Suspected NATO Airstrike Kills 8 Afghan Civilians
Officials in eastern Afghanistan say a NATO airstrike has killed a family of eight.
A government spokesman for Paktia province, Rohullah Samoon, tells VOA that a coalition airstrike late Saturday killed a man, his wife and six children in the Gerda Serai district. He said that according to his information, the man was not linked to any insurgent group or any anti-government activities.
NATO officials say they are aware of reports of the incident and are investigating.
Civilian casualties have been a major source of friction between President Hamid Karzai's government and the international coalition in Afghanistan.
Earlier this month, the United Nations special representative to Afghanistan, Jan Kubis, said that civilian casualties have gone down by 20 percent in the first four months of 2012, compared to the same period last year. Kubis said insurgent attacks, including suicide bombings, cause the majority of civilian deaths.
Syrian Officials Deny Responsibililty for Houla Massacre
Syrian officials say Damascus is not responsible for the massacre in a village that killed at least 92 people, including dozens of children.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman told reporters in Damascus Sunday that anti-government gunmen carried out Friday's attack. He says the government condemns what he called the “terrorist” attack, and is opening an investigation into the incident, with results expected within days. The spokesman also said U.N. envoy Kofi Annan will be in Syria Monday.
Syrian activists say the massacre in Houla was a coordinated assault by government forces and militiamen.
The attack is one of the deadliest incidents since an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began 15 months ago.
Witnesses said the killing began when government forces shelled the village after Friday prayers.
A team of U.N. observers, headed by General Robert Mood, arrived in Houla Saturday to investigate the killings. Mood said the observers had counted more than 32 children under the age of 10 and over 60 adults killed.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the U.N.-Arab League envoy for Syria, Kofi Annan, condemned the violence as an “appalling and brutal crime involving indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force.”
The U.N. says more than 10,000 people have been killed in Syria since the government began its crackdown on dissent in March 2011.
Vatican Confirms Pope's Butler's Arrest
The Vatican confirmed Saturday that Pope Benedict XVI's butler has been arrested on suspicion of leaking confidential documents and letters from the pontiff's private quarters.
Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said Paolo Gabriele, 46, was arrested Wednesday after secret documents were found in his Vatican City home. Gabriele had been the pope's personal butler since 2006, one of the few members of the papal household, which includes a few nuns and secretaries.
The scandal, dubbed "Vatileaks" by the media, involves the leaking of a string of documents earlier this year to Italian media. The documents allege corruption in Vatican finances and have centered on the activities of Cardinal and Vatican Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone.
The pope has ordered several investigations into the leak, which took on greater weight several days ago with the publication of "His Holiness," a book written by Gianluigi Nuzzi that reproduced confidential letters and documents reportedly smuggled out by unnamed whistle blowers.
TCI Public Authorities Address Illnesses at Hotels in Providenciales.
The Turks and Caicos Islands Authorities would like to advise the travelling public and residents that all resources are being mobilized to investigate and contain a situation that has seen an increase in diarrhoea and vomiting in some resorts on Providenciales.
The Ministry of Health, Environmental Health Department, TCI Health Surveillance Team, Hotel Association and Tourist Board are committed to working closely together to address this situation and to ensure that there is little or no disruption to our people, our guests and to business locally and overseas.
Public health teams are assessing, identifying and reporting on the situation utilizing Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) and Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) guidelines. Their top priority is to protect the public as well as the tourism industry from any further illness by containing any outbreak.
Public health professionals are working with hoteliers to gather data on the number of cases and to determine if there is any common cause. Samples have already been sent to a laboratory for investigation in the US and results are currently awaited. As a precaution, refresher hygiene training courses for all hotel staff are being arranged.
Those persons experiencing diarrhoea, abdominal pain or vomiting should report to their nearest health care facility. The health surveillance team may also need to interview any person experiencing such signs and symptoms in order to help pinpoint the source of the outbreak. Information will be kept confidential; however, updates on the number of cases will be released as soon as they are confirmed.
The Ministry of Health and Education (MOHE) would also like to take this opportunity to encourage the general public to practice healthy hygienic measures at all times such as frequent hand washing, especially when preparing meals, before eating and after using the toilet. The MOHE will keep the public up to date on any further developments.
The Tourist Board would like to reassure travellers that the TCI remains a safe place to visit
Governor responds to Carlos Simons
In response to a letter from Carlos Simons QC, HE Governor Todd responded to the rules of Chair outlined in the following sent to RTC news:
Dear Mr Simons,
Thank you for your letter of 22 May.
Everyone on TCI is entitled to hold and express opinions and debate issues, including “hot button political” ones.
I do not think that anything that the Chair said at the session of the Consultative Forum on 21 May contravened either the Constitutional Order setting up the Consultative Forum nor its rules of procedure. As I have set out, membership of the Advisory Council and the Consultative Forum is incompatible with being a candidate for elected office. It is not, and never has been, incompatible with holding and expressing opinions. Mrs Misick is not, unlike Mrs Cartwright-Robinson and Mrs Delancy a declared candidate for elected political office.
If you wish to challenge, disagree with or object to any comments made by the Chair of the Consultative Forum you are of course free to do so.
Yours sincerely,
D R Todd
D R Todd
Governor
Police News-Two Men Charged plus more
TWO men have appeared in court today (Wednesday May 23) charged with the murder of Anthony Quinn.
Misael Castillo, 19, of Long Bay, Providenciales, and Stanford Forbes Jnr, 18, of Leeward Highway, Providenciales, were also charged with robbery.
The body of Mr Quinn, was found close to the beach at the bottom of Technology Drive near Heaving Down Rock on the morning of Sunday May 13.
The 34-year-old British national worked as a quantity surveyor for local firm, Projectech.
Meanwhile TOOLS were among items stolen from a property in Robinson Street, Five Cays. The break-in occurred sometime between 2pm on Monday and 7am on Tuesday.
CELL phones, a TV set, laptop computers and jewellery were taken during a burglary in Leeward Palms. Intruders smashed their way into the house in Palm Circle sometime between 8am and 1.30pm on Tuesday.
Anyone with information is asked to call the police on 911 or Crimestoppers on 1-800-8477.
Tips can also be left in English, French or Spanish at www.crimestoppers.tc or by becoming a friend of Crimestoppers TCI on Facebook.
Crime prevention tips are also available by visiting www.tcipolice.tc
GRAND TURK
POLICE are questioning a 32-year-old man on suspicion of burglary.
A GRAND Turk man was found guilty of obstruction by Magistrates in the island.
Lewis Williams was fined $250 for the offence.
LIME's Mother's Day winners
Mother’s Day celebrations at LIME saw several ladies walking away as winners. It is the time of year when many pause to pay tribute to Mothers globally and LIME TCI joined in the festive time.
Ms. Theresa Bassett won the LIME’s Mother’s Day text to win promotion. She expressed, “Thanks LIME. I really appreciate this.” Customers had the opportunity to text the word “Mom” to 4946 to be entered in the competition.
General Manager Drexwell Seymour noted, “LIME wanted to express to Mothers that their contribution is valued and this was just a small way to give back.”
Eight ladies also won in LIME’s promotion on the FaceBook page. The promo was opened to any child to post a picture of Mom with four to six lines on why their Mom is special. The winners included Mavis Wilson, Pansy Butterfield, Catherine Handfield, Sheryl A Forbes, Sonya Robinson, Leila Astwood, Valerie Glinton and Samardia Walkin.
Mrs. Catherine Handfield, one of the winners commented, “I am excited about being a winner and thanks to my children who participated.” Another winner, Samardia Walkin said, “Thanks very much LIME, this is very thoughtful.”
Each lady won $50 top up from LIME and a portrait from Pennylaine Photo Studio compliments of LIME.
Mother’s Day is not just one day a year; it is every day of the year.
Kudos to Mothers everywhere! We celebrate you!
US singer Phillip Phillips crowned American Idol
Guitar player and singer Phillip Phillips has won the American Idol talent show, with viewers casting a record number of votes.
Phillips, 21, a shop worker from Leesburg, Georgia, was overcome with emotion as he ended the show with his first single, "Home".
Runner-up was Jessica Sanchez, 16, a southern Californian of Filipino and Latino descent.
The contest remains one of the most-watched shows on US television.
In the final round, viewers cast a record 132 million votes.
"All the fans out there, thank y'all for voting for us," said Phillips before host Ryan Seacrest announced the result.
Phillips was the fifth male American Idol winner in a row.
The two-hour finale featured a host of guest stars including Rihanna, Neil Diamond, Reba McEntire, Chaka Khan and John Fogarty.
Judges Steven Tyler, with his band Aerosmith, and Jennifer Lopez also performed.
Usher Courtroom Bombshell: He’s Accused of Sexing Tameka’s Bridesmaid
Usher Raymond and his ex, Tameka Foster were in court inregards to their child custody case.
Wednesday, his ex-wife’s lawyer dropped the bomb diggety in the courtroom … accusing Usher of sexing one of Tameka’s bridesmaids, reports TMZ.
Usher was being cross-examined by Foster’s lawyer yesterday in Fulton County court … about his claim that Tameka brings nannies in and out of their children’s lives.
Tameka’s lawyer asked Usher if one of the nannies in question had “left Miami because you were discovered in bed with Maya Fox Davis?” Sources close to the couple tell TMZ Davis was a bridesmaid for Tameka … and the alleged incident happened during their marriage.
Usher’s attorney quickly objected, but you gotta watch the clip to see how it played out in court. There’s also a contentious exchange between Usher and Tameka’s lawyer regarding that whole spitting incident.
The trial is in recess, and will be back in session in July. Until then, to get our daily divorce drama, we’ll just have settle for Deion and Pilar’s divorce shenanigans
John Legend Defends Chrissy Teigen in Chris Brown Drama
John Legend is defending his fiancée Chrissy Teigen after she was pummeled with Twitter threats for dissing Chris Brown’s lip synced performance Sunday at the Billboard Music Awards.
The model came under fire from #Team Breezy after she tweeted, “Why sing when you can dance.” For days to follow, Chrissy retweeted and entertained malicious comments, until she finally shot back in her own Twitter rant: “…I like some of his music too. YOU can like it. You CAN. But WHY the insane hate and ‘team’? Why can’t you just CHILL THE F*** OUT.”
She added, “You can even form these sentences at someone you don’t even know makes me so sad.”
Chrissy was most shocked at the harsh tweets from females. “John has gotten numerous comments about him needing to ‘leash me’ or ‘control’ me. FROM WOMEN. Please stop this. It’s so sad,” she tweeted. “What are you even doing this for? Some good music and dancing? Good god. DO BETTER. Ennnnnd.”
John avoided the drama until Chris Brown tweeted to his fans, “Team Breezy! Lets stop sending death threats! I know ya’ll bout that life but it’s the wrong message! Ur turning haters into victims! And that only furthers their pointless existence.”
John defended his fiancée writing on his own account. “Personally, I don’t think @chrissyteigen’s existence is pointless. Not anyone else who dares criticize a performance,” he tweeted. “Every artist has to be ok with the fact that some people won’t like their work. All critics aren’t haters.”
The piano-playing crooner continued, “And don’t ever tell me to put my ‘bitch on a leash.’ She’s a grown woman with her own mind and her own opinions and this is not 1950.”