Nigeria: A Nation of Survival. Defeat of Cote D'Ivoire

                        

Nigeria has always pride itself as nation that dances on the cliff without falling. Over the years, the numerous morass and increase in militant and terrorists activities seem to have overidden this bias.

The defeat of Ivory Coast today shows the country is still on track as master of miracles of the cliff. The Super Eagles before the match has been written off and all pundits favoured Ivory Coast. Nigeria is to meet Mali in the Semi Finals.

In the end, someone will have to tell Emmanuel Eboue that the Claws of the Eagles are devastatingly sharp. They pierce into the eyes of the elephants.

Google and France reach Agreement over News-Linking

Internet giant Google has agreed to set up a fund worth up to 60-million euros to facilitate adjustment to digital technology by the old media.

After two months of mediation with French news sites, the agreement signed with François Hollande will help French media develop online projects.

Previously, Paris threatened to introduce legislation if Google did not reach a settlement after France announced plans to charge Google for linking to French news content.

The Changing Arab World: Ahmadinejad to visit Egypt

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is set to visit Cairo, making him the first Iranian president to visit Egypt since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Ahmadinejad will head Iran's delegation to a summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Cairo, Reuters reports.

Tehran broke off relations with Cairo in 1980 following Egypt's peace agreement with Israel during the time of Anwar Saddat. Ahmadinejad hopes the two states can reestablish full diplomatic ties. Last year the two countries mutually agreed to reopen official embassies following a visit to Iran by Egypt’s Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

The Arab Spring has rekindled a kind of Arab solidarity long lost after the demise of Gamel Abdel Nasser of Egypt. Arab nations including Turkey are finding a common ground among each other to counter Israel's strength. Israel with the assistance of the US is wielding the divide-and-rule baton well.

Clashes in Senegal: 3 Senagalese and a French Die

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As France battles Islamists in Mali, another flashpoint seems to rear its ugly head in Senegal. The long-standing but internationally silent religious face-off in Senegal led to the death of four.

Four people, one French and three Senegalese nationals, were killed in Senegal's Southern Casamance region in clashes between suspected separatist rebels and government soldiers late Friday, a military source said.

He added that the death of the French citizen may not be related to the long-running war for independence in the mostly Christian Southern region of Senegal, which is predominantly Muslim.

West Africa is gradually turning into a complete haven of and for militants and islamic fundamentalists. This trend could consume the sub-region if not quickly checked and curbed.

Retirement Calls for US Secret Service Chief

­The Director of the US Secret Service will retire this month, according to a spokesperson for the agency which provides personal protection for the President and VIP officials.

 Mark Sullivan has been with the agency for 30 years and in charge since 2006. Last year the image of the Secret Service was severely tarnished when the President’s protection detail became embroiled in a scandal involving prostitutes in Colombia.

The scandal shook the agency to its base. It left a strong impact on its years of seeming and perceived ''infallibility' in security details and personal defence of the Washington top names.

Becoming Wholly Self-Reliant?: Iran to Launch Three Space Satellites

Iran will launch three satellites to mark the country’s National Space Technology Day, Iranian Space Agency President Hamil Fazeli has announced. Fazeli explained that “due to inherent problems using international satellites,” Iran plans to put more of its own satellites into orbit over the next five years.

The Islamic Republic has also built her own National Internet Service to fully complement the restrictions on the usage of Twitter, Facebook and other Western-backed international social media. The country is advancing speedily steadily in technology and science especially military technology.

Are Sanctions Crippling Iran or Making Iran

Iran has presented its first domestically designed defence fighter-bomber jet with limited stealth capabilities. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stressed that the plane was designed for defense purposes, and will not be used for aggression.

Code-named Qaher-313 ('Conqueror'), the jet is an advanced single-seat single-engine military plane. It is reportedly capable of engaging targets on the ground, as well as achieving air superiority in dogfights.

According to photos published by Fars news agency, the jet boasts impressive technical specifications, with a ‘stealth’ design similar to that of the US F-22 and Russian T-50.

The large wingspan and inclined outward tail fins resembles the F-35, as well as the unusual-looking wings and modern seamless canopy. The jet may have been constructed using composite materials.

Before now, Iran has made numerous giant strides in domestic computer and internet application advancement, agricultural development and complex military capabilities since sanctions were slammed on the country by the US and EU.

 

"Now the speed of Iran's development in science and technology does not depend on circumstances, it depends on our will," Ahmadinejad said on Saturday in remarks carried on state television. "We should set higher targets. We see that it is possible, we have the capabilities."

"This project carries the message of brotherhood, peace, and security and it doesn't pose any threat to anyone. There is no intention to interfere in any other country's affairs," he said.

Iran is commemorating the 34th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution that toppled the U.S.-backed Shah in 10 days of events that began on Thursday.

Growing Arab Unity against Israel: Iran and Turkey on Syria

A senior Iranian security official pledged full support of Tehran for its close ally, the Syrian regime in Damascus on Saturday.

 “We will give all our support so that Syria remains firm and able to face all the arrogant (Western power) conspiracies,” said the head of the Supreme National Security Council, Saeed Jalili, in the wake of Israeli airstrike on Syria.

Iran has been supporting Syrian President Bashar Assad and his regime since the Syrian crisis began nearly two years ago, which has so far claimed more than 60,000 lives.

The Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu on his part says Assad has a pact with Israel that is why the Syrian military which has been killing its own people cannot respond to Israeli airstrikes.

Turkey says it will not sit back and watch Israel attack any Muslim nation. The airstrikes could in the long run bring Iran and Turkey together. Both countries have been on opposite sides since Assad employed heavy firepower on his own people.