Greek Radical Left Leader Refusing Coalition Talks
The leader of a group of Greek far-left parties, which finished second in last week's parliamentary elections, is refusing to take part in more talks to form a coalition government.
Alexis Tsipras said Sunday he will not become what he calls an accomplice in a crime against Greek society.
He said those who govern Greece and support the deep spending cuts demanded by the European Union did not get the message of the voters.
Greek President Karolos Papoulias is struggling to broker talks between the three top party leaders to form a new coalition government and avoid another round of parliamentary elections.
None of the top three parties in last week's vote — conservative New Democracy, radical left Syriza, and the socialist PASOK — won enough parliamentary seats to vote to form a government. And, when given the chance, the party chiefs were not able to find enough support to form a coalition on their own.
The talks are scheduled to resume Monday.
The New Democracy and PASOK parties could form a coalition if the small Democratic Left party decides to join them. But that party has so far refused to join unless Syriza does.
The previous Greek government — a New Democracy-PASOK coalition — agreed to demands from its international lenders for deep spending cuts in exchange for the country's second bailout in two years. This includes slashing government jobs, raising taxes, and cutting pensions. Greeks have taken to the streets in sometimes violent protests against the bailout plans.
Syrian Troops Storm Village; Violence Spills into Lebanon
Syrian troops backed by tanks killed at least five civilians, torched homes and looted shops when they overran a rebellious Sunni Muslim farming village Sunday, as tensions from the 14-month-old uprising also spilled into neighboring Lebanon.
Sunday's raid against the impoverished village of al-Tamana, 55 kilometers northwest of Hama, cast further doubt on the viability of U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan's plan to end the bloody conflict peacefully.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said al-Tamana was “subjected to collective punishment” with “over half of its houses burned, several people executed [upon arrest] and the rest killed from bombardment.”
The watchdog group said at least 25 people – 18 civilians, five soldiers and two anti-government rebels – were killed Sunday as violence ripped through various Syrian flashpoint areas.
Opposition activists said al-Tamana had seen regular anti-government protests. The village was one of dozens of Sunni settlements torched since Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces seized control of the cities of Homs and Hama.
Residents of the nearby Alawite village of al-Aziziyeh, a recruiting ground for the loyalist Shabbiha militia, took part in a separate assault on al-Tamana Friday.
Syria's Sunni majority is at the forefront of the uprising against Mr. Assad, whose Alawite sect is an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam.
In a sign the sectarian tension threatens to spill over into Lebanon, three people were killed early Sunday when gunbattles broke out in an Alawite enclave and surrounding Sunni neighborhoods of the northern port city of Tripoli.
Lebanon is sharply split along sectarian lines, with 18 religious sects. But it also has a fragile political fault line precisely over the issue of Syria.
An array of pro-Syrian parties support Mr. Assad's government, as do many Lebanese citizens. Others oppose the Syrian leader and accuse Damascus of heavy-handed meddling in Lebanese affairs.
Violence by Mr. Assad's forces and his increasingly armed foes has continued despite an April 12 cease-fire declared by Mr. Annan and the presence of a U.N. monitoring mission now with about 150 observers on the ground.
In another development Sunday, two Turkish journalists who had been detained in Syria for two months arrived in Istanbul on a plane from Iran, after Tehran helped negotiate their release.
Reporters Adem Ozkose and Hamit Coskun were abducted by pro-government militiamen and handed over to Syrian intelligence, which held them separately in a Damascus prison. The two men said they feared they would die after spending 55 days isolated in cramped concrete cells.
US, Pakistan, Afghan Military Hold Talks
The commander of NATO-led forces in Afghanistan met with the army chiefs of Pakistan and Afghanistan in Islamabad Sunday to discuss border security and anti-terror coordination.
The meeting of the Afghanistan-Pakistan-ISAF Tripartite Commission came as Pakistani civilian and military leaders are preparing for talks Tuesday on ending the nearly six-month blockade of NATO supply routes into Afghanistan, following a NATO air strike last November that mistakenly killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.
The meeting, the first in nearly a year, is a key component of the international community's engagement in Afghanistan and has offered the opportunity for discussion on issues of tactical, operational and strategic importance.
The ISAF commander, U.S. General John Allen, said he was “very encouraged” by the talks with Pakistani General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, and Afghan General Sher Muhammad Karimi.
General Allen said “there was agreement these meetings are important to achieving continued progress toward our shared goals of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan” so the country “can no longer be a safe haven for terrorists again.”
After the deadly NATO air strike, already tense U.S.-Pakistani ties plunged into a diplomatic deadlock. Pakistani officials demanded an unconditional apology. But Washington refused and Islamabad retaliated by cutting off NATO ground supply routes to international forces in Afghanistan. In return, the U.S. withdrew as much as $3 billion of promised military aid.
Islamabad also demanded an end to drone strikes, arguing they are counter-productive because they kill civilians, exacerbate anti-U.S. sentiment and violate sovereignty.
Washington says the strikes are crucial to defeating al-Qaida and the Taliban.
Merkel’s Conservatives Trounced in German State Election
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives suffered an embarrassing loss in Sunday's legislative election in Germany's most populous state as she continues pushing for economic austerity in Europe.
Preliminary results show the opposition left-wing Social Democrats winning 39 percent of the vote in North Rhine-Westphalia. Ms. Merkel's Christian Democrats won 26 percent.
The Social Democrats will likely form a coalition with the Greens in the state.
The conservative candidate for governor, German environment minister Norbert Roettgen, calls Sunday's election a bitter defeat that really hurts.
Some German political analysts say the results in North Rhine-Westphalia may be a harbinger of next year's federal election, in which Chancellor Merkel plans to seek another term.
Ms. Merkel is still calling for economic austerity across Europe even after voters in Greece and France last week ousted parties that back deep spending cuts.
She plans to hold her first meeting with France's incoming socialist president, Francois Hollande, after his inauguration this week.
More babies for Beyonce?
It sounds like Blue Ivy won’t be an only child for long.
Beyonce told 'Entertainment Tonight' she "definitely" wants to have more kids with her husband, Jay-Z - and that she’s open to the amount.
Um, does that mean a “19 Kids and Counting”-size brood is in the Carter-Knowles’ future?
Bey says she hasn’t even gotten that far in the planning process.
"I don't know how many,” the 30-year-old superstar said. “God knows I don’t know yet."
But one thing the world’s most beautiful woman does know is that she was meant to be a mom.
"I have such a full life," she said. "I feel like now I know the reason that I was born."
In the meantime, the singer says she’s just happy to fit nicely into her non-maternity clothes - especially since she hasn’t been working out much.
"I haven't had much time in the gym [since Blue was born]," the celeb revealed. Instead, "I've been rehearsing,” she said of the secret to her slim shape. “I have a show coming up and it's my first show in a year."
Bey hits Atlantic City for a series of shows this Memorial Day.
CNN
Romain Virgo drops 'The System' album
Singer Romain Virgo this week released his explosive sophomore album, The System.
The album which exhibits Virgo's musical growth since releasing his self-titled debut album, Romain Virgo in June 2010, features 15 hard-hitting tracks.
He says this album does not represent a departure from the style which brought him to the fore, but there is evidence of musical exploration. "People will definitely hear the growth in my music, style and the topics I choose to explore on this album. The System is about all the facets of life: from everyday problems to love, poverty, making the right decisions, and so on. So there is definitely something for everyone on this album."
The System will feature a number of previously released singles including the title track, System, the hit Rich In Love, the powerful, I Know Better, and the well-produced reggae remake of the Adele original, Don't You Remember.
Virgo says, "We released four of the tracks on the album as singles so fans could get a taste of the new album and a hint of the quality and topic range that would be coming on the album. We hope that they will not only go out and get the album, but also listen to it and rank it among their favourites and classics."
The singer also says among the chief producers who made the album possible were Donovan Germain, Shane Brown, and Dawin and Omar Brown of Vikings Productions. "I have to say a big thank you to them and everyone on my team who helped to make this possible, and I really hope the fans love the album as much as we do."
Track Listing:
System
Minimum Wage
Another Day Another Dollar
Food Fi Di Plate
Dem A Coward
I Know Better
Mama's Song
Not Today
Rich In Love
Ray Of Sunshine
Fantasize
Fired Up Inside
Don't You Remember (Adele Cover)
Broken Heart feat. Busy Signal
Press On
US rapper Nas samples Super Cat song
American rapper Nas has sampled Super Cat's Dance Inna New York for a song on his upcoming album.
Super Cat's song was released in the 90s but has been sampled for Nas' song The Don, which is one of the singles that will appear on his summer album called Life Is Good.
The song starts with an intro from Super Cat repeating, "New York girl dem a mad ova we." Thereafter, Nas raps his verses over a hip-hop beat. But in sections of the song, Super Cat's voice can be heard adding melody to the track. And in bringing an end to the song, Nas says, "Super Cat the Don Dadda, understood."
But the new single, The Don, features production from Salaam Remi, Da Internz and the late Heavy D, who died suddenly in November.
In an April interview on MTV, Nas said, "when Salaam played me the beat for it, I said, 'that's the single - do this and do that and we're golden.' So he started flipping it around."
He continued: "When we heard that Heavy D died, of course we were messed up, and Salaam called me and told me, 'You know your record The Don? You know who gave me that, right?' He's like, 'Heavy D gave me that. He liked what we did with the other single, Nasty, and he sent me this record.' And the rest is history. So rest in peace, Heavy D."
Heat apologize to Amare Stoudemire
The Miami Heat issued a statement Thursday apologizing to the New York Knicks and Amare Stoudemire for Miami's arena announcer mocking the forward when he fouled of Wednesday's playoff game.
Heat announcer Michael Baiamonte referred to Stoudemire over the AmericanAirlines Arena loudspeakers as having been "extinguished from the game" after he was assessed his sixth foul with 4:48 left in the game. The Heat went on to claim a 106-94 victory to eliminate the Knicks from the playoffs in five games.
"That's Stoudemire's sixth personal foul," Baiamonte announced after Stoudemire was called for an offensive foul on a drive into the lane. "He has been extinguished from the game."
Baiamonte's comment was in reference to Stoudemire banging his left hand out of frustration into a fire extinguisher case outside of the Knicks' locker room after New York's 104-94 loss on April 30 to trail 2-0 in the series against the Heat. Stoudemire missed Game 3 after having surgery to repair a gruesome cut on his hand.
Moments after Baiamonte made the statement during Wednesday's game, Heat media relations director Rob Wilson approached Baiamonte at the scorer's table and the two exchanged words briefly.
"Last night at our game, our PA announcer had a momentary lapse of judgment and used a poor choice of words in describing Amare Stoudemire's fouling out of the game," the Heat said in Thursday's statement. "This is not who we are as an organization or who he is as an announcer. Both the Miami Heat and Michael Baiamonte apologize to Amare and the New York Knicks for the inappropriate choice of words."
Stoudemire told ESPNNewYork.com after the game that he did not initially hear Baiamonte's comment as he walked past the scorer's table and back to the Knicks' bench after the disqualification.
"That doesn't bother me," Stoudemire told reporters after the game when he was informed of the announcer's remark.
There was no indication Thursday if the Heat would take any disciplinary action against Baiamonte, who has been the Heat's public address announcer since 1990. Miami advanced to face the Indiana Pacers in the second round, with Game 1 at AmericanAirlines Arena on Sunday.
Twin Car Bombs in Syrian Capital Kill 55
Two suicide car bombs that exploded in the Syrian capital near a state intelligence compound Thursday killed at least 55 people and wounded another 370, making it the country's deadliest attack since an opposition uprising began 14 months ago.
State media said two booby-trapped cars with 1,000 kilograms of explosives exploded within seconds of each other in the southern Qazaz district in Damascus during the morning rush hour.
The blasts left a scene of carnage with charred vehicles and body parts covering the street. The attack occurred outside the notorious Palestine Branch military intelligence building. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said most of the casualties were members of the state security forces.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blasts, which further shredded an April 12 cease-fire declared by U.N. envoy Kofi Annan. Opposition leaders said the peace plan was dead, while Western powers insisted it remained the best way forward.
Mr. Annan condemned the “abhorrent” bombings and urged all parties to halt violence and protect civilians. The White House and the United Nations also condemned the attacks.
The Syrian government blamed the attacks on terrorists whom it says are behind the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told reporters U.S. intelligence indicates “an al-Qaida presence in Syria,” but said the extent of its activity is unclear.
The head of the rebel Free Syrian Army, Colonel Riad al-Asad, denied his group had any role in the bombings.
Syria's main exiled opposition group, the Syrian National Council, accused the government of orchestrating the attack to smear the uprising and scare away a U.N. observer mission.
The chief of the U.N. mission, Robert Mood, a Norwegian general, visited the scene of the attack and condemned the bombings.
“This is a terrible kind of violence that is deplorable. It is the kind of violence that is not deserved by the Syrian people.”
The Syrian foreign ministry sent a letter to the U.N. Security Council urging it to take action against unnamed countries and groups that Damascus accuses of “practicing and encouraging” terrorism in Syria.
The foreign minister of Russia, a key Syrian ally, made a similar accusation about external involvement in Syria's violence.
Speaking on a visit to Beijing, Sergei Lavrov said Thursday some nations, which he did not name, are trying to “explode” the situation. Russia has complained that Western and Arab nations opposed to Mr. Assad have not put enough pressure on Syrian rebels to stop attacks.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the blasts and repeated his call on all sides in Syria's conflict to fully to comply with Mr. Annan's peace plan that calls for an end to all violence, the protection of civilians, and a dialogue leading to a peaceful resolution of the crisis.
Thursday's attack happened one day after a roadside bombing near the rebellious southern city of Daraa wounded 10 Syrian soldiers who were escorting General Mood and other U.N. monitors. The U.N. personnel were unharmed.
The United Nations says more than 9,000 people have been killed in violence related to the anti-government uprising which erupted in March 2011.
US Agents Break Up Honduran Cocaine Ring
U.S. federal agents have arrested 28 people for allegedly running a cocaine smuggling ring between Honduras and northern Virginia.
Officials say many of the suspects are illegal immigrants from Honduras.
Investigators say that the ring used couriers to import the cocaine into the United States and that once those couriers arrived in the U.S., the drug would be picked up and distributed to dealers in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and Massachusetts.
The defendants allegedly spent six years smuggling millions of dollars of cocaine inside shoes, souvenirs, and wooden frames and wired more than $1 million to their suppliers in Honduras.
Officials say the defendants, who are from all over Maryland and Virginia, face up to 40 years in prison if convicted.