THE US ' BLACK BUDGET' IS IT REALY LEAKING OF FILE , OR IS IT A GAME ON RUSSIA , TIME WILL TELL ?

A breakdown of US intelligence's multi-billion dollar "black budget" has been revealed in files disclosed by leaker Edward Snowden to the Washington Post.

The CIA's budget is the most expensive, $14.7bn (£9.5bn) out of $52.6bn in total for 16 intelligence agencies, according to the files.

Two of those agencies are also actively hacking into foreign computer networks, reports the Washington Post.

The US has not made public a breakdown of the total intelligence budget.

The newspaper published charts detailing the budget, but did not post all the documents, citing "sensitive details" after US officials expressed concerns about risks to methods and sources.

According to the Washington Post, the CIA's budget has grown more than 50% since 2004.

'Priority' intelligence targets

The files also reportedly show the budget of the National Security Agency (NSA), America's electronic spying organisation - it apparently requested $10.8bn for 2013, making it second only to the CIA.

Nearly $5bn of the CIA's budget is allocated to human intelligence operations, with almost $67m of that total reserved for funding the false identities of its overseas spies, according to the files.

The CIA and the NSA have also launched "offensive cyber operations" to hack into or sabotage enemy computer networks, according to the files.

The documents reportedly refer to China, Russia, Iran, Cuba and Israel as "priority" counterintelligence targets. Israel is an American ally, though it has previously conducted espionage against the US.

The NSA is denying one part of Friday's report - that the agency planned to investigate up to 4,000 cases of possible internal security breaches before Mr Snowden made his disclosures to the media.

Vanee Vines, an agency spokesman, told the Associated Press the effort actually represented a broad reinvestigation of civil personnel to lessen the possibility of security risks.

"Periodic reinvestigations are conducted as one due-diligence component of our multifaceted insider threat programme," he said.

The documents are the latest in a series of leaks by ex-NSA contractor Mr Snowden, who has been charged with espionage in a federal court in the US.

He is currently in Russia, where the government of Vladimir Putin has granted him a year's asylum.

WHAT WILL RUSSIA DO , WHEN OBAMA GETS THE CONGRESS' VOTE TO BATTLE SYRIA ?

President Barack Obama says the US should take military action against Syria and he will seek congressional authorisation for intervention.

The US says the Syrian government carried out chemical weapons attacks on 21 August in which 1,429 people died.

Mr Obama said the operation would be limited in duration and strong to deter future chemical attacks. Congress is due to re-open on 9 September.

The Syrian government denies it was behind the attacks and blames rebels.

UN inspectors have now left Syria with samples from site visits, which will go to laboratories in Europe for testing.

President Obama said the military operation could happen tomorrow, next week or in the near future.

"We cannot and will not turn a blind eye to what happened in Damascus," he said.

As commander-in-chief, Mr Obama has the constitutional authority to order military action without the backing of Congress.

DANIEL : THE 14-YEARS OLD ARIK AIRLINE TYRE BOY HAS BEEN OFFERED SCOLARSHIP

A group called De Raufs' Volunteer Group - a group of supporters of Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, has offered 14 year old Daniel Oikhena, the boy who flew an Arik plane from Benin to Lagos hidden in the plane's undercarriage, a scholarship.

The Director-General of the group, Amitolu Shittu, in a statement released yesterday said the group is ready to give scholarship to Daniel up to university level and also help him achieve his target of travelling through the air.
   What a good man.

WHAT IS REALY THE FATE OF AMERICAN IN THE SYRIAN CONFLICT.

US Secretary of State John Kerry says the US knows the Assad regime was behind the chemical attack in Damascus, which he says killed 1,429 people.

Mr Kerry said the dead included 426 children, and described the attack as an "inconceivable horror".

The US says it will continue to seek a coalition, and President Barack Obama is meeting his national security team.

The government of President Bashar al-Assad has denied carrying out the attack and blames rebel forces.

NELSON MANDELA BACK FROM HOSPITAL .

Former South African President Nelson Mandela has returned to his home in Johannesburg after a long stay in hospital in Pretoria.

The 95-year-old was admitted with a recurring lung infection on 8 June.

Last week he was said to be critical but stable and "showing great resilience", and there has been no official update on him since then.

The country's first black president, Mr Mandela is revered by many as the father of the nation.

His prolonged hospital stay has caused concern both in South Africa and abroad.

The infection is said to date back to a period of nearly three decades he spent in prison for anti-apartheid activity.

The BBC's Mike Wooldridge in Johannesburg says it will be a relief for his family and for the nation that Mr Mandela has improved sufficiently for the journey to be made and for him to be cared for at home.

People from South Africa and around the world have sent him their best wishes, and flowers and other tributes have collected outside Pretoria's MediClinic Heart Hospital.

Throughout Mr Mandela's stay in hospital, President Jacob Zuma urged the country to pray for him and keep him in their thoughts.

RIVERS STATE PDP CRISIS LOOMS ON ! PART 2

he Felix Obuah-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State swiftly reacted to decision by Governor Chibuike Amaechi's loyalists to boycott PDP National Mini Convention scheduled for Saturday, describing it as a welcome development with not consequences for the Convention.

Special Adviser to the State PDP Chairman, Jerry Needam, in a statement said the boycott would be inconsequential for State delegates' list of the Abuja Convention. He said it would rather "help filter the State delegates of infiltrators, untrustworthy elements and expelled members of the Party," adding that

"It is no longer news that Amaechi and his allies are acting this way as it was glaring that they have over the period been playing destructive politics and have surreptitiously, although not hidden to us, been making frantic moves to join and, or form another political party."

"This was again confirmed by the expelled Chief of Staff, Government House, Tony Okocha, representing Gov. Amaechi, who said the option of joining another party was being considered in view of their 'suffocation' in PDP," reads the statement.

Needam further said that the party has never tolerated "insubordination and disrespect" within PDP.

The statement concluded that the decision of the Amaechi loyalists would allow PDP to conduct the convention "peacefully".

It will be reminded, that the Rivers State delegates loyal to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday, declared a boycott of PDP's mini-convention. The boycott is meant to protest what Amaechi-loyalists described as the indifference of the national PDP leadership's to the crisis rocking the state PDP and illegal suspension of Governor Amaechi by the party.

OBESITY AND INTESTINAL FLORA.

THE HEALTH OF OBESSE PEOPLE, DEPENDS ON THIER INTESTINAL FLORA.
Aug. 28, 2013 — New research shows that there is a link between richness of bacterial species in the intestines and the susceptibility to medical complications related to obesity. Researchers demonstrated that people with fewer bacterial species in their intestines are more likely to develop complications, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. A flora with decreased bacterial richness appears to function entirely differently to the healthy variety with greater diversity.

The international consortium MetaHIT, which includes the research group of Jeroen Raes (VIB/Vrije Universiteit Brussel) were involved with the research. Jeroen Raes (VIB/VUB) said, "This is an amazing result with possibly enormous implications for the treatment and even prevention of the greatest public health issue of our time. But we are not there yet, now we need studies in which we can monitor people for a longer period. We want to perform these types of long-term studies together with the "Vlaams Darmflora Project" (Flemish Gut Flora Project), which is only possible thanks to the selfless efforts of thousands of Flemish residents."
Obesity, a health problem
Metabolic conditions have become an epidemic partly due to the modern lifestyle without a lot of exercise and easy access to (a lot of) energy-dense food. It is expected that obesity will increase tremendously all over the world; from 400 million obese people in 2005, to more than 700 million in 2015. A trend that will persist at least until 2030. Some people appear to be more sensitive to obesity than others. Many studies over the years have examined the possible cause of this.
Bacterial richness in your intestines is associated with susceptibility to obesity
Over the last years it has become very clear that there is a link between the bacterial population in our intestines and our health. As a result, scientists also started studying the link between obesity and intestinal flora. An international consortium, including the VIB scientists Falk Hildebrand, Gwen Falony and Jeroen Raes in Brussels, examined the intestinal flora of 169 obese Danes and 123 non-obese Danes.
Jeroen Raes: "We were able to distinguish between two groups based on their intestinal flora: people with a large richness of bacterial species in their intestines and people with a few less bacterial species. A species-rich bacterial flora appeared to function differently compared to the poorer variety. It was surprising to see that obese and non-obese people were found in both groups."
The scientists did see that the group with lower species richness in the intestinal flora was more susceptible to developing obesity-related conditions and chronic inflammation. The obese people in this group are more at risk of cardiovascular conditions than the obese people in the other group. These are important results that suggest that it is not only weight gain and dietary habits that play a role in the development of medical complications in obese people.
The Flemish Gut Flora Project
The question that remains is whether these results also translate to other countries and populations. Therefore, Jeroen Raes has established the Flemish Intestinal Flora Project to follow up on these types of studies on a larger scale. Such efforts are crucial to confirm the insights acquired in smaller studies and to make an effective step towards improved treatments and medicines.

NORTH KOREAN ATTEMPT TO EXPORT GAS MASK INTO SYRIA ,HAS FAILED.

North Korea tried to export gas masks to Syria but they were seized in Turkey
along with arms and ammunition, a Japanese daily said Tuesday, as the US
threatened action over an alleged chemical weapons attack

TOKYO: North Korea tried to export gas masks to Syria but they were seized in
Turkey along with arms and ammunition, a Japanese daily said Tuesday, as
the US threatened action over an alleged chemical weapons attack.
A Libyan-registered vessel, identified as Al En Ti Sar, left North Korea for Syria
earlier this year with the consignment, the Sankei Shimbun said, quoting
unnamed sources from the US military, Japanese and South Korean
intelligence.
The US military, which obtained the information, was tracking the ship in
coordination with other countries, the daily -- which is known for its North
Korea coverage -- said in a detailed report.
The vessel sailed through Dardanelles in Turkey on April 3 and was searched
shortly after by Turkish authorities, who had been tipped off by the US.
Turkish officials seized 1,400 rifles and pistols and some 30,000 bullets as well
as gas masks apparently for chemical protection, the daily said.
US authorities believe that the ship was intending to unload its cargo in
Turkey and send it overland to President Bashar al-Assad's regime, the Sankei
said.
Turkey detained the captain of the vessel and later charged him after he
admitted his ship was on its way from North Korea and was carrying arms
bound for Syria, the paper said.
Syria is the subject of sanctions by the European Union, the US and its allies
banning the sale of weapons.
North Korea is barred by United Nations sanctions from trading in weaponry in
the wake of nuclear and missile tests. If confirmed, Pyongyang could face
additional UN sanctions over the shipment.
North Korea and Syria have reportedly had a military relationship for some
years, including during the current civil war in the Middle Eastern country.
There were also widespread reports that North Korea helped Syria build a
nuclear plant that was destroyed by Israeli bombing in 2007.
The West has ramped up its rhetoric following accounts of a deadly chemical
attack outside Damascus on August 21, which it blames on Assad's regime.
Washington has accused Syria of trying to destroy evidence from the attack
last week, which opposition forces say killed 1,300 people, including children.
Independent medical agency Doctors Without Borders has said at least 355
people died from "neurotoxic symptoms."
On Monday a team of UN inspectors sent to Damascus to investigate the
claims came under sniper fire.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said the use of chemical weapons was
"undeniable" and warned that Syria would face a response for its actions.
"Let me be clear. The indiscriminate slaughter of civilians, the killing of women
and children and innocent bystanders by chemical weapons is a moral
obscenity," Kerry said.
The right-of-centre Sankei Shimbun is one of Japan's five nationwide
newspapers and has a track record of publishing exclusive articles on North
Korea. While the tone is often strident, it is generally thought of as a credible
source on the subject.

ANAMBARA GUBER TUSSLE: '100 IMPORTED VOTERS' ARRESTED.

Over 100 people brought in from Lagos State, the capital of Plateau State Jos and other parts Nigeria, who intended to register as voters in Anambra State in the ongoing voters revalidation exercise were on August 25, 2013, Sunday, arrested and detained by the State Police.

Among those apprehended were two members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ad hoc staff who were the registration and assistant registration officers for Unit 013, Ovala Square, Igbariam. They are National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members recruited to register voters during the revalidation exercise.

Two luxurious buses that were used to bring the arrested voters from Lagos and Jos for the exercise were also impounded by the State Police.

It would be recalled that INEC had disclosed in the beginning of August that there were 93,000 fake voters in Anambra State.

The 'imported voters,' who were arrested at Igbariam, Anambra East Local Government Area said they had been mobilised and brought in to register by the Ifeanyi Ubah Fan Club, a political group made up of the supporters of Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah, one of the governorship aspirants for the November 16 election in the state.

One of the detainees, Mr. Bonaventure Ofieli, who said he was a trader based in Jos, said the Ifeanyi Ubah Fan Club in Jos had provided them with the fund for their trip to Anambra State to register for the election. He said he hailed from Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Ubah is a governorship aspirant of the Labour Party. The party is due to hold its primaries on Wednesday in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

Chief Dan Ulasi, the Director-General of the Ifeanyi Ubah Campaign Organisation, has condemned the arrest of the voters, said there was nothing wrong in mobilising registered voters to come home to vote.

Chied Ulasi also added that the innocent citizens were being unnecessarily punished for offering to obey a national call to exercise their franchise.

He said the organisation might go to court to seek remedy for the detained persons.

Mr. Chinedu Obidigwe, the Chairman of Anambra East Local Government, said his attention had been drawn to the registration unit in front of the palace of the traditional ruler of Igbariam, Igwe N.N. Kelly by locals, who claimed to have noticed strange faces about to get registered.

He said on getting to the unit, he interviewed the strangers, who admitted that they were brought in to register as voters but that they were not residing in the area.

CAN JEALOUSY DEFY THE LAW OF AGEING ?

A 61 YEARS OLD JAPANESE WOMAN KILL A 70 YEARS HUSBAND, BECAUSE HE CHEATED !

A Japanese housewife battered her septuagenarian husband to death with a coffee cup after discovering he was cheating on her, reports said Monday.
The 61-year-old woman allegedly attacked her partner after learning of his affair, battering him repeatedly about the face and head with the mug at their home southwest of Tokyo on Sunday afternoon, the Asahi Shimbun and other media reported.
Yasuo Hirose, a 70-year-old honorary professor with Yokohama National University, was taken to hospital but later confirmed dead.
“He had an affair with a woman I hate,” Emiko Hirose told police, according to the reports. “I went mad and hit him more than 10 times with a cup.”
The wife has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, reports said. Immediate confirmation was not available.

DANGOTE WANTS TO MAKE SURE NIGERIA COMPLETELY REFINE THIER OIL AND EXPORT THEM.

The President/Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has urged the government to begin the production of petroleum products for export as part of strategies to diversify the nation’s export base.
He made the call in a keynote address he presented at the 9th All Nigerian Editors’ Conference in Asaba, Delta State, on Friday.
Dangote, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Joseph Makoju, spoke on ‘Nigeria beyond oil’.
He said with the discovery of crude oil in many African nations, the fall of oil prices in the international market, and the exploration of alternative sources of energy such as shale oil, the nation should seek ways of enhancing its economic sustainability.
One of the strategies he identified was refining and production of diverse petroleum products for export.
With the creation of industries dedicated to the production of petroleum-based products, Dangote said conscious efforts should be made - by the government and stakeholders - in creating a demand for the products, locally and in international markets.

CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF : BOKO HARAM WAR NOT RELIGIOUS

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika at the weekend in Kaduna, stated that crushing insurgency was to ensure national security and not religious war.

 The Army Chief offered the explanation during the closing ceremony of a workshop organized for Nigerian Army Commanding Officers from North-West and North-East part of the country at Division one Headquarters, Kaduna.
Ihejirika, who was represented by the GOC, Division one, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Garba Wahab said: “Like I keep on saying, what we are facing right now is not an issue of religion, because there is no religion that allows any individual to slaughter a fellow human being. So, it is not a religious issue. If you understand what we are facing, you will get a solution to it.
Whatever you plan for or hope for, there must be massive friction to your plan and reality on ground. You have to plan for those frictions.
“If there is a country that should not have any problem in the world, it is Somalia, because 99.9 percent of the people of Somalia are Somalis, 98.5.7 percent are Muslims; so, you can imagine.
“We can’t continue to do the same thing. The adversary has advisers, the adversary has sympthisers, who are as well-read as you are. They are human beings who will sit down on a computer and access it.
“Even if they don’t understand what the Nigerian Army is doing, they can read about the US Army and British Army on the internet on the way they think. “There are some documents that are coming out now, most from the CIA of the 50s.
“If somebody can get through all these things, he needs not to listen to you; all he needs to do is to see how it will work. So, gentlemen, you have to work hard, you have to be ingenious, you have to be bold and aggressive.
“You cannot afford to be timid. The man there is heartless. If somebody can grab a fellow human being, put him on the ground and slaughter the person like a goat and information has gone out that any security person grabbed should be treated that way, then, you should know that you must be bold and aggressive in all you do,” the Army Chief stressed.

WAR: AS HAUSA AND YORUBA TRADERS CLASH IN BODIJA MARKET, IBADAN.

At least five people were injured and property worth millions of naira was destroyed in the course of the conflict that escalated between Yoruba and Hausa traders at Bodija Market in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Friday, August 16, 2013.

According to the eyewitnesses, other traders fled the market, leaving their stores open, with food stuffs littering the entire market. At the entrance of the market, a commercial bicycle was set ablaze while the owner escaped with minor injuries. A truckload of food stuffs was also vandalised.

Fortunately, no life was lost in the clash due to the prompt intervention of security operatives.

Traders with serious injuries were said to have been quickly taken to the hospital while police vans were stationed at strategic positions.

As a cause for the outbreak of violence, Akeem Emiola, the Public Relations Officer, Ibadan Food Stuffs Sellers Association, Bodija Market, named the tension between the two groups that has been growing since Yoruba traders were killed by Boko Haram members in Borno State on May 5, 2013.

Four traders were killed that day, and ten more people were killed on June 28. 2013.

After the killing, the Ibadan Foodstuff Traders Association placed an indefinite ban on travelling to the North to purchase beans on its members.

It was gathered that despite the ban, Hausa traders still brought beans from the North to the market and sell at very exorbitant prices. The situation worsened as a bag of beans has rose from N11,000 to N20,000

Emiola said Friday's clash was the climax of the tension that had been on the rise since the death of the fourteen traders.

He said, "Since Boko Haram killed Yoruba traders from Bodija Market, traders could not go to the North to buy food stuffs. But the Hausa traders have a means of sending the products, especially beans, to their kinsmen in Ibadan.

"The price has since risen beyond common man's ability, which is a source of worry for the leadership of Bodija market union.

"There was tension in the market because only the Hausa traders have been selling beans in largequantity, leaving Yoruba traders idle."

He added that there were rumours that a clash was imminent between the two ethnic groups, leading to a peace talk called by the community leaders in Bodija area, where all concerned parties were invited.

But a solution remained elusive until Friday, when the state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Indabawa, invited all the parties involved to find a solution to the brewing crisis.

"On Friday, all the parties concerned met with the Commissioner of Police, where it was agreed that beans coming from the North should be divided equally between the two groups," said Emiola."But the truce only lasted a few hours as tension reached a boiling point."

AHMED MUSA SECURED VICTORY FOR CSKA MOSCOW

MUSA IN ACTION !

Ahmed Musa was the match winner when CSKA Moscow beat Tom’ Tomsk in a Russian Premier League game played on Saturday, futaa.com reports.
Tom’ Tomsk hosted Musa and his team-mates at the Stadion Trud (Tomsk) with 9, 700 spectators in attendance.
The host took the lead in the first half through Igor Portnyagin before Ivoirian Seydou Doumbia restored parity for CSKA in the 52nd minute, thanks to a Georgi Schennikov assist.
Six minutes later, Musa put his side ahead with a 58th minute goal, which happened to be his fourth this season

ANODER ARIK AIRLINE LOOP HOLE IN SECURITY.

TEENAGER HIDES IN TYRE AND LANDED IN LAGOS!

How did a young boy outsmart security operatives at the Benin Airport yesterday to stow away on a commercial flight to Lagos undetected?
This is one of the questions experts in the aviation industry and security agencies will have to find an answer to after the boy was found on the arrival of the plane at the local wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja yesterday.
The development has already sparked accusations and counter accusations between Arik Air whose security was breached and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the agency responsible for security in all the nation’s airports.
The boy, whose name was given as Daniel Ihekina, hid in the tyre compartment of Arik Aircraft 5N-MJG, Flight 44 while preparing for take- off to Lagos at 9am.
The management of the airline attributed the development to security lapses at the Benin Airport.
But FAAN countered, saying the airline acted with impunity on the matter.
On board the plane were several top officials of the Edo State government.
Passengers aboard the airline were shocked when security agents found the teenager at the MMA soon after the aircraft landed.
Though none of the officials at the Benin Airport agreed to comment on the issue, there were fears that the boy may have accessed the tarmac through Akenzua Road axis owing to lack of perimeter fencing at the airport. A passenger aboard the plane said: “we were suspicious in Benin when the plane was about taking off when we heard a noise as if the tyre crushed somebody on the ground. Some people even started shouting ‘Jesus, Jesus, which suggested that the boy was already inside the tyre compartment before we left.
“So, we left for Lagos but when we landed at the Ikeja Airport, the boy came out from the tyre compartment and everybody started shouting.
“Seriously speaking, this shows that we have serious problems with regard to securing our airports. This is a serious security breach. If that boy was carrying bomb it means he would have succeeded in blowing up the plane. How can somebody be in an aircraft without being detected? We are in trouble in this country.”
However, Arik Air, in a swift reaction to the development, blamed it all on security lapses at the Benin Airport.
It expressed shock at how anyone could beat aviation security checks at the Benin Airport to stowaway into the main wheel of its aircraft.
Spokesman for the company, Mr Banji Ola, said :”The pilot of Arik Air flight W3 544, departing Benin Airport for Lagos at 9.00am today (yesterday) 24thAugust, 2013 reported to the control tower the presence of a strange boy in the bush about 200 – 300 metres at the end of runway 23.
“The control tower told the captain that they were sending security men to the place to arrest the boy. As the captain was making his final turn, preparatory for take-off, a cabin crew called his attention to the information by some of the passengers that they saw a boy running towards the airplane. The First Officer confirmed that they had observed it earlier and alerted the control tower which responded that they have sent the patrol team to arrest the boy. The captain again reported to the control tower and was informed that the situation was under control and that he had been cleared for take-off.
“On arrival at the domestic wing of MMA, Lagos, a teenage boy, who apparently had sneaked into the aircraft main wheel well jumped out and was arrested by Arik personnel and handed over to FAAN security.”
Managing Director of the airline, Mr. Chris Ndulue, asked the authorities of FAAN to “immediately address the problem.”
But speaking for FAAN, Mr Yakubu Dati said Arik Air was responsible for the breach by not conducting a check on the plane after the attention of the crew and ground personnel was drawn to an abnormally on the tarmac.
The procedure for such infraction, he said, is for the crew to abort the flight and return to the apron for check-up.
“It is revealing that Arik Air accepted that their attention was drawn to the presence of foreign bodies on the tarmac. Why they ignored this vital safety precaution reveals their disdain for following safety procedures,” he said and warned that FAAN will not tolerate such infraction from any operator.

He said: “This is arrant display of impunity. The aircraft should not have taxied further, but return to the apron until a proper check is carried out on all parts of the aircraft.
“FAAN will not tolerate such impunity henceforth from Arik or any airline. Any violation would be met with applicable sanctions.”
The suspect is already giving useful information to security agents on his motive.

ANDY UBA WINS ANAMBARA PDP PRIMARIES.

Senator Andy Uba, former Special Adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, was yesterday declared winner of one of the parallel primaries organised by the PDP to pick its candidate for the November 16, 2013 governorship election in Anambra State.

Former students leader, Tony Nwoye polled 498 votes in the other primaries, followed by Senator Nicholas Ukachukwu with 378 votes. Uba, according to the result declared after the election conducted by the Kenneth Emeakayi faction recognised by the party's national secretariat polled 645 votes, followed by Emma Anosike with 110 votes.

Jerry Ugwoke got 86;Patrick Ugbomah -89;Mike Okoye -22;Ugochukwu Okeke -20;Alex Obiogolu -17;Mrs Josephine Anenih -3;Walter Okeke -2;and Tony Nwoye -1. The result was announced by the Returning Officer, Dr. Kenneth Enemuoh.

The election was supervised by a delegation led by Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State. With him were Sen. Ndoma Egba and Gombe State Governor Dankwambo.

It was almost marred by a fight between supporters of two of the aspirants during the accreditation of delegates. The police led by the Area Commander for Awka, Deputy Commissioner of Police Yusuf had to tear gas the arena to disperse the crowd. Two persons were injured. The parallel primaries organised by the INEC and Court recognised Ejike Oguebego faction were peaceful.

Before their accreditation exercise, the aspirants had met with the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Ballah Nasarawa where they had a closed door meeting. Governors Shema and Dankwabo who also attended the meeting pleaded with them to eschew rancour in the interest of the party. Shema said only one person can be governor at a time.

However, one of the aspirants, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, told The Nation yesterday that what happened in the place was the same old story. He said some aspirants used thugs to cause confusion before the Police intervention adding, "if we continue like this, I pity PDP". At the Emmaus House venue of the parallel primaries, supervised by PDP leaders from the Southeast, Azodo, Emeke and Dike praised the Oguegbego led PDP for organizing a rancour free primary, adding that the credibility of the exercise was not in doubt.

The returning officer of the exercise was former speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Dr. KC Enemo led a five man team which included the South East PDP Women leader Mrs. Tonia Nnankwu.

LEBANON LAUNCHES FRESH ATTACK ON ISREAL.

Explosions have been heard in northern Israel, after rockets were fired across the border from southern Lebanon.

Sirens sounded across the area, but no casualties were reported. Footage showed some minor damage.

Lebanese reports said four rockets were fired from southern Lebanon, a stronghold of the Shia Islamist movement Hezbollah.

An Israeli military spokesman said one of the rockets was intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defence system.

Rockets have been fired into Israel intermittently by militant groups since the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in 2006.

But an Israeli army spokesman told the BBC he did not believe Hezbollah was behind the attack.

Lebanese news agencies reported all four rockets were fired at Israel from the Tyre region in southern Lebanon.

Explosions were heard on Thursday afternoon in Nahariyah, a border town on Israel's west coast, and as far east as Kiryat Shemona.

Footage showed the remains of a rocket in a street, with damage to a car and nearby windows.

Lt. Col. Peter Lerner blamed "global jihad"' elements for the attack, but added Israel had not retaliated.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded swiftly to the attack, saying Israel was "acting on all fronts" to defend its citizens.

"Our policy is clear: to protect and to prevent. Whoever tries to harm us should know we will harm them," he said.

THE NIGERIAN ARMY, HAS COMPLETELY TAKEN OVER BATTLE AGAINST BOKO HARAM.

The army has taken over operations in the battle against Boko Haram in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
The states have been under a state of emergency since May 14, following the lingering insurgency by the fundamentalist sect, which seeks to islamise Nigeria.
The sect has been responsible for the deaths of almost 3,000 people, the maiming of others and dislocation of hundreds of thousands.
The sect members have also claimed responsibility for killing of students and burning of schools. In Borno, no fewer than 800 classrooms have been burnt, according to Governor Kashim Shetima. The attacks on schools and killing of pupils are in furtherance of the meaning of the sect’s name – “Western education is a sin”.
A new division of the Army purposely set up for counter insurgency will today take over the control of the three states. The Joint Task Force (JTF), which has operated in each of the states, will be scrapped. The JTF was composed by troops drawn from the three services of the Armed Forces as well as other security agencies that conducted the operation.
Director of Defence Information Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade said the Army Headquarters will assume command of the troops with immediate effect.
He said the change of baton was in line with the plans laid out for the conduct of the operations to execute the mandate spelt out in the May 14 declaration of State of Emergency by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The operation is now code-named Operation BOYONA, an acronym derived from the names of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
“The effort was meant to constitute the first phase of the counter-terrorists operation. The Nigerian Army will now be solely in charge of the operations, but still under the routine guidance of the Defence Headquarters.
“A General Officer Commanding (GOC), in the rank of Major General, is being proposed to command the new Division which will have its Headquarters in Maiduguri. He is due to take over Command and the assets of the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force”, Brig. Gen. Olukolade’s statement added.
In spite of the appeal for peace and ceasefire by government through the amnesty committee, the sect has refused to bulge.
It remains divided, with some of its leaders opting for the olive branch while its leader Abubakar Shekau insists there is no deal.
In another video posted on the You Tube last week, Shekau even boasted that he could not be caught and dared United States President Barack Obama, French President Francois Hollande and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to arrest him.
He vowed that insurgency would not stop.
There has been no let-up in the killings by the sect. No fewer than 18 people have been killed in recent clashes between government troops and the Boko Haram sect.
Eleven were killed on Thursday in a fresh attack perpetrated by suspected sect members in Damboa, Borno state according to sources said.
Earlier Friday, seven Boko Haram members were killed in an exchange of fire with policemen in Gombe state,.
In Damboa, residents alleged that foreigners, who spoke Arabic and were mostly fair in complexion, were among the attackers.
Ayamu Lawan Gwasha, representing Damboa at Borno House of Assembly, told Chinese news agency Xinhua, that his people were still living in “perpetual fear.”
Damboa is located in the southern part of Borno. It is a major base of Boko Haram which launched its insurgency in since 2009.
A total of 50 people were killed last Sunday when suspected sect members launched an attack on Konduga Community, located not far from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

50 CENT COMPLAINING HE LOST A CASE BECAUSE HE IS BLACK!

50 Cent says he got SCREWED in court recently because the judge was a rap-hating RACIST ... and now he wants the allegedly bias ruling overturned ... this according to court docs.

Earlier this year 50 and company called Sleek Audio were embroiled in a bitter lawsuit. 50 claimed Sleek owed him over $261,000. Sleek said otherwise. The case went to arbitration -- a binding process in which an arbitrator picks the winner.

Bad news for 50, the arbitrator sided with Sleek (the final $$$ judgement was kept under wraps).

But 50 refuses to go gently into that good night ... and is taking the battle to federal court -- claiming the arbitration judge discriminated against him because he's black, associates with controversial African-American figures AND because he's a high profile rap artist.

Specifically ... 50 says the bias ran so deep the judge didn't allow him to cross-examine witnesses and refused to look at evidence pertaining to the case. Pretty bold claims.

He wants the award axed ASAP and is asking for a new hearing ... where he says he'll prove the judge was out to get him from the get go.

Sleek fired back too ... claiming 50's allegations of racism are a desperate attempt to avoid the arbitration decision and get it brought before an actual court.

IRANIAN PRESIDENT, Hassan Rouhani pledges 'slogan-free diplomacy'

Iran's new President Hassan Rouhani has pledged to move away from sloganeering in foreign diplomacy.

During the inauguration of his new foreign minister, he said one of the reasons he was elected was to change his country's foreign policy.

But he said this did not mean Iran abandoning its principles.

The country's outgoing nuclear chief later said Iran boasted about 18,000 centrifuges for uranium enrichment - of which 10,000 were operational.

Fereydun Abbasi-Davani's announcement came as he handed over his post as head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI) on Saturday to former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, appointed by Mr Rouhani.

The operational centrifuges are of the older IR1 type, with a further 7,000 ready to be installed along with 1,000 centrifuges of the advanced IR2m type.

Iran's nuclear programme has been the subject of a sustained diplomatic tussle with Western powers, who say they suspect it is aimed at developing nuclear weapons.

Iran rejects this, saying its programme is purely civilian.

But its new leader - the surprise victor of the elections held on 14 June - has pledged to pursue "serious" talks with the West to ease tensions and in so doing improve an economy hit hard by international sanctions and internal mismanagement.

Foreign policy 'key'

On Saturday, President Rouhani implied that he would move away from the bombastic style of his predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad.

"Foreign policy is not carried out by repeating slogans," he said.

"One of the messages of the voters in the presidential election was that they wanted a change in foreign policy," the ISNA news agency quoted him as saying at the inauguration of the new Foreign Minister, Mohammed Javad Zarif.

"That doesn't mean abandoning our principles but it does mean a change of method.

"We are going to strongly defend our national interests but that has to be done appropriately, precisely and rationally," the president said.

"The public will pay dearly for any foreign policy mistake."

Foreign policy was "key to solving our current problems", Mr Rouhani said.

Mr Rouhani took office on 4 August and on Thursday all but three of his 18 cabinet choices were approved by parliament. Many of those new ministers have lived or been educated in the West, as has the president himself.

THE MAN WHO CAME BACK TO LIFE, AFTER THREE DAYS IN MORTUARY

April 11 this year, Sotunde embarked on a journey from Gboko, in Benue State to Kano, but unfortunately, the bus conveying the ex-soldier crashed on the way, claiming him and 17 others passengers on board.

However, Sotunde woke up three days after in the mortuary, where his body and others were deposited for their families to claim for burial.

According to the 'old soldier' who refuses to die, his corpse was taken out of the mortuary and was being prepared for burial when he suddenly came back to life.

He narrated his experience to Sunday Sun in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Excerpts of the interview:

Journey from Gboko to mortuary

On that fateful day, that was April 11, 2013, I was travelling from Gboko to Kano to see my younger brother, Jide Sotunde, a soldier serving in Kano. We had agreed on the journey which we had thought would afford us to discuss important issues, including the possibilities of getting another job that would not be too far from where I had my wife.

I retired from the Nigerian Army, (Supply and Transport), Apapa Lagos where I served for 30 years, during which I also participated in many peace keeping force assignments outside Nigeria.

After retirement, I got a job as a security guard at the Dangote Cement, Gboko, Benue State from where I also resigned because of the distance of my workplace and where my family was based in Osogbo.

The ill-fated vehicle was an 18-seater passenger bus, which I boarded in Gboko en-route Kano. We were barely two hours into the journey when a passenger asked us to pray. Since it was a normal thing for a passenger to offer to pray on such a long journey, I did not heed his call. I was just playing with my mobile phone set.

Aside from that, I didn't believe in the prayer since I didn't know anything about Jesus Christ. I was a freethinker who neither went to church nor worshipped any idol. We were making progress on the journey when suddenly there was a bang. That was all I could recollect about the journey until I woke up three days after in the mortuary of the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Kano where I was told that I died in an accident and my corpse along with other 17 passengers were deposited there.

Even though the hospital authorities told me that I was in their morgue for three days as a dead man, I actually spent more days there before I could regain my senses.

I was to be buried in Kano

I was told that before I returned from the land of the dead, my family had instructed my younger brother who I was visiting in Kano before the accident to bury me in Kano since they could not afford the N150,000, which was said to have been requested by transporters to take my corpse from Kano to Abeokuta. My elder sister, Moradeke Sotunde played a prominent role in this regard.

I was also told that it was at the point that my corpse was being prepared for interment that suddenly I returned to the land of the living after my corpse was taken out of the mortuary for prayers by Islamic clerics who were said to have sprinkled water on my corpse preparatory to my burial. I was also told that my hair was also shaved as demanded by the clerics.

I was told that my corpse was taken out of the mortuary after they had dug my grave and organised some clerics to offer the funeral prayers.

They wanted to bury me in Kano because my family members couldn't afford N150,000 demanded for carrying my corpse to Abeokuta for burial. The initial plan was to move my corpse back home to Abeokuta, where a grave had been dug but for the transportation cost.

Life in the land of the dead

My brother, truly, there is life after death. I can also tell you that there is a living God. You may not believe me, but I am a living witness to this. I may not be able to describe Heaven or Hell, but there is another life after this one that we are living.

This place I am talking about is full of snow. I may not have been to America, but I have heard about snow. Where we were was full of snow, with plenty of something that I can describe as alum stones; whitish in colour with something I can describe as granite in this physical world. In spite of the terrible cold, there was no day that we felt cold and it was never harmful to us.

All of us were there without knowing whether we are male or female. We couldn't see our eyes, mouth and nose. We had no leg; we had no arm, but we floated in the air without our bodies touching the ground. We were flying around what I will describe as another planet.

On the third day of my arrival on the strange planet, they gave me a message that we were expecting one big prophet.

After the message was delivered, they nominated ushers among us to welcome the prophet. And seconds later, people started trooping in, jubilating as if a goal was just scored in a football match.

On that planet, there were many stars, which were not stable in one place, like we have in the sky in this world. I noticed that on a daily basis, people kept on increasing, even though we don't know from where they came.

I was in this mood until they (I don't know them) told me that I should go back home to work for the Lord. According to them, there were many people in the world who are not only in bondage, but are also afflicted with human pains. They also instructed that I should work for the Lord and heel people. I was even arguing, putting up some resistance that I could not do it. This was the condition I found myself until I opened my eyes and saw Jide, my younger brother in this part of the world again.

In God's vineyard

Since the Lord has directed me to work for Him, I will surely do so because 'to be forewarned, is to be forearmed.' It was because of this that I went to do my thanksgiving service at the Mountain of Fire and Miracle, in Lagos with the General Overseer, Pastor Olukoya.

The Lord has started performing miracles in other people's lives through me. I don't want to sound boastful, but God has started using me. I do pray for people now and they usually return to tell me that their problems have been solved. It is the Lord's doing.

I have already prayed for a woman who has married been for 14 years without a child that God will give her the fruit of the womb. The person who lives in Ikorodu spoke to me through the telephone and I believe Lord will answer her prayers and request. I have accepted to work in God's vineyard till I return to Him.

Day I returned to Abeokuta

I caused a stir in this area when I returned alive to Abeokuta because people including my family members, except my brother who was with me when I rose from the dead, did not know I had risen from the dead.

On arrival in Abeokuta, we played pranks on my people as they did not know that I was returning to home alive that day.

When we got nearer home, the person that accompanied me decided to call Kemi, my mother's last born that we were already in Abeokuta. When my sister saw me, she fainted and was later revived. She was shivering when she woke up.

We later told her to return home to tell others that I had risen from the dead. On my way, I saw people mourning me, wearing black attire.

I trekked a distance of about 800 metres to my father's house. There, a grave had also been dug beside my late father's before the family decided to bury my corpse in Kano. I waved as people were expressing shock and disbelief at seeing me alive. When I attempted to move closer to a woman in her shop, she ran away, thinking I was a ghost and pleading that she had no hands in my death. My sister, Moradeke who lives in Lagos was also wearing a black attire, mourning along with others until I returned home

I returned to Abeokuta on the very day I was to be buried. I even met many of the mourners, wearing black (including my sisters) who had gathered in my father's house here, (Sabo Abeokuta).

There was also a particular woman who threw away the beans meal she was eating and ran away from her shop when she sighted me.

I kept on saying that I was not dead, but she found it difficult to believe me.

Health challenges

Although I have returned from the land of the dead, I have not fully regained my health as I am talking to you. I have both chest and body pains. In fact, medically speaking, I am not alright. I usually run strange temperature. That was why I visited the Federal Medical Centre, Idi Aba for medical treatment. I vomit blood each time I cough. I can't engage in any hard labour.

Besides, a lot of strange things have started happening to me. Sometimes, I feel as if I am still in the mortuary. I will be seeing a lot of heads. My sight is not normal, it sometimes fails me. I have also started giving messages to people about things that they don't know about their family.

I started revealing to them what had happened in the past to their astonishment. This has made many people to run away from me with some describing me as a demon. To be sure that I am not a ghost, I tried to relate with my friends as well as eat with them. Despite this a few of my friends still avoid to shake hands with me, thinking that I am a ghost.

I am homeless

You ask where I live? To answer straight, I am homeless, because I am currently squatting with my younger sister, causing her and her family inconveniences. Even though she is not complaining, I know that I am inconveniencing her.

I have been given quit notice in Osogbo after my landlord heard of the incident. According to him, he could not live with Akudaaya (ghost). I stayed at No 1, Rasco Hall, Oke Fia, #Osun State, Osogbo, It was the ejection that informed my living with my sister here (Abeokuta).

I need serious financial assistance from well-meaning Nigerians to take care of my health and sustenance. Survival is difficult for me. That is why I appeal to Nigerians to come to my aid. I want to stop being a burden to my sister and her nuclear family. I want individuals as well as corporate bodies and churches to help me financially. God will surely replenish their purses in abundance in Jesus name.

I had a broken home some years back and I remarried two years ago, but when the incident happened, the woman abandoned me and ran away from Osogbo.

I want to appeal to Nigerians and other people that there is God. I want them to believe that there is life after death; so we should do good to our fellow beings. Heaven and Hell are real. Where we want to go is an option for us to decide. I want people to know that it is just a matter of seconds between life and death.

FRESH CRISIS ROCKS ANAMBARA STATE AS PDP DISQUALIFIES SOLUDO.

Fresh crises that might assume intractable dimensions are looming in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) with the disqualification Professor Chukwuma Soludo, a former governor of the Central Bank, and other other governorship aspirants.

Barely a mere three weeks after the celebrated reconciliation of its warring factions, marked by the public embrace of its chairman, Victor Umeh with Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, at the Awka Government House, APGA has been thrown into turmoil.

The alleged insistence of Governor Peter Obi to interfere with the course of the gubernatorial primaries of the party for the gubernatorial election coming up on November 16, on the alleged prompting of the Presidency has all but ruined the party, insiders say.

Mr. Obi is said to be bent on imposing a candidate from the Anambra North senatorial zone of the state, which he says has never produced a governor.

There are widespread accusations within the party that Governor Obi's efforts might not be best intentioned, as he is being accused of making those efforts to throw up a candidate that would be incapable of winning the election, as a way of doing some privileged outside interests a favour, at the detriment of his party.

The impending crises gained new currency with the recent reconciliation, following which APGA netted a very big fish in the person of the former Central Bank Governor, who resigned from the PDP under whose platform he had contested the 2010 gubernatorial election, to pitch his camp with APGA.

Mr. Soludo, in a major game-changing game in the political scene of the state, immediately signified his intention to contest the gubernatorial election under the APGA platform.

Said to be highly favoured by the leadership as well as the rank-and-file of the party in the state, who see in Mr. Soludo's coming into the party a very bright prospect of victory for the party in the forthcoming election if such a man of clout who could be guaranteed of a state-wide support and even among the followership of the PDP, his entry into the party did not seem to excite Governor Obi and a band of his followers who were recently saved from an embarrassing predicament through the reconciliation, as they had practically lost out when the courts restored Mr. Umeh at the controls of the party.

However, as it was learnt, on the very day that Mr. Soludo joined APGA and became one of its hottest gubernatorial contenders, Governor Obi was said to have drafted his crony and the Executive Director of the Fidelity Bank, in which he owns controlling shares, into APGA and into the aspiration of the gubernatorial race.

BOKO HARAM FILM PROUCER ARESTEFD!

John Dada Adedayo, the producer of a new film called ' Boko Haram,' has been arraigned before court after he refused to wait for the Ghana Cinematography Exhibition Board to censor certain parts of the film before giving him the green light to distribute it to the public.

The accused person was put before a court presided over by Audrey Kocuvie-Tay and charged for refusing to subject himself to censorship laws, but he denied any wrongdoing.

He has been remanded into police custody while the case has been adjourned to August 19, 2013.

Narrating events leading to the arrest of the accused person, the prosecutor, DSP Cletus Abadamloora said the complainant is Alfred Kumi Atiemo and a member of the Ghana Cinematography Exhibition Board (GCEB) while the accused person is a producer and a Nigerian living in Ghana.

He said on July 4, 2013, the accused person produced a film called 'Boko Haram' and sent it to the GCEB for clarification and approval but failed to wait for their approval.

The prosecutor noted that Adedayo started distributing the film to the public and when the cinematography board was informed it launched investigation into the matter.

In addition, the police officer stated that the board, during the course of operation in July, found that 10,000 copies of the film had been distributed and also found that 700 copies of the film were on the market.

Furthermore, he said a search on the accused person revealed 913 copies of the film. He admitted distributing the said copies and the board lodged a report with the police.

He said Adedayo was accordingly arrested and arraigned before court after the investigations.

NORTH KOREA FINALY AGREES TO REUNITE WITH SOUTH AFTER A LONG TIME OF DISPUTE AND THREAT OF WAR.

North Korea has agreed to a South Korean proposal to resume reunions of families separated since the 1950-1953 war, official media in Pyongyang say.

The reunions will take place in a North Korean tourist resort on 19 September.

South Korea's President Park Geun-hye called last week for the resumption of the reunions, last held in 2010.

Her appeal followed an agreement to reopen a joint industrial plant, the latest step in the easing of tension between the two countries.

Mt Kumgang

The latest statement on the reunions came from the North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea.

It said: "The reunion of separated families and their relatives shall be made in Mt Kumgang resort on the occasion of the upcoming Harvest Moon Day."
Talks will take place between Red Cross officials from both sides on 23 August at Mt Kumgang to prepare for the reunions.

Many families were separated at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War by the dividing of the peninsula. The two sides remain technically at war, because the conflict ended in an armistice and not a peace deal.

The North Korean statement also called for the resumption of tourist trips to Mt Kumgang.

The resort, the first major joint project between the nations, hosted thousands of South Korean visitors between 1998 and 2008 but tours were suspended after a North Korean soldier shot dead a tourist who strayed into a restricted area.

The CPRK said: "The Kaesong Industrial Zone and the tours to Mt Kumgang resort are valuable works common to the nation which should not be delayed as they are symbols of reconciliation, unity, reunification and prosperity."

The Kaesong Industrial Complex is home to 123 South Korean factories which employ more than 50,000 North Korean workers. The inter-Korean joint project is a key source of revenue for Pyongyang.

North Korea withdrew its workers in April, angered by the expansion of UN sanctions after its 12 February nuclear test and annual US-South Korea military drills.

After the Kaesong deal last week, President Park said: "I hope this agreement will help correct wrong practices of the past inter-Korean relations and pave the way for new relations of co-existence."

THE LINK BETWEEN OMEGA-3 FATY ACID AND PROSTRATE CANCER

THE LINK BETWEEN OMEGA-3 FATY ACID AND INCREASED PROSTRATE CANCER, CONFIRMED.
A second large,
prospective study by scientists at Fred
Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
has confirmed the link between high
blood concentrations of omega-3 fatty
acids and an increased risk of prostate
cancer.
Published July 11 in the online edition
of the Journal of the National Cancer
Institute, the latest findings indicate
that high concentrations of EPA, DPA
and DHA -- the three anti-
inflammatory and metabolically
related fatty acids derived from fatty
fish and fish-oil supplements -- are
associated with a 71 percent increased
risk of high-grade prostate cancer. The
study also found a 44 percent
increase in the risk of low-grade
prostate cancer and an overall 43
percent increase in risk for all prostate
cancers.
The increase in risk for high-grade
prostate cancer is important because
those tumors are more likely to be
fatal.
The findings confirm a 2011 study
published by the same Fred Hutch
scientific team that reported a similar
link between high blood
concentrations of DHA and a more
than doubling of the risk for
developing high-grade prostate
cancer. The latest study also confirms
results from a large European study.
"The consistency of these findings
suggests that these fatty acids are
involved in prostate tumorigenesis
and recommendations to increase
long-chain omega-3 fatty acid intake,
in particular through
supplementation, should consider its
potential risks," the authors wrote.
"We've shown once again that use of
nutritional supplements may be
harmful," said Alan Kristal, Dr.P.H., the
paper's senior author and member of
the Fred Hutch Public Health Sciences
Division. Kristal also noted a recent
analysis published in the Journal of
the American Medical Association that
questioned the benefit of omega-3
supplementation for cardiovascular
diseases. The analysis, which
combined the data from 20 studies,
found no reduction in all-cause
mortality, heart attacks or strokes.
"What's important is that we have
been able to replicate our findings
from 2011 and we have confirmed
that marine omega-3 fatty acids play a
role in prostate cancer occurrence,"
said corresponding author Theodore
Brasky, Ph.D., a research assistant
professor at The Ohio State University
Comprehensive Cancer Center who
was a postdoctoral trainee at Fred
Hutch when the research was
conducted. "It's important to note,
however, that these results do not
address the question of whether
omega-3's play a detrimental role in
prostate cancer prognosis," he said.
Kristal said the findings in both Fred
Hutch studies were surprising
because omega-3 fatty acids are
believed to have a host of positive
health effects based on their anti-
inflammatory properties.
Inflammation plays a role in the
development and growth of many
cancers.
It is unclear from this study why high
levels of omega-3 fatty acids would
increase prostate cancer risk,
according to the authors, however the
replication of this finding in two large
studies indicates the need for further
research into possible mechanisms.
One potentially harmful effect of
omega-3 fatty acids is their
conversion into compounds that can
cause damage to cells and DNA, and
their role in immunosuppression.
Whether these effects impact cancer
risk is not known.
The difference in blood concentrations
of omega-3 fatty acids between the
lowest and highest risk groups was
about 2.5 percentage points (3.2
percent vs. 5.7 percent), which is
somewhat larger than the effect of
eating salmon twice a week, Kristal
said. The current study analyzed data
and specimens collected from men
who participated in the Selenium and
Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial
(SELECT), a large randomized,
placebo-controlled trial to test
whether selenium and vitamin E,
either alone or combined, reduced
prostate cancer risk. That study
showed no benefit from selenium
intake and an increase in prostate
cancers in men who took vitamin E.
The group included in the this analysis
consisted of 834 men who had been
diagnosed with incident, primary
prostate cancers (156 were high-grade
cancer) along with a comparison
group of 1,393 men selected
randomly from the 35,500 participants
in SELECT. The National Cancer
Institute and the National Center for
Complementary and Alternative
Medicine funded the research.
Also participating in the study were
additional Fred Hutch scientists and
researchers from the University of
Texas, University of California,
University of Washington, National
Cancer Institute and the Cleveland
Clinic.

CELL MECHANISM MEMORY

Cell Memory Mechanism Discovered

Aug. 15, 2013 — The cells in our bodies can divide as often as once every 24 hours, creating a new, identical copy. DNA binding proteins called transcription factors are required for maintaining cell identity. They ensure that daughter cells have the same function as their mother cell, so that for example muscle cells can contract or pancreatic cells can produce insulin. However, each time a cell divides the specific binding pattern of the transcription factors is erased and has to be restored in both mother and daughter cells. Previously it was unknown how this process works, but now scientists at Karolinska Institutet have discovered the importance of particular protein rings encircling the DNA and how these function as the cell's memory.

The DNA in human cells is translated into a multitude of proteins required for a cell to function. When, where and how proteins are expressed is determined by regulatory DNA sequences and a group of proteins, known as transcription factors, that bind to these DNA sequences. Each cell type can be distinguished based on its transcription factors, and a cell can in certain cases be directly converted from one type to another, simply by changing the expression of one or more transcription factors. It is critical that the pattern of transcription factor binding in the genome be maintained. During each cell division, the transcription factors are removed from DNA and must find their way back to the right spot after the cell has divided. Despite many years of intense research, no general mechanism has been discovered which would explain how this is achieved.
"The problem is that there is so much DNA in a cell that it would be impossible for the transcription factors to find their way back within a reasonable time frame. But now we have found a possible mechanism for how this cellular memory works, and how it helps the cell remember the order that existed before the cell divided, helping the transcription factors find their correct places," explains Jussi Taipale, professor at Karolinska Institutet and the University of Helsinki, and head of the research team behind the discovery.

The results are now being published in the scientific journal Cell. The research group has produced the most complete map yet of transcription factors in a cell. They found that a large protein complex called cohesin is positioned as a ring around the two DNA strands that are formed when a cell divides, marking virtually all the places on the DNA where transcription factors were bound. Cohesin encircles the DNA strand as a ring does around a piece of string, and the protein complexes that replicate DNA can pass through the ring without displacing it. Since the two new DNA strands are caught in the ring, only one cohesin is needed to mark the two, thereby helping the transcription factors to find their original binding region on both DNA strands.
"More research is needed before we can be sure, but so far all experiments support our model," says Martin Enge, assistant professor at Karolinska Institutet.
Transcription factors play a pivotal role in many illnesses, including cancer as well as many hereditary diseases. The discovery that virtually all regulatory DNA sequences bind to cohesin may also end up having more direct consequences for patients with cancer or hereditary diseases. Cohesin would function as an indicator of which DNA sequences might contain disease-causing mutations.
"Currently we analyse DNA sequences that are directly located in genes, which constitute about three per cent of the genome. However, most mutations that have been shown to cause cancer are located outside of genes. We cannot analyse these in a reliable manner -- the genome is simply too large. By only analysing DNA sequences that bind to cohesin, roughly one per cent of the genome, it would allow us to analyse an individual's mutations and make it much easier to conduct studies to identify novel harmful mutations," Martin Enge concludes.
This project was supported by the Center for Biosciences at Karolinska Institutet, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Swedish Research Council, Science for Life Laboratory, the Swedish Cancer Foundation, ERC Advanced Grant GROWTHCONTROL, and the EU FP7 Health project SYSCOL.

FEMALE BOKOHARAM MEMBER CAUGHT WITH WEAPON IN BORNO STATE

A Boko Haram female terror suspect, along with a 35-year old man, suspected to be an informant of the Islamist sect who engages women in the smuggling and carrying of rifles and ammunitions, were arrested yesterday at the Maiduguri metropolis in Borno state by members of Borno Vigilance Youths Group (BVYG) and the military Joint Task Force (JTF).

After a recent series of arrests and discovery that many of the detained women possessed firearms in the state, the security agencies and the vigilante youths in Borno have been searching the females more than the males.

JTF sources in Maiduguri reported that the vigilance youths have so far arrested five female Boko Haram terror suspects with rifles and 254 rounds of ammunitions in three wards of the metropolis.

US-YEMENI DRONE STRIKES:IS IT PROMOTING TERRORISM OR DIMINISHING DEMOCRACY?

US drone strikes have been effective in killing senior al-Qaeda leaders in Yemen but innocent civilians have also died, raising tensions in the impoverished and fragile country.

The streets of the coastal town of Zinjibar in southern Yemen are reduced to rubble. Buildings are bombed out.

This town was on the front line of a battle between the Yemeni army and al-Qaeda in June 2012.

Government forces prevailed and one of al-Qaeda's most dangerous offshoots - al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) - slunk into the shadows.

But it remains dangerous. Al-Qaeda cells still operate here and there is also the risk of bandits who rob and kidnap.

'They think we're rats'

In a safe house with guards stationed outside, Mohammed Ahmad Bagash, a mechanic from the nearby town of Jaar, tells me his story.

During the fighting, al Qaeda fighters stored ammunition in the local hospital against the wishes of the doctors.

After the hospital was hit by a missile strike, Mohammed and his two children ran to a school and hid in the basement.

But then the school was hit in a suspected drone strike.

"It was as if everyone was burning. It was all dark," said Mr Bagash.

"When the smoke cleared, I saw my son's leg was bleeding, and my daughter was hit on the back of the head," he said.

He carried both children out. His son survived but his eight-year-old daughter bled to death on the way to the hospital.

"As she bled, she went yellow. She actually started to shrink in my arms," he said.

Several other children were injured in the attack.

Mr Bagash has a question for the person who ordered the drone strike: "What did my daughter ever do to them? She was only eight years old."

And then a bleak observation.

"They think we're rats. We're not. We're human beings."

Fighting a 'ghost'

There is little public support for al-Qaeda on the streets of Zinjibar, but plenty of anger over the strategy used to fight them.

"Show the world. Show the world what the government has done," said one man.
They bomb here but they're trying to hit a ghost."

And then another man joins the conversation. I ask him who he blames for the destruction of his town.

"Al-Qaeda are responsible for this and the nations that fund them," he said.

"But also the drones, they are killing our people, killing our children and destroying our homes. The drones don't differentiate between people. They kill people."

Locals like Mr Bagash are caught in the middle of a battle for the heart and soul of Yemen.

The Yemeni government, with US support, wants to eradicate al-Qaeda but since the militants live among the people, innocent civilians are also at risk.

Facts and figures are hard to come by as the US does not comment publicly on its drone policy, but according to the New America Foundation, a US think tank, the number of US drone strikes tripled in Yemen between 2011 and 2012.

In 2012, the US carried out more drone strikes in Yemen than anywhere else.

It is a remote automated war for the United States where the strikes have been successful in taking out al-Qaeda's leadership.

But for Yemenis, it is terror from the air.

Questions of legitimacy

And a young Yemeni democracy campaigner has a worrying message for Washington.

"The US thinks it understands Yemen but the drones have been one of the most effective tools for AQAP to succeed in Yemen," said Farea al-Muslimi.

"A big part of al-Qaeda power at the moment is convincing Yemenis that they are in a war with America, (that) America is attacking the sovereignty of Yemen and this government is non-legitimate."

Mr al-Muslimi is one of the most pro-American voices in Yemen. He testified in front of a US Senate committee in a personal capacity after his own village was struck by a drone.

He thinks the US is wrong to stay silent when civilians are being killed in targeted strikes.

"You're killing civilians for no reason," said Mr al-Muslimi. "And you're not even going to say sorry after that or admit it, or issue an apology, or pay compensation?"

One man waiting for an apology is Ahmed al-Sabooly from Radda in southern Yemen.

After saying goodbye to his father, mother and sister as they left to visit the local health clinic last September, he headed out to work in the fields.

At 3pm, he heard a buzzing noise in the sky and says he saw a drone.

"There was a big blast. There was another big blast and I saw dust rising in the air."

Seeking justice

He jumped on his motorbike to go see what had happened. When he got there, he found that two missiles had hit a truck.

"The car was upside down and on fire. I looked in the car and I saw my mum, dad and sister," he said.

"They were burned so badly I could see their bones. My sister was still in my mother's arms."

The target was probably a local al-Qaeda leader who had been seen earlier travelling on the same stretch of road.

Thirteen civilians were killed.
"My sister was so excited about going out that morning so she wore a brand new dress," said Mr al-Sabooly.

"I never thought it would be the last time I saw her."

He blames the US government for the drone strikes.

"They're the ones who have these weapons. They're the ones who have drones hovering over our village."

And Mr al-Sabooly wants justice.

"I want a trial and I want them prosecuted for the crimes they've committed," he said.

US officials conceded that Radda was a US strike in an off-the-record quote given to the Washington Post.

But there was no apology and in its absence, the Yemeni government paid $75,000 in blood money to the families.

'No alternative'

Yemen's government says all means are necessary to root out al-Qaeda, even if the US drone strikes are rallying support for the militant group.

"I've heard this argument, there might be some truth to it," said Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi.

"But if your targets are al-Qaeda leaders and if they are endangering the security of your country, there's no alternative."

And it seems there is no alternative for Mr Bagash or Mr al-Sabooly.

They must go about their daily lives in southern Yemen as the US tries to target the al-Qaeda militants in their midst.

"We have been living in constant fear, fear from the drone strikes, and fear from the air strikes," said Mr Bagash.

"You never know when your house will be hit."

NIGERIAN SENATORS WATCHING A VIDEO ON BOKO HARAM SLAUGTHER OF INNOCENT CITIZENS

The sect's leader, Shekau, who recently released a video, admitted that the sect carried out the Bama attack, but kept mum on Abu Saad's death. He, however, claimed the sect killed several soldiers and was winning the war against Nigerian troops .

Meanwhile, a video on how Boko Haram slaughters its victims was shown to a group of senators during a security briefing by JTF in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.

In the video, captured traders were pinned to the ground with their hands tied behind their back, while a sect member bent over to run a sharp knife through one of their victims' neck. A stream of blood from the victim, and shouts of Allahu Akbar (God is Great) by the slaughterers followed.

Some of the traders, who were forced to watch the gruesome slaughter of their colleague, simply dug their faces into the ground in submission. One after the other, the same hideous fate befell each. Not done, the sect members hung each of the severed heads on its torso.

Also, the senators saw the killing of three uniformed policemen, with their green berets intact. Before the cops were slaughtered, they were made to stand in front of a banner with Arabic inscriptions, while a hooded terrorist, with an AK-47 rifle, read portions of Quran before pronouncing death sentences on them.

Before their execution, two of the policemen slumped.

Although the delegation was forewarned by Borno State Deputy Governor, Zannah Umar Mustapha, who attended the briefing, about the savagery they were about to see, some of the senators reportedly could not watch the full length of the video.

They buried their faces in their palms, while others asked the intelligence officer to fast-forward the videos. A retired general, who fought in the Nigerian Civil War, and a member of the delegation, was said to have told his colleagues that not even in the war did he witness such cruelty.

FORMER VICE PRESIDENT ATIKU AND NINE NORTHER GOVERNORS FLIES NEW PARTY FLAG!

FORMER VICE PRESIDENT AND NINE NORTHERN PDP GOVERNORS FLIES NEW PARTY FLAG!
Baring any last minute hitch, a new political party will berth in the already
charged Nigerian political turf this week.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed on
Wednesday that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and some Governors of
the crisis-ridden ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have applied for the
registration of a group, Peoples Progressive Movement (PPM), as a political
party.
The commission said it is processing the application.
Kayodu Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega, disclosed
this to our correspondent on phone.
Daily Independent reliably gathered that among the Governors who are
promoting the new political association are Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State,
Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Sule Lamido of Jigawa State and Rabiu
Kwankwaso of Kano State.
The five Governors have been in the vanguard of dissent within the mainstream
PDP.
They have been moving round the country to “consult” with past leaders to
“save the country’s nascent democracy.”
Beside the five, there are also indications that Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah
Ahmed, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Governor of Taraba may have
decided to stake their political lot with the yet to be registered party.
Though it could not be confirmed at press time, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives is also said to be sympathetic to the new group.
A former INEC National Commisioner, Mohammed Abubakar, a lawyer who is a
close political ally of Atiku, filed the papers at INEC on behalf of the group.
A source privy to the development told Daily Independent on Wednesday that
INEC will meet this week to give the political group the legal backing. “INEC
will definitely meet this week. The party was supposed to be registered at the
same time the All Progressives Congress (APC) was registered but for strategic
reasons, it was withheld. But that should be done now since all hurdles have
been cleared.”
It was also reliably gathered that Atiku may likely pursue his presidential
ambition on the party’s platform when it comes on board.
The disagreement of the pro-Amaechi governors with the national leadership of
the PDP came into the open on eve of the May 21, Nigerian Governors Forum
(NGF) election that led to the split in the Governors’ ranks.
One of the factions is led by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State while the
other is being championed by Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State.
The rumpus that followed the widely disputed election result has since
escalated the crisis among the Governors, especially those belonging to the
PDP.
It was learnt that the new political group petitioned INEC shortly after the
registration of APC protesting their non-registration.
“INEC decided not to leak the petition to the media, preferring to sort things out
behind the curtains,” our source revealed.
However, INEC chairman’s spokesman on Wednesday debunked insinuations
that the commission refused to register the new group.
He also denied that INEC refused to respond to protest letters written by
promoters of the political association.
According to Idowu, “There is an application from the group, and you know that
there is a procedure for the registration of a political party; the commission is
doing that in conformity with the Electoral Act.
“It is not true that the commission has not responded to their protest letter, we
sent them a response that their application is being processed,” he added.
In a related development, recent registration of the All Progressives Congress
(APC) by INEC has also been described as a “blessing and the most convenient
way of removing PDP in 2015.”
This was the position of the 11 APC Governors that met in Lafia, Nasarawa
State capital, on Wednesday.
After a three-hour closed-door meeting at the Presidential Lodge, Lafia,
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, who spoke on behalf of the others,
commended INEC for registering the APC.
He stressed that it is the only way to dislodge the PDP and entrench a virile
democracy in the country.
He added that key decisions were taken at the end of the meeting, essentially
about the concerns of Nigerians and the way forward.
Reading the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, Fayemi said
strategies to compliment efforts of the interim national executives of APC to
strengthen the party were discussed.
The forum also congratulated and expressed confidence in the interim national
executives of the APC in their on-going efforts to reposition the party as a
credible alternative to Nigerians that are yearning for change.
Apart from Fayemi, the meeting was also attended by Governors Umaru Tanko
al-Makura (Nasarawa), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Rafiu Aregbesola (Osun),
Babatunde Fashola (Lagos) and Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo).
Others are Abdullazeez Yari (Zamfara), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Adams
Oshiomhole (Edo), Rochas Okorocha (Imo, represented by his deputy, Eze
Madumere) and with apology from Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State, who, they
said, was in Mecca attending the lesser Hajj.
The APC governors also cautioned the National Assembly against legislating on
any aspect of the local government administration in the country, saying that
such an action will tilt the country towards a unitary state.

SUPER AEGLES: CRACKING THIER NUTS ON THE SKULS OF THE BAFANA BAFANA.

Super eagles of Nigeria heating it hard on the bafana bafana of south africa
Nigeria 2 VS South Africa 0

NIGERIA MOSQUE ATTACK: WHO IS BEHIND IT ?

What began as dawn prayers at a mosque in northeastern Nigeria ended in a gruesome massacre Sunday as militants brandishing automatic weapons killed 44 worshipers in the country's troubled Borno state.

It's not clear who's behind the attack, but many Nigerians will suspect that the militant group Boko Haram, which has wreaked havoc in the region for several years, are the perpetrators.

The Nigerian government is struggling to control the bloodshed between the mainly Muslim north and Christian south that has claimed at least 2,800 lives since Boko Haram came to prominence in 2009, according to Human Rights Watch.

Who are Boko Haram?

Boko Haram means "Western education is a sin." The group's ambitions range from the stricter enforcement of Sharia law -- which is derived from the Koran as the "world of God" -- across the predominantly Muslim north of Nigeria, to the total destruction of the Nigerian state and its government.

Who are Boko Haram?

Boko Haram means "Western education is a sin." The group's ambitions range from the stricter enforcement of Sharia law -- which is derived from the Koran as the "world of God" -- across the predominantly Muslim north of Nigeria, to the total destruction of the Nigerian state and its government.

What's causing the unrest?

Armed militant groups in Nigeria's northeastern region are nothing new, but Boko Haram has taken the violence to unprecedented levels since 2009, murdering and kidnapping Westerners and bombing schools and churches. The country's immense oil wealth is concentrated in the south, while the predominantly Muslim north remains extremely poor. There were riots and accusations of vote-rigging when former military ruler Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, much of the north's favored candidate for president, lost to Goodluck Jonathan, who hails from the south, in the 2011 national election.

What's the Nigerian government doing about it?

In mid-May the Nigerian government declared a state of emergency in three northeastern states -- Adamawawa, Yobe and Borno state -- and created the Joint Task Force wing of the military to try to stamp out the insurgency.

A media blackout has also ensued, which ensures that communications in and out of the remote area are nearly impossible and that the Nigerian military can operate out of the media spotlight. The military has been accused of committing atrocities against civilians by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. The government acknowledged "that there has been problems," but said it's working to control itself.

Is the violence a purely sectarian dispute?

While it's easy to frame the violence as Christians versus Muslims, it's much more than sectarian. Boko Haram will attack other Muslims when they feel they're not adhering to strict Sharia law. Meanwhile, the Joint Task Force's actions in the region aren't winning them any fans -- and there's also the vigilante thugs who stop and search cars entering northeastern cities like Maiduguri.

Why has Boko Haram attacked mosques in the past?

Boko Haram doesn't view all Muslims as supporters and allies -- and there have been suggestions that the group is attacking certain mosques because members of that mosque have assisted the Joint Task Force in tracking members of the militant group.

Does Boko Haram enjoy support from the people?

Although the northern populace mostly abhors the violence, there is considerable local sympathy and support for Sharia law, seen by many as the only way to put an end to what is widely regarded as a corrupt and inept government.
MORE: "Are we at war?" Nigerians ask

Northern Nigeria has some of the worst human development indicators in the world -- and as the military struggles to stop the spread of attacks from Boko Haram's base in the northeast, the militant group is winning perhaps its most important battle: making Nigerians question the competency of their government.

Could the violence spread to other countries?

It already has -- Boko Haram is active in neighboring Cameroon, where a French family was kidnapped in February. And in a video released this weekend, the group's leader, Abubakar Shekau, said: "Our strength and firepower is bigger than that of Nigeria. Nigeria is no longer a big deal to us, as far as we are concerned. We will now comfortably confront the United States of America."

Why isn't the international community stepping in?

The U.S. designated the leader of Boko Haram as a terrorist and put a $7 million bounty on his head, in addition to providing technical and financial support to the Nigerian teams fighting on the ground. But there's a growing international reluctance to put boots on the ground unless there's a direct national security threat to the West, like in the case of the French intervention in Mali earlier this year.

Why is Nigeria so important to the region and rest of the world? What's the role of oil?

Nigeria, with nearly 175 million people, is considered the political and economic powerhouse of West Africa. Rich in oil, the country is a key U.S. partner and has a massive banking sector. China is the biggest trade partner for Africa, and Nigeria is the hub of global business in the region.