Putin says US knew about Turkey’s July 15 coup attempt

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that foreign powers were behind the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) ringleader Fetullah Gülen in a statement he made about the July 15 coup attempt. In a four-part series titled The Putin Interviews, Putin speaks with veteran film maker Oliver Stone, the Russian president discussed Turkey’s July 15 failed coup attempt perpetrated by FETÖ. “US intelligence is behind FETÖ” “Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan never told me that the United States was involved in the coup attempt, but I can come to the conclusion that if…

Algeria, France urge political solution in Libya to halt terrorism

The foreign ministers of Algeria and France on Tuesday urged Libya’s rival armed factions to seek a political solution in the North African country to help stem the spread of militant groups there and potential spillover across its borders. Algeria has joined with North African neighbour Tunisia to seek support for an inclusive dialogue in Libya, where competing governments and armed supporters have struggled for control since a 2011 civil war ousted veteran leader Muammar Gaddafi. France aims to play a bigger role in bringing Libya’s factions together to end…

Mediterranean migrants must go to camps in Tunisia, Egypt: Austria

In the latest controversial plan to end the European migrant crisis, Austria has demanded that all migrants rescued in the Mediterranean Sea, must to be taken to new camps in Tunisia and Egypt Austrian Foreign Minister, Sebastian Kurz has warned that a fresh wave of migrants, who are unable to use the West Balkan route since it has been closed off and fewer migrants are crossing from Turkey, are increasingly using the dangerous Mediterranean route and risking their lives, reports Sputnik. He has put forth the demand that refugees rescued…

G20, African countries explore opportunities to increase investments in Africa at Berlin conference

A common refrain on the opening day of the two-day conference – “G20 Africa Partnership – Investing in a Common Future” – hosted by Germany under its G20 Presidency was that Africa’s time has come and opportunities for investment on the continent abound. In a session on the G20 Compact with Africa, which aims to increase investment opportunities, push for a more sustainable infrastructure as well as create jobs and employment in African countries, the Finance Ministers from Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal and Tunisia shared their views on opportunities for…

Germany’s Merkel promotes African development ahead of G20

German Chancellor Angela Merkel sought to drum up global support for African development as she hosted African leaders Monday ahead of next month’s Group of 20 summit. Merkel gathered the leaders of current African Union chair Guinea, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Mali, Tunisia and others in Berlin to discuss a so-called “compact with Africa” to help finance countries’ development needs. She acknowledged that “development is only possible if security is assured.” Merkel contrasted Germans’ average age of 43 with an average age in Niger and Mali of 15 as she…

Ghana receives €100mn from Germany’s ‘Compact with Africa’ programme

Ghana has been named as one of the three countries in Africa to benefit from the Germany’s “Compact with Africa” Programme. The Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, disclosed this at a meeting held in honour of President Nana Akufo-Addo in Berlin by the Ghanaian community resident in Germany on Sunday, Mr Ofori-Atta explained that the Compact with Africa Programme, initially, had Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Tunisia, Morocco and Rwanda, were the countries that had been signed onto the Compact. The programme that will assist Ghana to improve conditions for sustainable private sector investment, investment in infrastructure, economic participation, and employment in the…

G20 Com­pact with Africa

G20 initiative to promote private investment and investment in infrastructure The G20 Africa Partnership is a central project of Germany’s G20 presidency. Its aim is to improve conditions for sustainable private sector investment, investment in infrastructure, economic participation, and employment in African countries. A key pillar of the G20 Africa Partnership is the Compact with Africa, an initiative within the G20’s finance track. It is coordinated by the German Federal Ministry of Finance. Resolution on the Compact with Africa adopted by G20 finance ministers and central bank governors in Baden-Baden  The G20 acknowledges…

Admission of Morocco Into ECOWAS is an Anti-Nigeria Move, Akinyemi Raises Alarm

Since I left the office of the Minister of External (Foreign) Affairs in December 1987, I have refrained from making direct comments or I can count on the fingers of one hand, the number of times I have made comments on issues which are of direct concern to Nigerian foreign policy. I did this because I believed and still believe that having had my own opportunity at batting, the present ministers at the crease should be allowed unfettered room during their innings. However, this issue of the admission of Morocco…

Italian police break migrant trafficking ring

The Italian police said Tuesday that they had broken a smuggling ring between Tunisia and Sicily which was preparing to bring migrants with suspected jihadist links to Europe. The “Scorpionfish” operation had been shadowing the group since January, targeting 15 Italian or Tunisian citizens sought by arrest warrants. No details were released on those taken into custody, but police said in a statement they had seized car and speedboats in several Italian regions. The investigation found that the group had made at least five trips, and at one point police…

Climate crisis behind political riots and refugees: Al Gore

JEJU ISLAND — Climate crisis-induced food shortages were behind the Arab revolutions in 2010 known as the Arab Spring, former United States Vice President Al Gore said Thursday, making the case for action to counter climate change as a growing cause of social instability. Gore, vice president from 1993-2001 under former President Bill Clinton, was giving a speech on “Challenges and Opportunities of Climate Change” at the on-going Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity on this resort island. Recalling the biggest fire in the history of Russia in 2010, Gore…