Mubarak deemed too ill for hospital transfer
Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is too ill to be transferred to that country's Tora prison hospital, Egyptian prosecutors said Tuesday.
The prosecutors concluded that the hospital couldn't accommodate Mubarak's needs after the former president was examined by a medical team.
It was not immediately clear if another prison facility in the country will be able to house the deposed leader.
Mubarak and his two sons are currently facing a criminal trial for the deaths of protesters and wasting public money, according to the Egyptian general prosecutor's office.
Mubarak, who was forced from office in February, is expected to be charged with consenting to a plan to kill protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square on January 25. He allegedly ordered police officers to use live ammunition while they fired into a crowd.
The former president, who denies the charges, could be executed if he is convicted of ordering any killings, Egyptian Justice Minister Mohamed Abdelaziz al-Juindy said earlier this month.
Mubarak has been held in a military hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh since mid-April, after complaining of heart palpitations and blood pressure problems. But Aly Hassan, a judicial analyst affiliated with the ministry, recently said Egyptian courts can proceed with a case if a defendant is in poor health.
"In previous cases, suspects appeared in court with life-support machines, so Mubarak's health now does not mean that he is paralyzed," Hassan said. "If he has heart problems and doctors indicate improvement, then he can appear in court for several hours."
Mubarak stepped down as Egypt's leader on February 11, after an 18-day uprising against his nearly three decades of iron-fisted rule. He and his family, as well as former officials in his government, have been under investigation ever since.
Mubarak's attorney, Farid El Deeb, told CNN Monday the former president is "very sad and sorry" about the allegations made against him, but has no regrets.
El Deeb denied that Mubarak gave any kind of authorization to use force or live ammunition against demonstrators calling for his removal.
The attorney also claimed Mubarak is now in "very bad health," suffering from a serious heart problem and a resurgence of colon cancer.
MACKA WINS BIG
Macka Diamond is the proud recipient of the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) Best Female International Rapper/DJ for 2011. The Dancehall artiste (who also wears the hat of that of Author and Actress) is overwhelmed and said “even though there were indicators that I could have won, I simply did not think about it and so it took me completely by surprise.” A pleasant surprise it must have been for Macka who also performed her popular Hoola Hoop and Cow Foot tracks to a very receptive audience at the awards.
The International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) celebrated its 30th year last weekend May 28th, 2011 at the National Academy of the Performing Arts in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Considered to be the only awards show to recognize the contributions of Caribbean and World music for over 30 years, IRAWMA was founded by entrepreneur, publisher and TV personality Ephraim M. Marting. The nominees included Trinidad’s 2011 Soca Monarch and Road Monarch champion Machel Montano, controversial and popular Dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel, Taurus Riley, Jah Cure, Gramps Morgan, Queen Ifrika, International Reggae musician duo Sly and Robbie, JW Blaze, Shakira, Daddy Yankee and many more. Past nominees, winners and award recipients for this prestigious event have included Sean Paul, Jamie Foxx, Mamedou Diabte, Wyclef Jean, India Irie, Enrique Iglesias, Alison Hinds, Awilo Longamba and Beenie Man just to name a few.
Previous IRAWMA have been held in U.S. cities New York, Miami and Atlanta as well as the city of Montego Bay in Jamaica and has been broadcasted on major TV networks such as MTV and B.E.T.
Known to be hard working and persistent, an award such as this could not have come at a better time in Macka’s career. The DJ has successfully traversed other career paths within the entertainment industry that too few Jamaican artistes have gone. She debut in a film titled, “Redemption of Paradise” taking on a lead role back in September 2009 and has also released two books to date, an autobiography entitled, “Grown and Sexy” and what is said to be the first official Dancehall novel titled, ‘Bun Him’ which is ironically the title of one of her popular songs with Dancehall artiste Blacker.
Education axes 30 paraprofessional posts
Thirty education posts are to be axed as part of cost-cutting measures, the Education Minister announced today.
In a statement this evening Dame Jennifer Smith said that in line with the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT), all paraprofessionals and educational therapist assistants assigned to public schools with one-year contracts are being notified that their contracts will not be renewed for September.
“This decision affects those persons whose role is to assist teachers or provide support to persons who have special needs. The total number of persons affected is thirty out of a total of 150 paraprofessionals and educational therapist assistants.
“The BUT Agreement requires that the Ministry advise these persons of their status no later than June 1 in any year and we have complied with this requirement.
“However, as parents will be aware, we must still provide the necessary services to students as required. This means that if necessary, we will contact those qualified individuals if needed.
“I think the public will agree that while paraprofessionals provide a much needed service, there is also room for improvement. To that end, we plan to establish a clear qualifying standard for paraprofessionals, while also instituting a programme to ensure those who wish to upgrade their skills. I think we can all agree that those who can do so must.
“There should be full agreement that those who teach our children must be qualified and certified.
“Prior to the end of June, information regarding staff cost reductions in the Department of Education and Ministry Headquarters will be released.”
HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS
Today marks the beginning of the Atlantic Hurricane Season which is predicted to be once again above average. We at the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) would like to remind the public that regardless of any predictions, it only takes one major storm to significantly impact the lives of the people who reside in these Turks and Caicos Islands.
We would like to also remind residents of the very near misses of the 2010 hurricane season where Hurricane Earl - a Category 4 Hurricane - passed to the east of Grand Turk and Hurricane Tomas a Category 1 passed directly over East Caicos. In these cases we are talking about a matter of miles between the inclement weather experienced and Tropical Storm to Hurricane force winds.
We would like to encourage persons who may have not done so thus far to begin all preparations for the Hurricane Season in earnest; to ensure that minor repairs to homes and businesses are done, and that your insurance policies are current and include flood damage. Persons with vehicles are also asked to check their insurance policy to confirm whether it covers hurricanes and floods or whether there is an additional charge. It is also desirable to commence plans for purchasing or repairing hurricane shutters; the key being taking personal responsibility for your safety. This in turn will produce a more prepared TCI.
PDM meets TCIG
The Peoples Democratic Movement leader Doug Parnell met with executive members of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government.
Matters on the PDM leader agenda included:
1. The economy including taxes, new investment, and potential attraction of new industries to Turks and Caicos.
2. The Constitution and the UK visit including a discussion on the delegation and agenda for direct UK talks.
3. Government finances including its current state, getting an understanding of how the total borrowings are broken down, monthly repayments, and the dealing with the looming 2016 DFID deadline.
4. Civil Service issues including a response on the concerns raised by our party.
Other matters included was the general functioning of the Government and the return to elected representation through the milestones laid down by OT Minister Henry Bellingham.
TCI to get assistance in responding to TB
An expert in the handling of tuberculosis today begins a week long engagement with health care providers in the TCI aimed at helping the country better handle any future outbreak of the disease. Dr. Ward Schrooten will provide technical assistance in the areas of surveillance, treatment, management and containment of the disease. His services have been made available to the TCI through PAHO, the Pan American Health Organisation.
Dr. Schrooton will meet with Ministry of Health primary care staff and InterHealth Canada clinical staff who are involved with diagnosis and or treatment of tuberculosis.
The meeting will:
- Review tuberculosis cases and current systems for surveillance and contact tracing
- Discuss screening, diagnosis, treatment and management of tuberculosis cases, and
- Discuss mandatory requirement for the protection of patient information and confidentiality
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Judith Campbell, in welcoming the support said:
“We will be able to review our response to recent cases of TB in the Turks and Caicos Islands including the H.M. Prison, and examine ways to further strengthen our systems and procedures. We are indeed grateful to PAHO for arranging this assistance and to CAREC to which Dr. Schrooten is attached.”
Tuberculosis is a disease of the lungs whose main symptoms are a chronic cough, fever, night sweats and weight loss. It is highly contagious and, left untreated, can be deadly.
WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY
The World Health Organization (WHO) selected "The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control" (WHO FCTC) as the theme for World No Tobacco Day, today; Tuesday, 31 May 2011. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the world's foremost tobacco control instrument and the first treaty ever negotiated under the auspices of WHO. It is an evidence-based treaty, widely embraced by more than 170 Parties; it also reaffirms the right of all people to the highest standard of health and provides new legal dimensions for cooperation in tobacco control.
Tobacco use is the number one preventable epidemic that the health community faces and the leading preventable cause of death. This year, more than 5 million people will die from a tobacco-related heart attack, stroke, cancer, lung ailment or other disease. That does not include the more than 600,000 people – more than a quarter of them children – who will die from exposure to second-hand smoke. The annual death toll from the global epidemic of tobacco use could rise to 8 million by 2030. Having killed 100 million people during the 20th century, tobacco use could kill 1 billion during the 21st century.
World No Tobacco Day 2011 was designed to highlight the treaty's overall importance, to stress Parties' obligations under the treaty and to promote the essential role of the Conference (treaty's central organ and governing body) and WHO in supporting countries' efforts to meet those obligations.
The WHO FCTC and the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution calling for an international framework convention on tobacco control and confers legal obligations on all its Parties – (countries - and the European Union that have formally acceded to it.)
Among these obligations are those to:
Protect public health policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry.
Adopt price and tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco.
Protect people from exposure to tobacco smoke.
Regulate the contents of tobacco products.
Regulate tobacco product disclosures.
Regulate the packaging and labeling of tobacco products.
Warn people about the dangers of tobacco.
Ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.
Offer people help to end their addiction to tobacco.
Control the illicit trade in tobacco products.
Ban sales to and by minors.
Support economically viable alternative to tobacco growing.
The Ministry of Health and Human Services have recognized "The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control" (WHO FCTC) obligations that all countries must fully implement the treaty to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke. To this end, “a 100% Smoke Free Environment Policy” have already been drafted and a number of meetings with internal and non-governmental stakeholders have been conducted to sensitize and encourage interest and buy-in to such a vital policy. We do welcome and acknowledge the support and participation of the public throughout the process in implementing a 100% Smoke Free Environment within the TCI.
Please join us in the effort to promote „World No Tobacco Day” today and everyday in the TCI. A smoke free policy will improve our health, strengthen our tourism-based economy and help keep the TCI Beautiful by Nature.
National Heros day today
James Alexander George Smith McCartney (30 June 1945–9 May 1980) also known as J. A. G. S. McCartney was a politician from the Turks and Caicos Islands. He was the island territory's first Chief Minister and held that position from August 1976 until 9 May 1980, when he died in a plane crash over New Jersey.
McCartney was born in Grand Turk to an accomplished Jamaican barrister, Harvey O. B. Fernandez McCartney and a Sunday school pianist, Sally McCartney, née Taylor of the Turks and Caicos. He was named after a prominent Jamaican barrister and distinguished legislator, James Alexander George Smith (1877–1942).
J.A.G.S. McCartney was the leader and founder of the People's Democratic Movement (PDM), a grassroots organization established to address the many social and economic ills that had been pervasive throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands. A central goal of his was the attainment of self-determination for the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. McCartney had particularly sought to mobilize the youth in the political process. A charismatic, dynamic and visionary figure, McCartney was determined to usher in a new Constitution that would foster and safeguard the rights of all Turks and Caicos Islanders, create new opportunities for citizens and advance the Country. Assuming office at age 31, McCartney remains one of the world's youngest democratically elected leaders in history.
National Heroes Day, a holiday will be celebrated today Monday May 30th,2011.
Germany pledges to end all nuclear power by 2022
Germany's ruling coalition says it has agreed a date of 2022 for the shutdown of all of its nuclear power plants.
Environment Minister Norbert Rottgen made the announcement after a meeting of the ruling coalition that lasted into the early hours of Monday.
Chancellor Angela Merkel had set up an ethics panel to look into nuclear power following the disaster at the Fukushima plant in Japan.
Germany saw mass anti-nuclear protests in the wake of the disaster.
'Sustainable energy'
Mr Rottgen said the seven oldest reactors, which were already subject to a moratorium, and the Kruemmel nuclear power plant, would not resume.
Six others would go offline by 2021 at the latest and the three newest by 2022, he said.
Mr Rottgen said: "It's definite. The latest end for the last three nuclear power plants is 2022. There will be no clause for revision."
Mrs Merkel's Christian Democrats had met with their junior partners on Sunday after the ethics panel had delivered its conclusions.
Before the meeting she said: "I think we're on a good path but very, very many questions have to be considered.
"If you want to exit something, you also have to prove how the change will work and how we can enter into a durable and sustainable energy provision."
The Fukushima plant was crippled by the March earthquake and tsunami in Japan, causing radioactive leaks that spurred anti-nuclear protests in Germany.
Mr Rottgen said a tax on spent fuel rods, expected to raise 2.3bn euros ($3.28bn) a year from this year, would remain despite the shutdown.
Germany's nuclear industry has argued that an early shutdown would be hugely damaging to the country's industrial base.
Before March's moratorium on the older power plants, Germany relied on nuclear power for 23% of its energy.
The anti-nuclear drive boosted Germany's Green party, which took control of the Christian Democrat stronghold of Baden-Wuerttemberg, in late March.
Joplin tornado: City falls silent to remember victims
The city of Joplin in the US state of Missouri has observed a moment's silence to remember the time exactly one week ago a devastating tornado struck, killing at least 142 people.
Residents stood silent amid still-uncleared debris at 1741 local time (2241 GMT).
Earlier visiting President Barack Obama pledged he was with Joplin "every step of the way" as it rebuilt.
He toured devastated areas and spoke at a memorial service in the city.
The city of Joplin had urged residents "to stop their activities and pause for a Moment of Silence at 5.41 PM on Sunday, May 29, to honour those who lost their lives or have been injured and are suffering because of this disaster that struck Joplin one week ago."
Hundreds of citizens stood silent amid wreckage in the city's Cunningham Park.
'Heroes'
Earlier, Mr Obama had spoken at a memorial service at Missouri Southern State University.
He said: "We will be with you every step of the way. The cameras may leave, the spotlight may shift. But we will be with you every step of the way until Joplin is restored and this community is back on its feet."
He recalled the heroism of pizza manager Christopher Lucas, who held a freezer door open from the outside to save people sheltering within.
Emergency services and volunteers are still searching for survivors
"He died saving more than a dozen people in that freezer," Mr Obama said. "You see, there are heroes all around us all the time."
In a speech interrupted by many cheers, he added: "You've demonstrated a simple truth... that amid heartbreak and tragedy no-one is a stranger. Everybody is a brother. Everybody is a sister. We can all love one another."
Mr Obama praised rescue workers.
"Some of you used your pick-up trucks as ambulances, carrying the injured on doors that served as stretchers. Your restaurants have rushed food to people in need. Businesses have filled trucks with donations. You've waited in line for hours to donate blood."
Earlier, Mr Obama drove through the hardest-hit areas with Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, stopping to talk to residents.
He asked Americans to give money to the Red Cross or other organisations to help the relief effort.
His message to those affected: "This is not just your tragedy, it is a national tragedy and there will be a national response."
The BBC's Paul Adams in Washington says this is the third time this year - after the Tuscaloosa tornadoes and Mississippi floods - that Mr Obama has felt the need to be at the scene of natural disasters to reassure the population they will not have to fend for themselves.
The tornado was one of the most destructive in US history.