Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 31

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

7 Die in Enugu Fuel Tanker Fire

About seven persons were, on Thursday, feared dead, while over 50 buildings housing police officers and officers of the Nigeria Prisons Service, Enugu State, were razed when a fuel tanker caught fire and exploded near the popular Ogbete Market. The timely intervention of men of the Enugu Fire Service, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Nigeria Securities and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), among other security operatives, prevented the fire from consuming the entire market and Central Police Station. Though, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in the state, Steven Ekpei said only three persons died in the inferno, eye witness account had it that the deaths were not less than seven.

5 Shot Dead in Bayelsa

Five people were shot and killed in various locations across Bayelsa state, last weekend. It violence started with the killing of two ex-militant leaders in a restaurant in Ogbia LGA. According to sources, one of the ex-militant leaders known as ‘Commander Akina’ was in company with a fellow ex-militant whose identity was not immediately known when an unidentified person walked in and shot them dead. The shooting forced people to scamper for safety with some residents immediately calling the Joint Military Task Force (JTF). Two boys were also killed at the Opolo Park while body of another victim was found by the residents. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Eguaveon Emoakpe, confirmed three deaths and said the police were on top of the situation.

3 Cameroonians Arrested for Selling Fake Drugs

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), on Monday, paraded three Cameroonians for selling, dispensing and administering fake unregistered Chinese herbal medicine in Ebonyi State. They were also said to be operating illegal clinic. The Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr Paul Orhil, explained that Andre Capoel was arrested at Honourable Samuel Nwuli Hotel, Agubia, Ikwo LGA, where he operated an illegal clinic. One bag of assorted fake drugs was confiscated from him. According to NAFDAC boss, all three suspects claimed to work for one Mr Christian Gmipibio, a Camerounian citizen base in China. They claimed he sent drugs to them to sell.

Three Killed as Students Protest in Owerri

Three students of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, Imo State were on Wednesday, killed while properties worth millions of naira were destroyed during a student’s demonstration. The dead students were said to have being shot dead at the peak of the protest in the campus by unidentified persons.  The students, who were in their thousands, stormed the streets of Owerri to protest over alleged increase in school fess by the school’s management.  But the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Nze Obinna Okafor denied any increase in school fees. He blamed the riot on the Student’s Union Government election scheduled to hold on Thursday, accusing students who were disqualified of contesting the election of being behind the crisis. Meanwhile the school has been shut down to allow investigation into the crisis.

Oil Thieves Breach Crude Wells in Abia

The Abia state governor, Theodore Orji has ordered the arrest of suspected crude oil thieves at Ukwa West LGA of the state. The suspects allegedly had lifted over 150 trucks of crude oil in the area. Orji described the development as “an unprecedented economic sabotage,” stressing that all forces at government’s disposal must be assembled to arrest and punish the culprits. Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Divisional Officer in the area, Hyacinth Ofondu, said on a tip-off, his men swooped on the illegal bunkering site to accost the people drilling crude oil there. Upon interrogation, the suspects said that they were licensed by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to operate in the oil field, but investigations later reveled that the drilling was illegal as the NNPC denied issuing any license to the people found drilling crude in the area.

15 Killed in Aba Road Accident

About 15 people were killed and nine people injured, while shops and goods worth millions of naira were destroyed in multiple accidents involving three trucks at the Aba River slope (waterside) in the Ogbor Hill axis of Aba, Abia state, penultimate Friday. The accident reportedly occurred when a truck descending the hill rammed into another truck coming from Calabar. The accident and the presence of about two police checkpoints on the slope caused a traffic snarl. The 15 people died when the driver of another truck heading towards Akwa Ibom State lost control at the summit of Ogbor Hill and rammed into many vehicles from the rear.

MASSOB, Police Clash in Onitsha

About four members of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) were allegedly shot, on Thursday, in Onitsha, as armed policemen opened fire on the protesting group. Over 400 MASSOB members, who took to the street in protest of the continued incarceration of their leaders, were accosted by a detachment of policemen who had trailed them to forestall a possible breakdown of law and order. According to the MASSOB’s Director of Information in the Onitsha Region, Godwin Aguchima, the members embarked on the peaceful protest to condemn what he described as a systematic and wicked clampdown on MASSOB by the Nigerian government.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Security Officer Killed in Delta State

The people of Omoh in Aboh, Ndokwa LGA of Delta State, plan to cripple activities in Asaba, over the killing of their kinsman, Obinna Okwuosa on June 18. Okwuosa was found dead in the River Niger with a nine inches solid block tied on his neck and his body dismembered. Obinna, was brutally murdered on Saturday, June 18, the day his wife, Chinaza, a 25-year-old woman, gave birth to his first son, Destiny, who has a seven-year-old sister, Love. But, his murder was allegedly swept under the carpet by men of the State Police Command after they were said to have arrested four members of the gang that killed Obinna, but later released them.

Court Orders Deputy Gov’s Wife to Pay for Assaulting Soldier

A Federal High Court in Benin City has ordered the wife of Edo State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Endurance Odubu, to pay N12 million as damages to Captain Olorunduyilemi Stephen, an officer of the Nigerian Army, who was allegedly beaten up and detained by security operatives attached to Mrs. Odubu in January last year. Odubu’s convoy was said to have overtaken him in a traffic jam on Sapele Road, Benin City, on January 11, 2010. Delivering judgment Monday, Justice Adamu Hobon ordered Odubu to tender an apology to the Army officer in three electronic media and two national dailies. According to Justice Hobon in his judgment, the use of siren is for emergency by fire fighters and to clear the road for top government officials. He said the wife of a deputy governor was a private person and not entitled to heavy security guard and the use of siren.

Police Foil Attempted Kidnap of Benin Transporter

Police in Benin, Edo state, on Monday, foiled an attempt to kidnap a popular Benin-based transporter, arresting three gunmen in the process. According to the Commissioner of Police, Edo State, Mr. David Omojola, the three suspects armed with two loaded locally made revolver pistols invaded the residence of the transporter and tied up his security as they for his whereabouts in the house. Omojola disclosed that while the operation lasted, a vigilant neighbour alerted the police who responded swiftly to the gunmen in a duel before they were arrested with fatal bullet wounds. The Police Chief, who paraded the suspects with the two locally made revolver pistols and live bullets allegedly recovered from them, lauded the efforts of the in the area.

Tribunal Upholds Uduaghan’s Victory

The Delta State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Asaba Monday ruled that the state Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, was duly elected in the governorship rerun election conducted on January 6. Dismissing a petition brought by the governorship candidate of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) in the same election, Chief Great Ogboru against Uduaghan’s victory, the three-man tribunal in the judgment delivered by Justice Doris Ogwurike upheld the election that produced Uduaghan. The tribunal also said Ogboru was not entitled to any of the reliefs he sought. Justice Ugwurike also ruled that the burden of proof of Ogboru’s claims was on him, the petitioner, which she said he failed to prove “beyond reasonable doubt”.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Woman Throws Baby Inside Well

A 23-year-old woman, Bose Lateef, has been arrested for alleged murder by men of the Oyo State police command. The suspect, who was arrested on Monday at Olomi area in Oluyole LGA of the state, was said to have thrown her seven-month-old baby inside a well, which consequently led to her death. The state Police Public Relations (PPRO), ASP Femi Okanlawon, who confirmed the incident, on Tuesday, said that a man identified as Alhaji reported the incident at Sanyo police station. He said police detectives visited the scene of the incident and the baby was brought out from the well dead. The suspect, who made confessional statements, said she did not know how it happened.

Police Advise Landlords to Get Tenants’ Profile

A police officer, Mr. Edet Esu, has advised landlords to get all the necessary information about those seeking accommodation in their houses before allowing them in. Esu, a deputy superintendent of police, who represented the divisional police officer of Igando Police Station, said most robberies in communities were carried out by insiders. Esu advised landlords to have a biodata form, where prospective tenants could fill in information about themselves. He added that the system would exonerate them in case their tenants indulged in crimes. While stressing the need for security awareness, he advised each community to have an information box where opinions, happenings in the community and information regarding suspicious characters in the neighbourhood could be dropped.

Police Arrest Student, Two Others for Murder, Robbery

A medical student, Kolade Olajide (24) and two others, have been arrested by Ekiti State Police Command for allegedly killing a Police Constable, Olufowobi Olusegun, at his residence during a robbery incident carried out by a three-man gang. Olajide allegedly committed the murder alongside other suspects, who were identified as Blessing Ohwosiri (27) and Ogundare Ojo (24). Also, a 22-year-old female, Faleye Sunkanmi, who is suspected to be Ohwosiri’s girlfriend, the gang leader, has been detained for allegedly running errands for them. Sunkanmi, who exonerated herself from the robbery, said she was arrested at the OAUTH while assisting Ohwosiri to procure drugs.

NDLEA Destroys Cannabis Farms Worth N100m

Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on Wednesday, destroyed Indian hemp farms worth N100 million in Oluyole LGA of Oyo State. The 60-hectare farms were located in Gambari and Government Forestry Reserve. The agency’s assistant commander (Intelligence and Operations), Mr Inyamah Godwin, said that three people were arrested in connection with the cannabis farms.

3 Killed in Osun Helicopter Crash

The remains of the victims of the chartered Ilorin-bound helicopter that crashed on Friday have been found. The helicopter which crashed into Oba rock between Ikonifin in Olaoluwa LGA and Ife-Odan in Ejigbo LGA of Osun state belongs to OAS Helicopters and it carried Mrs. Josephine Kuteji, the CEO of Bacita Sugar Company, her Personal Assistant, Mrs Adedoyin Ogunbanjo and the pilot. The crash site was discovered by a combined team of the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA), and others. According to Mr. Ishaya Isah Choloko, the South West Coordinator of NEMA, the crash occurred due to poor visibility caused by bad weather.

4 Mobile Policemen Arrested over Alleged Armed Robbery

Four mobile policemen have been arrested in connection with a bank robbery at Ikorodu, Lagos, in January this year. Investigation revealed that the mobile policemen were on their way back from another successful operation, when they were arrested, on Monday. It was gathered that they were accosted by policemen on stop-and-search and that they introduced themselves as policemen and displayed their identification cards. However, one of the policemen was said to have spotted a mask kept carelessly on the driver’s seat. Police sources said during preliminary investigation, one of them was discovered to have once been arrested over a robbery incident.

2 Policemen Arrested for Killing Police Officers’ Son

Two policemen in Lagos were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly killing the son of police officers, Monday Egbah (28). The suspects, identified as Corporal Daniel and Corporal Peter, were nabbed alongside a civilian by police detectives attached to Apapa Police Division. The victim was said to be returning to his parents’ residence at Queens Barracks, Apapa, at about 11 pm on Monday when one of the police corporals accosted him at the gate, accusing him of being among those who fought him in a nightclub. Corporal Peter and an unidentified civilian joined them. Peter was alleged to have picked a large plank, which had protruding nails and hit Monday’s head with it.  A source disclosed that when Monday fell down, he hit him with the object several times in the chest. Egboh died the following day.

Customs’s Vehicle Crushes School Children in Ogun

Men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Police killed 3 people in different towns in Ogun state. In one of the incidents, a Hilux Van belonging to the Nigeria Customs crushed some primary school children, said to be siblings. Two of them died, while one was severely wounded, as the officers were chasing smugglers. The Customs Public Relations Officer, Nicholas Ngige, described the incident as an accident. In another development, students of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ogun State trooped to the streets, protesting the killing of one of them by the police. The deceased, identified as Olawale Musiliu Lasisi, was shot dead on Tuesday evening by policemen who were haunting some suspected cult members who allegedly raped some of the university’s female students and posted the nude pictures on Facebook and YouTube.

GENERAL

Armed Bandits Attack Kaduna Villages

Armed bandits suspected to be citizens of Niger Republic, last weekend, attacked some villages in the southern part of Kaduna State, injuring many people. However, 15 of the raiders were arrested by the villagers after several hours of scuffle. The 15 hoodlums arrested by the villagers were handed over to soldiers. The soldiers reportedly took them to Kafanchan zonal police headquarters for further investigation. The hoodlums, who came in three batches at about 1.00am, attacked the villages, Angwan Yaro and Angwan Yuli. But the communities were said to have been alerted to their coming, following a tip-off that strange movements had been noticed within and around bush paths in the area.

Nigerians Jailed in UK for Online Fraud

Three Nigerians recently arrested for online fraud have been convicted and jailed for a minimum of 5 years by a London court. The online fraudsters, Ayodeji Kareem, 39; Babatunde Fafore, 41 and Vincent Alonge, 32, were reportedly jailed for stealing £1.1 million from bank customers by 'phishing.' During their trial, Kareem, of Peckham, and Fafore, of County Neath, in Ireland, reportedly admitted conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to acquire and use criminal property.

Probe of Soldiers’ Operations in Maiduguri Begins

The Military High Command has begun investigations into alleged excesses of soldiers sent to Borno State to flush out members of violent Islamic sect, the Boko Haram. Minister of Defence, Alhaji Haliru Bello, promised that any soldier found to have violated the rules of engagement would be punished. Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has reassured Nigerians that his administration is committed to securing lives and properties. The president reminded Nigerians that security was a shared responsibility urging the people to be vigilant and report suspicious characters to the security agencies. Similarly, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin, has admitted operational failures by the soldiers, saying five members of the task force are currently undergoing trial for their complicity in the misconduct.

Nigerian Appointed Force Commander for UN Mission in South Sudan

A Nigerian, Maj-Gen. Moses Obi, has been appointed as the Interim Force Commander for the newly created UN Mission in South Sudan. The UN diplomats, Thursday, said that Obi, 55, the former force commander of the UN Mission in Sudan had been asked to continue in the same capacity at UNMISS.  A Security Council resolution establishing the mission had requested the UN Secretary-General to transfer to UNMISS the appropriate functions performed by UNMIS together with the appropriate staff and logistics. The new mission will consist of up to 7,000 UN peacekeepers and an additional 900 civilian police, according to the terms of the resolution of the UN Security Council.

Fake NAFDAC Official Jailed

A chief Magistrate’s Court in Zaria, Kaduna State has sentenced a fake official of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Ibrahim Ahmed, to three months imprisonment. He is also to pay a fine of N10000. The convict, who is a dismissed policeman, was dragged before Chief Magistrate Yohannah Gwadah by the Police following allegations of extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public in the guise of helping them register their products with NAFDAC. However, luck ran out on the convict when one of his victims, Mr. Samuel Pariso, from whom he had collected N11000, became suspicious when he demanded additional money with some threats.

Bauchi CP Cautions DPOs on Work Ethics

Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State, Mr Ikechukwu Aduba, has sounded a note of warning to Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), who are fond of leaving their areas of operation, even as he guaranteed the people of the state of their safety during his tenure in office. Aduba, who assumed duty in the state last week, said he would not tolerate what happened recently in Toro LGA of the state, where gunmen suspected to be members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect stormed a police station and made away with arms and ammunition. Aduba further informed that he was going to reconstitute the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in the state with a view to enhancing their performance.

Reps Want FG to Investigate Murder of Nigerian by German Police

The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, adopted a motion which sought to investigate the gruesome murder of a Nigerian, Mrs Christy Schnudeck, nee Omorodion, who was resident in Germany. The House resolution was sequel to the motion of urgent national importance brought by the deputy leader, Honourable Leo Ogor, who drew the attention of the House to the murder of Mrs Schnudeck and urged the Federal Government to intervene in the matter. According to the deputy leader, the German authorities were on the verge of cremating the body of Mrs Schnudeck noting that such move was against the culture of Nigeria.

3 Corps Members Killed in Kogi Auto Crash

Three members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who just concluded their orientation programme in Kogi State and a staff of the scheme, Mr Rufai Ahmed lost their lives on Wednesday when the car belonging to the staff in which they were travelling was involved in an auto crash along the Kabba-Okene road. A witness said that the accident occurred due to dangerous over taking by late Ahmed, who had a head on collision with a truck heading towards Ekiti. He said three corps members and the owner of the car died while the other two occupants of the car sustained serious injuries.

CBN Raises Interest Rate

To hedge inflation predicted to rise in the second half of 2011 driven by the planned implementation of the new minimum wage of N18000 in August, coupled with high cost of energy and imports as well as fresh injection of about N1.6 trillion into the troubled banks by the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), the Central Bank (CBN), on Tuesday, moved the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by 75 basis point, from 8% to 8.75% with immediate effect. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives said that it would review the submissions of the Governor of the CBN, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, regarding the setting up of Islamic Banking in Nigeria and take a proper stand on the matter. The House cautioned its members against the danger of allowing the presentation of the Sanusi to distract it from its main legislative agenda.

Boko Haram Kills District Head, 9-Year-Old Girl

Suspected Boko Haram Islamists shot and killed Mohammed Ali Lawal, the district head of Bulabulin in Maiduguri on Wednesday in Maiduguri. Alhaji Ali's attackers numbering 3 also shot and killed his 9-year-old daughter. A neighbor's daughter was also caught in the cross fire was also injured. In another development, soldiers killed a suspected member the Boko Haram Islamist sect in a shootout on Tuesday, according to the military. Residents said they quickly fled the area in fear of reprisal attacks by soldiers who have been accused of rampaging and killing scores of locals after attacks in recent weeks. Amnesty International said nearly 50 people have been killed in military raids after attacks by Boko Haram.

50 Ex-Militants Go for Training in Sri Lanka

Fifty ex-militants in the Niger Delta, last weekend left for Sri Lanka for training in boat building, underwater operations, deep sea welding and underwater diving.  The training, which is expected to take place at the Topher Zhang Vocational Institute in Sri Lanka, is to last for six months. Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku urged them to make judicious use of the opportunity. Kuku, who was represented by Dr. Ferdinand Ikwang, cautioned the ex-militants to be good ambassadors of Nigeria and to study hard to excel and achieve their goals.

Minister Seeks Military’s Assistance to Tackle Boko Haram

Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (rtd), has solicited the assistance of the Ministry of Defence in the training of Police officers in the area of counter-terrorism and other acts of containing violence to enable them deal with exploits of the Boko Haram sect. Captain Olubolade decried ongoing security challenges in the country, especially the activities of the Boko Haram group, and called for collaboration of the Armed Forces and other security agencies to tackle the menace. According to him, the current security challenges offered by the Boko Haram sect have done great damage to the image of the country.

Bomb Blast Kills Eight in Maiduguri

A bomb exploded in Maiduguri, Borno State, last weekend, killing at least eight people. Lt. Col. Hassan Mohammed, spokesman for the Joint (Military) Task Force, refused to confirm that there were deaths. The explosive, which was believed to have been thrown by Boko Haram was targeted at the Patrol vehicle of the Joint Task Force on surveillance duty at Budum junction, a distance of about 500 metres from the monarch’s palace. Meanwhile, the Niger State Police Command has arrested seven persons in Suleja for allegedly being in possession of a large quantity of explosives capable of being used for making bombs. The suspects were arrested following a tip-off by one of the relations of the suspects.

Kaduna Suspends Curfew, Bans Motorcyclists

The Kaduna State government on has lifted the curfew imposed in the state, following the violence that occurred after the presidential election in April. The curfew, which was from 11pm to 5am daily, has now been lifted throughout the state.  But the government had placed restriction on the movement of commercial motorcyclists in the state capital and environs from 8pm to 6am daily, for what it described as “security reasons”. Meanwhile 5 persons died on Tuesday in a motor accident when the bus rammed into a stationary trailer on top of the Kaduna Bridge at about 10pm. The Public Relations Officer, Kaduna Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Yunusa Ibrahim,  said  that the driver was not only  speeding but  must have been drunk.

Labour Mobilises for Another Strike over Implementation of New Wage

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened another round of nationwide strike as the Federal Government on Thursday disclosed that it can no longer honour the agreement it earlier reached with the NLC on the implementation of the new wage. At the resumption of talks between the organised Labour and government representatives, the FG declared it was not ready to spread the new wage beyond Grade Level six and also include the exclusion of non-civil servants from those that will benefit from the new wage. The stance of the FG drew the ire of Labour which has also resolved to resume mobilisation for strike effective from midnight Sunday, July 31. Deputy President of NLC, Kiri Mohammed, described the action as a sad development in the history of Nigeria.

Boko Haram Threatens To Attack Kano

Boko Haram Islamist sect has issued a warning signal to Kano State government over the arrest of its members in the state, saying that it will not hesitate to launch a bloody attack on the state. In an open letter addressed to Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and others, the sect frowned at what it described as persecution of its innocent members. The sect also demanded that the security agents should stop arresting its members, saying those arrested should be released without further delay. Meanwhile, the Kaduna State command of the State Security Service (SSS), Thursday, intercepted a car said to be heavily loaded with materials for improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Security sources disclosed that security surveillance had been beefed up in the area.

INTERNATIONAL

South Sudan Joins African Union as 54th Nation

The African Union has admitted South Sudan as its 54th member. South Sudan got its independence from Sudan on July 9th following a January referendum, when voters overwhelmingly approved its independence. The referendum was part of a 2005 peace deal that ended decades of civil war pitting a government dominated by Arab Muslims in the north against black Christians and animists in the South. Both countries have not reached an agreement on their borders, the oil or the status of their citizens. African Union officials are expected to join talks to help resolve outstanding issues between the two sides. South Sudan became the 193rd member of the United Nations on July 14.

Plane Crash Kills 78 in Morocco

A small plane crash in southern Morocco and killed 78 people. According to reports, the Moroccan C-130 military plane crashed in the southern part of the country. The aircraft, belonging to Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces, crashed into a mountain as it attempted to land at a military airport. It is not clear whether civilians were on board. The cause of the crash is suspected to be bad weather.

Train Collision Claims 35 Lives in China

A high-speed bullet train collision in eastern China's Zhejiang province left 35 people dead and 210 injured, penultimate Saturday. According to reports, a bullet train stopped on the tracks because of a power outage from a lightning strike. Another bullet train traveling in the same direction rammed into the first train from behind and caused four of its cars to fall from an elevated bridge. Some passengers had to smash windows and crawl out of the cars. The struck train was carrying 1,300 to 1,400 passengers, officials said.

80 Militants Dead in Afghan Gun Battle

At least 80 militants were killed in a series of operations involving Afghan and NATO forces during a day-long firefight last week in the country's restive southeast, Paktika provincial governor Mukhlas Afghan said Sunday. NATO said it could only confirm 50 insurgents were killed in the fight. The operation, which began Wednesday and spanned the night into Thursday, was fought in a "known Haqqani network" area. The Haqqani network is an insurgent group loosely affiliated with the Taliban and is believed to be based in Pakistan's frontier territories. The raid included Afghan Special Forces and engaged "multiple groups of insurgents" who were armed with rocket-propelled grenade launchers and heavy machine guns, NATO's International Security Assistance Force reported Friday.

Father Kills Wife, Others During Child's Party

A man opened fire at a Texas roller skating rink during a birthday party for one of his children, killing his estranged wife and four of her family members before turning the gun on himself, police said Sunday. Tan Do, 35, and Trini Do, 29, were hosting the party at the Roller World Skating Rink in the Dallas suburb of Grand Prairie, Texas, on Saturday for one of their children. "The couple had been involved in ongoing marital problems and it is believed that this led to the shooting," police said.

Militants Hang 8-Year-Old in Afghanistan

An 8 year-old boy was hanged by militants in Afghanistan's Helmand province after the boy's father, a police officer, refused to comply with militants' demands to provide them with a police vehicle, officials said. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has ordered local authorities to root out the militants and arrest them "as soon as possible." The boy was kidnapped Friday. It was unclear when he was killed.

NATO Targets Gaddafi’s Compound

Explosions rocked central Tripoli for the second night in a row and Britain said weeks of NATO bombardment had inflicted extensive damage on Muammar Gaddafi's heavily-fortified compound. Libya's leader is clinging to power despite a four-month-old NATO air campaign and a lengthening conflict with rebels seeking an end to his 41-year rule and who have seized large swathes of the North African country. At least seven Libyan civilians have been killed in a NATO airstrike east of the capital, the Muammar Gaddafi regime has announced. According to regime officials, NATO warplanes targeted a small medical clinic and food storage buildings in the western town of Zlitan on Monday. The airstrike came a day after NATO warplanes attacked several areas in and around the Libyan capital Tripoli.

Rain Storm Kills Over 44 in South Korea

Massive downpours in South Korea have claimed at least 44 lives, the country's Central Disaster Relief Agency reported on Thursday. The most recent numbers released by the Central Disaster Relief Agency indicated that much of the death toll comes from landslides triggered by the rain. Earlier, the agency warned that hundreds of families had lost their homes. The weather caused major traffic disruptions across portions of the country as well. The Korea Meteorological Agency issued a special heavy rainfall alert for cities in the center of the country. The forecast called for the downpour to continue at a rate of 60 millimeters per hour over the next day.

Tropical Storm Kills 27 in Philippines

A tropical storm moving through the Philippines on Wednesday killed 27 people and left more than 60 injured or missing. Hours after Tropical Storm Juaning made landfall along northern Aurora province, the country's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council began rescuing stranded people and searching for fishermen swept away by powerful waves. The slow-moving storm continues to drag through northern parts of the island nation at about 10 mph (16kph). It is expected to cross into parts of the Northern Luzon Island Wednesday night, the agency said. The government has been tracking the storm since it intensified from a depression Monday. The storm is expected to continue to bring widespread rain throughout the Luzon Island until the end of the week, the agency said.

Bus Accident Claims 32 Lives in Zambia

A total of 32 people were killed in eastern Zambia after a bus they were travelling in overturned, a police spokesperson said on Wednesday. Ndandula Siamana said that the accident involved a Zambia/Malawi bus that was travelling from Chipata to Lusaka, the country’s capital. The accident occurred when the bus was trying to overtake another vehicle but ran into an on-coming truck. She said the driver of the truck and another passenger were burnt to ashes in the process while the accident victims have been admitted in a local hospital. The bus was carrying about 58 passengers. Accidents are common in Zambia and are mainly caused by careless drivers and the poor state of roads.

Norwegian Killer Remanded Custody

A court has ruled that Anders Behring Breivik, the man who has confessed to carrying out a bombing and shooting spree that left 93 people dead in Norway, should be held for eight weeks, half of that in complete isolation. Breivik confessed to the attacks but denied criminal responsibility. Judge Kim Heger said after a closed court hearing that the accused told the court he wanted to save Europe and send a strong signal. The suspect has said he staged the bombing and youth camp rampage as “marketing” for his manifesto calling for a revolution that would rid Europe of Muslims. Norwegian Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg, has said his country will not be intimidated or threatened” by last Friday’s bomb and gun attacks.

US Soldier Arrested with Bomb-making Materials

A U.S. Army soldier was arrested after police found him in a motel room near Fort Hood, Texas, with possible "bomb-making materials," authorities said on Thursday. The FBI said the soldier, who was absent without leave from Fort Campbell, was being held at a Killeen, Texas, jail near Fort Hood on an unrelated child pornography charge. He was identified as Naser Jason Abdo, 21, who disappeared from Fort Campbell over the July 4 weekend, Fort Campbell base spokesman, Bob Jenkins said. He did not elaborate on the apparent threat, or what charges Abdo might face.

Blasts Kill 15 in Iraq
…Iraqi Forces Arrest 16 Suspected al Qaeda Members

At least 15 people were killed and 28 more wounded when two bombs exploded in the Iraqi city of Tikrit as police and soldiers were collecting their salaries at a local bank, police and a health official said on Thursday. A car bomb exploded outside the Rafidain state-run bank in the centre of Tikrit and a suicide bomber blew himself up as emergency workers arrived on the scene, police said. Tikrit, the hometown of former dictator, Saddam Hussein, is dominated by Sunni Muslims and suspected Sunni Islamists tied to al Qaeda have carried out frequent attacks in the town. Meanwhile, Iraqi authorities, last weekend, disclosed the arrest of 16 suspected al Qaeda members accused of being behind over 100 killings. General Ahmed Abu Ragheef, the Interior Ministry's head of internal affairs, accused them of carrying out the high-profile assassination in May of Ali al-Lami, a senior Iraqi politician.

Somali, AU Forces Advance to al Shabaab’s Stronghold

Somali government forces and African Union (AU) peacekeeping troops on Thursday, launched a major offensive against Islamist rebels, al Shabaab, leaving about 21 dead and dozens of others wounded. The report indicated that the security sweep was launched against the militants’ positions in the north of the Somali capital, Mogadishu and government military commanders said their forces took over large swathes of the territory held by the rebels. Al Shabaab has not commented on their losses so far. The group is expected to launch a major offensive during the coming Muslim holy month of Ramadan as they did in the past years. The group has since been experiencing a streak of successive defeats in the face of the government and AU offensive.

25 Killed, 35 Injured in Southern Afghan
…Mayor of Kandahar Killed in Suicide Attack

Multiple explosions and gun battle, on Thursday, left 25 people, including six attackers, dead and injured 35 others in Trinkot city, south of Afghan capital, Kabul. A spokesman for provincial administration, Ahmad Milad Mudasir, confirmed the incidents. The Taliban say they carried out the attack, which comes amid renewed violence in Afghanistan. NATO says it is providing air support to Afghan forces in Tarin Kowt. Residents said heavy machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and assault rifles were being used by both sides. In an earlier attack, Ghulam Haidar, the mayor of Kandahar, was killed in a suicide attack at a city meeting hall Wednesday morning. Haidar's death is the latest in a string of July attacks on high-profile officials by militants.

Gunmen Kill Somali Lawmaker

Armed men shot and killed a Somali lawmaker, Kalif Jire Warfa, in the capital Mogadishu on Sunday, officials and witnesses said. Two gunmen shot a legislator near his hotel on his way back from a Mosque, Somali security official, Liban Mohamed, said. The killers escaped before police arrived at the scene. He died instantly

Germany Lends Libyan Rebels $144 Million

Germany announced Sunday it has agreed to lend 100 million euros ($144 million) to the rebels in Libya for "civilian and humanitarian purposes" despite staying out of NATO's bombing campaign against Libyan government forces. German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, said Germany was supporting the NATO mission by providing increased resources to the U.S.-led mission in Afghanistan, freeing other nations to contribute to the Libyan campaign. Germany has recognized the rebels as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people and established a liaison office with the opposition in Benghazi in May. Meanwhile the UK has said it will recognise the Libyan rebel council as the "sole governmental authority". This comes as Gaddafi-regime diplomats were expelled.

Three Rebels Killed in Dagestan Raid

Russian security forces killed three suspected militants in a gunfight in its restive North Caucasus province of Dagestan, authorities said on Sunday. One of the victims was Mekhtibek Bashirov, the leader of an insurgent group in the Caspian Sea city of Derbent, a local security source said. Predominantly Muslim Dagestan is plagued by violence linked to an Islamist insurgency that persists on Russia's southern rim a decade after federal forces drove separatists from power in Chechnya. Two women said to be suicide bombers were in the alleged militant safe house seized by the authorities in the town of Dagestanskiye Ogni, south of the regional capital Makhachkala.

US Unveils Tough Sanctions against Organised Crime

The United States Monday unveiled a series of tough sanctions aimed at cracking down on international organised crime. The Japanese Yakuza, the Camorra from Naples and Mexico's Los Zetas as well as The Brothers' Circle, based mainly in the former Soviet Union, were among those slapped with economic sanctions, the US government said. US President Barack Obama signed an executive order setting out 56 priority actions aimed at smashing transnational criminal organisations by breaking their economic power and protecting the financial system. The order froze all property belonging to those groups designated as transnational criminal organisations, and barred Americans from engaging in any business with them.

Niger Arrests Soldiers over Plot to Kill President

Military authorities in Niger Republic have arrested five soldiers for allegedly plotting to assassinate President Mahamadou Issoufou. A security official confirmed that the soldiers, who included a major and a lieutenant, had allegedly planned to kill Issoufou on 16 July. Issoufou was elected to office in March, ending military rule in the West African state. Some sections of Niger’s military have been angered by Issoufou’s attempts to end corruption, which has led to the dismissal of several officials. Meanwhile, over 250 people, on Tuesday, appeared in courts around Malawi to face charges over violent anti-government demonstrations last week in which 19 people were killed. Protesters in the southern African country rioted for several days in three major cities over persistent fuel and foreign exchange reserve shortages and complaints of bad governance.