US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iranian missile strikes on bases in Iraq did not harm any US troops stationed there and damage was minimal, an outcome he said showed Tehran wanted to de-escalate a standoff.
Iran "appears to be standing down", Trump said at the White House amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran over the US killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in Iraq last week.
Trump announced the US would immediately impose new "powerful" sanctions until "Iran changes its behaviour".
The comments were Trump's first televised remarks since Iran fired more than a dozen missiles at two Iraqi bases housing US troops. Trump also said there were no Iraqi casualties.
"The fact that we have this great military and equipment, however, does not mean we have to use it. We do not want to use it. American strength, both military and economic, is the best deterrent," Trump said in a speech that struck a noticeably different tone than his tweets following the attack on Soleimani in which he threatened to "fully strike back" if Iran attacked any US citizen or site.
Iran said Wednesday's attacks against an Iraqi base in Erbil and the Ain al-Asad base in western Iraq were revenge for the killing of Soleimani. It warned the US against retaliating for the strikes.
Earlier on Wednesday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei said Iran's attacks were a "slap on the face" of the US and said US troops should leave the region.
Tehran's foreign minister said Iran took "proportionate measures" in self-defence and did not seek an escalation.
The fallout for Trump's order to kill Soleimani had been swift.
Iran vowed harsh revenge. Iraq's Parliament voted to expel US troops from Iraq, which would undermine efforts to fight ISIL (ISIS) in the region and would strengthen Iran's influence in the Middle East. And regional and world leaders called for de-escalation
The counterattack by Iran came as Trump and his top advisers were under pressure to disclose more details about the intelligence that led the US president to order the US strike that killed Soleimani. Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi), an Iran-backed umbrella organisation comprising several militias, was also killed in last week's strike.
Top Senate Democrats, citing “deep concern” about the lack of information coming from the Trump administration about the Iran operation, called on Defense Department officials to provide “regular briefings and documents” to Congress. The full Senate and House are expected to receive separate classified briefings later on Wednesday.
Trump and top national security officials have justified the air strike with general statements about the threat posed by Soleimani, who US officials said was planning an "imminent attack".
But details have been scarce.
Trump on Wednesday said the US will continue to look at options to respond to the attacks, but did not elaborate. He said he will ask NATO "to become much more involved" in the Middle East.
SOURCE : https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/trump-continues-options-imposing-sanctions-200108145539264.html
Iran has launched "tens" of missiles at two Iraq bases housing US and coalition troops following the killing of the country's top general.
Iranian
Iranian state TV described the attacks as Tehran's revenge operation over the killing of General Qassem Soleimani whose funeral in his hometown on Tuesday prompted angry calls to avenge his death.
It said the missiles were fired by Tehran's Revolutionary Guard aerospace division and the operation was named "Marytr Soleimani".
A US government statement said: "It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting US military and coalition personnel at Al Assad and Erbil.
"We are working on initial battle damage assessments.
"These bases have been on high alert due to indications that the Iranian regime planned to attack our forces and interests in the region.
As we evaluate the situation and our response, we will take all necessary measures to protect and defend US personnel, partners, and allies in the region."
Sky's Middle East correspondent Mark Stone said: "There's no doubt the Iranian response has come. We now await the US response."
He added: "It has not been confirmed the size of the attacks or if there have been any casualties."
The strikes come just hours after US defence secretary Mark Esper told a news conference: "We're seeking a diplomatic solution - but first this will require Iran to de-escalate.
"It will require the regime to come to the table with the goal of preventing further bloodshed and it will require them to cease their malign activities throughout the region.
"The ball is in their court, what they do next will determine what happens in the subsequent moves."
Al Asad air base, in Iraq's western Anbar province, was first used by American forces after the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.
It later saw American troops stationed there amid the fight against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have killed one and arrested four suspects who attempted to rob a first generation bank in the Mpape, a satellite town of Abuja.
The robbers, who broke into the bank around 10 am on Saturday, met resistance from the Police, Army and the Department of State Security, who cordoned the place minutes after responding to a distress call.
According to the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Mariam Yusuf, four of the robbers have been arrested while one was killed in an exchange of gunfire with the Police.
The police spokesperson said the situation has been brought under control as a joint security team have maintained sanity in the area
A gang of armed thieves were trapped inside the bank for over four hours.
The Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Ilorin, has introduced electronic attendance registration for students at lecture rooms and clinical activities.
Prof. Ibrahim Katibi, the Dean of the faculty, told newsmen on Monday that the e-attendance register was introduced to address students’ absenteeism and lateness to class. Katibi said that learning medicine is, essentially, by observing and doing, reading and memorising.
“It is an art because you need to acquire some basic tools aside from the theoretical knowledge.
“If a student did not come around and watch how things are done, he or she won’t be able to acquire those skills,’’ he said.
The dean said that some students were found to have smuggled their friends’ names into the attendance list when the faculty was writing the attendance manually in notebooks.
According to him, this decision will stop that and everyone will be properly monitored.
He described the electronic attendance registration at lectures and clinical activities as a lofty one.
Katibi said that it would be difficult for anybody to sign on behalf of another with electronic registration, .
“Every student must be there personally to be captured.’’
SOURCE: https://thenationonlineng.net/unilorin-introduces-e-register-to-stem-students-absenteeism/amp/
Years after her failure, Tobiloba Isaac Jolaoso self-styled King Tee also started producing p*rnographic contents and his digital skills helped him in attaining significant successes. Several Nigerian ladies worked for him and he encouraged them to show their faces in videos. King Tee's career has been struggling in recent times with some of his former apprentices notably Savage Trap Queen and Peace Olayemi turning a new leaf.
A new face, a curvy and beautiful lady named Edet Mareme from Calabar, Rivers State has stormed the budding adult film industry in Nigeria with a plan to take it to the summit. If she hadn't ventured into the highly scorned industry, Mareme would have loved to toe a different line of being a Reverend Sister which entails decency, holiness, dignity and celibacy.
Mareme whose body is ridden with massive tattoos isn't just doing the job on a short time note, she intends to create a structure from which money can be made like the adult film industry abroad. She is interested in winning awards and leaving a business her generations to come can feed on.
"I love teasing, I love getting you horny. In years to come, I will still be making money from these videos. Even when I am dead, my children and grandchildren will all enjoy from it" she told Pulse in an interview.
According to her p*rnstars make as much as $3,000 to $10,000 or more and the female actors are paid more than their male counterparts. Mareme went on to lament about the stigmatization of women engaged in the adult film industry with the males getting preferential treatment. Mareme is easily mistaken for a commercial s*x worker but she has explained that she doesn't engage in such acts apart from acting it out in movies.
"I am a p*rn actress and not a s*x worker. Because you watched my video, because you got it from an X-rated site, doesn't mean I have to have s*x with everybody I meet" she reiterated.
Mareme explains that shooting an adult film might not be totally different from shooting the conventional ones.
Test results of participating actors are vetted to make sure their bodies are in good conditions before they go into action. The videographers, scriptwriters, video editors and location managers also have a huge role to play in the production of adult films.
After production, the videos are then uploaded on websites either daily, weekly or monthly for people to access them on a pay-per-view note. They make money on these websites and then diverse traffic to their local platforms.
The unselfish Mareme isn't thinking of herself alone, she is focused on opening doors for other aspiring adult film actors who have skills to market to a larger audience.
Lexus RX 350, 2013 model, Lexus RX 330, 2009 model, Lexus ES 300, 2002 model, Toyota Corolla Sport and Toyota Camry were seized from them, so also 15 laptops, phones and computer hard-drives.
Members of the union had vowed to go on a nationwide strike after the 21-day ultimatum it issued to the Minister of Power, Mr Saleh Mamman, expired.
The lawmaker representing Enugu said if urgent actions were not taken, Nigerians may end the remaining part of 2019 and celebrate the New Year in a blackout.
Okechukwu recalled that a petition was written by NUEE to electricity distribution and generating companies, warning of a nationwide strike if their demands were not met.
“A petition, dated Nov. 7, was written to the Minister of Power by the NUEE and copied to all DISCOS and GENCOS, where the union warned, and gave a 21-day ultimatum to declare a nationwide strike if their demands were not met by the electricity companies.
“These include non-payments of salary arrears, remittance of pension deductions, refusal to pay over 2,000 disengaged workers of the ex-PHCN staff since 2013, underpayment of over 50,000 ex-PHCN staff and casualisation/outsourcing of workers,” he said.
The lawmaker said NUEE accused the ministry of power of failing to respond to their strike notification letter which expired on December 10.
“The union, having exhausted every avenue for resolution of the dispute, has no other option than to withdraw services, without further notice.
“Their resolve to go on with the strike without further notification came as a result of the information by a power sector consultant, Mrs Rahila Thomas, wherein she stated that GENCOS and DISCOS direly need N1.2 trillion bailout to improve services,” he said.
He expressed the concern that “the whole country would be plunged into a blackout if the union should be allowed to carry out its threat.”
The lawmakers also expressed the concern that if the reasons for the nationwide strike by NUEE were not addressed, it would lead to “serious financial losses for both private and government establishments, and pose security challenges in our country.”
(NAN)
The University of Ilorin and Oriental Energy Resource Farms Ltd, an agro-based firm belonging to Borno State entrepreneur, Mohammed Indimi, recently signed a 21 years “land lease agreement” for mechanised agricultural projects.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed by Mr Indimi and Vice-Chancellor of UNILORIN, Jubril Oyelekan, at the Maiduguri office of OER Farm Ltd last week.
The MOU stipulates that UNILORIN would provide 10,000 hectares of land in the next 21 years to Mr Indimi’s new company for the development of a mechanised agricultural project.
Also in the signed accord, the university will provide both the technical and manpower needs that OER Farms requires to develop and operate the agro-business project “in line with best industry practice to increase productivity within the sector.”
The farm project is to produce “improved crop varieties with high yielding cash crops such as maize, soya beans and cashew.”
The project is also designed to “develop the capacity of the University of Ilorin in agricultural research, improve farm practice, develop agric entrepreneurs who will give farming a different perspective, promote local Inclusion and enhance economic viability in catchment areas.”
Mr Oyelekan said “This project is a massive one and it is quite unique because we are not bringing anybody from outside; the University of Ilorin is going to provide the land for us and their Faculty of Agriculture will be providing all labour and the expertise, and we will pay them.”
Mr Indimi, a oil businessman, said “enhancing food security in the country” was his major ..continue reading https://www.premiumtimesng.com/business/business-news/367367-unilorin-firm-sign-21-year-land-lease-agreement.html
Manchester City were regularly exposed on the counter by Manchester United and head coach Pep Guardiola admitted his side had no answer.
Pep Guardiola conceded Manchester City could not live with the pace of Manchester United’s attacking players in Saturday’s 2-1 derby defeat.
Visitors United constantly exposed their opponents on the counter at the Etihad Stadium, helping them move into a two-goal lead inside the opening half-hour.
Marcus Rashford won and then converted a penalty before Anthony Martial fired in a second after being picked out by Daniel James.
Guardiola talked up United’s counter-attacking threat on the eve of the match, but the City head coach has admitted his side ultimately had no answer to the trio.
“I like how my team played,” he said at his post-match news conference. “We conceded a little bit more space – not more than usual, but more than last year against United.
“We knew about the pace they have, with James, Martial and Rashford, but sometimes it is not possible to control it.”
Nicolas Otamendi pulled a goal back for City five minutes from the end, but there was to be no comeback for the reigning champions as their title hopes were dealt another blow.
“In general, we did what we like,” Guardiola added. “We arrived in the final third many, many, many, many times.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t finish a little bit more, but I like to watch my team. I know nobody agrees but I like it.”
Third-place City are now 14 points adrift of leaders Liverpool, who beat Bournemouth 3-0 earlier on Saturday, and travel to Arsenal for their next league outing.
The home loss means Guardiola has the lowest points tally after 16 games of a season in his senior coaching career, but he is not surprised by the drop-off in form since last term.
“Sometimes it happens,” he added. “Sometimes you don’t win and the others are better and you lose. Normal is not winning the league always, sometimes you lose.
“It is important not to give up and try to do what we do as a team. All the games we play a season we play the game I want my team to play.
“After that, the counter-attacks, the final third, when we struggle in some departments okay, it’s part of the process. Maybe next season we will be better.”
Pep Guardiola conceded Manchester City could not live with the pace of Manchester United’s attacking players in Saturday’s 2-1 derby defeat.
Visitors United constantly exposed their opponents on the counter at the Etihad Stadium, helping them move into a two-goal lead inside the opening half-hour.
Marcus Rashford won and then converted a penalty before Anthony Martial fired in a second after being picked out by Daniel James.
Guardiola talked up United’s counter-attacking threat on the eve of the match, but the City head coach has admitted his side ultimately had no answer to the trio.
“I like how my team played,” he said at his post-match news conference. “We conceded a little bit more space – not more than usual, but more than last year against United.
“We knew about the pace they have, with James, Martial and Rashford, but sometimes it is not possible to control it.”
Nicolas Otamendi pulled a goal back for City five minutes from the end, but there was to be no comeback for the reigning champions as their title hopes were dealt another blow.
“In general, we did what we like,” Guardiola added. “We arrived in the final third many, many, many, many times.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t finish a little bit more, but I like to watch my team. I know nobody agrees but I like it.”
Third-place City are now 14 points adrift of leaders Liverpool, who beat Bournemouth 3-0 earlier on Saturday, and travel to Arsenal for their next league outing.
The home loss means Guardiola has the lowest points tally after 16 games of a season in his senior coaching career, but he is not surprised by the drop-off in form since last term.
“Sometimes it happens,” he added. “Sometimes you don’t win and the others are better and you lose. Normal is not winning the league always, sometimes you lose.
“It is important not to give up and try to do what we do as a team. All the games we play a season we play the game I want my team to play.
“After that, the counter-attacks, the final third, when we struggle in some departments okay, it’s part of the process. Maybe next season we will be better.”
Kwara State Government has ordered the immediate closure of 10 secondary schools in Ilorin, the state capital, pending resolutio...
