Wednesday, October 8, 2014

US in De Facto Alliance With Iran to Fight IS Threat: Expert





 The United States has de facto formed an alliance with Iran to fight the Islamic State (IS) movement, despite the strong reluctance by US officials to admit it, the former director of the Iraq program at the National Security Council told RIA Novosti.
"We are in a unique position where, in the extremely short term, our interests and Iran's inside Iraq are almost identical," said Douglas Ollivant during a New America web discussion on Wednesday.

"So, de facto we're in an alliance with Iran. Now, I don't expect anyone in a position of power in the US government to ever say that," he said, continuing that much of the realities and facts of the region are "politically inconvenient to say."
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Ukraine SITREP October 8th, 16:00 UTC/Zulu: The calm before the storm?




Military situation
The situation in the Ukraine and Novorussia is a very tense and could lead to a major resumption of hostilities.
The Junta Repression Forces (JRF) have used the ceasefire to lick their wounds, get reorganized, concentrate their forces, bring in much needed reinforcements, prepare defensive fortifications and bring in new units.  The Novorussian Armed Forces (NAF) have done the same but, unlike the JRF, the NAF suffer from a lack of equipment, possibly made worse by a reduction of the flow of weapons, in particular heavy ones, from Russia (the so-called voentorg).  In terms of personnel, the influx of volunteers to the NDF has remained steady and strong.
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Australian Air Force Launches First Airstrikes Against IS Positions in Iraq





The Australian Air Force has launched its first airstrikes against Islamic State positions in Iraq, the country’s Defense Ministry said in a statement early on Thursday.
“Overnight the Australian Air Task Group operating in the Middle East attacked its first target in Iraq. Two bombs were dropped from an F/A-18F Super Hornet on to an ISIL facility,” the ministry said.
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US Aggressive Policy Toward Russia Could Trigger Nuke War: Nuclear Disarmament Advocate




Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown a great deal of restraint in the face of provocations by the United States and NATO directly at the Russian borders, but a conflict between the two greatest nuclear powers remains a very grim perspective, Dr. Helen Caldicott, an author and nuclear disarmament advocate told RIA Novosti.

"Putin... I think he is being very restrained at the moment," Dr. Caldicott said during a press briefing on Wednesday, adding that US attempts to create an enemy image around Putin are "totally inappropriate."
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Spain Health Authorities Euthanize Ebola Patient's Pet Despite Protests: Official




Madrid health authorities have euthanized Excalibur, a dog belonging to the Spanish nurse suffering from the Ebola virus, EFE news agency reported Wednesday, citing officials.
“Unfortunately we had no other choice,” Madrid regional government health spokesman Javier Rodriguez said.  The report was confirmed by Partido Animalista – PACMA, a Spanish political party focused in the animal rights.
“We confirm the bad news. Excalibur was killed. From the bottom of the heart, we thank you for your support. We will keep working," the organization said on its Twitter page.

Another Passenger Check to Be Introduced in US Airports Due to Ebola Threat: White House



Additional measures to prevent the Ebola virus from entering the United States will be introduced in five airports of the country: in New York, Washington, Chicago and Atlanta, White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters on Wednesday.
"Additional layer of screening will be put in five airports across the countries. These five airports are the destination of 94 percent of individuals who travel to the US from the tree countries that are currently affected by Ebola right now," Earnest said.


"We continue to have a lot of confidence in screening measures that are already in place. By far the most effective measures that are already in place are… the screening that takes place in these tree countries in West Africa," the spokesman said. "Preventing those individuals, who already exhibiting the symptoms of Ebola from boarding the plane is the most effective measure that would counter and has countered the spread of Ebola."
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Another US Patient With Signs of Ebola Hospitalized in Texas: Reports



A sheriff’s deputy who had been in the apartment of the deceased US Ebola patient and contacted his relatives was taken to a Texas hospital on Wednesday after exhibiting symptoms of the lethal virus disease, CBS cited Dallas officials as saying.
“The deputy expressed concern and we directed that deputy to the Dallas County Health & Human Services for care. We now wait for further information as medical staff attends to the deputy,” the Dallas County Sheriff's office said Wednesday as quoted by CBS.
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US Deploys 100 Marines to Liberia to shoot and kill "Ebola"- Department of Defense





 One hundred members of the US Marine Air Ground Task Force are being sent to Liberia to provide interim re-supply and transportation support in the wake of the Ebola virus outbreak, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced Wednesday.
"They are being sent down there as a bridging capability," DoD Spokesman, Rear Admiral John Kirby, said.

The Marines are being sent ahead of the US Army team slated to be deployed to Liberia later this month to battle the Ebola virus outbreak.
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Presidency slams RichestLifeStyle Website, threatens Author with libel, defamation




Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati just released this statement:


We have noted with consternation the listing of President  Goodluck Ebele Jonathan by a website – RichestLifestyle.com - as the sixth richest African President with an estimated net worth of $100 Million U.S. Dollars. 

The Presidency condemns the totally unwarranted inclusion of President Jonathan in the publication titled “Africa’s Richest Presidents 2014” as another attempt to unjustifiablyportray the President as a corrupt leader and incite public disaffection against him. We categorically assert that there is no factual basis for ranking President Jonathan as the sixth richest African Head of State with a net worth of about $100 Million U.S. Dollars.   As is well known, President Jonathan has ever been a businessman or entrepreneur, but a life-long public servant. 
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Sad News Of the Year: US Ebola Victim Thomas Duncan has Died



Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola within the US has died. Thomas Eric Duncan, who caught the virus in his native Liberia, was being kept in isolation in a Dallas hospital and claimed was receiving experimental drugs. According to BBC,  a statement released by Texas hospital officials, reads:
"It is with profound sadness and heartfelt disappointment that we must inform you of the death of Thomas Eric Duncan this morning at 7:51 am."

Delta state govt. allegedly destroys over 200 motorcycles



The Delta state government on Sunday Oct. 5th allegedly burnt over 200 motorcycles it confiscated from those who flouted the state's newly introduced ban on motorcycle riding in some parts of the state. Two weeks ago, the State government banned Okada in some parts of the state, including Ika South, Ika North and Sapele.

The ban was however flouted by some motorcycle riders who got their machines seized by officials of the state. The seized motorcycles have now allegedly been burnt at the Mosogar end of the Gammon Bridge in Sapele.

Ekiti governor-elect Ayo Fayose's new pics released ahead of swearing-in ceremony



 Ayo Fayose hits the studio hours ago along with his men for a brand new photoshoot before his swearing-in ceremony. He'll officially be sworn-in because the governor of Ekiti state on Thursday, October 16, 2014 in Ado-Ekiti. See more photos following the jump...

Court sacks Adamawa state acting governor, orders reinstatement of ex dep. governor



An Abuja Federal High court has sacked the acting Governor of Adamawa state, Ahmadu Fintiri from office and ordered the immediate reinstatement of the former deputy governor of the state, Mr Bala Ngilari, (pictured above), as governor.

Ngilari had on July 14th tendered a letter of resignation to the state House of Assembly during the impeachment process of his ex boss, Murtala Mohammed who was impeached on July 15th.


South African organization demand $1million refund from Nicki Minaj





A South Africa organization, The ANC Youth League - wants rapper Nicki Minaj to pay back the R10million (about $1million) they paid her as part payment for a show that was canceled.
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Chinese Embassy in Nigeria denies students visa on grounds of Ebola





The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria has denied visas to some students of Ekiti State University on the grounds of Ebola despite the World Health Organization declaring Nigeria an Ebola free country.

The students were invited to participate in ENACTUS 2014 (Entrepreneurial Action Us), an international competition of young entrepreneurs involving 36 countries slated for 22 – 24th of October 2014 in China in which Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana and Egypt are to represent Africa. But the Chinese Embassy here refused to grant the student visas to go to China.

The Ekiti State University students, who were picked to represent Nigeria having won the ENACTUS Promoted Innovation Competition earlier in the year, have written an open letter about the situation. Find it after the cut...

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

National e-ID Card May Be Used As Travel Visa



The National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, is pushing for the use of the new national e-Identity card as travel document. One of the applets fixed in the card has all the travel details and requirements contained in Nigeria’s e-passport. Known as Travel Applet, it could easily be used as travel document with the approval of the international community.


Tunji Durodola, Head, Card Management Services, NIMC, said that the back of the NIMC e-ID Card contains three lines called MRZ Lines, Machine Readable Zone, just like the Passport. “The NIMC e-ID Card has support for e-Visas when they become acceptable worldwide,” he said.

US may consider screening air passengers for Ebola






Looks just like the US is considering screening passengers from Ebola hit countries before they enter the country. This is coming about one week after having a Liberian man entered the U.S with Ebola. President Obama said yesterday that though the likelihood of an Ebola outbreak in the US is "extremely low'but they've to react.
"We're also going to be working on protocols to do additional passenger screening both at the source and here in the United States. Countries that think that they can sit on the sidelines and just let the United States do it, that will result in a less effective response, a less speedy response, and that means that people die."
"And it also means that the potential spread of the disease beyond these areas in West Africa becomes more imminent," President Obama said at the White House briefing with US health officials

APC Presidential Aspirants To Pay ₦27million For Forms.



The All Progressives Congress (APC) has rolled out guidelines for the 2015 general elections. The process, which begins with the sale of expression of interest forms, commences today. The party’s timetable, which was adopted at the last National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, stipulated that collection of the forms would close on October 19, while collection of nomination forms would commence the same day and end on November 16.
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Ex-Anambra Governor Peter Obi defects from APGA to PDP



Former Governor of Anambra state and chieftain of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) this evening defected to the ruling People's Democratic Party, PDP. He made his decision known after a meeting with members of the South East zone of the PDP at his residence in Onitsha, Anambra state.

Speaking through his media aide this evening, Mr Obi who said his defection was to enable him become a competitor and not a spectator in national affairs. The former governor had maintained for a while now that he will not seek any further elective position.

"Hyper Ebola" - New Bug, Marburg Fever Emerges In Uganda, Kills One.



 Hmmmm...This is scary,I hope this does not find its way into Nigeria oooh. A man has died in Uganda's capital after an outbreak of Marburg, a highly infectious hemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola, authorities said on Sunday, adding that a total of 80 people who came into contact with him were quarantined.

 Marburg starts with a severe headache followed by hemorrhaging and leads to death in 80 percent or more of cases in about nine days. It is from the same family of viruses as Ebola, which has killed thousands in West Africa in recent months.
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Stop easting Ponmo: Ponmo consumption is dangerous to health- Leather Scientist reveals



The Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Leather Science & Technology (NILEST), Zaria, Dr Isuwa Adamu, has said that consumption of animal hides and skin, popularly known as Ponmo is dangerous to human health. Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, today in Abuja, Adamu said scientific research has shown that ponmo doesn't have any nutritional value to human health and that some of the animals where ponmo is gotten from are usually sick & harbor dangerous chemicals.
"In fact, it is not advisable for you to consume ponmo in the sense that some of the animals killed and used for ponmo actually have skin diseases. Some of these skin diseases are such that boiling them ordinarily, may not kill the bacteria. Some of the animals because of the ailments that they have gone through, are sometimes treated by way of injection with chemicals. 

Happy Birthday, Mr President Putin Clock 62!



The President of Russia Vladimir Putin turned 62 on October 7, 2014. Some of his more notable activities during the last year are depicted in the following gallery. Above: Russia's President Vladimir Putin meets with members of the St. Petersburg Combined Choir at the square in front of the Saint Isaac's Cathedral on the Day of Slavic Writing and Culture. May 24, 2014.

One of 4 Patients in Spain Cleared of Ebola: Reports




 
One of the four patients in Spain, suspected of being infected with Ebola virus, has been tested negative, Reuters reported Tuesday.
A nurse at a hospital in Madrid tested positive after taking part in a treatment of Spanish priest Manuel García Viejo, who became infected with the Ebola virus, while serving at a Sierra Leone hospital and died in a Madrid hospital on September 25. This was the first Ebola case in Europe during the current outbreak.
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Is Kiev Wildly Understating Combat Deaths?





by Charles Bausman for Russia Insider

In the past two weeks persistent rumors that Kiev has been hiding thousands of killed and wounded Ukrainian servicemen and ‘volunteers battalion’ casualties have forced their way into the Ukrainian press.

The most vocal allegations of a cover-up of Ukrainian combat deaths comes not from Russian media or the leaders of the ‘separatist’ Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, but from right wing MP and Radical Party leader Oleh Lyashko, and from the commander of Kiev’s ‘Donbas Battalion’ Semyon Semchenko.  

South Korean Prime Minister Claims North Korea's Nuclear Reactor Up and Running





North Korea's nuclear reactor is thought to likely to be up and running according to a South Korean Foreign Minister, who has dismissed a US think tank's report suggesting that the Yongbyon reactor was shut down by Pyongyang.
"Many believe it is still in operation. On whether the Yongbyon nuclear reactor has been shut down, and on the reasons for the shutdown if it is true, I do not necessarily have the same views as the report," said Yun Byung-se, the Foreign Minister of South Korea, as cited by Yonhap.

Ukraine Will Not Have Enough Stored Gas to Sustain Winter: Gazprom



Ukraine will not be able to fill its underground gas storage facilities with 18-20 billion cubic meters of natural gas necessary to sustain winter and ensure uninterrupted transit, Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller said Tuesday.
"As to the time left until the start of [the winter] consumption period, Ukraine will certainly not be able to fill in time its underground storage facilities with at least 18 billion [cubic meters], or better - 20 billion," Miller told reporters.
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Catalans Vow to Hand Over to Madrid Boxes Full of Pro-Vote Demands



The Catalan government vowed on Tuesday to send four boxes full of pro-vote demands from some 900 municipalities across the independence-minded Spanish region of Catalonia to the central government and the top court, the regional government's spokesman Francesc Homs said.
As many as 920 out of 947 municipalities in this northeastern region submitted their requests. Homs said the sheer volume of demands would be enough for the government in Madrid and the Spanish Constitutional Court to see "with their own eyes" that Catalonia's desire to vote in the independence referendum should be taken seriously.
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Israel Not Looking for Escalation of Situation in Southern Lebanon: Foreign Ministry



Israel does not want to escalate the situation in southern Lebanon, a spokesperson for the country's foreign ministry told the Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency Tuesday.
"The Israeli side does not intend to escalate the situation on the Israeli-Lebanese border," the spokesperson said, noting that Israel shelled Lebanon's Kfar Shuba Heights on Tuesday in response to an earlier blast in southern Lebanon that wounded at least two Israeli soldiers.
The Hezbollah group has claimed responsibility for the blast.
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100,000 Chechens Attend Putin`s Birthday Rally in Grozny




Up to 100,000 people have taken part in a birthday celebration rally in honor of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Chechnya's capital of Grozny, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported Tuesday. The rally was launched at Minutka Square later moving on to Akhmad Kadyrov Avenue in Grozny, where "up to 100,000 Chechens attended the celebration", a spokesman for the Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs told RIA Novosti. The participants carried 600 meter Russian and Chechen flags chanting "Russia!", "Chechnya!" The celebration will conclude with a birthday concert and Chechen folk dancing. This year, on October 7, Vladimir Putin celebrates his 62nd birthday. According to presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the Russia leader took a day off and left for the Siberian taiga to mark his birthday.

Photo: Pres. GEJ at Lake Chad Commission summit in Niger Republic



 President Jonathan is in Niger Republic where he's attending the Lake Chad Commission summit. At the summit, GEJ and other Heads of Government will deliberate on further joint action to curb terrorism and insurgency within and across their national borders. See more photos after the jump

Short Selling Bitcoin, Buy and Hold Bitcoin



btcoin

 Buy & Hold Bitcoin

Many of those who have Bitcoins made a big profit a year ago by just holding the coins within their wallets. This really is still the simplest way to purchase the cryptocurrency phenomenon. There are lots of opportunities for further growth and more price surges in coming your way. Which means there remains a definite possibility that the coins could keep in increasing in value as fast (or even faster) as they've been up till now. If that takes place then simply buying and holding would end up being a really profitable investment opportunity indeed for this year.

 But obviously there's also a really real possibility that the purchase price could crash and you might lose most of the money invested. If you never mind holding your cash on a trade as opposed to in a budget all on your own computer then the good tip is to keep your coins within an account on a website such as for instanceBter, which pays a tiny amount of interest on all deposits. In the event that you click the web link in the line above to subscribe you may also get yourself a 6 month discount of 10% of any trading fees you incur -  

Dallas Tops Texas’ List of Counties With Highest Numbers of Women Killings: Reports





Dallas County in the US state of Texas has topped a list of the state's counties showing the numbers of women killed in domestic violence, Dallas News reported.


"It is certainly not anything to be proud of as a community, and it's not a competition that we would want to win," Paige Flink, executive director of The Family Place shelter, told Dallas News Monday.
Dallas stands alongside Harris County, also in Texas, which has long held first place in the number of women who died as a result of domestic abuse, the newspaper said.
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Australia’s New Laws Could Damage Travelers’ Privacy: Reports





New laws proposed in Australia to protect the country's security could damage the privacy of travelers' personal data through security checks such as Iris, thermal or biometric scanning, The Guardian stated Tuesday.


According to a statement published on the Australian Attorney-General's website, the second part of amendments to be made to the existing Australian legislation on security will give greater power to customs and immigration officers to collect and retain personal identifiers of people traveling to Australia.

Coalition’s Airstrikes Hit IS Positions in Syrian Border Town Kobani





Airstrikes by the US-led coalition have hit Islamic State (IS) positions in the Kurdish Syrian town of Kobani shortly after IS fighters advanced into the city, The Guardian reported Tuesday.
"On Tuesday morning journalists on the Turkish side of the border heard the sound of warplanes before two large plumes of smoke billowed just west of Kobani," according to The Guardian .
IS tanks and artillery managed to enter into Kobani Monday evening, fighting street battles with the local Kurdish population.
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Oil Price War to Hit Both Sides Amid Flat Demand





The rapid depreciation of oil seen in the recent weeks threatens to trigger a global price war, which will eventually damage all of its participants to different extents.


Oil prices have been trending downwards for some time now as new deposits have opened up new supplies to the world. One of the biggest is the North American shale oil boom, which has given America some energy independence for the first time in many decades.
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#VictoryForNigeria: Call For Court Martial Of Army Chiefs



We stand by the brave men of the nation’s army any day and every day. Our prayers are with them and their families. Indeed these men at the battlefront are the only remaining vestiges of patriotism in this nation. They are making the ultimate sacrifice and losing their lives fighting a war created by free roaming Nigerian politicians, military Chiefs and friends of the Presidency. What greater sacrifice can a man make than to fight and die to protect the masses while the ruling Cabal associate with the sponsors of the enemy and regard them as their “siblings,” as President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan did to the dismay of Nigerians and international observers.
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Lt. Col, 15 Others to Face Trial over Chibok Girls




The Nigerian Army has reportedly concluded arrangements to arraign 16 soldiers over the April 14, 2014, abduction of over 200 students of the Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State.


A screengrab taken on May 12, 2014, from a video of Nigerian Islamist extremist group Boko Haram obtained by AFP shows girls, wearing the full-length hijab and praying in an undisclosed rural location.
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Tyga & Kylie Jenner spotted on dinner date



 There were reports that rapper Tyga, who's 25 years of age is dating 17 year old Kardashian reality star, Kylie Jenner. He took to twitter to deny it 2-3 weeks back but both ask them to have now been spotted on a cosy night time dinner and someone took a pic. A MediaTakeOut reader took a picture of both of them on a romantic date this weekend and sent it in... See the pic after the jump

Monday, October 6, 2014

Photo: Herdsman Kills his Master in Oyo State





A 20-year-old herdsman, Abubakar Mohammed in Oyo State has confessed to killing his master because he refused to fulfil his promise of giving him a cow after serving him for a period of time.

Tribune reports Abubakar said instead, his master sacked him about six weeks to the date he was supposed to fulfil the promise. And right now, he is cooling his heels at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, Ibadan, in Oyo State Police Command.
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Boy Dies after Drinking Pastor's Prepared Concotion in Delta State




A pastor (names with­held) in one of the new generation churches in Ozoro, Isoko North Local government Area of Delta State has been arrested over the death one Evi Samson.


The pastor who is also a Registrar in a Magistrate Court in the state was said to have administered black concoction on the victim as an antidote for an ailment. SunNews reports that Uwhemwu who reported the matter at the police sta­tion, said he took his son to the pastor for prayer. He added that the sus­pect gave his son the black concoction to drink follow­ing which the victim devel­oped swollen head and eyes in the night of the same date and died afterwards.

Photos: Ex-Gov Orji Uzor Kalu & Dele Momodu Visit Prophet T. B Joshua



 Former Abia state governor, Orji Uzor Kalu and publisher of Ovation International magazine, Dele Momodu recently visited Prophet T.B Joshua to condole with him over his building collapse tragedy. Dele, earlier on today took to his IG page to share photos from the visit.See more pics after the break.

Spanish Nurse gets infected with Ebola Virus





In what is believed to be the first infection outside of Africa, an assistant nurse at a Madrid hospital where two Ebola patients died has contracted the virus herself. According to AFP, a spokesman for the health department of the regional government of Madrid told them:
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Yaba Tech Rector Gets Ex-Student Arrested, Detained By The Army





According to a new report on SaharaReporters, the rector of Yaba College of Technology, Margaret Kudirat Ladipo, allegedly used the military to arrest and detain a former student of the institution, Usman Oloyede. 


Mr. Oloyede, who was fired from the school, was arrested on Thursday, September 25 after he agreed to meet a soldier who posed as the rector’s assistant. He said the rector had abused her influence with the military to ensure his illegal arrest after claiming falsely that he had threatened her.
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Europe Acts as Vassal State of Washington in Terms of Sanctions: Former US Official



Many questions have arisen questioning Europe's ability to act independently after US Vice President Joe Biden recently announced that the US had forced EU countries to impose economic sanctions against Russia despite the fact that many of them were opposed to such measures.

The sanctions have more negatively impacted the EU economy, rather than Russia’s, as Russia has other alternative trade partners in the East and in the South American region, said Paul Craig Roberts, former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan Administration, in an interview to Radio VR. He added that the sanctions could have positive effect on Russia’s economic development as they would make “the [Russian] Government realize that the dependency on Washington and the dependency on Europe is a strategic error of the highest magnitude.”
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Training Syrian Opposition in Georgia Inefficient Against IS





The possible creation of a training camp for Syrian opposition fighters in the former Soviet republic of Georgia is inefficient for the fight against the Islamic State (IS), Lionel Beehner, Ph.D. candidate in political science at Yale University, has told RIA Novosti.


“It is hard to imagine the Georgians training thousands of Syrian fighters. Most of the training and cooperation will be done clandestinely, given the regional sensitivities and the real threat of ISIS [IS] seeping into the Caucasus … if they are pushed out of northern Syria and Iraq,” Beehner said on Monday.
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Hundreds of Boko Haram terrorists feared killed in Adamawa




A fierce gun duel is taking place between members of the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents and Nigerian troops who have been intensifying efforts to reclaim territories captured by the insurgents in Adamawa Northern zone.  Reports from the area indicate that about 200 insurgents may have been killed in this latest offensive forcing them to retreat as Nigerian troops took control of Michika.

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