Khamenei calls ‘Death to America’ as deadline nears on Iran nuclear deal

Ali Khamenei, the Supreme leader of the clerical regime in Iran, called for “Death to America” on Saturday, a day after President Barack Obama appealed to that regime to seize a “historic opportunity” for a nuclear deal.

Khamenei told a crowd in the city of Mashhad that his regime would not capitulate to Western demands. When the crowd started shouting, “Death to America,” the ayatollah responded: “Of course yes, death to America, because America is the original source of this pressure.

Obama, in a message to Iranians celebrating the Persian new year this week, suggested that success at the talks could build on trust, proclaiming it was up to Iran “to seize this moment and the possibilities that can bloom.”

But Ali Khamenei told the crowd: “Negotiations with America are solely on the nuclear issue and nothing else,”

“We do not talk with U.S. over regional issues. In the regional issues, America’s goals are completely opposed to our goals.”

Khamenei also demanded that a nuclear deal end economic sanctions on his regime at its outset, rather than gradually, as the United States and five other world powers have said during negotiations.
“Sanctions must be lifted immediately," Khamenei said.

Russian Navy vessels test fire-power amid nationwide drills

Drills on liquidation of simulated subversive group start in Russia's Kuriles

MOSCOW, March 20. /TASS/. Russian military are conducting anti-sabotage military drills in Russia's Far-Eastern Kuril Islands as part of command and staff exercises, head of the Eastern Military District's press service Oleg Gordeyev told TASS.

Around 500 servicemen and 100 units of military hardware, including four Mil Mi-8AMTSH are taking part in the drills.

Russia to upgrade 10 multi-purpose nuclear submarines by 2020 — Navy chief

MOSCOW, March 19. /TASS/. Russia’s Zvyozdochka shipyard in the country’s northwest and the Zvezda Far Eastern plant will be able to modernize about ten project 971 and project 949A nuclear submarines, Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Chirkov said on Thursday.

"This actually means recommissioning a grouping of multi-purpose nuclear submarines with upgraded characteristics, which will operate in the Northern and Pacific Fleets," the Navy chief said on occasion of Submariner Day, which Russia is celebrating on Thursday.

The requirements for modernizing these submarines were clearly formulated by the Defense Ministry and the Navy’s command and work is proceeding under the Navy’s daily control, Chirkov said.

Profound modernization will leave only the hulls of these submarines intact, the Navy chief said.

Pope visits Scampia, urges Camorra criminals ‘return to honesty’

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100-Year-Old Woman Released from Kenyan Prison after Campaign for Her Release

NAIROBI – A 100-year-old woman was released from prison in the central Kenyan town of Embu, where she was serving a three-month sentence for illegal appropriation of land, after a campaign on social media platforms called for her release, local media reported on Friday.

Hundreds of users from social networks showed their solidarity with the campaign by sharing the hashtag, #SaveJailed100yrGranny, calling for her release.

The old woman was jailed on March 10 for failing to implement a court order requiring her to give away two hectares (just under 5 acres) of land to an individual who filed a claim that she had illegally taken the plot.

After spending nine days in jail, a Nairobi County senator, Mike Sonko, paid her bail of 100,000 shillings (just over $1,000) to release the elderly woman, who was able to leave the prison on Thursday, said local newspaper Daily Nation.

The Sonko Rescue Team, a group of volunteers who work under the senator for community service in Nairobi, will perform a complete medical checkup on the woman to ensure that she is stable.

Imprisoning a woman of her age was described as “immoral” and “embarrassing” by many Kenyans on various Twitter accounts.

Meanwhile, an Embu County senator, Lenny Kivuti, announced that he will donate another 100,000 shillings (about $1,000) to the elderly.