Russia buries tonnes of banned food imports in Crimea

Russia has stepped up the destruction of banned food imports, burying tonnes of vegetables seized in the disputed region of Crimea, amid growing calls to give the contraband to the poor.

The Russian food safety agency, Rosselkhzhadzor, reported on Monday that four tonnes of imports from Ukraine, including 2.4 tonnes of pepper, a third of a tonne of Dutch lettuce, Italian cherry tomatoes and celery had been confiscated and buried. Crimea is an internationally-recognised Ukrainian territory under Russian control.

The news came as calls to redistribute the food for free gained more supporters, with more than 343,000 people signing an online petition as of Monday, urging President Vladimir Putin to revoke his order.

"Why destroy the food when we can simply eat it?", Olga Savelieva, the author of the petition, wrote.

Vladimir Sotnikov, a Russian international affairs analyst, told Al Jazeera "it's more expensive" to destroy the food, than to redistribute them to the poor. 

But he predicted that the destruction of the food contraband would continue, as it is an official Kremlin policy.

Last Thursday, Russia marked the one-year anniversary of its ban on European agricultural products, by destroying seized cheeses, fruits and other imported edible products using steamrollers and tractors.

Several shipments of banned imported products were destroyed in the Orenburg region in the Ural Mountains and Belgorod and Smolensk near Russia's Western border.

Tension over Ukraine

The move raised controversy amid the nation's economic downturn. Coupled with the Russian currency's sharp depreciation, the ban on Western food has helped drive consumer prices up, pushing an increasing number of Russians below the poverty line.

Russian farmers seek profit from food embargo
Analyst Sotnikov, however, told Al Jazeera that the ban has a "minor effect" on the price of food, as compared with the impact of the oil price slump.

The Kremlin, hoping to stem the flow of banned products by raising the costs for those involved in contraband, has ignored the public outcry as tensions are brewing with the West over the Ukrainian crisis.

Russia slapped a ban on many Western agricultural products, including meat, milk products, vegetables and fruit on August 6, 2014 in retaliation to the US and EU sanctions over Moscow's annexation of Crimea and support for pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine.

Defending the ban, Putin said it helped create incentives for local agricultural producers. Many farmers have lauded the move, hoping to fill the niche previously held by imports.

Experts warn, however, that while some local farmers thrived, it would take years for Russia to reach self-sufficiency on food and prices will rise, hurting the population.

ISIL respondible for Iraq Bomb Blasts

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group has claimed responsibility for attacks that killed more than 40 people near the eastern Iraqi city of Baquba.

More than 80 people were injured in Monday's attacks that happened in predominantly Shia areas in Diyala province.

The deadliest attack occurred in the town of Huwaydir. Police said a suicide car blast tore through a marketplace, killing at least 35 people and wounding 72.

"A suicide bomber driving a booby-trapped vehicle blew himself up in the middle of the central market area in Huwaydir," a police lieutenant-colonel said, according to the AFP news agency.

Another suicide bomber drove his explosives-laden vehicle past a checkpoint before blowing himself up in Kanaan district, killing at least 10 people and wounding the same number, a police captain said.

An improvised explosive device also went off in a neighbourhood between Baquba and Huwaydir, killing three and wounding four others, the same source said.

It was not immediately clear how many of the victims were civilians.

Al Jazeera's Mohammed Jamjoom, reporting from Baghdad, noted that the bombings were the second deadliest ones in the province since late July, when at least 100 civilians were killed in attacks claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.

Both Bobbi Kristina And Her Mother Died In The Same Tragic Manner

Bobbi Kristina’s Dead Body Photo Leaks As National Enquirer Pays $100K To Snap Death Bed Picture
Days after the National Enquirer paid a whopping $100,000 for the publishing right of late Whitney Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina’s last photo, the magazine has released her last photo alive.
The photo of Bobbi Kristina’s death bed was acquired on Sunday July 26th and published yesterday in the latest edition of the magazine.
In the photo, 22-year-old Bobbi Kristina was seen lying unconscious under a blanket in her bed at the Peachtree Christian Hospice Georgia the same day she breathe her last breath.

The latest edition of the magazine also shows Whitney Houston’s death photo acquired back in 2012.
Both Bobbi Kristina and her mother died in the same tragic manner.
They were both found unconscious in the bathtub.
Their death have been linked to Illuminati Bathtub Ritual.

KYLIE MINOGUE QUITS JAY Z’s COMPANY

Kylie Minogue has decided to part ways with Jay Z‘s Roc Nation management company. The pop princess decided on this decision following series of professional disappointments with the rapper’s Roc Nation management firm after two years. Kylie’s last album, 2014’s ‘Kiss Me Once’, under-performed in the charts despite having some of her best materials in years and she was reportedly also disappointed that many promised sponsorship deals and endorsements never materialised, so she has decided to take a break. A source told The Sun newspaper: ‘The deal just didn’t work out for either side and she thinks they didn’t ever understand her as an artist. Her last album was nowhere near as successful as she hoped. She now wants to go in a different direction.’ Kylie’s contract with Jay Z’s firm, which is home to stars such as Rihanna, Calvin Harris and Shakira, will end after she completes the current Australian leg of her ‘Kiss Me Once’ tour. The decision follows news the 46-year-old singer has also quit her record label Parlophone after 16 years working relationship. Kylie is looking to reclaim her crown as queen of dance pop and build on the success of the single ‘Right Here, Right Now’ which she recorded with legendary Italian producer Giorgio Moroder. The source explained: ‘Kylie’s got new music ready to go that she’s made with Nile Rodgers, Disclosure and Giorgio. She wants to take more control of her career. Some of the tracks could come out as soon as next month. Kylie’s also keen to do more acting. She has signed with a big name agent in the US.’...

UNVEILED: $1MILLION BELT FOR MAYWEATHER-PACQUIAO...

Boxing fans around the world have voted the winner belt which either Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao would wear after their historic fight. After a public vote was held for fans to choose between the unusual design or the more traditional green world champion belt, which later saw the emerald green, diamond-encrusted belt that has the World flags on it confirmed for the bout. The belt, worth over $1m, would be gifted out to one of the pair when the fight takes place at MGM Grand Las Vegas on Saturday, May 2, 2015....

Raphael is my brother not my child – Patoranking

 

Over the past year, Dancehall act Patoranking consistently shared pictures of a little boy, ‘Raphael’ on his social media pages. The striking resemblance between them makes many believe Patoranking already has a son. In a recent Twitter interview, Patoranking was asked if Raphael was his son, and he responded saying, ‘he is my youngest brother & No, I don’t have a child.’...

Egging Victim 'Jeff Schwartz' Sued 'Justin Bieber'

Justin Bieber is being sued by his former neighbor whose house was egged by JB and his buddies, claiming he and his wife have suffered emotional distress because the singer's bodyguard called him "little Jew boy."
Jeff Schwartz claims in the lawsuit -- the epithet was hurled before his house was egged in January, 2014. Bieber ended up pleading no contest to vandalism and went on probation. He also shelled out $80k for the repairs.
But Schwartz wants more, claiming Bieber and his crew terrorized their Calabasas neighborhood while JB lived there, with loud parties, drag races and disgusting encounters which included Justin spitting on him, something Justin has denied.
Schwartz also claims Bieber hurled obscenities at his wife and minor daughter.
Schwartz claims on Memorial Day weekend of 2013, Bieber was speeding around the neighborhood in his Ferrari. Schwartz and a friend walked over to Bieber and told him to stop because he was putting lives at risk. He claims Bieber's bodyguards then came out and one of them called him a "little Jew boy," and repeatedly said, "What are you going to do about it, Jew boy?"
Schwartz wants damages for emotional distress.

Tikrit to defeat ISIL

Baghdad - A coalition of Shia militias, Iraqi government forces, and volunteers are in the midst of a major military operation to retake the city of Tikrit from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) that controlled it since last June.
On Sunday, fighting intensified to the north and south of the city perhaps best known as Saddam Hussein's hometown.Iraqi security forces vowed to reach the centre of Tikrit within 48 hours.
So far, the campaign, according to military officials, looks to be succeeding, expelling ISIL fighters from areas east and south of Tikrit.
This development, according to analysts, reflects unprecedented coordination between the Iraqi military, the popular mobilisation forces, and anti-ISIL Sunni tribesmen.
The anti-ISIL forces are currently surrounding the city of Tikrit from all directions, Iraqi government officials and military officers told Al Jazeera.
"The troops have entered the city [Tikrit] from two directions, the northern and southern districts, but the advance is slow because of the snipers and the booby traps," Jasim Ataiya, the deputy governor of Salahuddin province, told Al Jazeera.

Jonathan’s Aides Messed Up Nigerian Singer, Lami Philips In Lagos

On Sunday, March 15, 2015, some stakeholders in the entertainment industry met with President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in Lagos.
The event was put together as avenue to have the President speak with the showbiz personalities on his plans for them if he is re-elected in the presidential poll holding next Saturday across the country.
But for Nigerian singer and songwriter, Lami Philips, she had a bad encounter with security aides of the President at the occasion.
According to her, she had parked her car at a space at the venue of the event, Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, but her tyre was deflated along with other vehicles.
But she could not place why the officers did what they did to her and others. However, she expressed her anger over the incident, hinting that she may not vote for Jonathan at the election because of that action.
“So President Jonathan was passing Eko Hotel and all cars parked on the road had [their] tyres deflated, including mine. Awesome move before elections!
“President GEJ, I am of the firm opinion that you r a good man. Whoever thought it was a good idea to deflate my tyres tonight cost you my vote. I was still deciding but now I know. God bless,” she said.

MC Oluomo Allegedly Sent Hired Killers To Murder Mados Babajide Dosunmu, Yaba NURTW Boss

Oshodi NURTW Boss Musiliu Akinsanya MC Oluomo In Murder, Assassination Mess

NURTW Oshodi Boss, MC Oluomo has been fingered in the assassination of the VC of Lagos Mainland branch of  the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Babajide Dosunmu.

Popularly called Mados, he was shot dead on Tuesday night around 8pm by some suspected assassins who traced him to his home before shooting him at close range.

The deceased who is also the Chairman of Yaba branch of the association was killed by some assassins as he parked at his residence on Cemetery Road.

This is what a family source said:

“As he parked his car. He was shot from a far distance. He ran for his dear life but another bullet hit him in the leg. He fell down and the assassins came closer, shot him on the buttocks and chest,”.

The father of six was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Sources in the troubled association claimed MC Oluomo allegedly sent assassins to the deceased because he threatened to reveal his hideout to police.

May his soul rest  in peace.