Happy Birthday !! #PutinDay: Social Media Celebrates Russian Leader’s Birthday

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Today, President Vladimir Putin is celebrating his 63rd birthday. As expected, the leader's special day has caused a ruckus on social media, with supporters both inside and outside Russia already coming up with some clever ways to congratulate the leader.

Greetings on your birthday, President Putin. I pray for your long life, good health & happiness. @KremlinRussia_E

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 7, 2015

The president is reported to be celebrating his birthday in a rather reserved manner, spending it as just another day at work. However, he does have plans to play some hockey with famous veteran hockey players and members of the Night Hockey League later today. As expected, the president has already received some traditional birthday greetings from foreign leaders. The presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Belarus have sent their best wishes. Putin was also congratulated by Narendra Modi, who offered a more up-to-date form of greeting, wishing Putin "long life, good health & happiness" in a tweet. The prime minister's tweet has already received 1,000 retweets. Naturally, the president also received greetings from Russian political figures, from parliamentarians to governors and republican leaders. Probably the warmest message of greeting came from Chechen Republic leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who congratulated the president on Instagram.

Дорогие друзья! Сегодня день рождения самого популярного, мужественного, сильного, мудрого и волевого политика на свете! Это Президент России Владимир Путин! Мой народ, моя республика и вся Россия безгранично благодарны ему за политическую твёрдость, проявленную в борьбе с злейшими врагами Отечества на Северном Кавказе. Благодаря Его безоговорочной поддержке Первого Президента ЧР, Героя России Ахмат-Хаджи Кадырова, удалось разгромить международных террористов, спасти народ, предотвратить развал России, о котором мечтали наши злейшие враги. Сегодня Чечня служит для всего мира образцом согласия и стабильности. В новейшей истории Владимир Владимирович показал истинно мужской характер, сорвав все планы западной коалиции, стремящейся изолировать Россию от решения международных дел. Сегодня Президент России принимает полный комплекс мер, направленных на спасение всего человечества от сотен тысяч террористов Иблисского государства. Дорогой Владимир Владимирович! Заверяю Вас, что весь чеченский народ, все мусульмане России, все истинные патриоты Отечества с Вами! С Вами весь народ России! Ради такого признания можно прожить десять жизней и все эти десять жизней посвятить своему народу! Уважаемый Владимир Владимирович, мы Ваша пехота, готовая выполнить приказ любой сложности и важности, выполнить его в любой точке земного шара! Я желаю Вам крепкого здоровья, успехов и удачи в Вашей исключительно трудной и ответственной работе! С днём рождения Вас! #Кадыров #Россия #Путин #Чечня #Москва #Кремль #Президент A photo posted by Аллах Велик!!! (@kadyrov_95) on Oct 6, 2015 at 2:01pm PDT

Kadyrov's message of congratulations praised Putin as "the most popular, courageous, strong, wise, and strong-willed politician in the world," wishing him "good health, good luck and success" in his "very difficult and responsible work!" The Russian president also received congratulations from famous artists and public figures, including world-famous Italian musicians Toto Cutugno, Pupo, Al Bano, Ricchi e Poveri and Riccardo Fogli, who noted on a Facebook page of an Italian Putin fan club page that the Russian president is today "the main bulwark against the unipolar world and international terrorism!"

Le nostre star Toto Cutugno, Pupo, Albano, Ricchi e Poveri e Riccardo Fogli hanno rivolto gli auguri di buon compleanno... Posted by Vladimir Putin Italian Fan Club 2.0 on Tuesday, October 6, 2015

The news media joined in on the fun, Ruptly offering a humorous compilation of the president's greatest moments of 2015. Even the normally anti-Putin liberal English-language newspaper The Moscow Times couldn't help but fete the president, creating an entire article, suspiciously reminiscent of a recent Sputnik piece, complete with quotes and GIFs, on the president's anniversary.

Because it wouldn't be a birthday without GIFs! Posted by The Moscow Times on Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Celebrities and politicians aside, Putin has also received a ton of congratulations from social media users around the world, with the hashtag #PutinDay catching fire on Twitter. Users from Russia and around the world congratulated the Russian president on his special day.

С Днём Рождения Владимир Владимирович! Вы,как никто другой,достойны народной любви #PutinDay #ПрезидентМира pic.twitter.com/JZaEPCkvaX

— Яковлева Наталья (@master1152011) October 7, 2015

Happy Birthday Vladimir Vladimirovich! You more than anyone else, are worthy of the people's love!"

Доллар упал ниже 63 в знак уважения #PutinDay — Nikita Kulikov (@NikKulikov) October 7, 2015

The dollar fell below 63 rubles, as a sign of respect."

Vladimir Putin's 63rd birthday is today. Greetings!#SouthFront #Russia #Putin Posted by SouthFront on Wednesday, October 7, 2015

У самого крутого президента др;) #PutinDay pic.twitter.com/liSPXhVGmR

— ► Крис ◄ (@This_is_Kris) October 7, 2015

The coolest president is celebrating his birthday." See more here

Defense Ministry Releases Video of Cruise Missile Strikes on ISIL Targets

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The Russian Ministry of Defense has released video footage showing its nighttime cruise missile strikes from the Caspian Sea against Islamic State targets in Syria.

The assembled footage features video and animation of Russian ships launching cruise missile strikes against Islamic State targets from the Caspian Sea. The video combines computer-generated imagery showing the cruise missiles' trajectory with footage of the missiles flying over western Iran and northern Iraq before arriving at their targets in northern Syria.

'Relentless' Russian Airstrikes Caught Terrified ISIL Off Guard - Source

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A recent series of airstrikes launched by Russian air forces against the Islamic State in Syria caused the ISIL militants to evacuate their checkpoints in Raqqa and to cancel all public events there.

A source in the Islamic State’s so-called 'capital' told Sputnik on condition of anonymity that Russian airstrikes have caused widespread panic among the Islamist militants who apparently were not expecting such a relentless assault.

"They thought that Russian warplanes would act like their American counterparts – that they would launch some sporadic surgical strikes at dusk and then they would fly away," the source said. "Instead, Russian military aircraft constantly bombard ISIS positions in the vicinity of Raqqa, and these massed strikes have completely paralyzed the Islamist group’s activities. The Russian air operation proved to be extremely effective."

'Russian Tweet Disparages US-led Coalition Efforts to Arm Syrian Rebels'

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Find the right #Syrian rebel to arm - non-trivial task to start your day with | #Syria #سوريا #ISIL #Nusra #داعش pic.twitter.com/Gc60dVAn7D

— Russian Embassy, UAE (@RusEmbassyUAE) October 5, 2015

The Western media seems to be so upset with the success of Russia’s anti-ISIL campaign that it has gone as far as accusing the Russian Foreign Ministry’s overseas envoys of “disparaging the efforts of the US and its allies, who have armed non-extremist anti-government forces in the country.”

This complaint, voiced by the UK newspaper The Independent, came in response to a tweet posted by Russia's Embassy in the United Arab Emirates.

Finland Busts Key Refugee Myth: They Are Mostly Male and Not From Syria

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The vast majority of refugees arriving in Finland are in fact male adults and not women or children, according to the country’s Ministry of the Interior.


The head of Finland's Immigration Services asylum unit, Esko Repo, and communications chief Hanna Kautto told the Finnish news outlet Yle that out of the 19,632 refugees that have arrived in Finland this year, over 15 thousand are adult males. The number of female migrants totals 2,816 and there are also about 2,000 children travelling with adults as well as roughly one thousand unaccompanied minors.
Furthermore, only 409 of the refugees came from Syria, with the majority of the migrants – nearly 14 thousand people – arriving from Iraq.

Russian Warplanes Destroy ISIL HQ Near Palmyra, Up To 40 Militants Killed

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A Russian military spokesman dismissed earlier reports that Russian warplanes had bombed the ancient city of Palmyra, as was claimed by several international media outlets.

Russian warplanes destroyed an ISIL command center on the outskirts of Syria's Palmyra, killing up to 40 militants, a Syrian military source told Sputnik on Tuesday.  The command center was located near the town of As Sukhnah 28 km away from Palmyra.

Major Interview (38 questions!) of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to the Iranian Khabar TV channel

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source: http://sana.sy/en/?p=56697

Following is the full text of the interview:

Question 1: In the name of God, the most compassionate, the most merciful. Mr. President, thank you very much for accepting the invitation of the Television of the Islamic Republic of Iran to give this interview. Thank you very much.

Associated Press Photoshops 'Anti-Russian Demonstration' in Istanbul (UPDATED)

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This AP “photograph”, which clearly proves that Russia is destroying the Middle East, has been floating around the Internet. Do you notice something odd about it? Yes: Putin's blood-soaked fangs aren't that large. But also: that’s just sloppy Aside from the hands, which clearly do not belong to the same body, what's up with that poster? The over-the-top concave (created by the firm grip of the painted, mutant hand), the crappy Photoshop shadow effect…Come on. This is embarrassing. Keep up the good work, Associated Press. UPDATE: This might actually be a case of “terrible nails”. Reader “Simon” points out that there are other pictures of this woman. As such, we apologize for jumping the proverbial gun. (AP still bites the big one, though.)

Dr. Lavrov nailed it on the head! See what he said...

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Lavrov Says Moscow Ready to Establish Contacts With Free Syrian Army

Russia's Foreign Minister said Russia was willing to work with the Syrian opposition army to settle the crisis in Syria.

Moscow is prepared to set up contacts with the opposition's Free Syrian Army and have asked the United States for information on them, but so far Moscow has not received a response, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.

"In any case, I asked [US Secretary of State] John Kerry to have [the United States] give us some sort of information of where the Free Syrian Army is and who's running it," Lavrov said.

Jamming the Jihad & its supporters: Russian Electronic Warfare Systems Spotted in Syria

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The state-of-the-art Russian electronic warfare system Krasukha-4 has reportedly been deployed in Syria.


The Russian military has deployed its mobile, ground-based electronic warfare system Krasukha-4 in Syria, according to footage placed on Russia's Zvezda news network.
At the beginning of the video (the 6th second), which shows a Russian-made Su-25 landing at a Syrian airfield, a characteristic set of antenna devices is visible in the background. These could be the Krasukha-4 system, Zvezda reported.

Western Media Laments as Russia Foils US Plans for No-Fly Zone Over Syria

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The Western media is lamenting as Russia wrecks the nearly-set agreement of the US-led coalition to establish a no-fly zone over Syria based on Jordanian and Turkish plans, despite jihadist groups lacking any aerial strike capabilities, while adding that the US and its allies have begun “preparing to open up a major front in northeastern Syria”.

“The Russian forces now in place make it very, very obvious that any kind of no-fly zone on the Libyan model imposed by the US and allies is now impossible, unless the coalition is actually willing to shoot down Russian aircraft,” The Financial Times quotes Justin Bronk, a research analyst at the Royal United Services Institute as saying.

‘It’s a Whole New War Now’: Western Powers to Have Strategy Shift in Syria

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Russia’s participation in the fight against ISIL in Syria could bring some major changes in the balance of power in the Middle East, Semyon Bagdasarov, the director of the Center for the Middle East and Central Asian Studies, told Radio Sputnik.

On Wednesday, Russia launched airstrikes on ISIL targets in Syria following a request from President Bashar Assad. The Syrian government is fighting a number of opposition forces and radical Islamist militant organizations.
Continue..

Peacemaking US-Style: Obama Sending New Weapons to Ukraine - Poroshenko

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Barack Obama ordered to supply Ukraine with new defensive weapons. A step toward reconciliation, you say?
The United States has decided to deliver new models of defensive weapons to Kiev, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Sunday.

"He [US President Barack Obama] told me that he signed an executive order on the delivery of new weapons to Ukraine, that we desperately need, since this is defensive armament, long range counter-battery radar complexes which will allow us to increase the defense capabilities of the Ukrainian army," Poroshenko said in an interview to Ukrainian TV channels.
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The West Fears Russia’s Success in Syria - Not Its Failure

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The Western response to the Russian air campaign in Syria provokes a sense of deja vu.

In every respect it is identical to the Western response to the Russian campaign in Chechnya in 1999. In the weeks following the start of that campaign Western pundits made a host of claims and predictions. They claimed the Russian airforce was bombing civilians, and accused Russia’s leadership of war crimes. They said Russian military action would radicalise the population, turning it against Russia. They predicted more terrorist attacks against Russia, and predicted Russia’s defeat.

All these claims and predictions proved wrong.

Nigeria’s Christians borrow Boko Haram tactics, destroy traditional African religious shrines & art

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Sixteenth and 17th century artefacts made in Benin: Fundamentalist Christians and Boko Haram share a common hostility to ancient African art. (Photo/AFP).

More than 500 traditional-worship sites have been burned down, and worshippers have handed over art worth $500m to pastors.

SAMUEL Nwankwo drove past a mob in the southeastern Nigerian town of Umuoji unaware that it was heading to attack his home.
As the chief priest of a traditional religion in the area, he’d become a target of a crowd of Christian youths who left a revival meeting where several preachers condemned the veneration of ancestral gods. They were bent on eradicating all symbols of such worship in the town of about 30,000 people.
“They ransacked the Udume Abor shrine where we worshiped, then went to my house where they took religious objects and burned them,” Nwankwo, a 45-year-old former Christian pastor, said in an interview. “The entire house would have burned if neighbors didn’t put out the fire.”

Syrian Militants Surrender in Droves to Daraa Governorate

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Over 450 Syrian militants and 250 criminals wanted by government have laid down their arms and return to peaceful life in the south-west of war-torn country.


Roughly seven hundred armed militants and criminals surrendered themselves to the local authorities in the Syrian Daraa Governorate that is situated next to the border with Jordan in the last two days, national Syrian Arab News Agency Sana reported.
Hundreds of militants and other law offenders decided to hand themselves over to authorities under the terms of a national reconciliation program.

Breaking News: Russian Aviation Hits ISIL Training Center, Munition Depot Near Al-Tabqa

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Russian Air Force has conducted 20 flights overnight targeting 10 ISIL facilities near the Syrian city of al-Tabqa, Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Sunday.

"Su-34 bombers attacked the ISIL special training camp and munition depot with KAB-500 aviation bombs near Al-Tabqa, Ar-Raqqah province. As a result of explosion of the munition depot, the terrorist training camp was completely destroyed," Konashenkov told reporters.


Russian Su-25 jets have also attacked training camp of the Islamic State in Syrian Idlib governorate destroying workshop for explosive belt production.

Russian Air Force Operation to Help Root Out Terrorism in Syria - Egypt FM

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Russia's pinpoint airstrikes on Islamic State positions in Syria contribute to the eradication of terrorism in this country, Egypt's Foreign Minister said.

CAIRO  — Russia started carrying out airstrikes against ISIL in Syria on Wednesday, following the request of President Bashar Assad.

"Russia's entry into this struggle [with ISIL], with its [Russia's] potential and opportunities, in our judgment, will contribute to reduction of the terrorism in Syria, and its eradication," Sameh Shoukry said in an interview with the Saudi Al Arabiya broadcaster.

Russian Aviaton in Syria Smashes ISIL With Kh-29L Air-to-Surface Missile

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The Kh-29L air-to-surface missile used by Russian planes against ISIL in Syria is a weapon that strikes targets with a precision less than two meters, give or take.


LATAKIA — The Russian air group in Syria is using a Kh-29L air-to-surface missile to conduct airstrikes against the Islamic State militants, the Russian military said Sunday.

"A Kh-29L surface-to-air missile is equipped with a semi-active laser guidance system. When the launch is conducted, a pilot illuminates a target with a laser sight. At the same time an aircraft can continue the flight," Aerospace Forces spokesman Col. Igor Klimov said.

'Russia hasn't killed a single civilian... the West lies to justify their own failures' says Syrian scholar

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© Reuters/ Khalil ashawi

No Syrian civilians were killed as a result of Russian airstrikes, as they're carried out with extreme precision, Deputy Director of the Damascus Center for International and Strategic Studies Dr. Taleb Ibrahim told Sputnik.

According to Ibrahim, Russians act very professionally and base their airstrikes on a series of sophisticated data taken from satellites, images from reconnaissance planes and intelligence services.

"All these Western media reports about Russians killing civilians are pure lies. During airstrikes, Russia hasn't killed a single civilian," Ibrahim said.