Russian warships passes through English Channel

                               

A convoy of Russian warships heading for the Mediterranean is sailing down the English Channel - "marked every inch of the way" by the Royal Navy.

The Russian task force, including the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, was filmed off the coast of Dover.

The fleet also reportedly includes the Pyotr Velikiy battlecruiser, the Severomorsk anti-submarine ship, the Vice-Admiral Kulakov destroyer and other support vessels.

The most sensitive part of the fleet's journey is through the English Channel's narrowest point at the Strait of Dover.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's armed flotilla is believed to be heading to Syria, to support Russia's military operations in the war-torn country.

Asked whether the Russian deployment was an indication that Moscow regarded Britain as weak, a Downing Street spokesman said: "I would reject suggestions that the Russians feel we are too weak. Clearly, we are not weak at all."

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "It is pretty unambiguous that they have set a course to pass through the Dover Strait".

He added: "They haven't slowed or sped up. They are going to be past Dover in the next few hours.

"When they are clear of the Dover traffic separation scheme, they will probably break back out in a formation scheme and be on their way.

"We still don't know where that is and how they are going to get there, but everything so far has been exactly how we would have expected."

British ships, including two destroyers - HMS Duncan and HMS Dragon - were deployed earlier this week and have been monitoring the Russian vessels.

The Russian fleet, which has been heading south from the Norwegian Sea, has also been escorted by frigates HMS Richmond and HMS Duncan.

Apologise for not honouring Raila, ODM leaders tell Uhuru

                      
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders have given President Uhuru Kenyatta 48 hours to apologise for not recognising former vice-president Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Cord leader Raila Odinga as heroes during this year’s Mashujaa Day.

Addressing reporters in Kisumu, ODM director of political affairs Opiyo Wandayi, Nyando MP Fred Outa and politician Richard Ogendo called the omission of the duo a deliberate attempt to humiliate the leaders, who they said played a major role in the first and second liberation of the country.

The leaders said the Nyanza region was not taking the matter kindly and demanded an apology from the Head of State.

Mr Wandayi accused the president and his Jubilee administration of taking their hatred for Nyanza and the Luo community to worrying levels.

“President Uhuru Kenyatta cannot be preaching national unity and cohesion on one hand while on the other hand he's displaying open disdain towards our leaders,” said the Ugunja MP.

He added: “When you disrespect Jaramogi and Raila, we shall also disrespect you in equal measure, if not more.”

While the Odingas were left out of the list of Kenya’s heroes read out by Mr Kenyatta, the late Achieng Oneko was recognised as one of the leaders who gave resources and worked beyond Kenyan borders to fight for Kenya’s liberation.

Also recognised as post-2002 heroes from the region were Siaya Senator James Orengo and Otiende Amollo, the chairman of the Commission on Administrative Justice.

“The freedom millions of Kenya are enjoying came as a result of personal sacrifice from people like Jaramogi, [whom] now the Jubilee regime find not worth recognising,” said Mr Wandayi.

Mr Outa said the opposition will not engage with the Jubilee government until he apologises to the Luo community.

BREAKING:MTN denies illegal transfer from Nigeria

                            

South Africa’s MTN has denied it illegally transferred $13.9 billion from Nigeria in the latest scandal to hit the telecom firm in its largest market in the continent.

The Johannesburg-based firm is facing a parliamentary probe over accusations it connived with senior Nigerian officials to move the funds out of the country without complying with the law.

“We would like to reiterate that at no point did MTN Nigeria (MTNN) illegally repatriate funds out of Nigeria or collaborate with Nigerians to loot the external reserves of the country,” Ferdinand Moolman, the chief executive officer of MTNN told the Senate hearing in Abuja on Thursday.

“MTNN is a Nigerian company and is proud to be conducting business in Nigeria. It therefore categorically refutes any accusations of money laundering, economic sabotage or tax evasion levied against it,” he added.

Moolman said all monies repatriated by the company were in respect of dividend payments and capital divestment originating from legitimate foreign direct investment.

“The dividend payments were made to shareholders who imported foreign capital for investment in MTNN,” he said.  Moolman also exonerated Nigeria’s Trade and Investment Minister Okechukwu Elenemah from the alleged capital flight.  “We would like to state that Dr Elenemah has never been a director or shareholder of MTNN,” he said, adding that the minister had not connived with the company to move funds out of Nigeria.

The parliamentary probe followed a motion last month by Dino Melaye, a senator from central Kogi state which called for MTN to be investigated over the alleged illegal transfers.

Four local banks were alleged to have been used to move the funds with the help of the trade minister.

The probe is the latest setback to hit MTN in Nigeria.  The firm was last year slammed with a $3.9 billion fine for failing to cut off 5.1 million unregistered SIM cards, amid fears that some of the affected lines were being used by Boko Haram insurgents.  

Jibrin withdraws suit against House of Reps

                          

The Federal High Court, Abuja,Nigeria on Friday struck out the suit of former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Mr. Abdulmumin Jibrin, challenging his suspension from the House.

The judge, Justice John Tsoho, struck out the matter after Jibrin’s Counsel, Mr. Chukuma Nwachukwu, told the court that his client had filed a notice of discontinuance.

Tsoho decline the request of the defendants for a N200, 000 cost, holding that the defendants were “strong institution and personality”.

At the hearing, Jibrin’s counsel, Nwachukwu, told the court that there was a notice of discontinuance filed on Oct. 11, urging the court to discontinue the matter.

The Counsel to the defendants, Mr. Kalu Onuoha, did not oppose the application, but asked for a cost of N200,000 for the processes filed by them.

He said the defendants filed many processes in this case before the court went on vacation in July 2016.

Nwachukwu, however, opposed the application with the fact that the defendants did not filed any defence in this matter.

It will be recalled that Jibrin, a lawmaker from Kano State, was suspended by the House of Representatives for 180 legislative days.

The embattled legislator’s suit seeking stop the House was still pending in court.

Source:The Punch News

Germany passes law allowing espionage

                               

German policymakers have approved a bill that allows the country's foreign intelligence agency to spy on European Union institutions and fellow EU member states.

The legislation is part of a range of measures meant to improve oversight of espionage after the revelations by former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden.

A panel of independent judges will have to be informed when the BND spy agency eavesdrops on Germany's allies. Judges will also have the right to make spot checks of the agency's work.

Parliament's intelligence oversight powers will also be increased and intelligence chiefs will have to attend a public hearing every year.

Critics say that instead of clamping down on questionable BND activities the law will merely legalise them.