Venezuela's Hugo Chavez 'has cancer surgery in Cuba'
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is in "good physical shape" after undergoing planned cancer surgery in Cuba, Venezuela's vice-president says.
A lesion in Mr Chavez's pelvic region was completely removed, vice-president Elias Jaua said.
Mr Chavez, 57, had two operations to remove a cancerous tumour from the same area last year.
His renewed ill-health comes months before he is due to stand for re-election in October.
The exact nature and extent of Mr Chavez's illness has never been made public, leading to persistent rumours that his health is worse than officially acknowledged.
'No complications'
Cheers broke out in Venezuela's National Assembly when Vice-President Jaua announced that the surgery had been successful.
"A total extraction of the diagnosed pelvic lesion was performed, also removing the tissue surrounding the lesion," Mr Jaua said.
He added that there were "no complications" and Mr Chavez was stable and "recovering adequately" from the operation.
Mr Jaua did not say if the lesion was malignant, or when the president would return to Venezuela.
Mr Chavez said the growth was probably malignant before he travelled to Havana on Friday.
The Venezuelan leader had surgery and four rounds of chemotherapy in Cuba last year after a baseball-sized growth was detected in his pelvic region.
In October, the president had said he was free from cancer, but last week announced he would require another operation.
Mr Chavez's surgery comes at a critical time, as he prepares to campaign for re-election for another six-year term.
His challenger in October's election is Henrique Capriles Radonski, a state governor who won an opposition primary earlier this month.
St Kitts-Nevis PM Douglas tells police officers,Don't settle for mediocrity
Police officers in the Royal St Christopher and Nevis Police Force, Nevis Division, have been urged to not settle for mediocrity, since they had a commissioner willing to do everything necessary to ensure they were successful in all their undertakings.
The advice came from prime minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Denzil Douglas, when he delivered remarks at the ninth annual constables awards ceremony and dinner on Saturday.
“His aim is to see his officers and his force recapture the image as one of the region’s best, not only in crime fighting but in crime prevention. There are those of you who continue to express appreciation to him for his leadership and commitment as well as his interest in your own professional development.
“Commissioner C. G. Walwyn has a vision for the force. His aim is to lift the level of competency of this force to that of an efficient law enforcement agency in the 21st century. Catch the vision officers! Don’t be left behind in the corridors of mediocrity. You will be endangering your own lives and the lives of those who are now willing to embrace you, to partner with you and make your work so much more rewarding,” he said.
The prime minister further told the officers that they should make headlines in the media but in a positive way and they should allow the public to applaud them when they excelled in their performance and quick responses to apprehend those who dared to be disorderly and revel in crime.
“Let them not just wait to report of yet another robbery and another homicide. We know that there is more to your performance and professional development that they are missing or failing to focus on,” he said.
Douglas reminded the officers that they were tasked with the very special responsibility of ensuring that everyone in St Kitts and Nevis, without exception, met and adhered to the standards of behaviour that as a nation, through the legislative branch of government, had determined to be in the best interest of the federation.
He thanked the nine police constables who were being honoured for stepping up, stepping forward and trying their best, for going beyond the call of duty, understanding the very special opportunity to make the federation a better place and for consistently doing their best to make it that way.
NIA
Jamaica remains among drug transit countries
Jamaica remains among a list of countries in the Caribbean and Central America which are considered major transhipment points for illicit drugs.
In its 2012 report the International Narcotics Control Board says drug trafficking organisations have increased their operations in the region, posing a serious threat to security.
The report adds that youth-related violence, street gangs, and the widespread availability of firearms have contributed to increasingly high crime rates.
The narcotics report further says drug trafficking has become an important driver of homicide rates in Central America.
It notes that Jamaica along with El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras now have the world’s highest homicide rates.
The narcotics report says corruption and limited law enforcement capacity have facilitated the use of smuggling channels and drug trafficking activities in the region.
Source-gleanerjm.com
Cayman Islands patrol allows Cubans to sail to Honduras
boat carrying 22 Cuban refuge-seekers was intercepted by a Cayman Islands patrol craft, but all were in good shape and were allowed to continue on their way to Honduras, according to a news report Tuesday.
The Cayman News Service reported that Immigration Department officials had confirmed the 20 men and two women from the eastern Cuba town of Manzanillo were spotted Sunday evening off Cayman Brac island, part of the Caribbean archipelago.
The passengers were in good health and after making “minor repairs” to their boat, they continued their trip south-west toward Honduras, according to the report. From Honduras they would go by land to the Mexican border with the United States.
The report did not detail what type of repairs the boat needed — which determines how Cuban migrants are treated when they are spotted in the territorial waters of the British-run international banking center 125 miles south of Cuba.
Since 2005, Cubans in bad health or in boats that are not seaworthy are detained in the Cayman Islands, while healthy migrants in fit vessels are allowed to continue on their trips. Those forced ashore can apply for asylum, which is almost never granted.
Before then, Cayman officials and residents were allowed to the refuge-seekers with food, water and gasoline, and even to make major repairs to their vessels, so they could continue on their journeys.
The number of Cubans spotted in Cayman waters has been increasing in the past year, apparently because the communist-ruled government’s embrace of some mild market-type economic reforms has caused food prices to spike and cut into government services.
Five groups of Cubans were spotted in Cayman waters in 2011, compared to none the previous year. Almost all were deported to their home country, with the last batch of 16 flown back to Cuba two weeks ago after their requests for asylum were denied.
But Rafael Hidalgo Figueredo and Fernando Figueredo Corrales, both in their 30s, escaped from an Immigration Department lockup on Jan. 21 and have not been found, according to published reports.
A Cayman publication, The Cay Compass, published an editorial earlier this month urging a review of the agreement with the Cuban government that bars officials and residents from helping the migrants.
“Most Caymanians would like to offer emergency provisions and send the Cubans along on their journey to freedom,” the editorial noted.
Source-www.miamiherald.com
US creates task force to target unfair trade practices
US President Barack Obama has created a new trade task force to investigate and crack down on unfair practices by American trading partners.
The move comes amid concerns that unfair trading practices, especially by China, were harming US businesses.
Policymakers have accused Beijing of keeping its currency artificially low in a bid to help China's exporters.
The International Trade Enforcement Center will aim to ensure US businesses have "a level playing field."
"Robust monitoring and enforcement of US rights under international trade agreements, and enforcement of domestic trade laws, are crucial to expanding exports," the executive order signed by President Obama said.
Growing tensions
Trade relations between the US and China have been under strain in recent years.
While the US economy has slowed, China has witnessed robust growth powered by the success of its manufacturing and export sectors.
However, US policymakers and businesses have accused China of giving an unfair advantage to its exporters by keeping the yuan's value low, a move which makes Chinese goods cheaper to foreign buyers.
At the same time, some sectors such as the solar panel industry have argued that Chinese manufacturers have benefited from government subsidies which helps them keep their costs low.
President Obama said the US was working to ensure that its partners abide by international trade rules.
He said the new unit will "bring the full resources of the federal government to bear to investigate and counter unfair trade practices around the world, including by countries like China."
Elpida plunges 98% after bankruptcy protection filing
Shares of Elpida have plunged on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) after investors dumped stock after firm filed for bankruptcy protection.
The company shares dipped as much as 98% to 5 yen. The TSE has said that it will delist Elpida from 28 March.
The firm sought bankruptcy protection Monday saying it had struggled to repay debts of 448bn yen ($5.6bn; £3.5bn).
Meanwhile, the Japanese government has not given any hint on whether it may bailout the firm.
"Given their huge debts and the subsequent delisting, the share value will go to zero - that is pretty clear," Gerhard Fasol of EuroTechnology Japan told the BBC.
'Critical issue'
Elpida, which specialises in making dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) chips, has seen its fortunes recently dwindle.
Not only has the company been hurt by a slowing demand for these chips, falling prices have also hurt its profits.
Analysts said given its debts, the firm will have to find a deep-pocketed partner to help turn around its business.
"They need to have a partner for the revival. The critical issue is who will that partner," said Mr Fasol of EuroTechnology Japan.
However, Mr Fasol said Elpida may find it difficult to convince other companies to invest money in its business.
"They have tried to find a partner but they couldn't find any. That is why they have had to file for protection the first place."
Portugal passes latest bailout review
Portugal has passed the latest review of its continuing spending cuts and economic reforms, the country's Finance Minister Vitor Gaspar has said.
It paves the way for the government to receive the next 14bn euros ($19bn; £12bn) round of bailout funds from the European Union, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund.
The move follows after inspectors from the so-called troika had been in Lisbon to assess the country's performance.
Portugal is to get 78bn euros in total.
Mr Gaspar said: "The result [of the evaluation] was positive despite unfavourable conditions.
"The mission confirmed the fulfilment of the criteria demanded by the terms."
Strike plan
The Portuguese government has been working hard to continue to cut costs, despite a steep recession and an unemployment rate of 14%.
In particular, the government is making important changes to labour conditions.
Last month, it reached an agreement with unions and employers to cut holidays and the compensation paid when workers are laid-off.
Under the deal, it was also made easier to hire and fire staff.
Measures like that have won praise from the troika and Portugal has, so far, received its bailout funds with much less drama than Greece.
But the gain has not come without pain for Portugal.
There have been deep cost cuts that are hitting public sector workers particularly hard, with many people facing a steep reduction in income.
That has prompted mass protests, and a general strike is planned for late March.
Unemployment warning
Mr Gaspar also warned on Tuesday that the economic situation in the country would only worsen this year.
The government now predicts that the Portuguese economy will contract by 3.3% in 2012, compared with its previous estimate of 3%.
It also expects the unemployment rate to reach 14.5%.
Economist Diego Iscaro, of IHS Global Insight, said Portugal was likely to need a second bailout before the end of the year.
Markets rise on increase in US consumer confidence
Markets rose slightly on yesterday in volatile trading as an upbeat US consumer confidence indicator offset worries over Ireland's decision to hold a referendum on the plan to tie the 17 euro countries closer together. A forecast-busting consumer confidence survey helped Wall Street recover from losses on the open, when investors were spooked by an unexpectedly big 4 per cent monthly drop in US durable goods orders in January.
The Conference Board reported that its main index of consumer confidence rose to a year-high of 70.8 in February, from 61.5 in January and far above markets' expectations for a far more modest increase to 63. Economists watch the confidence numbers closely because consumer spending accounts for about 70 per cent of US economic activity. The data encouraged investors to look past the news that Ireland will hold a referendum on the plan to strengthen budget discipline within the eurozone.
Digicel, FTC challenge continues
Lawyers will continue submissions in the Supreme Court tomorrow in an action brought by telecoms provider Digicel Jamaica challenging the jurisdiction of the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) in its legal attempt to roll back the Digicel-Claro deal.
The matter came up for hearing today and lawyers for both parties made submissions before Mrs. Justice Almarie Sinclair-Haynes.
Digicel is asking the court to decide whether the Fair Competition Act applies to the transactions effected by the agreement with Claro Jamaica.
It is also asking the court to decide whether the FTC has jurisdiction in relation to the transaction struck with the owners of Claro for the Jamaican assets.
The FTC has taken Digicel and Oceanic Digital Jamaica Limited, trading as Claro, to court over the acquisition.
The Commission is contending that the acquisition is likely to damage competition and stymie consumer benefits.
Deadly Riots in China’s Troubled Xinjiang Region
Chinese state media say at least 12 people died Tuesday during violent disturbances in the remote northwestern region of Xinjiang.
The official Xinhua news agency says rioters killed 10 people and injured several others in Yecheng County near Kashgar, while two rioters were fatally shot by police. An overseas group representing the region's mainly Muslim Uighur population told news agencies the deaths occurred during a clash between Uighurs and security forces.
Xinhua said a manhunt has been launched to capture others involved in the violence.
The Xinjiang region has been plagued in recent years by fighting between the indigenous Uighurs and Han Chinese. The worst of the clashes occurred in 2009, when Uighurs launched attacks against Han Chinese in the regional capital of Urumqui, leaving at least 197 people dead.
Eight people were killed in a shoot-out with police in December, during what Beijing described as the rescue of two herdsmen who had been kidnapped by “terrorists.”
The Chinese government has blamed the violence in the resource-rich region on Islamist extremists. But exile groups say the Turkic-speaking Uighurs are rioting over longstanding grievances. Uighurs say they are economically and culturally disadvantaged compared to the growing numbers of Han Chinese in the region.