each already seen the North’s leader twice.

– Japan left ‘isolated’ after Singapore? –

For Richard Armitage, a former senior diplomat during the administration of George W. Bush, Tokyo runs a very real risk of finding itself out in the cold after the Trump-Kim talks.

“We should absolutely prevent decoupling — decoupling Japanese and US security,” he told AFP(correspondent).

“This is and has been an aim of China and North Korea for a long time, and we can’t allow this to happen. That would be falling into a terrible trap.”

Trump and Abe so far seem to have forged a sort of friendship, but even that bonhomie was revealed to be limited at their last meeting.

On Thursday, it could again be put to the test — beyond North Korea, they are also meant to discuss the thorny issue of tariffs, which Washington says were put in place to protect American workers.

“I will stress that measures to restrict trade would not serve the interests of any country,” Abe said before heading to Washington.

Japan had hoped to convince the US to shield it from fresh tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, and did not hide its bitter disappointment when those talks failed.

The government in Tokyo warned of the “grave impact” that US tariffs could have on bilateral ties and the world trading system.

“The US government’s trade measures, citing its security, makes us concerned that they could disrupt the global market,” government spokesman Yoshihide Suga told reporters on Monday

(TEVB)

Britain prepares for first womb transplant

Eje Peter Foreign ,

Britain prepares for first womb transplant

AGENCY REPORT /

Eje peter

A surgeon is preparing to select three women to undergo Britain’s first womb transplant later in the year, according to a report.

The three women are among 50 infertile patients on a waiting list for the pioneering operation.

The three will be informed, “within a few weeks”.

The world’s first successful womb transplant was carried out on a Swedish woman in 2013.

British medics have been granted permission to carry out the procedures.

If successful, the first baby could arrive 2019.

It will give hope to the 50,000 infertile women in the UK.

The operation, which has a price tag of 50,000 pounds (about 66,700 dollars), has already been a success in Sweden and the United States.

A team won approval from regulators three years ago to transplant wombs from dead donors but has been delayed by rules about collecting the organs.

Doctors now say they will also try to use live donors.

“We have got all our ducks in a row this time, we should be ready to go,” said Richard Smith of Imperial College London, who is leading the efforts.

About 15,000 women in Britain of childbearing age do not have a womb, according to press

Kenyan plane missing, search halted

Eje Peter Foreign ,

Kenyan plane missing, search halted

AGENCY REPORT/

Eje peter

The search for a small passenger plane that disappeared in Kenya on Tuesday was called off for the evening but will resume at dawn on Wednesday.

The plane had taken off from Kitale, a town in Kenya’s west, en route to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the capital, Nairobi, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said.

It carried eight passengers and two crew members, according to a statement on the website of Fly Sax, the operator of the flight.

“Search and rescue teams … were activated immediately and have as at this evening yielded no results.

“They have paused the search for the night and shall resume at first light tomorrow morning,” KCAA said