About US weapons deliveries & Novorussian mobilization plans

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Still no news from Moscow, so I decided to quickly address a frequent misconception: US weapon deliveries and their effectiveness.

US weapons deliveries to the junta

US political culture and propaganda has deeply ingrained in the minds of those exposed to the corporate media the notion that weapons or technologies win wars.  This is not so.  Or, not really so.

S. Africa Blasts Israel's settlement plans

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South Africa has slammed Israel's plans to build new settler homes in east Jerusalem as pro-Palestinian activists launched an international campaign for the release of political prisoners.

South Africa was chosen by pro-Palestinian activists for the launch of an international lobby seeking the release of 5,000 Palestinian political prisoners, including veteran leader Marwan Barghouti currently in Israeli detention.

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Nollywood Stars plan to Campaign For President Jonathan’s Reelection In 2015

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Pro-government rallies, reminiscent of the Abacha era, are on their way back in the country. This time, they will be at the instance of Nollywood stars whose delegation met yesterday in Abuja with the National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) ,Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, to work out the modalities.

The project is planned to include ‘peace’ rallies and concerts in the six geo-political zones, according to leader of the delegation, Emeka Ike.

Continue after the break.

Nigeria plans £5000 visa bond for UK citizens

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Three months to the commencement of the £3,000 visa bond regime due to be imposed on Nigerians travelling to the United Kingdom, the Federal Government may have perfected plans to impose a £5,000 visa bond on prospective British citizens visiting Nigeria.

This is in retaliation to the new but controversial immigration policy of the UK scheduled to commence in November 2013.

The Home Office of the United Kingdom, recently classified Nigeria, India, as “high risk” and placed a £3,000 bond on every Nigerian visiting Britain.

Continue After The Break.

German spy service plans more online surveillance, injects 100M Euro: Report

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Germany's foreign intelligence service plans a major expansion of Internet surveillance despite deep unease over revelations of US online spying, Der Spiegel news weekly reported Sunday.

Spiegel said that the BND planned a 100 million euro ($130 million) programme over the next five years to expand web monitoring with up to 100 new staff members on a "technical reconnaissance" team.

The report came ahead of a state visit to Berlin by US President Barack Obama during which the German government has pledged to take up the controversy over the US phone and Internet surveillance programmes.

Spiegel said the BND aimed to monitor international data traffic "as closely as possible", noting that it currently kept tabs on about five percent of emails, Internet calls and online chats while German law allowed up to 20 percent.

Ex-Soldier Butchers Partner For Objecting To his plans To Marry His Mistress

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A retired soldier, yesterday murdered his wife, Mrs Onyonishoyi Ukana-Nee Akarutu, in Igarra Community of Akoko –Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, following her refusal to allow him marry his long time mistress.

Ukana, a retired Warrant Officer 2, was said to have macheted his wife at about 1am Friday morning dismembering her body. Sources close to the family said their 18 year old son also sustained several machete cuts in an attempt to rescue his mother.

His son was reported to have raised an alarm which attracted neighbours in the night when his mother’s moan in agony, as she was being butchered by his father woke him up.

Africa plans emergency force, but can it deliver?

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NAIROBI  (AFP)

Aware that they have failed to get a fully-fledged peacekeeping force up and running, African leaders now plan a rapid-deployment emergency force, but analysts question whether it can deliver.

The African Union’s “African Standby Brigade”, meant to intervene swiftly in regional crises, has made little headway since preparations for a proposed force of 32,500 troops and civilians drawn from the continent’s five regions started a decade ago.

Only two of five regional sections are close to becoming operational.

A new emergency force announced this week is intended to bridge the gap pending the full coming into operation of that brigade, AU security chief Ramtane Lamamra said at the organisation’s headquarters in the Ethiopian capital.

Anambra plans to shut down markets, companies over tax

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The Anambra Government on Friday warned that it would shut down more markets and corporate organisations if their nonchalant attitude toward payment of their taxes did not change.

 The state’s Chairman, Internal Revenue Services, Mr Nwanne Ejikeme, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria  in Awka.  Ejikeme said, “We are also in the process of charging those who have refused to pay their taxes.

 “Very soon you will see that it is not just markets that will be closed, but also business centres, chambers, banks and corporate organisations.   “Even residents, who refuse to pay their taxes will not be spared.”

 According to him, the public ought to know that governance is not free of charge.

 He said that many people were yet to realise that they had a contribution to make to the development of their states.

FG Plans To Create 5m Jobs By 2015 – Aganga

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Dr Olusegun Aganga, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, on Thursday said that the Federal Government was working to create at least five million jobs by 2015. Aganga, who stated this in Ibadan at the opening of the 6th National Council on Industry, Trade and Investment (NCITI-06), said it would be achieved with industrialisation of the country.

According to him, the economic transformation of the country requires the support and contributions of every Nigerian.The Minister said the nation had in recent times became the number one investment destination in Africa, saying the country had grown by seven per cent in the last 14 years.

Dangote Plans To Build 2 Billion Dollar Fertilizer Plant In Edo State

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The Dangote Group and Nigeria’s Edo State government have concluded plans to set up one of Africa’s largest fertilizer plants in Africa valued at $2 billion. To this end, the groundbreaking ceremony of the fertilizer plant has been slated to take place before the end of January next year.

President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote announced this at a reception for guests shortly after the swearing-in of Governor Adams Oshiomhole for his second term of office. He said the fertilizer plant to be sited at Agenebode, Etsako East local government area of Edo state would employ more than 10, 000 people directly and indirectly when completed in three years’ time.

Federal Government Plans World Class Terminals for MMIA

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The Federal Government said yesterday during the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, that they are planning to build six new world class terminals in the three wings of the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos to further improve the quality of services provided by the aviation industry to people of the country and foreigners. The project will commence next year. We are waiting!

Chris Okotie to sue INEC over party de-registration, plans to contest in 2015

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Rev Chris Okotie's political party, FRESH Democratic Party was one of the 28 parties De-registered by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday 6th December. The Head Pastor of Household of God said he's planning to sue INEC for their action and also contest in 2015 whether his party is De-registered or not!