Week twenty-one of the Russian military intervention in Syria: the calm before the storm?

This article was written for the Unz Review:http://www.unz.com/tsaker/week-twenty-one-of-the-russian-military-intervention-in-syria-the-calm-before-the-storm/

The ceasefire in Syria (which is not really a ceasefire, but rather a “focusing of combat operations”) is holding surprisingly well. This is primarily due to the brilliant tactic of forcing each fighting group in Syria to define itself either as a “good moderate”, and be guaranteed safety, or as as en “evil terrorist” and become an indisputably legitimate target which anybody can engage. De jure, the only ones who can legally engage anybody in Syria are only the Russians and the Syrians, everybody else, including the US-led coalition, is present there in total illegality, but de facto the latest agreement also acknowledges the right of all parties to engage the “evil terrorists”. 

Iran Sentences Billionaire Tycoon to Death for Corruption

Babak Zanjani, one of the richest people in Iran, has been sentenced to death after a trial in which he was accused of fraudulently pocketing $2.8 billion.


 An Iranian court sentenced three people, including Babak Zanjani, one of the country's richest people, to death, on corruption charges, local media reported Sunday.
In December 2013, Zanjani was detained on a charge of corruption, as he withheld more than $2 billion, while assisting the sanctioned Iranian government to sell its oil despite the international restrictions.

Man sets himself on fire after fight with partner (photos)

In a video taken in Kentucky and uploaded to liveleak,  a man was seen in flames after he doused himself in gasoline and set himself on fire following a domestic dispute. Lexington Fire fighter Major Joe Madden raced towards the man and helped pit out the flames, sustaining burn injuries in the process. See more photos after the cut...


Major Madden was off duty and was driving past the scene when he spotted the human fireball.
Lexington Police said the man, who has not been named, had just had a major fight with his significant other.The man was taken to hospital with 'life threatening injuries'. The mayor of Lexington tweeted to congratulate Madden on his bravery.

Lagos school girls kidnappers evade police, move girls to another location

About 15 gunmen, on Monday at 8pm, scaled the low fence of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School, Ikorodu, Lagos, stormed a classroom where some pupils were studying for examinations and abducted three of them.

Indications emerged on Saturday that the kidnappers of the three female pupils have relocated them.

SUNDAY PUNCH gathered from a reliable police source that activities of the kidnappers, which were hitherto felt around the creeks in Epe and Ikorodu areas of the state, had ceased, suggesting that
the bandits had relocated their captors to another location.

Game-Changer: What May Be Russia's 'Secret Weapon' in Syria?

Having deployed its most silent and advanced submarines off the Syrian coast, Russia is raising the stakes in the power game it is playing in the Middle East, Observer reported.

Moscow may engage its "secret weapon" in Syria and the West will not be able to take the challenge, Observer reported. Earlier, commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet Adm. Alexander Vitko said Russia’s newest submarine armed with Kalibr missiles will be deployed as part of the Syrian operation.

Merchant vows to take Kano lawmaker to Sharia Court

Ike Mowete

A lawmaker at the Kano State Assembly, representing Warawa constituency has been accused of owing a tyre merchant N404,000 for the past 27 months.
According to the tyre merchant, the lawmaker approached him and procured some tyres, totalling N1, 222.000.
The lawmaker made his initial procurement, dated February 13, 2013, at the end of which he made part payment of N278,000, with outstanding balance of N944,000, the merchant said.
Also, on March 15, 2013 the law maker made additional payment of N250, 000 out of the principal cost, bringing his balance to N694,000.

DSS arrests gun fabricator for Boko Haram

By: Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja

The Department of State Services said on Saturday that it had arrested one Garba Abubakar, who it claimed was a gun fabricator for Boko Haram.

It said that Abubakar was arrested in Jos, Plateau State, during a special tactical operation by the Service.

A statement issued by the department’s spokesman Tony Opuiyo, said that the arrest was in line with the Service’s statutory mandate, and avowed commitment to national security.

Ogun police debunk Yoruba, Hausa clash

The Ogun State Police Command has debunked the rumour making the round on Saturday,that there was violence between the Yoruba and Hausa community in Ogere area of the state.

In a statement issued by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer‎, Muyiwa Adejobi, he described the news as baseless and untrue.

The statement read,”‎ The attention of the Ogun State police command has been drawn to a rumour in circulation that there is an ethnic clash between Yoruba and Hausa in Ogere,Ogun State.

Clearing Agents Disguise N222m Drugs As Hair Extension, Foodstuff (photo)

Kunle Falayi

The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, have seized a drug haul worth N222m and arrested two clearing agents who allegedly disguised the drugs as artificial hair and foodstuffs.

According to a statement by NDLEA spokesperson, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, the drugs – 24.7kg of methamphetamine disguised as artificial hair, 2.810kg of cocaine concealed in foodstuff and 27.250kg of diazepam – were about to be smuggled out of the country when they were discovered.

Sokoto state commissioner who died yesterday at age 42 has been buried

Sokoto State Commissioner for Science & Technology, Nasir Zarummai who passed away yesterday Friday March 4th, has been buried. Zarummai died at Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital after a brief illness. He was just 2 years old.
Sun re..
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Graphic Photo: Housewife bathes husband with hot water for denying her s3x

An aggrieved housewife, Awele Nwani, 35, allegedly bathed her husband, Frank Nwani, with hot water, claiming that her hubby denied her sex for three weeks.  The incident happened in Ibusa, Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The mother of six children, now on the run, also alleged that her husband had been having sexual affairs outside and threatened to make life unbearable for him.
But the victim (husband) dismissed her wife’s claim as untrue, saying his wife had been sleeping around. He said:

Why We are Attacking Agatu - Fulani Herdsmen

Many were killed and houses razed to the ground when suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked villages in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State last week. A clearer picture of why that attack happened emerged yesterday at a stakeholders meeting organized by the Inspector General Of Police, IGP, Solomon Arase.

Ukraine SITREP March 4th, 2016 by Scott

A great Russian doctor, a pure genius, Zurab Kekelidze, once said that we can’t begin every morning with the news about a war next door. If we do, we are at risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder that may never go away. To add a little good news, humor and clean fun to our daily dose of war news, I started posting short entertaining videos of different places and corners of the biggest country in the world, Russia. If you have a moment, please, check them out.

#Ciara'sDrawer: Alesh Akeem's Father Dies (Photos)

Pics: Nigerian Student Who Gifted His Drawing Of Ciara To Her Lost Dad After

It has been confirmed that the father of Alesh Akeem, Nigerian student and artist who recently presented a portrait to award winning American singer, Ciara is dead.

Newseveryhour.com gathered that Alesh Akeem’s father Mr. Ismail Oriyomi Aleshinloye, was confirmed dead in the early hours of Tuesday 1st of March 2016 after experiencing serious difficulties in breathing.

Police divisional headquarters, Panti in Yaba on fire.

The fire started at about 1:30pm at the police station also known as State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Panti, Yaba area of Lagos.

Eyewitness told Greennews.ng that Policemen were scaring passersby away, preventing them from taking pictures.

Other sources claimed that the inferno has hit a Police barrack beside the station.

Emir Promised Kano Youth Cars, Houses To Capture, Convert Xtian Girls- Mrs Oruru

Irate youths almost killed me at emir’s palace – Mum

Could you tell us how your daughter disappeared from Bayelsa?

On August 12, being a Tuesday, after we took our breakfast, I went to the market, from where I went to visit one of my relations. By the time I returned home, one of my children was angry and complained that Ese, who went out in the morning had not returned and that she left the house at about 11 o’clock that fateful day. I asked him whether he beat her and he said no. I asked if they had a programme in church and he said no. At that point, I began to get worried and wondered where Ese must have gone.

8 Mistakes You Must Avoid While Applying For Scholarships

Applying For Scholarships can be tricky. There are currently several scholarships going on. You can check them out here.

However many students fail to get selected for scholarships, several times, why is this the case?

1. Applying when not eligible: Scholarship schemes are targeted at a specific class of students or audience (200 level students, Medical students, graduates of specified courses etc). Your application is bound to be denied if you do not belong to the desirable audience. Ensure you meet the scholarship requirements before applying.

Niger-Delta Militants Bomb Pipeline In Under Water Attack

Niger Delta Militants Bomb Pipeline In Sophisticated Under Water Attack
— 4th March 2016
A sophisticated attack on a sub-sea pipeline in Nigeria’s Delta might herald a return to the kind of widespread militant violence that crippled the oil industry in Africa’s top producer less than a decade ago.

Attacks on oil facilities have been on the rise in the swamps since President Muhammadu Buhari vowed to shake up a fraud-ridden amnesty program for rebels who stopped blowing up pipelines in 2009 in exchange for cash and generous contracts.

Lassa-fever Kills Corper Doctor, Kelechi-aaron In Kaduna

NYSC Mourns Death Of Corps Member Who Died From Lassa Fever

Dr. Ogboji Kelechi Aaron

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has lamented the death of a corps member, Dr. Ogboji Kelechi Aaron, who was reportedly killed, last month, by the Lassa fever, while in active service in Kaduna State.

Graphic Photos From The Accident On Akure Highway

No fewer than 15 people were today roasted to death in an autocrach which occurred along Akure-owo road

The accident which happened around 5 occurred at Uso area of the road leaving the victims burnt beyond recognition

An eye witness reveals that the two buses loaded fully loaded with passengers colluded with a truck that is leaded with petrol

Fire started immediately and many of the victims were trapped in the accident resulting into their death

Fleeing Boko Haram Terrorists Gunned Down By Troops In Sambisa Forest. Photos

Troops of 21 Brigade Bama, under 7 Division area of operational responsibility, in a blocking position, have at the early hours of today, cleared escaping Boko Haram terrorists that came through Sabsawa axis of Sambisa forest. The troops also recovered a Toyota Hilux, 2 AK-47 rifles with registration numbers 58006915 and KO 35839, as well as 37 rounds of 12.7mm metal linked ammunition. Unfortunately, one officer sustained injury during the encounter. He is however in a stable condition.

FG, EFCC Didn’t Disobey Court Order, Judge Tells Dasuki

Another judge of a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, Justice Peter Affen, on Friday ruled that the continued detention of the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), did not violate his order granting the ex-NSA bail on December 21, 2015.

The judge dismissed the application by Dasuki seeking to stop his trial for alleged diversion of N19bn arms funds on the grounds that his re-arrest on December 29, 2015 violated the order of the court granting him bail.

Justice Affen ruled that the application lacked merit and ordered that the trial of the ex-NSA, who was charged along with others, must continue.

Naira Speculators Stash Idle $20bn In Banks

Ripples Nigeria is reporting that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revealed that a few individuals are keeping about $20bn idle in domiciliary accounts in hopes that the value of the naira will further drop against the U.S dollar.......Read more -

MTN Communications sets aside $600m to settle dispute with Nigerian govt

South African Mobile Telecommunications company MTN say they have set aside $600m to settle its dispute with the Nigerian government. The company announced on Thursday a surprise 5.2 percent increase in its dividend to 1,310 cents per share, posting a 50 percent drop in Annual profits and said while it has had a challenging year, it has set aside $600m to pay the Federal government after the company was issued a $3.9b fine for not ending sim card registration at the Nigerian Communications Commission stipulated time. Last week MTN made a 'good faith payment' of $250m towards reaching an amicable settlement after the telecommunications giant withdrew a court case challenging the FG's $3.9b fine.

Hillary’s Secret Letter and the Whole Matter of Endless War and the Almost Complete Corruption of America’s Government (UPDATED!)

Foreword by the Saker: to be honest, I have not been following the latest presidential race in the USA.  Simply put, I have long lost any hope to see any change come from any election in the USA.  Changing the puppet makes no difference as long as the puppeteer remains the same one.  Still, I think that there are at least two main puppeteers in the USA: what I call the “Old Anglo” guard and the Neocons.  And while these two agree on a lot, there are some real differences between them.