War Games Begin on Tense Korean Peninsula
South Korea and the United States have begun an annual, routine military exercise involving thousands of personnel. North Korea's young, untested leader has called for his country's troops to retaliate, should their territory be infringed during the war games.
The command post drill, named "Key Resolve", features thousands of personnel. U.S. and South Korean military officials are stressing it has no connection to current events on the Korean peninsula.
A spokesman at South Korea's Defense Ministry, Kim Min-suk, calls the exercise routine, explaining it will be similar in scope and size to last year's drill.
Kim says the drill will go on as planned, despite the threats related to it made by North Korea.
Pyongyang is characterizing the exercise as a rehearsal for an invasion by "war mongers" carrying nuclear war equipment. It has also expressed outrage about the timing, calling Key Resolve an infringement of its sovereignty and dignity of the DPRK coming at a time North Koreans are in a period of mourning for their recently deceased leader.
Official state media in Pyongyang says supreme commander Kim Jong Un has personally ordered a frontier unit to be prepared for battle.
The announcer, on the Sunday evening main television newscast, saying General Kim has told front-line soldiers if the "enemy intrudes even 0.0001 millimeters into the waters" of North Korea they should make a powerful retaliatory strike.
There are no indications pointing to unusual military movements in the North.
Since the death in December of Kim Jong Il, North Korea's rhetoric has grown more bellicose as it transfers top authority and titles to the late leader's third son.
Pakistan Completes Demolition of Bin Laden’s Hideout
Pakistani authorities have finished destroying the compound where U.S. special forces killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden last May.
Workers completed the demolition job in the northwestern garrison town of Abbottabad Monday. Bulldozers tore down the final remnants of the three-story concrete compound where bin Laden lived for years before his death.
Pakistani security forces cordoned off the area during the demolition process to keep spectators and journalists away. The demolition began late Saturday.
Officials have never said why they decided to tear down the compound that once housed the leader of the al-Qaida terrorist organization.
Pakistan was outraged and embarrassed by the daring night raid that killed bin Laden. The United States said it kept the raid secret because it feared someone in Pakistan's government might tip off the al-Qaida chief.
The U.S.-Pakistan relationship, which has been especially tense since the raid, deteriorated further after a U.S. airstrike on a Pakistani border post in November left 24 Pakistani soldiers dead.
Chinese Newspaper Criticizes Clinton for Syria Comments
China is lashing back at U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for her denunciation of China's and Russia's position on Syria.
Clinton last week described the two countries' vetoes of a U.N. Security Council resolution on Syria as “despicable.”
But Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Monday that China could not accept the American statement.
“The comments by the mentioned American person are totally unacceptable for us. On the Syria question, China has always maintained a fair and objective stance.''
Hong also welcomed Sunday's referendum on a new constitution for Syria, which has been rejected by the United States and other Western governments as a farce.
“We hope that this referendum is conducive to pushing forward Syria's reform and progress, opens the door for political dialogue, and meets Syrian people's justified demands for the change and protection of their interests. We hope that the various sides in Syria can make efforts to ease the tense situation as early as possible.''
Hong said China hopes the referendum, which would open the door political opposition parties, will ease a conflict that has seen thousands of civilians killed by Syrian security forces.
However opposition factions in Syria called for a boycott of the referendum, saying the only acceptable solution to the nation's crisis is for President Bashar al-Assad to step down.
The constitution would create a multi-party system in Syria, which has been governed solely by the Baath Party since 1963. But even if it passes, President Assad would still be very powerful.
Forces loyal to the president were blamed for the deaths of at least 31 people on Sunday while voting on the referendum took place. Syria says its forces are fighting foreign-backed terrorists.
Clinton renewed her criticism of the Syrian government Sunday during a visit to Morocco. She said troops who remain loyal to Mr. Assad are dishonoring themselves and urged them to defect.
“And I want to reiterate my message to those Syrians who still support (Syrian President Bashar) Assad, especially members of the Syrian military and business community. The longer you support the regime's campaign of violence against your brothers and sisters, the more it will stain your honor. If you refuse, however, to prop up the regime or take part in attacks on your fellow citizens, your countrymen and women will hail you as heroes.”
U.N.-appointed investigators estimate the death toll from the uprising at 6,400 civilians and 1,680 army defectors. Syrian officials have said they only took military action when under armed attack from “terrorists.”
Haitian premier's resignation sparks concern at UN
The head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) has expressed his deep concern following the resignation of Prime Minister Garry Conille, just four months after his appointment.
Mariano Fernández Amunátegui, who is also the Secretary-General's Special Representative in Haiti, stressed in a statement that “the resignation of Mr Conille shows, unfortunately, that rifts have taken over reconciliation efforts to the detriment of the country, while the Haitian population are aspiring to initiate a new phase that will lead towards reconstruction, economic growth, and strengthening of the rule of law.”
Fernández Amunátegui praised the contribution of Conille in the stabilization of the country, and called on Haitian authorities to focus and maintain a harmonious atmosphere that is conducive to the democratic stabilization and economic recovery of the country.
He also urged them to designate a new prime minister as soon as possible to avoid delaying the adoption of elements that form the basis of political stability such as adopting a national budget, developing a consensus agenda, publishing amendments to the constitution and organizing local, municipal and senatorial elections.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also voiced his concern over Conille's resignation, saying it came at a time when the people of Haiti are eager to embark decisively on the path towards reconstruction, economic growth and the strengthening rule of law institutions.
“The secretary-general urges the Haitian authorities to act in the interests of the Haitian people and appoint a new prime minister as soon as possible,” said a statement issued by his spokesperson.
Suspect in 3 killings extradited to Puerto Rico
A Puerto Rican man accused of killing three people in the U.S. Caribbean territory has been extradited from Massachusetts.
Puerto Rico’s Justice Department says Luis Emmanuel Sostre Piccinnini was extradited Sunday from a lockup in Plymouth, Massachusetts, where he completed a six-month sentence for assault.
Sostre faces three counts of murder in Puerto Rico. Prosecutors allege he fatally shot three young men in the northern town of Vega Baja in February 2011 and fled the island.
The U.S. island of nearly 4 million people reported a record 1,117 homicides last year, surpassing the previous high of 995 in 1994.
$2.6 bln vanished via Cayman
About 200 billion yen ($2.6 billion) in pension funds managed by Tokyo-based AIJ Investment Advisors Co has disappeared after it was transferred to a fund in the Cayman Islands, followed by a trust bank in Bermuda and then moved to the Hong Kong account of a major European bank, Japanese media is reporting. The Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission (SESC) has not so far been able to trace where the money went after reaching Hong Kong but the Japanese financial regulator plans to unravel the complex flow of money from the investment advisory firm and find out how the money disappeared. SESC suspects that AIJ may have used the Cayman Islands to hide information on its investments.
Pending the results of the SESC's investigation, the Financial Services Agency plans to rescind AIJ's registration, the local media said.
AIJ used most of the 200 billion yen to buy a private investment trust in the Cayman Islands through ITM Securities Co, a Tokyo-based company with close ties to AIJ, The Daily Yomiuri reports, quoting sources close to the company. It said the money had been entrusted to AIJ for investment by its client companies, which were mainly small and midsize companies. However, the funds were believed to have been transmitted to multiple financial institutions, including a bank in Hong Kong.
The private investment trust in the Caymans was established by a person closely associated with AIJ. A foreign trust bank in Bermuda also was believed to be involved in the funds management, the sources told the Japanese daily.
When the commission inspected AIJ last month, some accounting documents that could have detailed the investment performance of the trust in the Caymans could not be located.
Companies managing pension funds that require a stable yield usually use domestic trust banks. An AIJ official was quoted by the commission as saying, "We don't know accurately how our investments performed overseas."
AIJ has admitted submitting false business reports to the Finance Ministry's Kanto Local Finance Bureau, a violation of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law.
AIJ managed about 210 billion yen ($2.62 billion) across 123 contracts in Japan and overseas as of the end of last March, according to a filing with the Japan Securities Investment Advisers Association. The company is led by Kazuhiko Asakawa, a former employee of a securities firm.
While the FSA indicated that it was still investigating the size of the losses, Reuters said that a source familiar with the matter said the regulator believes more than half of client assets may have been lost for good.
"We believe AIJ's assets have lost some of their value. AIJ cannot explain its asset management situation. The size and cause of the losses are now under investigation," the FSA official said.
AIJ is registered in Japan by the FSA as a so-called discretionary investment manager, which can include fund managers that employ hedge fund strategies.
MARINE BRANCH OPERATIONAL
Governor Ric Todd during his latest public forum in Provdenciales assured the public that security remains high on his list of priorities and confirmed that despite several reports Police Marine Unit is up and running.
The Governor continues to hear calls from locals who insisted that their way of life before the British takeover was gone and saw no hope for the future as the cost of living and taxes have crippled them financially.
Since that meeting the Governor has thanked all the people for coming out and addressing him on the matters which were of concern to them.
He said “I believe that it is important that during my term as Governor that I try to develop meaningful two way communications with the widest possible variety of stakeholders including politicians, party officials and supporters, community leaders and private individuals from across the TCI,”
“While the various parties involved might not agree with each other’s positions, I am determined that we can and do meet to discuss issues of mutual concern in a respectful and constructive fashion.”
Turks and Caicos TV selects Azuki Media Platform
WIV Cable, the TV station in the Turks and Caicos Islands has selected mobile media provider Azuki Media Platform to enable several residents and visitors to get news, sports and other local programmes on their smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices.
With a remote installation of the Azuki Media Platform, WIV Cable has gained an edge by deli vering linear live content on multiple devices, anywhere in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The deployment of the Azuki Media Platform allows WIV Cable to launch WIV4 Live and other live channels to take utility of Azuki's managed and optimised OTT video platform, providing WIV Cable viewers the viewing experience on their smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices.
Azuki's deployment options allow WIV Cable to add video-on-demand and monetisation capacities in the future
Wright hopes for 'amicable' solution
Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) President Lyndel Wright hopes there will be an amicable solution to the stand-off between Jamaica's Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) at a board meeting arranged for today and tomorrow.
Both parties have been at loggerheads since Monday after the WICB issued a media statement criticising comments made by Simpson Miller regarding the WICB's handling of national and Windies cricketer Chris Gayle.
The board also took issue over Simpson Miller's expressed disappointment of Jamaica not being awarded a game for the upcoming Australian tour of the region.
"I hope that things will be resolved in an amicable way," said Wright, who along with vice-president WICB member, Major Radcliffe Daley, departed the country yesterday for the meeting, which will be held in St Lucia.
"I hope that they will give a response in terms of our press release in which we called for a retraction of their disrespectful statements.
"We cannot sit by and allow the WICB, of which we are shareholders. to embarass the prime minister of Jamaica.
"The prime minister was within her right to comment the way she did," Wright declared.
The WICB, in their press release, expressed disappointment at Simpson Miller's statements regarding Chris Gayle, which were made at the JCA's annual awards dinner last Saturday.
Justice denied
"Justice delayed is justice denied," and "we demand that a resolution be found as quickly as possible", the Jamaican PM had stated during her presentation.
In its release, the regional body said: "The WICB regrets the comments made by Prime Minister of Jamaica the Honourable Portia Simpson Miller.
"The WICB is further dis-appointed that the relevant officials in Jamaica did not, or did not properly, brief the newly elected prime minister.
"Had the Honourable Prime Minister been briefed she would have been informed that Mr Chris Gayle has been written to by the WICB, clearly outlining the full details of what is required of him. The WICB is awaiting a response from Mr Gayle."
It added: "The WICB implores the prime minister to use her good office to urge Mr Gayle to respond favourably in an effort to put this issue in the past."
GLEANER
Delano Williams draws first blood
Turks & Caicos own Munro College's Delano Williams drew first blood in what is expected to be a season long battle with Green Island's Odail Todd that could end up at the IAAF's World Junior Championships in Barcelona, Spain in July, after winning the boys' Class 1 sprint double at last week's Milo County of Cornwall Athletics Association's (COCAA) Western Champs at the Montego Bay Sports Complex.
Williams sped to a pair of personal best times of 10.34 seconds - a meet record - and 20.53 seconds in the 100m and 200m respectively, beating Todd the World Youth Championships 100m gold medalists both times
With Williams who represents the Turks and Caicos Islands and who is seeking British citizenship in time for the London Olympics, not eligible to run at the CARIFTA and National Junior Trials, his only other clash with Todd could be at the ISSA Boys Championships in late March and the World Junior Championships, if both runners make it that far.
The match up between Williams who won both events last year and Todd was one of the highly anticipated events on Saturday, the third day of the Championships and saw spectators standing in anticipation as the athletes got to the starting line.
Neil Harrison, the Munro College head coach said the World Junior Championships is the target for Williams who failed to get past the first round of the both the 100m and 200m races at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Moncton, Canada in 2010.
"An athlete with Delano's abilities should have a world title under his belt," Harrison said on Saturday.