Muslim Brotherhood clinches Egypt's Presidency

Mohamed Morsy,Egypt's President Elect

Islamist Mohamed Morsy of the Muslim Brotherhood was elected president of Egypt with 51.7 percent of last weekend’s run-off vote, defeating former general Ahmed Shafik, the State Election Committee says today while (Sunday) while announcing the result of the presidential poll.

He succeeds Hosni Mubarak, who was overthrown 16 months ago after a popular uprising. The military council which has ruled the biggest Arab nation since then has this month curbed the powers of the presidency, meaning the head of state will have to work closely with the army on a planned democratic constitution.

Thousands of Brotherhood supporters burst into cheers on Cairo’s Tahrir Square, waving national flags and chanting "Allahu Akbar!" or God is Great, greeting a dramatic victory.

Morsy, a 60-year-old, U.S.-educated engineer who spent time in jail under Mubarak, won the first round ballot in May with a little under a quarter of the vote. He has pledged to form an inclusive government to appeal to the many Egyptians, including a large Christian minority, who are anxious over religious rule.

The military council will retain control of the biggest army in the Middle East, whose closest ally is the United States. Morsy has said he will respect international treaties, notably that signed with Israel in 1979, on which much U.S. aid depends.

"President Morsy will struggle to control the levers of state," Elijah Zarwan, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said in Cairo. "He will likely face foot-dragging and perhaps outright attempts to undermine his initiatives from key institutions. Faced with such resistance, frustration may tempt him fall into the trap of attempting to throw his new weight around," Zarwan told Reuters. "This would be a mistake."

"His challenge is to lead a bitterly divided, fearful, and angry population toward a peaceful democratic outcome, without becoming a reviled scapegoat for continued military rule."

State of Insecurity--President Sacks Security Adviser, Minister of Defence

By Lateef Lawal

The re-organisation of the nation’s security may have begun with the sack yesterday of the National Security Adviser to the President and the Minister of Defence.
The National Security Adviser, General Andrew Azazi has been immediately replaced by Sambo Dasuki , a retired colonel.
Colonel Dasuki had served as Aide de Camp (ADC) to former military dictator, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).
He is the son of deposed Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, who was sent packing by late military dictator, General Sani Abacha.
The news of their sack was contained in a terse statement released by the spokesman to the President, Mr Reuben Abati. No reason was given for their removal.
Before the latest development, there have been several calls for the removal of the National Security Adviser, General Azazi and the Minister of Defence, Haliru B. Mohammed over high level of insecurity in the country and especially the inability  to curb the terrorist activities of the Boko Haram sect with their constant serial bombings, bloodletting which has led to several hundreds of death and maiming of innocent civilians and in some instances soldiers and policemen.
However, recently at a public gathering in the South-South part of the country, Azazi attributed the rise in the activities of the Boko Haram sect to the heightened politicking of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) towards the 2015 Presidential race.
He was then randomly condemned by the top hierarchy of the PDP who did not mince word in calling for his removal as it was wrong of him to have accused the ruling party which produced the government under which he was employed as its National Security Adviser.
It will be recalled that the President himself in a rare outburst told Nigerians sometime ago that there were ‘’Boko Haram’’ sympathisers in his cabinet and other government operatives.

International Council of Tourism Partners announces Riviera Maya Destination Marketing as new member from Mexico

The International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP) announced that Riviera Maya Destination Marketing in Mexico has joined the alliance as a destination member.
The Mayan civilization has been a thing of wonder for the whole world. All of its extraordinary accomplishments have been remarked upon by scholars and scientists in untold numbers; their perfect mathematical calculations, its numbers system, its way of predicting the cycles of the seasons and the proven ability of its members to navigate the seas. All true marvels, even today.
At tourist destination of Riviera Maya, also known as the Mayan Riviera, historic ruins of the Mayan culture meet modern conveniences of travel delights and holiday making. 
Riviera Maya Destination Marketing provides a bounty of tourism and travel information from this sacred land that has been venerated for generations. 
It is a universe filled with knowledge and wisdom that never fails to surprise you with impressive edifices, where there are totems that bear inscriptions still to be deciphered and, perhaps, forever undecipherable. 
There are thousands of canals in this universe, created by man to connect the communicating vessels along with observatories from which to study the rest of this vast universe.
Chairman of ICTP, Juergen T. Steinmetz, said: “Riviera Maya is truly a quality cultural destination offering a vast array of ecological activities for its guests. The region offers a magical combination of the historic and the modern, a truly remarkable vacation destination.”
General Director of Riviera Maya Destination Marketing, Mr. Dario Flota, waxed poetic of the many eco-friendly and cultural adventures awaiting at this destination: “Here, sinuous paths wind their way through the heart of the jungle, through the remaining vestiges, the temples and cities of an ancient, extraordinarily advanced civilization. Subterranean rivers flow through the Earth's entrails, and the sacred underground waters are surrounded by lush vegetation that will restore your desire to live life to its fullest.”
For more information about Riviera Maya Destination Marketing, visit: www.rivieramaya.com .


ABOUT ICTP


The International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP) is a new grassroots travel and tourism coalition of global destinations committed to quality service and green growth. The ICTP logo represents the strength in collaboration (the block) of many small communities (the lines) committed to sustainable oceans (blue) and land (green).


ICTP engages communities and their stakeholders to share quality and green opportunities including tools and resources, access to funding, education, and marketing support. ICTP advocates sustainable aviation growth, streamlined travel formalities, and fair coherent taxation.


ICTP supports the UN Millennium Development Goals, the UN World Tourism Organization's Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, and a range of programs that underpin them. The ICTP alliance is represented in Haleiwa, Hawaii, USA; Brussels, Belgium; Bali, Indonesia; and Victoria, Seychelles. ICTP membership is available to qualified destinations free of charge. Academy membership features a prestigious and selected group of destinations.


ICTP has members in Anguilla; Aruba; Bangladesh; Belgium, Canada; China; Croatia; Ghana; Greece; Grenada; The Gambia, India; Indonesia; Iran; La Reunion (French Indian Ocean); Malaysia; Malawi; Mauritius; Mexico; Morocco; Nicaragua; Nigeria; Northern Mariana Islands, US Pacific Island Territory; Pakistan; Palestine; Rwanda; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; South Africa; Sri Lanka; Sultanate of Oman; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Yemen; Zimbabwe; and from the US: Arizona, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Missouri, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.


Partner associations include: African Bureau of Conventions; African Chamber of Commerce Dallas/Fort Worth; Africa Travel Association; Alliance for training and research in the field of social and solidarity tourism (ISTO/OITS); Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association; Cultural and Environment Conservation Society; DC-Cam (Cambodia); Hawaii Tourism Association; Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management; International Hospitality and Tourism Research Centre(IHTRC); International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT); International Organization of Electronic Tourism Industry (IOETI); Livingstone International University of Tourism Excellence, Zambia; Positive Impact Events, Manchester, UK; RETOSA : Angola- Botswana - DR Congo - Lesotho - Madagascar - Malawi - Mauritius - Mozambique - Namibia - South Africa - Swaziland - Tanzania - Zambia- Zimbabwe; Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade, China; SKAL International; Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH); Sustainable Travel International (STI); The Region Initiative, Pakistan; University of Florida: Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute; University of Hawaii; University of Technology Mauritius; and vzw Reis-en Opleidingscentrum, Gent, Belgium; and University of Technology Mauritius.

Al-Qaeda offers camels for Obama's head

A Somali Islamist militant group is offering rewards of chickens and camels for information on the whereabouts of President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, mocking the millions of dollars the United States has offered for leaders of the al-Qaeda affiliate.
Fuad Muhammad Khalaf of the Shabaab al-Mujahideen Movement in Somalia made the offer after Friday prayers, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors militant organizations.
"Whoever reveals the hideout of the idiot Obama will be rewarded with 10 camels, and whoever reveals the hideout of the old woman Hillary Clinton will be rewarded 10 chickens and 10  roosters," he said, according to SITE.
On Thursday, the US State Department offered a reward of $5 million each for the whereabouts of Khalaf and three associates, as well as $7 million for information about al Shabaab founder and commander Ahmed Abdi aw-Mohamed. A bounty of $3 million was offered for the location of two other officials of the organization.
Al-Qaeda said in February the al Shabaab group, which was branded a terrorist organization by the US government in 2008, had joined its ranks.
Al Shabaab, which has controlled large parts of Somalia, faces pressure from Kenyan troops in the south, Ethiopian troops in central Somalia and African Union forces near the capital, Mogadishu.

source:ChinadailyEurope

SUICIDE BOMBER KILL 12 IN BAUCHI

A lone suicide bomber early today detonated a car-bomb killing at least 12 people  at a church in Bauchi State, Nigeria.
The bomber drove an explosives-laden car into the Living Faith Church, in Yelwa, on the outskirts of the state, targeting Sunday-morning worshippers.
Security men at a road nearby road block disclosed that the bomber forced his car through the checkpoint and drove into the church.
Although an eyewitness at the scene confirmed to have seen 12 bodies removed from the building, the death toll is expected to rise in the coming hours, as typical of such attacks.
The Bauchi State commissioner of Police has already confirmed the blast, describing it as a suicide effort.
Responsibility for the attack has not been immediately claimed by any group, but natural suspicion at once falls on Boko Haram, the predominantly northern Islamist sect that has, for the past two years, been battling the Federal Government in its bid to enthrone Islamic Sharia Law, exterminate all forms of Western education, and secure the release of its members across Nigerian prisons.
Boko Haram’s last Sunday morning attack on Christians was an April 29 bombing and shooting of Christian worshippers at Bayero University, Kano (BUK), killing at least 15 people and wounding scores more.

NUFBTE WARNS FG ON DANGERS OF FOOD IMPORTATION.

By Lateef Lawal

The Federal Government has been told to stop further importation of food items into the country in order to encourage local industries.
The National President and Secretary of the National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees, Comrades Lateef Oyelekan and Lamidi Danjuma in an interview with reporters at the MMA2 on one year of President Goodluck Jonathan administration, said the government has failed in infrastructural development.
The duo declared that the government was under test run with the cost of manufacturing on the high side and called for the subsidizing of food items by government to enable Nigerians have access to good food.
The union explained that it was the duty of government to provide clothing, shelter and food for its citizens adding, that government has no business importing perishable items into the country.
“We don’t need any importation of perishable items; government must encourage and support the manufacturing companies”
They condemned any attempt by the government to increase electricity tariff and warned government to stop further importation of generating sets and improve on the power situation in the country to boost the survival of local industries.
The union leaders accused the government of President Jonathan for being insensitive to the plights of Nigerians adding, that there has been total collapse of infrastructure in the country under the present leadership.
According to them, lack of good road and rail network has negatively affected the business in the country with multi-national companies relocating to other neighbouring countries for a better environment.
They condemned the granting of licenses by the Ministry of Labour to individuals for the recruitment of contract staff in some companies adding, that the battle line has been drawn as the union will deal decisively with companies involved in it at the appropriate time.
According to the duo, with the engagement of contract staff, permanent staff were being phased out from the system adding that if posed danger in the sector, and called on the Ministry of Labour to halt such action in the interest of safety, industrial harmony and peace.
On the sack of over 250 workers by the Dangote Company in Ikorodu last year, the union warned that they would soon act as the management has failed to honour all the calls for meeting to resolve the situation.
Comrade Oyelekan noted that the workers were sacked because they opted to join workers union to protect their welfare and management ill-treatment.
Describing the action of the company as illegal and infringement on the fundamental human right of the affected staff, he called on the Group Chairman of Dangote, Alhaji Aliyu Dangote  and the Minister of Labour to step in with the aim of resolving the impasse by recalling the sacked workers.