Obama authorises air strikes on Iraq

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US President Barack Obama says he has authorised air strikes against Islamic militants in northern Iraq but will not send US troops back to the country.

He said Islamic State (IS) fighters would be targeted to prevent the slaughter of religious minorities or if they threaten US interests.

No strikes have been made yet but the US has made humanitarian air drops to Iraqis under threat from the militants.

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US drone strikes in Yemen kill 40 Al Qaeda militans

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An "unprecedented" US and Yemeni aerial campaign on the weekend in Yemen has killed more than 40 al-Qaeda militants in a bid to thwart attacks by the network's local affiliate, officials said.

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has been linked to a number of failed terror plots against the United States, and its leader recently appeared in a rare video in which he vowed to attack Western "crusaders" wherever they are.

US must end drone strikes in Pakistan as this is continued violation of our territorial integrity – PM Nawaz Sharif

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The US must end drone strikes in Pakistan on the pretext of the war on terrorism; Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said ahead of his crucial meeting with US President Barack Obama at the White House on Wednesday. He also added that this issue has become a "major irritant" in the bilateral ties between the two countries.

Sharif said the issue of US drone strikes has deeply disturbed and agitated people of Pakistan. "This issue has become a major irritant in our bilateral relations. I would therefore stress the need for an end to the drone attacks," he said.
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Britain to provide US with intelligence to support Syria strikes despite the British parliament’s rejection

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Britain will provide the United States with intelligence data collected by a Cyprus-based electronic surveillance station to support possible military strikes against Syria, the Sunday Telegraph newspaper reports.

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Syria's Assad vows retaliation for future Israeli strikes

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President Bashar Assad has said that Syria “will respond in kind” to any future Israeli airstrike on its territory and expressed confidence in the victory over the foes of the Syrian state. The Syrian government has been criticized for its muted response to recent Israeli airstrikes on several facilities in Syria in alleged attempts to stop shipments of missiles bound for Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group.
Assad said there was "popular pressure" to open a military front against Israel on the Golan Heights but such a move would require serious political, social and military deliberation.

Assad reiterated his support for an international conference on Syria, which Russia and the United States attempt to put together in Geneva, but stressed that any outcome of this or any other Syria-related discussions by the international community must be “subject to the approval of the Syrian people through a popular referendum.”
Asked about the the deliveries of Russian S-300 air defense systems to Syria, Assad simply said Russia is committed to honoring the existing defense contracts with Syria.
 VofR, RIA, Ọmọ Oódua news from Nigeria

Ojukwu’s property: Court strikes out N140m suit against Bianca

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Justice Adedayo Oyebanji of a Lagos High Court yesterday struck out three separate suits filed by Ojukwu Transport Limited against Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, the widow of the late Biafran warlord, Chief Emeka Odumegwu- Ojukwu and two unknown persons.

Specifically, Bianca was sued in respect of a two-storey detached house located at No 29 Queens Drive, Ikoyi Lagos. Oyebanji struck out the suits following a Notice of Discontinuance dated February 5 filed by the claimant’s lawyer, Ike Ubahakwa.

The court also struck out two other suits (LD/1681/12 and LD/1682/12) filed against unknown persons occupying two separate properties of the firm, following two separate Notices of Discontinuance filed by the claimant. Oyebanji ruled that “pursuant to the notice of discontinuance dated February 5, 2013, this suit is hereby struck court.”

Federal Court Strikes Down Government’s Oil Deregulation Policy

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A Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Adamu Bello has nullified the federal government’s deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.
 
Justice Bello in a ruling delivered Tuesday in a suit filed by Lagos lawyer, Mr. Bamidele Aturu declared the policy unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.
  

Update 1:

 "That the policy decision of the Defendants to deregulate the downstream sector of the petroleum industry by not fixing the prices at which petroleum products may be sold in Nigeria is unlawful, illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever being in flagrant violation of the mandatory provision of section 4 of the Price Control Act, cap P28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004," the judge said.

Bamanga Tukur Strikes: Sacks Obasanjo’s Men From Office

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PDP NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, ALHAJI BAMANGA TUKUR

… Caretaker Committee Appointed
 
… Moves To Control South West PDP
 
SAN FRANCISCO, February 15, (THEWILL) – National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur Friday moved to fully wrestle the control of the South West from former President Olusegun Obasanjo with the dissolution of the Exco of the South West and the removal of the National Auditor of the party, Chief Bode Mustapha, an Obasanjo loyalist, from office.

What is Heaven Saying? Lightning Strikes Vatican After Pope's Resignation

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Many have tried to 'decode' part of the Pope's tweet which says "We are all sinners". The mystery continued on Tuesday as a strange lightening struck the Vatican hours after Pope Benedict XVI shocked the world with his decision to leave office by the of February, 2013.  TON gathered from credible international sources that the lightning touched the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, one of the holiest Catholic churches early Tuesday.

After the Pope's admission that he lacks strength to carry on, the Vatican said no specific medical condition prompted his decision to quit. No pope has resigned from office in the last 600 years. Pope Benedict's action surprised even his closest aides.

31-Year-Old Man Strikes Wife With A Brick After Singing Happy Birthday Song

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A teacher allegedly struck his wife with a brick on the forehead after she sang him a birthday song while still in bed. The wife intended to surprise him by singing a birthday song, but she was struck with a brick for making noise. Takura Nyikadzino (31) struck Janet Matizanadzo (29) on the forehead after she sang him a birthday song while he was asleep.  Janet reportedly went to the bedroom where Nyikadzino was sleeping with the intention of wishing him "happy birthday" on turning 31.