Washington 'Does Not Plan to Give Turkey Full Control' Over Raqqa Operation

The United States will not carry out a ground operation in Raqqa without Turkey's involvement, but Washington "does not intend to give Ankara full control over such an offensive," Turkish MP Mithat Sancar of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) told Sputnik.

The latest development in northern Syria

By Aram Mirzaei

With Multiple interventions and multiple offensives, the situation in northern Syria is messy to say the least. There are several frontlines with different parties struggling for the same piece of territory.

Thieves Rob Drake Carting Away Jewelry Worth Around $3m

 Drake goes ballistic after thieves robbed his tour bus, carting away jewelry worth around $3m

Drake was performing at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, last night, when a thief or thieves made it into one of his tour buses and stole a briefcase that contained millions of dollars in jewelry, TMZ reports. The rapper was super upset when he learned about the incident.

Man Arrested In Ghana For Forging Chief Of Staff’s Signature To Dupe Investor

38-year-old Dennis Ndukwu is in the grips of the Osu District Police Command for posing as the secretary of Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, to defraud a foreign investor, Le Van Khiem, to the tune of $150,000.

Protesters Storm UN Office In Abuja

Some protesters on Monday, September 5, stormed the United Nations office in Abuja. The protesters under the aegis of ‎Center for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET), a civil society organization said it was out to the Un of possible plans by Amnesty International to colonise Nigeria again. The group in their scores while delivering a petition to the UN said Nigeria can solve its problems.

EFCC Arrests Ministry Of Environment Staff For Fraud

The long arm of the EFCC has caught up with a serial fraudster named Tariah Otumba Fred, a staff of the Federal ministry of environment, Bayelsa state.

Fred is said to be a notorious fraudster and heads a syndicate that specializes in in forgery, extortion, obtaining money under false pretence, impersonation and other fraudulent activities.

Killer Of Corper Onuh, Arrested By SARS In Bayelsa State

Killer of Corper Onuh, Arrested by SARS, Bayelsa State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Bayelsa Police Command today Monday paraded a notorious cultist and killer known as Fela over his alleged involvement in the June 2016 killing of James Onuh, a Nigeria Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, in Obele, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital. Fela, the suspected killer was also indicted in another killing which took place earlier this year also in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. One source claimed Fela was lured out of hiding out by men of the Anti-Robbery Squad of the Police. ‎When contacted on the development, the spokesman of the State Police Command, Asimin Butwat, said the matter is undergoing further investigation. "Though I can not yet confirm the details, Fela was the one who killed the Corper," the spokesman stated. It would be recalled that Mr. Onuh, a NYSC member serving with the Bayelsa State Ministry of Works, was in June killed by gunmen in Obele, Bayelsa State. Mr. Onuh, a civil engineering graduate of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, died when gunmen, suspected to be cultists, accosted him close to his residence and shot him at close range.

Cross River's Fraud Specialist Arrested (pic)

 Police Arrest Man Who Specializes In Scamming And Defrauding People In Cross River State (Pics)

By Ifere Paul,

The police in Calabar has bursted a ring of hardened criminals who specializes in scamming and defrauding people in Cross River State, Brainnews NG gathers.

The ring leader, one Mr EFFIONG NSA EFFIONG has been collecting over 35-40 thousand naira from unsuspecting public.

Oil Swap: Cracks In FG’s Direct Sale Of Refineries’ Crude

Cracks have emerged in the direct-sale purchase contracts for refineries crude between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the refiner-contractors, threatening the $1billion revenue targeted by government.

Investigation by New Telegraph showed that the arrangement, which government entered into in February, began to have issues in July with considerable improvement in refineries’ efficiency.

Teenagers Arrested In Lagos For Kidnapping Expatriates, Oil Theft (photo)

Olaleye Aluko and Adewale Ogungbemi

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four teenagers for alleged involvement in oil theft and the abduction of two expatriates in the Epe and Igando area of the state.

Our correspondents learnt that the four suspects – Michael Loko, 19; Oluwatomi Obosi, 19; Francis Cyprian, 19; and Olatoye Semiu, 18 – were nabbed by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja, on Tuesday.

Ambode seeks redeployment of some Task Force officers

Some Lagos State Task Force officials harassed, assaulted & detained some men and women in the early hours of September 3rd, in Lekki, Victoria Island and other places on the Island in Lagos State. These young Nigerians suffered from what can be described as a shocking abuse of power.

Cally Air: Cross River Floats Airline

As part of its tourism investment drive, the Cross River State government has concluded plans to float an airline.

Governor Ben Ayade revealed this in Calabar when he hosted a consortium of Indian investors.

According to him, the airline to be called Cally Air would be managed by Dana Group under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

Cancel Primary Election In Ondo - APC Leaders

Some leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State have called for the cancellation of the party’s primary held last Saturday in Akure.

The leaders made the demand in a petition to the chairman of the Election Appeal Committee.

A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), emerged the winner of the election to pick the party’s ticket for the November 26 governorship poll.

Made in China G20 and its geoeconomic significance

by Pepe Escobar for RT

What has just taken place in Hangzhou, China, is of immense geoeconomic importance. Beijing from the start treated the G20 very seriously; this was designed as China’s party, not the declining West’s. And much less Washington’s.

Iran’s Leader issues message on 2016 Hajj pilgrimage

(Saker note: note the *very* harsh words of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei against the Saudi Wahabis)

In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most MercifulAnd all praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and Allah’s greetings be upon our Master, Muhammad (PBUH), and upon his Immaculate Household and chosen companions and upon those who follow them rightfully until the Day of Judgment.

Herdsmen Turn National Stadium , Abuja To Grazing Reserve

Itinerant herdsmen have invaded the $300 million National Stadium Complex in Abuja, turning it into a grazing reserve for their cattle. This is in spite of an existing order prohibiting open grazing in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), an order the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) is empowered to enforce.

The herdsmen, who usually invade the stadium in groups to feed their cattle, sometimes overwhelm the stadium security officials who try to stop them from their activities, especially at the Package B section of the stadium.

Surviving Airlines Are Only Doing National Service Due To Govt Policies – Arik

Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide, chairman of Arik Air, one of Nigeria’s surviving airline, says the policies of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) do not favour local airlines.

Arumemi-Ikhide, who prides himself as the founder of West Africa’s largest airline, also said Nigerian airlines “are just offering national service”, stating that the fares are the lowest in the world.

Ubi Franklin partners with GSR to sign a PPA with the Cross River State government .

 A Power Purchase Agreement has been reached between the Cross River State government and GSR-Gesellschaft für strategische Risikofinanzierung mbH in partnership with SIJ Global and MMMG boss, Ubi Franklin.

The agreement is for the finance, construction, operation and transfer of 10 photovoltaic plants in the state under a Public Private Partnership, in line with the governor's promise to make the state become the first to have a 24-hour uninterrupted power supply across all local government areas.

Nigerians Rate Buhari Poor In Economic Management – Vanguard Poll

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

Vanguard Media online opinion poll has revealed large scale disapproval of the economic management policies by president Mohammadu Buhari, even as economists and institutional analysts clamor for policy changes.

The poll asked respondents how would they score Buhari’s government on economic management so far, on three rating scales: Fantastic; Bad; Average.

Bridging the Differences: What's Behind the Russia-US Talks on Syria

Amid the reports that Russia and the US have failed to bridge the differences on the Syrian issue at the bilateral talks on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Hangzhou, China, Reuters has revealed the details of a possible deal on the resolution of the ongoing conflict.

President Putin has met with his US counterpart on the sidelines of the September 4-5 G20 Summit in the Chinese city of Hangzhou on Monday. Talks between US President Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin lasted longer than planned, as the two leaders discussed Syria and Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

US Congressman writes Kerry, accuses Buhari of autocratic tendencies –

The letter written by Tom Marino, a Republican, to Secretary of State, John Kerry, reads in part: “Dear Secretary Kerry, I am encouraged by the personal interest you have taken in aiding Nigeria. However, I believe there are a number of warning signs that signal “Pres. Buhari might be sliding towards former autocratic tendencies.”

Melaye urges Buhari to stop barking and start biting by sacking Adeosun, Emefiele, Udoma

In a statement today, Sen. Melaye said the President must shake up his cabinet, and accused some members of cabinet as lacking the capacity to deliver on the mandates of their ministries and agencies.

He said the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udo Udoma; and the Governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele, should be axed for the economy to be effectively rebooted to deliver on the change agenda of the present administration.

I got my victim through 'come and marry' method —Suspected fraudster

Muritala Oladipupo, 37, was arrested in a mosque in Ibadan on August 28 after his victim, Mutiat Azeez, told the police that he defrauded her of N700,000 when she was deceived into believing that he was an Islamic preacher who could help her with prayers to solve spiritual problems, Tribune reports.

Girl Who Masturbated With A Fanta Bottle Commits Suicide In South Africa

According to the deceased’s boyfriend,a 21-year-old girl from Mpumalanga was left with no option but to take her own life after a video of her mastur_bating found its way to the social media without her knowledge.

The boyfriend added that the girl (name withheld) was shocked to learn of the video’s virality on Facebook after one of her friends alerted her to search a certain Facebook group where the video was being circulated.

APC Lists Buhari’s Achievements Despite Report Of Economic Recession

Following the statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, which painted the country’s economy since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office in bad light, the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday listed the achievements so far recorded under the leadership of the President Buhari.
Recall that NBS had had on Wednesday released its quarterly report which confirmed that Nigeria is in recession.

Teenagers Attempting To Sell Unborn Babies In Aba Arrested (pic)

The Abia State Police Command has arrested two teenage girls for allegedly attempting to sell their unborn babies. According to the police, they were arrested along with one Oluchi, the wife of the owner of the home, where they planned to have the babies and later sell them.

How Nigerian govt caused economic recession — Emir Sanusi

The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria also warned the government against continuing to blame previous administrations for the nation’s woes, saying what was important was for the administration to concentrate on putting the nation back on the path of progress.

Men don’t arch their backs, or why Russians reject “Western values” by Scott Humor Updated

European Military Expenditure per capita 2016 map

Virtual beads and all that…

Cat Motya on the meaning of the “European values”

“I have been thinking about how mice have brainwashed the European tribes. The technology of brainwashing is very simple and has not changed with the colonization of the Americas, but with one difference. Native Americans were selling their lands for glass beads.  Since then, the “global elites” of the old men sitting on bags with money, use a simple psychological trick to force the Europeans to trade their women, horses and land for virtual beads that cannot even be touched left alone worn.

The ultimate 21st century choice; OBOR or war

by Pepe Escobar for Sputnik News

The G20 meets in tech hub Hangzhou, China, at an extremely tense geopolitical juncture.

China has invested immense political/economic capital to prepare this summit. The debates will revolve around the main theme of seeking solutions “towards an innovative, invigorated, interconnected and inclusive world economy.”

Syrian Roulette

This comment was chosen by Mod TR from the post  “Erdogan Calls Putin as Russia Seethes at Turkey’s Syrian Incursion”. The moderator believes this comment gives another perspective on the complex war in Syria. There are so many different players each with their own interests and agendas – nothing is clear cut in the constantly changing playbook that is the Syrian war.
Comment by Larchmonter445

Erdogan Calls Putin as Russia Seethes at Turkey’s Syrian Incursion

Note by the Saker: I have to admit that I still am rather puzzled by the Turkish “invasion” of Syria.  There are several hypotheses about what the Turks are really up to and what their real goal is.  Since my friends Alexander Mercouris and Mark Sleboda seem to have a much better understanding of what is happening than I, I submit to your attention their analysis rather than to exposes you to my confused guesses.

The Saker

——-

Erdogan Calls Putin as Russia Seethes at Turkey’s Syrian Incursion

by Alexander Mercouris for The Duran

Russia furious at Turkish move to set up rebel “safe zone” inside Syria to assist Jihadi rebels there, putting the recently announced “normalisation of relations” between Russia and Turkey in jeopardy.

In the immediate aftermath of the Turkish capture of Jarablus in Syria Turkish President Erdogan telephoned his “friend Putin” on Friday 27th August 2016.

The whole game is about containing Russia-China

by Pepe Escobar for Sputnik International

The next BRICS summit, in Goa, is less than two months away. Compared to only two years ago, the geopolitical tectonic plates have moved with astonishing speed. Most BRICS nations are mired in deep crisis; Brazil’s endless political/economic/institutional debacle may yield the Kafkaesque impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff.

5 Lessons Every Nigerian Should Learn From #savemayowa

Sad. We could not save Mayowa Ahmed. A beautiful young lady with a budding career in catering and management, but lost the battle to ovarian cancer. Her story and so many circumstances that led to her death will for a while linger in the hearts of Nigerians who within 3 days after taking up the campaign raised about eighty million naira in her local account, and USD100, 000 in her Go-fund me account. Here are 5 lessons we should all learn from the whole issue.

Father of 3 dies after having s3x with girlfriend

A 37-year-old clearing agent, Sikiru Olanrewaju, has lost his life after leaving his wife and children at home to have fun with his girlfriend in Abule Egba, Lagos State. He died shortly after having rounds of s3x with his lover on Surulere Street.

US, China Prepare for Electronic Warfare Standoff in South China Sea

© REUTERS/ XINHUA, LI GANG 

As tensions in the South China Sea region continue to rise, both the US and China appear ready and willing to engage in a contest of electronic warfare capabilities. Philippines Threaten 'Bloody Confrontation' with Beijing Over South China Sea During the last few years, China has apparently constructed a considerable number of radar installations on the South China Seas islands. These facilities, which could potentially be employed for a variety of purposes, drastically increase China’s real-time awareness and intelligence capabilities over a large portion of the region.

Symmetrical Response: Russia Will Get Division of Troops 85 KM Off US Border

Last week, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu confirmed that the Russian military plans to establish a coastal defense division in Chukotka, eastern Russia by 2018. Respected independent defense analyst Sergei Ishchenko comments on the news, and on how it may ultimately affect the security situation in the region.

Stella Oduah's son died as a result of Wrong medication

According to Sahara Reporters, the  first son of Senator Stella Oduah died at a Turkish private hospital in Abuja due to the wrong prescription by a medical doctor.

Senator Oduah's son, whose name was given as Maxwell Chinedu Etoromi, died yesterday after he took a wrong medication prescribed for him following a tooth surgery.

Assessing the Russian military as an instrument of power

This article was written for the Unz Review:http://www.unz.com/tsaker/assessing-the-russian-military-as-an-instrument-of-power/

It has been a quarter of a century now since the fall of the Soviet Union and yet the memory of the Soviet Armed Forces is still vivid in the minds of many of those who lived through the Cold War or even remember WWII. The NATO-sponsored elites of eastern Europe still continue to scare their citizens by warning of a danger of “Russian tanks” rolling down their streets as if the Soviet tanks were about to advance on Germany again.

EFCC Arrests Francis Ayade Over Contract Scam

A brother to the Cross Rivers State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade has been arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, nigerianewspaper.com.ng has gathered on Wednesday.

The relation, Dr. Francis Ayade was arrested on Tuesday in connection with an alleged N2.4billion contract scam.

Ukraine’s Plot to Exchange a Citizen of Israel for Terrorists who Killed Russian Officers, by Scott Humor

Last week while we were celebrating the success of Russian athletes, other people were busy cooking up some fake news mixed with Hollywood-style horrors and injustices.  To make a long story short, a blogger living in Ukraine known as varyag2007 has been almost, not quite, but very close to being arrested by the SBU. We were informed that the arrest is going to take place if not now then most definitely in the distant future. I am talking about the self proclaimed “anti-fascist” blogger Miroslava Berdnik

Buhari's Case: Justice Abang Removes Self

Justice Abang removes self from case against Buhari

Justice Abang has disqualified himself from a case against President Buhari – Incorporated Trustees of Oron Union brought a case against PMB regarding his nominations – The nominations of Mr Obong and Frank Samuel to the NDDC board led to the filing of the suit against President Muhammadu Buhari.

What Kerry Discussed With Buhari And Governors

The United States has pledged more support to Nigeria’s anti-graft fight even as it praised President Muhammadu Buhari’s courage.
“We applaud what you are doing. Corruption creates a ready-made playing field for recruiting extremists,” visiting U.S. Secretary of State, Mr John Kerry, told Buhari at a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa yesterday.

Police Arrests 200 Suspects Over Destruction Of Police Station, Vehicles, Other Buildings In Anambra State

No fewer than 200 suspects involved in a fracas between the Abagana community in Njikoka Local Government Area and Ukpo, in Dunukofia Local Council Area of Anambra State were arrested on Monday by the Anambra Police Command.

The suspects allegedly burnt two police vehicles and destroyed five buildings in the area.

In the wake of Biden’s visit: Serbia at the geopolitical crossroad

by Stephen Karganovic

US Vice President Joseph Biden just completed a “three day visit to Serbia.” The phrase in parentheses is the spin Serbia’s puppet government in Belgrade puts on it. He actually spent only a couple of hours in Belgrade, just enough to deliver instructions. From there he flew off to Prishtina to spend the bulk of his time on Serbian territory in the NATO occupied province of Kosovo with his real friends, who were put in charge as a result of the 1999 aggression against Yugoslavia.

Indonesia Govt. Approves Castration For S3x Offenders Who Prey On Children

The Indonesian president, Joko Widodo, signed a decree on Wednesday authorizing chemical castration for convicted child sex offenders and requiring those released on parole to wear electronic monitoring devices.

President Buhari, Mallam Garba Shehu and I by Oby Ezekwesili

Read her statement below...
I woke up yesterday to read a fictitious report credited to me by Sunday Tribune that I claimed President Muhammadu Buhari does not deserve to be president. And on the basis of the fiction weaved together by a reporter, he let loose one of those now-very-common indecorous and rumor- inspired verbal assault from presidential spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu.

How RRS Foiled My Chance To Make Money – Interstate Cable Thief (pics)

Kunle Falayi

Pics: Ojoka beside the manhole and with a cutter he used

Thirty-year-old Kogi State indigene, Pius Ojoka, decided on Wednesday morning that his daily bread was going to come from stealing cables.

But what he did not envisage was the routine patrol of operatives of the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command on the Third Mainland Bridge.

Justice Abang Faces NJC Probe Over Conflicting Rulings

NJC panel to grill Judge Sept.

Following recent conflicting rulings over the governorship tussle in Abia State and the leadership crises rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, by Justice Okon Abang of the federal High Court Abuja, the National Judicial Council, NJC, has commenced discreet investigations on the judge.

Fayose, Others Working To Kill Pdp —babatope

Chief Ebenezer Babatope is former Minister of Transport, who served as the Director-General of Campaign Organisation of Chief Olabode George for national chairmanship of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the botched convention of the party. He speaks with BOLA BADMUS on his experience and the various factors that were at play, leading to the failed exercise. Excerpts:

Man baths married woman with acid for infecting him with 'magun' and lying that she's a widow

Yisau Adeleke, 43, has been arrested, 9 months after bathing his lover, Morufa Ajoke Odesanya, a 36-year-old mother-of-five, with acid, after discovering that she was married, contrary to her claim of being a widow, Tribune reports.