Syria's Downed MiG-21: How Russian Aircraft Will Defend Themselves

A Syrian Air Force MiG-21US went down near an airfield in Hama province on Saturday. Conflicting reports have emerged over whether the aircraft crashed due to a technical failure, or was downed by jihadist militants; Russian analysts are questioning whether the terrorists now possess anti-aircraft missiles, and whether Russian planes are safe.

US and Russia Begin Race for Sixth-Generation Fighter Jet

As Russia and the United States develop concepts for sixth-generation fighter jets, we look at the main demands made by the countries' militaries and the issues the projects would have to overcome.

As both the US' F-35 and Russia's T-50 programs are nearing completion, the militaries and defense industries of both countries are beginning to look into what could be the next generation of jet fighters.

While the F-35 had issues as a result of both computer problems and cost overruns, and the T-50 ran into delays as a result of engine issues, both countries are now looking at what the next generation of fighter jets could look like. Currently, Russia's Sukhoi plans to present a prototype in the 2020s, while the US' Boeing is planning a 2030 release date.

At Least 27 People Killed After Major Explosion in Ankara

An explosion that hit the center of Ankara on Sunday killed at least 27 people, 75 injured.

An explosion at a bus stop in Ankara caused at least 27 people killed and multiple wounded, according to reports.

Some 27 people were killed and 75 injured in an explosion that struck the Turkish capital on Sunday evening, the office of the mayor of Ankara confirmed.

VIDEO: Alleged footage of the moment of the blast in #Ankara #Turkey - @AEJKhalilpic.twitter.com/0xgtNR4z6A

— Conflict News (@Conflicts) 13 марта 2016 г.
According to reports, a bus laden with explosives blew up near a bus stop, leaving dozens of cars ablaze.

Hellfire Missiles Heading to US Found in Passenger Aircraft in Serbia

Serbian authorities have started an investigation into reports that two air-to-surface missiles, presumably destined for the US, were found in a passenger aircraft.

According to Serbian news agency Tanjug, Air Serbia, the largest air Serbian carrier, has confirmed that an undisclosed "package" was discovered by a sniffer dog aboard a passenger aircraft, "thanks to the strict measures of security control".

North Korea Threatens to Vaporize Manhattan in Response to Joint Exercises

North Korea claims to be in possession of a hydrogen bomb that could vaporize Manhattan, should it be launched on an intercontinental ballistic missile.

According to North Korean news agency DPRK Today, North Korea claims to possess all the technology needed to commit a successful launch in case of offensive actions taken by South Korea and the US, currently conducting joint military exercises on South Korean territory.
"Our hydrogen bomb is much bigger than the one developed by the Soviet Union… If this H-bomb were to be mounted on an intercontinental ballistic missile and fall on Manhattan in New York City, all the people there would be killed immediately, and the city would burn down to ashes," DPRK Today reported.

Nigerians Will Be Shocked If I Reveal How Much Wike Has Stolen —Amaechi

•He is monstrously corrupt, needs psychiatric test —Wike
The war of attrition between Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his predecessor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, continued on Saturday.
The duo, among several others, accused each other of massive corruption and also implicated themselves in an alleged plan to cause violent crisis in the legislative rerun election scheduled to take place in the state next Saturday.
Throwing the first salvo, former Governor Amaechi, while speaking on a radio programme, monitored in Port Harcourt, alleged that Wike had so far received above N50 billion but his administration had nothing to show for it.

DSS Wants To Get Me Impeached At All Costs, Says Fayose

Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has lambasted the Department of State Services (DSS) over what he described as the illegal arrest of some public officials of the state to destabilise his government.
Governor Fayose alleged while speaking with newsmen in Ado Ekiti that the intention of the arrests was to get him impeached, saying that they had engaged a wrong customer.

Fayose said he would be a hard nut to crack for President Muhammadu Buhari, and lamented how the DSS had allegedly usurped the statutory roles of the police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), “just because of desperation and attempt to get at me at all costs.”
Fayose said this in his official reaction to the Federal High Court judgment delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo in Ado Ekiti on Friday, ordering the DSS to release a detained lawmaker, Honourable Afolabi Akanni, with immediate effect.

The Real Change: DOLLAR SCARCITY:manufacturers turn to local raw materials.

The scarcity of foreign exchange has forced some manufacturers to look inwards for raw materials, investigation has shown.

Manufacturers who spoke to our correspondent said they had embarked on urgent search for raw materials and substitutes that could be sourced locally because access to forex through the official route was near impossible while getting it through the black market was very expensive.

The fall in global oil prices has weakened the naira against the dollar while the Central Bank of Nigeria maintains an official exchange rate of N197 to a dollar.

The CBN later announced the closure of its official forex window, the Retail Dutch Auction System and Wholesale Dutch Auction System and followed the action by banning importers of 41 items from accessing forex at the official market, an action, which further caused the naira to plummet.

The bank had also in August 2015 barred banks from accepting cash deposits into domiciliary accounts as a measure aimed at preventing fraud and round tripping.

Graphic Video: Dead pregnant woman's niece cuts her belly open to save her twin babies

Mrs Koumate Monique was a Cameroonian woman pregnant of twins. On the day of delivery she went to the hospital, but was reportedly denied medical attention, since she had no money.

She died at the gates of one of the main public hospitals of the city Douala (Hopital la Quintinie). However the babies in her womb were still alive. The niece of the deceased demanded that at least the lives of the babies be saved by immediate medical intervention, and she would pay for the intervention later on, but all to no avail.