health: Lincoln Tribune

الجمعة، 20 أبريل 2012

Lincoln Tribune

UN’s Ban calls for 300 military observers to Syria
Mexico: At least 8 killed after forest keepers and woodcutters clash
UN: Fresh evictions of Palestinians in East Jerusalem ‘violates int’l law’
American TV host Dick Clark dies at age 82
U.S. Defense Secretary apologizes after soldiers pose with Afghan corpses

UN’s Ban calls for 300 military observers to Syria

Posted: 19 Apr 2012 07:41 PM PDT

NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) -- United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday recommended the deployment of 300 military observers to Syria, where violence continues despite repeated promises of a cease-fire.

"The past few days, in particular, have brought reports of renewed and escalating violence, including the shelling of civilian areas, grave abuses by Government forces and attacks by armed groups," said Ban, describing the situation as 'deeply troubling.'

On Wednesday night, Ban provided the UN Security Council with his assessment of the latest developments in Syria, including an update on the deployment of the advance team of UN military observers. "I have recommended that the Council authorize the establishment of a United Nations supervision mission in Syria, comprising up to 300 military observers supported by a civilian component," Ban stated.

"This is not a decision without risk. But I believe it can contribute to achieving a just peace and political settlement, reflecting the people's will in Syria," he added.

Over 9,000 lives have been lost since March 2011, when a protest movement similar to those witnessed across the Middle East and North Africa began in Syria. Most of the casualties have been civilians. In addition, at least 230,000 people have been displaced and, in total, an estimated one million people are in need of relief.

The UN chief said a supervision mission with a clear mandate, the required capacities, and under the right conditions, would contribute to improving the situation on the ground. It would also help advance a cessation of armed violence in all forms and set the stage for the implementation of the six-point peace plan, put forward in March by the Joint Special Envoy of the UN and the League of Arab States for Syria, Kofi Annan.

However, Ban underlined that in order for the mission to succeed, the Syrian Government's full cooperation is needed, particularly in ensuring the "full freedom of movement and unfettered access and safety and security of personnel, as well as the use of key enabling assets such as helicopters and other transportation."

Earlier on Thursday, Annan's spokesperson said an agreement had been concluded with the Syrian Government that is intended to form the basis of a protocol to govern the work of the advance team of UN observers and, upon its deployment, the UN Supervision Mechanism to monitor the cessation of violence and the implementation of the plan designed to resolve the crisis.

"This agreement outlines the functions of the observers as they fulfil their mandate in Syria and the tasks and responsibilities of the Syrian government in this regard," said the spokesperson in a statement. Earlier in the week, the first group of the UN military monitors arrived in Damascus.

On Saturday, the Council authorized the deployment of an advance team of 30 unarmed military observers to liaise with the parties and to begin to report on the implementation of a full cessation of armed violence, pending the deployment of a UN supervision mission that will be tasked with monitoring the cessation.

Mexico: At least 8 killed after forest keepers and woodcutters clash

Posted: 19 Apr 2012 07:39 PM PDT

MORELIA, MICHOACAN (BNO NEWS) -- At least eight people were killed on Thursday when a violent brawl broke out between forest keepers and woodcutters in western Mexico, officials said.

The incident occurred in the municipality of Cheran, located in the state of Michoacan, when members of the 'Comunal Brigade,' which looks over the area's forests, were attacked by a group of armed men.

Michoacan's Attorney General's Office said the forest keepers fought off the attackers and, as a result, eight people were killed, including two comunal members and six attackers, apparently local woodcutters. Five members of the brigade were also injured during the clashes. They were transported to medical facilities in the area.

However, locals reported a different version of the incident, saying the clashes broke out between a group of woodcutters in the forest area near the Packjaracua Mountain. During the clashes, locals said, six people were killed, including two who were burnt inside a vehicle. They added that two forest keepers from Cheran were on their break when they were caught in the middle of fighting. They were also killed in the clashes.

The Attorney General's Office identified the victims as David Campos Macías, 45; Santiago Ceja Alonso, 50, both from Cheran; Cristóbal Magaña Gabriel, Cristóbal Salmerón Magaña, Anselmo Gabriel Talavera, Jorge Magaña Gerónimo and Antonio Gabriel Romero, all from El Cerecito; as well as Lorenzo 'N,' from Purepero, whose identity was not confirmed as his body was found badly burnt.

Cheran is a small indigenous community where traditional customs are still used to choose its leaders.

Less than a month ago, members of Cheran's local council gathered with state officials, warning that tensions were high because members of organized crime had arrived in the area in order to try to take control of the area's forests for plantations. Following the incident, locals have called for Federal Police to intervene, warning that with no response from authorities, they would seek justice on their own.

UN: Fresh evictions of Palestinians in East Jerusalem ‘violates int’l law’

Posted: 19 Apr 2012 07:36 PM PDT

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations (UN) on Thursday condemned the eviction of two Palestinian families from their homes in East Jerusalem.

According to a news release issued by the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO), the two families were evicted following a court case brought against the families by an Israeli association.

The association reportedly plans to build housing units on the property, which is located in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina. The property has now been sealed and the personal belongings of the families have been removed.

Deputy Special Coordinator as well as Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory Maxwell Gaylard called for an end to such violations, saying the evictions of Palestinians from their homes and properties in occupied territory contravene international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Members of the An Natsha family, who are registered refugees with the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), have reported previous harassment and intimidation by settler groups, according to UNSCO.

UNRWA provides assistance, protection and advocacy for some five million registered Palestinian refugees in the region, pending a solution to their plight.

Senior UN officials, including the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, and the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Valerie Amos, have repeatedly called for an end to Israel's eviction policy, while noting that the settlement of Israeli citizens in the occupied Palestinian territory is clearly prohibited under international law.

American TV host Dick Clark dies at age 82

Posted: 19 Apr 2012 07:34 PM PDT

SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA (BNO NEWS) -- American TV and radio show host Dick Clark died from a heart attack on Wednesday, his publicist said in a statement. He was 82.

Clark, from Bronxville, New York, suffered a heart attack on Wednesday and died shortly after undergoing a medical procedure at the St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California. His death was confirmed in a statement released by Clark's publicist, Paul Shefrin.

Popularly known as 'Americas Oldest Teenager,' Clark is probably best remembered as the host of 'American Bandstand' and for hosting New Year's Eve countdowns on television for four decades. Since beginning his New Year's appearances, he only missed the 2004 broadcast after suffering a heart attack, his last being the 2011-2012 New Year's.

"He reshaped the television landscape forever as a creative and innovative producer," President Barack Obama said in a statement, adding that Americans welcomed Clark into his home for 40 years on New Year's Eve. "But more important than his groundbreaking achievements was the way he made us feel - as young and vibrant and optimistic as he was."

U.S. Defense Secretary apologizes after soldiers pose with Afghan corpses

Posted: 19 Apr 2012 07:31 PM PDT

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Wednesday apologized following the publication of controversial photos which show U.S. soldiers posing with the corpses of Afghan militants.

"I strongly condemned what we see in those photos, as has General Allen," Panetta said, referring to ISAF Commander General John Allen. "That behavior that was depicted in those photos absolutely violates both our regulations, and more importantly, our core values."

"This is not who we are, and it's certainly not who we represent when it comes to the great majority of men and women in uniform who are serving there," he added.

The photos were released by the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday, showing paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division, who appeared in the pictures next to Afghan police, posing with smiles beside corpses. The incident occurred in Afghanistan's Zabul province in February 2010 when the soldiers were sent out to recover the remains of a suicide attacker and try to identify the body through fingerprints and iris scans.

Some of the pictures showed the soldiers posing next to the severed legs with a 'thumbs up' gesture.

"This is war. And I know that war is ugly and it's violent. And I know that young people sometimes caught up in the moment make some very foolish decisions," Panetta continued. "I am not excusing that," he added, although he stated that he did not want the images to "bring further injury to our people or to our relationship with the Afghan people."

Panetta also said a full investigation had already begun, assuring that appropriate action would take place.

In addition, the Defense Secretary said the department regrets the release of the photos as they had urged the Los Angeles Times not to publish the photos. Meanwhile, the paper said a soldier had released the pictures to them to draw attention to the safety risk of a loss of leadership and discipline.

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الجمعة، 20 أبريل 2012

Lincoln Tribune

Lincoln Tribune

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