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Boeing is eliminating about 50 executive positions as part of a restructuring of the company’s defence and space unit, the group announced on 13 June. Boeing Military Aircraft and Network & Space Systems, two of the reporting groups in the defence unit, will be broken up into smaller

Quebec-based shipyard Chantier Davie has almost completed its Project Resolve auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) conversion, company executives have told Jane’s. The Resolve-class AOR, a converted Greek container ship, is an interim solution to provide the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) with a

A UNIVERSITY faculty member was wounded when an explosive device inside a package detonated at Yonsei University in the South Korea's capital Seoul on 12 June, Reuters reported. Reports added that the package was placed in a shopping bag and left outside of his office. There was no immediate claim

Fincantieri has reached a deal to acquire all of fellow Italian firm Isslenord, taking a majority stake in the company as of 13 June but due to take complete control of the company as part of the agreement. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed but it is being completed through Fincantieri

The Finnish Defence Force (FDF) is expecting to commence training on the Samsung Techwin K9 Thunder 155 mm/52 calibre self-propelled (SP) artillery systems in 2019, director of artillery Colonel Pasi Pasivirta revealed during the latest IQPC Future Artillery conference in London. The FDF ordered 48

Germany granted export permits for defence products worth EUR6.85 billion (USD7.67 billion) in 2016, the country's annual government report on the subject finds. This is a decline of around EUR1 billion compared with 2015's EUR7.86 billion. The downward trend appears to be continuing in 2017, as in

As part of a wider role-based restructuring of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the Combat Intelligence Collection Corps (CICC) has been given responsibility for building up, training, and arming border security units, a senior officer has told Jane's . Previously, the corps was in charge of five

June 13, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudanese government denied on Tuesday that the summit of the regional leaders has called for a review of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) to accommodate the views of the holdout groups.

An extraordinary session of the IGAD heads of states meeting in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa (IGAD File photo)

"That is not true. All those reports are misleading. The IGAD communiqué is very clear. You read it again for yourself. From what I read and which is already in the public, it only called for a High-level Revitalization Forum of the parties," cabinet affairs minister Martin Elia Lomuro told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday

"The use of revitalization means not the agreement but the confidence building of the parties to recommit themselves, especially those who decided to not participate in the implementation of the agreement, which is the only means of ending the conflict and bring peace to the country," he further said.

The minister was reacting to reports saying that the IGAD leaders in their extraordinary meeting of Monday agreed on the need to prioritize the ARCSS implementation to the government-led national dialogue process.

Meanwhile, Petroleum Minister Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth told reporters upon arrival at Juba international airport that the regional leaders pledged to support the implementation of the peace agreement in South Sudan, not review of the agreement.

“Basically, the revitalization means support to the implementation of the agreement and that's basically what it is, so the IGAD as guarantors of the agreement they have to make sure that the implementation of the agreement is not delayed,” said Gatkuoth.

“There is nothing called review of the agreement or renegotiation of the agreement or nothing at all in the IGAD meeting. It was clearly stated that the only way for us to bring peace to South Sudan is to implement the agreement that was signed in 2015,” he added.

“It is a bible and nobody will be tempering with it and it has to be implemented as it is, and whoever is holding out not to be part of the process, IGAD will not entertain those people.”

The communiqué seen by Sudan Tribune calls for convening an "urgent High-level Revitalization Forum of the parties to the ARCSS including estranged groups to discuss concrete measures, to restore permanent ceasefire, to full implementation of the Peace Agreement and to develop a revised and realistic timeline and implementation schedule towards a democratic election at the end of the transition period".

It mandates the IGAD Council of Ministers to urgently convene and facilitate this forum in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and directs the Chairperson of JMEC and the Executive Secretary of IGAD to provide the necessary secretariat and logistical arrangements.

The SPLM-IO Riek Machar says First Vice President Taban does not represent them in the implementation process. That means they want their leader and other leading figures to participate in the government in line with the power-sharing deal to take part in the implementation process.

They also want to discuss the details of a ceasefire agreement ant to take part in the cease-fire commission etc... For them, all these measures should be implemented before the dialogue or the reconciliation process.

On the other hand, Juba rejects the participation of Riek Machar in the government or the national dialogue but accepts that his group join them in the political process and eventually in the government.

(ST)

A l'issue d'un dîner de travail, le président français Emmanuel Macron et la Première ministre britannique Theresa May ont tenu une conférence de presse conjointe dans le jardin de l'Elysée. Au menu des discussions, le Brexit et la lutte antiterroriste, un défi de taille quelques jours seulement après les attentats sanglants de Londres et de Manchester. Le président Macron a annoncé à cette occasion un plan d'action concret pour renforcer la lutte antiterroriste.

June 13, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Central Bureau of Statistics (CBoS) on Monday reported that inflation has increased to 35,52 % in May from 34,81 in April.

A Sudanese woman shops for Ramadan at a market in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, on 8 July 2013 (Photo: AP/Abd Raouf)

According to the CBoS monthly bulletin, the consumer price index in May reached 758.46 points, up 20.48 points from April while the general food and beverage price index rose by 34.82 points in May.

The CBoS added that the food and beverage group contributed to the overall price rise by % 59.40, while the other 11 goods and service groups contributed % 40.59, saying the general price index in the rural areas has increased by 39,18 points.

Last month, Sudan's finance minister said inflation rate has jumped to 33,7% in the first quarter of 2017, compared to 12.3% for the same period last year, an increase of more than 260%.

He attributed the increase in inflation rate to the impact of the fiscal policy reforms implemented by the government at the end of last year.

In November 2016, Sudanese government lifted fuel subsidies and increased electricity price in a bid to control a surge in inflation and stop the fall of Sudanese pound in the black market.

According to the 2017 budget, the growth rate would decline from 6,4% in 2016 to 5,3% and the targeted average inflation rate is 17%.

Prices and services have soared in Sudan since South Sudan seceded in 2011, taking with it three-quarters of the country's oil output, the main source of foreign currency used to support the Sudanese pound.

The Sudanese pound has lost 100% of its value since South Sudan's secession, pushing inflation rates to record levels given that country imports most of its food.
Ordinary citizens continue to complain from cost of living increases that impaired their access to basic commodities.

(ST)

Research in the US and Europe suggests that black sports people are more at risk of cardiac arrest.

June 13, 2017 (JUBA)- South Sudanese rival forces have issued statements in which they both claimed control of strategic border towns after clashes over its control in different places last weekend.

SPLA soldiers are seen at the airport in Bor January 19, 2014. (Photo Reuters/Andreea Campeaunu)

Spokesperson of the government forces denied on Tuesday reports claiming there were clashes in which the rebel factions have gained control of strategic towns along the northern border areas with the Sudan.

" I am aware of these reports. I know that our forces are in control of the positions in which they were before a declaration of the ceasefire by the president. They have never left and nobody has taken over these positions. They are still occupying them as I am speaking to you. All those reports in the media, especially in the social media are unfounded propaganda", said Colonel Santo Domic Chol on Tuesday

The military spokesman for the government was responding to statements by two rebel factions operating under different commands on Monday claiming to have gained control of key border towns in areas of their operations.

If such developments are confirmed, observers say it could result in large-scale military activities in a country hit by famine and economic hardships, despite repeated declaration of a unilateral ceasefire.

Brig. Gen William Gatjiath Deng, the Military Spokesman of the SPLA-IO faction allied to the former First Vice President Riek Machar, claimed in a statement on Monday that their forces have captured Kuek town, located in the border area in northern Upper Nile near the Sudanese border after fighting on Sunday.

Deng claimed that clashes erupted after the government troops attacked their positions near Kuek area, forcing them to respond in self-defense in which they seized military equipment from the government forces.

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Deng Mareng, spokesman for an armed group under the command of Agany Ayii Akol whose forces coordinate military efforts with the faction of Peter Gadet, claimed their forces captured a military post under Warguet community in Aweil East state after clashing with the government forces. The group operate in an area near the Sudanese border.

Mareng claimed their forces also inflicted heavy losses on the government forces and seized military equipment during the fighting.

He further said one soldier was killed and two others were wounded from their side during clashes which erupted on Sunday and resumed on Monday.

(ST)

BAE Systems has secured a new $180.5m deal from the US Navy to continue manufacturing advanced precision kill weapon system (APKWS) laser-guided rockets, in order to meet rising domestic and international demand for the systems.

Global aviation maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) services provider Vector Aerospace has begun implementing the maintenance programme for the Pakistan Navy's Sea King helicopter fleet.

Saab has signed a framework agreement with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to provide maintenance and support services for the Swedish Navy's submarines and submarine rescue systems.

In a contentious Senate hearing, Trump’s top law enforcement officer called Russiagate allegations “scurrilous” and said he has been the victim of a smear campaign.

A boy and a girl survive, but two deaths are confirmed after a building collapsed in Nairobi.

(Own report) - A strategy paper prepared by the US Atlantic Council think tank - with the assistance of Germany's CDU-affiliated Konrad Adenauer Foundation - is proposing measures for Western powers to take to insure their continued influence in Iraq following the fall of Mosul. According to the paper, published a few days ago, US military forces should remain in Iraq for the foreseeable future, train and equip Iraqi forces to prevent IS from regrouping and recovering after its expected defeat. To push back Iran's influence, measures should also be taken to help the country's economic development. In Baghdad, a government "strongly inclined to cooperate closely with the United States" is needed, the paper states, and calls for US allies - particularly European countries - to engage in Iraq to "tackle sensitive areas in which the United States is not seen as neutral." Berlin is already using this opportunity to build its own base of influence in Iraq and is supporting the reconstruction of towns recaptured from the IS. Insuring western control of Iraq is considered all the more urgent, since Russia could successfully obtain major influence in Damascus following the anticipated end of the Syrian war.