Greeks withdraw money from banks as worries grow
Greeks withdrew 700m euros ($894m; £560m) from the country's banks in the week ending on Monday, according to the Greek president.
The action comes as fears increase that the country may be forced out of the eurozone and on to a weaker currency.
Greece's president Karolos Papoulias revealed the outflows of cash in talks with rival political leaders.
He said the head of the Greek central bank had told him there was no panic yet, but that this could change.
Mr Papoulias said that the central bank governor, George Provopoulos, had said that the banks' situation was very difficult and that the banking system was currently very weak.
"Mr Provopoulos told me there was no panic, but there was great fear that could develop into a panic," the president was quoted as saying in minutes of the meetings with political leaders.
Uncertainty about the country's future has intensified after Greece's political parties failed to form a coalition government this week.
Recent elections saw votes widely split between parties, and another round of elections will now be held in June.
In February, former finance minister Evangelos Venizelos said Greeks had deposited 16bn euros overseas, including "32% in British banks and 10% in Swiss banks".
Toshiba stops domestic LCD TV production
Toshiba has halted production of LCD televisions in Japan due to falling demand, a spokesman has told the the BBC.
The producer of Regza brand TV sets said it had stopped operations at its only domestic manufacturing plant in Fukaya, Saitama Prefecture.
Toshiba has other LCD TV factories in Poland, Egypt, Indonesia and China.
Japanese electronics firms are struggling with a shrinking TV market and competition from South Korea.
Toshiba will hold a press conference at 1400 Tokyo time.
Robert F Kennedy Jr's estranged wife Mary dead
Robert F Kennedy Jr's estranged wife has been found dead at her home in New York state.
No cause of death had been released, but US media reported the 52-year-old had been discovered hanged.
In a statement, the family of the 52-year-old said her "radiant and creative spirit" would be sorely missed.
Mr Kennedy, a lawyer and radio host, is the nephew of President John F Kennedy and son of Senator Robert F Kennedy, both assassinated in the 1960s.
He was once divorced when he married the former Mary Richardson in 1994 in a ceremony aboard a boat on the Hudson river.
'Always kind'
The couple had four children over the 16 years of their marriage before he filed for divorce in 2010.
Mary Kennedy, an architect, had brushes with the law over drug and alcohol abuse, and was arrested twice for driving under the influence at about the time they separated.
"We deeply regret the death of our beloved sister Mary, whose radiant and creative spirit will be sorely missed by those who loved her," the family said in a statement issued by lawyer Kerry Lawrence, who had represented Mary Kennedy in a drink-driving case.
"Our heart goes out to her children who she loved without reservation."
A neighbour, Leslie Lampert, told the Associated Press news agency that Kennedy was "community oriented" and "a lovely individual".
"She was always kind in our presence."
Police confirmed a body had been found on the Kennedys' property in Bedford, north of New York City, but would not release the name.
The incident was under investigation by the Bedford Police Department with assistance from the Westchester County Medical Examiner's Office. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.
US broadcaster ABC News cited a family member and other sources as saying Kennedy appeared to have hung herself. She was found inside a barn behind the family home, according to the New York Daily News.
Diamond Jubilee: Spain's Queen Sofia cancels UK visit
Queen Sofia of Spain has cancelled a visit to the UK to mark Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee because of disputes over Gibraltar.
A Spanish government statement said it was "hardly appropriate" for Queen Sofia, 73, to attend a lunch on Friday.
The UK and Spain have been in dispute over fishing rights off Gibraltar, a UK territory which Spain also claims.
Spain has also protested over a visit to Gibraltar by Queen Elizabeth's son Prince Edward and his wife Sophie.
The prince and the Countess of Wessex are to visit Gibraltar on 11-13 June as part of the celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the Queen's reign.
Complaint
Spain continues to claim sovereignty over Gibraltar, which has been ruled by Britain since 1713 under the terms of the Treaty of Utrecht.
Queen Sofia's husband, King Juan Carlos, had already declined his invitation to the lunch at Windsor Castle on Friday.
He is recovering from surgery last month after he fell and broke his hip while hunting elephants in Botswana.
In 1981, the Spanish royal couple declined an invitation to Prince Charles' wedding to Diana, Princess of Wales because they planned to visit Gibraltar as part of their honeymoon.
And a visit by Princess Anne to Gibraltar in 2009 sparked an official complaint from the Spanish government.
An additional cause of unhappiness for the Spanish royal household is the fact that the British regimental band of Gibraltar will be performing at the Diamond Jubilee, reports the Spanish news agency Efe.
A spokesman for the UK Foreign Office told the AFP news agency: "The visit was a private commitment and we don't comment on private visits."
Mladic trial: Prosecution to focus on Srebrenica massacre
A war crimes trial of former Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic is to resume, with the prosecution focusing on the Srebrenica massacre in 1995.
Gen Mladic is accused of orchestrating the killings of more than 7,000 Bosnian Muslim boys and men in the town.
In all, the 70-year-old faces 11 charges, including genocide, during the brutal 1992-95 Bosnian war.
He calls the claims "monstrous", and the court in The Hague has entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
The Srebrenica massacre was the worst atrocity in Europe since the end of World War II.
Serb fighters overran the enclave in eastern Bosnia - supposedly under the protection of Dutch UN peacekeepers. Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) men and boys were separated off, shot dead and bulldozed into mass graves - later to be dug up and reburied in more remote spots.
Gen Mladic is also charged in connection with the 44-month siege of Sarajevo during which more than 10,000 people died.
'Criminal endeavour'
On the first day of the trial on Wednesday, the prosecution at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) argued that Gen Mladic intended to "ethnically cleanse" Bosnia.
It opened the hearing with an audio-visual presentation laying out the case.
Prosecuting counsel Dermot Groome said they would prove Gen Mladic's hand in the crimes.
"Four days ago marked two decades since Ratko Mladic became the commander of the main staff of the army of Republika Srpska - the VRS," he said.
Mr Groome said that by the time Gen Mladic and his troops had "murdered thousands in Srebrenica", they were "well-rehearsed in the craft of murder".
He then showed judges video of the aftermath of a notorious shelling of a market in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo, in which dozens of people died.
Mr Groome said there was "no doubt" that Gen Mladic had controlled the shelling of Sarajevo. He had promised that the city would shake, the prosecutor said.
Mr Groome said the attacks were part of an "overarching" plan to ethnically cleanse non-Serbs from parts of Bosnia.
He said crimes of sexual violence had played an integral part of the process of "taking over and ethnically cleansing Bosnia".
The prosecution also highlighted the role of snipers in Sarajevo, showing images of a child shot dead on a street and pictures taken from sniper nests overlooking the besieged city.
Prosecution 'errors'
During the proceedings, members of the Mothers of Srebrenica group held a vigil outside the court.
Judicial authorities have rejected defence calls to delay proceedings, most recently a petition to have Dutch Judge Orie replaced on grounds of alleged bias.
However, even as the trial began, there were further indications it would be delayed.
Judge Orie said the court was considering postponing the presentation of evidence - due to start on 29 May - due to "errors" by the prosecution in disclosing evidence to the defence.
Mr Groome said he would not oppose a "reasonable adjournment".
Gen Mladic spent 15 years on the run before being apprehended by Serb forces last May and sent to The Hague.
The number of crimes of which he stands accused has been almost halved to speed up his trial.
'Our hero'
Gen Mladic is accused of committing genocide and other crimes against Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims) and Bosnian Croats in a campaign of ethnic cleansing that began in 1992 and climaxed in Srebrenica.
Pre-trial hearings have been characterised by ill-tempered outbursts from Gen Mladic, who has heckled the judge and interrupted proceedings.
"The whole world knows who I am," he said at a hearing last year.
"I am General Ratko Mladic. I defended my people, my country... now I am defending myself."
The case has stirred up strong emotions among watching survivors, with some shouting "murderer" and "killer" from the court gallery.
However, while Gen Mladic's critics consider him a butcher, to some Serbs he is a national hero.
Gen Mladic suffered at least one stroke while in hiding and remains in frail health.
The architect of the Balkan wars, former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, died in detention in his cell in 2006, before receiving a verdict.
BBC
US Senate Rejects 5 Different Budget Plans
As expected, the U.S. Senate Wednesday rejected five separate budget plans for 2013, including one that mirrors a budget blueprint offered by President Barack Obama.
The lawmakers unanimously turned down the plan submitted by Republicans and based on the president's budget, 99-to-zero. Mr. Obama's Democratic Party called the vote a political stunt, saying it was unnecessary since last year's deal to raise the debt ceiling contained spending caps.
The chamber also rejected four other proposals submitted by Republicans.
The votes followed a day of debate in which senators from both sides accused each other of being irresponsible when it comes to government spending and cutting the deficit.
The Republican plans are meant to highlight the fact that the majority Democrats have not come up with a budget plan of their own.
Some Democrats have criticized their party for the failure to produce a budget. But others argue that last year's debt-limit agreement, the law known as the Budget Control Act, erases the need for a separate budget resolution.
With the upcoming November presidential election, pressure is building on lawmakers and the Obama administration to curb a crippling trillion-dollar budget gap and decrease the $15 trillion national debt.
Greece Appoints Caretaker PM, Sets Date for New Elections
Greece has sworn in a senior judge as the country's new caretaker prime minister.
Council of State head Panagiotis Pikrammenos was appointed Wednesday after major political parties failed to form a coalition government following several attempts to broker a deal.
The 67-year-old Mr. Pikrammenos will be tasked with organizing the country's repeat elections scheduled for June 17.
Analysts say the new elections, like those held earlier this month, are also likely to produce a hung parliament with no party securing enough votes to form a government. But a radical left coalition led by Alexis Tsipras, the Syriza party leader who fiercely opposes austerity measures, has gained enough support to have a major influence.
This could lead Greece on a collision course with the European Union, whose leaders have said the country will not get any more loans unless it adheres to the tough debt-reducing plan.
The Greek political impasse has rattled European markets and threatens to undermine the eurozone. The issue figured high in the first official talks Tuesday between France's new president, Francois Hollande, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. During the meeting in Berlin, the two leaders said they support Greece staying in the currency union.
"We have to respect the fact that there are new elections in Greece. So I speak for myself and have made it clear that we want Greece to stay in the eurozone and want its citizens to vote for this. Part of doing this is that the agreements of the memorandum [agreement with creditors] must be kept," Merkel said.
On Wednesday, the European Union Commission president, Jose Manuel Barroso, said that while the EU wants Greece to stay in the eurozone, there is no way to change the commitments the previous Greek government made for the austerity plan. As a result, he said Greek voters will have to decide whether to stay in the 17-nation currency union.
"This being said, the ultimate resolve to stay in the euro area must come from Greece itself. We are fully aware that the present situation is asking a lot of the Greek people and many sacrifices. But this is the result of policies made in the past," Barroso said.
The political stalemate in Greece has led to rising concerns among eurozone financial ministers that Athens will not uphold the austerity commitments it made as it secured the country's second financial bailout in the last two years.
The economic measures include deep spending cuts, tax hikes, pension cuts and eliminating thousands of government jobs. Greeks have taken to the streets in sometimes violent protests against the bailout requirements.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.
Wesleyan Methodist Church Basketball Game – ” The Men vs. The Youth in a “must see” basketball match
The team at the Wesleyan Methodist Church is gearing up for the match of the season. The young men from the Wesleyan Methodist Youth Fellowship will play a game against the men
of the church. It promises to be an exciting exchange. The game is scheduled to take place at the Gus Lightbourne Sports Complex on May 18, 2012 at 7pm. The Wesleyan Young Sharks will be playing against the Wesleyan Old School Ballers. One of the young men commented, “They will not beat us. We got this.”
Then the men of the church responded, “It will not be a walk in the park. They will need to work.” It will be a match up that should not be missed. Bishop Derek Browne stated, “It is always a great thing when we can be involved as a church in the lives of the young people. Everyone wins in these situations.” Bishop Browne went on to say,
“It is all in good fun and young people come to Youth Fellowship to be ministered to “whole man” and this is ministry beyond the walls.” Mrs. Martha Harris, Leader of Youth Fellowship commented, “The young people have been looking forward to this game and we are happy to do our part in making it happen.
The young people are being encouraged at the Fellowship and this demonstrates that we believe that it is everyone’s responsibility to pour into the lives of the youth.” 3 point shootout – 1 minute for each player will see: David Lee Walker Merlin Bowe Adrian Capron Devanio Bain Darel Hinson T’Jon Wilson Denzel Ewing Free Throws Shoot out: 1 minute will see Jennifer Moore Arnelle Carey Michelle Handfield Bro Earl Barranco Ahmad Williams Kadashio Williams The Dunk Competition competitors are: Shyon Parker Merlin Bowe In the actual match up between the Wesleyan Young Sharks against the Wesleyan Old School Ballers The starters are : Point Guard Merlin Bowe Shooting Guard-Shyon Parker Small Forward-Devante Wilson Power Forward-Adrian Capron Center-Ahmad Williams Bench David Lee Walker Darel Hinson Arsenio Harvey Maurice Bain Devanio Bain Khambrel Caley Kadashio Williams T’Jon Wilson Dudley Lightbourne Jr. Coach Mr. Kingsley Laborde Jr Captain – Shyon Parker Co-Captain – Ahmad Williams While for the Oldsters: Captain Ballers – Bro Princie Harris Co Captian – Bro Earl Barranco The team consists of: Centre-Princie Harris Edwin Capron Guards- Hugh Adams Charles Tipton Jermaine Fulford Forwards Audley Malcolm Floyd Seymour Earl Barranco RTC Sports spoke with the PRO Rachel Harvey who said, the team welcomes all to come and enjoy the upcoming games to see who would emerge victorious.
Annual International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO)
In a release sent to RTC News by H.E Governor Todd highlighted the Annual International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.
Today, 17 May, is the annual International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. This is the day when the international community campaigns to stop discrimination, in all forms, against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Like many governments around the world, the UK Government is supporting this international day. The UK’s Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne and International Development Minister Stephen O'Brien have issued a joint statement celebrating this year’s world day, and supporting the international community effort to end this ‘hateful discrimination’. The United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay has also issued a video message calling for an end of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Equality for all, and equal treatment for all, is something that everyone should care about. For many of us the world is full of images and messages which affirm our rights: our legal rights and especially our everyday social rights to live our lives openly and without fear of reprisal. For the majority it is easy to enter into loving relationships and to celebrate our relationships with our family and friends.
This is not true for those people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. In many countries sexual orientation and gender identity are reasons to live a half-life, in secret: feeling or actually being unable to express who they are openly and confidently. Fear of persecution often means lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are forced to be an invisible minority.
This can be especially true for those who grow up and live in small island communities like the Turks and Caicos Islands. For those who are not heterosexual, it takes real courage to tell family, friends, neighbours, and work colleagues that you are different, and to do so without fear of rejection. Discrimination by national legislation is unacceptable. Where discrimination of this type exists, responsible governments should reform. Indeed, they find themselves subject to mounting international pressure - including from the UK and USA - to do so urgently.
Statements and events around the world to mark this International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia will underline the importance of the freedom to express who you are, to love who you want, and to be free to expect to do so without fear or discrimination. These are basic human rights that must be extended to all sections of our community without exception.
That is why the United Nations is taking this issue very seriously. Last year, the Human Rights Council passed a historic resolution, presented and led by South Africa, on the universality of human rights, and concern about acts of violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The United Nations resolution has been followed by a report by the UN’s Human Rights Commissioner.
These are very significant steps. Countries around the world are reviewing their laws and social norms to consider what needs to be done to support this invisible minority. Some countries are already well down this road already, others are just beginning their journey. To that end, in 2010 the UK Government published a policy report on working for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. This was followed by two action plans.
For the Turks and Caicos Islands the new 2011 Constitution is clear that no law shall make any provision which is discriminatory either in itself or in its effect. The Constitution is specific that there should not be discrimination based on ‘sexual orientation, birth or other status’. That is why I am today announcing three initiatives:
- that there will be a review of TCI legislation to ensure that it is non-discriminatory on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity;
- that the TCI Government will develop and introduce a ‘diversity policy’, as part of the ongoing reform of public sector human resources and staff management – this will set a standard for all managers and employees, and will be designed to ensure fair treatment for all staff and a zero tolerance for bullying; and,
- that the Government will launch a consultation on the age of consent in the Turks and Caicos Islands as a step towards ensuring that we take the right action needed to comply with both our legal obligations under the European Convention of Human Rights, and the incoming 2011 TCI Constitution.
Lastly, I encourage everyone to look at the website for the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, at www.dayagainsthomophobia.org
DR Todd
Governor
ADVISORY COUNCIL WELCOMES DRAFT BUDGET AND HURRICANE PREPARATIONS
The importance of signing off the draft Budget and this year’s hurricane preparations were the two most significant issues discussed at the Advisory Council (AC) meeting held by His Excellency The Governor on Grand Turk today, Wednesday, 16 May 2012.
One of the longest and most detailed discussions was on the matter of the $200m draft Budget. This was welcomed by the Council who commented upon its strong and credible revenue forecasts – including the 20% increase in revenue. They also appreciated that no tax increases are proposed, recognised the importance of the projected surplus of $4m after several years of deficit, the route to paying down debt and building up future financial reserves.
The Advisory Council welcomed several specific proposals in the Budget, which will now be debated by the Consultative Forum next week:
- Increases in the TCI capital budget from $5m to $16m, and that this will directly support the local construction sector
- Increases in maintenance from $3.7m to $5.3m, including an increase in road maintenance form $150k to $1m
- Increases in the social security budget from $1.3m to $1.7m with provision for a new juvenile offender centre
- The focus on key priorities such as primary health and education
- Recognition of the importance of more appropriate control mechanisms to ensure that the spending will be delivered effectively
His Excellency and the Council were also satisfied with preparations for this year’s Hurricane season which begins on 1 June 2012. This followed presentations from the senior team at the Ministry of Government Support Services: Permanent Secretary Wesley Clerveaux, Deputy Dr Virginia Clerveaux and Acting Director Horatio Tuit. Their report included:
- Confirmation that this year’s hurricane preparation awareness campaign had already kicked off. The theme of this campaign is that disaster management is everybody’s business.
- Thirty hurricane shelter managers have received up to date training in Providenciales with this now being rolled out across the other Islands.
- Informed the Council that the new $1m Community Centre on South Caicos opened by His Excellency this week also doubles as a hurricane shelter.
- That fit for purpose generators are being installed at all shelters ahead of this season.
- That 29 emergency staff have been trained in Urban Search and Rescue Skills including how to carry out searches in the event of collapsed roof or flooded buildings, as well as first aid, mass casualty handling, search techniques, hazardous material handling, rope rescue, stress management, lifting and shoring of loads.
- That European Union funding is being sought for a new multi-agency and departmental National Emergency Operations Centre on Grand Turk
- A reminder that there will be a major disaster management exercise on Providenciales on 31 May-1 June 2012.
Governor Ric Todd said: “The Council felt that TCIG had struck the right balance in its draft budget between paying off our historic debts, proving that our public finances are now better managed and that we can begin to reinvest in our infrastrucutre. I have often said that the sad state of repair of the Caicos Causeway, in particular, was an icon of the failure of Government, which is why I am so pleased that work will begin to repair it next month.
“Both the members of the Advisory Council and I were also extremely impressed by the udpate from the Minsitry of Government Support Services. Their message was unequivical – we must hope for the best but always plan for the worst. Significant progress is being made across a number of important areas and this gives rise to our increased confidence in the nation’s ability to repsond to a catastrophe.”