News of the day at a glance: 19/10/2014 Afternoon Part. Catholic bishop reject Pope Francis' homosexual reforms. Explosion rocks Edo Government House. Nigeria's 2015 elections under threat as INEC Commissioners kick against Jega's new polling unit. Strategic miscalculation: US and Kurds fry ISIS terrorists in Kobane

• Explosion rocks Edo Government House
• Nigeria's 2015 elections under threat as INEC Commissioners kick against Jega's new polling unit
• Strategic miscalculation: US and Kurds fry ISIS terrorists in Kobane
• Catholic bishop reject Pope Francis' homosexual reforms

Explosion rocks Edo Government House

Governor Adams Oshiomole

A powerful explosion rock a part of the official residence of the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole late Saturday night. The explosion, suspected to have come from an improvised explosive device (IED) planted in the building detonated at about 10pm local time. The target was the office of the wife of a former Secretary to the State government, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. Eye-witnesses said a large section of the building was destroyed by the powerful explosion and the fire which ensued.No fatality has been reported, however, one of the security men guarding the premises reportedly escaped death by the whiskers. Ize-Iyamu, a former national officer of Governor Oshiomhole’s former party, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), had been in a cold war with the governor since he dumped the party for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

- Details on PointBlank News

Nigeria's 2015 elections under threat as INEC Commissioners kick against Jega's new polling unit

Prof Attahiru Jega: INEC Chairman

Indications emerged that a serious problem that threatens the 2015 proposed general election in Nigeria is brewing in the Nigeria's Independent Electoral Commission(INEC). The commission headed by Prof Attahiru Jega, recently proposed the creation of new states bulk of which are in the northern part of Nigeria, where Jega came from. The proposed new polling units have drawn harsh criticism from the southern part of Nigeria, which saw it as lopsided and a plot by Jega to rig the election in favour of the north. INEC Resident Commissioners have also joined the queue of Jega's critics over the new polling units. In a meeting held by the INEC, the commissioners voiced their opposition and resolve not to allow the creation of the new polling units. However, The Biafran gathered that Jega is pressing ahead with the proposal and willing to override the decision of the senate who are currently looking into the matter. According to Nigerian Tribune, one of the INEC Commissioners expressed his feelings that Jega is acting like a person on a mission. . .

Details on the Sunday Tribune

Strategic miscalculation: US and Kurds fry ISIS terrorists in Kobane

A US-led airstrike on a Syrian gas facility in Kobane killed at least eight people this afternoon. It had been held by militants from the Islamic State terror group, who expert Justin Bronk believes has made fatal errors in its attempt to capture the city (Daily Mail

ISIS fighters appear to have met their Waterloo in Kobane. United States airstrikes and Kurdish Pershmerga forces have taken the upper in the battle to capture the border town of Kobane, in what has been dubbed a strategic miscalculation by ISIS, by experts. U.S. military jets have bombed ISIS targets including oil facilities that is generating a lot funds for ISIS, helping Kurdish forces to regain
most parts of the town and massacring dozens of ISIS jihadists.

An expert told Daily Mail that Islamic State militants have made "fatal strategic mistakes in Kobane, allowing American and Arab warplanes to obliterate them from the air and Kurdish forces to suck them into unfamiliar 'meat grinder' street battles,"

-Details on Daily Mail

Catholic bishops at the two week synod held at the Vatican City

Catholic bishop reject Pope Francis' homosexual reforms

Catholic bishops today, after a two week synod voted against proposed reforms by the head of the church, which would have led to a softening stance of the church towards homosexuals and divorcees.  The Vatican assembly on the family ended on Saturday without consensus among the bishops in attendance on what to say about gays, and whether to give communion to divorced and remarried Catholics.

The Conservative and traditionalist  bishops gave Pope Francis a big blow as the final report of the synod watered down the initial warm and welcoming language about gays and divorced couples that appeared in a preliminary report released midway through the synod. The bishops  had kicked against the softening stance, raising alarm that the Roman Catholic Church was sending a mixed message on marriage and homosexuality.

-Details on New York Times