May 21 - 27, 2016
World News
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Sun’s Queen Brexit headline ruled ‘misleading’ This is not the first attempt by Mr Zimmerman to sell the semiautomatic pistol used to kill the black teenager.
Gun that killed Trayvon Martin ‘sold’ in private auction THE handgun used to kill unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin in 2012 has been sold in a private auction, according to the website that hosted the sale. George Zimmerman, who was acquitted of Trayvon’s murder, auctioned the gun, calling it an “American icon”. Auction host, UnitedGunGroup. com, did not disclose the sale price, but persons are claiming that the final bid was well over $100,000. The sale of the gun has drawn criticism from those claiming Zimmerman was seeking to profit from Trayvon’s death. Gun rights advocates have applauded him for exercising his legal rights under current US law. There were two separate auctions being hosted on UnitedGunGroup. com - one for prequalified bidders and one for the general public.
UnitedGunGroup.com said that the highest public bid of $138,900 (£95,219) by “John Smith” was not authentic. “He was on the fake auction page, we had two auctions going at the same time,” they said in a tweet. Another gun auction website and two other prominent gun auctioneers had previously refused to sell the weapon. Earlier attempts to sell the gun online were hacked and fake bids were placed, causing that auction to be cancelled without a sale. Last week’s highest bid of $65 million was posted by one “Racist McShootFace”. The killing of the black teenager by Mr Zimmerman, who was acquitted after arguing self-defence, helped launch the national Black Lives Matter social movement. (BBC)
Texas man who ran orphanage in Malawi admits sexual abuse A TEXAS man who managed an orphanage in Malawi has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing orphans at the East African facility. Gerald Campbell pleaded guilty before a U.S. magistrate Wednesday in Midland, Texas, to one count of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place. The 66-year-old Odessa man could get 10 years to life in prison. Sentencing hasn’t been scheduled yet. Campbell admitted to sexually abusing eight orphans at the Victory Christian Children’s Home in Malawi between 1997 and 2009. Campbell was general manager of the orphanage. To entice the children, Campbell said he offered access to better accommodations and amenities such as hot water. Campbell also said he sent hush money to some victims. (NYDailynews)
66-year-old Gerald Campbell admitted to sexually abusing eight orphans at the Victory Christian Children’s Home in Malawi between 1997 and 2009.
THE Sun breached press regulations with its front page headline suggesting the Queen was in favour of the UK leaving the EU, the press watchdog has ruled. The headline, “Queen backs Brexit”, published on March, was “significantly misleading”, the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) said. Buckingham Palace complained, insisting the Queen was “politically neutral”. Editor Tony Gallagher said he did not accept an error had been made but had published the judgement as required. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We made a judgement that the headline was right and that it was backed up by the story. “We are members of Ipso and we respect the Ipso code and that’s why we publish their judgement in full. You’re asking me if I accept we made a mistake - in all conscience I don’t.” Ipso said the newspaper was ordered to publish the decision “as a remedy”. It appears at the bottom of page two of the paper - although there is also a headline on the Sun’s front page referring to it. The paper also leads its editorial column with its own verdict on the decision, saying that it respects Ipso and understands the Queen’s complaint - but that it stands by all details in its story.
Nick Clegg called the Sun’s story “nonsense”.
It points out Ipso ruled that only the headline had breached its code and tells readers: “Tabloid newspapers like the Sun have long made eye-catching assertions in headlines alongside a smaller headline to qualify or attribute them. It is a standard device.” The original “Queen backs Brexit” headline appeared below a smaller headline, saying “Exclusive: bombshell claim over Europe vote”. There was also a a picture of the Queen in ceremonial dress above the quote “EU going in wrong direction, she says”. In the article The Sun reported that two unnamed sources had claimed the Queen made critical comments about the EU at two private functions. One of the sources said they had witnessed a “bust-up” between the
Queen and pro-EU former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in 2011 which it said left “no room for doubt about her passionate feelings over Europe”. But Buckingham Palace said the headline meant the Queen was a supporter of the Leave campaign in the 23 June referendum - which it said was “misleading, distorted, and unsupported by the text”. Mr Clegg called the story “nonsense” but the Sun said it stood by its story and would defend itself “vigorously”. Mr Gallagher said: “I don’t think were I doing this again tomorrow I would act in any way differently whatsoever, given what I know about the detail of the sourcing and given what I know about the detail of the conversation.
Zika virus may reach Europe this summer THE Zika virus could spread to Europe this summer, although the likelihood of an outbreak is low to moderate, the World Health Organization has said. Areas most at risk are those where Aedes mosquitoes may spread the virus, like the Black Sea coast of Russia and Georgia and the island of Madeira. Countries with a moderate risk include France, Spain, Italy and Greece, while the risk in the UK is low. The UN agency is not issuing any new travel advice at this time. The WHO is calling on countries to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and to make sure that people particularly pregnant women - have information on the potential harmful consequences of the disease. The agency says most countries that could be affected are well prepared to pick up any new cases and deal with them quickly - but others must bolster their ability to diagnose the virus. Zika has been linked to a rise in brain defects in babies and the
Zika has been linked to a rise in brain defects in babies and the virus has been seen in more than 50 countries during this outbreak.
virus has been seen in more than 50 countries during this outbreak. And WHO experts say the risk of spread increases in late spring and summer as Aedes mosquitoes thought to carry the virus - become more active. The report suggests 18 countries are at moderate likelihood of seeing
Zika cases while the UK is one of 36 countries which have a low, very low or no likelihood of transmission. Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, at the WHO, said: “We call particularly on countries at higher risk to strengthen their national capacities and prioritise the activities that will prevent a large Zika outbreak.”