Courtroom cleared for 'sensitive' testimony in Kartel case
The Court will today continue to hear submissions on what aspect of testimony from former Cybercrime Unit boss, Sergeant Patrick Linton, will be put before jurors in the Vybz Kartel murder trial.
Yesterday, the jurors were sent home until Monday and the courtroom cleared to allow Justice Lennox Campbell to hear the evidence on which a determination of admissibility is to be made.
Lead prosecutor Jeremy Taylor asked the media to leave the courtroom for the process given the implication the evidence may have on national security. He said technology will be discussed that is being used in other investigations.
Linton's evidence relates to telephone and other devices seized from the entertainer.
Vybz Kartel (real name Adidja Palmer), Shawn 'Shawn Storm' Campbell, Kahira Jones, Andre St John, and Shane Williams are on trial for the murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams on August 16, 2011. The prosecution is contending that the murder was committed at the entertainer's Havendale, St Andrew, home.
Jamaicans mourn Mandela
Jamaicans from all walks of life Friday expressed regrets at the passing of former South African president and leader of the fight against Apartheid, Nelson Mandela.
In Half-Way-Tree, St Andrew, at the park named in his honour, Jamaicans paused to give their opinion of Mandela.
“Words cannot express, if I choose words it will take away from the sophistication of the man,” said John Powell an artist.
“Is a great man, as you can see, a Mandela Park we deh,” said a youth taking a break in the green area in the middle of the commercial hub.
A man giving his name only as Ras Miller added, “Nelson Mandela ah one a mi number one icon … from prison to presidency…he comes with a forgiving heart.”
Meanwhile, a number of local organisations expressed condolences at the icon’s passing.
The Jamaica Teachers' Association in its message said that Mandela’s passing has “left a void that cannot be filled."
Generation 2000 (G2K) the youth arm of the Jamaica Labour Party also expressed “profound sadness” at Mandela's passing.
“Nelson Mandela epitomised all that we should strive for as leaders and as people. His humility, dedication and selflessness made him into the iconic symbol of freedom for the world and before our very eyes he showed the world how the impossible can become possible once you never lose your resolve,” said G2K president Floyd Green.
The National Democratic Movement also expressed condolences to Mandela's family and the people of South Africa.
"It is with a feeling of profound sadness that the National Democratic Movement mourns the passing of Former South African President, the icon Nelson Mandela, a true Statesman, a Patriot to his country and a Loyalist to his people.
The world has lost one of its brightest lights but this great and inspirational leader of leaders has left a permanent footprint in the sands of time," the political party said in a statement.
Woman guilty over fake cash in Cayman
A 30 year old Bodden Town woman and mother of three was found guilty of four offenses relating to counterfeit cash Friday by a jury.
Shannon Ebanks was convicted of possessing and using a forged CI$10 bill in the Evaglow bar in Bodden Town in and possessing more than 40 partially printed CI$25 bills and equipment that could be used to in counterfeiting such as paper, a copier, metallic pens, a counterfeit detection pen and the same types of metal strips used in CIMA currency at her home which she shared with her boyfriend. Ebanks had denied knowing the bill she used in the bar was forged or anything about the hidden cash which police had found secreted in a magazine on a high shelf in the bathroom she and her partner shared.
During the week long trial, Ebanks defense attorney, John Furniss had argued that there was no forensic evidence such as DNA or prints on the fake notes found at home to link her to them and anyone of a number of people who were staying and visiting the house could have hidden the fake notes. Ebanks also took the stand and denied knowing anything about the partially printed fake notes or that the money she claimed had been given to her in change was forged. In addition, her boyfriend, Shane Bodden also gave evidence on her behalf and admitted that the silver strips were his having come from old notes, that he said had been washed by mistake.
However, crown counsel, Kenneth Ferguson argued that Ebanks did have knowledge that the money she used in the bar was fake as a result of the totality of the evidence. He pointed to the coincidence of her using forged money in a bar which she claimed had been given to her at Foster's supermarket and yet a few months later forged cash was also found hidden in her home along with equipment used to make counterfeit currency.
The judge directed the jury on Friday morning that the key issue in the case was whether or not Ebanks knew the cash she used in the bar was fake or not and whether she had knowledge of the fake notes hidden in her home and that the paper, metal strips and pens etc were being used to make forged money. He said they could only find Ebanks guilty if they were sure she had that knowledge.
Following the discharge of one member of the jury as a result of illness, it took the remaining three men and three women, three hours to return their guilty verdicts and Ebanks was bailed to appear for sentencing in February.
Morocco delegation visits president Medina in the Palace
President Danilo Medina received a delegation from the Kingdom of Morocco in the National Palace Friday morning, headed by Parliament vice president Abdelwahed Alansari.
The lawmaker was accompanied Morocco ambassador Brahim Houssein Moussa, and Ouadia Ben Abdellah, member of the Kingdom’s parliament.
The President’s Press Office posted the information on Twitter, but didn't provide details.
Mideast Peace Deal Closest in Years
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says he believes Israel and the Palestinians are closer to a peace agreement than they have been in years at the end of a three-day trip to the region.
Kerry told reporters Friday before leaving Israel that despite the obstacles he was encouraged by the commitment of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to the pursuit of peace.
"Together there is no doubt in my mind we can reach an agreement that will support the peaceful and promising Palestine that the Palestinian people deserve alongside a prosperous and a more secure Israel," said Kerry.
Kerry's visit came amid reports that the talks were faltering over Israeli concerns about security in the West Bank and Palestinian anger over the continued construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
The talks resumed four months ago after a three-year suspension. They are to continue for another five months.
Kerry dismissed media speculation of a breakdown in the talks saying the two sides have maintained regular discussions.
He also declined to provide details on reports that U.S. mediators have made proposals regarding security in the Palestinian territories but indicated that such an effort was underway.
"If Israel's security cannot be increased through this agreement it's very difficult to make an agreement," said Kerry. "So we are making certain that we are addressing each and every one of those questions."
Kerry also sought to ease Israeli alarm over the recently concluded interim agreement on Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program.
Under the accord, Iran agreed to freeze any work on this program in exchange for a partial lifting of international economic sanctions that have hurt its economy.
Netanyahu has repeatedly called it a bad agreement. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.
Kerry said he was convinced that Israel is safer as a result of the accord.
"Israel and the United States are absolutely in synch (agreement), not an ounce of daylight between us, with respect to the need to make sure that Iran cannot achieve a nuclear weapon, will not in the future be able to achieve it and certainly cannot move towards it without the United States of America and Israel knowing that, and therefore being able to take steps to deal with that," Kerry said.
World Leaders Remember Nelson Mandela
World leaders, past and present, are remembering anti-apartheid leader and former South African President Nelson Mandela.
At the White House, a solemn President Barack Obama called Mandela an influential, courageous, and profoundly good human being.
"I am one of the countless millions who drew inspiration from Nelson Mandela's life. My very first political action, the first thing I ever did that involved an issue, or a policy, or politics, was a protest against apartheid. I would study his words and his writings. The day he was released from prison gave me a sense of what human beings can do when they're guided by their hopes and not by their fears," said Obama.
Obama said flags at the White House and other public buildings will fly at half staff through Monday, in a rare gesture toward a foreign leader.
F.W. de Klerk, South Africa's last apartheid leader, said Mandela's greatest legacy is his emphasis on reconciliation. De Klerk won a Nobel Peace Prize alongside Mandela, whom he freed from prison in 1990. He said their relationship was "often stormy," but that they were "always able to come together at critical moments."
Many African leaders, who were in Paris for a security summit Friday, vowed to live up to the example Mandela set.
South African Archbishop and anti-apartheid activist Desmond Tutu called his friend a "precious diamond" who emerged from prison "virtually flawless." Tutu said instead of "calling for his pound of flesh, he proclaimed the message of forgiveness and reconciliation."
Ex-U.N. chief Kofi Annan, who along with Tutu and Mandela formed a group of statesmen known as The Elders, said South Africa was fortunate to have a leader that inspired forgiveness so that the country "did not go up in flames."
Fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi paid tribute to Mandela as a "great human being who raised the standard of humanity."
"He made us all understand that nobody should be penalized for the color of his skin, for the circumstances into which he is born. He also made us understand that we can change the world. We can change the world by changing attitudes, by changing perceptions," Suu Kyi said.
The Dalai Lama, another Nobel Peace laureate, said he will "personally miss a dear friend" he had hoped to meet again. He said that although Mandela has physically departed, his "spirit will go on."
India's Prime Minister Manmohan Signh called Mandela "a giant among men," and compared him to India's own icon of freedom and reconciliation, Mahatma Gandhi.
Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on people to be inspired by Mandela to keep working for a better and more just world. "Nelson Mandela showed what is possible for our world and within each one of us - if we believe, dream and work together for justice and humanity. His moral force was decisive in dismantling the system of apartheid," said Ban.
Former U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush also praised Mandela as a champion of freedom, human dignity, and equality.
Another ex-U.S. president, George H. W. Bush, called Mandela, "a man of tremendous moral courage, who changed the course of history in his country."
British Prime Minister David Cameron emerged from 10 Downing Street to call Mandela a true global hero, saying a great light has gone out in the world.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called him a man of vision who rejected violence and was one of "the most honorable figures of our time."
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, meanwhile, hailed Mandela as a "symbol of freedom from colonialism and occupation," calling his death "a great loss."
Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed "deep grief" at the death of what he called a "world-renowned statesman." He said Mandela, who visited China twice, will always be remembered for his contributions to China-South African ties "and the cause of human progress."
Haitian President Michel Martelly said Mandela remains a "symbol of democracy" whose courage and "faith in the true struggle for equality" continue to guide mankind.
Pope Francis also expressed condolences, and said he prays that Mandela's example will inspire generations of South Africans.
Mandela Hometown Burial Set for Dec. 15
South Africa says Nelson Mandela will be buried Sunday, December 15, in his hometown of Qunu.
President Jacob Zuma gave details on the official services and memorials for Mandela on Friday as South Africans mourned the loss of their former president.
President Zuma declared this Sunday to be a day of prayer and reflection in South Africa, and urged the country's people to gather in "churches, mosques, temples, synagogues and their homes" to pray and reflect on Mandela's life.
He said an official memorial service will be held Tuesday at Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium, site of the final for the 2010 World Cup.
Mandela's body will then lie in state for three days at South Africa's seat of government, the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
Mandela died late Thursday at the age of 95 following a long period of illness.
Samsung and Philips among tech firms raided by EU
Samsung and Philips have revealed that they were among several consumer electronics companies raided recently by European Commission inspectors.
Thursday's raid focused on companies making and selling consumer electronics products and small domestic appliances.
The Commission said it was concerned these firms had colluded in restricting online availability of some products in a bid to restrict competition.
Media-Saturn, the European consumer electronics retailer, was also raided.
Both Samsung and Philips said they were co-operating with the authorities.
"The Commission has concerns that the companies concerned may have violated EU antitrust rules that prohibit anticompetitive agreements or concerted practices," it said in a statement.
Restricting supply "may lead to higher consumer prices or the unavailability of products through certain online sales channels", it said.
The Commission did not give details of the companies it had visited.
If found guilty, the companies could face fines equivalent to 10% of global annual turnover.
In Samsung's case, this could amount to £17bn, although a fine of this size would be unprecedented and extremely unlikely.
Luxury goods brands, for example, often want to restrict the supply and distribution of their products to safeguard their exclusive appeal.
Whether such a defence would apply to low-cost electronic products is for the lawyers to decide.
"The fact that the Commission carries out such inspections does not mean that the companies are guilty of anticompetitive behaviour," the Commission said, "nor does it prejudge the outcome of the investigation itself."
EU competition commissioner Joaquin Almunia has been stepping up antitrust investigations under his watch.
This week the Commission fined eight banks - including Royal Bank of Scotland - a total of 1.7bn euros (£1.4bn) for forming illegal cartels to rig interest rates in the financial derivatives markets.
And in May, Commission inspectors raided several oil companies suspected of price-fixing.
Deadly storm and tidal surge batter northern Europe
Hurricane-force winds and tidal surges have killed at least seven people in northern Europe, flooded parts of Hamburg and left thousands of homes without electricity.
The storm, called Xaver, blew a tree on to a car in Poraj, northern Poland, killing three people inside.
The storm also caused two deaths in the UK, one in Sweden and one in Denmark.
Dozens of flights have been cancelled, hitting travellers at Berlin Tegel, Copenhagen and smaller airports.
Many rail and ferry services were also cut in Germany and Scandinavia.
There is severe disruption in southern Sweden, with all rail services cancelled in the Skane region. Planes have been grounded at Sturup airport and Gothenburg's Landvetter airport, Radio Sweden reports.
Fallen trees have blocked many roads in southern Sweden and heavy snow is adding to the chaos.
More than 1,000 people spent the night at Copenhagen airport.
In eastern England about 10,000 homes were evacuated in Norfolk and Suffolk. Several homes collapsed into the sea at Hemsby when the storm battered the clifftop.
The Thames Barrier was closed for a second day to protect London from the surge.
Many schools have been closed across the north of Poland and Germany. Winds gusted at nearly 150km/h (93mph) in northern Germany.
In Poland at least 400,000 homes are without electricity because of severed power lines.
Thousands of homes were also left without power in Sweden and Norway on Friday, the Associated Press news agency reports.
The port of Hamburg, which handles a huge amount of European trade, was shut overnight, but has now reopened.
Hundreds dead' in CAR violence
At least 300 people have been killed in two days of violence in the capital of the Central African Republic capital, says the Red Cross.
The organisation said its staff stopped collecting bodies in Bangui as night fell but would resume over the weekend, and expected the toll to rise.
Violence in CAR has raised fears of mass killings along sectarian lines.
Hundreds of French troops are arriving in the city as part of a UN effort to restore law and order.
A contingent of 650 troops there will be "doubled within a few days, if not a few hours," French President Francois Hollande said on Friday.
It followed a UN Security Council vote to allow French troops to join an African peacekeeping force in the CAR.
Bangui was attacked on Thursday, reportedly by militias loyal to Francois Bozize, who was ousted as president by rebels in March, plunging the country into chaos.
The Red Cross' president in the CAR, Pastor Antoine Mbao Bogo, said his staff had collected 281 bodies as of Friday night and expected the number to rise significantly when they resume their work.
"Tomorrow is going to be a monster of a day. We're going to work tomorrow and I think we're going to need a fourth day too," he told Reuters news agency.