Terrorism: UN Security Council To Multinational Joint Task Force - Prevent Boko Haram From Regrouping

---Calls on International Mommunity to Provide Urgent Humanitarian Assistance for the People Affected by the Crisis

The UN Security Council has tasked the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to prevent the destructive Boko Haram insurgents, recently dislodged from its safe haven in Sambisa Forest, from regrouping.

The task force was set up by Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Niger and the Republic of Benin to tackle Boko Haram insurgents. The Security Council, in a Presidential Statement, reiterated that terrorism should be combated in all forms to prevent its spread.

“The Council urged the Multinational Joint Task Force participating countries to further enhance regional military cooperation and coordination. The Force should deny safe haven to Boko Haram, and facilitate the restoration of civilian security and the rule of law in areas liberated from the militant group.”

Why Yahya Jammeh agrees to go into exile after election defeat

"I have decided today in good conscience to relinquish the mantle of leadership of this great nation," Jammeh said on state television, wearing a white robe and looking tired.

Yahya Jammeh, who led his country for 22 years but refused to accept his election defeat to new President Adama Barrow last month, has agreed to step down and go into exile. He said his decision was taken in the national interest after prayer and said he was proud to have served the Gambian people, imploring them to work together as one nation.

It has not been specified where Mr Jammeh would go into exile.

The news came as regional armies, who entered Gambian territory late on Thursday, were poised to remove Mr Jammeh by force just hours after the army chief recognised Mr Barrow as commander-in-chief.

UN Expresses more concern by reports of Boko Haram links with ISIS, back Abuja RSS summit

The United Nation Security Council has expressed alarm at ties between the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram and Isis - while a security summit is taking place in Nigeria to discuss efforts to combat the extremists.

In a statement approved by all 15 council members it demanded Boko Haram “immediately and unequivocally cease all violence and all abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law."

The Council said they were alarmed at Boko Haram’s links with Isis. They also demanded the release of thousands of captives reportedly held by the group, including more than 200 schoolgirls abducted in Chibok, in Nigeria’s Borno State in 2014.

Maritime Security: PIRACY IN GULF OF GUINEA INCREASING AT ALARMING RATE -- US

*UN Security Council urges stronger regional approach on eradicating piracy

UNITED NATIONS -- The United States says piracy and armed robbery are increasing at an alarming rate in the Gulf of Guinea, pointing to two reports by industry experts of at least 32 attacks off the coast of Nigeria alone so far this year.

U.S. Ambassador Michele Sison singled out two pirate attacks off the Nigerian coast on April 11 that led to the apparent kidnapping of a total of eight crew members including the captain of one vessel, a Turkish cargo ship.

She told a U.N. Security Council meeting on Monday that "the economic consequences for the people of the region are devastating," pointing to a report by the London think-tank Chatham House saying as much as 400,000 barrels of crude oil are stolen every day in the Gulf of Guinea.

However, United Nations officials call for a comprehensive regional framework to eradicate piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea, with the Security Council stressing the importance of addressing underlying causes and strengthening justice systems and judicial cooperation in the region.

Israeli soldiers raid Gaza rocket launch site

International pressure mounts on both sides to halt attacks

Israeli naval commandos clashed with Hamas militants in a raid on the coast of the Gaza Strip on Sunday, in what appeared to be the first ground assault of a six-day Israeli offensive on the territory aimed at stopping Palestinian rocket fire.

With aerial support from fighter jets, the Israeli force attacked a site in northern Gaza used to launch long-range rockets, an Israeli military spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner, said. Militants opened fire, wounding four commandos, but the launch site was hit, he said.

Hamas said its fighters had fired at the Israeli force offshore, preventing them from landing.

Lerner said the forces had "completed their mission" and that the results of the raid "would be the first published ground activity" by naval troops in Gaza, in an offensive that Palestinian officials said has killed at least 160 Palestinians, many of them civilians.

No Israeli has been killed by Hamas rocket fire.

No Place to Hide: NSA spying on foreign embassies helped US 'develop' strategy

The National Security Agency in 2010 provided the US ambassador to the United Nations with background information on several governments and their embassies that were undecided on the question of Iranian sanctions.

In May 2010, as the UN Security Council was attempting to win support for sanctions against Iran over its nuclear-energy program, which some say is a front for a nuclear weapons program, several members were undecided as to how they would vote. At this point, the US ambassador to the world body, Susan Rice, asked the NSA for assistance in her efforts to “develop a strategy,” leaked NSA documents reveal.

The NSA swung into action, aiming their powerful surveillance apparatus at the personal communications of diplomats from four non-permanent Security Council members — Bosnia, Gabon, Nigeria and Uganda. This gave Rice an apparent upper-hand in the course of the negotiations.

Russia has called for an urgent session of the UN Security Council over the Ukraine's military operation in the eastern city of Slavyansk.

An emergency session of the United Nations Security Council has meet at Russia's request after pro-Moscow forces came under attack from Ukraine's security forces in the country's eastern town of Slovyansk.

Nigeria assumes rotational UN Security Council presidency for one Month

Nigeria on Tuesday in New York assumed the rotational presidency of the UN Security Council for April. Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Joy Ogwu, took over from Sylvie Lucas of Luxembourg, who held the presidency last month.

A statement e-mailed to the News Agency in Nigeria by the Nigeria Mission at the UN in New York, said that Nigeria would actively promote international peace and security during its presidency.

“With the support of all other members of the council, Nigeria will use its month-long presidency to actively promote the cause of international peace and security, in line with the principles of the UN Charter and the mandate of the council,” it said.

David Mark Takes Boko Haram Case To UN

Following the seemly endless attacks by the Islamist Boko Haram fighters, the Nigeria President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has asked the United Nations (UN) to intervene and indeed rescue Nigeria from the clutches of Boko Haram insurgency that is gradually bringing the nation to its kneels.

Mark, who admitted before the visiting deputy secretary-general of Unite Nations , Mr Jan Eliasson, that the adverse security challenges facing Nigeria demands support and assistance from the United Nations.

Crimea Invation: Putin, China's Xi discuss Ukraine in phone call; Kerry promises US support for Kiev government

[Reuters] Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the situation in

Ukraine by telephone, and their positions on the issue are "close", the Kremlin said.

It said the presidents of the veto-wielding UN Security Council nation expressed hope that "the steps taken by the Russian leadership will allow for the reduction of ... tension and provide for the security of Russian-speaking citizens living in Crimea and the eastern regions of Ukraine." 

US Secretary of state John Kerry has promises US support for Kiev government.

US Secretary of State John Kerry lays roses atop the Shrine of the Fallen in Kiev. Over the course of the Ukraine protests, almost 100 protesters were killed [Reuters]