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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 16 Aug 2010 [PDF]
• Iraqis Arrest 6 With Alleged Terrorist Ties AFPS 16 Aug 2010 -- Iraqi security forces arrested six people who allegedly have ties to the al-Qaida in Iraq terrorist organization, military officials reported.
• Afghanistan Sets 4-Month Deadline for Security Firms VOA 16 Aug 2010 -- A spokesman says Afghan President Hamid Karzai is giving private security firms four months to cease operations in the country.
• Afghanistan Command Provides Details of Recent Operations AFPS 16 Aug 2010 -- International Security Assistance Force Joint Command officials have provided details of numerous operations around Afghanistan.
• Karzai Calls for Disbanding of Security Firms VOA 16 Aug 2010 -- A spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai says the Afghan leader is giving private security firms four months to cease operations in the country.
• Gates, Petraeus Differ on Flexibility of Afghan Exit VOA 16 Aug 2010 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has told a major U.S. newspaper the July 2011 date to start withdrawing American troops from Afghanistan is set in stone, putting him at odds with his top Afghan war commander, General David Petraeus.
• Petraeus Casts Doubt On Afghan Pullout Deadline RFE/RL 16 Aug 2010 -- General David Petraeus, the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, has cast doubt on U.S. President Barack Obama's July 2011 deadline to start withdrawing troops from the country, saying it depends on conditions on the ground.
• U.S. Helicopters, Cargo Planes Continue Pakistan Aid AFPS 16 Aug 2010 -- Four U.S. Marine Corps CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters arrived today and U.S. Air Force C-130 cargo aircraft began transporting international aid within Pakistan as part of the continued U.S. humanitarian assistance in support of flood relief from the monsoon floods.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US Defense Secretary to Step Down in 2011 VOA 16 Aug 2010 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he will likely leave his post next year, ending what would be a very eventful four-year tenure.
• US, South Korea Begin Massive Military Exercise VOA 16 Aug 2010 -- South Korea and the United States began a new round of war games Monday, involving about 30,000 U.S. forces and 56,000 South Korean personnel.
• Warfighting Exercise Focuses on South Korean Defense AFPS 16 Aug 2010 -- A 10-day warfighting exercise kicked off today to improve allied capabilities to deter and, if necessary, counter aggression against South Korea.
• Trancsript: DOD Background Briefing on Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China DoD 16 Aug 2010 -- Presenter: Senior Defense Official
• Report Says Chinese Military Transparency Still Lacking AFPS 16 Aug 2010 -- China has made some progress, but not enough, in military transparency, and the Chinese decision to suspend military-to-military contacts with the United States is acting against the interests of both countries, according to the latest annual report in a congressionally mandated series.
• ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS: Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2010 Released 16 Aug 2010 -- "Over the past 30 years, China has made great progress in its pursuit of economic growth and development, which has allowed China to achieve higher living standards for the Chinese people and has increased China's international profile. These economic achievements, combined with progress in science and technology, have also enabled China to embark on a comprehensive transformation of its military. The pace and scope of China's military modernization have increased over the past decade, enabling China's armed forces to develop capabilities to contribute to the delivery of international public goods, as well as increase China's options for using military force to gain diplomatic advantage or resolve disputes in its favor."
• Defense Intelligence Agency opens new facility at Rivanna Station Army News 16 Aug 2010 -- A major milestone in the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure legislation impacting Fort Belvoir was marked Tuesday during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Rivanna Station. The ceremony, hosted by the Defense Intelligence Agency, officially opened the Joint-Use Intelligence Facility.
• Pilots serve as instructors in Saudi Arabia AFNS 16 Aug 2010 -- Six pilots with the United States Military Training Mission Air Force Division here embedded at several Royal Saudi Air Force bases to train, advise and assist Saudi Arabian pilots in their operations, all to support the common interest of both nations. The Airmen say some knowledge of Arabic is hugely beneficial.
• Medical team trains for emergency response AFNS 16 Aug 2010 -- Air Force medical professionals participated in a massive joint forces field-training exercise recently simulating a terrorist attack in the U.S.
• Eighth Army participates in Ulchi Freedom Guardian Army News 16 Aug 2010 -- Eighth (Field) Army is honing its ability to defend the Republic of Korea from Aug. 16 - 26 during exercise Ulchi Freedom Guardian, the world's largest annual command post exercise.
• Chem-bio sensor network increases reaction time Army News 16 Aug 2010 -- The U.S. Army leveraged its integrated C4ISR capabilities event at Fort Dix, N.J. to demonstrate the feasibility of a sensor network that will improve situational awareness and reaction time in the field during chemical or biological incidents.
• Fort Polk breaks ground for Warrior Transition Unit barracks Army News 16 Aug 2010 -- Fort Polk officially broke ground on the Warrior Transition Unit barracks on Third Street Aug. 9.
• Armor School sends first wave of tanks Army News 16 Aug 2010 -- The first Armor School tanks have reached Fort Benning soil.
• Soldiers evaluate themselves via Global Assessment Tool Army News 16 Aug 2010 -- Quick, yes or no: I believe my life has a higher purpose? I believe in our mission? I can call people I know in an emergency? I trust the team I work with? I feel comfortable with my family support net?
• Army Sustainment Command unit sends equipment to Russian firefighters Army News 16 Aug 2010 -- The 3rd Battalion, 405th Army Field Support Brigade supported efforts to contain wildfires in Russia by providing equipment to Russia on Aug. 13. The fire-fighting equipment, including 40 toolkits and 45 chainsaws, was released from the Army Prepositioned Stocks in Italy at the request of the U.S. European Command.
• Current, former USAREC leaders gather to discuss past, future of Army recruiting Army News 16 Aug 2010 -- More than a dozen former USAREC commanding generals, deputy commanding generals, and command sergeants major - representing three decades of leadership - met Aug. 13 with the command's current leaders to discuss the command's challenges and successes including budget constraints, recruiting efforts, new programs and technology.
• Generator users share feedback at conference Army News 16 Aug 2010 -- Military standard generators are a vital asset to Warfighters such as United States Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer Three Matias Kennedy, for missions in rough terrain or extreme weather.
• Annual training exercise keeps base emergency responders ready USMC News 16 Aug 2010 -- All of Camp Pendleton’s emergency response services participated in a base-wide training exercise called Vector West, Aug. 12.
• NECC, Peruvian Navy Continue Partnership Navy NewsStand 16 Aug 2010 -- Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) Sailors visited the Peruvian navy's BAP Angamos (SS 31) July 26 while the submarine was pier side at Naval Station Norfolk for a scheduled port visit.
• Continuing Promise 2010 Brings Humanitarian Civic Assistance to Colombia Navy NewsStand 16 Aug 2010 -- Military and civilian doctors and nurses began providing health care to people in Covenas, Colombia, Aug. 10, as part of the Continuing Promise 2010.
• Carrier Air Wing 17 Holds Change of Command Aboard Carl Vinson Navy NewsStand 16 Aug 2010 -- Commander, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 held a change of command ceremony aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Aug. 16.
• Swift Crew Paints School Auditorium in Barbados Navy NewsStand 16 Aug 2010 -- Crew members deployed aboard High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV) 2 helped refurbish an auditorium at the Garrison Secondary School in Bridgetown, Barbados, Aug. 13.
• Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa Celebrate 500 Years of Danish Navy Navy NewsStand 16 Aug 2010 -- The commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, the U.S. ambassador to Denmark and the commanding officer of USS Taylor (FFG 50) co-hosted a reception for more than 115 distinguished guests aboard Taylor in Copenhagen, Denmark, Aug. 12.
• Timor-Leste Chief of Defense Force Visits Mercy Navy NewsStand 16 Aug 2010 -- The chief of Defense Force for Timor-Leste Defense Force (F-FDTL), Maj. Gen. Taur Matan Ruak visited the USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) Aug. 16 to observe the ship's medical capabilities and participate in a subject matter expert exchange in support of Pacific Partnership 2010.
• Senior Kuwaiti Officers Visit Dubuque Navy NewsStand 16 Aug 2010 -- Senior Kuwaiti and U.S. military officers visited USS Dubuque (LPD 8) for a tour of the ship and lunch hosted by the ship's commanding officer Aug. 2.
• Navy Seabees Reflect on Work in Haiti Navy NewsStand 16 Aug 2010 -- Navy Seabees aboard USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), in support of the Continuing Promise 2010 and Partnership of the Americas mission, may only now understand the impact they had on the Haitians in Port de Paix, Haiti, during host-nation visit July 30.
• Singaporean Residents Tour USS George Washington Navy NewsStand 16 Aug 2010 -- Sailors from USS George Washington (CVN 73) welcomed aboard Singapore residents for public tours of the aircraft carrier Aug. 14 as part of the ship's port visit to Singapore.
• Air Force team launches first advanced satellite AFNS 16 Aug 2010 -- A team from the 45th Space Wing successfully launched the first Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite onboard an Atlas V launch vehicle from Launch Pad 41 here Aug. 14 at 7:07 a.m.
• Air Force officials reviewing command, control training infrastructure AFNS 16 Aug 2010 -- Air Force officials awarded an independent-study contract to DP Technology Services Inc., Aug. 16, for studying the development of an advanced operational-level C2, or command and control, training campus.
• New integrated defense tool offers heightened security AFNS 16 Aug 2010 -- Airmen in the 23rd Security Forces Squadron recently hosted a team of specialists here who introduced base personnel to a new tool aimed at improving security at military installations around the world.
• Fighting Falcons return from exercise in Sweden AFNS 16 Aug 2010 -- Members of the 555th Fighter Squadron and 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron spent two weeks conducting air-to-air and air-to-ground exercises with members of the Swedish air force at Norrbotten Wing here.
• Major property transfer for Sacramento business park AFNS 16 Aug 2010 -- Officials from the Air Force and Sacramento County, together with McClellan Business Park and environmental regulators celebrated the largest property transfer to date Aug. 12 at the former McClellan Air Force Base here.
• New Threat Detection Capabilities Ready to Test AFPS 16 Aug 2010 -- A new system being developed to give helicopter crews a “heads up” when they’re being attacked, as well as the shooter’s location, is slated to ship to Afghanistan in October to see how it stands up under combat conditions.
• The making of an A-10C pilot: 'The Final Exam' AFNS 16 Aug 2010 -- It was final exam time for 1st Lt. Dan Griffin and his 11 classmates, who are days away from graduating from the 358th Fighter Squadron's six-month long A-10C Pilot Initial Qualification Course.
• 8,800 Air Force employees transition out of NSPS AFNS 16 Aug 2010 -- The first two waves of Air Force employees have successfully converted out of the National Security Personnel System, leaving less than 30,000 to make the transition.
• Civilians given 60-day access to records after separating AFNS 16 Aug 2010 -- Air Force Civilian Service employees are now able to access their electronic Official Personnel Folder for up to 60 days following their date of separation.
• Exchange Service Works to Correct Inadvertent Charges AFPS 16 Aug 2010 -- Numerous transactions at Army and Air Force Exchange operations are experiencing a double whammy no one saw coming: a processing error resulting in duplicate charges on credit and debit card transactions.
• Kazakh, British, U.S. Troops Open Drills RFE/RL 16 Aug 2010 -- Kazakh, British and U.S. troops are teaming up for 10 days of joint military exercises.
• Russia's Moskva missile cruiser completes first visit to Sri Lanka RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2010 -- The flagship of Russia's Black Sea fleet, the RFS Moskva guided-missile cruiser, has left the port of Colombo, concluding its first official visit to Sri Lanka, a Navy spokesman said.
• Russia's Bulava missile tests postponed due to wildfires RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2010 -- Russia has postponed the latest test launches of the ill-fated Bulava ballistic missile for at least two weeks due to raging wildfires in the central regions of the country, a Russian newspaper said Monday.
• Regional security organization to start antiterrorism drills in south Russia RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2010 -- Law enforcement agencies and special services of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states will start antiterrorism drills in southern Russia's Saratov Region on Monday, the regional governor's press service reported.
• Blackseafor exercises strengthen security on the Black Sea RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2010 -- The Black Sea Naval Cooperation Task Group (Blackseafor) is holding regularly scheduled exercises on the Black Sea. Political analyst Viktor Nadein-Rayevsky, a senior fellow of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of World Economy and International Relations, shared his views on Blackseafor’s activities and the development of this collective security system on the Black Sea.
• Press Gaggle by Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton Aboard Air Force One en route Wisconsin The White House 16 Aug 2010
• August 16, 2010 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 16 Aug 2010

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 16, 2010
• Raytheon Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle Plays Key Role in Latest Missile Defense Test Raytheon 16 Aug 2010 -- A Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) demonstrated successful two-stage flyout on June 6, 2010 during the latest test of the Missile Defense Agency's Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system.
• Lockheed Martin Conducts First Flight of F-35 Electro-Optical Targeting System on Cooperative Avionics Test Bed Lockheed Martin 16 Aug 2010 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has successfully conducted the first flight of the F-35 Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) on the Cooperative Avionics Test Bed (CATBird) platform. EOTS maturation on the CATBird is the final step prior to integration on the BF-4, the first mission systems-equipped F-35 test aircraft.
• Sultanate Of Oman Acquires Two Additional C-130J Super Hercules Lockheed Martin 16 Aug 2010 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has signed a contract with the Sultanate of Oman for two additional C-130J Super Hercules.
• UH-72A Lakota marks a new milestone with the U.S. Army as a single airframe surpasses the 1,000 flight hour mark EADS 16 Aug 2010 -- A U.S. Army UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter operated at Fort Eustis, Va., is the first Lakota to log 1,000 flight hours, underscoring the growing operational tempo of the rotary-wing aircraft in service with Army and National Guard units.
• Lockheed Martin Team Completes Major Component Design Reviews on Joint Air-To-Ground Missile Program Lockheed Martin 16 Aug 2010 -- Lockheed Martin [LMT: NYSE] and teammates Marvin Engineering and Aerojet have completed successful component and system Preliminary Design Reviews (PDRs) on the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) Technology Development (TD) program, further demonstrating the missile’s technological maturity level.
• Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center Demonstrates Versatile Advanced Monitoring System (VAMS) For Perimeter Security Lockheed Martin 16 Aug 2010 -- Scientists and engineers at the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] Space Systems Company’s (LMSSC) Advanced Technology Center (ATC) have demonstrated an innovative perimeter security system for government and commercial applications. VAMS uses commercial off-the-shelf hardware and software from Intelleflex of Santa Clara, Calif., with proprietary Lockheed Martin-developed elements that include modified firmware, modified interrogation protocols, new detection and tracking algorithms, and real-time operator response.
• Northrop Grumman, U.S. Navy Complete Successful CANES Preliminary Design Review Northrop Grumman 16 Aug 2010 -- With the successful completion of the preliminary design review (PDR), Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) moved the U.S. Navy's Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) program one step closer to delivering streamlined and updated shipboard network systems for improved interoperability and affordability across the fleet.
• SAIC Awarded Contract by Defense Logistics Agency SAIC 16 Aug 2010 -- Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) (NYSE: SAI) today announced it has been awarded a prime contract by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) - Land and Maritime, Columbus, Ohio to support the Anniston Army Depot (ANAD), Anniston, Ala., the Red River Army Depot (RRAD), Texarkana, Texas, and U.S. military customers around the world. The single award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract has a four year base period of performance, two two-year options and a total contract ceiling of $241 million. Work will be performed primarily at ANAD and RRAD.

Other Conflicts

• 16 August 2010 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 16 Aug 2010
• Ban speaks out against recent attacks directed at UN staff in Darfur UN News Centre 16 Aug 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed concern over a string of recent incidents that have contributed to a worsening of the situation in Sudan’s strife-torn Darfur region, where tensions continue at a camp for displaced persons and two United Nations-African Union peacekeepers were seized on Saturday.
• UN: Aid Returns to Darfur IDP Camp VOA 16 Aug 2010 -- Sudan has allowed humanitarian workers back into a Darfur camp for internally displaced people, after a nearly two-week absence the United Nations said led to dire conditions for the residents.
• Puntland Government Bans Media Coverage of Islamic Rebels VOA 16 Aug 2010 -- The region of Puntland, in northeastern Somalia, has banned journalists from interviewing al-Qaida-linked rebels currently battling the semi-autonomous state. While officials say the restriction is necessary for the region's security, media rights groups have condemned the ban as an attack on press freedoms.
• Prosecution appeals for longer jail term in first case at UN-backed Cambodia tribunal UN News Centre 16 Aug 2010 -- Prosecutors at the United Nations-backed tribunal into war crimes committed under Khmer Rouge rule in the late 1970s today launched an appeal against the 35-year jail term handed out to the head of a notorious detention camp run by the regime.
• DRC: Timeline on Lubanga’s ICC Trial IRIN 16 Aug 2010 -- The trial of Thomas Lubanga on war crimes charges that include the conscription of children, the first ever to be heard by the International Criminal Court, has been viewed as an important test of the international court’s credibility and effectiveness. Although the trial began in January 2009, Lubanga has been in ICC detention since March 2006. Beset by procedural hiccups, some observers fear the trial has gone on for too long. Others see the setbacks as a sign that justice is in fact being carried out in a court grappling with its first case.

News Reports

• Reports Indicate Growing Iranian Fuel Crisis Despite Official Denials VOA 16 Aug 2010 -- A top Iranian oil official is saying Monday that Tehran is not having problems purchasing gasoline supplies, despite tough new U.N., U.S. and EU economic sanctions. Reports from both inside and outside Iran, however, indicate the Iranian government is struggling to cope with gasoline shortages. There have been scattered reports of long fuel lines and increasing prices.
• Iran seeks to produce 20,000 mw of nuclear power IRNA 16 Aug 2010 -- Since Iran seeks to produce 20,000 megawatts of power it will need fuel for its power plants in future, said an expert here on Monday.
• Bushehr power plant symbol of Iran’s capability: MP IRNA 16 Aug 2010 -- A member of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission said here on Monday that launching Bushehr power plant indicates Iran’s capability of constructing other power plants.
• Implementing requests beyond NPT prohibited IRNA 16 Aug 2010 -- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday notified a bill according to which implementing requests beyond the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) obligations is prohibited.
• Iranian President Signs Bill Calling For More Uranium Enrichment RFE/RL 16 Aug 2010 -- Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad today signed a bill calling for continued uranium enrichment and limiting any cooperation with the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, beyond what is required under the Nonproliferation Treaty.
• France voices concern over Iran's uranium enrichment facility plans RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2010 -- France is concerned about Iran's plans to construct a new uranium enrichment facility in 2011, a spokeswoman for the French Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
• Iran awaits Western response on fuel swap talks proposal RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2010 -- Iran is awaiting an official response from international intermediaries to hold talks on a nuclear fuel swap that includes Turkey and Brazil in the negotiation process, ISNA news agency said Monday.
• Israeli-Palestinian tensions – prelude to the war against Iran RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2010 -- After a relatively calm summer, the Israeli-Palestinian stand-off might develop into a full-scale military confrontation once again. The only difference: today, Israel is like never before ready to bomb Iran, which Tel Aviv holds responsible for sponsoring such military groups as Hamas in the Palestinian territories and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The president of the Institute for Middle Eastern Studies shares his opinion on the possible developments in the region. Interview by Samir Shakbhaz.
• Iran: Nuclear Facility Construction to Begin by March VOA 16 Aug 2010 -- Iran's nuclear chief says the country will begin construction of a new uranium enrichment facility by March of next year.
• UN Warns of Disease in Pakistan; Response to Aid Appeal Sluggish VOA 16 Aug 2010 -- The United Nations says 3.5 million children in Pakistan are at risk from waterborne diseases, warning of a "second wave of death" from the country's devastating floods.
• UN: 3.5 Million Pakistani Children at Risk for Waterborne Diseases VOA 16 Aug 2010 -- The United Nations says 3.5 million children in Pakistan are at risk from waterborne diseases, warning of a "second wave of death" from the country's devastating floods.
• Berlin denies role in freeing suspected Mossad agent IRNA 16 Aug 2010 -- The German government Monday claimed it had no role in the controversial release of a suspected Mossad operative wanted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for his alleged involvement in the killing of a senior Hamas official in Dubai.
• Romanian caught spying in Russia ordered to leave country RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2010 -- A senior Romanian diplomat who was detained in Moscow while trying to obtain military secrets from a Russian national has been declared persona non grata and ordered to leave the country within 48 hours, the Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Monday.
• Senior UN military official meets top politicians in Lebanon UN News Centre 16 Aug 2010 -- The top United Nations military official in Lebanon today held talks with senior politicians in the country today, underscoring the need for continued close coordination between the world body’s peacekeeping mission and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).
• Niger: UN fund allocates more resources to hunger-stricken population UN News Centre 16 Aug 2010 -- In an effort to alleviate alarming food shortages that have caused high malnutrition rates among children in Niger, the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has allocated an additional $15 million to enable the UN food agency to provide relief to an estimated 1.7 million people.
• Activists Urge France to Repay 'Independence Debt' to Haiti VOA 16 Aug 2010 -- An international group of writers and academics is calling on France to reimburse Haiti $21 billion that the Caribbean nation was forced to pay to secure its independence 200 years ago.
• Top US Senator Opposes Mosque Near Ground Zero VOA 16 Aug 2010 -- The U.S. Senate's top Democrat has spoken out against plans to build a Muslim cultural center and mosque near the site of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York City.
• Aid Group: Hostages in Mauritania Alive VOA 16 Aug 2010 -- A Spanish relief agency is reporting that two of its workers kidnapped in Mauritania last year are alive.
• ISS could last another decade - Roscosmos RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2010 -- The International Space Station (ISS), which has been in orbit for 10 years, could continue work for another decade, the head of the Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) said on Monday.
• HRW: Kyrgyz Government Partly Responsible For June Violence RFE/RL 16 Aug 2010 -- Following a lengthy investigation, the New York-based group Human Rights Watch says the government of Kyrgyzstan played a role in facilitating the violent attacks against ethnic Uzbeks this past June.
• Venezuela, Colombia embark on rapprochement course RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2010 -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez met with Colombia’s new President Juan Manuel Santos on August 10, 2010, for talks aimed at restoring diplomatic ties and solving the festering problems between the two countries. The meeting took place in the Colombian city of Santa Maria at the request of Hugo Chavez, just a few days after President Santos was sworn in.
• Thai court to make final ruling Friday on Russian arms dealer's extradition to U.S. RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2010 -- An appeals court in Thailand will make its final ruling August 20 on the extradition of Russian businessman Viktor Bout to the United States on alleged charges of arms trafficking, Bout's lawyer said on Monday.
• Former Nigerian Ruler Declares Presidential Bid VOA 16 Aug 2010 -- Nigeria's former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida, has formally declared he will seek the ruling party's nomination for president.