Day: August 20, 2023

Ecuadoreans go to the polls on Sunday to choose a new president and legislature they hope will lead the country out of a spiral of violence and economic troubles, after a campaign darkened by bloodshed.

Candidates have pledged to fight sharp increases in crime, which the current government blames on drug gangs, and improve the struggling economy, whose woes have caused an uptick in unemployment and migration.

Security has taken centre stage in the contest since the Aug. 9 murder of anti-corruption candidate Fernando Villavicencio, a former investigative journalist and lawmaker, who was gunned down while leaving a campaign event.

Six suspects, all Colombians police say belong to criminal gangs, are being held in the murder. Another suspect died of injuries sustained in the shootout.

Other candidates have reported attacks against them, though in several cases police have said that violence was not directed at the hopefuls themselves.

Also on Sunday's ballot are two environmental referendums - both expected to pass - which could block mining in a forest near Quito and development of an oil block in the Amazon.

The 13 million-strong electorate will also choose 137 members of the national assembly. Voting is mandatory for those between 18 and 65 and authorities have said 100,000 police and military will guard polling places.

A candidate needs 50% of the vote, or 40% if they are 10 points ahead of their nearest rival, to win in a first round. Otherwise, a second round will take place on Oct. 15.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Eleven labourers were killed in an attack in Northwestern Pakistan, caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said on Sunday in a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Russia said Ukrainian drones had struck three separate regions on Sunday, injuring five people and forcing two of Moscow's airports to briefly divert flights.

Russia's Kursk and Rostov regions, both of which border Ukraine, reported drone strikes while Russia's defence ministry said it had jammed a Ukrainian drone in the Moscow region, forcing it to crash in an unpopulated area.

Russia's aviation watchdog said it had briefly halted flights to the city's Vnukovo and Domodedovo airports in response.

Kursk region's governor said that 5 people had been injured and a fire broke out when a drone hit a railway station. Rostov's governor said no injuries or damage had occurred.

Ukrainian drone strikes both on border regions and on the Russian capital have become increasingly common in recent months, with repeated strikes on Moscow's financial district.

Russia said in May that two Ukrainian drones tried to attack the Kremlin.

Ukraine typically does not comment on who is behind attacks on Russian territory, although officials have publicly expressed satisfaction over them.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The agricultural development group for beekeepers in the governorate of Zaghouan announced on Sunday the launch of an initiative to hatch more than 10,000 beehives during the autumn and winter seasons to compensate for the damage suffered by hives due to drought.

Wahid Ferjani, chairman of the grouping, told TAP this initiative will help make up for the huge shortfall in the number of hives damaged by the heatwave and drought for three consecutive years.

He said the deterioration in pasture management has driven up the price of concentrates and pesticides.

As a result, 50% of all hives have been damaged.

The official stressed the need to support beekeepers in order to save this resource, which is a source of income for many families in the region and one of the foundations of the region's development.

He called for the beekeeping sector to be included in the project to develop and promote the agricultural sector in Zaghouan governorate.

For his part, Nabil Nagguara, a member of the Arab Union of Beekeepers, stressed in a statement to TAP the organisation's willingness to come to the aid of beekeepers in order to overcome this difficult situation.

He called for the implementation of a strategy to develop the sector and protect it from diseases by strengthening the technical training of beekeepers.

It is more important than ever to find new techniques to protect against natural disasters, he said, and to help beekeepers market their products on national and international markets.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The Agricultural Investment Promotion Agency (French: APIA ) launched a call for applications for a training session on the theme:"Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food systems."

Ten coaches will be selected among applicants, the APIA said.

The training will run from September 6 to 9. It is part of the Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food systems cooperation project launched by the National Institute of Agronomic Research of Tunisia (French: INRAT), in partnership with the APIA and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Central and regional intelligence units, reinforced by patrols from the National Guard district in Sfax, raided three houses and seized four (4) iron boats prepared for irregular migration operations, the General Directorate of the National Guard said in a statement on Sunday.

The units also seized welding equipment and a sum of money, according to the same source.

The public prosecutor has authorised legal proceedings against the owners.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Morocco reserves the right not to be present at the BRICS-Africa outreach event which will take place on August 24, 2023 in sandton (Johannesburg) on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, for the following reasons:

– The mobilization of South Africa for several weeks to invite the Polisario to the "BRICS-Africa outreach" clearly demonstrates Pretoria's desire to divert this event from its nature and its objective, and this to serve an agenda aimed at harm the interests of the Kingdom.

– This malicious and hostile initiative by South Africa to invite the Polisario is only a reaction to the failure of this country to obtain African support for the separatists of the Polisario, but also to the solemn appeal of Tangier having called for the expulsion of the Polisario from the African Union. As a reminder, the Tangier appeal was signed by several African countries.

– The 4 other BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, China and India) have clearly indicated that they do not recognize the Polisario.

– South African diplomacy is known for its unpredictable and non-compliant management of the organization of such events. As proof, the irregularities noted at the protocol and organizational levels, coupled with the reluctance expressed by several countries not to take part in the BRICS-Africa outreach event.

– In fact, Eswatini will not take part in the “BRICS-africa outreach” event because the South African authorities have not sent the invitation to this country, which had to be present because of its membership of the same sub-region as South Africa. Thus, the invitation of Eswatini was not sent by Pretoria at the risk of displeasing China.

– In view of the above, Morocco can never participate in an event organized by a country whose main purpose remains to undermine its territorial integrity.

– However, the Kingdom remains committed with the other partner member countries of the BRICS in favor of the achievement of the strategic objectives of this grouping, namely the strengthening of economic cooperation and the promotion of development in various areas of common interest.

Source: Burkina Information Agency

The Burkinabè State, which was to bear 80% of the total cost of construction of Donsin airport, was going to get away with it with only 10% of the shares in the joint management company, leaving 60% to the French group Meridiam… This is one of the six reasons that weighed in on the termination of the concession agreement for the construction of the commercial part of Donsin airport and its operation, learned the AIB Sunday from reliable sources.

In January 2023 before the Forces vives des Hauts-Bassins in Bobo-Dioulasso, the President of the Transition, Captain Ibrahim Traoré announced his intention to suspend the agreement governing the construction of Donsin airport and to reread the texts.

On August 9, 2023, it was the Council of Ministers that outright terminated the agreement signed on October 12, 2021 between the company AERO and the Burkinabè State, represented at the time by the Minister of Transport Vincent T. Dabilgou and his colleague from the Finances Lassané Kaboré.

It should be noted that AERO is the company under Burkinabè law set up by the MERIDIAM/AEROPORT DE MARSEILLE concessionaire to carry out the work, in accordance with the rules of the agreement.

According to the sources contacted by the AIB, several reasons motivated the government's decision to terminate this agreement.

It is up to us that the State of Burkina Faso, which must bear 80% of the total cost of the project (nearly 500 billion FCFA), will only benefit from 10% of the shares in the future mixed economy company for the management of the airport against 60% for Meridiam, 20% for local private individuals and 5% for ASECNA.

According to our sources, the State also came out the loser in terms of royalty collection because the concessionaire kept 80% of the security royalty. The Airport Infrastructure Development Fee, which should allow the State to repay its loans, went entirely to the partner.

Another incongruity, the State loses through the agreement, the most profitable part of the operation of the airport, that is to say the ground handling services which go to the concessionaire, contrary to what done in the sub-region.

For the Burkinabè government, the duration of the concession, which is 30 years, is totally disproportionate to the financial contribution of the partner.

Also, the executive rejected the agreement because it did not guarantee the preservation of all jobs in ground handling services.

Finally, for the Burkinabè authorities, the agreement had to be terminated because it does not take into account Bobo-Dioulasso airport and the other secondary airports, the operation of which is largely supported by airport revenues. from Ouagadougou.

As a reminder, on August 17, 2023, the collective of aeronautics unions welcomed the courageous decision of the government to terminate this agreement.

Furthermore, the collective would like the people who took part in the pre-signature negotiations to be heard.

Source: Burkina Information Agency

At least 40 terrorists were neutralized yesterday Saturday in Diougo Yourga (Koulpelogo, Center-East) by the 7th Grouping of Mobile Intervention Units (GUMI) of the National Police which unfortunately lost five brave during the fighting, informs the army.

Burkina Information Agency

"The 7th Grouping of Mobile Intervention Units (GUMI) of the National Police was snagged by a group of terrorists near the locality of Diougo Yourga (Koulpelogo province, Center-East region) in the post- noon on Saturday August 19, 2023.

The incident, which occurred while the unit was carrying out a reconnaissance mission, claimed the lives of five (05) police officers. Four (04) others, injured, were evacuated and taken care of.

In the response, at least forty (40) terrorists were neutralized and equipment seized. Search operations have been initiated to secure the area.

The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces salutes the memory of the police officers who died for the Fatherland and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.

He congratulates the National Police for its unfailing commitment and determination alongside the National Armed Forces in the ongoing operation to reconquer the territory. »

Source: Burkina Information Agency