Using A Foot-stool To Adopt A Healthier Defecation Position

The typical defecation position traditional to Western culture could be causing a range of colorectal problems alongside a variety of other disorders associated with the digestive system. Millions of people are afflicted by abdominal complaints and the cause could be the manner in which they sit during bowl movements.

The seated position itself, common throughout western history from at least the time of the Ancient Romans and learned during childhood toilet training, may not be the underlying cause of digestive problems with the angle at which people sit when evacuating their bowels being the true cause of colorectal problems.

90-degrees angle associated with sitting on toilets.

It is common practice in the West to sit on a toilet in a similar fashion to how one sits on a chair, with back straightened and feet on the floor, and it may be this typical defecation posture that is causing such widespread digestive problems amongst the populace. The 90-degrees defecation posture, formed by the bending of the hips and knees at right-angles when sat upright on a pedestal toilet, can cause narrowing of the point at which the anus and rectum are joined which may complicate the passing of stools. The strain placed on the colon by defecating at a narrow anorectal angle can cause both long-term and short-term bowel problems.

Health problems associated with 90-degrees defecation posture.

Narrow anorectal angle caused by sitting in a 90-degrees defecation posture necessitates considerable straining to empty the bowel, around three times more straining than the squatting position common outside of the West.

Excessive straining during a bowel movement can cause a rectal prolapse in some circumstances as well as life-threatening conditions such as cerebral haemorrhage and myocardial infarction. Other ailments caused or exacerbated by straining the bowel during defecation include constipation, diverticulitis, hemorrhoids and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. There are possible links between excessive straining during bowel movements and colon cancer.

Benefits of the 35-degrees defecation posture.

The squatting defecation posture, usually occurring at a 35-degree angle, that is the cultural norm in many non-Western societies is considered my most health professionals to be a healthier more natural than emptying the bowels in the sitting position.

Advantages of squatting at 35-degrees during defecation stem from decreased strain on the puborectalis muscle and increased anorectal angle allowing stool to pass without obstruction. Less straining results in fewer health issues although it seems unlikely that there will be a shift in the West away from sitting toilets and towards squatting toilets in the not-too-distant future.

Achieving the 35-degrees defecation posture while sitting.

Although the typical sitting toilet is not designed for squatting, being too high and lacking a place to put the feet, with a little innovation it is possible to achieve a squatting position while sitting on a toilet. Leaning forward with the feet on the floor does not have the desired effect but raising the feet until the knees reach around chest-height while leaning slightly forward can get the desired result. This position is best attained with a foot-stool high enough to raise the knees to the desired location thus facilitating the 35-degree angle. While there are commercial models on the market do-it-yourself versions, such as wooden boxes, can suffice.

Spreading the word.

Using a foot-stool while sitting on the toilet may allow Westerners to practice healthier defecation habits while keeping the toilets to which they are accustomed.

The widespread adoption of the 35-degree squatting position while perched on a pedestal toilet may result in fewer colorectal problems alongside a reduction of other conditions related to digestive ill-health, improving public health while allowing the process of reading on the toilet to continue. One way to educate the populace of the benefits of this defecation posture, other than top-down public information campaigns, is for individuals to spread the word to others.


source

‘Super condom’ that could fight HIV and increase sexual pleasure ‘on sale next year’

The contraceptive has been developed by a team from the Texas A&M Health Science Center in a bid to combat the spread of the virus that causes AIDS, which still kills more than one million people per year

The condom is made from a material called hydrogel and contains plant-based antioxidants (quercetin) capable of combating HIV

A ‘super condom’ that has anti-HIV properties and can increase sexual pleasure will soon be on sale to the public, according to scientists.
The new contraceptive contains an embedded antioxidant which could fight HIV and unlike most condoms, which are made from latex, it consists of a strong, elastic polymer called hydrogel, which is made primarily of water and is already used in other medical products, including contact lenses.
Designed by a team from Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy at the Texas A&M Health Science Center, it could go on sale as early as 2016.


The condom's plant-based antioxidant has been shown to have anti-HIV properties, which would be vital if the condom were to break, acting as a barrier to the virus.
Head researcher on the project Mahua Choudhury has previously said: “We are not only making a novel material for condoms to prevent the HIV infection, but we are also aiming to eradicate this infection if possible.”
And Dr Choudhury also told the BBC : “People say they don’t want to use condoms because it doesn’t have the same sexual pleasure.

“The antioxidant (in the condom) will enhance neurotransmitters which will work with nerve endings, giving greater sexual pleasure.
“If the HIV virus gets into the product, the condom will block it, prevent it replicating, and prevent entry (from the body).”

The condom is expected to go on sale next year at around $1 each.
Dr Choudhury said several companies are interested in working on the product.
According to the team’s research, in 2014 there were about 36.9million people living with HIV and about two million were infected with AIDS.

The virus is commonly spread through sexual activity, and although antiretroviral therapy has turned the once fatal condition into a chronic one, 1.2million people died as a result of AIDS-related diseases last year.

 

Nigerian Students Protest against ban of ATM cards Abroad

This is the first of the protest that will soon follow if the Nigerian government does not look for an alternative to the restriction placed on the Naira ATM abroad.....Some Nigerian students studying abroad staged a peaceful protest in front of the Nigerian embassy yesterday over the Central Bank of Nigeria’s ban on the use of Debit and credit cards outside Nigeria. CBN plans to stop the use of Nigerian debit and credit cards as from January 1st 2016. the protest took place in Istanbul, Turkey.

5 reasons why it’s a bad idea to ban use of ATM cards abroad – Ben Murray-Bruce

Senator Ben Murray-Bruce says the proposed ban on the use of Nigerian ATM cards abroad, will adversely affect average Nigerians, who have come to depend on it for various modes of foreign transactions.

Murray-Bruce, advised the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Government that ‘politically exposed people’ like himself should be stopped from using ATMs abroad, not regular folks who need it to get bye.

The Senator representing Bayelsa East constituency said Nigerian students schooling abroad, bloggers and owners of small scale businesses will be negatively impacted by the ban, if it becomes a reality.

OakTv

NIGERIAN Banks stop use of ATM cards abroad

Deposit Money Banks have commenced a process to stop all customers from using their payment cards, popularly known as Automated Teller Machine cards, for dollar-denominated transactions when they travel abroad with effect from January 1, 2016.

SUNDAY PUNCH’s investigation also revealed the banks would not allow their customers to use naira-denominated ATM cards locally for transactions denominated in forex.

This means bank customers will not be able to use their cards to buy products from foreign e-commerce sites like e-bay and amazon.com in which payments are made in forex.

The development follows the lingering scarcity of foreign exchange, especially the dollar, to settle obligations arising from customers’ use of the ATM cards for forex-denominated transactions.

Already, Standard Chartered Bank has notified its customers that from January 1, 2016, they will not be able to use their naira-denominated ATM cards for transactions that are denominated in foreign currencies, either locally or when they travel abroad.

In a notice to its customers, Standard Chartered said, “This is to notify you that from January 1, 2016, your naira card will no longer be enabled for international use. This is as a result of the limited foreign exchange supply in the financial market.”

Asked how long the suspension of cards from international transactions would be, the spokesperson for Standard Chartered Nigeria, Mrs. Dayo Adurogbo, said, “We cannot give a definite date. It depends on how soon it is available. We will do everything to meet our customers’ demand once it is available.”

Further findings showed that a number of other banks had stopped customers from using their ATM cards abroad but had yet to officially communicate this to them.

Some customers told our correspondent that when they notified their banks of plans to travel and the need to enable their cards work overseas, they were simply informed that the cards could not be enabled for now due to issues relating to forex scarcity.

SUNDAY PUNCH findings showed others banks might issue notices similar to that of Standard Chartered Bank before the end of the year.

“We had some discussions recently and some top bank officials said they would stop customers from using their naira-denominated cards for international transactions due to the serious challenges in getting forex to settle their international partners,” a top bank official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said on Friday.

The current situation means customers travelling abroad for Christmas and New Year may face severe payment challenges, a situation that may mar their shopping plans.

The fall in prices of crude oil, the main earner of foreign exchange for Nigeria, has made the nation’s forex income to reduce drastically, creating dollar scarcity crisis for the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The CBN has been rationing dollar to banks, importers and other forex users as the nation’s foreign exchange reserves continue to deplete, hitting $29.4bn on December 7, 2015.

The PUNCH had exclusively reported on Thursday that banks had cut the amount that their customers could spend using their debit and credit cards abroad by between 70 and 90 per cent. This took effect during the first week of December for the majority of the banks.

Specifically, banks cut customers’ card spending in foreign currencies from the annual $50,000 allowed by the CBN to between $5,000 and $15,000.

According to findings by our correspondent, Ecobank Nigeria Plc has reduced its limit from $50,000 to $5,000, with a maximum of $500 monthly and $100 daily expenditure.

Skye Bank Plc, in a notice to its customers via email, also slashed its international card spending limit from $50,000 to $12,000 annually, a maximum of $1,000 monthly and $100 daily.

Wema Bank Plc also slashed spending on its payment cards from $50,000 to $10,000 annually, $1,000 monthly and $100 daily.

Although other banks have yet to confirm their new international card spending limits, findings by our correspondent revealed that the new limits for most of them ranged from $5,000 to $15,000 annually, and $500 to $1,000 monthly.

soure punch

NANS TR-Zone FIRST ANNUAL CONVENTION_ COMRADE SALIM HAMZA EMERGES AS THE NEW PRESIDENT

NANS TR-ZONE RE-ELECTS A NEW ADMINISTRATION FOR 2015/2016 ACADEMIC SESSION.

On the 12 of December, NANS-TR Zone convention was held in a orange hall of Near East University. The convention was graced with Nigerian Students from all tertiary Institutions on the Island and  their Associations representatives. The purpose of the gathering was to elect a new administration that will carry on with the good work, initiated by the incumbent administration.
The current NANS TR-Zone  officials took charged of all the whole election procedure, enjoining an democratic and transparent voting process. It  lasted between 12:00 pm-15:00 pm.

After modifying the sitting position of 40 delegates representing Nigerians from Each tertiary institution, the Senate president presides over  the initiation of all the tasks detrimental to the commencement of the election. The electoral proceeding was a an open ballot comprising 2 groupings for each position, as stipulated in the NANS TR-Zone Constitution. According to the constitutional proceedings only the 40 delegates of representing Nigerians from all the tertiary institutions of the island. While this is the case, the congress, only played an observatory role as witnesses of the whole process.

It is crucial to highlight the democratic credibility of the election process. The electoral board including five members,The Convention chairman, Comrade Esen, the convention clerk, Comrade Yakubu Sabo Abdullahi, and three more members of the convention chairing committee, chaired the election procedure in descending order. This implies that the nominations by each delegate of 40 selected their preferred nominees for each position.In instances where 2 nominees are nominated, a simple majority count is declared the winner.

The election proceeding was thorough, credible and compatible with the constitutional provisions of NANS TR-Zone Constitution. At the end of the election, the incumbent senate President and ex-President of EMU Nigeria Students Society; Comrade Salim Hamza Ringim emerged the new President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Turkish Zone.

The following are the newly elected Members of the NANS TR Zone
 President- Comrade Salim Hamza Ringim
Vice President national- Comrade Joshua
Vice president external affairs- Comrade Justin
Vice president special  duties- Comrade Ifeoma
Assistant Secretary General- Comrade Emeka
Financial Secretary- Comrade Evidence
Director of Travels ans Exchange- Comrade  Darlinton
Sport Director- Comrade Gidion
Ex-officio I- Kingsley
Ex-officio II- Ezzinie
  and some of the positions which were meant to be appointment are:
The Secretary General- Comrade Zackaria Madaki
Treasurer
Socials- Comrade Micheal
Education-Comrade Taiwo
Women Affairs- Comrade Vivian

SENATE MEMBERS

Senate President-Comrade Bolaji (NEU)
Deputy Senate President-Comrade Madaka faruk (EMU)
and then the Clerk which is also an appointment and all Presidents of different societies of the 5 universities on the island are also part of the senate

The convention was peacefully concluded with a closing remark and votes of appreciation to the audience, sacrificing their time and energy to accept the patriotic call on a rainy day.We hope that the new administration would move beyond the achievements of the recent administration.

this is the final communique of the convention  

                                            The Chairman of the Convention and his c'tee

                                           cross section of the Outgoing NANS Excos and Delegates

                                         After the swearing in of the convention chairman by the ex senate president

                                           delegates, and convention c'tee

“Romantic” - Korede Bello Ft. Tiwa Savage (Official Video ...

Check out brand new video from Mr Lover Man Korede Bello featuring the diva Tiwa Savage, download and enjoy

YouTube Rewind unveils 2015's most-watched online videos..

YouTube Rewind is a series of videos produced, created, and uploaded by the YouTube's official channel account on the website. The videos are an overview and recap of the year's most popular YouTube videos. Each year, the amount of YouTube celebrities featured in the video, as well as the presentation of the series have increased.

From a blockbuster Star Wars trailer to the latest dance craze sweeping North America, from belly-busting late-night skits to attention-grabbing scientific explanations, Canadians stayed glued to YouTube videos once again in 2015. 

The video-sharing site unveiled on Wednesday morning YouTube Rewind 2015, its annual tally of the online video content that captivated Canadians in the past year.

This is the 2015 YouTube REWID 

The list shows that when it comes to online videos, entertainment rules but a bit of education — wrapped in a cheeky and fun package — can captivate as well.

SOURCE

My husband"s nipples taste like Onion___New Bride

Hauwa Muhammad AKA The Original Igbo Girl, and also the first female vlogger from the northern part of Nigeria spoke about a vital theme on how guys and ladies should be taking good care of their body to avoid body pong, on her recent vlog she talked about of an issue of a newly married bride that taste her husband’s nipples and felt the taste of onion which is as a result of the permutation of the sweat gland hormone and a bacteria in humans body, which the amount of the whiff changes exponentially, depending on the body, but at last Hauwa stated some control measures to tackle the problem, according to her, using nipples cover and a drug which is called Crusader will decipher the problem, as she said these solutions were given by a dermatologist.

Watch the video HERE and subscribe to her channel to get more of her interesting vlogs.

''I KNOW FASHION MORE THAN MOST NIGERIAN FASHION STYLISTS' - SKALES

One of the Nigerian finest musician Skales, in his interview with GoldmyneTV said that he has a unique fashion and style  which he stated that ''One thing for sure is that, i know fashion more than a lot of stylist in this country (Nigeria), because all my videos are style of myself, honestly and i shop for myself,''

here is what SKALES said:

Eight new inscriptions in Cypriot UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage

Thursday, 03 December, 2015

Eight new inscriptions have been included in the Cypriot UNESCO national list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity, the Cyprus National UNESCO Committee and the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture has announced.

The new inscriptions include laces called `pipilla` and `pittotes`, the art of basket weaving, the art of dry stone, the Limassol Carnaval, the `Kataklysmos Fair` (Flood Fair), the Arkatena (a type of circular crunchy bread) and the `kapouthiotiko psathi` (a type of matting).

It is noted that the UNESCO national list of intangible cultural heritage for Cyprus includes already the “lefkaritiko” (lace embroidery of the village of Lefkara), the `tsiattista`, a folklore poetic duelling, composed in the Greek Cypriot dialect and Mediterranean diet.

Meanwhile, it was announced today a new round of submission of applications to enrich the UNESCO national list of intangible cultural heritage for 2016 (deadline the 1st of March 2016).

source:famagusta gazette

Ethiopia opens Sub-Saharan Africa’s first modern light-rail system

By Arthur Chatora on September 22, 2015 — The 32-kilometre line is expected to carry 15,000 people per hour in one direction, at a top speed of 70km/hr

The Light Rail System opened on Sunday Photo: ethiopiavid

Sub-Saharan Africa’s first modern light-rail system which opened in Ethiopian on Sunday, has been greeted with great happiness by Addis Ababa’s commuters and admiration from  fellow Africans. Numerous congratulatory messages on the successful completion and launch of the project were shared on social media.

The  $475-million, Chinese-built and funded Light Rail project has been welcomed a step in the right direction, a development which could transform and spur the country forward.

The 32-kilometre line is expected to carry 15,000 people per hour in one direction at a top speed of 70km/hr and it will undoubtedly ease commuting woes in Addis Ababa.

The transport fare is pegged at “6 Ethiopian birr ($0.29), and the line will cost about 1.5 billion birr a year to run”, Bloomberg reported.

Transport Minister Workneh Gebeyu said, “The government is subsidizing this transportation system, this is not for commercial purpose, it’s for the public”.

Source: Bloomberg

Morocco launches solar thermal plant set to be world’s largest

By Arthur Chatora on December 1, 2015 — Next month Morocco opens one of the world’s largest solar thermal plants. About $9bn has been invested in the three phased Noor complex. On completion, the project will be the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant

Morocco launches mega solar thermal plant set to be world’s largest Photo: solartribune

Morocco will next month open one of the world’s largest solar thermal plants at Ouarzazate, which upon completion will be the world’s largest, supplying power to one million people, The Guardian reports.

The mega plant, situated outside the city of Ourrzazate, is the same size as the country’s capital Rabat and it will generate 580 megawatts of electricity. The project is part of the country’s plan to be a leading renewable energy exporter in the world.

Morocco’s environment minister Hakima el Haite told the BBC, “We are convinced that climate change is an opportunity for our country”.

The solar plant will be able to generate power even during the night using giant movable mirrors, which harness sunlight to melt salt. According to reports, Phase One or Noor one “can store heat energy for three hours, allowing the plant to power homes into the night”.

World’s Largest Solar Power Plant in Ouarzazate, Morocco Photo: Digital Trends

“Noor 2 and 3 plants, due to open in 2017 will store energy for up to eight hours – opening the prospect of 24/7 solar energy in the Sahara, and the surrounding region,” The Guardian reports.

According to the World Bank, “The African continent is well endowed with energy resources but most remain untapped”. With abundant desert sunshine, Morocco is well positioned to become a solar super producer.

The country has been heavily dependent on fossil fuels but with about $9bn having been invested in the Noor complex, Morocco is set to become one of the world largest solar energy producer. With these investments, reports suggest that, “solar energy will make up a third of Morocco’s renewable energy supply by 2020, with wind and hydro taking the same share each”.

Source: The Guardian

8 Amazing Things Will LIKELY Happen When You Surround Yourself With Positivity

1. Your Attitude Will Change

I love spending time with my positive friends! I get energized and excited. My attitude becomes one of confidence and peace. You will enjoy the same results. Time with negative people will affect your attitude negatively, but time with positive people will allow you to move through circumstances with a smile on your face.

2. You Will Accomplish More

I mentor a group of runners. I do my best to exude positivity whenever we are together. Do you know that those wonderful people will run longer and faster because they are being encouraged? They accomplish more than they thought possible because they are taught to believe they can. So will you! Having people who tell you that you can do more will make it so you actually will do more!

3. You Will Make More Friends

Think about your current group of friends. Out of all of them, which one has the most friends in their life? I’ll bet you’ll discover that your positive friends have way more friends than the negative people. Most of us love spending time with the person who is the life of the party…who is (not coincidentally) highly positive. Want more friends? Hang around positive people!

4. You Will Make More Money

Here is a practical effect of spending time with positive people. It’ll make you more money! As noted above, being with positive people makes you more positive. According to the Wall Street Journal positive people make more money than average, but they make a LOT more than negative people. The difference? 40% That’s right, happy, positive people make around 40% more than negative people. Be positive to make more money.

5. You Will Be Consistently Happier

I want to note here that happiness is truly an internal attitude. But that internal attitude is very manageable. Most of us go through life letting circumstances dictate our happiness. We live on autopilot, and our autopilot is usually negative. However, frequent exposure to positivity will move your default state toward the side of happiness. If you make a conscious change to keep positive people nearby as much as possible then you will be consistently happier.

6. You Will Become a Magnet for Success

You may have seen this before, but it’s so very true:

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” – Jim Rohn

When you spend time with positive people you become more positive. The result is people will want to spend more time with you. This becomes a snowball in your success. When people see how excited and enthusiastic you are about your business or work they will want to be a part of your vision. Your positivity will attract success like a magnet!

7. You Will Become More Generous

Examples from my positive friends inspire me to be more generous. So many of them have given to me that I want to give back. I love helping people with running, writing, speaking, improving their jobs, and becoming entrepreneurs. I love writing articles like this one. I write tens of thousands of words to help others because it’s just so much fun! When you are positive, helping people just becomes part of your nature. You will want to give and share, it won’t be an option, you’ll have a burning need to be generous.

8. You Will Live Longer

This is the big one. Your positive friends will rub off on you and help you live longer. According to Dr. David R. Hamilton, studies have shown that positive people live seven or more years longer than negative people! Positive people have fewer chronic health problems and are better at fighting off diseases. If you remember nothing else from this article remember this: positivity affects how long you live.
Don’t just dump all of your negative friends, family and co-workers. That may be neither practical nor kind. But do make a conscious effort to limit time with them while increasing time with people who have a positive outlook. How much you help others, your success and even the length of your life are at stake.


njspice

Near East University Hospital begins video capsule endoscopy and colonoscopy applications

Diagnosis of intestinal diseases through using a video capsul which will end the fears of patients in endoscopy and colonoscopy applications now began at the Hospital of Near East University which closesly follows the developments and advancements in medical sciences.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali İbrahim Shorbagi, specialist of gastroenterology, made a statement to Press and Public Relations Directorate of Near East University regarding the video capsule method, which is an alternative and advanced imaging and diagnosis application for diseases at the intestinal system. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali İbrahim Shorbagi stated that according to data published by the World Health Organization in February 2015, the intestinal type of cancers taking place amongst the top 5 cancer diseases, are from the cancer types which can be successfully treated when diagnosed early. However, due to the fear of endoscopy and colonoscopy in patients, the intestinal tumors in lower and upper gastrointestinal systems are diagnosed at late stages. The Video Capsule methods which has been put into use in recent years around the world is now providing a second but important alternative endoscopy and diagnostic methods for patients with fear of colonoscopy, and this method is expected to reduce the cancer risks significantly in colon cancer.

What is Video Capsule Method, how is it applied?

In the video capsule method, a pill size capsule with the recording device and a computer are used. Prior to the procedure, a fasting and liquid diet is applied to the patient for 12 hours, and following the diet, intestinal cleaning is carried out through the use of some drugs.

After the preparation process, a small-pill shaped camera with one wide angle lens for small bowel diagnostics, or with two wide angle lenses is swallowed with the help of a glass of water to start the imaging process throughout the digestive system. During this trip in the digestive system, the video capsule wirelessly transfers the images taken to a mobile phone size device which is attached to the waiist of the patient for 24 hours and at the end of the process, is excreted through the feces of the patient within 24 hours. While the standard capsules take two images per second, advanced capsules have access to 18 images per second, and the images received are magnified 8 times to monitor the 90% of the diseased tissue.

Who can the Video Capsule Method be applied to?

• To persons who need to undergo endoscopy and colonoscopy.
• To persons who cannot undergo anesthesia and suffer from health disorders that prevent them to undergo conventional endoscopy and colonoscopy methods.
• To persons who refuse to undergo conventional endoscopy and colonoscopy process.

source:neu site

Turkey's president warns Russia not to 'play with fire'

Erdogan condemns reports that Turkish businessmen were detained in Russia as animosity between Cold War rivals grows.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned Russia not to "play with fire" after reports emerged that Turkish businessmen had been detained in Russia.

Moscow said it would suspend visa-free travel with Turkey, and its tourism agency head announced on Friday it will ask more than 9,000 Russians currently in Turkey to return home by the end of December.

Relations between the former Cold War antagonists are at their lowest in recent memory after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet near the Syrian border on Tuesday. The pilot was machine-gunned dead by rebels on the ground in Syria as he parachuted down.

Russia has threatened economic retaliation - a response Erdogan has dismissed as emotional and indecorous.

"It is playing with fire to go as far as mistreating our citizens who have gone to Russia," Erdogan told supporters during a speech in Bayburt in northeast Turkey on Friday.

"We really attach a lot of importance to our relations with Russia ... We don't want these relations to suffer harm in any way."

Erdogan said he wants to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a climate summit in Paris that starts on Monday. Putin has so far refused to talk to Erdogan because Ankara has not yet apologised for the downing of the jet, a Putin aide said.

Erdogan has said Turkey deserves the apology because its airspace was violated.

The nearly five-year-old Syrian civil war has been complicated by Russian air strikes in defence of President Bashar al-Assad. Turkey and regional powers have accused Russia of targeting moderate armed groups fighting Assad.

The frayed relations could also impact two major planned projects - a TurkStream gas pipeline and the Akkuyu nuclear power plant - between the two countries.

Turkey and Russia have also sparred over the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant  (ISIL) group, with each side accusing the other of being soft on "terrorism".

Source: Al Jazeera And Reuters