Obama 'to strike IS wherever it exists'

US president to outline plans to destroy Islamic State group, which operates in Iraq and Syria.

Obama will be laying out his plan to deepen the US military role in the Middle East [EPA]

US President Barack Obama is expected to annouce that the United States will wage a military campaign that will target Islamic State fighters with air strikes “wherever they exist". This indicates the US will expand its air campaign across the Iraqi border to Islamic State targets in Syria. Obama will deliver a major address on Wednesday evening laying out his plan to deepen the US military role in the Middle East. In excerpts released in advance, Obama says the US will lead a broad coalition to degrade and then destroy the self-declared jihadist fighters. Obama says the campaign would not involve US combat troops on the ground. Obama, in the speech, is expected to compare the US plans for the Islamic State to Washington's counterterrorism efforts in Yemen and Somalia. The US has launched drone strikes in those countries for years. The US is already launching air strikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq 'Will not sit and watch' Earlier on Wednesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said the international community will not sit and watch the Islamic State grow. He identified Iraq as a key partner in the fight against the group. "We all have an interest in supporting the new government of Iraq at this particular critical junction," Kerry said during a visit to Baghdad on Wednesday. He said an international coalition to confront the Islamic State "will continue to grow and deepen in the days ahead. "That is because the United States and the world will simply not stand by to watch as [the Islamic State's] evil spreads." Kerry said, using an alternative acronym for Islamic State. The Islamic State group has taken control of large parts of Iraq and neighbouring Syria. The group's brutal campaign has included beheadings of rivals and killings of hundreds of members of Iraq's minorities.

Source: Agencies

France shocks Spain at World Cup 65-52, USA’s path to gold just became more open

One week ago, Spain toyed with France winning by 22 in group play. Spain dominated inside — Marc Gasol had 17 points, Pau Gasol 15 — and played defense that held the French to 39 percent shooting.
Wednesday the scrip flipped — and the USA’s path to the gold medal just became a lot more wide open.
France played a fantastic defensive game Wednesday — their recovery on the pick-and-roll was spot on all game, while inside the combination of Joffrey Lauvergne in the first half and the Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert in the second held Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka to a combined 5 points on 2-of-14 shooting.
The result was a shocking upset — France 65, Spain 52. No Tony Parker or Joakim Noah, no problem. France advances on to the World Cup semifinal Friday against Serbia.
Host Spain is done. Adios. It was shocking because they were undefeated in the tournament having won their previous six games by an average 26.5 points. They, along with Team USA, had looked like the clearly two dominant squads of this World Cup, and with Spain at home there was seemingly no question that they would play for the gold.
Suddenly the USA’s path to gold looks much easier. Lithuania (Thursday’s opponent) and either France or Serbia in the final might have a puncher’s chance against the USA. But really it would take their best games and a terrible, off night from the USA to see an upset.
Spain seemed flummoxed by what France did defensively, with fantastic pick-and-roll defense and discipline that didn’t give the Spanish guards (or bigs) room to make the ball moving passes they had all tournament. France also did a great job of slowing the game down, not letting the guards of France get a lot of easy buckets in transition.
Plus, Spain just missed shots. They started 0-9 from three in the first half and were just 2-of-22 from three for the game. On the night Ricky Rubio was 1-of-7 shooting, Sergio Rodriguez 0-of-3, Rudy Fernandez 2-of-6. Combine that with Ibaka and Marc Gasol’s off nights and you have a Spanish team that shot just 32 percent.
But maybe the most shocking part of the night was the way Lauvergne and Gobert controlled the paint and glass – Gobert had 13 rebounds and Lauvergne 10, while the Gasol brothers had a dozen combined.
We have talked about how for Team USA players like Anthony Davis and Kenneth Faried could use their World Cup play as a springboard into a huge NBA season. Throw Gobert on that list.
Also we should be fair to Pau Gasol, who was the one Spanish player who had a good night — 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting plus he had three blocks. He had a very strong entire tournament. Bulls fans will love him this season (likely in a way some Lakers fans never did).
On offense France was doing enough attacking off the dribble in the half court, keeping it a half court game and slowing it down. And they were hitting their shots when it mattered. Boris Diaw had 15 points to lead the way, and late in the game some of the offense ran through him (and as you would expect, it was creative and smart with the ball). Then there was point guard Tony Heurtel, who was running the show late and hit a couple of key baskets including a dagger three.
It was a team win for France, the European champions who are now looking at a real chance to medal at the World Cup.
It was a team loss for Spain in a year that, at home, they thought they could get a World Cup gold medal. But in a one-and-done tournament you have to bring it every night.
Wednesday France brought it, and they move on.
Much to the delight of Team USA (even though they would never say that publicly).

Tags: Anthony Davis, Boris Diaw, Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Joakim Noah, Kenneth Faried, Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, Pau Gasol, Ricky Rubio, Rudy Gobert, San Antonio Spurs, Serge Ibaka, Tony Parker, Utah Jazz

One week ago, Spain toyed with France winning by 22 in group play. Spain dominated inside — Marc Gasol had 17 points, Pau Gasol 15 — and played defense that held the French to 39 percent shooting.
Wednesday the scrip flipped — and the USA’s path to the gold medal just became a lot more wide open.
France played a fantastic defensive game Wednesday — their recovery on the pick-and-roll was spot on all game, while inside the combination of Joffrey Lauvergne in the first half and the Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert in the second held Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka to a combined 5 points on 2-of-14 shooting.
The result was a shocking upset — France 65, Spain 52. No Tony Parker or Joakim Noah, no problem. France advances on to the World Cup semifinal Friday against Serbia.
Host Spain is done. Adios. It was shocking because they were undefeated in the tournament having won their previous six games by an average 26.5 points. They, along with Team USA, had looked like the clearly two dominant squads of this World Cup, and with Spain at home there was seemingly no question that they would play for the gold.
Suddenly the USA’s path to gold looks much easier. Lithuania (Thursday’s opponent) and either France or Serbia in the final might have a puncher’s chance against the USA. But really it would take their best games and a terrible, off night from the USA to see an upset.
Spain seemed flummoxed by what France did defensively, with fantastic pick-and-roll defense and discipline that didn’t give the Spanish guards (or bigs) room to make the ball moving passes they had all tournament. France also did a great job of slowing the game down, not letting the guards of France get a lot of easy buckets in transition.
Plus, Spain just missed shots. They started 0-9 from three in the first half and were just 2-of-22 from three for the game. On the night Ricky Rubio was 1-of-7 shooting, Sergio Rodriguez 0-of-3, Rudy Fernandez 2-of-6. Combine that with Ibaka and Marc Gasol’s off nights and you have a Spanish team that shot just 32 percent.
But maybe the most shocking part of the night was the way Lauvergne and Gobert controlled the paint and glass – Gobert had 13 rebounds and Lauvergne 10, while the Gasol brothers had a dozen combined.
We have talked about how for Team USA players like Anthony Davis and Kenneth Faried could use their World Cup play as a springboard into a huge NBA season. Throw Gobert on that list.
Also we should be fair to Pau Gasol, who was the one Spanish player who had a good night — 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting plus he had three blocks. He had a very strong entire tournament. Bulls fans will love him this season (likely in a way some Lakers fans never did).
On offense France was doing enough attacking off the dribble in the half court, keeping it a half court game and slowing it down. And they were hitting their shots when it mattered. Boris Diaw had 15 points to lead the way, and late in the game some of the offense ran through him (and as you would expect, it was creative and smart with the ball). Then there was point guard Tony Heurtel, who was running the show late and hit a couple of key baskets including a dagger three.
It was a team win for France, the European champions who are now looking at a real chance to medal at the World Cup.
It was a team loss for Spain in a year that, at home, they thought they could get a World Cup gold medal. But in a one-and-done tournament you have to bring it every night.
Wednesday France brought it, and they move on.
Much to the delight of Team USA (even though they would never say that publicly).

Tags: Anthony Davis, Boris Diaw, Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Joakim Noah, Kenneth Faried, Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, Pau Gasol, Ricky Rubio, Rudy Gobert, San Antonio Spurs, Serge Ibaka, Tony Parker, Utah Jazz

One week ago, Spain toyed with France winning by 22 in group play. Spain dominated inside — Marc Gasol had 17 points, Pau Gasol 15 — and played defense that held the French to 39 percent shooting.
Wednesday the scrip flipped — and the USA’s path to the gold medal just became a lot more wide open.
France played a fantastic defensive game Wednesday — their recovery on the pick-and-roll was spot on all game, while inside the combination of Joffrey Lauvergne in the first half and the Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert in the second held Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka to a combined 5 points on 2-of-14 shooting.
The result was a shocking upset — France 65, Spain 52. No Tony Parker or Joakim Noah, no problem. France advances on to the World Cup semifinal Friday against Serbia.
Host Spain is done. Adios. It was shocking because they were undefeated in the tournament having won their previous six games by an average 26.5 points. They, along with Team USA, had looked like the clearly two dominant squads of this World Cup, and with Spain at home there was seemingly no question that they would play for the gold.
Suddenly the USA’s path to gold looks much easier. Lithuania (Thursday’s opponent) and either France or Serbia in the final might have a puncher’s chance against the USA. But really it would take their best games and a terrible, off night from the USA to see an upset.
Spain seemed flummoxed by what France did defensively, with fantastic pick-and-roll defense and discipline that didn’t give the Spanish guards (or bigs) room to make the ball moving passes they had all tournament. France also did a great job of slowing the game down, not letting the guards of France get a lot of easy buckets in transition.
Plus, Spain just missed shots. They started 0-9 from three in the first half and were just 2-of-22 from three for the game. On the night Ricky Rubio was 1-of-7 shooting, Sergio Rodriguez 0-of-3, Rudy Fernandez 2-of-6. Combine that with Ibaka and Marc Gasol’s off nights and you have a Spanish team that shot just 32 percent.
But maybe the most shocking part of the night was the way Lauvergne and Gobert controlled the paint and glass – Gobert had 13 rebounds and Lauvergne 10, while the Gasol brothers had a dozen combined.
We have talked about how for Team USA players like Anthony Davis and Kenneth Faried could use their World Cup play as a springboard into a huge NBA season. Throw Gobert on that list.
Also we should be fair to Pau Gasol, who was the one Spanish player who had a good night — 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting plus he had three blocks. He had a very strong entire tournament. Bulls fans will love him this season (likely in a way some Lakers fans never did).
On offense France was doing enough attacking off the dribble in the half court, keeping it a half court game and slowing it down. And they were hitting their shots when it mattered. Boris Diaw had 15 points to lead the way, and late in the game some of the offense ran through him (and as you would expect, it was creative and smart with the ball). Then there was point guard Tony Heurtel, who was running the show late and hit a couple of key baskets including a dagger three.
It was a team win for France, the European champions who are now looking at a real chance to medal at the World Cup.
It was a team loss for Spain in a year that, at home, they thought they could get a World Cup gold medal. But in a one-and-done tournament you have to bring it every night.
Wednesday France brought it, and they move on.
Much to the delight of Team USA (even though they would never say that publicly).

Tags: Anthony Davis, Boris Diaw, Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Joakim Noah, Kenneth Faried, Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, Pau Gasol, Ricky Rubio, Rudy Gobert, San Antonio Spurs, Serge Ibaka, Tony Parker, Utah Jazz

Rihanna rocks gray wig as she transforms for Tush magazine

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British nurse who caught Ebola in Sierra Leone plans to return there

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Nigeria has no single current case of Ebola - Health Minister

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The OAU student has tested negative to Ebola...

9ice takes his political awareness campaign to Ogbomoso

Singer 9ice, who is from Ogbomoso, Oyo state, visited his constituency today September 10th for awareness campaign and to identify with the electorate. He addressed a large crowd that gathered at the Town hall in Oja Igbo, and promised that if elected to represent Ogbomoso Federal constituency 1, he will use this salary to do developmental projects in the constituency.

9ice declared his intentions to go into politics many weeks ago. He plans to contest for House of Reps in 2015. See more photos from his rally today after the cut...

Ebola: Wife of Late Port Harcourt doctor discharged

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