Putin Sworn In Amid Controversy Over Protest Violence
Vladimir Putin was sworn in Monday as Russia’s president. But the highly choreographed ceremony in the Kremlin’s St. Andrew Hall was clouded by events in the Russian capital a day earlier, when police and protesters, during a large opposition demonstration, left dozens injured on both sides.
With his right hand on the Russian constitution, Vladimir Putin swore that, in carrying out his duties as Russia’s president, he would “respect and safeguard” rights and freedoms, observe and protect the country’s constitution, protect its sovereignty, independence, security and integrity, and “faithfully serve the people.”
Earlier Monday, Russia’s outgoing president, Dmitry Medvedev, addressed the nearly 3,000 Russian and foreign dignitaries who attended the Kremlin swearing-in ceremony. Back in 2008, near the end of his second presidential term, Mr. Putin picked Mr. Medvedev to be his successor. Mr. Medvedev then picked Mr. Putin to be his prime minister.
Medvedev said Monday that the “large-scale” political, economic and social reforms which he said he and Putin had carried out need to be continued.
Only through such reforms, Medvedev said, will Russia be a 'powerful democratic state' where law and social justice reign. He said that as president, he had worked “openly and honestly” to achieve such goals, and while not all of them were reached, such efforts must continue.
In a brief address after being sworn in Monday, Putin said Russia would achieve its goals only if it strengthened democracy and constitutional rights and freedoms.
Yet some observers see a disconnect between those stated goals and past practice. It was Putin’s announcement last September that he would again run for president and make Medvedev his prime minister, which both outraged and energized Russia’s political opposition.
Widespread reports of fraud in last December’s parliamentary elections and presidential elections in March only served to heighten tensions.
Those tensions turned violent Sunday, when opposition demonstrators clashed with police during a mass protest in Moscow. More than 400 people were arrested and scores of demonstrators and policemen were injured.
Some analysts said Monday that the growing gulf between an uncompromising Kremlin and an increasingly radicalized opposition will lead to further violence.
Lilia Shevtsova, a political analyst with the Carnegie Moscow Center, predicts that Putin will increasingly resort to “repressive mechanisms.”
“He will never give any concessions, neither to the opposition nor to the protesters’ movement, because the only concession the society, civil society, is expecting from him, is competition -- fair competition -- and rule of law. That means new elections, and one can guess that if the election is really fair, Putin has no guarantees to win the elections,” Shevtsova said.
Following Monday’s inauguration, Vladimir Putin submitted Dmitry Medvedev’s candidacy for the post of prime minister to the State Duma, the lower house of Russia’s parliament, for consideration.
China Expels Al-Jazeera English Reporter, Forces Closure of Beijing Bureau
Al-Jazeera says it has been forced to shut down its English language news operation in China after authorities refused to renew the media credentials and visa of its only correspondent in Beijing.
The Qatar-based network said Monday that it “had no other choice” than to close its Beijing bureau after China failed to renew the accreditation of Melissa Chan and would not allow another correspondent to replace her.
The network did not say if authorities gave any reason for expelling Chan, who had been its China reporter since 2007.
The Foreign Correspondent's Club of China on Tuesday said it was “appalled” by the decision, calling it an attempt to “censor and intimidate” foreign correspondents in China.
It is the first time since 1998 that China has expelled an accredited foreign journalist.
Chinese officials had recently expressed displeasure with al-Jazeera's China coverage. In particularly, authorities were reportedly angered by a November documentary highlighting oppressive Chinese prison labor camps.
Al-Jazeera News Director Salah Negm defended the network's China coverage, saying it strives for objectivity. But he also said its reporting “covers the voice of the voiceless” and that sometimes calls for “tough news coverage.”
The network says it will continue to employ several Arabic-language reporters in China. It is working with Beijing authorities to reopen its English bureau.
Chan, a U.S. citizen, is believed to be the first foreign reporter kicked out of China since a Japanese journalist was expelled in 1998 after being accused of obtaining state secrets.
Observers say Chinese authorities have increasingly restricted foreign journalists in recent months, as the date for a once-in-a-decade leadership transition in China draws closer.
Israel’s Early Elections Postponed: Media Reports
Israeli media reports say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has struck a surprise deal with the opposition Kadima party to form a unity government, effectively canceling an early election.
The reports said that Israel's parliament announced it would not hold a final vote on whether to break up. The decision came after hours of debate that began late Monday.
On Sunday, Mr. Netanyahu called for the dissolution of his coalition government and early parliamentary elections in September. The proposed elections were to come more than a year ahead of the next national vote scheduled for October 2013.
Mr. Netanyahu told his Likud party members Sunday he did not want a year-and-a-half of instability that harms security, the economy and society. He said a short four-month campaign would ensure political stability.
Latest opinion polls show that the popularity of Prime Minister Netanyahu remains high.
Mr. Netanyahu's right-wing ruling coalition, one of the most stable in recent times, has split over a controversial law that exempts ultra-Orthodox Jews and Arab Israelis from military or civilian service.
In addition, the country's military says it needs more funds to cope with what it says is rising antagonism in the region, following the Arab Spring. There are also fears of a conflict if Israel attacks Iran's suspected nuclear weapons facilities.
The economy remains the top priority for many Israelis. Demonstrations over the high cost of living and lack of social services rocked the Netanyahu government last year.
Serbian Presidential Election Heads to Runoff
Serbia's incumbent president, Boris Tadic, finished first in his bid for re-election, but fell far short of a majority, so a runoff vote will be held in two weeks.
Mr. Tadic and his main challenger, Tomislav Nikolic of the nationalist Serbian Progressive Party, finished first and second Sunday in a field of 12 candidates. Together they won more than half of nearly four million ballots that were cast, and Serbia's Election Commission said Mr. Tadic has a 13,100-vote lead over Mr. Nikolic.
In voting for parliament, Mr. Nikolic's nationalists won 73 seats, ahead of Mr. Tadic's Democratic Party bloc, which won 67 seats. Since Serbia's opposition socialists won 44 seats, the party once led by Slobodan Milosevic appears to hold the balance of power in talks on forming a new government.
In Washington, the White House congratulated Serbia on holding a successful election. A spokesman says the United States looks forward to working with Serbia's political leadership as it moves toward EU membership, no matter which party leads the next government.
US Foils Al-Qaida Airliner Bomb Plot
U.S. officials say they have stopped an al-Qaida bomb plot intended to destroy an airliner heading for the United States.
Authorities in Washington say the al-Qaida branch in Yemen intended to put a suicide bomber aboard a U.S.-bound jet with explosives concealed in the attacker's underwear.
They say the plot was detected and the bomb was seized before any plane was at risk.
The White House National Security Council said in a statement Monday that U.S. President Barack Obama was first informed about the plot in April and has received regular updates about the situation. It said the president was assured that the device did not pose a threat to the public.
Addressing reporters Monday, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta declined to comment on specific classified operations. However, he said the incident makes clear the United States must remain vigilant against possible attacks.
The Associated Press says the would-be attacker is based in Yemen and the plot was to be carried out around the one-year anniversary of the U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden. It also says the would-be attacker had not picked a target or bought a plane ticket.
Officials say the bomb was a redesign of an explosive that was used to try to blow up an airplane bound for Detroit from Amsterdam in 2009. A Nigerian man tried to detonate the bomb hidden in his underwear on the Christmas Day flight.
Mystic Revealers rock live concert
A near-capacity audience streamed into Hope Botanical Gardens on Saturday evening for a live concert produced by the environmental group, Plant a Tree Foundation.
They saw three bands representing different genres and generations of Jamaican music — No-Maddz, Mystic Revealers and Rootz Underground
No-Maddz from Bull Bay, who opened the show, delivered a well-received fusion set of reggae, jazz and world beat.
Reggae-rock unit Rootz Underground, arguably the best known of the bands that have emerged in Jamaica during the past decade, were typically high-energy.
But it was another Bull Bay band, the veteran Mystic Revealers, who stood out.
Making their first local appearance in 15 years, the quintet with three original members, dished out a solid serving of traditional roots-reggae.
"Wi rehearsing for the last two weeks an' wi still trying to find a soun'," lead singer/guitarist Anthony 'Billy Mystic' Wilmot told the audience shortly taking the stage.
There were glimpses of that stage rust, but the crowd warmed to a performance built around songs from their heyday of the 1990s.
The quintet's strongest moments came in the last 25 minutes when they did Saw You Smiling, their first hit, which Wilmot dedicated to his wife of 32 years.
That was followed by the rocking Dem Problem and Religion featuring deejay Sojah.
The late flourish earned them an encore, which they performed Judgement Day.
The event was staged to build awareness about the importance of tree-planting to the environment.
Mystikal gives final show
Thousands turned out Friday to see New Orleans rapper Mystikal perform one last time before returning to jail on a probation violation.
The rapper, whose real name is Michael Tyler, was released from a Louisiana prison in 2010 after serving six years for sexual battery and extortion. He returns to jail May 14 following a February arrest on a misdemeanour charge of domestic abuse battery.
In April, the rapper's attorney, Roy Maughan Jr, said Tyler and the victim in the domestic battery case were long-time domestic partners.
The rapper alluded to his legal problems on stage Friday.
"I'm going through some things, but it's gonna be all right," Mystikal said to cheering fans. "Fellas if you get into it with your girl, just walk away. Me? I'm gonna run."
He also shouted: "Eighty-one days and I will be back," referring to the length of his pending jail term.
State District Judge Tony Marabella of Baton Rouge ordered Tyler to serve 90 days in jail for the violation but gave him credit for the nine days he was detained after his Feb 22 arrest.
Mystikal thanked his fans for their continued support and, in between a few water breaks, pushed through a set list that included fan favorites "Bouncin' Back, "Danger (Been So Long)," and "Here I Go."
"He's been through a lot, but I like artists who keep pushing past their struggles," said Erik Hamilton, of New Orleans. "A lot of people focus on an artist's problems and forget that he's a regular person and regular people sometimes have problems.
"I'm disappointed to hear he has to go back (to jail) but he'll have some time to sit back and realise what he's done and hopefully he will be a better man when he comes out."
Hamilton's wife, Frenchell Pannell-Hamilton, said she enjoyed the rapper's performance.
"We have to support our local musicians and stand behind them," she said. "That helps keep New Orleans strong."
Tony Jones, visiting from Hawaii, said he didn't know what happened to get Mystikal a return ticket to prison, but hoped "the judge was lenient."
Jason Foster, a Charlotte, NC native now living in New Orleans, said he grew up with Mystikal. This was his first time at the Jazz Fest and his first time seeing the rapper's live show, which included music by his full brass band "Hot Sausage."
"He played all his hits and gave a great show," Foster said.
Tyler pleaded guilty in 2003 to forcing his hairstylist to perform what a judge called "continuous sex acts." The victim in that case accused Tyler and two bodyguards of making her perform oral sex after accusing her of stealing $80,000 worth of his checks.
The woman denied stealing any money.
--AP
9 found hanging from Mexican bridge
Residents of the Mexican border city of Nuevo Laredo found nine bodies hanging from an overpass Friday morning, along with a message directed to a drug cartel.
The five men and four women were hanging from one of the busiest intersections in the city.
"We are investigating. We think it is related to an organized crime group, but we cannot speculate," a military official told CNN. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
All of the bodies had signs of being beaten and tortured, the military official said. The bodies had their hands tied behind their backs and seven of them had blindfolds on.
The message said the victims belonged to a drug cartel and had been responsible for a car bomb that exploded outside the police station in last month.
Source-CNN
Prostitute to sue US embassy workers, marine
A Brazilian prostitute plans to sue the United States Embassy, three Marines, an American staff member and one of the Embassy's Brazilian drivers for injuries caused when she allegedly was pushed out of a van in Brasilia, her attorney said yesterday.
Attorney Cezar Britto said by telephone that Romilda Aparecida Ferreira will sue for injuries, medical expenses and lost income.
Britto said that any possible financial settlement would be determined by a judge.
The attorney described Ferreira as a "sex professional and dancer" who met the four Americans at the Apples nightclub on December 29, 2011. She and three other women left with the men in three vehicles, including two belonging to the embassy.
Britto said that after an argument with the driver, one of the Marines pushed Ferreira out of the vehicle. She broke her collarbone, two ribs and punctured a lung when the car ran over her in the nightclub's parking lot, the attorney said.
State Department's spokesperson Victoria Nuland said on Wednesday that the woman was not pushed out of the vehicle, but rather "attempted to open a car door and get into a closed and moving vehicle. She was not able to do so. She fell and she injured herself."
Nuland and Britto said that Brazilian authorities have not filed any charges against the four Americans.
AP
Caribbean to access $10.6 million in climate change financing through IDB
Caribbean countries and regional organizations will apply a $10.6 million grant from the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) to carry out a regional track of activities to address the impact of climate change, the Inter-American Development Bank announced on Friday.
At a recent meeting of the CIF’s subcommittee for the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR), members endorsed a strategic investment program for the Caribbean region that will fund activities in four areas:
• Improving geospatial data and management for adaptation planning, sea level rise and storm surge impact analysis.
• Consolidating and expanding the regional climate monitoring network and global platform linkages.
• Downscaling and expanding climate projection models and high-resolution maps.
• Applied adaptation initiatives.
The Caribbean Regional PPCR is a collaborative effort between six participating countries — Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St Lucia and St Vincent, each with its own national program and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center serving as a focal point for the regional track of activities. Lessons learned from CIF-funded projects will be disseminated to other non-participating countries in the region.
The Climate Investment Funds include the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) and the Strategic Climate Fund (SCF), which are financed with contributions from donor countries. The Pilot Program for Climate Resilience is a targeted program funded by the SCF. CIF funds are disbursed through multilateral development banks such as the IDB.
Caribbean News Now