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(Nigeria) The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Edo State Chapter, on Monday said it would resume its suspended strike on February 5, if government fails to meet its outstanding demands. The chapter’s chairman, Mr Emma Ademokun, disclosed this to newsmen in Benin. He listed the two demands to include the sack of Maj. Lawrence Oloye (rtd), the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Public Utilities, and the issue of pay relativity. Ademokun said organised labour was unhappy with the attitude of the state government over Oloye, as he allegedly harassed and assaulted labour leaders who were monitoring the strike at the state secretariat in December 2013. He said, ``Oloye has become a stigma and no worker is ready to work with him and now, we don't know what is happening between the governor and Oloye. ``Our demand is that Oloye must be dropped. The governor has met us twice and said he did not use Oloye to harass us and he apologised. But we demand and still insist

  (Nigeria) Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Monday inaugurated two link bridges at Ejigbo, which he dedicated to the memory of victims of the January 27, 2002, Ikeja Military Cantonment bomb explosions. The two bridges, linking Ajao Estate and Ejigbo were named January 27 Bridges by the governor, in honour of the victims. It will be recalled that about 1000 people, mostly children, had fallen into and died at the Oke-Afa canal, in a stampede caused by the explosions. Inaugurating the bridges, Fashola described the incident as very tragic, saying the delivery of the projects was a demonstration that the state government would always remember and honour the victims. The governor added that the projects were also a redemption of governments promise, shortly after the incident, to build bridges linking Ejigbo and Ajao Estate, in order to ease movement of people and motorists. ``My predecessor promised you then that the government would build a bridge linking Aja

(Nigeria) A landlady, Uyi Sarah, was on Monday charged before an Ogudu Magistrate Court, Lagos, for allegedly stabbing her tenant with a knife. Sarah, 33, who lives at No. 20, Gregory St., Alapere in Ketu area of Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of assault and malicious damage. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor, Cpl. Adekemi Adeniran, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Jan. 14 at No. 20, Gregory St., Alapere, at 7.45 a.m. He said Sarah assaulted and stabbed the tenant, Obinna Okereke, with a knife on the left hand. ``The accused also damaged the windscreen and the side mirror of a Toyota Sienna car with registration no. EPE 345 AZ and six plastic containers. She also destroyed a T-shirt and a 25-litre jerry can all valued at N186, 000 belonging to Okereke." The offences, Adeniran noted, contravened Sections 171 and 348 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Omolade Awope, granted the accus

The United States is deeply concerned over the escalating clashes in Central African Republic, CAR and is prepared to impose targeted sanctions against those responsible for the religious-based violence. The U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, gave the warning on Sunday in Washington. At least eight people were killed in mob violence in the capital Bangui on Sunday, the country's Red Cross said. A Muslim former minister was hacked to death on Friday by militia, and at least nine others were killed when bands of people, some of them Christian groups, attacked and looted shops in a mostly Muslim neighborhood in the capital. ``The U.S. is prepared to consider targeted sanctions against those who further destabilise the situation, or pursue their own selfish ends by abetting or encouraging the violence,’’ Kerry said in a statement. He urged the country's leaders to call on supporters to ``cease any and all attacks on civilians’’. ``Preventing the violence from gaini

(Nigeria) No fewer than 15 persons are feared killed after gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram militants attacked Kawuri town in the Konduga Local Government Area of Borno on Sunday. Some survivors told newsmen in Maiduguri on Monday that the attack coincided with the weekly market of the town. ``The gunmen arrived the town using four wheel vehicles and pretended to be villagers coming to the market.  Unknown to the people the gunmen had planted Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs at strategic areas in the town before carrying out attacks on residents," Malam Isa Ibrahim, a survivor, said. He said that the gunmen also set several houses and shops ablaze before fleeing. Ibrahim said about that 15 persons were found dead at the end of the attack. Malam Fantara Madugu, another survivor, said he counted about 15 bodies at the end of the attack. ``We counted about 15 bodies of victims at the end of the attack. We also assisted in conveying about 20 injured persons to the ho

By Odimegwu Onwumere (Nigeria) One of the points raised in a letter that the National Chairman of Vegetable/Edible Oil Producers Association of Nigeria, VEOPAN, Mr. Okey Ikoro wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja on Tuesday, July 9, 2013, was that Nigeria was the principal producer and exporter of palm oil palm produce and allied products in the 60s. This was in relation to 27 per cent of the global market with 167,000 metric tonnes in 1961. But Ikoro frowned at the abysmally declination of Nigerian production in 2008 which was put at 25,000MT, while the world production increased from 629,000MT to 33.3 millionMT within the same period. The VEOPAN, nevertheless, called on the Federal Government to support the setting up of N100bn Oil Palm Development Fund to revitalise the palm oil sector. About 75 percent of the export of palm kernels in 1832, came from Nigeria. And by 1911, “British” West Africa alone exported 157,000 tonnes. Malaysia, which has surpassed Nigeria

(Nigeria) The absence of a prosecution witness on Monday stalled the trial of 10 accused persons arraigned at a Federal High Court, Lagos for pipeline vandalism and murder, reports NAN. The accused are Joel Inerepamu, 25, Reuben Oluwole, 60, John Isaiah, 28, Ineye Okposa, 40, Timi Gunugunu, 22, and Olisa Saheed, 25. Others are Jigo Jiperende, 31, Timi Koro, 29, Johnbosco Igbhofose, 26, and Peter Opidi, 28. When the case was mentioned, the prosecutor, Mr Justin Enang, told the court that one of his witnesses was absent due to circumstances beyond his control. He applied for the adjournment of the case, assuring that necessary efforts would be made to ensure the attendance of the witness on the next hearing date. Justice Mohammed Idris, the trial judge, adjourned the case till February 6. The accused were re-arraigned on April 29, 2013, on an amended seven-count charge. They had pleaded not guilty to the charge but the judge ordered their remand in prison custody. The

(Nigeria) An Igbosere Magistrate Court in Lagos on Monday remanded two Beninese men over alleged conspiracy and armed robbery, reports NAN. The Magistrate, Mrs F. Aigbokhaevbo, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody, pending legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP. Peter Asogba, 37, is from the Igbokwu Igolo Area of Benin Republic, while Bernard Fagbohun, 29, is from the Agbokwu Area of Port Novo, Benin Republic. Both men are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery. The prosecutor, ASP Charles Odii, told the court that the accused and the rest of their gang, still at large, committed the offences at midnight on November 3, 2013 at No. 3, Alapa Drive, Igando. Odii said the accused, while armed with a gun, robbed Mr Emmanuel Olatunji of his Toyota Highlander jeep with registration number KRD764-AQ. He said that there were also two bags of rice in the stolen jeep, whose value is yet to be ascertained. Accord

(Nigeria) A defence counsel, Mr Dapo Olanipekun, on Monday, prayed a Federal High Court in Lagos to stay proceedings in a suit filed against some former Chief Executives of the Union Bank Plc, and Falcon securities Ltd. The accused, a former Managing Director of Union Bank, Barthlomew Ebong, Henry Onyemem, Niyi Opeodu, and Samuel Anyininuola, former directors of the bank, are charged by the EFCC alongside a Company, Falcon Securities Ltd, and its Director, Peter Ololo, on a 20-count charge bordering on Money Laundering. When the case was mentioned, counsel to the third accused (Opeodu), Olanipekun, informed the court of a motion for stay of proceedings, pending the determination of an appeal at the appellate court. The prosecutor, in reply, told the court that he has filed a counter affidavit to the motion, and served same on the defence counsel, who said he required seven clear days to respond. After hearing their arguments, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia adjourned the case

(Nigeria) A Lagos High Court, Igbosere, on Monday adjourned the murder trial of an ex-police officer, Segun Fabunmi, till February 18 due to the absence of a prosecution witness. Fabunmi, a former Divisional Police Officer of Pen Cinema, Agege Police Division, is facing charges of murder and attempted murder. He is accused of shooting to death one Adedamola Daramola in Lagos on January 9, 2012, during the protests against the removal of fuel subsidy. The accused also allegedly caused grievous bodily harm to Alimi Abubakar, Egbujor Samuel and Chizorba Odoh during the protests. At the resumed hearing of the case, the prosecuting counsel Mrs Olabisi Ogungbesan, Director, Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions, apologised for the absence of a witness, one Mr Sunday. She said that the witness, the Investigating Police Officer, was testifying in a Magistrate Court in Ikeja and prayed the court to stand down the case. Ogungbesan said she would have communicated the deve

(Nigeria) The Federal Government has been called upon to do all in its powers to reconsider its stance and save the polytechnic education, reports NAN. Some polytechnic students and parents made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja. They said that the government had a responsibility to ensure the sustenance of the education system. ``The Federal Government says it is making vocational and technical education a top priority. It also says it plans to achieve technological advancement and economic growth through technical and vocational education. I think it is important that government reconsiders its stance and take polytechnics serious if it truly plans to achieve this goal,’’ Miss Ruth Gabriel, a student of the Kaduna Polytechnic said. According to Gabriel, the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, and the continued stay of students at home also signals danger for the country.She said that many students had taken to

(Nigeria) A total of  337 people  died  in 570 road traffic crashes  between  January 2013  and  December  2013 in Ogun, the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC  has said. The Ogun Sector Commander of  the FRSC, Mr Adegoke Adetunji, made this known in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abeokuta, Ogun State. He also  said that a total of  2,011 people were injured in the road crashes. Adetunji said that the figure was a decrease from the 971 road traffic crashes in 2012 in which 405 people died and 2,710 were injured. The FRSC boss said that most of the crashes recorded in 2013 were due to over-speeding, dangerous driving and  brake  failure. Adetunji, who  urged motorists to always obey traffic rules, said: "Our mandate is to reduce road carnage significantly and we are leaving no stone unturned to achieve this. Drivers must learn to observe traffic rules and regulations at all time. It is sad to see how people die on the roads due to negligence a

(Nigeria) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday filed an amended money laundering charge against a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, at a Federal High Court in Lagos. At the resumed hearing of the case, the prosecutor, informed the court of the amended charge containing 40 counts and applied that the plea of the accused be taken. After first count was read to the accused, his counsel,), raised an objection that the charge was invalid and his client could not plead to it. Defence argued that the count stated that the accused "accepted cash payments of over N10 million", without stating the donor of the said money. He said it was alleged throughout the charge that the accused "accepted various sums of money”, without mentioning the names of the persons from whom they were received. The counsel submitted that the charge was “invalid, persecutory and oppressive”. Prosecution in response, argued that the charge bordered on m

(Nigeria) Enyimba International Football Club of Aba on Sunday in Abuja beat Warri Wolves FC 2-0 in a Matchday Two fixture at the Super Four competition. In the match at the Abuja National Stadium, Bashar Abdulraman scored again to take his tally to four in two games and help his team to the top of the log. Abdulraman had opened scores in the 10th minute of the first half, but in spite of dominating possession in the second half, Warri Wolves could not convert their scoring chances. With Enyimba holding on tight, substitute Emeka Nwana came on as a substitute to score the second goal in the 89th minute of the game. Speaking after the match, Enyimba’s Head Coach, Zakary Baraje, said he was excited with the performance of his team, stating that he knew the game would be tough. He however said his team had made the necessary gains from the tournament, saying it had been an avenue to showcase their players and to know how prepared they were for the new season. ``The Super Fo

(Nigeria) Zakari Mohammed, the Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Media and Public Affairs, on Sunday said the country’s new Constitution would be ready by July. Mohammed told News Agency of Nigeria in Okuta, Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State that the delay in producing it was as a result of wide consultation. He said the task of amending a constitution is a tedious job and not a job which people would sit down and conclude easily. ``But we are looking at the month of June or July as when we are going to have a clean copy of the new constitution for Nigeria. For what we did in the House of Representatives, we went to the 360 Federal Constituencies and, as much as possible, we were able to gather the views of the people. ``What we have reported is exactly what we pushed forward for them, and what we are saying is that at the end of the day, we are going to have a constitution that is workable for the Nigerian people,’’ Mohammed said.

(Nigeria) Two children of the same parents were on Saturday night roasted alive in their sleep at Ekpoma, in the Esan-West Local Government Area of Edo State. The children, a female, four-year-old Oyenchi Akamezie and two-year-old Chukwudalo Akamezie, a male, were reportedly burnt when fire from a local lamp engulfed their room at night. It was alleged that the mother of the children, Christy Akamezie, locked them up in the room while asleep and left to prostitute. A crowd of sympathisers who had gathered at the residence on Ilenlua Street, rained curses on the bereaved mother, calling her unprintable names. As at the time of this report, the charred bodies of the children had yet to be evacuated from their one-room apartment, while the Police had arrested their mother for alleged negligence. The father of the children, Mr Chike Akamezie, a trader based in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area, who wept uncontrollably, told NAN that though he had been estranged from

(Nigeria) President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday assured that the nation would overcome its daunting challenges with the prayers of the faithful and commitment of the leaders. The president gave the assurance in his remarks at a Sunday service he attended at the Living Faith Church, Goshen City, Auta Balefi in Nasarawa State. ``I assure you this country will cross the bridge. Yes, we have challenges as a nation. Even the most developed nations pass through stages, sometimes even more challenging than we face today,’’ he said. Jonathan drew an analogy from Saturday's stunning comeback victory of the Super Eagles against Morocco in a quarter-final match of the 2014 African Nations Championship, CHAN, in South Africa. He said the transformation of the country would take a surprise with the positive steps and right policies being put in place by his government. ``What happened yesterday (Saturday) in South Africa will be the story of this nation. Those of you who watched

(Nigeria) Some religious leaders in Omu-Aran, Kwara State, have commended President Goodluck Jonathan, for signing into law the same-sex marriage prohibition bill recently passed by the National Assembly. The religious leaders, who gave the commendation in Omu-Aran, Kwara, on Sunday in separate interviews with News Agency of Nigeria,  said the move was a step in the right direction. The Bishop of The Cathedral Church of St. Paul's, Omu-Aran, Rt. Rev. Phillip Adeyemo, said the president had the right to protect the sovereignty of the country and also sustain the values of its cultural heritage and practises. ``I think the president has rekindled the hope of the citizenry in his ability to protect the country’s sovereignty and its cultural values by his signing of the same-sex marriage prohibition bill into law. ``The signing to me has put to rest the dictatorial tendencies of some countries trying to meddle in the internal affairs of the nation.  We commended in strong term

(Nigeria) The Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, says its new National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, is not being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Mr Olisa Metuh, the party’s National Publicity Secretary of the party, made the position known in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday. ``Such reports linking Mu’azu with the EFCC investigation publications are mischievous and calculated to mislead the public. They are completely false and baseless,’’ he said. Metuh said the reports were part of a scheme by PDP’s opponents to distract its national chairman from ``his determination and commitment to rebuild and reposition the party as the pre-eminent party in Nigeria’’. He said it was however true that Mu’azu, at the end of his tenure as Bauchi State Governor, was, like many other governors who were leaving office, invited by the EFCC. ``This was to respond to some petitions. But Mu’azu was never invited again by the EFCC on any other issue. The

At least 21 people died and some remained missing as a tourist ferry capsized Sunday afternoon in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India in the eastern part of the Indian Ocean, said local TV reports. Rescuers have rescued 13 people and were looking for more possible survivors as evening fell, the reports quoted officials as saying, reports Xinhua. The ferry, Aqua Marine, was carrying 43 people when it capsized at around 16:00 local time, said TV channel CNN-IBN. TV pictures showed rescuers using at least one helicopter to look for survivors at sea area between Ross Island and North Bay off Port Blair. Some bodies were pulled from the water by people to the shore, according to the pictures. Local authorities have launched inquiry into the incident and offered a 100,000 rupee ($1,630) compensation for each dead. A group of 30 tourists from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu were among the people on board the ferry, said local TV NDTV. This incident took place on th

By Odimegwu Onwumere Nigeria now looks like a place where suspects are sent to prison before they are convicted by any courts of competent jurisdiction. This is what many are doing to the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal. They would not want him to rest, with speculations that he has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party , PDP, to the All Progressive Congress, APC, while at the same time posturing as a member of the former. But he has debunked such conjectures as unconcealed attacks from rival politicians and non-politicians.   The country’s politics is now like a university’s radical cult groups. The slightest misgivings in approach, you are gone for it, except providence plays its indomitable role to save the person. The type of politics that are being played in Nigeria is the type that if you attended a function that was hosted by your father or mother, who is a member of a different political party, whereas you are in another poli

(Nigeria) The list for 2015 governorship race in Cross River State is expanding with no fewer than 10 persons indicating interest to vie for the number one position in the state. It was gathered in Calabar, Cross River State, that out of the lot none has made a formal declaration. Those who have so far indicated interest in taking over from Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River in 2015 included Chief Francis Bullem, an ex-banker turned businessman and entrepreneur, Others are Mr. Godwin Jedy Agba, the Group General Manager, CRUDE, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. Another entrant to the race is the Secretary National Planning Commission, NPC, Dr. Fidelis Ugbo; Commissioner for Works, Mr. Legor Idagbo. Others are former Minister of Environment Mr. John Odey; Speaker Cross River House of Assembly, Mr. Larry Odey, and former Acting Governor Mr. Frank Adah. An Abuja-based lawyer, Mr. Francis Ishang Tanko; a former Commissioner for Environment, Mr Julius

(Nigeria) The Adamawa Command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on Saturday confirmed the arrest of an ex-lawmaker in possession of 81.9 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa, Indian Hemp. Confirming the arrest to News Agency of Nigeria in Yola, the state NDLEA Commander, Alhaji Hassan Zungeru, said the suspect was charged to court. ``The suspect, a former lawmaker is being prosecuted at the Federal High Court Yola," Zungeru said.  Zungeru said the former Assemblyman, who was in the state assembly in 1992, was arrested with the exhibit in Jada town. ``Following intelligence report of  suspicious illicit activities by the ex-lawmaker, the agency  after  several months of monitoring, finally arrested him,"  Zungeru said. The commander commended the courts in Yola for their demonstration of professionalism in the acceleration and prosecution of drug suspects. He mentioned shortage of personnel and patrol vehicles as the major challenges facing the agency in Ada

(Nigeria) Fishermen along the Bayelsa coastline have lamented the impact of the November 2013 oil leak from the Brass Oil Export Terminal belonging to Nigerian Agip Company, saying it had affected them negatively. Mr Henshaw Oguike, the Chief Information Officer, National Oil Spills and Detection Response Agency, NOSRA, had said the leak discharged some crude into the Atlantic. Princess Elizabeth Egbe, Chairman, Artisanal Fishermen Association of Nigeria in Bayelsa, told News Agency of Nigeria in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State that the oil pollution annihilated fishes along the coastline. Egbe said the development had brought untold hardship to peasant fishermen in the state because they were no longer making catches. ``The spill occurred in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa and over 3,000 members of my association have been compelled to suspend their economic activities,’’ she said. According to her, whenever a large-scale spill occurred, the fishermen automatically suspende

Egypt will hold the presidential elections before the parliamentary polls, interim President Adli Mansour said in a televised speech on Sunday, reports Xinhua. The interim president said that during the national dialogues, the majority of the political parties and forces appealed for holding the presidential elections first. The newly approved constitution allows the interim president to make amendments to a roadmap set forth by the military for the transitional period with regards to the order of holding the parliamentary and presidential elections.

Israel is to allow the entry of more building materials into the Gaza Strip, the defence ministry said Sunday, and a United Nations refugee agency said they should be delivered soon. "About 1,000 tonnes of cement and building materials will enter the Gaza Strip for storm damage restoration and other projects of UN agencies," the Israeli defence ministry said in a statement. Last month a fierce winter storm hit the Palestinian enclave, with strong winds and heavy flooding causing damage to homes and infrastructure. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which cares for Palestinian refugees, said it had been given the go-ahead for new construction but that the work was unrelated to storm repairs. "Israel informed UNRWA that it approved the entry of construction materials for six new projects in Gaza," a residential neighbourhood and five schools, spokesman Ahmad Abu Hassna told AFP. UNRWA said delivery was expected during the coming week. The defen

Six children from the same family were killed and one injured Sunday while playing with a hand grenade in northwest Pakistan, officials said. The children, aged five to 12, were playing near their house in the town of Hangu when the grenade exploded, local police official Hussain Badshah told AFP. "Five boys and one girl were killed in the blast. One other child was injured," said Iftikhar Ahmed, the district police chief. Syed Ahmed Jan, a senior local administration official, added: "The children were playing with a hand grenade they found on nearby open ground." Badshah said the girl and three of the boys were siblings, while the two other boys were their cousins. The family had migrated from the neighbouring Orakzai tribal agency where the military is battling the Taliban. Hangu itself is regularly targeted by militants. A Pakistani schoolboy from a nearby village sacrificed his life to stop a suicide bomber, saving the lives of his classmates ear

A Jordanian air force plane on a training flight crashed on Sunday due to a technical fault, but the pilot survived the accident, state-run Petra news agency said. On Sunday, "around noon (0900 GMT), a Royal Jordanian Air Force plane crashed after encountering a technical problem," Petra quoted an army statement as saying. The pilot, "Capitan Ahmad Hazem Alawneh survived the crash," it said, without giving further details. In May 2013, another Jordanian military plane, a Firefly, crashed in the north of the kingdom because of technical problems, killing the pilot and a trainee.

(Nigeria) The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in Lagos on Thursday said it arrested 490 drug suspects and seized 9,163.96kg in 2013. The agency's Head of Public Affairs, Mr Ofoyeju Mitchel, who made the disclosure to  News Agency of Nigeria,  said that the figure was higher than the 321 arrested in 2012. Mitchel said that 51 women were arrested in 2013 compared to the 16 women arrested in 2012. He said 79 people were convicted in 2013 and 67 in 2012, adding that 128 cases were pending in court in 2013 compared to the 56 in 2012. Ofoyeju said the drug seizures in 2013 were mainly cannabis as against 2,451.23kg of narcotic comprising cocaine, heroin, cannabis, amphetamine and ephedrine in 2012. ``The seized drugs in 2013 included 9,047 kg of cannabis. 675 kg of psychotropic substances 78.15 kg of  methamphetamine, 33.734 kg of heroin,  2.703 kg of cocaine and 1.701kg of other drugs. ``Similarly the seized drugs in 2012 included 6.706 kg of cocaine, 1.121 kg

The employer of a 14-year-old Moroccan housemaid who died after suffering severe burns was jailed for 20 years on Thursday by a court in the southern city of Agadir, a non-governmental organization,  said. The victim, identified only as Fatima, died last March after suffering third degree burns to her hands and face, with the case causing public outcry over the exploitation of domestic child workers in the North African country. The employer, a woman, was found guilty of "blows and injuries unintentionally leading to death" and handed the maximum jail term of 20 years, said Omar Saadon, from the NGO Insaf, who was present at Thursday's hearing. "We were expecting this ruling, because the proof was overwhelming," he told AFP. "But beyond that, we will continue our campaign until a new law is applied that eradicates this scourge." Moroccan labour laws prohibit the employment of anyone under the age of 15 and requires authorisation for anyone u

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should go as his government is in the past, National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces leader Ahmad al-Jarba said at a press conference in Geneva on Thursday, January 23, reports ITAR-TASS. “We have started to look into the future without him. Assad and all of his regime is in the past now. Nobody should have any doubt that the head of the regime is finished. This regime is dead,” Jarba said, adding, “If Assad were able to rule Syria, we wouldn’t have been here today,” Jarba said. He said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had assured the Syrian opposition that Moscow was not holding on to Assad and that Syrians themselves should decide the fate of their country. “We met Lavrov in Paris last week and he confirmed to me that Russia is not holding on to Assad,” Jarba said. He said Lavrov had told him the solution should be negotiated “between Syrians themselves through a political process.” Jarba stressed that th

Encryption of electronic messages does have sense but people should care for the security of endpoints, believes the former NSA contractor Edward Snowden who appeared Friday in a chat on www.freesnowden.is website, reports ITAR-TASS. “As I’ve said before, properly implemented strong encryption works,” he said. “What you have to worry about are the endpoints.” “If someone can steal your keys (or the pre-encryption plaintext), no amount of cryptography will protect you,” the expert said “However, that doesn’t mean end-to-end crypto is a lost cause,” he said. “By combining robust endpoint security with transport security, people can have much greater confidence in their day to day communications. Recovery after the scandal It is possible for the United States to recover from damage the National Security Agency’s NSA, spying has done to the country’s liberties, Snowden said. “What makes our country strong is our system of values, not a snapshot of the structure of our agen

Central African Republic's new interim president Catherine Samba Panza was sworn in Thursday, tasked with ending horrific sectarian violence and tackling a massive humanitarian crisis. The World Bank has pledged to raise $100 million (73 million euro) to help kickstart the paralysed state, one of many daunting challenges facing the country's first female president. Samba Panza, 59, takes over from Michel Djotodia who resigned under international pressure after failing to rein in the mainly Muslim rebel Seleka group, which brought him to power in March 2013. Months of atrocities by the Seleka prompted Christians to form self-defence militias known as the anti-balaka (anti-machete), stoking a revenge cycle of religious hatred and bloodshed that has claimed thousands of lives. The United Nations has warned of a potential genocide. Samba Panza was sworn in by the interim constitutional court in a ceremony attended by Gabon's President Omar Bongo Ondimba and Laurent