Haiti: An advisor to President Martelly accused of murder
The family members of Octanol Dérissaint, a resident of the border area of Fond Parisien (west), have accused an advisor to President Michel Martelly, Calixte Valentin, of having murdered Wednesday night that 32 year old salesman during an altercation with almost swamp the entire community section.
Denouncing in Radio Kiskeya studios what they called a heinous crime, the victim's relatives demand that the alleged murderer to be brought before the competent judicial authorities and call the head of state to remove him without delay from his staff.
And therefore rejecting the hypothesis of a reckoning between the two men, the family of Octanol Dérissaint emphasizes that there was no relationship between the deceased and the advisor to the Presidency.
Shot in the head, the vendor, who sold food at the Haitian-Dominican border left behind two children including a baby of three months.
For his part, Sanozier Francis, MP for Verrettes-Ganthier constituency, of which depends Fond Parisien, condemned the murder and demanded justice for the victim. He argues that judiciary must put the alleged offender out of harm's way.
Deeply outraged after the incident, many residents of Fond Parisien had threatened to burn down the village if Calixte Valentin was not sent behind bars.
If the story as presented is confirmed, the case could become a new blast for Martelly’s administration already entangled in a series of scandals.
Colombia scandal claims three more Secret Service jobs
The US Secret Service has said three more employees are resigning over the prostitution scandal that overshadowed a summit in Colombia last weekend.
Supervisors David Chaney and Greg Stokes are among three agents already leaving the elite agency in the wake of the affair.
US President Barack Obama was briefed on Friday by Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan about the scandal.
It broke as the president arrived for last weekend's Summit of the Americas.
A 12th Secret Service employee was placed on administrative leave amid the investigation on Friday.
The scandal broke when a dispute between an escort and an agent spilled into the hallway of a beachfront hotel.
Up to 20 women were involved in the antics in the city of Cartagena.
A 24-year-old Colombian single mother told the New York Times on Wednesday that an agent had agreed to pay her $800 (£500) for sex, but offered her only $30 the next morning.
Mr Chaney, 48, who was in the international programmes division, will be allowed to retire, but Mr Stokes, an assistant special agent in charge of the K9 division, has been told he will be fired, US media report. A third unnamed employee resigned over the allegations.
Lawrence Berger, a lawyer for Mr Chaney and Mr Stokes, told AP on Friday: "Nothing that has been reported in the press in any way negatively or adversely impacted the mission of that agency or the safety of the president of the United States."
Lawmakers on a congressional panel investigating the scandal had earlier warned more agents would lose their jobs.
Representative Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, told Reuters news agency: "It would not surprise me if there were within the next few days additional resignations or firings."
A photo on Mr Chaney's Facebook page showed him near Sarah Palin while on her security detail during the former Alaska governor's 2008 vice-presidential run.
A comment apparently posted by him on the page said: "I was really checking her out, if you know what i mean?"
Mrs Palin took to Fox News on Thursday to respond.
"This agent who was kind of ridiculous there in posting pictures and comments about checking someone out," she said. "Check this out, bodyguard: you're fired! And I hope his wife sends him to the doghouse."
Eleven military members who were supporting the Secret Service in Colombia are also under investigation: six from the Army, one from the Air Force and two each from the Marines and Navy.
ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING UPDATE
His Excellency the Governor confirmed that his next quarterly report of progress against each of the Interim Administration’s milestones will be published in early May at today’s Advisory Council (AC) meeting in Grand Turk, Wed, 18 Apr 2012.
As part of his personal commitment to speaking directly to the people of Turks and Caicos, Governor Todd will again hold public meetings on each of the inhabited family islands during May to provide locals with an opportunity to hear from him and to raise their issues directly.
Following his previous round of public meetings, for example, The Governor was able to accelerate the start of repair works on the Caicos Causeway after the people of North and Middle Ciacos expressed their concerns to him earlier this year.
Other matters discussed at this morning’s AC meeting included:
An update on the Consultative Forum led public consultation on acquisition of TCI Islander status:
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- The AC was told that the Consultative Forum has reviewed the views offered through the extensive public consultation, and confirmed the main messages received. These messages will now inform a revised legal framework to be ready by summer 2012, to allow this milestone to be met too.
- This will form part of the ongoing change and reform programme in the Ministry of Border Control and Labour, supported by technical assistance resources from the UK, to strengthen the border, improve enforcement, to deliver effective employment services, streamlined case management, and to ensure robust delivery of identity, permanent status and citizenship documents.
- An update of the fee structure payable by companies in the telecommunications sector, such as broadcasters and mobile phone network providers, was also approved. This structure had not been updated since 2007.
- The AC was introduced to both the Employment Bill 2012 and the Health Regulation Bill. These will be discussed in greater detail at the next meeting.
- The Employment Bill seeks to remedy the deficiencies of the 2004 Ordinance which contains a number of defects in relation to the content of the law and how the law is expressed, which have led to frequent litigation and adverse comments from the Courts.
- The Health Regulation Bill which would see a Health Regulation Agency set up to regulate health facilities and a Health Profession Board to regulate individual health professionals. The Bill would establish, for the first time in the Turks and Caicos, a mechanism whereby members of the public can bring complaints of negligence or improper conduct against medical practitioners and be entitled to some form of redress due to the disciplinary powers given to the Health Professions Board.
UK offers £10bn loan to the IMF
The IMF says it has received firm commitments of more than $430bn.
The money is to help economies in trouble and includes just under £10bn ($15bn) from the UK in loans to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
It is part of a global effort to bolster the fund's lending capacity, which IMF managing director Christine Lagarde wanted to increase by $400bn.
The money doubles the fund's firepower which threatened to become overwhelmed by the eurozone crisis.
Australia will contribute $7bn, Singapore $4bn and the Republic of Korea $15bn.
The IMF's managing director, Christine Lagarde, said that some countries including Russia, India, China and Brazil had made private pledges but did not want to go public until they had discussed the pledges back home.
In a joint statement following the meeting in Washington, the IMF's International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) and the G20 finance ministers and Central Bank governors said: "There are firm commitments to increase resources made available to the IMF by over $400bn in addition to the quota increase under the 2010 reform."
"These resources will be available for the whole membership of the IMF, and not earmarked for any particular region."
The eurozone as a whole is contributing $200bn of the total and Japan is another major supplier of funds and is lending $60bn.
Interest
UK Chancellor George Osborne said the loan was important to the UK: "It's in Britain's interest that we have a stable and strong world economy - that creates jobs in Britain."
He added that any loan made would bring in a return in the form of interest.
He can lend up to £10bn without parliamentary approval. He had some room for manoeuvre because parliament has previously approved £40bn of loans, of which only £30bn has been committed.
But this latest pledge is unpopular with some members of Mr Osborne's Conservative Party, who had been urging him not to sign up to an increase.
Backbench MP Peter Bone described the decision as "bonkers", describing any efforts to prop up the eurozone as a waste of time.
The UK's shadow chancellor, Ed Balls said: "The IMF cannot and should not become the de facto central bank of the euro area.
"The IMF is being put up to step in and play the role that the European Central Bank should be playing - a strategy which cannot work and is self-defeating by highlighting the lack of a proper ECB firewall."
The UK Treasury pointed out that no country has ever lost money lending to the IMF in its 67-year history.
It says its contribution to the IMF is not public spending. All UK loans to the IMF are financed from the UK's Official Reserves, remain UK assets and do not contribute to public sector net debt.
The UK's move was welcomed by the head of an important House of Commons committee of MPs.
Andrew Tyrie, chairman of the Treasury Committee, said: "This is not just sensible, it is essential.
"The IMF is the only fire-brigade available to the global economy. It is vital that the IMF has the necessary tools to deal with the current eurozone crisis and the risks to wider global financial stability."
Target
There is still a question about what other major economies will do.
Brazil wants to have a bigger say in running the IMF in return for a commitment of extra money, while the US is not likely to offer any money because doing so would attract criticism at home in a presidential election year, according to BBC economics correspondent Andrew Walker.
Brazil said the US and Europe dominated the IMF and that meant IMF policies favoured the two blocs.
Brazil's voting power is the same as the Netherlands and smaller than Spain, Italy and the UK's, although the Brazlian economy is bigger than all of these.
Its finance minister, Guido Mantega, said emerging countries - including his - were "paying a high price" for the loose monetary policies of advanced economies that had been endorsed by the IMF.
He said though that they would also contribute further to the fund to help reach the desired target of $400bn: "It's likely that we will reach an agreement around $400bn to increase IMF resources."
He said who would give what would be decided in principle by the next (G20) meeting in Los Cabos in Mexico two months from now.
Russia's deputy finance minister Sergei Storchak has already said that his country will offer $10bn and that he is confident that the IMF will reach its funding target.
Committing the extra money does not mean it will actually need to be loaned.
The German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, said the extra funds were a sign of international co-operation: "The Europeans have done what they have promised, what we had agreed on.
"We [the G7 leading developed nations] agreed that the debate on IMF resources has to be brought to an end here. That is not a sole European issue."
The IMF hopes that if private investors think that countries in trouble can be rescued if necessary, they will be more willing to lend to them and any funding problems will not escalate.
It has already warned that the eurozone's debt crisis poses the biggest threat to the global economy, and warnings about Europe are expected to top the eventual communique from the meetings.
Disney film boss Rich Ross resigns after John Carter flop
The head of Disney film-making studio, Rich Ross, has resigned as chairman a month after the film John Carter became one of the company's biggest flops.
He revealed his move by email: "I no longer believe that the chairman role is the right professional fit for me."
A 15-year Disney veteran, he became chairman in 2009.
He was previously the president of the Disney Channel when it created the hugely successful High School Musical and Hannah Montana series.
At the movie division, Mr Ross, 50, approved production of the science fiction film John Carter, although it had been in development before he joined the studio.
The film, which was based on a series of books by Tarzan writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, eventually cost more than $250m (£155m, 189m euros) and last month Disney said it expected the film to lose about $200m.
That would leave the studio with $80m-$210m in operating losses.
Disney is not expected to appoint a new studio chairman immediately.
The company's Chief Executive Bob Iger hailed Mr Ross's contribution: "For more than a decade, Rich Ross' creative instincts, business acumen and personal integrity have driven results in key businesses for Disney.
"I appreciate his countless contributions throughout his entire career at Disney and expect he will have tremendous success in whatever he chooses to do next."
Mr Ross joined the Disney Channel in 1996 as a programming and production executive and was promoted to president of the cable channel in 2004.
EU condemns Repsol state seizure
The European Parliament has passed a resolution condemning a nationalisation that has strained relations between Spain and Argentina.
Argentina has nationalised YPF, wiping out the Spanish firm Repsol's controlling-stake in the oil firm.
The resolution asks the European Commission to consider a "partial suspension" of tariffs that benefit Argentine exports into the EU.
Shares in Repsol has another decline, falling 2.3% on Friday.
Over the week, Repsol stock has lost almost a fifth of its value.
MEPs in the European Parliament said the institution "deplores" the decision taken by Argentina and describes it as an "attack on the exercise of free enterprise".
Decisions such as that taken by the Argentine authorities "can put a strain on the climate of understanding and friendship needed to reach" a trade agreement between a South American bloc and the EU, it said.
The resolution, which is non-binding, received 458 votes in favour, 71 against and 16 abstentions.
'Not valid'
It also emerged that Repsol may be obliged to buy a minority shareholder's YPF stake if it ever lost majority control, which Repsol denied.
Twenty-five percent of YPF is owned by Argentina's Eskenazi family through its firm, Peterson.
According to regulator filings of a 2008 agreement,Repsol must "maintain directly or indirectly through controlled companies an ownership interest greater than or equal to 50.1%".
If it does not, Repsol is obliged to buy back the loans used to secure the Eskenazis' shares.
But Repsol told the BBC that the expropriation of its stake in YPF had invalidated the agreement.
"The agreement is not valid under Spanish law in these conditions," said Kristian Rix, a Repsol spokesman. "The law is unequivocal, there is no debate."
Trade war brewing?
Spain has threatened retaliation against Argentina over the forced nationalisation of oil firm YPF, raising the prospects of a trade war between the nations.
Spanish Trade Secretary Jaime Garcia Legaz said the European Union would intervene over Argentina's seizure of YPF.
Argentina is taking over 51% of YPF, wiping out Repsol's 57.4% majority stake.
The move has wide support in Argentina but has provoked outrage in Spain.
Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had also offered support.
Repsol has said it wants around $10bn (£6.2bn) for its stake in YPF, but Argentina has said it does not accept that valuation.
YPF, Argentina's biggest oil company, was privatised in 1993. Last year it announced huge new finds of shale oil and gas.
BBC
McDonald's profits boosted by store revamps
McDonald's profits rose 5% in the first quarter to $1.27bn, helped by a revamp of its restaurants.
The company said profits had also been boosted by new menu items, including chicken McBites and McCafe drinks.
Sales at US stores that have been open at least 13 months rose 8.9% in the quarter.
Last month McDonald's said Don Thompson would takeover as chief executive in July. He replaces Jim Skinner who retired after 41 years at the firm.
There was concern that the downturn in Europe would hurt sales there, but the quarterly results showed solid sales growth of 5%.
"People have been most concerned about Europe and it looks like it's OK," said Sara Senatore, an analyst with Sanford C Bernstein.
The company is spending $1.45bn this year on giving 2,400 stores a makeover. Analysts say that has helped attract extra customers.
Jill McDonald, the chief executive of McDonald's UK business said: "We have been consistently investing in our business to offer customers quality food at affordable prices. We have re-imaged over 90% of our UK restaurants to make them more attractive destinations."
The company also plans to open 1,300 new stores this year.
CAN SOUTH CAICOS BEAT THE FLYERS WHO IS UP 2-0
The stage has been set and the Gustarvus Lightbourne Sports Complex will come alive tonight for Game 3 between The Flyers and South Caicos Harbour Boys.
In the 1st two games, the Flyers stunned South Caicos 94-83 in Game 1 and 96-91 in game 2 to take a 2-0 lead in the best of five series.
No other team has returned to win three straight says Donavan Fulford of Sports Watch. He lamented on Wednesday evenings program, that South Caicos will need Heart to win.
South Caicos finds themselves staring at the broom in the finals after dominating the regular season with a 17 and 1 record.
Game 3 is the deciding game of the finals where the harbour boys could be swept or extend the finals by avoiding the sweep.
PABA's Mr. Glassglow told RTC Sports that the momentum for this game is high and urge supporters to get their seats early to cheer on their favourite teams, as this could be it!
Flyers look to close out the series by using their speed to dominate the Harbour boys.
RTC's Sports Watch will have live action tonight of game at 8pm.
Brilliant Gayle seals win for Royal Challengers
Big-hitting Chris Gayle unveiled another high-powered innings today to haul his Royal Challengers Bangalore out of trouble and propel them to a convincing five-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League.
The left-hander carved out a scintillating 87 from a mere 56 balls as Royal Challengers overhauled Kings XI’s 163 for six with three balls to spare at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium.
Royal Challengers slipped to 25 for three in the sixth over but Gayle rose to the occasion for the second successive match, belting eight fours and four sixes in another quality exhibition.
He dominated a fourth-wicket stand of 131 with South African stroke-maker AB de Villiers (52), a partnership that put Royal Challengers in sight of victory.
Gayle made a measured start with his first 30 runs requiring 28 deliveries and his half-century needing 41.
However, he accelerated thereafter, and in tandem with de Villiers, who hit six fours off 39 balls, took the fight to Kings XI.
Gayle was eventually out, brilliantly caught at cover by David Hussey in the 28th over as he opened up for another slash through the off-side. He had already taken 14 runs from the first three balls.
Earlier, Hussey top-scored with 41 after Kings XI were put in.
JA.OBSERVER
LIME gives $2.3M boost to Penn teams
TELECOMMS giant LIME has provided a sponsorship package valued at close to $2.3 million to support the 23 teams from local schools who will be competing in this year's Penn Relays.
LIME, in continuing a 20-year tradition, yesterday handed over cheques valued at $100,000 each to the 20 high schools and three tertiary institutions that will be competing in the annual relay carnival.
The meet is scheduled for next Wednesday through to Saturday at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, USA.
LIME, one of the biggest supporters of Jamaican track and field, has also given a significant financial boost to Team Jamaica Bickle, a group of US-based Jamaicans who provide meals, transportation and hospitality to the Jamaican athletes during their stay in Pennsylvania.
In addition, LIME presented each of the 23 teams with Jus Talk calling cards valued at $1,000 so the athletes and other members of the delegations will be able to call home while they are in the USA.
"With 2012 being an Olympic year, we all have huge expectations for our athletes on the world stage, but we cannot forget that the crucial groundwork is laid at events like the Penn Relays," said Garry Sinclair, managing director, LIME Jamaica & Cayman.
"This is the 20th consecutive year that LIME has been helping to send teams to the Penn Relays and we are confident that, once again, our young athletes will do their best and make us all proud," he added.
The Penn Relays sponsorship underscores LIME's position as the biggest supporter of Jamaican youth athletics. Last month the telecoms company contributed $8 million for the staging of the 2012 Boys' and Girls' Championships and $18 million for the 2012 Craft Games. The company is also on the third leg of a three-year sponsorship deal with the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA) valued at $21 million dollars.
"We are not only concerned about the current crop of athletes, we are committed to securing the continued growth of Track & Field in Jamaica," Sinclair said.
"Sports is a powerful tool for youth development and national unity and we are investing heavily to secure Jamaica's legacy on the track," he added.
The teams that received sponsorship from LIME this year are Alpha, Ardenne, Bellefield, Bridgeport High School, Calabar, Camperdown, Edwin Allen, G C Foster, Herbert Morrison, Holmwood, Jamaica College, Kingston College, Manchester, Munro, The Queen's, St Andrew's, St Elizabeth, St Hugh's, St Jago, St George's College, UTech, UWI Sports and Wolmer's Boys.
JA.OBSERVER