World powers agree to more talks on Syria crisis

Major powers meeting in Vienna for talks on Syria have found enough "common ground" to meet for a new round of talks in two weeks, even as the conflict enters a new phase with the deployment of US special forces in the country.
President Barack Obama has ordered the deployment of fewer than 50 commandos to help coalition forces coordinate with local troops, Josh Earnest, the White House spokesperson, said on Friday.

US plans to intensify military campaign against ISIL

The troop announcement came as diplomats in the Austrian capital representing 17 countries and the EU agreed to launch a broad new peace attempt to gradually end Syria's long civil war - a declaration that avoided any decision on when President Bashar al-Assad might leave.
It is not clear how many rebel groups would agree to a plan that does not result in Assad's immediate departure.
Sergey Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, said on Friday a US decision to deploy special forces in Syria would make cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries more important.
"I am sure that neither the United States nor Russia want [the conflict] to become a so-called proxy war," Lavrov said after the talks in Vienna.
"But it is obvious for me that the situation makes the task of cooperation between the militaries more relevant."

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Inside Story: Iranian influence in Syria: At what cost?

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Friday's talks included an Iranian delegation for the first time.
Representatives from Britain, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Lebanon, the EU and other Arab states also attended.
The participation by Russia and Iran in the attempt could mark a new and promising phase in the diplomacy since those countries have staunchly backed Assad.
'Tough conversations'
Any ceasefire agreement that may come as a result of the peace effort would not include the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group, which controls large parts of northern Syria and has its capital there.
"There were tough conversations today," John Kerry, US secretary of state, said on Friday. "This is the beginning of a new diplomatic process."
Kerry acknowledged that those present have major differences regarding the Assad government.
"But we cannot allow the differences to get in the way of diplomacy to end the killing."

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RELATED: The US had no choice but to involve Iran in Syria talks

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Federica Mogherini, the European Union foreign policy chief, said there is "hope" for a political process to advance, saying that those involved in the talks "found common ground" for further discussion.
"It was a very long and very substantial meeting. This was not an easy one, but for sure a historical one," she said while praising "those who took difficult decisions" in joining the talks.
Lavrov said those present in the meeting spent a "long time" pushing for an inclusive Syrian-led peace process.

Nigeria's ex-oil minister Alison-Madueke arrested in London: sources

 LAGOS/ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's former oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke was arrested in London on Friday, a source from Nigeria's presidency circle and another with links to her family said.

Alison-Madueke was minister from 2010 until May 2015 under former president Goodluck Jonathan, who was defeated by Muhammadu Buhari at the polls in March.

Buhari took office in May promising to root out corruption in Africa's most populous country, where few benefit from the OPEC member's enormous energy resources.

A police spokesman in London said he had no record of such an arrest. The National Crime Agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

But in a short statement on its website, the NCA said its International Corruption Unit had arrested five people across London on suspicion of bribery and corruption offences on Friday, without naming the suspects.www.sweetgracey.blogspot.com

3 MSF workers killed in suspected U.S. airstrike on hospital in Afghanistan

Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN)Airstrikes killed three staff workers of medical aid group Doctors Without Borders early Saturday in the Afghan city of Kunduz, the charity said. U.S. forces said they conducted airstrikes in the area.

More than 30 people remained unaccounted for after aerial bombing hit the trauma center several times, the charity said in a statement.

U.S. forces carried out a nearby strike early Saturday "against individuals threatening the force," Army spokesman Col. Brian Tribus said.

The strike "may have resulted in collateral damage to a nearby medical facility," he said in a statement. The military is investigating.

Aid workers killed in airstrikes 01:41

Story highlights

• The MSF hospital was hit multiple times
• U.S. says it carried out strikes in the area that may have caused "collateral damage"
• More than 100 patients and 80 MSF staff were present when the bombs fell

Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN)Airstrikes killed three staff workers of medical aid group Doctors Without Borders early Saturday in the Afghan city of Kunduz, the charity said. U.S. forces said they conducted airstrikes in the area.

More than 30 people remained unaccounted for after aerial bombing hit the trauma center several times, the charity said in a statement.

U.S. forces carried out a nearby strike early Saturday "against individuals threatening the force," Army spokesman Col. Brian Tribus said.

The strike "may have resulted in collateral damage to a nearby medical facility," he said in a statement. The military is investigating.

"We do not yet have the final casualty figures, but our medical teams are providing first aid and treating the injured patients and MSF personnel," said Bart Janssens, operations director for the organization also known as Medecins Sans Frontieres.

When the aerial attack occurred, 105 patients and their caretakers were in the hospital. More than 80 MSF international and national staff were present.

Bovi’s Beautiful Wife Gifts Joint Birthday Cake To Her Hubby And Daughter For Their Birthday

yesterday, popular comedian and his beautiful daughter celebrated their birthdays and his wife, Kris is without an iota of doubt, as excited as can be.
Besides showering the sweetest words on both her daughter and her husband, (her king and princess) who had their birthday yesterday, she got them this beautiful joint cake with courtesy of dainty affairs.
She also had this to say to her husband who turned 36. She wrote:

A very happy birthday to this sweet heart @officialbovi who has chosen to love me unconditionally, my hero, my joy, my pride, my blessing, my mentor, my entertainer, my gossip partner, my lover, my best friend, a selfless man, the only person who knows my deepest secrets !! I could go on and on about you the whole day …. You are a true definition of a “Sweet Heart” !! Words really can’t describe how kind your heart really is. Love you forever my love”

The post Bovi’s Beautiful Wife Gifts Joint Birthday Cake To Her Hubby And Daughter For Their Birthday appeared first on .

HOW TO INVEST MONEY WITH FIDELITY BANK

IR Home
Fidelity Bank Overview
A commercial bank with International Authorisation established in 1987 and licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The Bank currently has over 400,000 diverse shareholders.
Listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in May 2005 and has consistently paid dividends annually since being listed.
Issued a $300million Eurobond in May 2013 which is listed on the Irish Stock Exchange (IRS).
Issued a N30billion local currency bond in May 2015.
Strategic business focus is on Niche Corporate Banking, SMEs, Retail and Electronic Banking.
Currently has 224 business offices, 705 ATMs and 3,858 POSes. H1 Performance Highlights

• Gross Earnings up by 13.6% to N71.9bn
• Fee income up by 25.9% to N15.2bn
• PBT increased by 2.5% to N9.7bn
• Cost of risk of 1.1%
• NPL Ratio of 3.7%
• Coverage Ratio of 95.0%
• Basel II Capital Adequacy Ratio of 22.7%

HOW MY HUSBAND DIED FROM KIDNEY FAILURE AFTER SELF - MEDICATING ON MALARIA DRUGS

Entering the apartment of Judith Duba, a civil servant residing at Kpor, in the Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, one could sense a thick atmosphere of grief.
Duba sits alone at a corner of her room, cold and lost in thoughts. She wears a sad expression, as she gazes through the window looking at no one in particular. Every morning, she wakes up to the sad reality that her husband of two years, Justice Duba, is no more. the dangers of self medication on human health read this interesting story

THE CORRUPTION OF ANTI CORRUPTION

 

“Selective prosecution of political opponents undermines the legitimacy of anti-corruption reform efforts. It is the most cynical abuse of power…”

GRACEY

The arraignment of Senate President Bukola Saraki by the Code of Conduct Bureau before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Tuesday is without doubt one of the most dramatic political events of the past week. The case, however it is resolved, will be remembered not just for what it says but also for what it fails to say, or rather its symbolism regarding the anti-corruption posture of the Buhari administration.

In order to comment fairly, this writer reveals upfront that he has never met Saraki, nor is he, as the readers of this column will recall, sympathetic to the shabby manner in which he emerged in his current position. But if that antecedent provoked turbulent ruminations, the current attempt to nail or get at him, through a so-called anti-corruption vehicle is even more rickety and ominous. As Emeritus Professor at the Boston Law School, Elizabeth Spahn, quoted above, informs, very few things are as corrosive of reform efforts as the targeting of political opponents through selective prosecution. To be sure, the criminalisation of opposition and dissent in our national life bring forward anxious reminiscences: Chief Obafemi Awolowo at the treasonable felony trial, Ken Saro-Wiwa, appearing before a military tribunal whose predetermined brief was to sentence him to death and several others. We can recall too in passing that Chief Bola Tinubu was incompetently arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal in 2011, with the barely disguised intention of settling scores with a star opposition leader. In other words, political authorities have historically employed the legal system to indict those who fall out with them.