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Showing posts from August, 2013

Israel deploys Iron Dome defence system----Netanyahu

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said Israel deployed its Iron Dome missile defence system to bolster its security as the West weighed military strikes on neighbouring Syria.But he echoed President Shimon Peres in insisting that Israel is not involved in Syria's civil war but will respond with all its might if attacked. "We have decided to deploy Iron Dome and other interceptors," Netanyahu said, in a statement released by his office, ahead of holding security talks at the defence ministry. "We are not involved in the war in Syria. But I repeat: if anyone tries to harm Israeli citizens, Tsahal (the Israeli army) will respond with force," Netanyahu said in other remarks broadcast by Israeli television. His comments come as Britain and the United States laid out their case for punitive strikes on Syria over an alleged chemical attack last week that rights groups say killed hundreds. Earlier Peres said Israel will hit back if its secur

The British government plans to justify military action against Syria with “humanitarian intervention” doctrine

The British government plans to justify the likely military strike on Syria by the “humanitarian intervention” doctrine, judging by the evaluation published by its legal consultants on Thursday, reports Itar-Tass. According to their conclusion, Syrian intervention may be legal without approval of the UN Security Council if it is carried out like a “humanitarian intervention”, aimed to protect the local population. The legal counsel’s opinion has been published ahead of House of Commons debate on the subject of the governmental resolution on Syria, scheduled for August 29. At the same time, the British Joint Intelligence Committee, coordinating the country’s intelligence and security agencies, has published their own point of view Thursday. According to it, it’s “highly likely” Syrian authorities are the ones responsible for using chemical weapons. This conclusion is based on data provided by the British intelligence, according to which the Syrian opposition simply co

Assad says to defend Syria against any foreign aggression

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Thursday his country would defend itself against any foreign aggression, stressing determination to "eliminate terrorism" in the war-weary country, reports Xinhua. According to state-run SANA news agency, Assad made the remarks during a meeting with pro-Syria Yemeni parties' leaders and lawmakers. The threats of military action on Syria would only make the country more adherent to its rooted bases and independent decision, Assad said. He also expressed determination to eliminate terrorism "that is supported by Israel and other Western countries to serve their interests in fragmenting the region and subduing its people." His remarks come as the United States and its allies have been mulling imminent military action against Syria, following baseless accusations by the rebels that the Damascus government was responsible for a nerve agent attack near the capital last week. Syria totally rubbished the claims a

Human parts dealer:Court adjourns driver's trial to Oct. 17

(Nigeria) An Ikorodu Magistrate Court in Lagos on Thursday adjourned till October 17, the case of a 27-year-old commercial driver charged with alleged possession of human parts. The accused, Kolawole Sikiru, who had been in custody since October 31, 2012, is facing a two- count charge of conspiracy and unlawful possession of a human skull, palm, and a heart. The prosecutor, Sgt. Iyabo Johnson, told the court that the accused and others still at large, committed the offences on October 6, 2012. Johnson said that the accused was caught in possession of the decomposing human parts at the Sagamu Road Cemetery at midnight, while armed with a shovel, knife and a torchlight. The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 409 and 236, of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. However, Sikiru, whose address is unknown, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The defence counsel, Mr A. Aromolaran, urged the court to strike out the case for lack of diligent pro

Taraba Acting Gov. Umar still in charge, says House of Assembly

(Nigeria) The Taraba State House of Assembly on Thursday reaffirmed Alhaji Garba Umar as the acting Governor of the state. The assembly also advised ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai to proceed for further treatment. In a statement signed by 16 out the 24 members of the House of Assembly, the legislators said the decision was taken in the interest of the state. ``The leadership of the assembly made several efforts to see the governor since his arrival, but till Wednesday they were not allowed access to him. ``The ailing governor spoke in a manner that brought more doubt to his letter purportedly transmitted to the speaker. ``In view of the above, we, the undersigned members of the state assembly unanimously resolved at our meeting that the Deputy Governor, upon whom power was earlier transmitted to by the state Assembly, still remain the acting Governor of Taraba. ``He will continue to act in that regards until such a time the governor is capable of adminis

Wife seeks divorce over alleged threat to life

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(Nigeria) A 44-year-old mother of three, Mrs Omolara Achoyamen, 44, on Thursday pleaded with an Igando Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve her 14-year-old marriage, alleging  threat to her life. Achoyamen, who is also a businesswoman, told the court that her husband, Solomon Achoyamen, was always waking up at 2:00 a.m. to break a coconut and make incantations, mentioning her name and wishing she should die. "At  2:00 a.m. my husband will break a coconut and will be shouting my name to the coconut that I should die. "Sometimes, he will bring out a cutlass threatening to kill me, claiming that I was responsible for his misfortune.  "Solomon always forced me into love making and after he is through with me , he will spit on me, telling me that he is only managing me, that I am not his wife," she said. The petitioner described her husband as an ingrate, saying that  she sponsored him through the university with the money she would have

Lagos govt secures FG's approval to repair faulty expansion joints on bridges

(Nigeria) The Federal Government has given the Lagos State Government approval to repair faulty expansion joints on all bridges in the state, an official said in Lagos on Thursday. Alhaji Kabir Abdullahi, the Director, Federal Highways, South-West Zone, told News Agency of Nigeria that the approval followed a formal request by the state government to repair the joints. ``The Lagos State Government wrote a letter dated Aug. 2 requesting for approval to repair the bridges at no cost to the Federal Government. ``The Federal Ministry of Works had earlier carried out an inspection of all the expansion joints and made a recommendation to the Federal Government before the action of the state government,’’ he said. Scores of motorists are usually caught in a bumper-to-bumper crawl on Berger Bridge on the outskirts of Lagos as a result of a faulty joint. Abdullahi noted that the initiative would complement the Federal Government’s effort in making the roads and the b

2 women charged with stabbing friend with broken bottle

(Nigeria) Two women -- Ebere Ojiakponna and Tessy Nbekwe -- were on Thursday charged before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly stabbing their friend with a broken bottle. Ojiakponna, 23, and Nbekwe, 23, whose addresses are unknown, are standing trial on a three-count charge of conspiracy, assault and unlawful harm. The prosecutor, Insp. Akeem Raji, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Auguest 27 at midnight at Obalende on Lagos Island. He said that a fight broke out between the accused and their friend, Amaka Onu, who was stabbed with a broken bottle on the ribs in the process. The offences, the prosecutor said, contravened Sections 170, 244 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. Section 244 provides three years imprisonment for offenders. The duo, however, entered a plea of not guilty. The Magistrate, Mrs A.M. Olumide-Fusika, granted them bail in the sum of N20, 000 each with a surety each in like sum.

NLC vows to mobilise members against removal of minimum wage from exclusive list

(Nigeria)The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has vowed to mobilise its members across the country against plan by the Senate to remove minimum wage from exclusive to concurrent list. Addressing newsmen shortly after NLC congress on Thursday in Abuja, the president, Abdulwaheed Omar, said labour would do all within its power to ensure that the proposal did not scale through. According to him, if the proposal scales through, it will plunge workers into untold hardship that will further affect the growth of the economy. ``The national executive council meeting in its meeting therefore resolved to mobilise its members across the country against the decision of the Senate,” he said. He said the NLC had drawn up a number of measures to persuade the Senate to desist from carrying out its proposal. Omar said that NLC had equally earmarked several activities that would be carried out after a  meeting of the National Executive Council of Trade Union Congress of Nigeri

Jonathan eligible to contest 2015 elections -- Prof. Nwabueze

(Nigeria) Legal icon and elder statesman, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, SAN, said on Thursday that President Goodluck is not statute barred from re-contesting in the 2015 presidential elections. Nwabueze stated the position when he led a group, The Patriots, to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to present a memorandum on transforming the nation to the President. The memorandum presented by the group was a call on the President to convene a national conference that would chart a new constitution for the nation. In an interview with State House correspondents after the presentation, Nwabueze said that the eligibility of President Jonathan to contest the 2015 polls was not in contest. ``Mr President is eligible, nobody is questioning his eligibility, the President is eligible and nothing makes him ineligible,’’ he said. Nwabueze, however, advised President Jonathan to concentrate on his transformation agenda programme and not to be distracted by the 2015 politics.  ``I

Mali coup leader removed as Head of Military Reform

Mali's interim government has removed Gen.l Amadou Sanogo, who led a coup last year, as head of a military committee tasked with reforming the country's armed forces, a government statement said. The removal gives a clean slate to President-elect Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, elected by a landslide in an Aug. 11 runoff. Sanogo had remained influential behind the scenes after the March 2012 coup which plunged Mali into crisis. Tuareg rebels and their al Qaeda-linked Islamist allies took advantage of the chaos following the coup to rout out Mali's army and seize the northern two-thirds of the landlocked nation. A massive French military intervention launched in January broke the rebels' grip over northern Mali. After agreeing to step aside, Sanogo, then still a captain, was appointed by Mali's interim President Dioncounda Traore to head a committee tasked with reforming the Malian Army. "Interim President Dioncounda Traore repealed the decr

Obama hails King but says 'dream' requires vigilance

President Barack Obama hailed Martin Luther King Jr Wednesday for saving America from oppression but said "constant vigilance" was needed to keep the civil rights icon's dream of equality alive.Fifty years after the "I have a dream speech," America's first black president stood poignantly on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, where King made an appearance in 1963 which changed history. "He offered a salvation path for oppressed and oppressors alike," Obama said, in a ringing address, which he admitted beforehand would not match King's oratory. "His words belong to the ages, possessing a power and prophecy unmatched in our time," Obama said. Obama also remembered the thousands of African Americans who joined King's March on Washington to demand their rights and to wake their country's "long slumbering conscience." The president, who has faced some criticism for not doing more to help the

Taliban kill 16, including US soldier, across Afghanistan

Taliban attacks across Afghanistan killed at least 16 people on Wednesday -- including an American soldier, four policemen and three civilians -- who died when insurgents tried to storm a joint NATO-Afghan military base.A suicide car bomb was detonated at the entrance of the base in the eastern province of Ghazni, one of the heartlands of the 12-year Islamist insurgency against NATO-led foreign troops and the Kabul government. Eight to ten gunmen then tried to enter the camp from two directions in a firefight that lasted about an hour, Ghazni deputy governor Mohammad Ali Ahmadi told AFP. He added that at least one attacker had been gunned down inside the base. A US defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed to AFP that an American soldier was killed in the attack, without giving further details. The Polish defence ministry said ten of its soldiers had been injured during the firefight and that all the attackers "had been eliminated".

Why Minister was sacked– Presidency

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(Nigeria) The Presidency on Wednesday explained that the Minister of Youth Development, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, was sacked ``because of the wrongful way he managed the National Youth Council of Nigeria’s NYCN,  election. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, made the explanation in a statement issued in Abuja. According to the statement, media speculations on the termination of the minister’s appointment were false. President Goodluck Jonathan relieved Abdulkadir of his appointment on August 26 through a statement from Office of Secretary to Government of the Federation. ``It was Abdulkadir’s regrettable deviation from the presidential commitment in the management of the NYCN elections that led to the decision to relieve him of his appointment as Minister of Youth Development ``President Jonathan was very displeased with the mishandling of the NYCN elections in Makurdi and Minna by the Ministry of Youth Develo

Suntai dissolves cabinet, appoints new SSG, Chief of Staff

(Nigeria) Governor. Danbaba Suntai of Taraba has dissolved the state executive council and appointed a new Secretary to the State Government, SSG, and a new Chief of Staff, Government House. Mr Silvanus Giwa, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity to the governor announced the dissolution and new appointments at a news conference on Wednesday in Jalingo. He named the outgoing Commissioner for Justice, Mr Timothy Kataps as the news SSG and Alhaji Aminu Jika as the new Chief of Staff, adding that the appointment were with immediate effect. Giwa, who said that he was speaking on the orders of Suntai, said all Commissioners and Special Advisers had been relived of their appointments. He passed the governor's message appreciation to the out-going Commissioners and Special Advisers for their services to the state, and wished them well in their future endeavours. It will be recalled that the State House of Assembly had on Tuesday, anno

APGA will win Anambra guber poll, says Rep

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(Nigeria) The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA,  says it has put necessary mechanism in place to enable it win the November16 Anambra State governorship election. Mr Victor Ogene, who represents Ogbaru Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, gave the assurance in an interview with  News Agency of Nigeria in Asaba, Delta State on Wednesday. Ogene said that the people of Anambra had resolved to vote APGA for continuity. He said Governor Peter Obi’s administration had softened the ground for the party to win the election. Ogene, who is the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, said the administration had provided basic infrastructure and human capital development in 177 communities in the state. ‘’ I tell people that Gov. Peter Obi is the greatest salesman of APGA because  he has been on the scene for over seven years and has impacted positively on Anambra State in different sectors . ‘’If you take infrastructur

Government will obey court decision on Health workers' demands--Nigeria Minister

(Nigeria) The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said  on Wednesday that the Federal Government would abide by the judgment of the National Industrial Court on health workers demands. Chukwu made the statement when he addressed newsmen in Abuja on the recently suspended health workers’ strike. He told newsmen that as a government that had respect for the rule of law, the Federal Government had no alternative than to implement the judgment of the court. Chukwu told newsmen that “while this implementation (of the court ruling) is going on, it does not stop government from pursuing any other issues in the court of law. ``But the important thing is that it gets the workers back to work and ensures that Nigerians and other residents within Nigeria and even visitors are availed of the services of health care professionals. ``The government has already indicated and has already filed an appeal but since there is no definite court order on stay of execution,

FHC extradites Nigeria's Babafemi to U.S. to answer terrorist charge

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(Nigeria) A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the extradition of a Nigerian, Lawal Babafemi, to the U.S. to answer terrorism charges. The Federal Government initiated the extradition proceedings against Babafemi, alleged to be member of the terrorist organisation, al-Qaeda. Justice Ahmed Mohammed, who gave ruling, ordered that the suspect should be handed over to the U.S. Government on or before the expiration of 15 days. ``All the document in relation to the suit in the local court plus the charges filed by the Federal Government and other material evidence against the suspect must be transferred along with him,’’ he said. Earlier, Mr Muslim Hassan, Counsel to the applicant, submitted that the attempt to extradite the 32-years-old Babafemi was for him answer terrorism charges in the U.S. ``The suspect also described as `Abdullah' and `Ayatollah Mustapher’, is being wanted for his alleged involvement in terrorism-related ac

22-year-old man arrested for attempting to rape 80-year-old blind woman

(Nigeria) Officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, have arrested 22-year-old Mohammed Inuwa of Herwagana quarters, Gombe for attempting to rape 80-year-old blind woman, Malama Hannutu Baba. The  Gombe State Commander of NSCDC, Mr Joel Khestossen, told  News Agency of Nigeria in Gombe on Tuesday that the suspect was arrested on August 23. Khestossen said the suspect was charged to Kasuwan Shanu Magistrates’ Court and later reminded in prison custody on the orders of the magistrate. According to him, the suspect gained entry into the blind woman’s house under the pretext of looking for one Kabiru Sani, a student of the Federal College of Education (Technical) Gombe. ``When he entered the house, there was nobody, as everybody had gone to the mosque except the blind woman. `When she heard his footsteps, she asked who the person was and the suspect did not talk but quietly went and grabbed the woman. ``He started struggling with her as he tried to forc

Police disburse N5.4m to injured, deceased officers' families

(Nigeria) The Police on Wednesday in Ibadan, Oyo State, said they disbursed more than N5.4 million to injured officers and family members of deceased ones. The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mohammed Indabawa, distributed cheques for the amount on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, IG, Mohammed Abubakar. Indabawa said the money was distributed under the Group Personal Accident Insurance Scheme initiated by the IG and assured the officers and men of their welfare. “This is to re-affirm that the welfare of officers, both living and dead, cannot be compromised. “The insurance scheme is an initiative of the IG and it takes care of welfare of officers who may be injured or killed in the course of carrying out their duties,” he said. One of the beneficiaries, Cpl. Yemi Babatunde of Ondo State Command, expressed appreciation of the scheme and thanked the IG. “I was involved in an accident in March 6, 2012 at Sijuwade Road, Akure, while carrying out

Ubah emerges LP flag-bearer for Anambra guber election

(Nigeria) An oil magnate, Mr Ifeanyi Ubah, on Wednesday in Awka State, emerged the Labour Party governorship candidate for the Nov.16 Anambra gubernatorial election. Ubah was declared winner by the National Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, after a voice vote and raising of hands from the 1,137 delegates who participated in the primaries. Nwanyanwu said that Ubah was the only aspirant who picked and returned his nomination form on schedule and was, therefore, a sole aspirant of the party for the governorship race. He said that Article 24 of the party’s constitution allowed the selection of a candidate by acclamation, show of hands or through a secret ballot. ``Where you have one aspirant after the close of nomination forms and return, the congress will vote yes or no, and the constitution allowed him to decide how a winner will emerge.’’ The chairman urged the party's members to go back home and work assiduously for the party and Ubah’

FG endorses Executive Bill on Cybercrime

(Nigeria) The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved the content of the Cybercrime Bill, 2013 and its transmission to the National Assembly for enactment into law. Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, disclosed this after the Council meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House. Maku said that the content of the Bill was presented to the Council by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke (SAN). He defined Cybercrimes as species of cross-border crimes perpetrated in time and space from any geographical sport in the world. ``The core objective of the Cybercrime Bill, 2013 is to provide an effective, unified and comprehensive legal, regulatory and institutional framework for the prohibition, prevention, detection, prosecution and punishment of cybercrimes in Nigeria. ``When passed into law, it would promote cyber security and ensure the protection of critical national information infra

Court orders PDP to recognise Uba as guber candidate in Anambra election

(Nigeria) A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State,  has ordered the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to accept Senator Andy Uba as the party’s governorship candidate for Anambra. The court, presided over by Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, gave the order in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, following originating summons, filed by the a factional Chairman of the PDP in Anambra, Mr Ejike Oguebego. The court ordered the PDP and INEC to accept the outcome of the primaries conducted by the Oguebego-led faction of the party. The primaries conducted by Oguebego-led faction of the party declared Sen. Andy Uba the party’s candidate for the Nov. 16 governorship election in Anambra. The court also restrained PDP and INEC from accepting the outcome of the primaries conducted by Ken Emeakayi’s faction of  the party. It said that the PDP and INEC should stop further action, pending the hearing of the

Indian, Pakistani armies exchange fire in Kashmir

The armies of Indian and Pakistan Sunday again targeted each other's positions on the line-of-control (LoC) in Kashmir, officials said, reports Xinhua. The ceasefire violation took place in Mendhar sector of frontier Poonch district, around 185 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. "Pakistani troops this morning again targeted our forward posts with heavy machine guns and mortar guns in Bhimber Gali of Poonch, " said Col. R K Palta, Indian army spokesman. "Our troops retaliated effectively to Pakistani firing and the exchange lasted until afternoon." According to Palta, no loss of life or damage was reported from the Indian side because of the firing. The exchange of fire Sunday entered into the 16th day with skirmishes between two armies going on at daily basis. LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts. Pakistan's official broadcaster Radio Pakistan s

U.S. spied on UN: German weekly

United States intelligence agency tapped the headquarter of the United Nations in New York, reported German weekly Der Spiegel on Sunday, citing secret documents, reports Xinhua. The magazine saidthat by analysing documents from former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden it found American National Security Agency penetrated the internal video conference system of the UN and cracked its encryption last summer. This led to "a dramatic improvement of data on video conferencing and the ability to decrypt that data" for NSA, according to the documents. Within three weeks, the number of decrypted communications had risen from 12 to 458. Der Spiegel also claimed that the U.S. intelligence agency spied on the European Union mission after it moved to its new embassy in New York last September. The new embassy's plans, as well as its IT infrastructure and server, were among Snowden's copies of the NSA documents. According to the documents analysed by the

Politicians differ on calls for legislature to be on part-time basis

(Nigeria) Some politicians on Sunday in Lagos expressed divergent views over the call for lawmakers in Nigeria to be part-time functionaries in order to reduce the cost of governance. It will be recalled that the former Minister of Education, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, had on August 19, suggested that legislators should serve on a part-time basis to reduce the cost of governance. She told to a gathering of civil society organisations in Abuja that the National Assembly had gulped over N1 trillion in about eight years to the detriment of the nation’s economic development. Mr Godfrey Lemchi, the Chairman, Lagos Chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said that the call for part time legislation was a welcome development. He argued that part time legislation would not impede check on the executive arm.  According to him, remuneration and allowances of legislators have eaten deep into the economy without commensurate contribution and productivity from many o

Oil theft: Navy transfers 1 Cameroonian, 11 Nigerian suspects to EFCC

(Nigeria) The  Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy on Sunday transferred 12 suspected oil thieves to Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State the News Agency of Nigeria reports. NAN gathered that the suspects were apprehended for their alleged involvement in the theft of 10,000 litres of locally refined diesel, off the waterway of the Egweama community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. They suspects comprised 11 Nigerians and one Cameroonian. The Cameroonian was identified by the Navy as the Captain of the seized vessel used by the suspects to convey the stolen product. The vessel, registered as MV Sea Giant, had ship log, the Nigeria Port Authority bunkering permit and Certificate of Registration with the Joint Military Task Force. Commodore Emmanuel Enemor, Operations Officer, Central Naval Command, presented the crew of the seized vessel to the representative of the EFCC,  Ogbu Michael. Enemor said

Edo Police Command vows to ensure release of abducted SAN, driver unhurt

(Nigeria) The Edo Police Command has vowed to ensure that the abducted Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Chief Mike Ozekhome, and his driver were released unhurt. The Edo Police Commissioner, Mr Folunso Adebanjo, who spoke with newsmen on Sunday in Benin, however, did not disclose the measures being taken to secure their release.  “This is a security matter. But we will ensure that they are freed unhurt”, he said. Ozekhome, a human rights activist, and his driver were abducted on Friday by suspected kidnappers in Ehor Local Government Area, along the Benin-Auchi Express way. Adebanjo had told newsmen that assistant superintendent of police, a police inspector and two other officers were killed in a gun duel with the attackers while the slain police officers were trying to rescue him

Nigeria kidnappers kill 4 police to snatch lawyer

(Nigeria)  Gunmen killed four policemen who attempted to prevent the abduction of a prominent lawyer on a road in southern Nigeria , police said Sunday.The Edo state police said in a statement that one of its units responded to an emergency call warning that armed men were active on a road near Benin City, east of Lagos, on Saturday. The gunmen opened fire as soon as they sighted the patrol, it said. "At the end of the gun duel, the hoodlums escaped with bullet wounds but not without their victim," the statement said. "Regrettably, the command lost four officers in the encounter." The police said the kidnap victim was Mike Ozekhome, a senior Lagos-based lawyer known for his staunch criticism of the corruption and bad governance that plagues the west African nation. His colleague lawyer Festus Keyamo expressed shock at the incident, describing it as "one kidnap too many (that) further draws local and international attention to the poor state of

Syria allows UN chemical investigation team to enter Damascus countryside

Syria's Foreign Ministry said Sunday it had reached an agreement with the United Nations, allowing the UN chemical investigation team to enter the eastern al-Ghouta countryside of the capital Damascus to probe the alleged use of chemical weapons there, reports Xinhua. The move came a day after the arrival of the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Angela Kane, who flew in to press for expanding the mission of the UN chemical weapon investigation team. UN chief Ban Ki-moon has called on the Syrian government to allow the UN inspectors, who are already in Syria, to have access to the eastern al-Ghouta countryside, where the rebels accused the government of releasing sarin gas recently. Damascus, for its part, denied any involvement and turned the table against the opposition, saying the incident only plays in the hand of the rebels to draw in their long-dreamed foreign intervention in Syria. The UN inspection team is in Syria to investigate previous clai

12 Yemeni air force cadets die in bombing attack by al-Qaida

Al-Qaida affiliates launched a bombing attack on a bus near the air force base in Yemen's capital Sanaa on Sunday, killing at least 12 air force cadets aboard, officials and witnesses said, reports Xinhua. "A bus carrying at least 24 air force cadets was blown up on a main road while heading toward the air force base in Sanaa, killing at least 12 cadets," an air force official told Xinhua, saying al-Qaida carried out the attack. "Initial investigations showed that an intensified explosive device was either planted inside the bus or thrown on the road in front of the bus while it was driving, which totally destroyed it, " the official said, on condition of anonymity. Security forces have cordoned off the bombing site and sent the wounded to a nearby military hospital. The official said the wounded were in critical conditions and the death toll might be increased. Meanwhile, al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, AQAP, claimed responsibility in an e

Egypt court adjourns Mubarak trial to Sept. 14

An Egyptian court decided Sunday to adjourn the trial of ex-president Hosni Mubarak to September 14, on charges of inciting violence and murdering protesters, state-TV reported. Presided by judge Mahmoud Kamel, Cairo Criminal Court decided to adjourn the retrial of Mubarak, his two sons, Alaa and Gamal, former interior minister Habib Al Adli and six of his aides, for considering the huge amounts of documents over the case. The judge ordered to form a tripartite committee from police, armed forces and forensic investigators to review the concrete evidences of killing protesters. After settling his last case of corruption, Mubarak was ordered by deputy military ruler and Prime Minister Hazem Beblawi on Thursday to be placed under house arrest due to the one-month state of emergency imposed since August 14. Mubarak chose to be placed in the Maadi Military Hospital, and his house arrest will be lifted after the state of emergency ends.

Flood in China’s northeast most powerful in past 100 years

The flood in the northwest of China has become the most powerful one in the past 100 years, Xinhua News Agency reported. Since the beginning of August the water level has increased permanently. On Saturday, August 24, the water level in the Amur River rose up to 50.62 centimetres, the news agency said. Over 5.44 million people have been hit by the flood. The local authorities were forced to evacuate 2.33 million residents. They have been accommodated in temporary centres, gym halls and other public facilities where the government carried folding beds, clothes and foodstuffs. Over 8,500 buildings have been struck by the disaster. Over 1.75 million hectares have been damaged. Economic damage is estimated at the amount of 2.46 billion U.S. dollars. It will take from 10 to 15 days to make the water to run off, rescuers say.

20 private hospitals closed in Niger over illegal operations

(Nigeria) The Niger Ministry of Health has ordered the closure of 20 private hospitals in the state for operating illegally and without following proper medical procedures. Dr Usman Baba-Agaie, Director, Private Hospitals and Laboratories, stated this on Sunday in Minna in an interactive session with journalists. He stated that the action was because the hospitals operated beyond their mandate as contained in their operating licenses. He said that the hospitals were found to have contravened the guidelines set for their operations, adding that some of them conducted illegal abortions on pregnant women even when they did not have the equipment necessary for such operations. Baba-Agaje said some of the hospitals illegally transfused blood on patients without proper equipment or trained personnel to conduct simple blood tests or screening before transfusion. He said that some of the hospitals were discovered to have carried out illegal surgical operations outside the

Lawyers condemn abduction of Ozekhome

(Nigeria) Some prominent lawyers in Lagos on Sunday condemned the abduction of a human rights lawyer, Mr Mike Ozekhome, SAN, describing the spate of kidnappings across the country as worrisome. The lawyers, who spoke to News Agency of Nigeria, expressed grave concern about security situation in the country and urged security agencies to intensify their efforts toward apprehending the kidnappers. Ozekhome was reportedly abducted on Aug. 23 at Ehor near Benin City in Edo by some unknown persons. Mr Onyekachi Ubani, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Ikeja Branch, said the spate of kidnappings in Nigeria was worrisome. ``It is very appalling; both low and high profile individuals are being kidnapped across the country. It shows that there is a problem,'' he told NAN. Also speaking, a human rights activist, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, said Ozekhome's abduction was a reflection of the security situation in the country. Mumuni, who is the Executive Director, So

Tyson says on the verge of dying from drugs, alcohol

Former Heavyweight Boxing champion Mike Tyson has claimed he is on the verge of dying from ongoing drug and alcohol problems. ``I wanna live my sober life. I don't wanna die. I’m on the verge of dying, because I'm a vicious alcoholic,’’ Tyson said on ESPN's on Friday Night Fights. Tyson, now a promoter, told a news conference, ``I'm a bad guy sometimes. I did a lot of bad things, and I want to be forgiven. ``So in order for me to be forgiven, I hope they can forgive me. I wanna change my life, I wanna live a different life now,’’ the former champion said. Tyson admitted to being a continual substance abuser but was hopeful he was finally becoming clean. ``I haven’t drank or taken drugs in six days and for me that’s a miracle," he said. ``I've been lying to everybody else that I think I was sober, but I'm not. This is my sixth day. I'm never gonna use again,’’ he said. 

Gov. Suntai arrives Nigeria after 10 months of medical treatment abroad

(Nigeria) Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba on Sunday arrived in Abuja after 10 months of medical treatment abroad after being involved in a plane crash on October 25, 2012. Suntai arrived at the old wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, aided to alight from the aircraft at 1.10 p.m. and immediately proceeded to Jalingo. It will be recalled that Suntai, alongside some of his aides, was involved in a plane crash he piloted in Yola. Suntai did not talk to newsmen but one of his associates, John Dara, said that the governor was mentally alert as against speculations that he had lost his memory. ``We were excited to see him and it is understandable that after the long trip, he was weak and tired. ``But, we were thrilled by the fact that he recognised everyone by name which shows that he is mentally alert and lucid,’’ Dara said. He noted that the governor's mental alertness indicated that he was capable of taking over the affairs of the st

29 killed in Bolivia prison riot

No fewer than  29 people were killed and some 50 others injured in a violent prison riot in the eastern Bolivian city of Santa Cruz early Friday, officials said. One of the dead was a child living with incarcerated parents. The melee began about 5 a.m. local time (0900 GMT), when the sound of gunfire was heard, and a huge fire fueled by exploded propane gas tanks injured severely inmates. Clashes broke out between rival cell blocks for control of part of the overcrowded Palmasola prison, local media said. The injured were taken to local hospitals, with many of them in serious condition, according to Bolivian daily La Razon quoting Santa Cruz Ombudsman Celso Parada. The situation has been put under control, and bodies were taken for autopsies and identification, said police commander Jorge Aracena. Police had earlier put the death toll at 15. The Public Prosecutor's Office has begun an investigation into the riot. Children who have their parents incarcerated a

Trial of Egypt's Muslim brotherhood's top leaders starts Sunday

The trial of the top leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, from which ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi hails, will start Sunday, with charges against them including inciting violence and killing protesters, local media reported Saturday. The prosecutor's office announced that the Muslim Brotherhood's General Guide Mohamed Badie, who was arrested Tuesday, would appear at criminal court on Sunday, reports Xinhua. "Badie, along with his two deputies, Khairat al-Shater and Mohamed Saad al-Katatni, will appear at court tomorrow (Sunday), they face criminal charges including inciting violence and killing anti-Morsi protesters outside the Muslim Brotherhood's Guidance Bureau," according to a prosecution statement. Badie's detention was renewed for another 15 days pending investigations over new charges of killing and torturing opponents of Morsi at two major squares where the Islamists had rallied. Since the military's dispersal of the t

Syrian soldiers suffer chemical suffocation in rebels-held area

Some Syrian soldiers on Saturday suffered suffocation after rebel militants released chemical substance around their hideouts near the capital Damascus, the state-TV reported. Earlier in the day, the soldiers were suffocated while entering the rebels-held suburb of Jobar, the state TV said, adding that some of them are in critical conditions. The report said that the army had besieged the area and started to push into the area, but the rebels surprised them by releasing chemical substances amid heavy clashes. The government and the opposition have repeatedly accused each other of using chemical gases during the country's 29-month-old crisis. The incident came a couple of days after the rebels accused the government troops of using sarin agent against the rebellious countryside of Eastern al-Ghouta near Damascus. But the government denied the accusation, saying the incident only plays in the hand of the rebels to draw in their long-dreamed foreign intervention

6,200 houses flooded, 22,000 people evacuated in Russian

More than 6,200 houses have been flooded and almost 22,500 people evacuated in the Russian Far East, the Emergencies Ministry said on Saturday, August 24, reports Itar-Tass. A total of 6,266 dwelling houses where 33,097 people live remain inundated in 123 populated localities of 25 municipalities in the Far Eastern Federal District - Amur Region, Jewish Autonomous Region and Khabarovsk Territory, the ministry said. It said that 191 sections of local roads and 69 bridges are under water. Rescuers have evacuated 22,477 people, including 7,022 children, and set up 121 temporary accommodation centres. The worst situation is in Khabarovsk Territory. “The rise of the water has slowed down. Work to build dams and other emergency and restorative work is underway,” the ministry said. The situation in the Amur Region is slowly improving. The authorities are paying compensation to those affected. However 70 settlements in 15 districts remain floo

Plane with 120 children aboard makes emergency landing in Grozny

A Yak-42 plane with 120 children aboard made an emergency landing at Grozny airport on Saturday, a Chechen Transport Ministry official told Itar-Tass. Nobody was hurt. The children were on the way to Turkey for holidaying. The plane flew out from Grozny for Antalya at 09:00 Moscow time. Some 40 minutes after the takeoff, the pilot reported to an air traffic controller that one of the engines malfunctioned. The decision was taken to return to the airport. The plane landed safely at 10:30 Moscow time. An investigation is underway to establish the cause of the engine malfunction.

Boko Haram kill 35 in attack in northeast Nigeria: military

(Nigeria) Islamist insurgents, know as Boko Haram, dressed as soldiers opened fire on worshippers leaving a mosque in Nigeria 's far northeast this week, killing at least 35 in the second such attack this month, officials said on Friday."Boko Haram people attacked the village on the ground that they have refused to cooperate with them, that they refused their message," defence spokesman Brigadier General Chris Olukolade told AFP of the incident in Dumba, referring to Islamist extremist group Boko Haram. "The report that was presented has it that 35 people were killed and 14 wounded." The attack occurred on Monday, but the information did not become public until Friday with phone lines cut in the region and the village located in a remote area. A separate military source speaking on condition of anonymity said Boko Haram gunmen dressed as soldiers entered the village early Monday and took up positions at a crossroads, where they fired upon worshipper

Anambra council poll: APGA primaries results not ready, says chairman

(Nigeria) Chief Mike Kwentoh, Chairman Anambra state,All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, said on Saturday in Akwa, Anambra State that the council primary elections results were still being collated. He told News Agency of Nigeria  that the result would be announced by the party as soon as it is ready. Kwentoh warned that anybody claiming victory from the exercise is on his own because the party has not released any results and urged the public to disregard any person who is claiming victory. The chairman urged members of the party to desist from acts capable of causing disaffection in the party. APGA council primaries held in Anambra on August 16 and August  17.

Andy Uba emerges winner of PDP factional primary election

(Nigeria)  Sen. Andy Uba on Saturday emerged the winner of one of the two factional primary elections  of People Democratic Party,  PDP, in Awka for the Anambra Governorship election. Uba won  with 645 votes, while Mr Emma Anosike came second with 110 votes. The other contestants for the primary election were Mr Patrick Ugboma, 88 votes, Mr Jerry Ugokwe,  86, , and Mr. Mike Okoye, 22. There were a total of 15 aspirants who contested the one hour primaries. Speaking after the exercise, Uba expressed satisfaction toward the peaceful conduct of the  primary election and commended the delegates for their peaceful conduct. Also, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in-charge of Zone 9, Mr Tambara Mohamed, told newsmen that the state was peaceful and the police provided adequate security for the primaries. Meanwhile, the John Emeakayi factional primaries scheduled to hold at Dr Alex Ekwueme Square was still in progress.

Gov. Suntai departs New York on charter flight to Jalingo - sources

(Nigeria) Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba will be departing New York to Jalingo on a chartered flight on Saturday,  News Agency of Nigeria  reports.  A source close to the family told NAN that they could not secure enough seats for those accompanying Suntai, hence the chartered flight. The source also said another reason was because all the commercial airlines operating direct flight from New York to Nigeria were fully booked. He, however, declined to name the flight, airport and time of departure as well as the time of arrival in Jalingo, but said the  the governor’s wife, Hauwa, had left for home to prepare ground for the arrival of her husband. The governor's wife had in a telephone interview on Auguest 20  said that her husband was expected to depart the Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Centre and Home, New York, on Auguest 25. Suntai had spent four months at the rehabilitation centre, following injuries he sustained in an aircraft crash on his wa

Teenager arrested sneaking into aircraft's wheels

(Nigeria) A teenager was on Saturday arrested by Arik Airline security personnel at Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, for allegedly sneaking into the airline’s main wheels. Mr Ola Adebanji, the airline’s spokesman, told newsmen in Lagos that on arrival of the aircraft at the domestic wing of MMA, the teenager jumped on the aircraft main wheel. He said that the boy had been handed over to the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, security. ``The pilot of Arik Air flight W3 544, departing Benin Airport to Lagos at 9 a.m. today reported to the control tower of the presence of a strange boy in the bush about 200m to 300m at the end of runway 23. ``The control tower told the captain that they were sending security men to the place to arrest the boy. ``As the captain was making his final turn, preparatory for take-off, a cabin crew called his attention to the information by some of the passengers that they saw a boy running towards the airplane. ``The first officer confi