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(Nigeria) The Mid-West Bar Forum of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, on Tuesday, called on former President of the association, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, to stop crying louder than the bereaved, over his stance that it was the turn of the West to produce the next president of the association, noting that core West and Mid-West make up the West. Agbakoba had in a statement on Monday, said that it was the turn of the West, which translate to the core West, to produce the next president of the NBA to the exclusion of the Mid-West, as he called for the zoning adopted by the association to be respected. However, Mid-West Bar in a statement by its chairman, Chief Ferdinand Orbih, SAN, said “Our attention has been drawn to the letter purportedly written by Agbakoba.  We would not want to believe that the letter under reference was indeed written by Agbakoba.  Our disbelief stems from the fact that at a meeting held in March, 2012 to addressed the legitimate demands and aspiration of the Mid

(Nigeria) The Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, on Tuesday said lack of teachers had stalled the take-off of some Almajiri model schools in the state. The Executive Chairman of the board, Malam Abdulkarim Abdullahi, said this shortly after he visited some selected primary schools in Laminga, Nasarawa Local Government Area. He said that a committee had been constituted by the state government to make necessary arrangements for the take-off of the Tsangaya Model Day Primary School in Laminga. “GovernorTanko Al-Makura and the Federal Government are doing their best to improve on the standard of education in the state and the country at large through their good education policies. You saw how this Almajiri school was well equipped with facilities such as the computer and the science laboratories. "You also saw the sewing machines and other equipment provided to train the Almajiris in different skills so that they can contribute their quota to national dev

(Nigeria) The police on Tuesday arraigned a woman, Magdalene Ohenhen, 47, and her daughter, Grace, 23, in an Oredo Magistrate Court, Edo State for abducting a 19-year-old girl. They are charged on two counts of conspiracy to commit felony and unlawful abduction. The prosecutor, Mr Sylvester Omor told the court that the two accused conspired to commit the felony on March 22, at Noghahase Street, off First East Circular road, Benin. Omor said that on same date and time, the accused persons abducted Miss Precious Ogiefa from her house without the consent of her parents. According to the prosecutor, the accused capitalised on the girl's health challenges to abduct her contrary to the provisions of sections 516 and 361 of the Criminal Code. If convicted, they are liable to imprisonment for seven years. He said the victim's father, Mr Paul Ogiefa lodged a report with the police against the accused persons. After the charges were read to them, they pleaded not guilty.

(Nigeria) The Dangote Foundation was on Tuesday dragged before the National Industrial Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, over an alleged unlawful termination of the appointments of three of its staff. The three former employees, Danjuma Esuga, Aminat Bala and Bukola Afolabi, who instituted the case claimed through their counsel, Akin Akintoye, that Dangote Foundation wrongfully terminated their appointments on March 31, 2012. Akintoye said that his clients were not given any notice before their appointments were terminated by Dangote Foundation. He said that his clients were urging the court to order Dangote Foundation to pay all their outstanding salaries and allowances, and one million Naira to each of them for damages. Trial judge, Justice Edith Agbakoba adjourned the case to June 23 for adoption of written addresses

(Nigeria) Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has commiserated with the Vice President Namadi Sambo on the death of his younger brother, Captain Sabo Sambo in an auto accident. In a condolence letter to the Vice President, Oshiomhole said “I learnt with great shock the news of the death from a ghastly road accident in Abuja of Your Excellency’s younger brother, Captain Sabo Sambo on Sunday, April 27, 2014.  I offer the condolences of the good people and Government of Edo State as well as my personal commiseration over the sad loss. This trying period, no doubt, calls for a renewed faith in the Glory and Majesty of Almighty Allah, from whom we all come and to whom we will all return. “I appreciate the pain of the sudden departure of such a close and dear brother and confidante, particularly at a time when his care and support are direly needed by his immediate and extended family, his community and professional colleagues. “We, however, take consolation in the fact that Capt

(Nigeria) National President of the Civil Service Union, Mr Solomon Adelegan, has commended Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State for enhancing the welfare of workers in the state. This commendation was made by the National President of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical and Recreational Services Employees, AUPCTRE, Adelegan, when he led the National Executives of the Union on a courtesy visit to the governor, Tuesday. He said: “For the first time in the history of this country, a former president of the NLC is assuming executive position as Governor, not only that, we took statistics state by state and the highest position given to a unionist is maybe Special Adviser, but in Edo State, a former General-Secretary is made a commissioner. “Five, six years ago, we knew how Benin City used to be and how you have transformed it. We are glad with the way you have been handling workers’ welfare in Edo state, not only that, the Chairman of the NLC

( Nigeria ) The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, said it sanctioned 14 companies during the first quarter of the year in Edo State . Mr David West, Unit Head of the agency in the state, said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria in Benin on Tuesday. West said that most of the companies sanctioned included drug distribution outlet, pharmacy and patent medicine shops as well as food and cosmetic establishments. “On the drug outlet, most of the drug distributors attracted sanctions because they were distributing controlled drugs such as Tramadol and banned drugs like Opthalidon. “Food companies that were sanctioned were operating under poor hygiene practise. “Sanctions were also slammed on companies that were producing cosmetics without authorisation from the agency.” He said that a total of 14 companies that had marketing authorisation were registered and 30 surveillance activities were carried out during the period under revi

( Nigeria ) Amaka Igwe, one of Nigeria ’s foremost film producers, writer, director and a leading player in the motion picture industry, is dead. This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Lagos by The Nigerian Entertainment, NET. The statement said that Amaka died on Monday night in Enugu after a brief ill health. Confirming the death on Tuesday in Abuja to NAN , Mr Agility Onwurah, Chairman, Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Abuja Chapter, said Amaka’s demise was a big blow to the Nollywood industry. “Amaka had gone to Enugu in company of her husband for a pre-production preparation for a new Igbo soap when the sad incident occurred. She suffered asthmatic attack and was immediately rushed to a hospital, but died before getting there. ``Amaka is survived by her husband of 21 years, Charles Igwe, three children, and an aged mother, ``the statement said. Born Amaka Isaac-Ene, the deceased was an accomplished writer, producer, director, entrepreneur and teacher. She f

(Nigeria) The Nigerian Navy on Monday said it impounded two badges carrying 285 tonnes of crude oil valued N50 million off Bonny island in Rivers State. The Commanding Officer, Forward Operating Base, Bonny, Capt. Hassan Dogara, told newsmen in Bonny that 11 suspects were arrested during the raid on April 23. Out of the 285 tonnes 55 of the suspected stolen crude oil were set ablaze. Dogara said that troops were able to save 230 tonnes because the badges were spilling the product into the creeks and polluting the environment. ``Troops under my command on April 23. intercepted and arrested two-wooden badges containing an estimated 230 tonnes of suspected crude oil during a routine patrol of our area of responsibility. While our operatives approached the scene of the crime, the perpetrators’ escaped, but we were able to arrest 11 suspects afterwards, impounded five speed boats and five patrol engines. ``The badges which were filled to the brim, had several leakages, and so, sp

Kiev-appointed Governor of the eastern Donetsk Region Sergei Taruta and Donetsk Mayor Alexander Lukyanchenko have proposed holding a nationwide referendum on broader powers for regions on May 25, reports ITAR-TASS. Taruta also suggested holding a nationwide referendum on the status of the Russian language. Lukyanchenko said a referendum would help to ease the socio-political tensions in the South-East of Ukraine. At an extraordinary congress of the Party of Regions in Donetsk on April 16, its delegates demanded that the Kiev authorities hold a referendum on a broader range of issues. They insisted that Russian be given the status of official language, the powers of the central government and the local authorities be separated, direct general elections to local bodies be held, regional administrations be dissolved, the budget powers of the central government and the local authorities be clearly delimited, and regions be given autonomy in addressing humanitarian issues and

(Nigeria) The National Film and Video Censors Board, NFVCB, has refuted reports in the social media that it had banned the new movie entitled: ``Half of a Yellow Sun’’. This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by Mr Caesar Kagho, the Acting Head, Corporate Affairs of NFVCB. According to the statement, there is no truth in the media reports on the banning of the movie by the NFVCB. It said that the management of the NFVCB was ensuring that some unresolved issues in the movie were sorted out in accordance with the laid down regulations of the board. The statement said that the board reaffirmed its determination to exercising its responsibility of film censorship and classification in the country. ``Half of a Yellow Sun ‘’ is a Nigerian movie directed by Biyi Bandele. The movie is based on the novel of the award winning Nigerian author, Chimamanda Adichie, which focused on a love story of two sisters who were caught up in the outbreak of the Nigerian civil

(Nigeria) Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba, the Executive Secretary, National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons, NAPTIP, has urged stakeholders to work together to fight child labour in the country. Jedy- Agba told News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Monday that ensuring a child labour-free society was the collective responsibility of all Nigerians. “I would like Nigerians to realise that the children, not just our own biological children, are our future. It is very worrisome when you see the kind of abuse that children of the less privileged are subjected to simply because they do not have the kind of financial resources that we have. ``For every child that you exploit and abuse, you are actually endangering your child, because if the child is not educated, well-protected, the child would be pre-disposed to a life of crime, and it’s the same society in which you are raising your children. ``So, it’s actually better for the development of our nation, that we ensure that childr

(Nigeria) Prof. John Obanfunwa, the Vice- Chancellor, Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo, on Monday said the mismanagement of students’ database was responsible for non-issuance of certificates to some former part-time students of the institution. Obafunwa said at a media briefing in Lagos that the institution had no database on students in the School of Part-Time Studies before he assumed office. Scores of past part-time graduates of LASU had petitioned the Lagos State House of Assembly over the delay in the issuance of certificates to them on completion of their programmes. The Assembly, however, directed the authorities of the institution to issue the certificates to the affected students. Obafunwa said the students allegations were baseless as they must have had issues to resolve at that time which was ignored due to ``improper documentation '' of their database. The vice-chancellor said most of the students, who lodged the complaints were either not legitimate

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Russia was capable of replacing defence-related import from Ukraine within two and a half years, reports Xinhua. ``Russia and its military industry is capable financially and technologically of substituting import (of defence-related products from Ukraine)’’, Putin told legislators in the northwestern city of Petrozavodsk. The president highlighted the difference between Russian and Ukrainian dependence on that industry, calling Russia's dependence ``decisive’’ and Ukraine's one ``crucial.’’ To replace Ukraine-made products, Russia would need from 1.5 to 2.5 years and ``absolutely affordable’’ money, he noted. Putin ordered the government to work out steps for gradual replacement of Ukrainian import but said he hoped the Russia-Ukraine bilateral cooperation in military industry would continue. The recent delay of supplies from Ukraine has been a forcible decision by Kiev authorities, while Ukrainian enterprises w

(Nigeria) The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC on Monday in Sokoto State started the 2014 nationwide audit of prisons and other detention facilities. Prof. Bem Angwe, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, started the exercise at the Sokoto prison. "As an institution saddled with the responsibility of promoting, protecting and enforcing human rights, it is strongly believed that the conditions in our places of detention must be in conformity with the minimum international standards. ``Our intervention is therefore aimed at ensuring that the detention places are designed and managed in a way that the conditions therein are compatible with set human right standards," he said at the launch of the exercise. According to Angwe, the commission has since 1999, carried out periodic audits of prisons and other detention facilities across the country and made recommendations. These recommendations, he said, had led to far-reaching changes in the penal justice admin

(Nigeria) A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday fixed May 2 for trial of Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly,  Adeyemi Ikuforiji charged with money laundering. Ikuforiji is standing trial alongside his aide, Oyebode Atoyebi, on an amended 56-count charge bordering on the offence. The accused are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The case, which was slated for continuation of trial could not go on due to the absence of the trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba. Parties were therefore asked to come back to court on May 2. The accused were re-arraigned on June 24, 2013, on the amended charge. They had both pleaded not guilty to the charge, and were granted bail in the sum of N1billion with two sureties in the sum of N500 million each. The prosecutor, Mr Godwin Obla, opened the case for the prosecution on November 21, 2013, by calling on his first witness, Mr Adebayo Adeniyi, a Principal Detective Superintendent. On the last adjourn

(Nigeria) A 72-year-old man, Adamu Vom, was on Monday arraigned in a Jos Upper Area Court, Plateau State for allegedly raping a minor. Vom, who resides in Kassashogwol village in Barkin Ladi Local Government of Plateau State, is facing a count charge of rape. The Police Prosecutor, Mr Edward Ochei, told the court that the accused committed the offence on April 4 at 5p.m. Ochei said that the accused lured the minor into his bedroom on the said date and forcefully had canal knowledge of her. ``The accused was caught by neighbours who raised alarm and the suspect was arrested and handed over to the police. The minor informed the police during investigations that the suspect had threatened to kill her if she informed her parents or anybody about the incident,” he said. He said that the offence was contrary to Section 283 of the Penal Code. The accused pleaded not guilty to the offence and asked for bail. Ochei objected to the bail application and pleaded for a date to enable

(Nigeria) Mr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Monday, called for the retention of the zoning formular in the election of national officers of the association. He insisted that though zoning was not in the NBA’s constitution, but since the arrangement had been accepted by all, it was the turn of the South West to produce the next president to take over from Mr Okey Wali, SAN, whose tenure expires in August this year. He said “I regret that the 2014 NBA Presidential election is getting out of hand and I fear there will be dire consequences. We must not allow the elections become a “do or die” matter. We are not politicians.  That is why when I was President I adopted the inclusion policy so that all zones have the opportunity to produce the President. “We all know that by the zoning convention, it is the turn of the South West region to produce our president. I appreciate the concern and disappointment of the Midwest that it has not bee

The World Health Organisation announced on Monday that it had convened emergency talks amid rising concern over polio after cases were discovered in Afghanistan, Iraq and Equatorial Guinea. The UN health agency said that following several days of closed-door discussions, it would decide whether to declare the new spread of polio a "public health emergency of international concern" that could require measures such as travel restrictions. WHO emergency meetings typically take the form of telephone conferences between experts and officials around the globe, steered from the agency's Geneva headquarters. Polio, a crippling and potentially fatal viral disease that mainly affects children under the age of five, has come close to being beaten as the result of a 25-year effort. The number of recorded cases worldwide has fallen from 350,000 in 1988 to 406 in 2013, according to WHO data. Polio is currently endemic in three countries, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan, do

(Nigeria) Prominent politicians, professionals and community leaders in Delta State, have advised the powers –that-be against plot to foist someone on the people in 2015. “The politics of 2015 is that of issues that have direct bearing on the well-being of the people. Therefore, anyone who wants to become governor of the state must demonstrate the capacity. His vision and determination to govern the state must be clear to the people,” the elders said. Rising from a meeting in Asaba, Delta State, the leaders described the Chairman, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme as the best material for the Delta State number one office. “Delta State needs a competent and honest leader in 2015; an individual who has the will and moral courage to use power solely for the purpose of reducing the frustration and suffering of the people; a leader who is prepared to wield power in full compliance with the principles and demands of social justice and transparency; a leader wh

The United States on Monday imposed new sanctions on seven Russian officials and 17 firms linked to President Vladimir Putin's inner circle to punish the Kremlin for failing to ease tensions in Ukraine. Deepening the worst East-West showdown since the end of the Cold War, Washington is also tightening licensing requirements for certain hi-tech exports to Russia that could have a military use, the White House announced in a statement issued in Manila, where President Barack Obama is on a state visit. "The United States has taken further action today in response to Russia's continued illegal intervention in Ukraine and provocative acts that undermine Ukraine's democracy and threaten its peace, security, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity," said White House spokesman Jay Carney in a statement. Carney said Russia had done nothing to meet the terms of a deal agreed in Geneva with Ukraine, the European Union and the United States and designed to re

Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE chairman and Swiss President Didier Burkhalter said Monday that plans to broaden the organisation's monitoring mission in Ukraine depended on Kiev's ability to ensure security for the monitors. "Today we have a clear willingness not only to continue but also to strengthen the mission," Burkhalter told AFP, saying the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe planned to gradually up the number of monitors from the current 122 to 500. However, he said the abduction of a team of international observers in the country raised concerns, hinting that if security could not be ensured, the organisation would reconsider the mission. "We don't want to stop, but it is our responsibility to assess the situation steadily," Burkhalter said on the sidelines of an OSCE conference in the central Swiss town of Interlaken, stressing that "if there is a change, then we will act." &quo

By Odimegwu Onwumere (Nigeria) The rains are here again bringing to public glare the many mendacities of Governor Theodore Ahamefule Orji government of Abia State, concerning the once ubiquitous Ariaria International Market in Aba area of the state. The market has become a gloominess of itself losing its once allure of international presence. It has not only lost its international quality, but, to a large extent its local quality, as traders find it scratchy trading in the market anymore, due to surging flooding that covers the entire market when it rains, damaging goods and property worth millions of naira. The dilapidated environment of the market is ever ready to pull down tears from even the eyes of a stonehearted person, except the governor. When this writer visited the market for first hand information, it was wailing and gnashing of teeth by not only the traders, but, also, those who came from far and near to buy one item or the other in the market. It’s imperat

(Nigeria) The trial of a one-time Lagos socialite, Fred Ajudua, before a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja,  charged with $1.69 million fraud, was on Monday stalled due to the absence of prosecution witnesses. Ajudua and one Charles Orie are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice Kudirat Jose. They are standing trial for allegedly defrauding two Dutch businessmen – Messrs Remy Cina and Pierre Vijgen, of $1.69 million (about N252.8 million). During Monday’s proceedings, the EFCC counsel, told the court that some of the prosecution witnesses reside abroad. Prosecution said the defence counsel, had on April 25, served the commission with an application for stay of proceedings but later called to say that it was served in error. He said the EFCC could not therefore extend invitation to the witnesses to travel down to Nigeria because the commission was unsure of how the matter would proceed. According to prosecution, the c

(Nigeria) The All Progressives Congress, APC, has hailed the reported suspension of the PDP rally scheduled for Adamawa State on Tuesday, in line with the prevailing mood of the nation, especially the abduction of over 200 school children in Borno State. APC in a statement in Lagos on Monday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, called the suspension the very right decision to take under the circumstance. It said the suspension of the rally has shown that President Goodluck Jonathan is beginning to hearken to the voices of his compatriots on important national issues. ''As we said in a statement we issued on April 24th, it smacks of insensitivity, inhumanity and indecency for our President and other leaders to be engaged in any celebratory venture when we do not yet know the fate of the school girls who were abducted from their school and taken to an unknown destination. ''We also said the President should not repeat the same mista

(Nigeria) An Ota Magistrate Court in Ogun  State on Monday remanded a septuagenarian, Sunday Toyinbo, and one Adelani Ogundimu, 40,  for allegedly  being in possession of 18 human skulls and conspiracy. The prosecutor, Sgt. ItaIta Ebobimino told the court that the accused and others now at large committed the offences on March 11  at Yewa and Ado-Odo area of the state. He alleged   that Toyinbo, 76 and the other accused  engaged in unlawful exhumation and possession of the human skulls for  ritual purposes. Ebobimino said that the offences contravened sections 329 (a) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Law of Ogun State, 2006. The Magistrate, Mrs Titi Bello, directed that  the accused  be kept in prison custody. She adjourned the case till May 26 for mention. 

(Nigeria) A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, on Monday refused to grant the request made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of a popular transporter, Bube Okorodudu. In his ruling, trial judge, Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo dismissed the application, which was filed by the counsel of the EFCC. The EFCC had requested for the warrant, following Okorodudu's refusal to appear before the court to take his plea. Okorodudu and his transport firm, Cross Country Ltd are charged with alleged N82.8 million theft. They are charged alongside another company, Car Link Ltd. They are facing an eight-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, forgery and uttering. In the ruling, the judge held that an accused presence’s was not mandatory at the hearing of the preliminary objection. "The Court of Appeal held that the presence of the accused can be dispensed with pending the hearing and determination of the application cha

(Nigeria) Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Vice President Namadi Sambo, Malam Umar Sani, on Sunday announced the death of Capt. Yusuf Sabo Sambo, the immediate junior brother to the Vice President. Sani, who made the announcement in a statement issued in Abuja, said the deceased died as a result of a fatal motor accident on Bill Clinton Drive, Airport Road, Abuja. The statement said that until his death, the deceased was a pilot, who worked with the former Nigerian Airways and the Presidential Air Fleet, before retiring to be on his own. It stated that the late Capt. Sambo, who was born in 1956, died at the age of 58 years and was survived by his wife, three daughters, 10 brothers and sisters. ``He has since been buried at the Apo cemetery, Abuja according to Islamic rites. He was buried in the presence of former military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and several other dignitaries and sympathisers,’’ the sta

A roadside bomb exploded in Pakistan's restive tribal region near the Afghan border Sunday, killing at least three soldiers, the military said. The attack occurred in an area on the border of South and North Waziristan tribal regions where the military has been battling Taliban and Al-Qaeda linked militants. "At least three security forces personnel including an officer embraced shahadat (martyrdom) and three others sustained critical injuries after an improvised explosive device planted by terrorists along the road went off," the military said in a statement. Nobody has so far claimed responsibility for the attack but Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants frequently launch attacks across northwest Pakistan and the lawless tribal belt, which Washington has branded the most dangerous place in the world. The latest incident comes almost two weeks after the Pakistani Taliban formally ended a ceasefire called to promote peace talks. On April 16, the Tehreek-e-Tal

(Nigeria) Clashes between rival tribes have left at least 34 people dead with homes and barns torched in a village in central Nigeria, the state government told AFP on Sunday. The violence erupted Saturday when a militia from the Eggon tribe attacked the Gwandara village of Egan following a dispute over farmland, said Nasarawa state spokesman Sani Musa Mairiga. "All the victims were from Gwandara tribe whose village came under sudden attack from Ombatse cult members from Eggon tribe," Mairiga said. "So far 34 people have been killed in the violence with several others injured." Several homes and barns were burnt in the attack, sparked by a farming dispute in which an Eggon man was injured, he said. Armed police were deployed to stop the bloodshed, Mairiga said. Ethnic disputes linked to land are frequent in central Nigeria, despite efforts to mend relations between the region's different groups. The fighting often has religious overtones, pitting

(Nigeria) The All Progressives Congress, APC, has called on those in charge of the country's affairs, led by President Goodluck Jonathan, to hold themselves to higher standards of conduct as a way of ensuring good governance and winning global respect for the country. APC in a statement in Lagos on Sunday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said that the resignation of South Korean Prime Minister Chung Hong-won, over his government's much-criticized poor handling of the April 16th ferry disaster that left over 300 dead or missing, must jolt the conscience of Nigerian officials who have been found wanting when they have found themselves in similar situations. ''Until our leaders hold themselves to higher standards, as it is done in other democracies around the world, and take responsibility when necessary, they will continue to perpetuate impunity, celebrate mediocrity and cling to power at all cost, even when it is clear that the

Eight people were killed on Sunday when a fire ravaged a drug rehab centre in Russia's Altai region, investigators said, raising fresh questions about security standards in the country's medical facilities. Their bodies were found after authorities put out the blaze in a private drug rehab centre, dubbed "Chisty List," (Clean Slate) which overlooks a picturesque lake near Barnaul, investigators said in a statement. Another six people from the private drug and alcohol abuse treatment centre were injured as the fire ripped through the building, said regional emergencies ministry spokesman Andrei Pozdnyakov. "Only the walls remained," Pozdnyakov told AFP, adding that the rest of the patients have been moved into a local school. Emergency services have not ruled out negligence as a possible cause of the fire. Every year fires kill scores of people in Russia, which suffers from outdated Soviet-era infrastructure and lax security procedures. Medical i

Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE negotiators late Sunday walked out of a rebel-occupied town hall in east Ukraine with just one of eight of their inspectors being held as "prisoners of war" by pro-Kremlin separatists, an AFP journalist on the scene saw. The two negotiators left the four-storey grey building in the town of Slavyansk with the freed Swedish officer. The three made no comment to waiting reporters before driving away in a white car marked with an OSCE logo. Negotiations continued for the release of the other seven European inspectors -- from Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic and Denmark -- and four Ukrainian army officers who were seized with them on Friday, a rebel spokeswoman told AFP. She said the Swede was freed first because he suffers from diabetes. Hours earlier, the rebels had put the eight inspectors from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe in front of the cameras of a media conference they call

Scores of pro-Kremlin militants seized the regional television station in Ukraine's eastern city of Donetsk on Sunday, an AFP journalist at the scene said. The insurgents, wearing camouflage uniforms and armed with baseball bats and knives, occupied the interior of the building, preventing anyone from entering. Most wore a red armband bearing the name of the pro-Russian group Oplot (Bastion). They were not carrying visible firearms, but militants carried several heavy bags inside the building and refused to answer reporters' questions. The insurgents covered the trident, Ukraine's national symbol, adorning the entrance with a sticker bearing the name of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk Republic." "The journalists will be allowed to continue to work but they will have to tell the truth," said one militant, who gave his name as Stanislav. "The Russian channels tell the truth. We demand to have channels in Donetsk that tell the truth,"

Rebel mortar fire on government-held districts of the Syrian city of Aleppo killed at least 21 people and wounded 50 on Sunday, a monitoring group said. "The fire targeted regime-held neighbourhoods, including some in the Old City where the rebels are trying to advance," the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Aleppo is divided between government and opposition control, and both rebel bombardments and regime air strikes have intensified in recent weeks. Sunday's mortar fire came as "Islamist rebel brigades blew up a building housing the Chamber of Industry in the Old City, which was being used as a headquarters by government forces," the Observatory said. There were casualties among the the troops inside the building, it added without giving a precise toll. State television said "terrorist groups have blown up several buildings... including the Chamber of Industry." Government aircraft dropped barrel bombs on several

South Korean Prime Minister Chung Hong-won offers resignation on Sunday over criticism of the government's response to the April 16 Sewol ferry disaster that has left nearly 300 people dead or missing, reports Xinhua. "The right thing for me to do is to take responsibility and resign," Chung told a nationally-televised press conference, 11 days after one of the country's worst maritime disasters. "Keeping my post is too great a burden on the administration," Chung said. South Korea's presidential office later said President Park Geun-hye will accept the prime minister's resignation offer, but will wait until the disaster has been brought under control as rescue operation and dealing with the aftermath of the accident were the most urgent issue at present. "President Park has decided to accept the resignation offer from Chung, who has taken responsibility for this incident," presidential spokesman Min Kyung-wook said at a pr

(Nigeria) Members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, JTF, in Borno State, have vowed to support the military to end terrorism and bring back peace to the state. Two members of the youth vigilance group made the promise on Sunday in Maiduguri in separate interviews with News Agency of Nigeria. Mr Abubakar Mamuda, the chairman of the group in Gomari-Airport Area of Maiduguri, said they were compelled to join the military to fight the insurgents because Borno was their state. He said they decided to support the security agencies to ensure Borno was safe for their parents and relations since they had no other place to call their own. ``We are trying to protect our heritage and our state since we have no other place to call our own. Nobody forced us, we just volunteered to do it, we started some months ago and people ran away and left us hoping that members of Boko Haram will kill us.  ``Members of the group that started the operation were few because the people were scared of Bok