Felipe Calderon: Mexico Won't Pay for Trump's 'Stupid Wall'

Former Mexican President Felipe Calderon (Getty Images) 

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There's no way Mexico will shell out a "single cent" for the "stupid wall" Donald Trump vows to build across the nation's southern border, a former president of Mexico declares.

In an interview with CNBC, former President Felipe Calderon slams the GOP front-runner's oft-stated wall-building promise as "completely crazy."

"The first loser of such a policy would be the United States," Calderon said. "If this guy pretends that closing the borders to anywhere either for trade [or] for people is going to provide prosperity to the United States, he is completely crazy."

"Mexican people, we are not going to pay any single cent for such a stupid wall," he declared in the Saturday interview, the outlet reports. "And it's going to be completely useless."

Trump created a firestorm last summer by declaring "When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best. ...They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."

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Calderon said he found it "incredible that a quite admirable society like the American society could produce such kind of candidates."

"No offense to America," he said. "So Donald Trump … is ambitious but not exactly a very well-informed man, I don't want to say ignorant, but he is not very well informed."

The former president noted migration of the Mexican labor force to the United States has been steadily declining, and that young people in Mexico have more job opportunities there.

"They don't want to go, they can work for a motor company [that's] not in Detroit, I am sorry to say," he said. "They are working for a motor company in Hermosillo and Toluca, so Mazda is coming to Mexico, Honda is coming to Mexico. Those kids have jobs in that industry in Mexico."

UGANDA IS ON FIRE, PRAY FOR UGANDA

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Ugandans vote in presidential, parliamentary and local elections on 18 February, in the third polls since the restoration of multiparty politics in 2005.

President Yoweri Museveni is seeking to extend his 30-year rule and, in vying against seven opposition candidates for a fifth term, he faces his toughest challenge yet.

There are just over 15 million registered electors, out of an estimated population of 37 million.

Who are the main presidential candidates?

President Museveni has been in office since winning a five-year guerrilla war in 1986. At the age of 71, he is one of Africa's longest-serving leaders, and has brooked little opposition to his rule.

His final term was meant to end in May 2006, but in 2005 he won a campaign to lift the constitutional term limits.

Mr Museveni faces criticism from the West over the country's worsening human rights record, and has responded by accusing Western donors of interfering in Uganda's internal affairs.

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Kizza Besigye has stood against his former comrade-in-arms President Museveni in the last three presidential elections on behalf of the main opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).

Amama Mbabazi is another veteran of the governing National Resistance Movement (NRM) to fall out with President Museveni.

He served as prime minister in 2011-2014, when he was dismissed after announcing he would launch a rival presidential bid. He is standing as an independent for the GoForward pressure group.

Ugandan media reports say the government is concerned at Mr Mbabazi's challenge, as he is an insider with extensive connections who could possibly siphon off votes from NRM supporters looking for fresh faces at the top.

The other candidates are unlikely to have any meaningful impact on the outcome of the elections.

How does the voting system work?

The president has executive power as head of state, and is elected for a five-year term.

A candidate is required to win 50% plus one vote in order to win, or else face a run-off with the second-ranked candidate within 30 days.

Parliament has 418 seats, following the creation of 43 new constituencies in 2015.

Members are elected by the first-past-the-post system, with some seats reserved for women, the disabled, and other groups.

Opposition parties allege that the electoral commission has failed to update the voters roll since 2011, which could have an impact on the result if true.

What are the main election issues?

The persistently high unemployment rate, corruption, and the quality of public services are major issues for voters.

Not surprisingly, the top three candidates have highlighted infrastructure development, fighting corruption, job creation, better and affordable health care as their priorities.

How best to exploit the country's oil reserves, discovered in 2006, has also been a subject of debate.

Has the election campaign been free and fair?

The Human Rights Network-Uganda and the international group Human Rights Watch have reported an intensifying government crackdown on opposition leaders, their supporters and the media.

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Both Mr Mbabazi and Mr Besigye have had their rallies broken up over allegations that they were unsanctioned.

The state has also restricted opposition access to the media.

In January police raided a printing press in Kampala where the FDC manifesto was being printed, and the government barred the independent NTV Uganda channel from NRM rallies over what it deemed to be poor coverage of President Museveni's campaign.

African Centre for Media Excellence analysis of December coverage says the state-owned Uganda Broadcasting Corporation gave President Museveni 44% of its airtime, Mr Mbabazi 24%, and Mr Besigye just 4%.

Who is likely to win the presidential race?

Despite discontent over public services and transparency, and a stronger-than-usual opposition challenge, President Museveni is widely expected to win re-election.

The failure of the opposition to field a joint candidate after talks in October 2015 is one factor, and the desire to maintain stability another.

Chrissie Hynde prompts outrage by saying rape victims 'have to take responsibility' for what happens

Chrissie Hynde told a magazine that victims 'have to take responsibility' The former Pretenders star, 63, was speaking about her own experiences She was attacked by a biker gang aged 21 and says it was her fault Victim Support hit back arguing that no victim should blame themselves.

Singer Chrissie Hynde, 63, pictured on TV programme The Culture Show, said she blames herself for being forced to perform sexual acts under the threat of violence

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The singer pictured in her 20s when she says she was sexually assaulted by a biker gang - who promised to take her to a party, but instead took her to an empty house

A spokesperson for the charity said it was critical that nothing deterred women from coming forward to police so they can get the help and support they need.

Chrissie made the comments to the Sunday Times Magazine in relation to an incident that happened to her when she was younger.

The star recalled how she crossed paths with members of one of Ohio's leather-clad gangs who promised to take her to a party - but instead took her to an empty house.

Said Fella...of Mkubwa na Wanawe Family Runs For "UDIWANI" at KILUNGULE Via CCM

There Goes another Famous Guy into Politics...Hahaaa #Vote for #Said Fella...of Mkubwa na Wanawe Family for "UDIWANI" at KILUNGULE Via CCM....Vote Vote Vote...

See Zari The Boss Lady only 3 weeks after Delivery now she is Flying Hot..

Most Trending Photo on Instgram Today... See Zari The Boss Lady only 3 weeks after Delivery now she is Flying Hot.. This Is how she Captioned Herself:-
"When she just had a baby 3 weeks ago and she still fly and she knows it too. 😂😂😂arrghh mehnnnnn I know I can be arrogant at times.... nahhhh it's confidence🙌"

Hot Pic of Shilole Rocking it Hard with "The Last Born" T Shirt Brand of Her L0ver

Hot Pic of Shilole Rocking it Hard with "The Last Born" T Shirt Brand of Her L0ver..@Nuh Mziwanda... Hey The Issue of BASATA Doesn't Concern with Live Performance at Politics Stage?!!

Zari The Boss Lady.... Who is Tiffah's Real Daddy?!!

KIMENUKA! Baada ya madai kwamba mtoto Latifah ‘Tiffah’ si damu ya Mbongo Fleva, Nasibu Abdul ‘Diamond’ huku shemeji wa zamani wa Zarinah Hassan ‘Zari’ (mama Tiffah), King Lawrence naye kusema mtoto huyo ni wake, kuna taarifa mpya zinazodai kuwa, Zari ameitwa kwao, Uganda ili akamalize ubishi juu ya suala hilo, Risasi Jumamosi limenasa mchapo kamili.
Hivi karibuni baada ya Zari kujifungua, King Lawrence alijitokeza na kudai kuwa, mtoto huyo ni wake na kusema kama kuna anayebisha kiitishwe kipimo cha vinasaba (DNA), hivyo kuibua mkanganyiko na taarifa zilizozagaa awali kuwa, mtoto huyo ni wa aliyekuwa mume wa Zari, Ivan Ssemwanga.

TUJIUNGE NA CHANZO
Kwa mujibu wa chanzo makini, hivi karibuni, Zari alipigiwa simu na mama yake mzazi, Halima Hassan akimtaka aende nyumbani kwao ili akawaeleze ukweli ndugu zake ambao wamekuwa njia panda baada ya kuibuka kwa taarifa kwamba Tiffah si wa Diamond ambaye familia inamtambua kwa sasa.
“Taarifa zinawafikia tofauti. Kuna zile za awali kwamba mtoto huyo ni wa Ivan, mara zikaibuka nyingine kwamba ni wa King Lawrence hivyo mama amemuita Zari ili akategue kitendawili hicho kumaliza ubishi.

ATAKIWA KWENDA NA UKWELI
“Amemtaka aende na ukweli moyoni maana yeye (Zari) ndiye anayeujua. Hata hiyo DNA haina maana. Ameambiwa kwamba siku zote mama ndiye anayejua ukweli wa mtoto ni wa nani,” kilisema chanzo hicho.

ATAKIWA AMUOGOPE MUNGU
Chanzo kilizidi kunyetisha kuwa, mbali na kumtaka aende na ukweli, familia imemtahadharisha atakapofika aseme ukweli kwa kumuogopa Mungu maana vinginevyo dhambi hiyo itamhukumu maisha yake yote.
“Ametahadharishwa na familia kwamba anapaswa kumuogopa Mungu maana ni dhambi mtoto wa baba huyu kumpa baba huyu. Wao Kama familia wanajua Tiffah ni wa Diamond. Sasa wanakangaywa na hao wanaodai wao ndiyo haswa wahusika.

HAWAHOFII KAMA SI WA DIAMOND
“Familia imesema haina shida hata kama itakuwa mtoto si wa Diamond lakini wanachotaka wao ni kujua ukweli tu.” Chanzo.

DIAMOND ANASEMAJE?
Katika mazungumzo yake na mwandishi wetu hivi karibuni baada ya King Lawrence kuibuka na barua ya wakili kuitisha kipimo cha DNA akidai mtoto ni wake, Diamond alisisitiza kwamba mtoto huyo ni damu yake hivyo hana muda wa kubishana na mtu.

“Huyo jamaa (King Lawrence) atakuwa anatafuta kiki katika vyombo vya habari. Huyohuyo ndiye alianza kusema mtoto si wangu ni wa Ivan mara amegeuka tena na kusema ni wake yeye, hata haeleweki. Siwezi kujibishana naye.
“Hata hiyo barua aliyosema ni ya wakili ya kutaka DNA, haijatufikia! Nasikia tu kwenye vyombo vya habari na mitandao ya kijamii,” alisema Diamond.

KUHUSU SAFARI
Alipotafutwa Diamond ili aeleze kuhusu taarifa za mama Tiffah kuitwa nchini Uganda ili akaeleze ukweli, alisema hayo ni mambo ya kifamilia zaidi na hata hivyo haoni tatizo ndugu kumwita Zari kwani ukweli Tiffah ni damu yake na hakuna mabadiliko yoyote yatakayotokea.
“Tiffah ni damu yangu hata akienda hakuna kitakachobadilika. Sina wasiwasi maana mimi najua mahesabu yake yote na ninajua mpaka tarehe niliyokutana naye na mtoto akawepo,” alisema Diamond huku akisema, Zari hana nafasi ya kuongea na vyombo vya habari.

NCHINI UGANDA
Nchini Uganda, bado baadhi ya vyombo vya habari vimekuwa vikiripoti mkanganyiko wa mtoto wa Diamond ambapo baadhi ya magazeti yametaka Zari aende akapime DNA ili kujiridhisha kuhusu uhalisia.

AFRIKA KUSINI
Nazo habari kutoka nchini Afrika Kusini ambako ndiko kwenye makazi ya Zari, baadhi ya Wabongo wanaoishi jirani na Zari walisema wanatambua uwepo wa Diamond kama mpenzi mpya wa Zari kwa hiyo hakuna shaka kuwa yeye ndiye baba (biological father) wa Tiffah.
Akizungumza na Risasi Jumamosi kwa njia ya simu juzi, mkazi mmoja wa eneo hilo aliyejitambulisha kwa jina moja la Steve, alisema amekuwa akimfuatilia kwa karibu King Lawrence kupitia Instagram yake akidai kwamba yeye ni baba wa Tiffah, lakini sehemu kubwa ya watu wenye ujirani na Zari kule wanaamini, Diamond ndiye baba husika.

“Kuhusu Diamond kuwa baba wa Latifah hilo halina ubishi. Hata sisi huku tunajua hivyo. Hili suala liangaliwe kwa macho matatu. Nahisi kuna ‘vita’ ya sisi Watanzania na Waganda kuhusu mtoto,” alisema Mbongo huyo.

Source:Globalpublishers