On Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012, I told my girlfriend to meet me at my parent’s house for dinner. When she arrived I had stationed my brother to sit her in the back of an open Honda CRV and give her some headphones. He “wanted to play her a song”…

What she got instead was the world’s first Live Lip-Dub Proposal.

The detention of butler Paolo Gabriele, one of the few members of the papal household, capped one of the most convulsive weeks in recent Vatican history and threw the Holy See into chaos as it enters a critical phase in its efforts to show the world it’s serious about complying with international norms on financial transparency.

The tumult began with the publication last weekend of a book of leaked Vatican documents detailing power struggles, political intrigue and corruption in the highest levels of Catholic Church governance. It peaked with the inglorious ouster on Thursday of the president of the Vatican bank. And it concluded with confirmation Saturday that Pope Benedict XVI’s own butler was the alleged mole feeding documents to Italian journalists in an apparent bid to discredit the pontiff’s No. 2.

“If you wrote this in fiction you wouldn’t believe it,” said Carl Anderson, a member of the board of the Vatican bank which contributed to the tumult with its no-confidence vote in its president, Ettore Gotti Tedeschi. “No editor would let you put it in a novel.”

The bank, known as the Institute for Religious Works, issued a scathing denunciation of Gotti Tedeschi in a memorandum obtained Saturday by The Associated Press. In it the bank, or IOR by its Italian initials, explained its reasons for ousting Gotti Tedeschi: he routinely missed board meetings, failed to do his job, failed to defend the bank, polarized its personnel and displayed “progressively erratic personal behavior.”

Gotti Tedeschi was also accused by the board of leaking documents himself: The memorandum from the Institute for Religious Works, as the bank is known, said he “failed to provide any formal explanation for the dissemination of documents last known” to be in his possession.

In an interview with the AP, Anderson stressed that the latter accusation was independent of the broader “Vatileaks” scandal that has rocked the Vatican for months. But he stressed: “It is not an insignificant issue.”

Gotti Tedeschi hasn’t commented publicly about his ouster or the reasons behind it, saying he has too much admiration for the pope to do so. He also hasn’t been arrested, avoiding the fate that befell Gabriele.

The 46-year-old father of three has been in Vatican detention since Wednesday after Vatican investigators discovered Holy See documents in his apartment. The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said Gabriele had met with his lawyers and that the investigation was taking its course through the Vatican’s judicial system.

Gabriele, the pope’s personal butler since 2006, has often been seen by Benedict’s side in public, riding in the front seat of the pope’s open-air jeep during Wednesday general audiences or shielding the pontiff from the rain. In private, he is a member of the small papal household that also includes the pontiff’s private secretaries and four consecrated women who care for the papal apartment.

Lombardi said Gabriele’s detention marked a sad development for all Vatican staff. “Everyone knows him in the Vatican, and there’s certainly surprise and pain, and great affection for his beloved family,” the spokesman said.

The “Vatileaks” scandal has seriously embarrassed the Vatican at a time when it is trying to show the world financial community that it has turned a page and shed its reputation as a scandal plagued tax haven.

Vatican documents leaked to the press in recent months have undermined that effort, alleging corruption in Vatican finance as well as internal bickering over the Holy See’s efforts to comply with international norms to fight money laundering and terror financing.

The Vatican in July will learn if it has complied with the financial transparency criteria of a Council of Europe committee, Moneyval — a key step in its efforts to get on the so-called “white list” of countries that share financial information to fight tax evasion.

Anderson acknowleged that the events of the last week certainly haven’t cast the Holy See in the best light. And he said the bank’s board appreciated that the ouster of its president just weeks before the expected Moneyval decision could give the committee pause.

“The board considered that concern and decided that all things considered it was best to take the action at this time,” Anderson said. “These steps were taken to increase the IOR’s position vis-a-vis Moneyval.”

The Vatileaks scandal began in January when Italian journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi broadcast letters from the former No. 2 Vatican administrator to the pope in which he begged not to be transferred for having exposed alleged corruption that cost the Holy See millions of euros in higher contract prices. The prelate, Monsignor Carlo Maria Vigano, is now the Vatican’s U.S. ambassador.

Nuzzi, author of “Vatican SpA,” a 2009 volume laying out shady dealings of the Vatican bank based on leaked documents, last weekend published “His Holiness,” which presented a trove of other documents including personal correspondence to the pope and his secretary — many of them painting Benedict’s No. 2, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, in a negative light.

Nuzzi has said he was offered the documents by multiple Vatican sources and insisted he didn’t pay a cent (euro) to any of them.

Gabriele was in Vatican custody and unavailable for comment. No known motive has come to light as to why Gabriele, if he is found to be the key mole, might have passed on the documents. Nuzzi declined to comment Saturday on whether Gabriele was among his sources.

Bertone, 77, has been blamed for a series of gaffes and management problems that have plagued Benedict’s papacy and, according to the leaked documents, generated a not inconsiderable amount of ill will directed at him from other Vatican officials.

“For some time and in various parts of the church, criticism even by the faithful has been growing about the lack of coordination and confusion that reign at its center,” Cardinal Paolo Sardi, the former No. 2 official in the Vatican secretariat of state, wrote to the pope in 2009, according to the letter cited in “His Holiness.”

Anderson, who heads the Knights of Columbus, a major U.S. lay Catholic organization, said he was certain the Holy See would weather the storm and that the Vatican bank, at least, could move forward under a new leader with solid banking credentials as well as a desire to show off the bank’s transparency.

“I hope this will be the beginning of a new chapter for the IOR and part of that chapter will be restoring the public image of the IOR,” he told AP. “I think we have a good story to tell.”

“One notes the constitutional provision that deems an accused as innocent until proven guilty, but senators and members of the House of Representatives with corrupt charges on their necks should first clear themselves.

“It is the only way to prove to the world, especially their constituencies, that they are respectable and honourable people that can make laws that can rid the nation of corruption which we all agree is the nation’s worst vice,’’ Tapgun said in Jos.

“It is nauseating when you see a senator in the morning sweating in court for allegedly embezzling billions of naira while serving as governor, and later in the afternoon you see the same man sitting with other senators in the chambers.

“Once that fellow raises his hand to speak, you get a feeling that he is a common criminal and cannot have anything useful to contribute,’’ he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Tapgun, who at various times served as minister of industries and Nigeria’s ambassador to Kenya, described corruption and greed as Nigeria’s worst problems, and called on leaders to “demonstrate seriousness’’ in tackling them.

“Governments at all levels should do more to fight the twin menace. People caught should be dealt with severely. We have been too mild with corrupt people and that is why the situation is getting worse every day.

“A lot of former governors have been charged with massive theft and embezzlement, but they keep buying their way through.

“They are normally so sure they can find their way and even brag daily about the helplessness of the law.’’

He said that the vices had kept Nigeria perpetually on its knees, and declared that corruption and greed were the main threat to the nation’s democracy.

Tapgun called for the strengthening of existing structures to effectively tackle the challenges in the nation’s development processes, noting that most institutions were too weak to respond to the challenges.

The former governor, however, said that Nigeria’s democracy was on track in spite of the noticeable shortcomings.

“Nigeria’s democracy is on the right path in spite of distractions here and there. The issues we are facing now are phases that will give way to greatness.

“We must note that the model we are copying did not attain its height in just 13 years of democracy. I am optimistic that we shall get there if we remained focus and committed to growth, stability and development.’’

He also spoke on the internal problems of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying they are an extension of the issues confronting Nigeria.

“The PDP as a party is run by human beings that are also Nigerians. It cannot be a perfect institution. But I expect Nigerians to continue to criticize the ruling party to make it learn from its mistakes and improve.

“We also expect a virile opposition to keep the ruling party on its toes.’’

Tapgun criticized some elder statement over statements he said were capable of tearing the nation apart.

“The other day, Balarabe Musa was saying that undemocratic forces will soon truncate Nigeria’s democracy.

“I interpreted that to mean a military coup and that to me should not be coming from key leaders like him that had come to be seen as models.

“It is sad that statesman like him should become so pessimistic.

“Just two weeks ago, also, former military leader and CPC Presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, also spoke of bloodshed in 2015.

“That statement was in bad taste in view of the general tendency to misunderstand such weighty declarations.

“My advice is that such leaders must always weigh their statements because their effect may not be positive to national growth.

“The emphasis should be more on issues that would bring Nigerians together to appreciate the enormity of bottlenecks to development so that we could contribute to tackling the issues.

“Hard declarations from supposed leaders will send the wrong signals.’’

Tapgun advised Nigerians to fight to keep democracy alive and also cautioned against the tendency to misuse the freedom that representative governance brings. (NAN)

The violence started at 2 p.m. on the MacArthur Causeway off-ramp, just south of the Herald’s offices, the newspaper said.

Witnesses said that a woman saw two men fighting and flagged down a police officer, who came upon the naked man mauling the other man, the Herald reported.

The officer, who was not identified, ordered the naked man to back away, but when the man continued the assault, the officer shot him, the Herald said. Witnesses told the Herald the wounded attacker continued to eat his victim, so the officer continued firing.

Witnesses said they heard at least a half-dozen shots, the Herald said.

The naked man was later seen lying face down on the pedestrian walkway just below the newspaper’s two-story parking garage, the Herald said.

The naked man’s victim was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital Ryder Trauma Center and had critical injuries, police told the Herald.

Neither man was identified.

“Based on the information provided, our Miami police officer is a hero and saved a life,’’ Javier Ortiz, spokesman for Miami police’s Fraternal Order of Police, told the Herald.

A police department news release about the shooting did not include many details provided by witnesses to the newspaper.

Police requested the newspaper’s video surveillance video, the Herald reported.

The shooting and investigation tied up causeway traffic as crowds were arriving at South Beach for an annual Urban Beach Week hip-hop festival.

The Commissioner, Chief Betty Efekodha told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba that the ministry had received 110 applications for adoption during the period.

Efekodha said that “scouting letters” had been issued to the prospective adoption parents.

She said that in 2007, the ministry had also released 28 children for adoption and another set of 18 children in 2008.

The commissioner said a Modern Children’s Home for abandoned and lost children would soon be inaugurated by the state government.

“Efforts are also being made towards re-unite the lost and abandoned children with their families; there are currently 10 of such children in the home’’, She added.

She said that the ministry in the last three years had organised annual holiday camp programme for children in Junior Secondary Schools in the state.

The commissioner said that the children were taught various skills including computer appreciation with a view to promoting skills in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) among secondary school students in the state. (NAN)

Charly Boy was quoted in a Nigerian Magazine, Danfo Express as declaring his sexual orientation as being gay while also sarcastically pointing to the fact that he does not care what people say about him and he could be a member of the much controversial ‘Illuminati’ group without batting an eyelid on public opinion of the group he chose to belong to.

The 60-year-old ‘Zoom Time’ showbiz personality stirred controversies with a photoshoot of himself and another Nigerian TV presenter, Denrele Edun in a kissing posture which filled social media sites a couple of years back.

He had in a recent interview gone ahead to declare full support for the Gay community saying there is nothing wrong with changes in nature as change is the only reason why we all are comfortable with our today’s living, he said.

Charly Boy also angered many industry personalities and fans of the famous show, Nigerian Idol with his infamous ‘I like…..’ comment in which he seemingly talked lustfully about a male contestant’s appearance and physicality rather than the performance.

It is not immediately clear if this is an attention (publicity) seeking attempt by Charly Boy who is married with grown kids to his name or just another selling/fame being pulled by the new publishing firm.

Calls to Charly Boy’s residence and official management were not immediately returned at the time of report.

Boxford Police Lt. James Riter said he was directing traffic around the herd on Main Street when the cows took off for the back yard of a nearby home, The Boston Globe reported Friday.

“I could hear screaming coming from the back of the house. When I ran around back, a group of young adults were outside enjoying the nice weather and having a few beers,” Riter said. “The cows chased them away from the table they were sitting at and started drinking their beers. They knocked the beer cans over with their noses started drinking beer right off the table.”

Riter said that of the available beers, the cows seemed to prefer the Bud Light to the Miller Light.”When they ran out of beers on the table, one of them started to forage in the recycling to see if he could find any last drops in there,” Riter said.

Riter said a dispatcher was able to contact the owner of the animals, who was able to round up the herd with the help of some friends.

“Myself and another officer blocked traffic; we had one cruiser in front of the cows, and I followed behind them,” Riter said. “We marched them about three-quarters of a mile up Main Street where they belonged.”

The man, whose name was not reported, petitioned the Rabbinical Court in Beersheba for divorce from his cat-loving wife this past week, The Times of Israel, Jerusalem, reported Sunday.

He told the court he was unable to sleep in the couple’s bedroom because his wife’s hundreds of cats were constantly sleeping on the bed.

The man said the cats also blocked his access to the bathroom and did not allow him to cook in the kitchen, the Hebrew daily Maariv reported Wednesday. When he sat down at the table to eat, the cats would jump up and steal his food, he said in his divorce request.

The couple tried to reconcile as ordered by the rabbinical court; however, the wife was unable to part with her pets and instead decided to part with her husband.

Meanwhile, the remains of the deceased have been deposited at the Calabar General Hospital mortuary.

A colleague of the deceased, who gave her name as Grace, said Blessing was attending to customers when the heavy rain began to fall and “suddenly the NEPA cable over her shop cut and fell on the floor and since the floor was tiled and wet, it began to shock those in the shop.”

Grace said Blessing was the most affected because her legs were wet, adding that the incident set the shop on fire.  According to her, the flame was so much, it was “as if somebody poured petrol inside fire and Blessing had burns on her stomach and legs but those of the stomach tore open her stomach and left her intestines gushing  out.”

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of Calabar Distribution of PHCN, Mr. Fred Obi, said no such report had been brought to the knowledge of the company, but sources at 25 Mount Zion Road said some PHCN staff visited the scene of the incident soon after it happened.

The Public Relation Officer of Cross River State Police Command, ASP Hogan Bassey, said the command had not been briefed on the matter.

At press time, yesterday, the cut cable was still dangling from the pole while part of it sprawled on the road at the scene of the tragedy.

Coordinator of the campaign, Omonitie Omozele, described the video as the greatest form of child abuse imaginable and is insisting that the relevant authorities must investigate it so that the video’s recorder must be brought to book.

Child Molestation in our society is real. This video is not distributed to promote child pornography, it is distributed to prove that child molestation is real, pls guild you children…message from the uploader

Video..CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO WATCH
Viewers discretion advised

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