TheNewsGuru

Tag: peace talks

  • Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich suffers suspected poisoning

    Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich suffers suspected poisoning

    Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich suffered symptoms of suspected poisoning after a meeting in Kyiv earlier this month, according to Goal.

    The 55-year-old billionaire has since recovered from the alleged attack, which has been attributed to hard-line Russian agents who wanted to disrupt the peace process in the original report by the Wall Street Journal.

    The symptoms were said to include “red eyes, constant and painful tearing, and peeling skin on their faces and hands.” The Blues owner is said to have been travelling between Moscow, Ukraine and Turkey since he put Chelsea up for sale on March 2.

  • War: I’m open to negotiations to prevent WWIII – Zelensky

    War: I’m open to negotiations to prevent WWIII – Zelensky

    The president of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has mentioned that he is now ready for talks with Russia’s Vladimir Putin over the ongoing war between both countries.

    Zelensky warns that if negotiations begin to fail then World War III is inevitable as the war is dragging on for too much.

    “I’m ready for negotiations with him,” the President said, adding that he has been ready for the meeting for the last two years and insisted without negotiations between him and his Russian counterpart, the war will not end.

    However, Zelensky said that if there is just one percent chance for the conflict to stop, both sides should grab the opportunity, adding more innocent people are being killed on a daily basis.

    “But, unfortunately, our dignity is not going to preserve our lives. So, I think we have to use any format, any chance in order to have a possibility of negotiating and the possibility of talking to Putin. But if these attempts fail, that would mean that this is a third World War,” he said

    Turkey has played host to the two warring nations on series of occasion for peace talks and meetings.

    Read Also

    Russia-Ukraine War: President Zelensky makes U-turn, says Ukraine not joining NATO

    About 10 million Ukrainians have fled the country to seek refuge in other European countries as a result of the war.

    https://www.timesofisrael.com/un-says-10-million-refugees-have-fled-their-homes-in-ukraine-since-russia-invasion/

  • WAR: Turkey set to host Russia, Ukraine peace talks

    WAR: Turkey set to host Russia, Ukraine peace talks

    Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers have arrived Turkey for the continuation of the peace talks between the two waring neighbours.

    Officials from Kyiv and Moscow have held several rounds of discussions in Belarus, but the meeting in the southern city of Antalya represents the first time Russia has sent a minister for talks on the crisis.

    The Ukrainaian foreign ministry spokeperson Oleg Nikolenko, made a tweet where he announced that the foreign minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba is already in Antalya for talks on Russia ending its war on Ukraine.

    The Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has also landed in Turkey for same purpose

    Dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow has so far yielded several local ceasefires and humanitarian corridors to evacuate residents, but Russia has been accused of breaching those agreements.

    In a facebook post, Ukrainian foreign minister Kuleba, mentioned that he would be in Turkey for the negotiations but his expectations are very limited.

    He said the success of the talks would depend on “what instructions and directives Lavrov is under” from the Kremlin.

    “I am not pinning any great hopes on them, but we will try and get the most out of” the talks with effective preparation, he said.
    Recall that The Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan has always solicited for Turkey to host the peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.
    The Russian and Ukrainian ministers will be joined at Thursday’s meeting by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, with NATO member Turkey keen to maintain strong relations with both sides despite the conflict.

     

     

  • Russia-Ukraine crisis : Russia attacks Kharkiv, kills 11 Persons

    Russia-Ukraine crisis : Russia attacks Kharkiv, kills 11 Persons

    11 persons have been killed when Russia attacked Ukraine’s second capital Kharkiv on Monday, the regional governor said, adding that dozens more were wounded.

    The shelling comes on the fifth day of a Russian invasion of Ukraine and one day after Ukrainian troops repelled an attack on Kharkiv by Moscow’s army.

    “The Russian enemy is bombing residential areas of Kharkiv, where there is no critical infrastructure, where there are no positions of the armed forces,” Oleg Sinegubov, wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

    “As a result of the bombardments that are ongoing, we cannot call on the emergency services… currently there are 11 dead and dozens wounded,” he added.

    The Kremlin said earlier on Monday that the Russian military’s main task was to ensure the safety of civilians.

    But Russia has also accused nationalist groups in Ukraine of using civilians as human shields and the Ukrainian military of deploying heavy weapons to residential areas, as potential pretexts justifying civilian deaths.

    Source AFP

  • 2019: Despite holding peace talks, Ortom insists ‘I’m leaving APC for good’

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has declared that despite holding peace talks with the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), his decision to leave the party has not changed.

    He told members of OnTiv Professionals Association in Abuja that he would not return to the party for any reason.

    Ortom spoke a few hours after emerging from a peace meeting with the APC national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole where he said he had not dumped the party and had expressed hope of a peaceful resolution of the crisis in the party.

    But receiving his guests at the in Benue State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja, the governor said: “I can assure you and the good people of Benue that there is no going back on my decision to exit from the APC.”

    He added, “at the appropriate time in the next few weeks, I would make my next move public.”

    And responding on Friday to claims by the state branch of the APC that it was the governor that gave himself a red card after it raised issues of governance with him, Ortom branded the party a one-man show in Benue.

    His Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Terver Akase challenged the APC to “bring out facts to back their claim that they had faulted the performance of the Governor.”

    He said: “During the State Congress of the party at Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi, it adopted the Governor as its consensus candidate. Again, the party publicly said its decision was based on the sterling stewardship of Governor Ortom within the last three years. But being the true democrat that he is, the Governor decided that other aspirants be also allowed to vie for the governorship seat to deepen internal democracy in the party.

    “While Governor Ortom appreciates the platform which APC gave him to offer service to the people of Benue State, it is regrettable that the same party has now turned to demonize him for obvious selfish reasons.

    “Governor Ortom has encouraged regular caucus and other stakeholders’ meetings at which he constantly gives briefings about the security and financial challenges in the state. He also gets feedback and input at such meetings.

    “His successful conduct of the local government elections which APC candidates overwhelmingly won chairmanship and councillorship positions throughout the state is proof of the popularity of his administration.

    “At no time did Governor Ortom ever mention that the APC in Benue State gave him a red card. He stated categorically that it was the leader of the party who said at several fora that he had given him red card and the Governor made efforts to resolve the matter within the structure of the party at the state level before going public.

    “That APC in the state has issued the statement as if it is the leader of the party or as if they are one and the same, underscores Governor Ortom’s concern that the party structure in the state is out to satisfy the whims and caprices of one individual.

    “It is now clear that APC in Benue State has opted to mortgage the interest of the people of the state. The party’s unprovoked attack on Governor Ortom points to where its interest lies.

    “More ridiculous is the fact that APC has become a one man show in Benue State. It should be on record that the attacks on Governor are coming now because he couldn’t meet some inordinate personal ambitions and interests of those who want to perpetually shortchange the people.

    “The media attack on Governor Ortom by the state chapter of APC is the beginning of the smear campaign about which we alerted Benue people and other Nigerians. More of such disparaging statements should be expected in the days to come.

    “However, no amount of intimidation or personal attacks can make the Governor to abandon the people of Benue State. He has chosen to stand with the people and won’t be distracted now or in the future.”

    Recall that Oshiomhole on Thursday had said Ortom “is not going anywhere” and called him “a very, very prominent member of our party.”

  • Killings: Buhari arrives Zamfara, to hold peace talks with traditional rulers, others

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Gusau, Zamfara, presided over a town hall meeting in continuation of his tour of troubled areas across the country.

    The President in company of his aides landed at the Gusau helipad at about 10.40a.m after taking off from Umaru Musa Yar’Adua international airport Katsina.

    The governors of Sokoto and Kebbi states, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal and Atiku Bagudu respectively, some cabinet ministers, traditional and religious leaders, top government officials were among those that received the president.

    President Buhari reviewed a parade mounted by the Army and Air Force.

    He is scheduled to address traditional rulers and other stakeholders during the visit, and condole with families and communities that suffered from various forms of violent crimes in the state.

    Zamfara has witnessed cases of attacks by armed bandits with hundreds of innocent people killed and property worth billions of naira carted away or destroyed.

    The recent attack by bandits at Birane village in Zurmi Local Government area of the state left over 50 people dead.

    One of the most notorious bandits, Tsoho Buhari, popularly referred to as Buhari Daji, was recently killed by a repentant cattle rustler in the state.

    Details shortly…

  • Resident doctors dare FG, commence nationwide indefinite strike despite talks

    The Federal Government on Monday expressed “deep shock and utter disappointment” over the commencement of a nation wide indefinite strike action on Monday by resident doctors under the aegis of National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD despite the commencement of a peace talk with the leadership of the association.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the strike is coming three days after their leadership signed a memorandum of terms of settlement with the government.

    Ministry of Labour and Employment spokesman Samuel Olowookere, in a statement, said the Federal Government was disappointed over the sudden u-turn by the leadership of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD ) after it had reached a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Federal Ministry of Health on its six-point demand.

    He added: “Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, “in exercise of the powers conferred on him by the Trade Dispute Act 2004, has apprehended the ongoing strike by NARD. Consequently, the meeting between NARD and the government earlier scheduled for November 2 is now slated for Wednesday, September 6, 2017 (tomorrow) by noon at the Conference Room of the Minister of Labour and Employment. ”

    “All stakeholders are implored to attend this crucial meeting. The health and well-being of Nigerians are cardinal to President Buhari’s administration. Hence, every measure necessary shall be taken to restore normalcy”.

    Rising from their National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, the doctors said they were rejecting the terms of settlement, which would have seen the strike being suspended.

    But the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) warned doctors on internship not to join the strike.

    They risk repeating their programme, if they do, it said.

    In a notice of strike sent to chief medical directors and medical directors of hospitals and signed by the President and Secretary General, Dr. Onyebueze John and Dr. Aneke Emmanuel, the resident doctors said they rejected the terms, but did not give any reason for doing so.

    The letter reads: “The National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria, rising from her extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting which held on Sunday, 3rd September 2017 at Parkview Hotels, Abuja, rejected the Memorandum of terms of settlement from government on the items of her demand for strike and resolved to proceed on the proposed national, total and indefinite strike with effect from 8am Monday, 4th September 2017.”

    A message from the President of the Resident Doctors also reads: “Rising from our NEC meeting which started by 7pm yesterday (Sunday) and ended 3am today (Monday), NARD resolved to reject the promissory offer from government and proceed on total and indefinite strike until all items in her demand list are resolved by government.”

    The doctors are contesting what they described as the government’s failure to:

    • pay our salary shortfall of 2016 and January to May 2017;
    • rectify the salary shortfall from August 2017;
    • circularize House Officers’ entry point;
    • correct the stagnation of promotion of our members and properly place them on their appropriate grade level;
    • enroll and capture our members on the Integrated Personnel Payment Information System (IPPIS) and
    • budget, deduct and remit both the employer’s and employees’ pension contributions to our retirement savings account since 2013.

    After a meeting between the government’s representatives and officials of the doctors’ association and the Nigeria Medical Association on Thursday, both parties signed a memorandum of terms of agreement, pointing out that some of the issues being complained about by the association were already being addressed by the government.

    The memorandum was signed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole. Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Prof. Stephen Ocheni, National President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Prof. Mike O. Ogirima, National Association of Resident Doctors President Onyebueze John and of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission Chairman Richard Egbule.

    Other signatories are representatives of Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and the Budget Office of the Federation.

    The memorandum reads: “The meeting noted that some Federal Tertiary Health Institutions (FHTI) have paid a percentage of salaries to Resident Doctors and are consequently in arrears of salary payments to members of NARD and Honorary Consultants.

    “It was also noted that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) had started the process of paying the shortfall of salaries owed in batches. It was therefore concluded that the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) should forward the list of the recipient FHTI to the Honourable Minister of Health to ensure that the released fund was used for its intended purpose. The payment for other FHTI not captured to be implemented before the end of October 2017.”

    On shortfall in salaries, it was agreed that “the Director Hospital Services is to address a circular/letter to the Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) and state therein that the released funds should be used solely for salaries and shortfalls. The Federal Ministry of Finance should ensure that monthly salaries are paid in full.

    “Reference was made to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached at the 7th Senate in 2014, and House of Representatives with the Speaker presiding in 2016, where parties agreed to use the quantum of monies contained in CONHESS 9:4 for CONMESS 1:1.

    “It was concluded that effect should be given to previous Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) reached on this issue so that CONHESS 9:4 would be in parity with CONMESS 1:1. The Chairman NSIWC to get this circularised, after getting the quantum from FMoH. All matters on this issue should be finalised before the preparation of 2018 Budget is concluded.

    “Issues of skipping and matters ancillary thereto were discussed. The meeting noted that the Federal Ministry of Health had appealed against the ruling of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) on skipping and that a date has been given by the Court of Appeal for hearing in March, 2018.

    “It was further noted that a major issue is the improper placements on appropriate Salary Grade Levels. It was concluded that a proper guideline should be provided by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and that Item 4 of the MoU of December 16, 2013 should be adopted.

    “The Item 4 states that ‘the FMoH, NSIWC, NMA should urgently review the NMA’s proposal on skipping of CONTISS 10/CONHESS10/COMESS 2 in the new Scheme of Service with a view to amending it to reflect the suspension of the circular on unauthorised skipping of equivalent of CONMESS 2 for medical doctors in the Public Service.

    “The amended proposal shall be forwarded to the HCSF through the FMoH for an onward presentation to the forthcoming National Council on Establishment (NCE) on 24th January, 2014 in Ilorin.” In view of this earlier position, it was concluded that the Honourable Minister of Health (HMoH) should drive this issue and that no circular should be issued on the matter until it is concluded by the HMoH.

    “In view of the expected meeting of the Council of Establishment, the end of October was given as the tentative time limit to conclude the assignment by the FMoH and Office of the HCSF. Hospitals that are yet to implement skipping for doctors are to commence and henceforth, promotions should be in accordance with the Public Service Rules.

    “Based on the information given by the members of NARD, it was noted that only 18 Federal Tertiary Health Institutions had so far submitted their Nominal Roll. The meeting concluded that NARD members should be on the IPPIS platform and that the CMDs as well as the MDs should be requested by the FMoH to submit their Nominal Roll to the Office of the Accountant General of The Federation (OAGF) and copy to the FMoH and FML&E on or before September 15, 2017. It was agreed that all Resident Doctors should be captured on IPPIS platform by the end of October 2017.

    “It was concluded that NARD members are on pensionable appointment and, as such, the FMoH in conjunction with OAGF and Budget Office of the Federation (BOF) should take necessary steps to ensure that adequate budgetary allocations are made to cover the Pension requirements of NARD members.

    “Furthermore, FMoH should issue a letter in that regard to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation who would correspond with the Budget Office of the Federation for necessary action, as the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) had in a letter of February 12, 2015, Ref.PENCOM/INSP/C&E/CCPA/66/15/1167 to the Honourable Minister of Health affirmed that members of NARD are “employees”.

    “In view of the foregoing terms of settlement, NARD agreed to meet in an Emergency Session before Monday, September 4, 2017, for the presentation of this Memorandum to her National Executive Council with a view to averting the scheduled strike.”

     

  • Russia invites incoming U.S. administration to Syria peace talks

    The incoming U.S. administration led by Donald Trump has been invited to participate in Syria peace talks in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, said on Tuesday.

    Russia and Turkey, which back opposing sides in the Syrian civil war, have been coordinating the peace talks between the Syrian government and rebel groups.

    They are scheduled to begin on Monday in the Central Asian nation.

    Lavrov told a news conference in Moscow that terrorism has been the world’s biggest threat over the past year.

    He said he hoped that with Trump as president, Russia, and the U.S. would be able to work more closely on countering terrorism, particularly in Syria.