Russia alerts Thailand on potential ‘ISIS attacks’

Thai police have received a warning from Russia’s state security agency that 10 Syrians linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group could stage attacks in Thailand on targets associated with Russia and others opposed to the militant sect, officials have said.

National police deputy spokesman Colonel Songpol Wattanachai confirmed on Friday the authenticity of a leaked police memo mentioning the intelligence warning. He told reporters that the information has not been verified.

The police memo – dated November 17 and marked “urgent” and “confidential” – cites Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) warning that the 10 Syrians believed to be involved with ISIL entered Thailand in the second half of October. According to the memo, some of them went to Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket.

Pattaya and Phuket are seaside resorts popular with foreign tourists, and Pattaya is especially popular with Russians.

“The objectives of these people are to cause harm to Russia’s assets or those of its allies in Thailand,” said the memo.

The police memo called on security officials to confirm the information and step up security at possible targets related to countries opposed to ISIL, specifically the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Sweden and Australia.

Songpol also said that security had already been increased at venues in Bangkok, including embassies, after the deadly attacks in Paris on November 13.

The Thai capital was the target of a bombing in August that killed 20 people, but the attack has been linked to rebels from China’s Muslim Uighur minority.

There have been few signs of ISIL activity in Thailand, though the group actively recruits volunteers from its Southeast Asian neighbours Malaysia and Indonesia – which are predominantly Muslim – to fight in Syria and Iraq.

Sidney Jones, an expert on Southeast Asian Islamist movements at the Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict, told the AP news agency that ISIL cells in Southeast Asia were getting more serious about establishing a more formal structure.

As Bayelsa 2015 Governorship Election holds tomorrow...

As Bayelsa 2015 Governorship Election holds tomorrow...

The Bayelsa State governorship election holds tomorrow, December 5, 2015 and will be conducted in the eight local government areas of the state.
According to the independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, 20 political parties are fielding candidates in the election.

Obviously, the contest is between the candidates of two parties, namely the incumbent governor, Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a former governor of the state, Timpre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The oil-rich Bayelsa State has three senatorial districts, five federal constituencies, 24 state constituencies, eight local government areas and 105 Wards.

There are 663,748 registered voters in the state and they are expected to vote in 1,806 Polling Units spread across the local government areas.

The breakdown based on gender distribution shows that men constitute 54 per cent while women make up 46 percent of the voting population.
The occupation distribution includes 250 students, 120,000 fishermen, 80,000 farmers, 70,000 civil servants and 10,000 housewives.

Already, the INEC has accredited 50 observer groups to observe the election out of which 43 are domestic and seven foreign.

Who between these TITANS will emerge winner? Let's watch!!!

FG will create jobs using agric, solid minerals, real sectors –Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says the Federal Government will take advantage of the vast opportunities in the agriculture, solid minerals, and real sectors to create jobs for Nigerians.

Lai Mohammed, who stated this at the News Agency of Nigeria Forum in Abuja on Friday, said, “all we are waiting for is the 2016 Budget to be put in place”.

The minister said the present administration would invest massively in developing infrastructure because it would be difficult to create jobs without such investment.

“Job creation, which is our major promise, is going to be realised and all we are waiting for is the 2016 Budget to be put in place.

“This administration is going to use the instrumentality of agriculture, solid minerals, and the real sector to create more jobs for Nigerians.

“You cannot create jobs without investing massively in infrastructure and I know that what we are aiming at this year is to ensure that most of our spending will be on infrastructural development.

“I think last year the country did about 60 per cent only in capital expenditure; we hope that we will do at least 30 per cent this year in capital expenditure.

“This government is committed to investing in our youth; this government is interested in bringing out millions of Nigerians out of abject poverty.

“By the time the 2016 budget is released, you will see clearly that the emphasis on this government is to bring out as many people from abject poverty, create jobs, and also present an environment that will encourage entrepreneurs.”

Mr. Mohammed, who noted that between 60 million and 80 million Nigerians live below the poverty line, reiterated the government’s commitment to assisting “vulnerable groups” through its social intervention programmes.

“It is not that in the past there have not been attempts at poverty alleviation, but it would not be at the scale we are aiming.

“We are embarking on these massive social interventions so that we will talk of millions of Nigerians that will be rescued from abject poverty.

“We have about five groups that we are talking about; we have those that we call vulnerable because they are poor, those that are vulnerable because they do not have access to basic medical care.

 

“We have those that are vulnerable because they live with disabilities and this group is different.

“But then there are young Nigerians, who are vulnerable because they lack the economic strength.

“We have plans specifically for unemployed graduates, specifically for university graduates, and this takes various forms.

“In the case of market women, we intend to advance them money through their cooperatives.”

The minister also said that graduates, who had completed the national youth service scheme, and had been enrolled in a skill acquisition programme, would be paid a stipend.

“There is an exit for the programme and it is not like this group of people are going to be there permanently,” he added.

He also assured of the government’s readiness to work closely with persons with disabilities and to create a more accessible and enabling environment for them.

“We can make persons with disabilities in our society very productive by giving them the right incentives and we are looking into making public areas accessible to them,” he said.

Lagosians blast Gov. Ambode for posting this on twitter (See Tweets)

 

 

 

I think he wants people in the diaspora to come home and join in propagating the CHANGE message of Mr President. lol.

Is Cristiano Ronaldo in a gay relationship with kickboxer Badr Hari?

Is Cristiano Ronaldo in a gay relationship with kickboxer Badr Hari? 

 

 

French journalist and TV host Estelle Denis has made some eye popping allegations against Real Madrid footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo. The French journalist said Cristiano Ronaldo's frequent trips in his private jet to Morocco is because he is in a gay relationship with kickboxer Badr Hari and also claimed the superstar footballer has had cosmetic surgery on his nose.

Denis’ comments followed a report that Ronaldo’s recent behaviour was “causing concern” at Real Madrid.

The report hinted that officials at the football club frowned up the player’s frequent visits to Morocco and damaging his performances on the pitch.

“Ronaldo takes three or four jets a week to see a friend in Morocco to cuddle,” he said, leading to shocked gasps from the audience.

Frankly speaking, i am perplexed at this!

During one of such trips, kick boxer Hari posted a photo on Facebook of him holding up Ronaldo.

“Just married,” the caption said. “Always there to pick you up, bro.”

Other snaps of the trip shared a candle-lit image of a traditional Moroccan meal, as well as a picture of the two sportsmen post “wedding”.

Ronaldo has in the past denied being gay, saying he is content with his sexuality.

Back in 2010, Lionel Messi's arch rival supported Portugal’s decision to allow gay marriage.

“As I am Portuguese, I try to keep myself informed about what is happening in my country,” he said at the time.

 

“We must respect the choices of each other, because, after all, all citizens should have the same rights and responsibilities.”

 

 

Gunmen kill APC leader in Bayelsa

Gunmen kill APC leader in Bayelsa

 

 

Eight gunmen in military outfit have killed the APC deputy ward leader ,Diseye Dickson at Odi in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area. Residents in the area say the APC leader was killed on Wednesday 2nd December, 2015 after the gunmen failed in their mission to abduct one Chief Watson Ogoriba, the elder brother to a former two-time member of the House of Representatives, Warman Ogoriba.

The Sylva/Igiri Campaign Organisation (SICO), have alleged that the killing was carried out by suspected thugs hired by the PDP, all in a bid to distrupt the  December 5 election.