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WORLD NEWS 19-07-2021

1 year ago Editor

HIGHLIGHTS

PRESIDENT BUHARI MANDATES NORTH-WEST GOVERNORS, TO END BANDITRY IN ZONE.
TOKYO COURT SENTENCES U.S ARMY, SON FOR HARBORING EMBATTLED NISSAN BOSS.
NATO MEMBERS CHARGE TALIBAN TO HALT MILITARY OFFENSIVES ACROSS AFGHAN.
AFGHAN, RIVAL AGREE TO REVISIT INCONCLUSIVE PEACE TALKS.

APC GOV/INSECURITY

President Muhammadu Buhari has mandated seven North-West governors, to end banditry in the zone.

Kebbi state governor and the All Progressive Congress, APC Governors forum’s chairman, Atiku Bagudu, made the disclosure at the continuation of a Fulani stakeholders’ peace, security and unity meeting held in Birnin-Kebbi.

The governor said the president’s directive was to ensure the urgent restoration of normalcy in the region.

He also stated that the president was fully committed to adequate protection of lives and property of all law abiding and peaceful citizens of the country

TOKYO COURT/JAIL TERM

A Tokyo court has sentenced a United States Army Special Forces veteran, Michael Taylor and his son peter to two years/ a year and eight months imprison for helping former Nissan motor company limited chairman, flee to Lebanon.

The court sentences were said to be the frist for the duo but the chief judge, Hideo Nirei, while explaining the judgement said the judgement would enabled Ghosn, a defendant of serious crime escape overseas.

The two men, who had faced up to three years in prison, pleaded guilty and made a tearful apology to the court last month, saying they regretted their role in smuggling Ghosn out of japan.

They were said to have hidden Ghosn in a box aboard a private jet from Japan’s Kansai airport at the end of 2019.

JAPAN/SOUTH KOREA

Plans to hold the first in-person summit between the leaders of Japan and South Korea have hit a deadlock over a disparaging comment by a Japanese diplomat about the South Korean president.

Japan chief cabinet secretary, Katsunobu Kato told a regular briefing that the development had since created latest flare-up between the fractious neighbours.

South Korea had reacted and lodged a protest with Tokyo after a broadcaster on July 16 quoted a senior diplomat at Japan’s embassy in Seoul saying President Moon Jae-in was masturbating at a summit with Japanese Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga.

Report said Japan is planning to replace the senior Seoul-based diplomat after his reported comments, creating a new phase of political uproar between both countries.

TALIBAN/NATO

Fifteen diplomatic missions and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO representative in Kabul have urged the Taliban to halt military offensives across Afghanistan.

The foreign missions, including the European union delegation, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Britain, the United States and NATO‘s senior civilian representative, among others gave the charge in a joint statement.

NATO representative, Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo urged the Taliban to consider the period of Eid Al-Adha celebration and show the world their commitment to the peace process and lay down their weapons.

The statement however, condemned the violations of rights to education, among others in Afganistan caused by the Taliban in strong terms.

AFGHAN/RIVALS

IN THE MEANTIME,

Delegations from Afghanistan government and the Taliban have agreed to meet again and plan to expedite peace negotiations after two days of inconclusive talks in Doha.

Taliban and Afghan government delegation say they will expedite peace negotiations as fighting rages in the country.

Afghan government representatives and Taliban delegates sought to revive long-stalled peace talks

The negotiators from the rival sides, who have been in Doha since July 17, however, said both sides were committed to continue negotiations at a high level until a settlement is reached.

PAKISTAN/AFGHAN CRISIS

Pakistan’s foreign ministry has condemned abduction of Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan’s daughter, in Islamabad.

The interior minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad made the condemnation at a news conference, also describing Kabul’s decision to recall its ambassador and senior diplomats from its embassy in Islamabad unfortunate and regrettable.

In a statement released, Pakistan’s foreign secretary, Sohail Mahmood and top bureaucrat at the ministry, met with Afghanistan’s ambassador to Pakistan, Najib Alikhil, where a report emerged that the incident is being investigated at the highest level.

In the meantime, Pakistan is optimistic that Afghanistan government would reconsider its decision.

ISRAELI/WORSHIPPERS

Israeli police have fired tear gas and rubber-coated bullets at worshippers at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound as hundreds of Jewish pilgrims headed there to mark a religious holiday.

Report said the police fire the tear gas and rubber-coated bullets at Palestinians to clear Jerusalem holy site for visit of Jewish pilgrims.

The tensions and the Jewish pilgrimage to the highly sensitive mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem, Islam’s third-holiest site which is also known to Jews as the temple mount, were condemned by the Palestinians.

Despite all Israel’s right-wing nationalist prime minister, Naftali Bennett stood by the state’s decision to allow Jews to visit the site.