South Africa: Minster of Finance’s Position on SACC Report and ANN7 News Report (30.05.2017)

Zimbabwe: Evan Mawarire – “Zimbabwe has let her down but she’s finding strength everyday to get up and face life” (Footage)

“On a road in Harare today i met Beula. This 23 year old young lady is tough and full of hope. Zimbabwe has let her down but she’s finding strength everyday to get up and face life. We MUST UNITE and change this nation. Register to vote when the time comes” (Evan Mawarire, 30.05.2017)

FAO and WFP special report of 26th May 2017 explains the reasons for the famine and food insecurity in South Sudan

The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP) have gone through the basic problems of food production and general markets for it in South Sudan. Both FAO and WFP are explaining the food insecurity and reasons why. The conflict is the important factor, but there are many other reasons as well. But when people are fleeing their small-farms from rebels and the army. In South Sudan it is also the lacking rain-fall and the insecurity have been classified as famine. But to give you a sense from the report, these quotes, which explain a dire situation. This should be taken seriously, as the reports from these United Nations Organizations are the ones following the farmers on the ground and have organized supplies of specialized seeds. Take a look!

Hyperinflation:

Hyperinflation and limited import capacity due to insecurity and shortage of foreign currency have severely impacted market functioning and the availability of food commodities. Cereal prices increased up to ten times in 2016 following the sharp devaluation of the local currency and the increasing transport costs. The number of traders and the level of their food stocks have declined sharply during the second semester of 2016, with strong reduction in food availability and variety” (FAO & WFP, P: 7, 2017).

Food Insecurity:

Food insecurity has reached new records during 2016 (67 percent of the population at harvest time, with over 14 percent severely food insecure), twice the pre-conflict levels and a marked worsening from the same time last year, when food insecurity stood at 49 percent (12 percent severely food insecure). Only one-quarter (26 percent) of the households were found to have acceptable food consumption. The coming lean period of mid-2017 will likely see food insecurity levels rise further” (FAO & WFP, P: 7, 2017).

Cereal Production:

As in previous assessments, post-harvest losses and seed use for sowing in 2017 are assumed to account for 20 percent of total production, leaving a net amount of about 826 000 tonnes available for local consumption. This result is about 10 percent below the output obtained in 2015 and slightly below the last five-year average production estimates. The decline in 2016 is essentially due to displacements of farmers and disruption of farming activities following the increased insecurity and violence since July” (FAO & WFP, P: 23, 2017).

With a projected population of about 12 million in mid-2017, the overall cereal deficit in the January-December 2017 marketing year is estimated at about 500 000 tonnes, over 30 percent above the deficit estimated for 2016” (FAO & WFP, P: 7, 2017).

The Conflict of 2017:

Conflict in 2017 – The major factor influencing the general food security situation during 2017 remains the violent conflict that started in late December 2013. Not only this has not been resolved, the intensity of the conflict increased in mid-2016 (July) and is continuing into 2017. While conflict affected mostly the Greater Upper Nile Region (states of Upper Nile, Unity and Jonglei) during the initial stage of the conflict. However, this has spread out across the country and in particular spread into the major producing areas of the country, such as Western and Central Equatoria and neighbouring areas of Eastern Equatoria. Western Bahr el Ghazal has also been affected by fighting. These situations have geographically wider repercussions: disruption of farming leads to drops in national crop production, while its impacts on markets and trade routes lead to problems in the supply of staple foods to the more remote areas of the country” (FAO & WFP, P: 36, 2017).

In January 2017, 32.3 percent of the population of South Sudan (about 3.8 million people) was classified in the IPC Phases 3 (Crisis), 4 (Emergency) and 5 (Catastrophe). In the lean period of mid-2017, this proportion is likely to rise to 46.7 percent (5.5 million people). The most serious situations are in Unity State (where the population in some counties is facing famine or risk of famine) and Northern Bahr el Ghazal – over 50 percent of the population is in IPC Phases 3 to 5. The situation is expected to worsen during the lean period of 2017 (up to July)” (FAO & WFP, P: 9, 2017).

This is all worrying and the conflict edges the crisis with natural effect. From the problems with production of cereals, to hyper-inflation together with the areas where the Republic are classified as famine. All of this is combination of downward spiral no nation want to be hold-in. The Republic of South Sudan and it’s citizens are in turmoil as the farmers cannot plow their dirt and raise their seeds. All major cultivated areas got affected by the crisis and conflict, this ha by all means been reasons for the food insecurity. If people don’t see it and isn’t worried that the production area for food has been the battleground between government and rebels. So the farmers there would be in crossfire. So if these areas and states doesn’t see peace, than the production will not rise to the needed levels. That should be key importance and be needed policy by the government to make sure they are producing enough food for their population. Peace.

Reference:

FAO & WFP – ‘S P E C I A L R E P O R T – FAO/WFP CROP AND FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT MISSION TO SOUTH SUDAN’ (26.05.2017)

Kenya: Monetary Policy Committee Meeting (29.05.2017)

Tanzania: Further Response to the First Presidential Committee’s findings on the Export of Gold/Copper Concentrates (26.05.2017)

Trump cannot ride a golf-cart away from the Russian Probe

While President Trump been apart of the G-7 in Taormina on Sicily in Italy. This while it is a mounting speculation and revealing stories into the Russian Probe, which is into the Trump Campaign 2016. Surely, we can mock the man who doesn’t have the energy to walk by road of the conference and had to ride in a golf-cart while rest of the world was walking together. Also, the impressive act of not having a press conference after the G-7 conference as the rest of the world leaders did. He had nothing to report of his work. President Trump could have spoke about how he didn’t wanted to commit to Paris Agreement on Climate Change, but he doesn’t have the courage to do so.

The United States President had to act special, that is because he is special. So special that the more you look into his campaign team and his cabinet, the more support and help from Russia. The intelligence that he leaks to friends and foes has to come while he is gone. Since the leaks of revelations are coming. Even that the Trump Organization doesn’t want to disclose the revenue they are getting from Foreign Government Entities because of the different nature of the billing. Like a giant Limited Liabilities Companies want to keep their revenue secret. Because the Trump Organization got it all to hide. Like the IRS Tax Returns of President Trump has also never been released and seems forgotten in all the scandals, but the truths in the earnings of the President would reveal lot of ghosts that he cannot hide.

President Trump and his team has had many of them either been connected, been in talks or been on paid visits in honors of Russian delegations. When Jared Kushners planned a back-channel of secret communication with Moscow, proves there are so many stories not told. Because there enough known people who has been implicated in the Russian Probe and had connections with them. This being Donald Trump Junior, Paul Manafort, Carter Page, Ivanka Trump, Jeff Sessions, Michael Flynn, Rex Tillerson, Roger Stone, Wilbur Ross, Steve Bannon, Michael Caputo, Michael D. Cohen and Felix Sater.

So when you such a giant group of people either connected or having conversations during the election. While new revealing damaging stories and allegations keeps pumping to the public sphere. You can wonder what sort of damage control and plans the President has other than being in Europe driving a Golf Cart. There has to be other ways to figure it out. He has hired a lawyer and planned a war-room in the White House. While he has sent his sons from the Trump Organization to figure out how the Republican Party can deal with the hazardous situation. Which, is special since the father and their sons shouldn’t be connected through their blind-trust. But that is just a lie, a big fat-lie and he takes the American as big-fat jack-asses. Who he can play around with the “No Comment” McMaster who got the job Flynn had for 20 days.

While we do know that the sacked former FBI director James Comey after he asked for more funds into the FBI Probe, after leaks of Trumps asking for loyalty and calling for the same. Trump also had the arrogant feature of asking Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, also Director of National Security Agency Michael Rodgers was asked about the Russian Probe and working into the Flynn case. Therefore, he has tried his best to stifle two cases, as they are damaging to him. This all leaves behind all sort of obstruction of justice.

As you thinking this is bad enough, Mitch McConnell the Majority Leader of the Senate, has himself gotten massive donations from Russian donors, as well as Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and even John McCain. Scott Walker of Wisconsin also got a massive donation from Pro-Putin backers. So there are so many people involved and having their own issues to explain over no-problem money from Russia. Former Trump appointee like Flynn, who has had his connections to the Russian under scrutiny as well.

Like the leaked conversation between GOP leaders from June 2016 meeting at Capitol Hill:

Ryan: Russia is trying to turn Ukraine against itself.

Rodgers: Yes. And that’s…it’s sophisticated and it’s, uh…

Ryan: Maniacal.

Rodgers: Yes.

Ryan: And guess…guess who’s the only one taking a strong stand up against it? We are.

Rodgers: We’re not…we’re not…but, we’re not…

McCarthy: [unintelligible]…I’ll GUARANTEE you that’s what it is.

[Unintelligible]

McCarthy: The Russians hacked the DNC and got the opp research that they had on Trump.

McCarthy: laughs

[Crosstalk]

Ryan: The Russian’s hacked the DNC…

McHenry: …to get oppo…

Ryan: …on Trump and like delivered it to…to who?

[Unintelligible]

McCarthy: There’s…there’s two people, I think, Putin pays: Rohrabacher and

Trump…[laughter]…swear to God.

Ryan: This is an off the record…[laughter]…NO LEAKS…[laughter]…alright?!

[Laughter]

Ryan: This is how we know we’re a real family here.

Scalise: That’s how you know that we’re tight.

[Laughter]

Ryan: What’s said in the family stays in the family”

Certainly this transcript is one conversation is damaging for the Republican party. Together with the revelation of donations, as well as the new stories coming. Day after day, the peeling of onion continues. This together with the use of a non-sanctioned phone-line and with an Android might also make the reveling stories coming. Also, that like Clinton, President Trump had no issues having his own private server. With the knowledge of the back-channel to Moscow through the Russian Embassy in United States. It is clearly a lot of questionable actions and activity, as well as the undisclosed meetings and funding. That will surely say much more about the connection between Russian and the Trump Campaign. Together with the already exposed memos, conversations and payments to the Trump-aides.

Even an article in July 24, 1987 said this:

Do Russians have a Trump Card?

The Soviets are reportedly looking a lot more kindly on a possible presidential bid by Donald Trump, the New York builder who has amassed a fortune through real-estate speculation and owns a controlling interest in the notorious, organized-crime linked Resort International. Trump took an all-expenses paid jaunt to the Soviet Union in July to discuss building the Russians some luxuries hotels. The Soviets “treated me beautifully,” he told reporters. “The government would like me to build a major hotel in Moscow in quality and in style like Trump Tower” – the garnish structure which Trump built on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue” (Kathleen Klenetsky – ‘Elephants & Donkeys’ – 24.07.1987).

That Trump possibly will re-hire campaign managers like Cory Lewandowski and others wouldn’t be surprising, as well as he is hiring Marc Kosowitz to fight his cause and external information from the White House. Certainly, the Trump administration has so many leaks and so little control. That they need to find a way to control, because the running investigations both at the Hill from the Senate and the Special Investigator Robert Mueller. Who cannot be fired by the President like he did with James Comey and might do to others.

There aren’t indications that the Republican Party didn’t know and hasn’t stopped Trump to do this. As Paul Ryan wanted to keep it in the family. As well as the Trump Administration and his men has met with Russian ambassador and even cashed in on their connections to Russia. That might be the most important reason for the secrecy of all the revenue of the Trump Organization and the tax returns of the President. Who cannot hide it anymore, as there will clearly be asked to deliver it to either the investigation at the Hill or the one by Mueller. We can also see when the leaked documentations will come for more flesh to the bone.

We don’t know much yet, but what we do know.. is that this will get ugly. It will get nasty and the Presidency will not back-down. When it comes to Trump and investigations he uses all tricks and finding ways in courts to not answer questions. The transcripts of the his interrogation there, showed that he was not interested in giving any information or trying to be honest to the judge. Therefore, expect the same behavior when it comes to colluding, collaborating and direct communication with the Russians. Peace.

EAC: Signing of the Inter-Governmental Agreement between the Republic of Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Project (26.05.2017)