Clico commission resumes hearings next January
As sole Clico commissioner Sir Anthony Colman endeavours to maintain the timeline he set himself for the conclusion of his commission, he announced yesterday that he was scheduling four evidential hearings in 2012. The commission, which ended its November hearing yesterday, will sit again on January 4-13, February 23-28, March 12-16 and April 23-May 4. The commission has subpoenaed 22 witnesses to give evidence: Hayden Charles, Mervyn Assam, Claudius Dacon, Shama Deonarine, Eugene Dzidyk, Anthony Fifi, Ian Garcia, Karen Gardier, Peter Johnson, Geoffery Leid, Claude Musaib-Ali, Ozzie Nurse, Anna Rampersad, Karen Nunez-Tesheira, Ram Ramesh, Dr Bhoe Tewaire, Victor Mouttet, Clinton Ramberransingh, Roger Duprey, Richard Trotman, Lennox Archer and Faris al-Rawi.
Former group finance head Andre Monteil is also scheduled to give evidence. Colman said the commission was having difficulty locating Claudius Dacon and Ian Garcia. The cross-examination of former corporate secretary Gita Sakal will continue the January hearing. Former CL Financial group finance head Michael Carballo will also conclude his cross-examination by attorneys for Geoffery Leid in that session. Colman expects to begin writing his report on Clico’s collapse in September 2012. The Hindu Credit Union aspect of the Commission has been delayed and Colman could not give a timeline on when he expects to complete the HCU report. He said it will be up to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago whether they make the entire report available. He admitted that it’s been difficult to run parallel Clico and HCU hearings.
“The amount of evidence and documents relating to the Clico collapse is so vast that the commission simply does not have the legal or administrative resources to run both investigations simultaneously,” Colman said. “The demands on those resources imposed by the size and complexity of the Clico investigation are such that there is simply no available surplus legal expertise or administrative manpower to get on with the Hindu Credit Union.” Clico investigations, he said, would be concluded before HCU. “Well, it might be said, why could not this likely delay have been foreseen in the first place when the Commission was first set up?” he said.
“The answer is quite simple...that kind of political decision would not normally be taken after investigation of the magnitude of the likely documentation or the likely number of witnesses that might be called or of the number of counsel likely to be involved. “The primary political imperative is to get an inquiry started and to get the appointment of a commissioner organised.” Speaking on Thursday, Colman said it had taken some time because there were 18 parties to the commission of enquiry and each party was entitled to be represented by counsel and attorneys. Thus far, he pointed out, the commission had received 800,000 volumes of documents. “Is this all out of control?...Not a bit of it,” he said. “But in order to keep control over the material, the inquiry cannot be run at a gallop.”
Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam captured in Libya
Colonel Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam has been captured, Libyan officials say.
He was taken by fighters near the southern town of Obari and flown to the city of Zintan in the north. Saif al-Islam told a journalist he was well.
He is the last key Gaddafi family member to be seized or killed. Libya's new prime minister says he will get a fair trial in Libya.
Saif al-Islam, 39, is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity.
A militia force allied to the ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) said he had been captured in the desert about 50km (30 miles) west of Obari, and taken to their base in Zintan in the north.
A commander of the Zintan militia, Wisam Dughaly, said Saif al-Islam had been captured along with several aides as they tried to smuggle him out to neighbouring Niger.
Fighters said they were taken without a shot being fired.
"At the beginning he was very scared. He thought we would kill him," one of his captors, named as Ahmed Ammar, told Reuters news agency.
Libyan TV showed pictures of Saif al-Islam on the plane to Zintan with bandages on his left hand.
Asked by Reuters reporter Marie-Louise Gumuchian during the flight if he was feeling all right, he said simply: "Yes." He added that he had been injured in a Nato air strike a month ago.
Interim Prime Minister Abdurrahim al-Keib told reporters in Zintan: "We assure Libyans and the world that Saif al-Islam will receive a fair trial."
He added that he was happy for him to remain in Zintan rather than be transferred to the capital, Tripoli.
"Our brothers and sisters here and the authorities are definitely trustworthy. We trust their ability to be able take care of this person," Mr Keib said.
The Zintan fighters, who make up one of the powerful militia factions in the country, have said they plan to keep Saif al-Islam until they could hand him over to Tripoli.
Information Minister Mahmoud Shammam said Gaddafi's son would face justice in Libya itself.
ICC spokesman Fadi el-Abdallah told the BBC that Libya had a legal obligation to hand Saif al-Islam over to the court, and that the final decision on a trial venue was up to ICC judges after consultations with Tripoli.
ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo said he was travelling to Libya for talks on the issue, adding: "The news is Saif will get justice. Where and how, that we will discuss."
The European Union urged Libyan authorities to ensure that Said al-Islam is brought to justice in full co-operation with the ICC.
British Prime Minister David Cameron called on the country's leaders to ensure he was tried "in line with international standards".
Celebrations
The capture leaves Gaddafi's former intelligence chief, Abdallah Senoussi, as the only Libyan ICC suspect still at large.
Saif al-Islam had been on the run since NTC forces took Tripoli in August, six months into the uprising.
Colonel Gaddafi himself was killed on 20 October after being captured during the final battle for his hometown, Sirte.
The interim government in Libya has launched an inquiry into how he died.
The BBC's Rana Jawad in Tripoli says Saif al-Islam's capture is a very significant moment for Libyans.
They came to see Saif al-Islam as the heir apparent, as a younger version of his father due to his rhetoric during the uprising, she says.
However, at one time he was considered one of the more liberal of Col Gaddafi's sons and was courted in the West.
Celebrations erupted on the streets of Tripoli shortly after the news of his arrest emerged.
Our correspondent heard people hooting car horns, waving flags and firing guns into the air.
Saif al-Islam has been reported captured before. In August, rebel forces announced his arrest as they took control of Tripoli - only for him to appear in front of cameras to disprove it.
Source-BBC
California university to investigate police use of pepper spray
Under pressure to resign, the chancellor of the University of California, Davis, on Saturday called police use of pepper spray on seated Occupy protesters "chilling" and established a task force to look into the incident.
The video broadcast by CNN Sacramento affiliate KOVR showed a campus police officer, in a sweeping motion, spraying protesters point blank on Friday before other officers moved in. Eleven people were treated on site for effects of the yellow spray. Two of them were sent to the hospital, university officials said.
"Yesterday was not a day that would make anyone on our campus proud; indeed the events of the day need to guide us forward as we try to make our campus a better place of inquiry, debate, and even dissent," Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi said in a statement.
The incident set off a flood of comments on the school's Facebook page, most of them critical of police and the administration.
Protesters rallied again Saturday evening, chanting "resignation" and "we are peaceful, you are not."
In a press conference, Katehi refused calls from faculty members and others for her to step down, saying she did not violate campus policies and that she has worked to make UC Davis a safe campus.
"Very unexpected, sad and very inappropriate at least on the face of it," she said of the video, adding she wants the task force to look at how students can safely express their opinions. Officers sent in to remove tents had been encircled by protesters, creating a safety issue, police said.
The Davis Faculty Association, citing incidents at other campuses, demanded "that the chancellors of the University of California cease using police violence to repress nonviolent political protests." It called for greater attention to cuts in state funding to education and rising tuition. Its board demanded Katehi resign, saying she exhibited "gross failure of leadership."
"Student debt has reached unprecedented levels as bank profits swell," the group said on its website.
Time: Watch video of police pepper-spraying and arresting students
UC Davis spokeswoman Claudia Morain told CNN that 25 tents were in place Friday afternoon -- despite fliers explaining the campus prohibits overnight camping. It does so for security and health reasons, Katehi said.
After written and verbal warnings, officers reminded the protesters they would be subject to arrest if they did not move their tents from the quad, Morain said. Many protesters did decide to remove their tents and equipment, officials said.
A group of about a dozen protesters sat on a path with their arms interlocked as police moved in to remove additional tents. Most of the protesters had their heads down.
At one point, protesters encircled the officers and blocked them from leaving, Morain said. Cut off from backup, the officers determined the situation was not safe and asked people several times to make room, Morain said. One officer used pepper spray when a couple of protesters and some of the 200 bystanders moved in, she added.
One of the protesters hit by the spray told CNN's Don Lemon that she was still feeling some after-effects Saturday evening.
"I was shocked," said Sophia Kamran. "When students are sitting on the ground and no way of moving to be violent, being totally peaceful, I don't understand the use of pepper spray against them."
Kamran said she and others had sat down in "solidarity" of five others she said were arbitrarily arrested by officers.
Annette Spicuzza, chief of campus police, said officers in riot gear were unable to get out after they were encircled.
A use of force review will "determine whether we made all the right decisions and handled it the way we should have handled it," Spicuzza told reporters.
Ten people were arrested during the face-off, Morain said late Friday. Tentative citations were failure to disperse and lodging without permission.
Morain said the pepper spray was used in lieu of batons. "Obviously, they use this only as a last resort," she said of the officers.
Katehi said the incident followed weeklong peaceful demonstrations on the campus over the cost of higher education and other issues.
"During the early afternoon hours and because of the request to take down the tents, many students decided to dismantle their tents, a decision for which we are very thankful," she wrote. "However, a group of students and non-campus affiliates decided to stay. The university police then came to dismantle the encampment. ... As indicated in various videos, the police used pepper spray against the students who were blocking the way. The use of pepper spray as shown on the video is chilling to us all and raises many questions about how best to handle situations like this."
Katehi said the task force made of faculty, students and staff will review the events and provide a report within 90 days.
"This report will help inform our policies and processes within the university administration and the Police Department to help us avoid similar outcomes in the future," she said.
Obama declares Asia-Pacific trip a success
U.S. President Barack Obama declared his nine-day Asia-Pacific trip a success on Saturday, returning to the trip's domestic impact after focusing for days on the United States' role in the region and its relationship with China.
In his weekly address, delivered from Bali, Indonesia,Obama said the trip helped cement trade deals that will support nearly 130,000 jobs. Agreements announced to export Boeing aircraft and G.E. engines to the region could increase U.S. exports by up to $39 billion, he said.
"These agreements will help us reach my goal of doubling American exports by 2014 -- a goal we're on pace to meet," he said.
Obama was flying back to the United States on Saturday. He was scheduled to be back in Washington early Sunday.
The administration advertised the trip, which began with a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders in Hawaii, primarily as an effort to shore up to United States' role in the economically important region as a means of helping boost the ailing U.S. economy.
Secondarily, White House officials characterized the trip as an effort to demonstrate its commitment to the region and its allies there as the United States winds down its military commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan and China begins to exert its own rising influence.
During the trip, Obama announced an agreement to station U.S. Marines in Australia and held face-to-face meetings with Chinese officials and other leaders on economic and security issues, in addition to participating in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations economic summit and the East Asia Summit in Indonesia -- a first for a U.S. president, according to the White House.
During the summit, Obama and his counterparts discussed economic issues, disaster response and territorial disputes over the South China Sea, an area critical to maritime shipping and one rich in oil and fish.
China has claimed a significant portion of the South China Sea as its own territorial waters, putting it in conflict with other nations that have made claims on portions of the region.
Sixteen of 18 leaders present at the meeting spoke out strongly against China's stance in what was a productive, but not confrontational meeting, according to a senior administration official. Premier Wen Jiabao told the group that China wants to see the issue resolved peacefully, according to the official.
"I think it was constructive, and one has to believe that the Chinese premier will go back to Beijing with the sense that the center of gravity in the Asia Pacific area is around the adherence to the principle of the rule of law, peaceful resolution, and a constructive, rules-based approach to the resolution of territorial disputes," the official said.
Obama later met with the Chinese premier in a hastily-arranged meeting to continue their discussion on economic issues and the territorial dispute.
Those talks occurred against the backdrop of Chinese consternation over the United States' increasing assertiveness in the region.
An editorial published Friday by the state-controlled Xinhua news agency chided the United States for what it called a willingness to flaunt international rules, even as it insists other countries follow them. It highlighted the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.
"Today, when the world is still facing many difficult global challenges, the United States needs to first revisit its double standards on international rules and start observing them itself instead of lecturing China." Xinhua said in the editorial.
Obama's last appointment Saturday before leaving for Washington was a meeting with Thailand's first woman prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra.
Obama congratulated Shinawatra on her "inspirational" election win, and offered condolences and assistance to those affected by the flooding in Thailand.
He also described Thailand as one of America's oldest allies and spoke of the two nations' great friendship. When Shinawatra expressed her regret at not having visited the United States, Obama responded by inviting her to Hawaii.
Source-CNN
Pope calls for African peace and reconciliation
Pope Benedict has presented plans by the Roman Catholic church to encourage reconciliation in Africa, on the second day of his visit to the state of Benin.
The Pope travelled to the city of Ouidah, the heartland of the Voodoo religion, where called for respect for traditional beliefs but issued a warning against witchcraft.
Ouidah is home to one of the largest Catholic cathedrals in West Africa.
Earlier he denounced corruption when he spoke to political and church leaders.
Large crowds have greeted the Pope since he arrived in Benin on Friday.
His first public engagement was at the presidential palace in the economic capital, Cotonou.
In front of an audience of politicians, diplomats and church figures, he issued an appeal to Africa's leaders.
Do not deprive your peoples of hope. Do not cut them off from their future," he said.
"There are too many scandals and injustices, too much corruption and greed, too many errors and lies, too much violence which leads to misery and to death," the Pope added.
The Church's reconciliation plans are contained in a 135-page formal apostolic exhortation entitled The Pledge for Africa (Africae Munus in Latin), which the Pope signed in Ouidah.
The document was drawn up two years ago at a meeting in Rome by Catholic bishops from all over Africa.
It is intended to encourage reconciliation, peace and justice - calling for good governance and the abolition of the death penalty and condemning abuse of women and children.
Pope Benedict reflected these themes in his address to the packed basilica in Ouidah, saying reconciliation was needed to overcome "the tensions, the acts of violence, the wars, the injustices and abuses of all sorts, new and old, which have marked this year".
He urged his audience to recognise elements of traditional cultures and religions to be recognised, if they are compatible with church teaching.
But he warned people to reject magic and witchcraft, which the Church condemns for what it believes is their negative effect on families and society.
The cathedral in Ouidah was built on land which was originally a Voodoo "sacred bush" - where offerings are made to the gods.
It now overlooks a temple where the snake-god is worshipped.
Voodoo is widely practised in Benin, where it has none of the negative connotations often associated with it in Western countries.
'Useless nationalism'
On the first day of his visit the pontiff spoke of avoiding "exacerbated and useless nationalism or tribalism" which he said could fuel deadly inter-religious tensions.
He also urged Africans to avoid the "unconditional surrender to the law of the market and finance".
"Modernity must not cause fear, but it cannot be built by forgetting the past," he said.
The Pope is likely to face questions about the Church's attitude to the use of condoms during his trip.
He caused controversy on a previous visit to Africa, in 2009, by saying that handing out condoms could speed up the spread of HIV.
Africa has the highest prevalence of the virus in the world and his comments angered Aids campaigners.
The Pledge for Africa concedes that Aids calls for a "medical and pharmaceutical response", but describes it as an "ethical problem".
Taiwan moves to legalize oldest profession
In Taiwan, legislation is moving towards legalizing the world’s oldest profession, but in practice the trade remains largely underground.
Under the revised Social Order Maintenance Act, which went into effect in early November, prostitution is legal in designated red-light districts, but so far no local governments have been willing to create these zones, rendering prostitution anywhere illegal.
“You [the government] tell us that both the sex worker and the client would not be penalized within the district, but where is it?” Chung Chun-chu, secretary general of the Collective of Sex Workers and Supporters told the Taipei Times. “So far, none of the local governments have any plans to create red-light districts.”
All 22 county and city mayors have expressed concern that creating prostitution districts would lead to increased crime and plummeting property values, according to an Apple Daily survey.
“We will not consider opening a sex trade zone because there is no public consensus on this highly controversial issue,” Edward Zhang, spokesman for the Taipei City Government, told the Taipei Times.
The new amendment also overturns Article 80 of the act which criminalized prostitutes but not their clients based on its unconstitutionality.
Now, both sex workers and their customers could be fined up to NT$30,000 ($994) for engaging in prostitution outside of these designated areas. Brothel owners operating outside the red-light districts would also face fines of up to NT$50,000 ($1,655).
This law is aimed at protecting women in the sex trade, but Mei Hsiang, a prostitute working in Taipei is worried it will affect her ability to make a living.
“Punishing the clients is worse than punishing us because the clients will not come for fear of being caught and fined and we won’t be able to make a living,” she told the Taipei Times.
Some argued that Taiwan should follow the Swedish approach to prostitution regulation. In Sweden, paying for sex is illegal, but selling it is not, meaning clients are prosecuted while prostitutes are not. Jiang Yi-huah, Minister of the Interior, argued that this sort of legislation may be unconstitutional.
But Huang Sue-ying, a member of the minority Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) questioned this claim, saying “equality means equality in essence and not equality in form. Women are at a more disadvantaged position than men, who are not prosecuted. Men have to pay for the social costs they cause.”
Source-CNN
15 Dead in Syria as Arab Deadline Looms
Syrian activists say at least 15 people were killed in a crackdown on dissent across Syria Saturday, as and Arab League deadline neared for Damascus to end the bloodshed.
The activists said most of the deaths occurred in fresh raids by security forces, while at least two army deserters died in clashes in Homs.
The state-run SANA news agency said authorities raided the “hideouts of terrorists groups” Saturday and arrested more than 140 “wanted men.”
The Arab League has set a deadline of Saturday midnight, local time, for Syria to end the crackdown or risk sanctions. A week ago, the 22-member bloc has suspended Syria's membership.
The league's plan also calls for Damascus to allow in teams of observers to monitor its compliance. On Friday, Syria agreed to the plan “in principle,” but had submitted unspecified amendments that were under review.
Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Syria was responsible for the deteriorating relations between the two countries. He accused Syria of not fulfilling promises to Turkey, the Arab League and to the world for reform or to stop the bloodshed
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak acknowledged that Israel would benefit from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's downfall, saying it would mean less support for militant groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.
Damascus has been facing mounting international pressure to end the unrest that the U.N. says has resulted in more than more than 3,500 deaths.
On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed concern that Syria could slide into civil war.
Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said he would meet with Syrian rebel leaders in London Monday. Hague has condemned the violence and called for Mr. Assad to step aside.
Ashton Kutcher's First Mistress: I Told You So
Ashton Kutcher's alleged mistress added fuel to the divorce statement from Demi Moore. Brittney Jones, who was the first woman stepping forward with the claim that Kutcher had cheated on Moore, said people will now believe her story about sleeping with the actor.
Jones went public with the alleged affair in 2010, just a year before another woman, Sara Leal, told tabloids that she had passionate night with Kutcher. The "Two and a Half Men" star said through his lawyer that Jones' allegation was a lie but did not deny it entirely.
In a new statement to TMZ, Jones said, "Although divorce is often sad I do feel somewhat vindicated. For so long people have thought that I was dishonest or just making up my passionate nights with Ashton, when in fact I was being used."
Jones also backed up Chelsea Handler's theory that Moore and her husband of six years had an "open relationship". Jones said, "Ashton told me that both he and Demi had an 'open relationship' and that he was not in fact cheating. Now I can tell all the facts about how Ashton really was, and hopefully people will believe my side of the story."
She added, "I feel for Demi very much and wish her nothing but the best during this hard time."
Source-AceShowbiz
Demi Moore says she is divorcing Kutcher
Actress Demi Moore said Thursday she plans to divorce Ashton Kutcher.
"It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I have decided to end my six-year marriage to Ashton," Moore, 49, said in a statement.
"As a woman, a mother and a wife there are certain values and vows that I hold sacred, and it is in this spirit that I have chosen to move forward with my life," she said. "This is a trying time for me and my family, and so I would ask for the same compassion and privacy that you would give to anyone going through a similar situation."
Kutcher, 33, currently stars in "Two and a Half Men."
The prolific Twitter user sent a message Thursday afternoon: "I will forever cherish the time I spent with Demi. Marriage is one of the most difficult things in the world and unfortunately sometimes they fail. Love and Light, AK"
The couple started the Demi & Ashton Foundation (DNA) to combat the international sexual slavery trade.
Moore and Kutcher began dating in 2003 and married in September 2005.
It was the first time to tie the knot for Kutcher, the third for Moore. Before Bruce Willis, Moore was married to rock musician Freddy Moore.
Source-CNN
Chris Brown and Ex-Girlfriend Deny Sex Tape Existence
Chris Brown is back on the headlines after reports emerge that he has a sex tape with ex-girlfriend Draya Michele. Before the report got out of hand, the singer's representative spared the time to say, "The report is absolutely not true."
MediaTakeOut.com was the first to report of the tape's existence, saying they were offered the video for the price tag of $50,000. The gossip website has viewed the tape but the asking price was out of their range, so they made a pass. They said the video is "extremely graphic", featuring the two of them taking "turns holding the camera while they performed sex acts on each other."
Brown's rep added in a statement to TMZ that whoever was on the tape performing XXX act, Brown is not the person. The "With You" crooner was not the only one who came up with denial. Michele took to her Twitter to say, "Don't get caught up in the hype. You can't have 'the first glimpse' of something that doesn't exist. Next."
Michele is the woman whom Brown dated last year following his split from Rihanna.
Source-AceShowbiz