Ratko Mladic goes on trial over Bosnia 'war crimes'
Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic is set to go on trial on 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including genocide.
He is the last of the main protagonists in the Balkan wars of the 1990s to face an international trial in The Hague.
He is accused of orchestrating the week-long massacre of over 7,000 Muslim boys and men at Srebrenica in 1995.
General Mladic calls the accusations "monstrous" and the court has entered a "not guilty" plea on his behalf.
Now nearly 70, Gen Mladic spent 15 years on the run before being apprehended by Serb forces last May and sent to The Hague.
He has been awaiting trial in the same prison as his former political leader Radovan Karadzic, who was arrested in 2008 and is now about halfway through his trial on similar charges to Gen Mladic.
Crimes halved
Judicial authorities have rejected defence calls to delay proceedings, most recently a petition to have the Dutch presiding Judge Alphons Orie replaced on grounds of alleged bias.
The number of crimes of which Gen Mladic - who is in frail health - stands accused has been almost halved to speed up his trial.
Gen Mladic is accused of committing genocide and other crimes against Bosnian Muslims and Croats in a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing that began in 1992 and climaxed in Srebrenica in 1995.
Then, Serb fighters overran the Srebrenica enclave in eastern Bosnia - supposedly under the protection of Dutch UN peacekeepers. 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 over the 44-month siege of Sarajevo during which over 10,000 people died.
These were the worst atrocities in Europe since the end of World War II, says the BBC's world affairs correspondent Peter Biles in The Hague.
Over 200 hours, the prosecution will make its case against Mladic, taking testimony from over 400 witnesses.
Death fear
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.
Many fear that Gen Mladic, who suffered at least one stroke while in hiding and remains in frail health, could escape judgement by dying mid-trial.
The architect of the Balkan wars, former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, died in detention in his cell in 2006, before receiving a verdict.
Sina, China's largest internet portal, swings to loss
Sina Corp, China's largest internet portal and media website, has swung to a loss in the first three months of the year.
Its first quarter net loss was $13.7m (£8.6m) compared with a profit of $15m in the same period last year.
The company said advertising revenue jumped 9%, sending its shares up 10% after hours.
However that was outpaced by rising costs, mostly on its Twitter-like microblogging site Weibo.
Weak market
Sina makes most of its revenue from online advertising and analysts said the Chinese online advertising market has been softening.
Sina also blamed slowing economic growth in China for its losses.
"Our brand advertising business got off to a relatively slow start in the first quarter due to the softening of macroeconomic conditions in China," said Charles Chao, Sina's chief executive.
Sina said most of its spending was on hiring employees and setting up infrastructure for its micro-blogging business.
New rules
The company also said it would continue to invest in Weibo's potential.
"The initial feedback from advertisers on our Weibo advertising is encouraging, and we believe it is critical that Sina continues its significant investments in social media and related initiatives," said Charles Chao, Sina's chief executive.
Weibo already has 300 million users.
Recently Chinese authorities disabled the commenting function on microblogs, including Wiebo, for three days. Officials criticised the spreading of "unfounded" rumours.
In Beijing, users now have to register with real identities to post online.
Masseur drops sex assault claim against John Travolta
One of the two male masseurs who accused actor John Travolta of sexual assault dropped his $2 million lawsuit on Tuesday, but the lawyer for the second masseur said he was going ahead with that case and was confident of success.
The unidentified man, referred to as John Doe No. 1, who claimed that the Hollywood star groped him during a massage session in Beverly Hills in January, filed a notice dismissing his lawsuit with federal court in Los Angeles.
The man was reported last week to have said he got the wrong date of the alleged incident after photos and restaurant receipts surfaced putting the "Saturday Night Fever" actor in New York on the same day.
"The case has been dismissed, but that doesn't mean it can't be refiled," the plaintiff's attorney, Okorie Okorocha, told Reuters.
Okorocha said he still will be going ahead with the lawsuit against Travolta, representing a second unidentified man, John Doe No. 2, who claimed that Travolta rubbed his leg, touched his genitals and tried to initiate sex at a private appointment at an Atlanta hotel on January 28.
Asked whether he was concerned about the credibility of John Doe No. 2's suit in light of the first masseur's dismissal, Okorocha said "Not at all. I'm not worried about anything with John Doe 2."
Celebrity news website Radar Online said on Tuesday that it had obtained emails it claimed were written by the Atlanta masseur to his employers that made no reference to the alleged incident involving Travolta.
Radar Online said the emails were written the day after the alleged encounter and that the masseur was asking to be demoted.
A third man, cruise ship worker Fabian Zanzi, claimed last week on a Chilean TV show that Travolta offered him $12,000 to have sex while on a cruise in 2009, but he has not filed a lawsuit against the actor.
Travolta's lawyer Martin Singer has vehemently denied claims from all three men, calling them "absurd and ridiculous." He did not immediately return calls for comment on Tuesday on the first plaintiff's decision to drop his legal action.
Travolta, 58, has been married to actress Kelly Preston since 1991. He found international claim with the movies "Saturday Night Fever" and "Grease" in the 1970s, before going on to grittier roles in "Pulp Fiction."
The latest allegations against the actor are unlikely to affect his career according to celebrity image experts, who say Travolta has overcome speculation about his sex life in the past without any negative impact on his popularity.
--Reuters/OMG
GOVERNOR’S TOUR REPORTS PROGRESS ON MILESTONES AND POSITIVE COMMUNITY ACTION
Governor Ric Todd’s quarterly tour of the Turks and Caicos Family Islands continues apace with dates and time now announced for Grand Turk and Provo following on from successful visits to North Caicos, Middle Caicos, South Caicos and Salt Cay.
His Excellency will hold public meetings at 6.30pm sharp at the Ona Glinton Primary School Grand Turk on Tuesday, 22 May, and again at the Gus Lightbourne Sports Centre Providenciales on Thursday, 24 May 2012.
The first four meetings have allowed The Governor to provide an update on progress towards achieving the milestones and to provide the people of the TCI with an opportunity to speak to him directly and for the Governor to listen to and discuss their concerns.
Issues raised and actions arising from the first four meetings include:
North and Middle Caicos – visited 10 and 11 May accompanied by Permanent Secretaries Anya Williams and Clara Gardiner
- The Governor confirmed that his previous action to progress work on the Ciacos Causeway was well in hand with repairs due to start in June 2012
- Permanent Secretary Anya Williams confirmed that TCIG’s proposed new bankers Scotiabank are required to install ATMs in North and South Caicos and possibly for the weekly visit of banking staff to the islands to stop Islanders having to travel to Provo to do their banking. Further details will be provided when these negotiations are completed.
- Governor Todd has expressed disappointment with the lack of progress in completing the clinic on Middle Caicos – and he expects this to be finished by his next visit in three months time
- He has agreed to look at the management arrangements for doctors and nurses on these islands with a view to creating an improved rota system to allow staff sufficient time of from their demanding jobs
South Caicos – visited 14 May accompanied by Permanent Secretaries Desiree Lewis and Wesley Clerveaux
- Governor Todd officially opened the new South Caicos Community Centre which will be used for meetings, shows and social events. It is also the new hurricane shelter.
- He visited the new police station which is still under construction.
- The Governor will speak to the Commissioner of Police about local policing arrangements following concerns expressed about local crime on the Island
- Moves to create central stocks of key pharmacy drugs on the Island were also welcomed by the community representatives
Salt Cay – visited 15 May accompanied by Permanent Secretary Susan Malcolm and TCIG Director in the Governor’s Office James Astwood
- Businesses on Salt Cay reported that they had enjoyed a very good tourist season this year
- The community reported that they would like their own single political representative for Salt Cay and raised issues relating to water supply and local services.
- The Governor also visited the recently refurbished airport building
“I very much enjoy my regular visits to the four family Islands,” said Governor Todd. “I have now been to each of them at least three times in my eight months on TCI . My Permanent Secretary colleagues have found this their first such tour to be of tremendous benefit as they can see for themselves the impact that decisions taken in Grand Turk have on the ground across the islands and to engage with people about what their Ministries are doing. I know that they have taken on board what they have learned from these visits and are keen to make it part of how both they and the Government does business there in the future.
“I would like to thank everyone for the warm welcome and courtesies that were extended to me during all of my visits so far. I appreciated that there is a real appetite for the return of a locally elected administration – a common cause that unites us all.
“I will continue to work as hard as I can towards achieving the milestones which are already making TCI an fairer, better governed and more open society, and look forward to UK Minister’s decision on elections later this year.”
“I am now very much looking forward to my public meetings on Providenciales and Grand Turk next week.”
NEW STATUS CARDS MAKES IDENTIFYING BELONGERS EASIER
A single free card that provides statutory proof of Belonger/Turks and Caicos Islander status will be available free of charge to those who register before 29 June 2012.
As of today some 2,861 persons had registered to vote ahead of the closing date of 29 June. Six thousand nine hundred and sixty four persons were registered to vote in 2007.
The move to a more efficient and secure system to verify status was confirmed by Clara Gardiner, Permanent Secretary, Minister of Border Control and Labour, today, Tue, 15 May, when providing an update on the voter registration and proof of Belongership process currently underway.
The Ministry is ‘piggy-backing’ the current election registration process to verify the status of Belongers. This data is being shared with the Elections Office to inform the electoral roll. It is the people registered on this database who will be eligible for a new Belonger Status Card.
The move to a single card has been planned by the Ministry since early in 2011 when it officially recognised the security and fraud caused by the existence of a variety of unsecure documents such as wet stamps and the use of letters, not provided for by statute, to confirm Belonger status.
Since then TCIG officials have been working towards the production of secure documents and the phasing out of all non-statutory stamps and letters.
“It is widely known that only persons who are Belongers of the Turks and Caicos Islands are able to vote in a general election,” said Clara Gardiner. “However, the majority of persons who acquire this status via birth or descent do not have an official card or certificate to prove this.
“We have bided our time until the registration process was launched, to introduce the Belonger Status Card in order to make it easier for people – they only need to register once. By replacing all other documents which have been used to confirm Belonger status it will be easier for people to claim the privileges that are available to Belongers, including voting in General Elections.
“I am greatly encouraged by the current level of registration, which is already around 40% of the total from the total of the 2007 election, with around six weeks left until the registration deadline. That said, I would encourage everyone who can to consider their civic duty and come out and register. By doing so they can not only take advantage of this time limited free Status Card offer but also make sure that they can take advantage of all of the other privileges that being a Turks and Caicos Islander proffers.”
Legislation will be brought forward soon. It is likely that those persons who do not register by 29 June will be charged a fee, to be determined, for their Belonger Status Card, in future. The first batch of cards should be ready for collection from Government Offices by the end of July 2012.
The figure of 2,861 voter registrations to 15 May is broken down as follows:
- 1,578 – Provo
- 584 – Grand Turk
- 447 – North Caicos
- 160 – South Caicos
- 58 – Middle Caicos
- 34 – Salt Cay
TRIBUTES PAID TO TCI’S FIRST FEMALE POLICE OFFICER
TRIBUTES have been pouring in following the death of the TCI’s first female police officer.
Ethel Ingram Pinder passed away at the Doctor’s Hospital in Nassau, Bahamas, in the early hours of Monday (May 14), aged 68.
Mrs Pinder joined the ranks of the RTCI Police Service in 1964, paving the way for a steady and continuous influx of women officers ever since.
Leading the tributes was Inspector Irene Butterfield, who described Mrs Pinder as a ‘pioneer’.
She said: “It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of Ethel Ingram Pinder and our thoughts and prays are with her family and friends at this very difficult of times.
“Mrs Pinder had the honour of being the first ever female officer to join the RTCI Police Service and therefore can be considered as a true pioneer.
“The Service was completely male-dominated in those days and it was naturally a huge challenge and struggle being the only woman among the ranks.
“But it was a challenge she rose to with great distinction and she was definitely the pacesetter for all us women officers who have followed.”
She added: “Since 1964 the number of female officers has risen steadily year by year and so we thank Mrs Pinder for her amazing and dedicated contribution.”
Born in Over Back in Grand Turk, Mrs Pinder was educated at the now Helena Jones High School.
After giving many years service as a constable, she relocated to Freeport in the Bahamas before returning to her beloved Turks and Caicos Islands, where her only son, Durando, is a serving police officer.
Assistant Commissioner Rodney Adams said Mrs Pinder’s legacy will live on in the history of the TCI.
“The passing of Ethel Ingham Pinder, the first female to join the ranks of the RTCI Police Service, is indeed a sad day for many of us”, he explained, “and as an organisation we say thanks to the family for lending their loved one to us.
“Mrs Pinder has led the way for female officers and has truly made her mark in the history of our country.
”Sleep on and take your rest, we love you but the lord loves you best. May her soul rest in peace.”
Meanwhile Commissioner of Police, Colin Farquhar, added: “Firstly, on behalf of the RTCI Police Service, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Ethel Ingram Pinder.
“Mrs Pinder was a truly remarkable woman who gave many years of dedicated service to both the Police Service and the community at large, and she will be sadly missed.
“As the first ever woman officer to employed in the TCI, she set the standards for others to follow and I’m proud to say that women now, quite rightly, make up a large proportion of the RTCI Police staff with many holding senior ranks and positions.”
Mrs Pinder is survived by her husband, three daughters and a son.
Jazz in June for Barbados
Barbados will have a jazz festival in June.
Musician and promoter Deryck Walcott, of Christmas Jazz fame, is producing the inaugural Sugar Isle Jazz Festival the first weekend in June.
Sugar Isle Jazz Festival has an exciting line-up featuring some of the best musical talent in Barbados and across the region.
On Saturday, June 2, The Plantation Garden Theatre will come alive with jazz, Caribbean style. The Golden Apple project featuring Rhesa Garnes on vocals will open the evening and an all-star Caribbean band with Len “Boogsie” Sharpe on pan plus musicians from Jamaica, Trinidad, Antigua and Suriname will close out the night with their jazz interpretation of some of the region’s biggest hits from entertainers such as Kitchener, Sparrow, Edwin and Bob Marley.
A hand-picked star-studded band will then pay tribute to one of the greatest R&B and pop artistes, Stevie Wonder, to climax the festival on June 3 at Kensington Oval.
Grammy Award-winning vocalist Jonathon Butler and American smooth jazz saxophonist Mindi Abair will play alongside some of the most-sought-after international musicians who have toured and played with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Earth Wind & Fire.
Walcott, who said he felt the time was right for this type of festival, noted the festival will showcase an excellent line-up of artistes and good music. (PR)
Britney Spears and Demi Lovato to judge X Factor USA
Britney Spears and Demi Lovato have signed up as judges for the US version of the X Factor.
The singers will join Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid on the judging panel when the show returns in the autumn.
Fox confirmed earlier this year that Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger would not be returning.
The programme's creator Simon Cowell had promised to shake up the show after ratings failed to match his predictions.
Speaking as the new judges were presented in New York, he said: "We're going to make this the best series we've ever made.
"We started off well last year but we are going to seriously kick butt with the addition of these guys."
'Totally stoked'
Britney Spears has sold more than 100 million albums around the world, and has had five number one singles in the UK.
She said: "I'm so excited about this whole experience. It's going to be so much fun and so different from anything I've ever do.
"'I'm ready to find the true star."
Disney star Demi Lovato, 19, appeared in the film Camp Rock and has released three albums.
Like Britney Spears, she has had personal problems since becoming famous and spent time in therapy after developing eating disorders. She has also admitted self-harming.
She said she was "totally stoked" to join the show.
"I'm excited to represent my generation and I'm ready to find the winner."
The viewing figures for the first series of the X Factor USA fell short of the 20 million originally predicted by Simon Cowell.
He recently admitted he'd been "too arrogant" and promised to revamp the programme.
Cheryl Cole had been hired as a judge but was dropped two weeks into the auditions.
The first series was won by 19-year-old Melanie Amaro, who got a recording contract worth more than £3 million.
Fox have yet to announce a new host after Steve Jones left the show in January.
Source-BBC
Kanye & Kim spotted kissing
Paps finally got their Kimye money shot this weekend.
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were snapped kissing on the set of her photo shoot for Vogue Italia over the weekend in Los Angeles.
Kardashian, sporting a short ‘do like mom Kris Jenner, then went to work on the set.
On Saturday, the couple was spotted holding hands and laughing while seated courtside at the LA Lakers game.
Us Weekly is reporting that a source claims the couple has already been talking marriage.
Lauryn Hill’s Ex Rohan Marley Engaged; Talks ‘Marley’ Film
Rohan Marley, the 39-year-old son of the late reggae icon Bob Marley and father to five of Lauryn Hill’s six children, has just gotten engaged to model Isabeli Fontana, 28, of Brazil, she revealed to a magazine in her home country.
The couple met shortly after Rohan’s separation from Lauryn last year, when it became known that she was expecting a child with another man. Rohan also has two children from his first marriage to Geraldine Khawly.
Isabeli says she and Rohan are considering tying the knot in Ethiopia, where the Rastafarian movement was founded. ”Rohan told me we have to return to the roots so the marriage will last forever,” she told Brazil’s Veja magazine.
According to Veja, Rohan and Isabeli ”see each other very little” because she continues to live in Sao Paulo, Brazil while Rohan resides in New York.
The former University of Miami football player currently runs the Marley Coffee company and is currently on the big screen in the documentary, “Marley,” described as the definitive documentary about his legendary father. It begins with Marley’s nursery school teacher in St. Ann and ends heartbreakingly at the Bavarian clinic where he spent the last months of his life.
“The film, I think, did a great job capturing the human side of my father; who he is as a human being,” he told EURweb. “A human being really appreciative of life, who really loved to love, who really loved to do things to help people in many ways.”
Below, Rohan told us the most shocking thing he learned about the latter part of his father’s life while making the documentary. He also shares a poignant revelation about his father from the nurse who took care of him at the alternative cancer treatment clinic in Bavaria, Germany