At Least 78 Killed Near Syria’s Hama
Syrian activists said Wednesday pro-government militia and security forces killed at least 78 people, including women and children, in the central province of Hama. They said some of those killed in the villages of al-Kubeir and Maazarif were stabbed to death and at least 12 bodies were burned.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 'shabiha' militiamen armed with guns and knives carried out the attack after regular troops had shelled the area.
Activists called for an immediate investigation. There was no comment from the Syrian government, and events on the ground are difficult to verify as Syria tightly restricts access to international media.
Meanwhile, senior U.S. officials are warning Syria and its backers that tougher international action against President Bashar al-Assad's government could follow unless Damascus demonstrates “meaningful compliance” with U.N. efforts to end the violence.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Wednesday the administration and its allies could soon tighten sanctions against the Syrian government and its leaders. He spoke to representatives from 55 countries gathered in Washington to discuss increasing pressure on Mr. Assad and his top officials.
“Strong sanctions, effectively implemented, aggressively enforced, can help deprive the Syrian regime of the resources it needs to sustain itself and to continue its repression of the Syrian people. Strong sanctions make clear to the Syrian business community and other supporters of the regime, their future is bleak so long as the Assad regime remains in power.”
Geithner said the U.S. would ask, if necessary, to invoke “Chapter 7″ of the United Nations charter – a measure that could authorize the use of force.
“We, the United States, hope that all responsible nations will soon join in taking appropriate economic actions against the Syrian regime, including, if necessary, Chapter 7 action in the U.N. Security Council as called for by the Arab League last weekend.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Istanbul late Wednesday to co-chair a meeting on Syria with her Western and Arab colleagues.
A senior U.S. State Department official said after the meeting that Clinton made three points:
One: The international community has got to be united in understanding what needs to happen to make a political transition work in Syria. The transition must include President Bashar al-Assad leaving power, a fully inclusive interim government leading to free and fair elections, a ceasefire, and equality for all Syrians under the law.
Two: The international community must increase its pressure on the regime and its supporters both inside and outside the country. It must tighten existing sanctions and add more in the coming weeks to peal away the support of military and business community. Chapter 7 remains on the table “at an appropriate time.”
Three: The international community must improve coordination among those countries providing direct assistance to the Syrian opposition. Turkey will host a meeting in mid-June with the opposition and relevant governments.
The U.S. officials said special envoy for Syria Fred Hoff will go to Moscow Thursday, and France will host a Friends of Syria meeting in Paris on July 6, which Secretary Clinton is expected to attend.
Also Wednesday, U.N. diplomats said international envoy Kofi Annan will present the Security Council with a new proposal later this week to rescue his failing peace plan for Syria, where 15 months of violence have brought the country to the brink of civil war.
They said Annan's new plan would establish a “contact group” for Syria that would include the five permanent members of the Council and key regional players with influence on Damascus or the opposition, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and Iran. The group would attempt to map out a “political transition” leading to Mr. Assad's departure and the holding of free elections.
In China, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov seemed to follow up on the contact group idea, saying nations exerting influence over Syrian opposition groups should join an international gathering to rescue Annan's faltering cease-fire deal. Russia is a longtime ally of the Assad government and has blamed his opponents for much of Syria's violence. China and Russia issued a statement Wednesday saying they are “decisively” against military intervention in Syria and regime change.
Secretary Clinton reacted cooly to Lavrov's proposal for a meeting on Syria that would include Iran, saying it is “a little hard to imagine inviting a country that is stage-managing the Assad regime's assault on its people.”
The State Department has said Iran's paramilitary Quds Force is training Syrian militia, like those who Washington believes responsible for last month's killing of civilians in Houla. Clinton meets with Kofi Annan on Friday.
As Western pressure continues, Mr. Assad appointed a loyalist Baath party member as the country's new prime minister Wednesday, the latest step of what the president has called a political reform process. State media said the prime minister-designate, Riad Farid Hijab, will form Syria's next government.
Snowiss reported from Washington and Stearns from Istanbul.
Bee Gee Robin Gibb's funeral to be held in Thame
Fans will be able to pay their respects to Robin Gibb when his funeral carriage travels through the Oxfordshire town he made his home on Friday.
The singer lived in Thame and his family said his "wish" was to say a "final goodbye" to fans and the town.
Gibb's glass-sided carriage, drawn by four horses, will travel through the town at about 13:30 BST on Friday.
The singer died from kidney failure last month after suffering from cancer and pneumonia.
The carriage will leave from Priests End and travel along the High Street to the town hall.
It will then return through the High Street to St Mary's Church where a private family service will be held.
Gibb's music will form a part of the service.
His son RJ said the Bee Gees hit I Started A Joke will be played at the church.
The track Don't Cry Alone, which is one of Gibb's final compositions from his Titanic Requiem - premiered only weeks before his death - will also be played.
Copyright guru dead
A memorial service for Paul G Marshall, the legendary American entertainment lawyer who introduced international copyright to the Jamaican music industry in the 1960s, takes place today in New York City.
Top music figures who have been associated with Marshall over the years, including former culture minister, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, will attend the service at the Church of St John the Divine in Manhattan.
Billboard magazine recalled Marshall's career as one filled with "one music industry benchmark after another".
Entertainment mogul Chris Blackwell noted meeting him in 1964 while travelling to the United States with singer Millie Small, whose My Boy Lollipop had just made it to number five on the US charts.
Blackwell was seeking a major label connection. Marshall introduced him to Atlantic Records founders Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler and the deal was done. They remained friends until Marshall's passing on May 10, at the Aventura Hospital in Florida.
Marshall was closely associated with former Jamaica Prime Minister and head of West Indies Records Limited (WIRL), Edward Seaga, who invited him to assist with the drafting of the Jamaica's copyright legislation and the Motion Pictures Encouragement Act in the 1980s.
"He was of great assistance to me as a friend and a professional in helping to deal with artistes in the areas of performing and recording rights," said Seaga.
Marshall also had a close professional relationship with Grange, who was the government's culture boss in the 1980s.
She recalled she was in his office in New York City shortly after Bob Marley's death in 1981, when Stevie Wonder's manager called and told Marshall that the singer had just taken off to Jamaica.
Marshall urged her to hurry back to Jamaica and make arrangements for Wonder's stay which, eventually led to the superstar appearing on Reggae Sunsplash 1981 with the Third World band in a memorable tribute to Marley.
Wonder had met Marley in Jamaica when he performed with the Wailers at The Wonder Dream Concert on October 4, 1975, at the National Stadium. Wonder eventually recorded Master Blaster as tribute to Bob.
Marshall was also instrumental in working out copyright deals for a number of Jamaican artistes including Prince Buster, Jimmy Cliff and Ken Boothe in the 1960s. This was initiated by Seaga, under an arrangement which allowed the artistes/songwriters to collect royalties through the Social Development Commission (SDC). This arrangement continued until 1972 when the government changed.
Recently, Marshall was involved with legal arrangements for the promotion of Reggaeton in the United States.
An intellectual property/ copyright specialist, he had a history of heart and kidney problems but, despite the challenges, became one of the best known and most accomplished entertainment lawyers in the world.
He represented artistes such as Whitney Houston, Mary J Blige, Neil Diamond, MC Hammer, the Animals, KISS, LL Cool J and Lawrence Welk as well as chess grand master Bobby Fischer during his famous match with Boris Spassky in 1972.
Marshall represented labels like EMI, Polygram, United Artists and CBS (now Sony Music). He handled MCA's acquisition of Motown Records, Atlantic Records' sale to Warner Communications and the Bertelsmann Group's acquisition of Arista Records.
His firm advised African governments, as well as Nelson Mandela's African National Congress, on structuring radio and television and helped Swaziland establish a programme to combat AIDS.
He also served on boards of the Special Olympics International and the T J Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS Research, a music industry charity.
He is survived by his widow, Bette, a journalist who was in Jamaica during the 1980 general election; sons Robert Neal Marshall and Matthew Nathanial Marshall and his daughter Allison Leslie Marshall.
Source: jamaicaobserver
LIME, THE PREMIER SPONSOR OF THE MISS BODY BEAUTIFUL TCI PAGEANT
LIME, the longest serving telecommunications provider in the Turks & Caicos Islands has announced that it will be the premier sponsor for the annual Miss Body Beautiful TCI Pageant.
To this effect, LIME will provide the winner, first and second runner’s up of the Miss Body Beautiful TCI Pageant with an opportunity of a lifetime – winning a chance to appear in a LIME advertising campaign. What is more, courtesy of LIME - the Miss Body Beautiful TCI contest winner will receive a high-end cellular phone with complementary post-paid service for one year. This, while the first and second runner’s up receive a high-end cellular phone with complementary service for six months.
Mr. Drexwell Seymour, LIME’s Country Manager said: “We are delighted to be the premier sponsor of Miss Body Beautiful, an avenue that will allow women to show case their beauty and talent which in turn will allow LIME to further promote the beauty of our women not only in Turks and Caicos Islands but throughout the World. We are excited about this venture.”
“We are very grateful that LIME has agreed to partner with us, and be our premier sponsor – that, along with bringing new faces to the Turks & Caicos Islands advertising landscape,” said Courtney Robinson, the event’s Executive Producer. “This is an ingenious idea and a fantastic way for a diverse group of women to have such an privilege. LIME have always striven to place local and fresh faces at the forefront of their marketing campaigns and we hare indeed happy that they are doing through our event.”
The Miss Body Beautiful TCI Pageant recognizes that beauty, health and strength come in all ages and sizes. The pageant is open to ladies 18 years of age and older, has no restriction on height, body shape, marital status or nationality – will see contestants of diversity compete for the LIME advertising campaign, cash and fabulous prizes. To enter, registration will be held on Saturday, June 23rd at The Culture & Arts Commission in Turtle Cove, Providenciales from 10AM to 12Noon.
With ‘Stronger, Confident, Beautiful’ as its motto, Contestants will be judged during four segments - a pre-show interview round, and over the course of the event - Introduction, Swimwear and Fantasy Swimwear/Active-wear. After the Fantasy Swimwear/Active-wear round, Contestants will be invited to answer a question posed by the judges on health, fitness and/or the body beautiful. From there, the judges will decide, 2nd Runner’s up, 1st Runner’s up and the Winner!
The Miss Body Beautiful TCI Pageant will take place on Saturday, July 28th at The William’s Auditorium, South Dock Rd, Providenciales. There will be performances by today’s leading singers, rappers, dancers and other headliners! Advanced ticket purchase: General admission $40.00 and VIP $65.00; with $10.00 added to the cost at the door.
For more information, contact Courtney Robinson, Executive Producer on (649) 232-6796 or email: msbodybeautifultci@gmail.com.
GOVERNOR TODD TO SPEND FIVE DAYS IN UK
His Excellency Governor Ric Todd departs the Turks and Caicos Islands for a series of meetings in the UK today, Tue, 5 June 2012.
Following his arrival in London he will meet with senior officials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development on 6 and 7 June. This will include a meeting where Governor Todd will provide an update to Minister Duncan on progress against the milestones and other recent development in the TCI. His Excellency will then be on leave before returning to TCI on Mon, 11 Jun 2012.
TCI Government Chief Executive Officer Patrick Boyle will be sworn in as acting Governor until Mr Todd’s return.
Syrian Troops Kill 7 in Coastal Area
A Syrian rights group says government troops have killed at least seven people in a second day of fighting with rebels in a previously calm coastal region where no U.N. observers have been deployed.
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said military helicopters and tanks opened fire on several towns in the northwestern province of Latakia on Wednesday. It said the dead include several civilians and at least one rebel.
Fighting across Syria on Tuesday killed more than 30 people, many of them in Latakia, the Observatory said. The casualties could not be independently confirmed.
Damascus-based U.N. spokeswoman Sausan Ghosheh told VOA that the U.N. observer mission in Syria does not have any observers in Latakia. She said the U.N. confirmed clashes in the area by speaking to representatives of both sides and will not send unarmed observers into harm's way.
But Ghosheh said the mission plans to set up a base in the southwestern coastal city of Tartus by the end of the week and send a patrol to Latakia as soon as possible.
Free Syrian Army rebels appear to have intensified attacks on security forces in recent days after some rebel commanders declared they will no longer be bound by a U.N.-backed truce agreement because of repeated government violations. Damascus denies violating the cease-fire and blames the rebels for continued fighting.
Lebanese security officials said Wednesday Syrian troops have shot and killed a Lebanese man and wounded two others in a gun battle along the two nations' poorly-demarcated border. They said the fighting erupted near the Lebanese town of Arsal as a small group of Lebanese were trying to cross into Syria through an area known as a smuggling route.
Several shootings have happened on the Lebanon-Syria border since the start of a 15-month uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, raising concerns that Syria's conflict may spread to its smaller neighbor.
As violence continues, Mr. Assad appointed the agriculture minister from his outgoing Cabinet as the country's new prime minister on Wednesday, in the latest step of what the president has called a political reform process.
State media said prime minister-designate Riad Farid Hijab will form Syria's next government.
The Assad government held a parliamentary election on May 7. But Syrian opposition activists said few people voted in the country's rebellious towns and villages.
In a meeting in China on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said nations exerting influence over Syrian opposition groups should join an international gathering to rescue the faltering cease-fire deal brokered by U.N.-Arab League joint envoy Kofi Annan.
Russia is a longtime ally of the Assad government and has blamed his opponents for much of Syria's violence.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was headed to Istanbul Wednesday to discuss the Syrian conflict with her counterparts from other nations demanding Mr. Assad leave office including Turkey, Britain, France, and several Arab states.
GTBA Semi-Finals heats up
The GTBA Semi finals was in full swing over the holiday weekend and RTC Sports was there to capture the event.
In Game 1 between COOL CORNER and the GT STINGERS, Cool Corners won 64 - 63 in what was a nail biting game to the end.
Top Scorer of the game was Levard Missick with 27 points for Cool Corners.
Top rebounds was Evlis Smith of the Stingers with 19 rebs. That game saw injuries to 2 members of the GT Stingers.
In the second game between the GT HEAT and the SALTONS, Saltons won 70 - 52.
Top scorer of the game was Carlos Ariza and Gordon Wilson with 17 points a piece.
Top rebounder was Rerel Williams with 9 rebs.
Saturday evening the Palm Grove court saw another double header. In the first game between the GT HEAT and the SALTONS, the heat won in true Miami fashon giving the Saltons a taste of the medicine they received the night before with a 74 - 48 win.
Top scorer of the game was Gordan Wilson with 21 points.
Top rebounders were Rerel Williams and Jay Gardiner with 9 rebounds.
In the final game on Saturday night, it was the COOL CORNER again against the STINGERS.
Despite the injuries of their main starters, the Stingers played with heart to beat the Cool Corners 63 - 61.
Top scorer of the game was Cool Corner's Enrico Smith with 20 points while Top rebounder from the Stingers was Stanley Taylor with 12 rebs.
This weekend it maybe win or go home, we'll have to wait and see.
RTC's Sport Watch team will have the highlights of both games on Monday evening at 8pm.
The Dolphins batted to victory in Grand Turk
The Dolphins evened the series when they beat the Sharks in game 4 of the Grand Turk Cricket Association five match cricket series.
The game was played on Sunday June 3rd, 2012 at the Grand Turk Parade Ground. Batting first the sharks looked set to make a big score with Errion Charles and Leroy King starting of briskly, however with the score at 36 King received a shooter from Zaheer Mohammad which knocked back his stumps. His departure for 24 started the slide of the Sharks who never recovered from there and in the end they could only manage to score 67 for 8.
Charles was the other leading contributor with 31. The sharks were rooted by Henry Saunders who took 3 wickets for two runs from 2 overs; Harry Chandwani 3 for 4 and Mohammad 2 for 25 from 4 overs.
In their reply it took the sharks 8 overs to score the required runs. Earl Henry top scored with 35 not out, Sidney Garland 10 and Henry Saunders 12 with two towering sixes. Final score was 68 for 2.
Both teams have won two games and the series will end with the final game to be played on Tuesday June 5th at the same venue.
Scores:
Sharks innings (20 overs max)
E. Charles C Saunders H. Chandwani 31
L King bowled Mohammad 24
O Black LBW Mohammad 03
C. Gayle LBW Chandwani 03
S Matthews LBW Saunders H 00
H. Dickenson C Saunders b Chandwani 00
D. Vaswani Run Out 01
Chrisssy Peter B Saunders H. 00
Brooks J. Not Out 00
Extras 05
Total for 8 wkts 67
Bowling O M R W
Mohammad 4 0 25 2
E. Henry 4 0 34 -
H. Chandwani 2.1 0 04 3
H. Saunders 2 0 02 3
Dolphins Innings
S. Garland C Gayle b Dickenson 10
E Henry Not out 35
H. Saunders C O. Black b Charles 12
F Williams Not out 07
Did not bat: J. Seecharam, R. Simpson , Z Mohammad, J. Fraser
Extras 71
Total for 2 wkts
Bowling O M R W
Gayle 2 0 17 0
H. Dickenson 3 0 22 1
E. Charles 2 0 16 1
P Quelch 2 0 08 -
The Grand Turk Cricket Association is asking all players and interested players to contact the Association at cricketgrandturk@hotmail.com
Stars perform at Diamond Jubilee concert
A host of stars have performed at The Queen's Diamond Jubilee concert outside Buckingham Palace in London.
Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue and Sir Elton John were among those to sing before The Queen, Prince Charles and other members of the Royal Family.
The event was attended by 12,000 ticket holders, with thousands more spectators lining the length of The Mall.
Sir Paul McCartney was the final act on a night that ended when the Queen lit a beacon to mark her 60-year reign.
It was a joint venture between the BBC and Gary Barlow, who co-wrote Sing, the official song for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
Williams was the first star of the night, taking to the specially constructed stage around the Queen Victoria Memorial to sing his hit Let Me Entertain You.
He was followed on stage by Black Eyed Peas member Will.i.am, his fellow The Voice judge Jessie J and chart-topping boy band JLS.
Barlow then took to the stage himself to perform a surprise duet with Cheryl Cole.
Next on the bill was Sir Cliff Richard, who performed a decade-straddling medley of hits and his 1968 Eurovision track Congratulations.
Singer Grace Jones surely deserved some herself for performing Slave to the Rhythm while spinning a hula hoop around her midriff.
The world of classical music was represented by Chinese pianist Lang Lang, US soprano Renee Fleming and English tenor Alfie Boe.
Other artists who appeared include Annie Lennox, Ed Sheeran and Sir Tom Jones.
Dame Shirley Bassey performed Diamonds are Forever, while Kylie Minogue - dressed as a pearly queen - was joined by street dance crew Flawless.
She was followed by Sir Elton John, who sang such tracks as Crocodile Rock and Your Song in a sparkly pink jacket.
Stevie Wonder took the opportunity to wish the Queen a happy birthday during a set that included Isn't She Lovely.
Though the monarch was born on 21 April, her official birthday is traditionally celebrated at the beginning of June.
Pop veterans Madness then performed Our House from the roof of the Palace.
It was there that the Queen guitarist Brian May played the National Anthem during the Golden Jubilee concert in 2002.
Between the music acts, hosting duties were handled by Rob Brydon, Miranda Hart, Lenny Henry and Lee Mack.
At the end of the night, Prince Charles appeared on stage with his mother and thanked her for "making us proud to be British".
"As a nation, this is our opportunity to thank you and my father for always being there for us," he said.
The Duke of Edinburgh was unable to attend the concert after being taken to hospital earlier with a bladder infection.
"Unfortunately he is taken unwell," the Prince told the crowd. "But if we shout loud enough, he might just hear us in hospital."
Kimora Lee Simmons, Djimon Hounsou Split over Money
The gossip site Bossip is reporting that Kimora Lee Simmons and Djimon Hounsou have separated following a huge fight over money.
Djimon walked out on Kimora,” a source tells the website, adding that the split may have been prompted by the decision of Kimora’s ex-husband Russell Simmons to stop funding the pair’s lifestyle.
“Kimora lives as if she’s the Queen of England,” notes the source.
Over the Christmas and New Year holidays, another source who saw Hounsou and Simmons in St. Barth noticed tension between them. At a party that Kimora’s ex threw at the Eden Roc hotel there, “Kimora stuck Djimon with keeping track of the three kids while she socialized with her ex,” the source says, adding that “Kimora and Djimon were fighting on New Year’s Eve.”
“He is a calm, super-nice person and she’s such a diva,” says the source. “I couldn’t believe they got together in the first place.”
According to Bossip, reps for both Kimora Lee and Hounsou have not commented on the status of their relationship. Her spokeswoman said only that “Kimora has a beautiful family life.” Hounsou’s rep responded with the comment, “Djimon’s been working in Vancouver for the past few months.”
Kimora began dating Hounsou in March 2007 after separating in 2006 from Russell Simmons. They had two daughters together, 12-year-old Ming and 9-year-old Aoki, before divorcing in 2009. In summer 2008, Simmons and Hounsou participated in a traditional Beninese commitment ceremony. In May 2009, their son Kenzo Lee Hounsou was born.
In other Kimora news, the Trulia Luxe Living blog reported last week that Kimora, the creative director and president of shopping web site JustFab.com, was putting her six-bedroom, eight-bath Beverly Hills country home on the market at a loss.
Simmons reportedly paid $5.9 million for the home at the height of the market in 2007 and has now listed it for just $4.7 million.
On Monday, Simmons responded via Twitter to speculation the house sale was a sign of financial difficulty.
“Wow, I put 1 of several properties I own (+ DONT live in) on the market & now apparently my whole life is fallin apart?!” she tweeted. “Rumors, Rumors …”