Snowden, Obama, Ecuador Updates: Russia did not invite Snowden, Obama will not intercept plane

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Russia did not invite Edward Snowden onto Russian territory. This was announced on Thursday by the Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak. Former CIA officer and NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who revealed the details of secret U.S. intelligence spying programs, fled from the U.S. to Hong Kong, and on June 23, flew to Moscow intending to move onward to Havana.

Currently he is in the transit area of Sheremetyevo international airport, pending a decision by Ecuador from which he has asked for political asylum.

Kislyak does not believe that the problem of Snowden, who did not cross the border into Russia, could complicate relations between Moscow and Washington.

Earlier in the day, President Barack Obama said he "would not use fighter jets to intercept the plane with Snowden, wherever he was going."

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U.S. Senate passes immigration bill, 11 million foreigners on a path to American citizenship.

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The U.S. Senate, after a decade of trying and failing, on Thursday passed a wide-ranging immigration bill that would put 11 million foreigners now living illegally in the United States on a path to American citizenship.

The U.S. Senate's vote passing a broad immigration reform bill fell two votes short of what some of its main backers had said was necessary to pressure the House of Representatives to act.

The Senate voted 68-32 for the bill, giving more than two-thirds support in the 100-member chamber. Earlier, backers said they were pushing to get 70 votes to help sway the more conservative House to consider it.

Nelson Mandela is on life support Machine

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Anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela is on life support, unable to breathe on his own, an elder in the South African icon’s clan said Wednesday, all but extinguishing hopes for his recovery.

“Yes, he is using machines to breathe,” Napilisi Mandela told AFP after visiting the much-loved 94 year old’s bedside in Pretoria. “It is bad, but what can we do.”

Just how bad becomes clearer by the hour. President Jacob Zuma late Wednesday abruptly cancelled a visit planned to neighbouring Mozambique after visting Mandela’s Pretoria hospital.

 

It is the first time Zuma has scrapped an engagement since Mandela was hospitalised nearly three weeks ago.

Tsarnaev indicted on 30 counts, including using weapon of mass destruction

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A federal grand jury has returned a 30-count indictment against Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the surviving suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings, the U.S. attorney's office said Thursday. Tsarnaev was charged with using weapons of mass destruction, among other charges.

The double bombings near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on April 15 killed three people and injured at least 264.  Police took Tsarnaev into custody on April 19 after finding him hiding in a boat in the backyard of a Watertown, Massachusetts, home.  The other bombing suspect, his brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev, died after a gunfight with authorities hours before his brother's arrest. After much secrecy and protest, Tamerlan was buried in a rural Virginia cemetery.

Reuters
Read more: http://english.ruvr.ru/news/2013_06_27/Tsarnaev-indicted-on-30-counts-including-using-weapon-of-mass-destruction-6442/

FG recovers £22.5m stolen assets abroad – Adoke

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Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke, said on Thursday that his ministry had recovered more than twenty million pounds allegedly stolen from Nigeria’s coffers.

Adoke, who said this at the 2013 Ministerial Platform in Abuja, noted that the money was recovered from one Raj Arjandes Bhojwani, an Indian national and associate of late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.

He said that the assets were recovered in 2011, adding that the ministry was able to recover and repatriate the money following its negotiations with the Island of Jersey.

“During the period under review, the ministry intensified its efforts to trace and repatriate Nigeria’s stolen assets abroad.  “In this connection, we have maintained effective liaison and communication with targeted jurisdictions to keep pace with assets recovery proceedings in those jurisdictions.

“In 2011, our close liaison and negotiation with the Island of Jersey led to the recovery and repatriation of the sum of £22.5 million confiscated by the Royal Court of Jersey from Raj Arjandes Bhojwani, an Indian national and associate of General Sani Abacha on account of his money laundering transactions from Nigeria.“

UK visa bond: Nigeria’ll reciprocate – Sen Nwagwu

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Senator Matthew Nwagwu (PDP Imo North), chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, is not happy with the proposed UK visa bond policy which seeks to compel visitors from some countries, including Nigeria to deposit to UK immigration authority, the sum of 3,000 pounds which they would forfeit if they overstay their visits. In this interview, he said Nigeria would pay UK in her own coins at the appropriate time.  What is the position of the Senate on the proposed United Kingdom policy that seeks to force visitors to UK to deposit 3,000 pounds to their immigration authority?

But as a Nigerian, I have to say that any government including the UK government has the right to make a law that will protect its interest. So it’s left to Nigeria also to make the law that will protect Nigerian citizens’ interests also. When they inform us officially on this policy, we will sit down to study it and then respond to them officially. We will not accept it if Nigeria is branded among the countries they are targeting and we will respond to them in that order. That is what we call reciprocity. If the policy comes into effect, it’s left to Nigerians also to begin to find alternative travel destinations.

Two People Killed As Fulani People Steal Their 50 Cows

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Two people have been killed and 50 cattle rustled by some suspected Fulani militias in a mid-night attack on Rebet community in Foron District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The names of those killed are Yakubu Ishaya and Jawo Gyang.  Confirming the incident yesterday in Jos, the state capital, the Special Task Force (STF) spokesman, Captain Salisu Mustapher, said: “There was an attack on Rebet community of Bakin Kogi village in Foron District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area. Two people were killed while some cattle were rustled in the process.”  Mustapher, however, said that two suspect were arrested in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State in connection with the incident.

According to him, security personnel have embarked on efforts to arrest the perpetrators.

Worrisome :Two choristers cut younger member’s face with blade over affair with choir master

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Two women, Temitope Abigeal and Temitope Remi, have already been arraigned before a Chief Magistrate's Court in Ebute Meta on a three count of conspiracy, assault and grievous harm.  Abigeal (26) and Remi (28), choristers at a Cherubim and Seraphim church at Ebute Meta, were speculated to have assaulted Hannah Okurabe (18) with razor blades at Abule Nla junction, a few metres from the church.   The incident was reported to be caused by a youthful fight over the church's choirmaster, Joseph Unuigbe, a father of two. Joseph Unuigbe is married to a girl who is also a member of the same church.  Hannah is presently receiving treatment at the Lagos Island General Hospital, while Abigeal and Remi have already been remanded in Kirikiri until they meet their bail terms

CIA starts arming Syria rebels from Jordan stashes

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Informed US diplomats and officials have confirmed that the Central Intelligence Agency has begun shipping weapons to Jordan in a move to gear up vetted Syrian rebels within a month, the Wall Street Journal reports.

 Earlier this month, US President Barack Obama authorized a covert plan that will see more arms shipments being moved to Jordan from a network of secret warehouses. These new deliveries, together with rebel training and a simultaneous push to mobilize shipments from EU and Arab allies, are timed to allow a concerted push by the Syrian militants starting by early August.

Man Nearly Kill His Wife Using Pineapple

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There was no weapons throughout the house but one unlucky woman got knocked unconscious with a pineapple, based on police reports.  Authorities said a 42-year-old Ann Arbor, Michigan man apparently struck his wife unconscious with a pineapple during a battle at home.  Officers responded based on reports to the University of Michigan Hospital on Friday night after staff were notified in regards to the injury to a woman, 32-years-old.  No-one knows exactly when the woman was hit or what prompted the fight. 

Police said the girl did not cooperate beyond providing them with basic information.  Police say they found evidence of a battle at home. Any office of the Washtenaw County prosecutor was asked to consider the request of the police for an arrest warrant on the man.  Police suspect that during a domestic violence incident the man grabbed the pineapple and hit his wife in the head thereby knocking her unconscious, based on police reports. Since the woman refused to let her husband be locked up for the crime maybe she won't allow pineapples anymore into her home.