Posts

Showing posts from July, 2014

Latvian Airbus A320 makes rough landing at Tallinn airport

Image
A Latvian passenger Airbus A320 made a rough landing at the Tallinn airport as its tail touched the runway before the landing gear, a spokeswoman for the airport said on Thursday. The Airbus of Latvia’s SmartLynx Airlines was making a flight from Bulgarian Burgas. “No one was hurt. The passengers left the jet safely,” Margot Holts said, adding that the plane had been slightly damaged.

Ukraine conflict sides’ actions may fall within ICC jurisdiction — UN

Image
The hostilities in Ukraine may fall within the International Criminal Court (ICC) jurisdiction, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said, adding that she considered it “a real possibility," reports Itar-Tass. “Both sides currently use heavy weapons against civilians, and this plane [Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane, flight MH17 that crashed in Ukraine ’s eastern Donetsk region on July 17 was downed in an attack against civilians,” Pilay said.

Ebola forces state emergency in Sierra Leone

Image
Sierra Leone began quarantining areas of Ebola infection after declaring a state of public emergency to tackle the worst outbreak of Ebola in history, which has killed more than 700 people in West Africa, reports Aljazeera . Security forces set up quarantines on Thursday, hours after Ernest Bai Koroma, the president, ordered a state of emergency, cancelled a trip to the US and called a summt with regional leaders on how to deal with the crisis.

US supplies Israel with bombs amid Gaza bombardment

Image
The United States has allowed Israel , waging an offensive in the Gaza Strip, to tap a local United States arms stockpile in the past week to resupply it with grenades and mortar rounds, Rear Admiral John Kirby, the Pentagon's press secretary, has said. The munitions were located inside Israel as part of a programme managed by the US military and called War Reserves Stock Allies-Israel (WRSA-I), which stores munitions locally for US use that Israel can also access in emergency situations, reports Aljazeeraa.

Duma deputy speaker want Russians to money in Western banks home

Image
Deputy Speaker of Russia’s State Duma Sergei Neverov on Thursday advised Russians to take their money and assets back home from Western banks and offshore jurisdictions, reports Itar-Tass. “Today we must advise everyone who is trying to keep something there [in Western banks] to bring it back to his own country,” Neverov, one of the leaders of the ruling United Russia, told the Rossiya 24 television channel.

Ukraine cuts deputies’ salaries

Image
 Ukraine parliament cut salaries of higher-ups, deputies and cabinet ministers on Thursday, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said on Thursday, reports Itar-Tass. Amendments to the state budget and tax code stripped high-ranking officials of 10,000 hryvnias each ($830). They will now get a monthly pay of 6,500 hryvnias ($540) against the previous 17,000 ($1,400), said Yatsenyuk.

Hamas demands all militant groups take part in Cairo talks

Image
All Palestinian resistance groups should be included in the delegation in Gaza Strip ceasefire in Cairo, proxy of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, PFLP, Maher al-Taher said on Thursday. This was a condition of Hamas that controlled the enclave, he added. Hamas demands five seats in the talks to represent both PFLP and The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, DFLP.

Relocation of tank farms solution to Apapa traffic congestion----FRSC

Image
( Nigeria ) The Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, said on Thursday that the relocation of tank farms from the Apapa Port roads, Lagos State remained the permanent solution to the persistent gridlock in the area. The Lagos Sector Commander of the commission, Mr Chidi Nkwonta, told NAN in Lagos , that the measures being taken at the moment to end the congestion were temporary.

Ukrainian army intensifies offensive on Donetsk

Image
Ukrainian troops have intensified their offensive on the city of Donetsk in east Ukraine, the Defense Ministry of the Donetsk People’s Republic, DPR reported on Thursday. The Ukrainian troops are developing their offensive on all the fronts around the city, trying to join forces with their southern grouping, the ministry’s headquarters said, reports Itar-Tass. Heavy fighting is reported in the south-western direction between the towns of Shakhtyorsk and Torez and near the settlement of Saur-Mogila outside Donetsk, the headquarters said.

11 Ukrainian soldiers killed in past 24 hours in Donetsk, Luhansk

Image
Eleven Ukrainian servicemen have been killed and another 51 wounded in the past twenty-four hours in Kiev’s military operation in the country’s east, spokesman for Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Andriy Lysenko said on Thursday, reports Itar-Tass. A total of 374 Ukrainian servicemen have been killed and 1,485 wounded since the start of Kiev’s military operation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in mid-April.

Oshiomhole condoles with El-Rufai on son's death

Image
(Nigeria) Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has commiserated with former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory , and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai on the death of his son, Hamza. Oshiomhole  in a condolence message by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, said: “We learnt with rude shock, the death of your beloved son, Hamza, in a car accident. I wish to offer my profound condolence and the commiseration of the people and Government of Edo State on this sad incident. Our hearts are with you and the entire El-Rufai family at this very difficult period.

Rivers PDP dismisses Sara-Igbe’s comment on Wike as laughable

Image
( Nigeria ) The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, says the best thing to happen to the party in the state was to have a man of unequalled political stature and unassuming personality as the leader in the person of Chief Nyesom Wike. State Chairman of the party, Mr Felix Obuah in a statement by Mr Jerry Needam, his Special Adviser, on Media, said “This is a statement of fact and can only be unacceptable to those who are envious of the minister’s rising political profile within and outside the state.”

OSCE observers arrive at MH17 crash site

Image
Observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, OSCE, along with four Dutch and Australian experts arrived at the crash scene of the Malaysian passenger airliner in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, the OSCE mission in Ukraine said in a statement on Thursday, reports Itar-Tass. “OSCE observers have for the first time in almost a week arrived at the MH17 jet crash scene and they are escorted by four experts from the Netherlands and Australia,” the statement said adding that the observers and the experts reached the site using a new route.

Israel vows to destroy tunnels before truce

Image
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country is determined, regardless of ceasefire efforts, to complete the destruction of tunnels that Palestinian fighters have built under the Gaza-Israel border, reports Aljazeera. In public remarks at the start of a cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv, he said he would not agree to any proposal that would not enable the army "to complete this important task for the sake of Israel 's security".

Ukraine's parliament votes against PM Yatsenyuk's resignation

Image
Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, on Thursday voted against the resignation of Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, reports Itar-Tass. With the necessary 226 votes needed for Yatsenyuk’s resignation, only 16 lawmakers from the Verkhovna Rada submitted their votes of no confidence, while 109 voted against. Following the voting at the parliament, Yatsenyuk took the floor saying only “Ukraine has never declared default and never will.”

Ukraine ratifies agreement with Netherlands on mission to MH17 crash site

Image
 Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada (parliament) at its extraordinary meeting on Thursday ratified the Ukrainian-Dutch agreement on the international mission to secure the MH17 crash site in the Donetsk region, reports Itar-Tass.  The draft law was prepared by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. Ukraine and the Netherlands signed the agreement on the international mission on July 28.

Atiku condoles with El-Rufa'i over loss of son

Image
(Nigeria) Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has condoled  the family of the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory , Mallam Nasir El-Rufa'i over the death of his son, Hamza. In a statement by his media office, the former Vice President described the late Hamza as, "a charming and affectionate young man who cultivated memorable relationships among his friends including some children of Atiku Abubakar."

Fayemi signs into law bill establishing 19 new councils in Ekiti

Image
( Nigeria ) Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti, signed into law a bill for the establishment 19 additional local government areas in the state. Fayemi signed the bill following its passage by the House of Assembly after approval was given to the result of the referendum conducted earlier. The governor said the policy was not meant to set a trap for the incoming administration of the Governor-elect, Mr Ayodele Fayose.

Oshiomhole inaugurates four Boards

Image
(Nigeria) Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State on Wednesday in Benin City inaugurated four Boards with a charge on them to collaborate with the management of the agencies for optimum result. The Waste Management Board is headed by Mrs. Elizabeth Ighodaro; Technical and Vocational Board is headed by Lady Tina Agbara; Edo State Tourism Board is chaired by Mrs. Jane Osagie while Environmental Committee has Mr Murktar Osagie as Chairman

Terrorists use female bombers because they’re less suspicious----Police

( Nigeria ) The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Frank Mba, on Wednesday in Abuja said international terror organisations use female suicide bombers in attacks because they are less suspicious. Mba, who was answering questions at the National Information Centre, said the use of females in suicide attacks was not new. ``Established international terror organisations use female suicide bombers, the major reason is because women, generally raise fewer suspicion, particularly when there are security layers. If you have been following the trend of terrorism worldwide, you will understand that the use of a female suicide bomber is not new.

Jonathan condemns Aminu Kano College attack

Image
( Nigeria ) President Goodluck  Jonathan has deplores the continued terrorist assault on Kano State and the bombing of the Aminu Kano College of Islamic and Legal Studies on Wednesday. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati in a statement in Abuja , said “He similarly deplores the attacks on two mosques in Potiskum, Yobe State yesterday.

Jonathan to launch terror Victim Support Fund, Thursday ----Maku

Image
( Nigeria ) President Goodluck Jonathan will on Thursday launch the terror Victim Support Fund with a fundraising dinner in Abuja . Briefing State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, the Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, said that the will begin at 6 p.m. Maku said that the council was briefed on preparations for the fundraising event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Sen. Ayim Pius Ayim.

Army inaugurates Court Martial to try erring personnel

( Nigeria ) Maj.-Gen Emmanuel Abejirin, the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 2nd Division Nigerian Army, Ibadan , Oyo State on Wednesday inaugurated a general court martial to try erring personnel within the division. The GOC said at the inauguration that the Court Marshal became necessary to dispose of some disciplinary cases which by the provisions of military law could not be tried summarily. He said the cases included stealing, forgery, defilement, rape and murder.

Ukraine planes strikes Donetsk militias — spokesperson

Image
Ukrainian aircraft have made on Wednesday surgical strikes on militia positions on the outskirts of Makeyevka, Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council’s information and analytical centre told a news briefing, reports Itar-Tass. “Military hardware and strongholds of militia fighters have been destroyed,” Andrei Lysenko said, adding that there had been reports about the destruction of a Grad multiple rocket launcher system.

IAAF disqualifies Russian athletes Yemelyanov, Kostetskaya

Image
The International Association of Athletics Federations, IAAF on Wednesday disqualified two Russian athletes for using doping. Stanislav Yemelyanov’s disqualification expires in December 2014. Yekaterina Kostetskaya has been disqualified until January 2015. Yemelyanov is the winner of the 2010 IAAF European Championships in Barcelona.

Ebola: NCAA direct airlines to set up medical teams to screen passengers

Image
( Nigeria ) The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, said on Wednesday that it had ordered airlines that operate flights to Ebola-infested countries to set up medical teams to properly screen their passengers. The Coordinating General Manager, Aviation Parastatals, NCAA, Mr Yakubu Dati, disclosed this in Abuja . Dati said the measure was part of the country’s aviation industry’s efforts to ensure that the virus did not spread to Nigeria .

Ukrainian losses 125 armored vehicles in eastern in one day — source

Image
Separatist militias in fighting with Ukrainian government troops near the city of Shakhtyorsk in the country’s east have put out of action 125 armored vehicles of the Ukrainian army, said Deputy Defense Minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, DPR, Fyodor Berezin, reports Itar-Tass. “The enemy has lost a total of 125 armored vehicles in Shakhtyorsk yesterday, including tanks, infantry combat vehicles, armored personnel carriers,” the DPR official was quoted by the Novorossia news agency.

10 jailed for India school fire that claimed 94 children

Ten persons have been jailed for India school fire that killed 94 children, report said on Wednesday. Judge Mohamed Ali, sentenced the owner of the school, Pulavar Palanichamy to life imprisonment, the report said. Seven members of the school management including Palanichamy's wife and the school headmistress, were jailed 10 years each. Two other accused were sentenced to five years in jail.

US pressuring Russia by accusing it of violation of INF Treaty — lawmaker

Image
The United States, accusing Russia of violating the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces, INF, Treaty, is just seeking another pretext to exert pressure on it, a Russian lawmaker said on Wednesday, reports Itar-Tass. The deputy head of the defense committee at the State Duma lower house of parliament, Frants Klintsevich, referred to a letter that US President Barack Obama had earlier sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which said that the United States accuses Russia of violating the treaty.

US religious freedom report biased — Russian

Image
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that the United States S State Department’s International Religious Freedom Report was biased. The Russian Foreign Ministry’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law Konstantin Dolgov said the report would raise legitimate doubts in many countries.

EU adds 8 individuals, 3 corporations to its Russian blacklist

Image
European Union, EU Council has endorsed inclusion of another eight people and three corporations of a revised black list of Russian citizens and organizations, thus bringing the total number of entries to 95 on the list of individuals and 23 to the list of corporations, the Council' s pess service said. The European Union has banned new investment projects in Crimea and Sevastopol in the spheres of transport, infrastructure, telecommunications, power industry as well as in oil and gas production and extraction of mineral resources. The sanctions against them will take effect after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Obama's accusation of our not assisting MH-17 crash probe not true---Russia

Image
United States President Barack Obama’s statement that Russia does not co-operate with international detectives probing the crash of the Malaysian Boeing airliner is bewildering, spokesman for Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Lukashevich said on Wednesday, reports Itar-Tass. “First, this is Russia that was one of first countries producing its objective control data over the air crash at a recent media briefing of Russian Defense Ministry,” he said, adding that “Besides, American side has not produced any facts, except for groundless accusations and data from social networks to the public.

Minsk talks on Donbas settlement to focus on prisoner exchange

Image
Prisoner exchange is expected to be the focus of negotiations on the Donbas situation settlement, due in Minsk, Vice Premier of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, DPR, Andrei Purgin told Itar-Tass. “The issue of an even prisoner exchange should be the first priority. It’s one of the vital issues for me,” he said. He added that official data suggest that some 350 militia fighters are held captive by the Ukrainian security forces, but the figure could be higher.

Militias fight Ukrainian troops in advance on eastern city

Image
 Separatist militias were fighting government troops to seize the outskirts of Shakhtyorsk, a city in eastern Ukraine, on Wednesday morning, Novorossiya news agency reported, quoting armed forces of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, DPR, reports Itar-Tass. Ukrainian government artillery had responded by setting an ammunition depot in the city on fire, the agency added.

Ukraine army says its closing in on Donetsk

Image
Ukraine 's army has said it has retaken a town on the outskirts of the main rebel stronghold of Donetsk , and intercepted another convoy of vehicles crossing over from Russia , reports Aljareera. Government forces said in a statement on Wednesday that they had seized control of Avdiyivka, a town of about 40,000 about a dozen kilometres north of Donetsk , as Ukraine tightened its grip around the key rebel bastion.

Isreali shelling of UN school kills 19 in Gaza

Image
At least 19 killed and scores wounded in building sheltering homeless Palestinians in Jabaliya refugee camp, medics say. Israeli shells have struck a United Nations school in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 19 people and wounding scores more, after Israeli ground troops made a significant push into the territory amid Palestinian efforts to broker a 24-hour truce, reports Aljazeera. It was the second time in a week that a UN school sheltering hundreds of homeless Palestinians had been hit, with the latest violence pushing the Gaza death toll over 1,280.

Hamas armed wing reject truce if siege continues

Image
The leader of the military wing of Hamas has said there will be no truce in Gaza unless Israel lifts its siege, in comments broadcast hours after an attempt at a 24-hour ceasefire stalled with disagreements. In an audio statement on Tuesday, Qassam Brigades commander Mohammed Deif said the ceasefire "will not take place unless the siege is lifted and the border crossings are all open". 

Sanctions against Russia will have far-reaching effects — Dutch FM

Image
The European Union’s economic sanctions against Russia will come into force immediately and will have far-reaching effects, Dutch Foreign Minister Franciscus Timmermans said on Tuesday, reports Itar-Tass. He said sanctions were to send Moscow a clear signal that it was on the wrong path. Earlier on Tuesday, the Council of the European Union at the level of permanent representatives from the 28 EU member states preliminarily agreed economic sanctions against Russia to be imposed in the sphere of financial services, supplies of military and dual use products and energy sector innovation technologies exchange.

CAN condemns Zaria killings

Image
( Nigeria ) The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has expressed sadness over the clashes in Zaria , Kaduna State , which claimed some lives, including the son of a renowned Islamic scholar, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky. The President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, said in a statement on Monday in Abuja that the association was particularly saddened by the aftermath of the incident.

Adamawa Govt. to probe Nyako

Image
( Nigeria ) The acting Governor of Adamawa State, Alhaji Ahmadu Fintiri, has said that the government had concluded plan to probe former Governor Murtala Nyako over N82billion debt profile. Fintiri announced this in a broadcast to people of the state in Yola on Tuesday. “We shall set up a judicial panel of inquiry to probe Nyako’s administration and we shall cooperate with all anti-graft agencies to recover stolen state funds.

Cholera claims 200 lives in Cameroon

An outbreak of cholera has killed more than 200 people in northern Cameroon over the past two months, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday. More than 1,500 people have been infected with the water-borne bacteria, said Rebecca Djao, a health official for the northern region of the country.

PDP will win Osun guber poll-----Fani-Kayode

Image
( Nigeria ) Former Aviation Minister, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode said on Tuesday in Osogbo, Osun State that his decision to return to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was well-thought-out. Speaking with newsmen, Fani-Kayode said it was better for him to "return home.” The former minister said he left the All Progressives Congress, APC, because he did not like the way the party was being handled.

China says dozens killed in Xinjiang attack

Dozens of people were killed and injured in an attack in China 's far western Xinjiang region, home to the mainly Muslim Uyghur minority, state media has reported. Xinhua news agency reported on Tueday that men armed with knives attacked a police station and government offices in Shache county early on Monday.

Sierra Leone's top Ebola doctor dies

Image
Sierra Leone 's top Ebola doctor has died from the disease, medical officials have said, reports Aljazeera. Sheik Umar Khan was infected earlier this month and died on Tuesday at a ward run by medical charity Doctors Without Borders in the far north of the country. Miatta Kargbo , Sierra Leone 's health minister, called Khan a "national hero" and praised hi "tremendous sacrifice" in working to save the lives of others.

Israeli bombs kill 100 Gazans in single day

Image
At least 100 Gazans have been killed in Israeli bombardment on Tuesday, Gaza officials have said, hours after shells hit the enclave's only power station, reports  Aljazeera. A thick column of black smoke was seen rising from the power station on Tuesday, mingling with other plumes sent into the air by Israeli shelling.

Nigeria’s Amalaha suspended for testing positive to drugs at CGames

The Commonwealth Games Federation, CGF, on Tuesday announced the provisional suspension of Nigerian weightlifter, Chika Amalaha from the ongoing 2014 Commonwealth Games for testing positive to drugs. A statement by CGF’s Chief Executuve Officer, Mike Hooper, said Amalaha had been issued with a notice of disclosure after returning an adverse analytical finding from in-competition test. ``And she has been provisionally suspended from the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow .

Jonathan condoles El-Rufai over death of son

Image
(Nigeria) President Goodluck Jonathan has condoled the former Federal Capital Territory , FCT, Minister, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai on the death of his son. Dr Reuben Abati,  Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity in a statement on Tuesday, said “The President received with a deep sense of grief and shock, news of the sudden and untimely death of Hamza El-Rufai, son of the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory , Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

Kerry says Ukraine ready to cease fire in Donetsk, Luhansk

Image
Ukraine’s authorities have agreed to cease fire in southeastern regions and are ready for a dialogue with local self-defence forces, United States Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday after a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavel Klimkin. Russian Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov  and his counterpart Kerry agree to take additional efforts to create conditions to implement Geneva agreements on Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry

NCAA suspends ASky Airline for flying Ebola virus victim into Nigeria

Image
( Nigeria ) Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has suspended all ASky Airline flight operations to Nigeria over the transportation of an Ebola virus victim into the country. Mr Benedict Adeyileka, the Acting Director-General of NCAA, announced the decision in a statement issued by the General Manager, Public Communications of NCAA, Mr Fan Ndubuoke, in Lagos on Monday. He said that the regulatory authority had to take the action to protect Nigerians from the deadly Ebola virus, currently ravaging some parts of Africa .

Palestinians 'offer one-day truce' in Gaza

Image
A senior Palestinian Liberation Organisation official has said that all Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, have offered a 24-hour ceasefire in Gaza and "looked favourably" on a further two-day extension, reports Aljazeera. Yasser Abed Rabbo, a PLO executive committee member, said on Tuesday that the offer was agreed by all Palestinian factions and that a unified delegation could be sent to Cairo to talk about the next steps.

Russia accuse OHCHR of bias in Ukraine report

Russia said Tuesday the latest report on Ukraine released by the UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR, was "biased and even hypocritical," reports Xinhua. "Its key message is that the government of Ukraine is permitted to legitimately use force to restore law and order in the east of the country," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in a statement, adding that it "de facto justifies the punitive operation."

27 Ukrainian border guards killed in hostilities

Image
About 27 Ukrainian border guards were killed in hostilities in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the press service of Ukrainian state border service reported on Tuesday. According to available United Nations reports, at least 1,129 people have been killed and 3,442 have been wounded in a military operation in east Ukraine since April 15.

22 civilians, among them 3 children killed in Donetsk, Luhansk

Image
Military actions in Ukraine’s southeastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions killed 22 civilians over the last 24 hours, municipal authorities said on Tuesday, reports Itar-Tass. The people became victims to artillery shelling by the Ukrainian army. Press office of the mayor’s office in the town of Gorlovka, Donetsk Region, confirmed the shelling had claimed 17 lives in the area, including three children, and injured 43.

3 dead as bus with Swiss tourists flips over in Norway

Image
A bus with tourists flipped over in the north of Norway on route E6 near Trones settlement (Namsskogan community).  Police directorate of the Nord-Trondelag county told Itar-Tass that the bus belonged to a Swiss travel company.  The identities and nationality of the 16 passengers and the driver are currently being specified.

CGames: Nigeria's Okagbare wins women's 100m

Image
Nigeria 's Blessing Okagbare won women's 100m gold at the Commonwealth Games on Monday. Okagbare, who won long jump silver and 200m bronze at the 2013 world championships, clocked a Games record of 10.85sec. Jamaican duo Veronica Campbell-Brown and Kerron Stewart took silver and bronze at Hampden Park in 11.03 and 11.07sec respectively.

5 western leaders favour new sanctions against Russia

Image
The French, United States, British, German and Italian leaders are in favour of new sanctions against Russia, the press service of the French president said on Monday. Its statement came after French President Francois Hollande’s telephone conversations on Monday with US President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the prime ministers of Great Britain and Italy, David Cameron and Matteo Renzi.

Jonathan condemns Kano suicide attacks

Image
( Nigeria ) President Goodluck Jonathan has condemns the recent terrorist attacks in Kano and Adamawa States as well as the kidnap of the Lamido of Kolofata in Northern Cameroon , Lamido Seini Lamine and the wife of the Vice Prime Minister of Cameroon. Jonathan in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, said The President describes as shocking, callous and reprehensible the multiple bomb blasts that occurred in Kano within 24 hours, and the unrelenting attacks by the Boko Haram at a time the Muslim faithful are observing the holy festival of Eid el Fitri.