It will be the longest tour of Asia by a US president in 25 years.

The trip comes at a time of heightened tensions with North Korea over its nuclear programme and missile tests.

Mr Trump is expected to show a united front with South Korea and Japan while pressing China to take a stronger line with Pyongyang.

President Trump flew first to the US state of Hawaii where he visited the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor – the scene of the 1941 Japanese attack that drew the US into World War Two.

He also took part in a briefing at the US Pacific Command.

From Hawaii, he and First Lady Melania Trump will head to Japan and then on to South Korea.

Mr Trump has previously exchanged some fiery rhetoric with North Korea over its ballistic missile tests but aides said earlier this week that he would not go to the heavily fortified demilitarized zone (DMZ) on the border between the South and North.

He is, however, to visit Camp Humphreys, a US military complex south of the capital, Seoul.

In Vietnam, Mr Trump will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit in Danang and make a state visit to Hanoi.

His final engagement will be a summit of South-East Asian nations in the Philippine capital, Manila.

The last time a US president made such a marathon trip to Asia was when George HW Bush visited the region in late 1991 and early 1992.

While in Japan on that trip, Mr Bush fainted and vomited during a banquet.

President Trump’s itinerary

• Sunday, 5 November: Arrives in Japan. Golf with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and professional player Hideki Matsuyama at Kasumigaseki Country Club. Bilateral meetings with Mr Abe
• Tuesday, 7 November: In South Korea for talks with President Moon Jae-in. Mr Trump will also address the National Assembly
• Wednesday, 8 November: Arrives in China for a series of events including meetings with President Xi Jinping
• Friday, 10 November: Travels to Danang, Vietnam, and will participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit
• Saturday, 11 November: Travels to Hanoi, Vietnam, for talks with President Tran Dai Quang and other Vietnamese leaders
• Sunday, 12 November: Arrives in Manila, Philippines, to take part in a gala dinner for the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)
• Monday, 13 November: Will attend the Asean summit in Manila and hold talks with President Rodrigo Duterte

–

Source: BBC

The post Donald Trump embarks on marathon tour of Asia appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr. Agyapong is alleged to have said on some Accra-based radio stations, that Asantes are sabotaging one of the leading contenders for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo Addo’s quest to become president.

He reportedly accused sympathizers of the party in the Ashanti Region, widely thought to be the stronghold of the NPP, of opposing  Nana Akufo Addo because he is an Akyem.

The comments have been strongly condemned by several individuals and groups, including the Asante Youth Association who described them as “cheap politics.”

Sam Pyne told Citi News that the comments made by Mr Agyapong “unfortunate”  and should not be taken seriously.

He stated that Mr. Agyapong’s views were his own and was not the “stance of the party.”

“I don’t believe there is any bad blood between the people of the Ashanti Region and Nana Addo.

“Nana enjoys a lot of support from the Ashanti Region..there are very close relations between the Asantes and Akyems”

Mr Pyne added that the whole Asante-Akyem argument was a “propaganda piece from the stables of the NDC with Ben Ephson pushing that agenda seriously for them”  that should be disregarded by the supporters of the NPP.

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ken Agyapong’s comments “unfortunate” and irrelevant– Ashanti NPP appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.