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February 10, 2017 (JUBA)- South Sudanese lawmakers have expressed mixed reactions about removal of fuel subsidy, with some welcoming the decision and others saying it would increase the prices.

Members of South Sudan's parliament sing the national anthem during the reopening of parliamentary sessions in the capital, Juba, on 11 June 2012 (Photo: Giulio Petrocco/AFP/Getty)

A high level MP from Jonglei state told Sudan Tribune on Friday that he is afraid the removal of fuel subsidy could exacerbate the suffering of the people, since fuel prices may increase. “I am afraid this decision wouldn't solve anything, said the legislator who preferred to remain anonymous.

“What happened to exchange rate which people thought would equalize the exchange rate and reduce the black dealings,” asked the lawmaker?

The lawmaker said he and several other members expressed different views when the request was presented to the house by the minister of finance but their views were ignored.

“Although we were the majority, the minority views prevailed and I believe this is what the minister is citing as the approval of the parliament. If the speaker and some members have accepted his request, it does not mean the (majority of MPs) have accepted. How did MPs accept it this request. Was it put to voting in the house? No. It was not,” he stressed.

While the legislators deny approving the request, Finance Minister Stephen Dhieu Dau said on Thursday and repeated it Friday that his institution was now working on the decision of the parliament.

“We are working out how to address the issue of fuel shortage now that the transitional national legislative assembly has given Nilepet a permission to remove fuel subsidy”, Minister Dau told reporters on Friday.

He insisted that the decision to remove fuel subsidy was in the interest of the nation and was the reason it was included his request during the presentation of annual budget for this year.

The government-run oil company procures fuel outside the country and sells a litter once it is imported at the cost of 22 pounds at the petrol filling stations. But citizens have always complained of lack of fuel at the designated fuel stations, even when they stay in line for hours.

Many claims senior government officials and military officers use their influence and privileges by the virtues of their offices to get fuel from the Nilepet, a commercial arm of the government sends it to the black market where it is sold at the prices higher than the official charge.

(ST)

Les membres du Conseil de sécurité ont fermement condamné samedi la poursuite des combats au Soudan du Sud, en particulier les incidents dans les régions d'Equatoria et du Haut-Nil, et ont appelé toutes les parties à cesser immédiatement les hostilités.

The Security Council has strongly condemned continued fighting across South Sudan, particularly incidents in the country&#39s Equatoria and Upper Nile regions, and called on all parties to cease hostilities immediately.

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo today expressed its concern about the persistent conflict in the Kasai provinces where violent atrocities are being committed by the Kamuina Nsapu militia.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today met with Turkey&#39s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Istanbul to discuss the situations in Syria, Iraq and Cyprus.

The Security Council has strongly condemned continued fighting across South Sudan, particularly incidents in the country&#39s Equatoria and Upper Nile regions, and called on all parties to cease hostilities immediately.

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo today expressed its concern about the persistent conflict in the Kasai provinces where violent atrocities are being committed by the Kamuina Nsapu militia.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today urged greater investments in teaching science, technology, engineering and math to all women and girls as well as equal access to these opportunities.

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

February 10, 2017 (ADDIS ABABA) - Ethiopia Thursday convoyed a congratulatory message to the newly elected president of Somalia and vowed to extend support to the new administration in the east African nation.

Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed ‘Farmajo' was elected a President of the Federal Republic of Somalia in the election held on Tuesday in Mogadishu.

The newly elect who holds dual Somalia-US citizenship was declared on Wednesday as the new president of Somalia and he was immediately sworn-in to assume a four- year tenure in office.

He won the historic election held after over quarter a century by sweeping 184 votes, compared with 97 secured by incumbent President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

In his congratulatory message, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, said the fact that the presidential race had been conducted peacefully and successfully was a major achievement for the people of Somalia and a landmark in the process of building peace and stability in the country.

He said he was convinced that Mohamed's election would further strengthen the longstanding friendly relations and the strategic partnership existing between Somalia and Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian premier further vowed to work closely with the new Somalia leader to get the war ravaged east African neighbour back to on its feet after more than two decades ago of war and destruction.

Hailemariam said his country will continue to extend all the necessary support to the new leadership in Somalia to improve its security and free the country from Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda allied Somalia militant group which had long been a regional security threat.

The Ethiopian prime minister assured the new president that he could always count on Ethiopia for all necessary support as he leads Somalia into what "would be a bright future for its people"

Somalia's election has saw a battle among 23 candidates after it was delayed four times.

Former president Hassan Mohamud, who accepted defeat and conceded the election, avoiding a third and final vote.

He said "History was made, we have taken this path to democracy, and now I want to congratulate Mohamed Abdullahi ‘Farmajo".

After taking the oath of office, ‘Farmajo' said: "This victory represents and belongs to the interest of the Somali people and this is the beginning of the era of the unity, the democracy of Somalia and the beginning of the fight against corruption."

The AU, the US and UK has also congratulated the new Somali president on his victory.

The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia, commended the successful completion of the electoral process saying the process had been intricate, requiring negotiations and compromises to overcome challenges that once appeared insurmountable, butt congratulated all "for making this historical moment a reality."

The Commission appealed to the president and all leaders to work together in uniting the country by pursuing reconciliation to enable Somalia tackle the political and socio-economic challenges affecting the country.

While congratulating the president and people of Somalia over the successful completion of the election, the US State Department said it looked forward to working closely with President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed.

It said the transition represented an important step forward for the country and looked forward to the timely formation of a new government.

UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson also congratulated Mohamed Abdullahi ‘Farmajo' on his election and said the UK remained committed to supporting the Somali people and he looked to agreeing a new partnership between Somalia and the international community.

(ST)

February 10, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Seven cattle herders from the Hawazma tribe have been killed and one injured on Friday morning near Al-Hujairat area, some 30 kilometres west of Kadugli, South Kordofan capital.

Reliable sources in Kadugli told Sudan Tribune, that a band of marauders have committed the crime and stole 1500 heads of cattle, ruling out that elements from the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) were involved in the incident.

They said the incident occurred at a remote area away from the rebel-controlled areas, pointing out that a similar incident took place few days earlier in the same area.

According to the sources, the marauders deliberately followed a pathway leading to the rebel-controlled area of Galad, saying most of the dead fall in the age group between 15 to 18 years old.

The same sources added that the list of the dead include Suleiman Khamis Mohamed Yaqoub, Hussein Khamis Mohamed Yaqoub, Abdel-Rahman al-Hag Tamim, Mohamed Musa Ahmed Mohamed, Adam al-Toum Yaqoub, Khalil Yaqoub Mohamed and Musa Ahmed Mohamed.

They pointed that an injured herder by the name of Mohamed Yaqoub Adam was transferred to the hospital while search is ongoing for three missing herders.

SPLM-N DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN THE INCIDENT

Meanwhile, SPLM-N said it has nothing to do with the incident, pointing its army has no presence in the Al-Hujairat area.

In a statement seen by Sudan Tribune, SPLM-N leadership said it has “set up a committee to investigate this crime”, pointing the movement condemns it “in the strongest words”.

It pointed that the SPLM-N enjoys good relations with the Hawazma and Misseriyya tribes and the rest of the tribes, describing these ties as “blood and common destiny” relations.

The movement added that it has been present in South Kordofan for more than 30 years, saying such crimes are not part of its agenda.

It pointed to some reports that have mentioned presence of outlaws from government militias who carryout armed robberies in the Al-Hujairat area.

The SPLM-N leadership further offered deepest condolences to the Hawazma tribe, stressing the movement would cooperate with them to capture the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

South Kordofan and neighbouring Blue Nile state have been the scene of violent conflict between the SPLM-N and Sudanese army since 2011.

(ST)

February 10, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir has issued an executive order sacking the governor of his newly created Imatong state in Eastern Equatoria region.

Governor Nartisio Loluke Manir

President Kiir, according to the order broadcast by the state owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation, removed Nartisio Loluke from his position and replaced him with Tobiolo Alberto.

The order did not cite any reason for moving out office an official who portrays himself in the area as the staunch supporter of the president and his leadership style.

However, his supporters extend an accusing finger to his predecessor Louis Lobong Lojore, governor of Namurnyang now changed to Kapaeta State, citing previous differences between the two officials.

Nartisio was the first deputy governor of Lojore after his appointment governor of Eastern Equatoria state in 2010. But later he was removed from his position after he fell out with Lobong due to conflict of interests and political ambitions.

(ST)

February 10, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Zambia's Foreign Minister Harry Kalaba Friday has arrived in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum in an official two-day visit, said Sudan's foreign ministry.

Kalaba's visit is considered the first of its kind by a senior Zambian official to Sudan during the last thirty years.

In a press release extended to Sudan Tribune Friday, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Gharib Allah Khidir, said Kalaba was received by Sudan's foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour at Khartoum airport.

“The visit which is considered the first of its kind aims to discuss bilateral cooperation opportunities in the economic, cultural and trade domains besides [developing] mechanisms to enhance political coordination in the various regional and international issues” read the press release

According to the foreign ministry, the two ministers will chair a joint session on Saturday to discuss ways to promote bilateral relations in the various fields.

Zambia's top diplomat, who came to Khartoum upon an invitation from Ghandour, is expected to meet a number of Sudanese officials.

In July 2008, Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), abruptly canceled a scheduled trip to Zambia to attend the Smart Partnership programme for developing nations.

Zambia is a party to the Rome Statue which forms the basis of the ICC and has the legal obligation to apprehend al-Bashir if judges issue an arrest warrant for him.

(ST)

February 10, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan Finance Minister, Stephen Dhieu Dau, said fuel subsidies will be scraped after Members of Parliament approved his request.

People queue at a fuel station in South Sudan's capital, Juba on 18 October 2014 (ST)

Fuel prices, which is fixed currently at 22 South Sudanese Pound (SSP) or about 20 United States cents a litre, will be determined by market forces of demand and supply. In the black market, a litre cost 100 SSP - a price expected in the aftermath of lifting subsidies.

Local media quoted Dhieu claiming that lifting fuel subsidies will "save money" for the government to narrow deficit gap of about USD 200 million.

Economic experts say fuel subsidies cost the government United $40 monthly. A liger of diesel or petrol is purchased at about $1 from East African countries and sold at 20% of the actual market price in Juba by state-owned NilePet company.

However, fuel is scarce in Juba and long queues that last several hours are common in Juba. It is not clear when the lawmakers recommendation will be implemented but economists are divided on the effects of the decision.

"South Sudan lack of hard-currencies will continue to inhibits private sector from importing fuel and hence fundamental problem of supply and demand won't be resolved (sic)," writes economist Garang Atem, reacting to removal of fuel subsidies by the government.

Atem said prices of basic commodities such as food items and water will surge, further deteriorating the economic situation. He said NilePet will struggle to supply sufficient fuel, affecting the common man.

"Such reforms should be done in a comprehensive way so that compensation for public sector are reviewed," he said.

Other economists said the move is "excellent" and the subsidies were creating the black market because fuel dealers were creating scarcity.

(ST)

Dix-sept personnes sont décédées et 56 autres ont été blessées dans un mouvement de foule survenu pendant un match de football. Les autorités angolaises ont annoncé l’ouverture d’une enquête.

Why delays and chaos means air travel in Nigeria is often grounded.

Singaporean Terrex 3 Armored Personnel Carrier

Sous pression, le candidat d'En marche !, qui ne croit pas à l'efficacité d'un catalogue de mesures, va devoir jouer le jeu présidentiel.

Névnap Bertold - germán eredetű; Jelentése: pompával uralkodó.

Marietta - a Mária olasz továbbképzése. Idézet

“Az élet él és élni akar,
Nem ezért adott annyi szépet,
Hogy átvágódjanak most rajta..”

Ady, Intés az Őrzőkhöz

• A nap aktualitása
• A nap igéje
• A nap liturgiája

EZEN A NAPON EMLÉKSZÜNK RÁ:

Ekkel György (?, 1826 – Beregszász, 1905. február 11.).

Az 1848-49-es szabadságharc századosa, ügyvéd. Polgári családból származott. 1848 nyarán egyetemistaként állt be a honvédek közé.  Hamarosan hadnaggyá, majd főhadnaggyá léptették elő. Számos ütközetben vett részt. Az 1849. január 15-ei túrcsehi csata után századosi rangot kapott.  A szabadságharc bukása után Erdélybe menekült.  Később az Ugocsa megyei Szászfaliban bujkált Dolenay Sándor gör. kat. pap segítségével, fegyverét és egyenruháját a templom oltára alatt rejtegetve.

1861 – 1865 között szolgabíró volt a Huszti járásban. Visk és Técső koronavárosok díszpolgárukká választották.

1865-ben Beregszászba költözött. A Beregszászi Hitelintézet jogtanácsosa, majd elnöke, a szabadelvű párt vezére, 1899-től a Bereg megyei honvédegylet elnöke, a beregszászi római katolikus egyház gondnoka volt. Idős korában ügyvédként dolgozott.

Forrás: Keresztyén Balázs: Kárpátaljai Művelődéstörténeti Kislexikon (Hatodik Síp Alapítvány – Mandátum Kiadó, Budapest – Beregszász, 2001.)

 

MAGYARORSZÁG KULTÚRTÖRTÉNETÉBŐL:

Szilárd Leó Nobel-díjas fizikus (1898) a molekuláris biológia egyik megalapozójának tekintik, jelentős szerepe volt az USA atombombájának kifejlesztésében.

Nagy jelentőségű műszaki, technikai bejelentés: Csonka János és Bánki Donát bemutatja a porlasztót (1893).

Pest és Bécs között megindul a gőzhajóforgalom (1831).

Forrás: Magyarország kultúrtörténete napról napra, Honfoglalás Egyesület 2000.

 

KEVESEBB ERŐLKÖDÉS, TÖBB BIZALOM!

„… aki elkezdte bennetek a jó munkát, elvégzi a Krisztus Jézus napjára.” (Filippi 1:6)

Ha szeretnéd, hogy Isten akarat megvalósuljon életedben, ne siettesd a dolgokat! Sára, Ábrahám felesége így tett, így született meg Izmael, ez pedig mindenféle viszályt és családi bonyodalmat okozott. Ne feledd: „ami testtől született, test az, és ami Lélektől született, lélek az” (János 3:6), tehát csak olyan tervet kövess, amiről meg vagy győződve, hogy Isten Lelke által fogant. Ne próbálj megmenteni semmit, ami a testre alapoz. Isten azt mondta: „szövetségre csak Izsákkal lépek” (1Mózes 17:21). Izsák Isten ígéretének beteljesedésképpen született, Isten útját követve, Isten időzítése szerint. Minden, ami megfogan benned e két forrás valamelyikéből ered: vagy a testből, vagy a Lélektől. Ezért légy óvatos! Az emberek megpróbálnak bevonni mindenféle rafinált tervbe, azt ígérve, hogy ezzel előrejutsz. Istennek nincs szüksége senki segítségére ahhoz, hogy megáldjon, egyedül is el tudja intézni! Ezért, ha bármikor támad a sátán, mutass rá lelki születési helyedre, és emlékeztesd őt arra, hogy ezt a tervet nem te kezdted, és nem is neked kell befejezni. „Aki elkezdte bennetek a jó munkát, elvégzi a Krisztus Jézus napjára.” Még egy gondolat: ha Isten el akar bánni benned valamilyen testi dolgokkal, büszkeséggel vagy bármivel, ami akadályozza utadat, ne állj ellen, ne menekülj, és ne állj az útjába! Ha egy fuldokolóhoz hasonlóan kétségbeesetten próbálod magadat menteni – Isten semmit sem tud tenni érted, amíg fel nem hagysz a kapálózással. Ezért mai igéje számodra ez: ne erőlködj annyira, inkább bízz benne jobban!

A fenti elmélkedés a Keresztyén Média UCB Hungary Alapítvány napi elmélkedése (honlap: maiige.hu), melynek írója Bob Gass. Magyar nyelven negyedévre szóló kiadvány formájában megrendelhető az említett honlapon, vagy a következő címen: Mai Ige, 6201 Kiskőrös, Pf. 33.

Szűz Mária Lourdes-i megjelenése

Négy évvel a Boldogságos Szűz Szeplőtelen Fogantatása dogmájának kihirdetése után, Lourdes mellett, a Gave folyó partján fekvő barlangban, 1858 február 11-én megjelent a Boldogságos Szűz Soubirous Bernadettnek. Ismételt megjelenése után elmondta magáról: “Én vagyok a Szeplőtelen Fogantatás”. Kívánsága szerint csodálatosan szép templom épült a jelenések helyén, és a csodálatos gyógyulások szakadatlan láncolata jelzi, hogy a Szeplőtelenül Fogantatott Szűzanya közbenjárásával szívesen segít a szenvedő embereken.

bacskaplebania.hu

If liberalism can succeed in the non-Western world, it is safe in the hands of immigrants to the United States. But it does not help if the president of the United States makes them feel unwelcome in their adopted homeland.