Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 27

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Five Policemen Killed in Aba

Five policemen were on Tuesday killed in Abia State as kidnappers attempting to abduct expatriates working for 7 Up Bottling Company in Aba, opened fire on the policemen in addition to setting their   vehicle ablaze. The Second in command of the Aba Area Command, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Abayomi Oladipo, confirmed the sad incident. Eye witness account said that upon the discovery that no expatriates were inside the vehicle the gang attempted to gain entrance into the bottling company but were dissuaded by the mobile policemen guarding the complex.

Reps Order FG to Pay N1bn To Bayelsa Community over JTF Invasion

The House of Representatives, Wednesday directed the Federal Government to pay N1 billion as compensation for the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) invasion of Odioma community in Bayelsa State in 2002, which lead to the death of 12 persons. The state government had set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry, which then recommended that the Federal Government pay the N1 billion as compensation to the community over the losses and destruction. The House urged the relevant security agencies to investigate the death of the 12 persons, and also called on the Shell Petroleum Development Company to undertake thorough human rights risks assessments to ensure that its activities do not contribute to conflicts.

 

IG Bans Use of Tinted Glass in South East

As part of measures to tackle the rising wave of insecurity in the South East, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, has given a ban on the use of vehicles with tinted glass in the zone. The police chief also approved massive road blocks and extensive stop and search in all the states in South East. Violent crimes, especially kidnapping and armed robbery have assumed a disturbing level for some time now in the South East states leading to the loss of lives and property both of the civilians and the police. A petition to the Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, by the state branch of Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), revealed that over 40 persons were killed in violent crimes in the state between April and June, 2009.

Disarmament Centres for Amnesty Named

82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu will serve as the coordinating centre for disarmament and the demobilisation of militants, who accept the amnesty offer. The FG also named special centres in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Akwa Ibom and Ondo states where they can submit their guns. The Media Coordinator of the Committee, Dr. Timiebi Koripamo-Agary, confirmed this. The Chief National Coordinator of the FG's Committee on Implementation of Amnesty, Air vice Marshall Lucky Ararile, has expressed his readiness to meet with militant leaders at mutually agreed locations in pursuit of peace in the region.

Gunmen Abduct Two in Anambra

The Director of Pharmaceutical Services in Awka, Sir Gozie Anyachebelu was kidnapped by unidentified men in front of his house, penultimate Friday. It was gathered that the Director’s kidnap may be connected with the recent campaign launched against fake drug dealers and unlicensed patent medicine dealers by his office. Similarly, one Anthony Ogbuagwu, a trader in the drug market, Onitsha was kidnapped on Monday night at Fegge, Onitsha South LGA. The PPRO, Mr Chukwuemeka confirmed the kidnap of Ogbuagwu.

Cross River Lawmakers Go on Hunger Strike to Protest Ceding of Oil Wells

Cross River caucus in the National Assembly on Thursday began a two-week hunger strike their pains over the ceding of ‘its’ 76 oil wells to Akwa Ibom State. The lawmakers expect that the Federal Government would reverse the decision in order to mitigate the great injustice meted out to the State. Chairman of the caucus, Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw said the action was despicable and an attempt to defraud the state. The State government has vowed that it will no longer concede any of its territories to any state or country in whatever guise. The state’s Deputy Governor, Effiok Cobham, stated this while addressing the people of South-Ukele in Yala Local Council Area, who are locked in a communal conflict with the people of Izzi, in Ebonyi State.

Student Arrested for N29m ATM fraud

A final year student of a tertiary institution in Anambra State was on Tuesday, arrested by the police over an alleged Automatic Teller machine (ATM) fraud. The student was said to have ripped off a bank in Awka of over N29 million with a self-devised ATM card. It was revealed that the student had devised the card, which had the capacity to decode an ATM card number and its pin code. The state Police Image maker, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka (ASP), confirmed this. Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has extended the deadline giving to Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) within which they are to remove their Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) erected in public places to August 31, 2009.

Petroleum Marketers Drag PPMC Manager, Others before EFCC

Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has dragged the Area Manager of the System 2' Zone of the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) in Port Harcourt, Mr Nnadike Offordile and two others before the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). In the petition, the association alleged that the three men do not sell petroleum products to the end users but rather divert same to the border areas where they are smuggled out. They also reported four companies; Jijisco Petrol, Mango Petrol, Matelbot and Paudson Petrol as using the petitioned officers of the PPMC.

 

MASSOB Launches Travel Passport

The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has officially launched its international passport. The launch was done on Tuesday at Okwe in Onuimo, Imo State. The leader of MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, said that they could use the passport to travel to any part of the world, including Abuja and Lagos. According to him, if any member of MASSOB was killed for possessing the passport, members of the movement would fight for his cause.

Militant Leader Wants Total Rehabilitation

Solomon Ndigbara, a former militant leader in Rivers state, has called on the Federal Government to put in place a comprehensive rehabilitation programme for repentant militants. Ndigbaacceptedra made the call after he surrendered his weapons to the Federal Government on penultimate Friday. Meanwhile, President Yar’Adua commended the militants that have the amnesty offer as he expressed optimism that the amnesty offer would solve the lingering crisis in the region, and called on all militants to embrace it.

649 Ordinance Locations Discovered in 9 States

Minister of Defence, Dr Shettima Mustafa, Monday, said 649 suspected locations of unexploded ordnances were identified in nine states in the southern part of the country. The states are: Abia, Anambra, Akwa- Ibom, Enugu, Cross River, Imo, Ebonyi, Delta and Benue. Mustafa announced this in Enugu, at the official blast-off of the de-mining project in civil war affected parts of the country. He said 183 unexploded explosives were recovered and stockpiled for the blast-off, while 27 landmine victims were pre-enumerated for record purposes.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Sea Pirates Hijack Boat with 20 Passengers

Suspected sea pirates last weekend, hijacked a speedboat ferrying about 20 passengers -mainly Itsekiri- who were returning to Warri from Escravos, and dispossessed them of their valuables. The attack, is feared, would trigger the flame of ethnic discord between Itsekiri and Ijaw. The owner of the speedboat, Gowon Kumene, said that the boat passed through Burutu because of the blockade mounted by the Joint Task Force (JTF) on the Escravos-Gbaramatu-Warri waterways. JTF Spokesman, Colonel Rabe Abubakar, confirmed the incident and said troops have swung into action to fish out the culprits.

MEND Sustains Attack on Shell, JTF Denies Death of Soldiers

The Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) on Monday said it had carried out further attacks on Shell’s facilities at Forcados, Delta State. Shell spokesman, Mr. Precious Okolobo, confirmed the attack which he said took place at the cluster at their Estuary field in the Western swamps. He said and they had already shut in to control damage to the environment. Spokesman of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the region, Col. Rabe Abubakar, denied claims by MEND that it killed 23 Nigerian soldiers, adding that the attack was on a remote and unmanned pipeline, thereby foreclosing the death of any soldier. Shell said its production had dropped to 140,000 barrels per day (bpd), depicting about 85.9 per cent drop from the 999,000 bpd in 2003.

Gunmen Kidnap Benin Pharmacist

Gunmen, on Tuesday abducted the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Nomagbon Pharmacy, Osadolor Nomagbon, in Benin City. Nomagbon was said to have been kidnapped by five armed men who had trailed him from church, penultimate Sunday. The gunmen shot sporadically to scare away perceived intruders. Police Public Relations Officer, Edo State Police Command, ASP Peter Ogboi, said that he was yet to be briefed on the incident. Meanwhile, the State Police paraded eight persons over their alleged involvement in various crimes, ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and car snatching.

MEND Threatens Trans-Saharan Energy Project

The Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) has vowed to thwart a 10-billion-dollar trans-Saharan gas pipeline project linking vast reserves in Nigeria to Europe. The pact for the project was signed on Friday by Algeria, Niger and Nigeria. MEND further urged oil firms still operating in the restive Niger Delta to leave immediately, threatening to carry out new attacks.

MEND Say Attack Chevron Oil Manifold

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said it attacked Chevron's Okan manifold late on Sunday in the southern Delta state, hours after it claimed sabotage of an oil well head operated by Shell. Chevron, which halted swamp operations in Delta state following attacks on its pipelines in May, said it was investigating the report. Chevron, Shell and Italian energy firm Agip (ENI.MI) have cut output by around 273,000 barrels per day in the last six weeks following the latest campaign of militant violence. The disruption to supplies has helped push global oil prices higher, reaching an eight-month high above $72 a barrel last week.
Shell is yet to confirm the attack.

JTF Warns Illegal Bunkerers

The Joint Military Task Force (JTF) has warned illegal bunkerers in the Niger-Delta that the presidential amnesty recently granted militants will not extend to them. The JTF warned that anyone caught in the illegal bunkering activities would be duly arrested and prosecuted, whether such a suspect is a militant or not. It vowed not to relax its vigilance over oil and gas installations.

EU to Offers Support for Niger Delta with €80,000

The European Union (EU) has offered 80,000 Euros to support local governments in the Niger Delta region, acting head of Delegation of European Commission to Nigeria Dr. Denis Thieulin has said. He added that for each project there would be specific focus on that area. He further stated that it is important for Niger Delta to resume desertification of the region and stop relying on oil economy only, adding that the EU will also assist Nigeria in climate change.

Road Accidents Claim 9

A two-year-old baby and eight others were feared dead when a 16-seater bus lost control, somersaulted and crashed into a bush along Benin-Asaba Express road. The bus was said to traveling from Enugu to Lagos when the accident occurred in the afternoon after losing its back tyre. FRSC Sector Commander for Delta state, Mr. Oluwasosan Familoni, who confirmed the accident, said that it was a lone fatal accident, adding that the driver "violated the speed limit”.

Shell Confirms Closure of Western N’Delta Operations

Shell Petroleum Development Company has completely shut down its entire operations in the Western Niger Delta owing to increasing attacks on its workers and infrastructure, just as it expressed support for the Nigerian content initiatives of the government but pointed out that the set target was “too aggressive” which could not be met. Vice-President (Technical), Shell Exploration and Production Africa Limited, Mr. Markus Droll, stated this, but stressed that it could only be realised if the challenges facing the sector were overcome.

Contractors to Provide Security around Oil Facilities in Delta

The Gbaramatu Host Communities Contractors Forum has pledged to beef up security around oil facilities so as to protect them from further attacks. In a communiqué issued the forum, the members vowed to put their lives on the line to secure the facilities from harm.

 

Outbreak of Polio in Delta

Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Otumara, has officially confirmed that there was outbreak of poliomyelitis in five LGAs of the state, just as he called on parents and guardians to bring up their children and wards for what he described as “another round of supplemental immunization”. He blamed some local government councils of abysmal failure in effective immunization coverage of their areas.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Teenage Female Inmates Languish at Kirikiri Prison

At least 25 female teenagers are currently languishing at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prisons in Lagos. The discovery came to light during the visit of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Godwin Abbe, to the female section of the prison. While some have been abandoned because they have no lawyer to represent them, a large number are still awaiting trial at various magistrate courts in the state. Some of these teenage female prisoners are being detained for offences ranging from conspiracy, stealing, assault occasioning harm, and fighting in public.

Illegal OPC Detention Cell Demolished in Mushin

Police in Lagos has destroyed an illegal detention cell allegedly operated by the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), following a report by a man, identified as Kolawole Badmus, who said that the suspects bundled his friend, Taiye Ogunkayode to their ‘Division’. When police stormed the ‘Division’ located at Ojuwoye market, Mushin, Ogunkayode was found in leg and handcuffs, and other detainees. Recovered from the ‘cell’ were signboard, with inscription, ‘Odua People’s Congress’, a fetish pot and charms, a toy gun and cutlasses.

Police Arrest Oil Bunkerers in Lagos

A team of anti-robbery policemen, while on patrol of Lagos waterways, recently apprehended a group of illegal oil bunkerers. Four suspects were arrested with an empty Iveco tanker. They were also caught with two pumping machines as well as two industrial hoses with which they siphoned the product into the fuels tanker. The tanker was parked at the bank of the river before operatives clamped down on them.

Robbers in Army, Police Uniforms Arrested

The Osun State command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested four persons, who were suspected of using police and army uniforms for robbery. The suspects were handed over to the Osun State Police Command, for further investigations and prosecution. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. John Moronike explained that confessional statements by the suspects indicated that they extended their nefarious activities to Oyo, Kwara and Ondo states, before nemesis caught up with them. Recovered from them were, locally made pistol, cutlasses, handsets, police and army uniforms.

Police Nab Man with Human Skull

The Osun state Commissioner of Police, Mr. John Moronike, has narrated how a man was nabbed with human skull in his possession. The 27-year-old Iranade Olaoye, also described by the police as an armed robber, was said to have hidden the dry human skull in the roof of his house. Nemesis caught up with him when somebody reported to the police that he was encroaching on his property and threatening to kill him.

Accident Claims 3 Lives

Three people died, while several others were injured at Oke Mosan area of Abeokuta, Ogun State, when the front tyre of an 18-seater bus got burst while on top speed, making the bus to somersault several times.

Six Persons Die after Eating Yam Flour in Kwara

Six members of a family in Nimgurumi town in the Baruten LGA of Kwara State were on Tuesday confirmed dead after taking Yam flour (amala) suspected to have been poisoned, while four others are receiving treatment. The Commissioner for Health, Hajia Ayinke Saka, who confirmed the incident, said preliminary reports linked the deaths to a squabble between two families in the area over a parcel of land. She urged people across the state to avoid exposing their food items.

Police Apprehend 14 Bank Robbers

Police in Lagos have arrested 14 armed robbery suspects said to be the brains behind bank robberies in the state and its environs. The arrest of the suspects led to the invasion of their armoury at Enugu. The Assistant Commissioner of Police zone 2, Kola Sodipo, narrated that the zonal robbery team acting on information arrested a young man later identified as Tochukwu Mike Ogbo. The arms and ammunition recovered include five AK-47 rifles, one Fal Military rifle, one GMP Military rifle, one Pump action rifle, 78 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition, eleven AK-47 rifles, and one empty magazine of Fal rifle.

GENERAL

Nigeria Ratifies Treaty on Removal of Shipwreck

Safety in Nigeria's maritime industry has received a boost from the Federal Government, which has signed the International Convention on Wrecks Removal from navigable ways. When domesticated by the National Assembly, the government can freely enforce the law by clearing its channels of wrecks in line with global standards. Article 18 of the convention provides that it shall enter into force 12 months after the date it was signed by all parties to it. The treaty is aimed at promoting safety of navigation worldwide.

3 Jails for Human Trafficking

The Federal High Court in Sokoto has convicted three persons from the same family for engaging in human trafficking and sex trade. Justice A. A. Okeke, who delivered the judgment, reiterated the stand of the court as the last hope of justice for victims of human trafficking, saying "the accused persons' plea of being not guilty does not mitigate the offence preferred against them."

Senate Passes Prohibition Bill on Gas Flaring

The Senate on Thursday passed the Gas Flaring (Prohibition and Punishment) Bill, which seeks, among others, to ensure gas flare out in Nigeria by December 31, 2010. Some senators opposed the Bill arguing that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) could incorporate provisions of the Gas Flaring Bill. But the Upper House passed the Bill, which prescribes that oil companies that fail to stop gas flaring by December 31, 2010, should be made to pay twice the price of gas flared in the international market.

Climate Change Threatens Cassava, Other Foods

The increasing level of carbon dioxide CO2 in the air poses danger to some staples like cassava on which millions of people depend. Studies by Australian scientists have shown that the crops become more toxic and produce smaller yields in environments with higher carbon dioxide levels and more droughts. The findings underscored the need to develop climate-change-resistant cultivars to feed the growing human populations, according to Ros Gleadow of the Monash University, Melbourne.

Nigerian Charged to Court for Murder of Irish Woman

A young man who claims to be a Nigerian has been arraigned in a UK court for the murder of a British woman. The man, Kristoph Emmanuel Aluya, 23, was recently arraigned at the Belfast Magistrates Court for the murder of Grace Moore, 38, at her home in Belfast, Ireland. The victim was, until her death, a shop assistant in a city centre department store in Belfast. Preliminary reports indicated that she was stabbed to death. A detective sergeant told the court that the accused could be connected with the murder directly or indirectly. Aluya has denied the charge.

Child Abduction for Rituals on The Rise in Kano

Child abduction for rituals is reported to be on the rise in Kano, according to officials and advocacy groups. This has raised concern among parents and officials. "An average 50 parents placed announcements on their missing children every week in the last three months, according to Aisha Kabir of Freedom Radio. Sadiq Isah Radda, a sociologist at Bayero University in Kano, said fetish priests here are known to favour children's body parts for get-rich-quick potions. Although the police agree there has been an increase in the number of missing children, they insist not all of them are abducted.

Police Flee as Robbers Snatch N.5m in Garki

Armed robbers on Wednesday afternoon relieved a man of N560, 000 at Garki area of Abuja. The daring robbers reportedly fired gun shots into the air and made away with the money. Eyewitnesses said that the policemen around quickly dropped their guns, and fled when they saw the robbers.

 

NCS Acquires Helicopters, Fire Arms to Combat Smuggling

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has procured two helicopters and sophisticated firearms to combat smuggling. The procurement has, however, generated scepticism from those who want to know what became of the last helicopter the service acquired about five years ago. The Assistant Comptroller-General, Mallam Dikko Abdullahi, highlighted that the service would have deployed the helicopters, as soon as they were received, but for the fact that the management was waiting to complete all necessary documents, including insurance formalities, so that the helicopters could boost the ongoing onslaught against smugglers.

NDLEA Chiefs Want Better Patrol Vehicles, Less Porous Borders

The war against drug trafficking and abuses may not be won unless the problems of porous borders and inadequate patrol vehicles in the area are addressed, Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Borno State, Dr. Wale Ige, has alerted. The vehicles, according to him, should also be fully-equipped with "state-of-the-arts" communication gadgets to track down and effectively monitor the activities of drug barons and producers in Borno and the border areas.

Benue Police Arrest 11 Vandals, Declares 29 Others wanted

The Benue State Police Command has arrested a team of eleven vandals who specialize in destroying government property while 29 others have been declared wanted. According to a Special Assistant to the state Governor on Public Utilities, Mr. Ghadafi Asemanya, the gang was apprehended after they had willfully destroyed the newly constructed walkways along the Makurdi-Ankpa road. The group was led in the operation by one John Hembe, a staff of a construction firm in the town.

Public Officers Take Pay Cut

The pay cut for public and political office holders proposed by President Yar’Adua in February will take effect at the end of July. Yar’Adua had, in a proposal to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), requested a downward review of the remuneration packages of public officers across the country to reflect the dwindling oil revenues. This was disclosed by the Chairman of the Commission, Mallam Hamman Tukur, on Thursday when he submitted the report to Yar’Adua with the advice that the reviewed salaries and emoluments should take effect as from July 1, 2009 for all political office holders in the three tiers of government – federal, state and local.

FG Rehabilitates 300 Militants

Federal Government on Thursday said it already has over 300 militants who declined militancy and have benefited from retraining programmes aimed at reintegrating them back into the society. Director General of the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), Amb. Adamu Yusuf blamed the on-going decadence in the society on the negative example the older generation shows to the younger ones. Yusuf said over 300 youths from the region who retraced their steps from the act of militancy had been retrained by the centre and are now ready to mix with other citizens without any trouble.

Abuja NDLEA Arrests 29 Suspects in 6 Months

Between January and June this year, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested 29 persons at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, for attempting to smuggle 35.37 kg of cocaine worth N389 million to Europe. The suspects comprise 28 men and a woman. The Commander, Alhaji Hamisu Lawal, said that Anambra and Abia had the highest number of seven each. He said 12 of the accused persons have been successfully prosecuted, while others are standing trial. While the Niger state command arrested 53 drug suspects in the same period. Mr. Haruna Kwetishe, the state commander, said 25 suspects had already been convicted.

Fresh Crisis in Okene Claims 8

As the crisis in Okene, Kogi State escalated, killing at least 8 persons, soldiers were on Thursday drafted to the area to restore peace following the inability of mobile policemen to bring the crisis under control. For several years running, Okene town had been plagued by recurring violent clashes arising from political and clan misunderstanding leading to several losses of lives and properties worth billions of naira. The recent crisis is between the Okengwen and Obehira communities and it is said to have arisen from the use of masquerades to torment innocent citizens as well as destroy properties belonging to perceived political opponents.

Senator Yellowe, Gen. Oluleye Die

Former Senator Martins Yellowe and Major-General James Oluleye (rtd) are dead. They both died on Thursday. Yellowe, who represented Rivers West Senatorial District from 1999 to 2007, died in Abuja at the age of 63. National Assembly sources said he died of cardiac arrest. Oluleye, a former military governor and member of the defunct Supreme Military Council (SMC), died at his country home in Ekiti State. Oluleye died at the age of 80.

2 Sentenced to 40 Years Jail Term for Robbery

Two persons have been sentenced to forty years imprisonment for conspiracy and robbery by a Makurdi High Court. The trial judge, Justice Joseph Ikyegh, ordered that the sentences should run concurrently, starting from July 2007, when they were arrested. The convicts were found guilty of robbing two women of their cars in 2007. Justice Ikyegh said prosecution was able to prove the case of robbery without firearms beyond reasonable doubt. He, however, noted that a gun was used by one of the robbers, Aondona Dogo, whom the police have not been able to arrest.

Niger Police Command to Sack Any Officer Drinking on Duty

Niger State Police Command has vowed to sack any police officer caught drinking liquor while on duty, contravening the Law abolishing the production, importation and Consumption of alcohol in the state. The state police commissioner, Michael Zurkumor stated this when members of the state Liquor Licensing Board paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Minna. He also emphasized the need for both state and federal government to prohibit the production of alcohol or put heavy tax and other levy with aim of combating crime in the society.

Afroil MD Sacked, Banned for 5 Years by SEC

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has suspended the Managing Director of Afroil Plc, Mr. Ishaq Olakunle Sanni, from operating in the capital market for a period of five years. The suspension followed his indictment in the sale of the illegally warehoused shares of Afroil and other violations of the Investments and Securities Act of 2007. SEC’s Head of Media, Mr. Lanre Oloyi, said that Sanni was had been referred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and criminal prosecution.

Vandals Attack, Destroy FRSC Properties in Lokoja

Suspected vandals attacked and destroyed properties valued at N10 million, belonging to Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, in Lokoja, Kogi State. The Sector Commander, Yomi Asaniyan said the mob attack was a result of an accident involving a passenger bus that led to the death of one person. He said a Unit of the FRSC in Koton Karfe had stopped a bus to check the passengers’ manifest but the driver did not oblige. When the driver saw another vehicle of the FRSC at NATACO junction, he thought that he was being trailed and lost control of the vehicle, which led to the accident, while the mob attack did not allow them to take the injured to the hospital till he bled to death.

INTERNATIONAL

Medvedev Hopeful on New US-Russian Cooperation

Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, has said that he was hopeful that the upcoming summit with United States (U.S.) counterpart, Barack Obama would help both countries find new ways to cooperate. Medvedev said the U.S. and Russia both have a "special responsibility" to fight international terrorism, drug trafficking and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Medvedev's comments were the latest in a string of upbeat statements from Moscow ahead of Obama's first trip to Russia as U.S. president, beginning on Monday.

Suu Kyi Trial Postponed as U.N Chief Arrives Myanmar

Officials in Myanmar delayed the resumption of the trial of pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, on Friday, as U.N. Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, arrived for talks with the government. Myanmar's government has said next year's scheduled elections will reintroduce democracy in the country. Suu Kyi and two of her maids, on trial on allegations of subversion have been charged in a May 3 incident in which an American, John William Yettaw, 53, swam across a lake to her house and stayed for at least a night. Myanmar's military regime has held Suu Kyi under house arrest for 13 of the past 19 years and rarely allows her visitors. If convicted, Suu Kyi, 64, could face three to five years in prison.

U.S. Marines Launch Offensive in Afghanistan

United States (U.S.) Marines troops on Thursday launched a major offensive in Taliban-controlled villages in southern Afghanistan. The offensive was launched in Helmand province, a Taliban stronghold and the world's largest opium poppy-producing area, to clear insurgents from the hotly contested region before the nation's August 20 presidential election. It came as U.S. military announced that one of its soldiers was captured by insurgents on Tuesday. Pakistan's army said it had moved troops from elsewhere on its side of the Afghan border to the stretch opposite Helmand to try to stop any militants from fleeing the offensive.

Child Survives Yemeni Plane Crash

A young child has been recovered alive from a Yemeni jet crash in the Indian Ocean, an airline official said on Tuesday. The child was the first person found alive from the Yemenia Airways jet, which was carrying more than 150 people en route to the island nation of Comoros from Yemen's capital, Sanaa. A reconnaissance plane had earlier spotted traces of the Airbus A310-300 in the sea near the town of Mitsamiouli, Comoros Vice President Idi Nadhoim, disclosed. The crash took place as the plane approached the Hahaya airport in Moroni. The plane tried but failed to land and then performed a U-turn before it crashed, Nadhoim said. Officials did not know why the plane could not land, he said.

11 Die in Italian Train Blast

The death toll climbed to at least 11 in a gas explosion from a cargo train on Monday in western Italy, a government official said Tuesday. The number of injured had risen to 36, with 15 in critical condition. Most of the injuries were burns. The train was carrying gas tanks when it derailed and exploded while passing through a station in the coastal town of Viareggio

Four American Soldiers Killed in Iraq, as Iraq Celebrates US Pullout

Four United States (US) soldiers were killed in combat shortly before the American military completed a withdrawal from Iraq's cities on Tuesday, while the Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, assured Iraqis that government forces were capable of protecting the country. The withdrawal was part of a US-Iraqi security pact and marks the first major step toward withdrawing all American forces from the country by Dec. 31, 2011. The military said that the soldiers who were killed served with the Multi-National Division-Baghdad. Iraqis welcomed the Tuesday deadline for American troops to leave their towns and cities with a street festival in Baghdad, though fears of renewed violence tempered celebrations of what their government called "National Sovereignty Day."

Al Qaeda Threatens France for over Anti-Burqa Stance

Al Qaeda threatened to "take revenge" on France "by every means and wherever we can reach them" because of a debate in France over whether the burqa, a traditional Islamic woman's covering, violates French law, according to a statement posted on Islamist Web sites. The statement came a few days after French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, told lawmakers that the traditional Muslim garment was "not welcome" in France. A day later, the French National Assembly announced an inquiry into whether women in France should be allowed to wear the garment.

Rights Group Accuses Kenyan Forces of Torture, Rape

Security forces tortured scores of men and raped a dozen women in a sweep against the mainly ethnic Somali population of remote northeast Kenya intended to disarm militias, a rights group has said. Kenneth Roth, executive director of the United States (U.S.)-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged the removal of Kenya’s police commissioner and attorney-general. But the security forces have routinely denied allegations of abuse. HRW said the October 2008 operation to disarm warring militias in the Mandera region left more than 1,200 injured, one dead, and at least 12 women raped.

Iran Recounts Votes

In an attempt to placate protesters, Iran has conducted a partial recount of votes cast in its disputed presidential election, and the hard-line president asked for an investigation into the shooting death of a young woman during the crisis that followed. Meanwhile, Iran announced that it had detained nine local employees of the British Embassy in Tehran. Britain and the European Union described the action as "harassment and intimidation." The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hassan Qashqavi, said that five of the detainees had been released and the remaining four were being interrogated. Intelligence Minister, Gholam Hossein Mohseini Ejehi, claimed he had videotape showing some of the employees mingling with protesters.

Coup Splits Honduran Leaders

A military coup has divided Honduras between two leaders - one recognized by world bodies and another backed by the country's congress, courts and military. There is a deep rift between the outside world - which is clamouring for the return of democratically elected, but largely unpopular President, Manuel Zelaya, - and congressionally designated successor, Roberto Micheletti. Zelaya was seized by soldiers and hustled aboard a plane to Costa Rica early Sunday.

Suspected U.S Drone Attack Kills 15 in Pakistani

A suspected U.S. drone attack killed at least 15 people in northwest Pakistan Friday morning, Pakistani officials said. The missile strikes in South Waziristan targeted a suspected Taliban hideout, Pakistani intelligence officials said. Taliban officials confirmed the attack, saying 35 were also wounded. The people killed and wounded were Taliban fighters.

Top-Ranking British Soldier Killed in Afghanistan

The commander of a British regiment has become the country's highest ranking soldier to be killed in action since 1982's Falklands War, after a roadside bomb attack in Afghanistan. Lt. Col. Rupert Thorneloe was killed along with trooper Joshua Hammond, 18, on Wednesday as they were travelled along a canal in Lashkar Gah, in Afghanistan's southern Helmand Province. Thorneloe and Hammond were killed despite traveling in an armored vehicle, the ministry said.

Nuclear Agency Picks Japanese as New Head

The United Nations (UN) nuclear agency's governing board has chosen a veteran Japanese diplomat as its new head. Diplomats on Thursday said that Yukiya Amano received the required two-thirds majority from the 35-nation board. He still needs to be confirmed by the board, in a session planned for Friday, and in September by the full International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) general assembly.

'Billionaire' Madoff Sentenced to Jail for 150

Bernard Madoff will spend 150 years in prison having been found guilty, Tuesday, of swindling his clients of billions of dollars. United States District Judge, Denny Chin, issued the maximum sentence to the 71-year-old. The judge said the estimate that Madoff had cost his victims more than $13 billion was conservative because it did not include money from feeder funds. Madoff already has taken a severe financial as a judge, last week, issued a preliminary $171 billion forfeiture order stripping Madoff of all his personal property, including real estate, investments, and $80 million in assets his wife Ruth had claimed were hers. The order left her with $2.5 million.