U.S Airline Industry Is Already Pleading for Trump's Protectionism

The day after the election of Donald Trump to the White House, the aviation advocacy group Partnership for Open & Fair Skies released a pitch in the form of a statement. "We are optimistic that the Trump administration will stand up to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, enforce our trade agreements and fight for American jobs,” said spokesperson Jill Zuckman.The Partnership for Fair & Open Skies is a coalition of the willing, an alliance of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, and a slew of unions. These allies, who are usually at odds, formed the partnership to lobby the U.S. government into protecting U.S.-based airlines, two of which are located in North Texas.

This advocacy group's nemeses are Middle Eastern airlines that want to fly to more cities in the United States. These carriers enjoy government subsidies that enable them to fly airplanes that are unprofitably empty, undercut U.S. prices and claim more market share. That's the shared threat to the airlines and unions.  

Here's where the U.S. government gets involved. There are international deals in place called Open Skies Agreements that govern flights in and out of nations. These enable a foreign carrier to land in the United States from abroad, and eases the transfer of passengers from carriers of various nations. (So you can fly to New York and connect to Paris on AirFrance, on the same ticket.)

These agreements cover international flights. The Middle Eastern carriers want to stop at more U.S. domestic airports, but the partnership argues that the Open Skies Agreements prohibit this. The Middle Eastern carriers, run from the UAE and Qatar (which are actual military allies), argue that these stopovers are just part of the flight and not an attempt to set up domestic routes inside the United States.

The United States government can choose to renegotiate these Open Skies Agreements. This is something the Obama administration has not done, despite soliciting reams on data and information from the U.S. airlines and, basically, kicking the can down the road.

With a Trump presidency, and protecting American jobs a prominent talking point, the airlines and unions clearly see an opening. "We look forward to briefing President-elect Donald Trump and his new administration on the massive, unfair subsidies that the UAE and Qatar give to their state-owned Gulf carriers,” Zuckman wrote. “The Gulf carrier subsidies threaten the jobs of 300,000 U.S. aviation workers and the American aviation industry."

The unions in the coalition include the Air Line Pilots Association, International; the Allied Pilots Association; International Brotherhood of Teamsters; Communications Workers of America; and the Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association.

Labor unions are wary of Trump's pro-business positions, but union voters turned out in unexpected strength for the Republican. Part of the reason is the union backing of government global-focused trade policy. The idea that unions could score a win with a ruling, and Trump could score one himself and reward those voters, makes them likely bedfellows.

That sounds like a win-win, but it might not sit so well with passengers who have been deprived of cheaper options on international travel. And reopening the Open Skies Agreements could lead to trade war slugfests that gut or dissolve the passenger swap system, leaving passengers waiting longer for connecting international flights and paying more for them.  

There is another front to this war to keep an eye on — a battle to keep Norwegian airlines from an airport in Boston. On November 9, the largest airline pilot union in the world, the Airline Pilot Association, issued a press release that "recognizes the commitment of President-elect Trump to a trade agenda that promotes the United States."

Their release contained a naked plea to intervene against the European carrier, which would reverse a preliminary ruling by the Obama administration allowing the permit. "ALPA remains committed to working with current and newly elected officials on collaborative efforts to call for the enforcement of U.S. air transport agreements and fair competition for U.S. airlines and their workers by opposing Norwegian Air International’s foreign air carrier permit application.”

If there is quick action against the Norwegians, it could be a sign that a more complicated negotiation may be coming with the Middle Eastern carriers.  For those looking for an example of Trump's presidency in action, keep watching the skies. 

   

@Observer

F.G CHARGES A JUDGE OF SUPREME COURT OF MONEY LAUNDERING. ......N35.3million & $319,596 found in his residence.

The Federal Government, yesterday preferred six counts charge of money laundering against a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

He was accused of retaining in his residence N35,358,000; $319,596 and £25,915 during the raid on his house by the operatives of the Department of State Services between October 7 and 8.

The office of the Attorney General of the Federation, which filed the charges on Tuesday, described the sums of money “as proceeds of unlawful activity”.

 

A highly-competent source said on Tuesday that charges would also be preferred against some of the judges under probe before the end of the week.

The offences captured in counts one to three are said to be contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.

Apart from the money laundering charges, Justice Ngwuta is also accused of being in possession of two valid Diplomatic Passports, an offence said to be contrary to Section 10 (1) (a) of the Immigration Act 2015.

The Justice of the apex court is equally accused of “knowingly” making a false statement to the Passport Office concerning his date of birth for the purpose of procuring an additional Diplomatic Passport for himself in violation of Section 10 (1)(c) of the Immigration Act.

He is accused of  submitting multiple application forms to one or more passport offices with the intention of obtaining multiple Diplomatic Passports for himself in violation of Section 10 (1) (d) of the Immigration Act 2015 and punishable under Section 10 (1) of the same Act.

The office of the Attorney General of the Federation filed the charges, numbered, FHC/ABJ/CR/232/2016, before the Federal High Court on Tuesday.

Justice Ngwuta was among the judges, whose houses were raided by the operatives of the DSS between October 7 and 8.

The DSS alleged that it discovered large sums of money in foreign and local currencies in the raided houses.

Our correspondent confirmed on Tuesday that charges had not been filed against others, whom the AGF had said there was a prima facie case against.

The charges against Ngwuta read, “Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta, adult, ‘M’, 65 years, of No. 2 Yellow Houses, Supreme Court Quarters, Off Shehu Shagari Way, Central District, Abuja, on or about the 8th day of October, 2016, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, retained in your possession the sum of thirty-five million, three hundred and forty-eight thousand naira (NGN35,358,000.00), which sum forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended).

“Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta, adult, ‘M’, 65 years of No. 2 Yellow Houses, Supreme Court Quarters, Off Shehu Shagari Way, Central District, Abuja, on or about the 8th day of October, 2016, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, retained in your possession the sum of three hundred and nineteen thousand five hundred and ninety-six United States of America dollars ($319,596), which sum forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended).

“Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta, adult, ‘M’, 65 years, of No. 2 Yellow Houses, Supreme Court Quarters, off Shehu Shagari Way, Central District, Abuja, on or about the 8th day of October, 2016, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, retained in your possession the sum of twenty-five thousand nine hundred and fifteen pounds sterling (GBP 25,915), which sum forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended).

“Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta, adult, ‘M’, 65 years, of No. 2 Yellow Houses, Supreme Court Quarters, off Shehu Shagari Way, Central District, Abuja, FCT, on 8th October, 2016, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, had in your possession two valid Diplomatic Passports and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 10 (1) (a) of the Immigration Act 2015.

“Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta, adult, ‘M’, 65 years, of No. 2 Yellow Houses Supreme Court Quarters, Off Shehu Shagari Way, Central District, Abuja, FCT, on 17 September, 2014, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, you knowingly made a false statement to the Passport Office concerning your date of birth for the purpose of procuring an additional Diplomatic Passport for yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 10(1)(c) of the Immigration Act.

“Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta, adult,male, 65 years, of No. 2 Yellow Houses, Supreme Court Quarters, Off Shehu Way, Central District, Abuja, FCT, on September 17, 2014, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, you  submitted multiple application forms to one or more passport offices with the intention of obtaining multiple Diplomatic Passports for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 10 (1) (d) of the Immigration Act 2015 and Punishable under Section 10 (1) of the same Act.”

The Punch

THE WORLD's LONGEST FLIGHTS: Ultra- Long Haul Flying Takes-Off

As 2017 shapes up to be the year for new ultra-long air routes, Britain could find itself sidelined — with the vast majority of the most distant links involving the Gulf, the US and Australasia.

Last week, Air India claimed it had launched the world's longest flight — though this was purely thanks to its choice of routing. The mileages quoted by airlines are for the “Great Circle” route, the shortest distance between the two cities. 

In practice, the actual distance flown is significantly longer for reasons of geo-political sensitivity or, more usually, wind patterns.

For example, the direct track between Los Angeles and Abu Dhabi passes north of Greenland and close to the North Pole, but typically the Etihad flight stays well south, adding 500 miles or more to the 8,387 Great Circle route.

Air India has two very different routings between Delhi and San Francisco to take advantage of the jet stream. Outbound from the Indian capital, the flight goes across the Pacific; inbound, it flies the more direct route over Atlantic. As a result, the Delhi-San Francisco leg often exceeds 9,000 miles, compared with the 7,701 direct track.

At present the two most distant cities linked by a non-stop flight are Dubai and Auckland, 8,824 miles apart. Emirates flies the Airbus A380, the world's biggest passenger jet, daily between the two cities. The journey takes 16h 5m eastbound and 17h 25m westbound.

From 1 February next year, its rival Qatar Airways will also fly non-stop to New Zealand's largest city. As the Qatari capital is over 200 miles further away, the new Doha to Auckland link will take the prize. 

The scheduled journey time is only five minutes longer, as the Boeing 777 to be used for the route has a slightly faster cruising speed.

At present the longest route from Britain is 7,275 miles, in the shape of the Garuda link from Heathrow to Jakarta, the Indonesian capital. The longest hop on a UK airline is 6,906 miles on British Airways from Heathrow to Buenos Aires. 

From January, BA will add a non-stop flight from Heathrow to the Chilean capital, Santiago, 7,249 miles away. But this is well short of the distances covered by the top 10 routes globally.

Eight of the longest 10 links begin or end in the US, and seven start or finish in the Gulf. Three serve Australasia (two to Auckland, one to Sydney). Europe and Asia are unrepresented, with Africa represented only by Johannesburg.

Longest 10 air routes by Great Circle route from February 2017 Route Airline Distance (miles) Doha-Auckland Qatar Airways 9,036 Dubai-Auckland Emirates 8,824 Dallas-Sydney Qantas 8,578 Johannesburg-Atlanta Delta 8,439 Singapore-San Francisco Singapore Airlines/United 8,434 Abu Dhabi-Los Angeles Etihad 8,387 Dubai-Los Angeles Emirates 8,333 Jeddah-Los Angeles Saudia 8,332 Doha-Los Angeles Qatar Airways 8,306 Dubai-Houston Emirates 8,168

As The Independent revealed a year ago, Qantas is considering the first non-stop flight between Europe and Australia, with a link connecting London and Perth. Such a route would become the second-longest worldwide, with a direct distance of 8,991 miles. But the Australian airline is guarded about the possibility. 

Markus Svensson, the carrier's regional general manager in the UK, says: "Potential routes include the likes of Perth-London and Melbourne-Dallas, but Qantas haven't confirmed anything yet."

The Independent understands significant hurdles have emerged to such a pioneering link — involving the airports at each end. The Australian airline will launch the flight only if it can arrive and depart from the Qantas domestic facility at Perth. 

The carrier believes the route will be viable only with easy onward connections to destinations such as Adelaide, Alice Springs and Darwin. At present Perth airport's international terminal is on the “wrong” side of the runway, 15 minutes' drive away. Qantas is demanding that international facilities are installed on its side of the airport.

At the London end, Qantas has fewer slots at Heathrow than it used to hold, and would need to acquire more at a time when prices are extremely high. It is conceivable that Gatwick, where more space is available, could be used instead — though this would reduce connection opportunities to and from the Western Australia flight.

Qantas says it is also considering three new Australia-US flights, holding out the prospect of links between Melbourne and Dallas or Sydney and Chicago. 

The strongest candidate is Sydney-Chicago: it would connect Australia's biggest city with the third-largest in the US, and would have plenty of connecting traffic at either end of the route. 

At 9,238 miles, it would become the longest in the world — until 2018, at least, when Singapore Airlines has vowed to re-launch non-stop flights between Singapore and New York. 

This 9,521-mile link launched in 2004, but closed three years ago when the fuel-heavy A340-500 made it uneconomic. The carrier says it will use a much more efficient A350-900ULR for the reinstated route.

Ultra-long-haul flights are extremely expensive to operate, and depend on relatively cheap oil for profitability. They burn a disproportionate amount of fuel per mile, because of the volume that needs to loaded to sustain the journey, and demand heavy crew resources. The Singapore-New York link operated with six pilots.

Several ultra-long-haul routes have been touted but failed to materialise. Emirates announced last year it would launch a Dubai-Panama City flight of 8,588 miles, and even started selling tickets for it, but the plan was shelved. 

Qatar Airways promised a link from its hub in Doha to Santiago in Chile, 8,967 miles away, but there is no sign of services beginning.

@The Independent

NJC BARS JUDICIAL OFFICIALS STANDING TRIAL OVER CORRUPTION CHARGES FROM OFFICIAL DUTIES

 Justices and judicial officers standing trial will no longer be allowed to perform judicial functions until their cases are determined, the National Judicial Council (NJC) announced today(Thursday), after weeks of pressure from the public.

At least 7 justices from the Supreme Court and the lower courts are under investigation for graft following their arrest by the Department of State Services.Soji Oye, Ag. Director Information of the NJC, announced the suspension of the indicted officers in this statement below.“The National Judicial Council, under the Chairmanship of the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed, GCON, at its 79th Meeting held on the 2nd and 3rd day of November 2016, commenced implementation of specific aspects of the National Judicial Policy which came into force in April 2016 and was launched on Monday 24th  October, 2016.During the Meeting, Council set-up a Transparency and Anti-Corruption Policy Implementation Committee as follows:

1. 1. Hon Justice E. O. Ayoola, CON (Rtd Justice of the Supreme Court) – Chairman.

1. 2. Hon Justice Kashim Zannah, Chief Judge of Borno State – Member.

1. 3. A. B. Mahmoud, SAN, President Nigeria Bar Association – Member.

Section 6 of the National Judicial Policy aims at putting in place multifaceted strategies and guidelines that will ensure transparency and eliminate corruption in the Judiciary. It seeks, amongst other measures, to provide a platform and opportunity to citizens who profess factual and credible knowledge of information on the nature and modalities of corruption in the judicial system to ventilate such.Council also decided that Judicial Officers shall not be standing trial for alleged corruption related offences and be performing judicial functions at the same time. Council however decided that it will ensure that Judicial Officers who are being investigated for alleged high profile criminal offences do not perform judicial functions until their cases are concluded.”

BOMBS, BRIBES AS BOKO-HARAM REFUGEES BEGIN JOURNEY BACK HOME

First, there was the bomb blast that killed eight people. Then, delays as soldiers demanded bribes to escort the survivors on their journey. Finally, the way was blocked by trucks mired in churned-up mud.

When the refugees from Boko Haram's Islamic insurgency eventually made it home to a newly liberated town in northeast Nigeria, they found "people but no food." Last week, as they made the hazardous trip for a second time with food and other supplies, a truck exploded a land mine, wounding several refugees.

But many say the dangerous journey is preferable to the hunger, humiliation and inhumane conditions in refugee camps where more than 1 million Nigerians, displaced by Boko Haram, are waiting to go home. Many are in Maiduguri, the biggest city in the northeast, the birthplace of Boko Haram, which has killed more than 20,000 and forced 2.6 million from their homes.

As Nigeria's military pushes back against the insurgency and declares once-inaccessible regions to be liberated, more and more refugees are weighing whether to return.

The journey is just the first challenge. The returnees find firebombed homes, destroyed wells and the constant fear of attack by the extremists, who roam the region and keeps vast parts of it inaccessible. The fear keeps returnees from planting their crops, despite famine-like conditions that aid workers warn are already killing children and threatening hundreds of thousands.

"Nigeria is facing the worst humanitarian crisis on the African continent," Peter Lundberg, the acting U.N. deputy humanitarian coordinator, said last week.

The Associated Press tracked returnees to the twin towns of Gamboru-Ngala, on the border with Cameroon, which Nigeria's military liberated in August.

The towns had suffered one of the worst attacks by Boko Haram, whose fighters struck the night of May 5, 2014, in two armored cars stolen from the military, firing rocket-propelled grenades and assault rifles. They killed more than 300 people and destroyed almost every building in the towns, which are a major trading post on an international highway.

After the military declared the twin towns liberated, residents eager to return home were told to gather at a bus station on Maiduguri's outskirts. But for weeks, they found little help.

"The government said we could return home, but for over a month now ... we have been abandoned," said one displaced trader, Baba Gana. "We have nothing to eat; some women are resorting to selling their clothing while others take to the streets to beg."

Many residents said soldiers, who say they are not being paid, were demanding bribes to accompany them home. Nigeria's military denied those charges. But truckers confirmed they have to pay the equivalent of up to $600 for military escorts.

This month, a group of residents decided to set out on their own. Before they even left Maiduguri, a bomb exploded in a taxi van, killing eight, according to the emergency management agency.

The determined convoy still set off, only to find the highway blocked by 18 trucks mired in mud on what used to be a paved road, according to Amodu Musa, secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers. He said they hired a crane and towing vans to pull out the vehicles.

"But when we got to Gamboru, we discovered that there were people but no food."

Musa returned to Maiduguri to help organize a convoy of food and other supplies, and plead for a military escort.

That convoy finally got under way last week, with more than 200 buses, taxi vans, cars and trucks loaded high with returnees sitting on piles of yams and bags of rice and flour.

But the convoy had not gone 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) out of the city before a truck exploded a land mine. Several wounded returnees were taken to hospitals in Maiduguri, according to Brig. Gen. Jubrin Muhammed, but the rest of the convoy continued making their way home.

Last week, President Muhammadu Buhari launched a committee to draw up strategy for resettlement and reconstruction of the shattered region. People "have lost to everything to the insurgency," he said.

Associated Press writer Michelle Faul reported from Lagos, Nigeria

Arik Air will support Emirates Airline

Arik Air, West and Central Africa’s largest carrier has re-affirmed its partnership with Emirates Airline in view of their recent decision to suspend their Abuja service.

To clarify some of the misinformation in the press and among the public, Arik Air’s Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Mr. Suraj Sundaram said “Arik Air and Emirates have a long standing partnership through an interline agreement since 2011 which enables Emirates passengers to have access to the entire Arik Air network for connections to and from within Nigerian destinations and to other West African countries. 

This means Arik Air will be able to assist with accommodating Emirates passengers from various Nigerian destinations (including Abuja) and other West African markets to Lagos on Arik Air’s flights for onward connection to the Emirates service from Lagos to Dubai.”

Arik Air’s interline agreement with Emirates Airline increases the travel choices for customers from Nigeria and West Africa to travel to various global destinations offered by the Emirates network.  Such partnership also allows Emirates passengers to tap into Arik Air’s strong network that currently serves 18 destinations in Nigeria and 10 West and Central African destinations.

 

IS JIMOH IBRAHIM TRYING TO EVADE PAYMENT OF N843.2 JUDGEMENT DEBT TO EX NICON AIRWAYS STAFF?

         Dr JIMOH Ibrahim, the defendant

Reports posted by Lateef Lawal

One of those standing for  the upcoming gubernatorial in Ondo State, Dr Jimoh Ibrahim, owner of the defunct NICON Airways is currently embroiled in litigations over his refusal to pay the staffers he laid off when the airline packed up in 2008.

The workers led by Mr Henry Iwelumo  and four others  representing all members of staff of Nicon Airways Limited, whose salaries and allowances have not been paid by the Defendants since may, 2007) had dragged Ibrahim before the National Industrial Court, Abuja in Suit No: N/C/LA/192/2011 before honourable Justice M.N.Esowe.

The Court at the end of the case awarded to the Plaintiffs the sum of N843, 207,151.00 (Eight Hundred and Forty Three Million, Two Hundred and Seven Thousand, One Hundred and Fifty One Naira), as aggregate sum of the salaries, allowances, deductions and contributions of NICON AIRWAYS WORKERS from 2007 till 2010, against the Defendants (DR. JOMIH IBRAHIM & NICON AIRWAYS). 

The Court also ordered Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim to pay the Workers the above sum within six months from 16th September 2013, three years after the date he was supposed to settle the his former staff, Dr. Ibrahim has refused, neglected and failed to pay the above stated salaries and entitlements of the Workers as ordered by the Court, in total disregard and disobedient to the court order. 

Instead, the defendant, through his lawyers, filed an Application to set aside the Judgment on the ground that he was not served personally at his residential address in Ondo State.

It will be recalled that sometime in 2004, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim teamed with Captain Idris Wada and acquired the EAS Airline, which was transformed to NICON Airways and in July 21, 2006, Jimoh acquired 290,000,000 (Two Hundred and Ninety Million) shares of NICON Airways and was appointed the Managing Director of the Since Jimoh has the majority shares in the company. 

The Plaintiffs (workers in the NICON Airways) were employed by the Defendants (NICON Airways) in the Company and have at all material time committed their youthful age in rendering various services to the Company in line with the terms of the employment agreement. 

In May 2007, NICON became indebted to the Plaintiffs as it could not pay the salaries and entitlements of services already rendered by the Plaintiffs in line with the contract of employment.

 

The Plaintiffs led a delegation to one of the Directors of the company, Captain Ibrahim Wada, to demand for their salaries but were duly informed that their salaries would be paid soon.  

Relying on the assurances of the Director of the company, the Plaintiffs continued to render services to the company with the hope that they will receive their salaries.

 

In May 2008, the Plaintiffs resumed in their duty post at the company’s  premises only to discover that the valuables in the office of the company has been carted away by the Directors and their agents. 

All the effort made by the Plaintiffs to reach the Directors of the company was unsuccessful as they switched off their mobile phones.

 

Notwithstanding the above, the Plaintiffs continued to attend the company’s office believing that the Directors of the company would return all the properties of the company they carted away. 

Having waited endlessly without any formal communication whatsoever from the company or the Directors, the Plaintiffs then briefed the law firm of Alpha-Harris Solicitors to institute a court action at the National Industrial Court, Abuja to ventilate their rights to their salaries and entitlements on the ground that “labourers deserve their earned wages and emoluments”.

However, on 7th of June 2015, upon the application of the Workers through their solicitors, ALPHA-HARRIS SOLICITORS, the Honourable Court made an Order for Mareva Injunction attaching the share capitals of Jimoh Ibrahim in the following Companies:

 

1. Nicon Luxury Services Ltd;

2. Nicon Group of Companies Plc;

3. Global Fleet Oil and Gas Ltd;

4. Global Fleet Industries Ltd;

5. Nicon Investment Ltd; and

6. Energy Group Ltd.

 

The Court further made an order for Mr. Jimoh to surrender his share certificates in all these companies to the Chief Registrar of the Court. Instead of obeying the court order, Jimoh Ibrahim has through his lawyers filed an application to discharge the order of court. 

The application is yet to be heard by the court. The case is coming up on Monday, 31st October 2016 for the hearing. 

Meanwhile, the case has suffered several adjournments at the instance of the Jimoh Ibrahim's lawyers trying to delay the Judge from hearing the applications and doing justice in the case. 

It was reliably gathered that  the whole essence of the delay is to wait until he runs for governorship election, and if elected, to evade his obligation to satisfy the judgment sum under the cloak of immunity and is he trying to evade the payment? Only the court can decide when the case comes up next Monday in Abuja.

However, the laid-off workers are suffering and some of them are dead, handicapped by age, hunger and exposed to other traumatic conditions, while Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim and its NICON Airways withheld their salaries and entitlements for about ten years now.

Overloaded train derails in Cameroon; kills 53

An overloaded train derailed along the route that links Cameroon's two major cities last Friday, killing at least 53 people and injuring more than 300, the government said.

The injured could not be evacuated until rail travel is re-established, said government spokesman Issa Tchiroma, adding that the death toll is likely to rise.

"It has been a sad day in Cameroon," he said. "The president has extended his message of condolence to the families that lost their loved ones and asked me to tell all of you that he is concerned about your well-being and quick recovery."

Some of the dead are still lying amid the overturned rail cars while others have been evacuated to the Eseka hospital mortuary.

Volunteer rescue workers, family members and others at the scene gave first aid as those stranded and hurt cried for help in Eseka, where the trained derailed and damaged the rail lines about 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of the capital, Yaounde.

The train that derailed between Yaounde and the port city of Douala had been carrying 1,300 passengers instead of the usual 600, rail officials told state radio. The accident came as heavy rains have caused landslides along roads in the region. A portion of the road linking the capital Yaounde to Douala had collapsed, so the 30-year-old rail lines were overtaxed, the rail officials said.

Eseka is hard to reach by road, and there was panic at the site of the crash where very few doctors and medical staff were available.

Health Minister Andre Mama Fouda, who flew to the scene with other officials, called on medical staff from neighboring towns to come and help and said that the government would take care of the injured.

AP

SOUTH AFRICA WITHDRAWS FROM INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

South Africa has decided to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, after previously ignoring an ICC arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

Reuters and The Associated Press both say they have seen a document, signed by South Africa's foreign minister, declaring the country's intent to withdraw. The AP reports that legislation to finalize the move has to pass South Africa's parliament, but notes that passage of such a bill is likely.

Just days ago, Burundi became the first country ever to withdraw from the ICC. The country's parliament overwhelmingly approved the proposal, and the president signed it into law on Tuesday.

That's two ground-breaking moves to depart from the war crimes court in just one week. The AP notes there are concerns that more African countries will opt to leave the court given longstanding objections to the ICC's focus on the continent — every person tried by the ICC has been African. (Other trials for war crimes and genocide have been carried out by ad hoc tribunals pulled together for a specific conflict, such as those created for Yugoslavia and Cambodia.)

"South Africa was an early supporter and advocate of the court and its withdrawal announcement marks probably the biggest setback yet for the ICC," NPR's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton reports. "Predictions say Kenya will likely be next."

Both Burundi and South Africa have objections to the court that extend beyond its regional focus. Earlier this year, the ICC launched an investigation into killings, sexual assault and torture in Burundi, humanitarian news agency IRIN reports. Burundian officials accused the court of being an "instrument" to destabilize low-income countries.


THE TWO-WAY
Sudanese President Flies Home After South African Court Orders His Arrest
South Africa's departure, meanwhile, is prompted by the country's objections to a warrant for the arrest of Bashir, who was indicted by the ICC in 2009 on charges of war crimes and genocide in Darfur.

The ICC cannot arrest individuals itself; it relies on countries who participate in the court to make arrests. And, the AP notes, it has no enforcement mechanisms to compel countries to carry out their legal obligations.

Last year, Bashir flew to South Africa for a summit. The South African government declined to arrest him, saying they had granted immunity to all heads of state at the summit.

A South African court ruled that the country was obligated to arrest Bashir, but he left the country without an arrest.

Explaining the country's withdrawal from the court, a South African minister says the government does not want to carry out ICC arrest warrants which amount to "regime change," the BBC reports.

The AP has some essential background on the history of the court, and the context for African objections to the tribunal:

"Many in the international community cheered when the treaty to create the ICC, the Rome Statute, was adopted in 1998 as a way to pursue some of the world's worst atrocities: genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Not all countries signed on, and before this week's decisions by Burundi and South Africa, the treaty had 124 states parties. Notable countries that have not become states parties include the United States, China, Russia and India. Some countries are wary of The Hague, Netherlands-based court's powers, seeing it as potential interference. ...

"Only Africans have been charged in the six ICC cases that are ongoing or about to begin, though preliminary ICC investigations have been opened elsewhere in the world, in places like Colombia and Afghanistan. One case that caused considerable anger among African leaders was the ICC's pursuit of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta for his alleged role in the deadly violence that erupted after his country's 2007 presidential election. The case later collapsed amid prosecution claims of interference with witnesses and non-cooperation by Kenyan authorities. The African Union has called for immunity from prosecution for heads of state, and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni at his inauguration in May — with al-Bashir in attendance — declared the ICC to be 'useless.'"

BOKO HARAM RELEASES 21 KIDNAPPED CHIBOK GIRLS

21 Chibok girls that were kidnapped by the dreaded Boko Haram terrorist group have been released. 

The girls were released in the early hours of yesterday (Thursday), October 13. More than 200 girls were abducted from their schools in Borno state in 2014 by the terrorists and while some of them have reportedly died, the rest have been held by the dreaded group. 

A government source  revealed that the terrorists dropped the girls in the Banki area of Borno state where they were subsequently picked up by a military helicopter. 

Some of the mothers of the abducted girls have called on President Buhari to help locate their children.

Garba Shehu, one of the special assistant to the president later confirmed the release of the girls and said they have been handed over to the Department of State Service. 

The release of the girls comes a few months after the group called on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government to release its fighters in exchange for the girls. 

It was however not clear whether or not some Boko Haram members in government custody were released in exchange for the release of the 21 Chibok girls.

This is coming a day after the group carried out a deadly attack through a car bomb in Maiduguri, Borno state, killing eight people. 

Some Nigerians have reacted to the release of the girls with some wondering if Boko Haram terrorists were exchanged for the girls. 

Late yesterday government realised the names of the freed Chibok girls.

They are:

Mary Usman Bulamar, Jummal John, Blessing Abana, Luggwa Sanda, Comfort Abila, Maryam Basheer, Comfort Amos, Glory Mainta, Saratu Emmanuel, Deborah Ja'afaru, Rahab Ibrahim, Helin Musa, Maryamu Lawan, Rebecca Ibrahim, Asabe Goni,Deborah Andrawus, Agnes Gapani, Saratu Markus, Glory Dama, Pinda  Nuhu and Rebecca Mallum.

Gaza-Bound Boat Docks at Israeli Port After Interception

A boat carrying 13 pro-Palestinian female activists was escorted to shore and docked at an Israeli port yesterday (Thursday) after being intercepted by the navy while trying to break Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip, military said.

The military said the women on board, who included a Nobel peace laureate, "were transferred to the appropriate authorities for further processing."

Sabine Haddad, spokeswoman for Israel's Interior Ministry, said 11 of the passengers were being detained for 96 hours and would then be deported.

Haddad said the women were given the option to leave Israel before that time but they refused. The two other women, both journalists, were deported immediately and left Israel Thursday morning.

The boat, docked in the port city of Ashdod, was sponsored by the International Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a collection of pro-Palestinian groups mostly based in Europe.

The coalition has sent several aid boats to Gaza in an effort to draw attention to Israel's blockade of the territory, but last successfully reached the area in 2008.

The Dutch-flagged boat was carrying 13 female activists from different countries, including Mairead Maguire, an Irish Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Organizers said the Israeli navy intercepted the boat about 40 miles (60 kilometers) from the Gaza coast on Wednesday and took over the vessel without any resistance.

In 2010, Israel raided a Turkish-led flotilla bound for Gaza, killing 10 Turks in an incident that sparked a years-long rift with Turkey that is only now being mended.

The boat's arrival coincided with a flare-up of violence along the Gaza border. Gaza militants launched a rocket that slammed into the Israeli city of Sderot, while Israel responded with airstrikes targeting infrastructure belonging to the Islamic militant group Hamas which rules Gaza.

Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade on Gaza after the Hamas militant group seized power in 2007. The blockade has stifled Gaza's already weak economy, where unemployment is over 40 percent, and prevented tens of thousands of people from traveling abroad for jobs, studies and other visits overseas.

Israel says the restrictions are needed to prevent Hamas from importing weapons, and says it has eased the blockade to allow more goods into the territory. It considers Hamas, an armed group sworn to Israel's destruction, a terrorist group, and the sides have fought three wars since the Hamas takeover.

Israel has called on groups wanting to deliver aid to Gaza to do so through its official channels rather than trying to breach the blockade. Virtually all supplies to Gaza enter through Israeli-controlled border crossings after undergoing security checks.

The New York Times/AP