Hollande Threatens: Ceasefire Should Be Reached In Ukraine For France to Deliver Mistral to Russia

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French President Francois Hollande set terms for Mistral delivery to Russia, saying that his conditions were a ceasefire and a political settlement in Ukraine, Reuters reported Thursday. «What are the conditions? A ceasefire and a political settlement… Today these conditions are not in place,” Hollande said as quoted by Reuters. On the sidelines of a NATO summit currently held in Wales, Hollande told reporters that the contract for two Mistral-class helicopters carriers was neither cancelled, nor suspended, but mentioned that the above conditions must be met in order for the ships to be delivered to Russia. 

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Africa plans emergency force, but can it deliver?

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NAIROBI  (AFP)

Aware that they have failed to get a fully-fledged peacekeeping force up and running, African leaders now plan a rapid-deployment emergency force, but analysts question whether it can deliver.

The African Union’s “African Standby Brigade”, meant to intervene swiftly in regional crises, has made little headway since preparations for a proposed force of 32,500 troops and civilians drawn from the continent’s five regions started a decade ago.

Only two of five regional sections are close to becoming operational.

A new emergency force announced this week is intended to bridge the gap pending the full coming into operation of that brigade, AU security chief Ramtane Lamamra said at the organisation’s headquarters in the Ethiopian capital.

Heavy Lola Omotayo off to the US to deliver

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Peter Okoye's baby's mum, Lola Omotayo, left for the US this past weekend for delivery. Lola is due to deliver her second child sometime in January. Peter and Lola already have a four year old son, Cameron.