Ex-Enron CEO Jeff Skilling denied new trial
A US appeals court has denied ex-Enron chief executive Jeffrey Skilling a new trial, upholding his conviction on 19 counts of conspiracy and other crimes.
The court rejected arguments that faulty jury instructions at his 2006 trial meant he should get a new trial.
The arguments were based on a June US Supreme Court ruling that an anti-fraud law was improperly used to convict him.
Skilling, 57, was the highest-ranking Enron officer to be punished after the energy firm's collapse.
In addition, on Wednesday the three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Houston vacated Skilling's 24-year prison sentence and sent it back to a lower court for re-sentencing.
Skilling's lawyer Dan Petrocelli said he would continue to fight to overturn the convictions.
The energy trading giant imploded in December 2001 amid revelations executives had covered up the shoddy state of the company's finances with accounting trickery and shady business deals.
In 2006, Skilling was convicted for his part in the accounting fraud, after prosecutors said he and other executives had concocted a scheme to keep the firm's failing financial health secret from shareholders.
'Harmless'
Enron founder Kenneth Lay was also convicted but died six weeks later as he awaited sentence.
In June, the US Supreme Court ruled the federal anti-corruption law that made it a crime ''to deprive another of the intangible right of honest services" was overly vague and could only be applied to cases of bribery and pay kickbacks.
The Supreme Court ruled the law was misapplied to Skilling's case, since prosecutors had shown no evidence he had taken bribes or kickbacks for making the financial misrepresentations, but left it to lower courts to decide whether to void Skilling's conviction.
In Wednesday's ruling, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the US government and found the faulty jury instructions in Skilling's trial were "harmless" because the evidence against him was overwhelming.
China increases fuel prices as crude costs hit refiners
China has increased the retail price of gasoline and diesel to record highs, after a rise in global crude costs.
The increase will be 5-5.5%, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.
The move is aimed at easing pressure on state refiners who are struggling with international oil prices at two and a half year highs.
But analysts say inflation worries have kept the government from increasing prices too much.
'Too late'
"The hike is not enough and too late," said Brynjar Bustnes, head of the Asia-Pacific oil and gas equity research at JP Morgan.
"The only way to control oil product demand is through higher prices".
China has been battling inflation, with consumer prices rising 4.9% in February from the same month a year ago.
That is above the maximum target of 4% inflation this year.
The country has been taking measures to rein in that high inflation without hurting economic growth.
The increase in the price of fuel comes only a day after the Chinese central bank raised interest rates for the fourth times since October.
Express workers in protest over compensation $$
Employees of One Caribbean Media (OCM) voiced their dissatisfaction with management as they engaged in an hour-long protest yesterday in front of Express House, Independence Square, Port-of-Spain. Union representatives and members described the situation facing workers as a steadily deteriorating industrial relations climate between OCM and its employees. Deputy president of the Bankers, Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU), Mario Als, said workers feared the material produced by Express reporters would be used for Tv6 newscasts without additional compensation to reporters. One employee said there also were fears the company would use reporting from both Express and TV6 for its new venture, OCM Caribbean Superstation.
SuperStation will give online users access to Caribbean material through a television and radio platform.
“We are not prepared as a union for a situation where workers are required to produce more work without compensation,” said Als. Als said other issues plaguing OCM employees included the failures by OCM to honour agreements made with the union, undue delays in the settlement of grievances and a persistent refusal to compensate advertising sales representatives. He said OCM sought to maximise profits by eroding into the benefits and rights of its employees. He said although the union was currently in dialogue with OCM, the employers have been “stonewalling” it. Als said the intensity of protests would increase if some measure of sanity and stability was not demonstrated by OCM management.
President of BIGWU, Vincent Cabrera, was at yesterday’s protest. He used the opportunity to encourage workers to show solidarity with fellow union members at Newsday during their protest, scheduled for 12 pm today. Newsday employees have been protesting since last week over industrial relations issues and wage negotiations. When contacted by T&T Guardian yesterday, OCM’s group corporate services manager Gregory Camejo said he was alarmed and perplexed as to what the protest was about. He said meetings held with the union last month showed no indication of deteriorating industrial relations. He also expressed his confusion as to reporters’ fears that their stories would be used for the new OCM Caribbean Superstation and said there had been no dialogue to indicate stories would be used without discusion with employees.
Meanwhile, OCM cancelled yesterday’s scheduled launch of the OCM Caribbean Superstation at the Hilton Trinidad after union members made plans to protest outside the hotel. Protests are expected to continue today at both Newsday and Express offices.
World Health Day, April 7th 2011
World Health Day, celebrated annually April 7th commemorates the founding of the World Health Organization; it seeks to promote any action that improves health, among people of all ages and from all backgrounds.
This year, the World Health Day theme is “Combating Antimicrobial Resistance”. Antimicrobial Resistance occurs when medications which were once used to treat or cure an infection is no longer effective against the microbial organism causing the infection due to medication abuse and misuse. We live in an era in which we depend heavily on antimicrobial medications such as antibiotics and antivirals to treat conditions that decades ago, or even a few years ago, in the case of HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis, would have proved fatal.
Clinical trials have supplied sufficient knowledge about appropriate antibiotic use; antibiotics are effective only against certain organisms, must be taken in a particular dose for a specified frequency and duration (e.g. every six (6) hours for five (5) to (7) days), and are ineffective against viruses. The myth that all infections respond to antibiotics needs to be corrected. When a patient with a viral respiratory infection gets better after taking antibiotics such as amoxicillin; this improvement is usually due to the natural course of the illness and not to the antibiotics.
We must all be very concerned about anti-microbial resistance as infections caused by resistant organisms often do not respond to the standard treatment, resulting in prolonged illness and a greater risk of death. Antimicrobial resistance is a serious problem that strikes at the core of infectious disease control and has the potential to halt and possibly even roll back progress with the control of the most serious infectious diseases such as Tuberculosis, Malaria and HIV just to name a few. While the development of resistance is a natural response of microbial organisms, it can be prevented and contained through careful and appropriate antimicrobial use. Antimicrobial resistance can be managed and prevented through a multi-pronged approach with comprehensive well regulated health systems, integrated monitoring of antimicrobial use and resistance, educating pharmacists, dispensers, patients and the public in general and the regulation of antibiotic use in the communities and hospitals.
Healthy policy-makers and planners, the public, medical practitioners, pharmacists, and the pharmaceutical industry must act together and take responsibility for combating anti-microbial resistance. “We will have no cures for tomorrow, if, today, we take insufficient or no action at all”.
“Combating drug resistance” is everybody’s business, find out how we can do more, join Health Matters host, Miss Imterniza McCartney and a panel of Health professionals live today at 11:30am-12:30pm today on Radio Turks & Caicos with a repeat at 7pm.
PDM calls for 21 day freeze in budget passage
The Peoples Democratic Movement is calling for a 21 day freeze of the TCI budget passage, and for all parties to meet for a round table discussion.
In a statement from the party it was stated that the members are deeply concerned that without public debate of the proposed budget the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands will not have an opportunity to hear what measures are being considered by the Government.
The PDM continued to add that they will not know how to properly plan their interaction with Government over the next year and the people will not know how the Government performed last year. The end result is a complete lack of confidence in the viability of any proposed measure.
“Because of these and other vital reasons The Peoples Democratic Movement is calling on the Interim Administration to FREEZE and come together with relevant groups in a round table to resolve differences on important financial matters affecting the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
“We are calling for a period of 21 days to resolve these matters. It is our understanding that it is the Governor’s intent to enact the budget as is. We are urging him to reconsider. This would be the first time in almost 40 years that we have not had a public debate before a budget measure is passed,” said the PDM.
The PDM have since formed a Mediation Council which is headed by the former Leader of the Opposition and former President of the Civil Service Association Hon. Floyd Seymour. The main objective of the Mediation Council would be to bring financial alternatives and solutions to the current situation which includes new revenue measures and government expenditure.
“We are therefore calling for a 21 day freeze in passing the budget, a freeze in the changes to the pension’s ordinance, and a freeze in the interpretation ordinance along with a call for a 21 day temporary spending measure to fund the Government while these financial issues are addressed. It is in the interest of all citizens, residents and visitors that the Turks and Caicos Islands Government functions efficiently, effectively and economically.”
There has been no word as yet from the Governor’s office.
Provo awarded best beach
Providenciales has been voted the top beach destination in the world, according to the travel website TripAdvisor.
It ranked above such renowned beach destinations as Honolulu and Miami Beach in the report based on travelers' reviews and ratings to select the best destinations around the world.
Myrtle Beach in South Carolina was the only U.S. destination to make the top five. "A number of factors make these beach destinations stand out as wonderful choices," said TripAdvisor spokesman Brooke Ferencsik. "In addition to featuring remarkable stretches of sand, these hotspots offer a wide variety of quality hotels, restaurants and activities to accommodate virtually any vacation budget, and appeal to any traveler type."
Providenciales, was praised for its pristine white-sand beaches, calm, clear water and a healthy barrier reef appealing to snorkelers and divers. Many reviewers called its Grace Bay Beach the world's best.
Rounding out the top five were Boracay, in the Philippines, Aruba's Palm/Eagle beach, Negril in Jamaica and Tulum, Mexico. Grand Cayman's famous Seven Mile Beach and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic placed seventh and eighth respectively.
North Caicos jetty operational
The reconstruction of the jetty and boat launching ramp, at the Police Marine Branch, North Creek, and Grand Turk has been completed. Boaters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts on the island are now able to utilize a facility which has not been available for some time.
The reconstruction, funded by the Recovery Task Force, was required after the previous ramp – one of the most popular that served the area, was damaged and left requiring repairs after Hurricane Ike in 2008.
The repairs and enhancements, which include changes to the slope of the ramp, make it much easier and safer for boaters to launch and retrieve their boats. The reconstructed ramp is some 20 feet wide and 66 feet long, made of solid concrete, is set at an appropriate angle (grade), and the available depth at low tide is up to 3.5 feet.
The renovated facility fully meets the requirements of the Police Marine Branch, and also the wider boating community of Grand Turk; making launching of boats even faster and safer. The renovated ramp offers improved access to North Creek, a well utilized haven for craft in poor weather.
The site lies on property owned and managed by the Police Marine Branch. Members of the public wishing to use the facility should seek further information from the Police Marine Branch.
Inter Health celebrates i's 1st anniversary
DIOVANNI Fulford is preparing for an emotional return to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre.
The 20-year-old will be guest of honour when InterHealth Canada celebrates its year anniversary on Monday.
Diovanni became the hospital’s first trauma patient after he was knocked down by a car in Blue Hills, just hours after the facility opened on April 10, last year.
He was rushed to the emergency department suffering serious multiple injuries and immediately underwent life-saving surgery.
Once stable, he was flown to Florida for further treatment before returning to Cheshire Hall to undergo an intense physiotherapy programme.
Remarkably, the basketball fanatic returned to work as a ticket agent for Air Turks and Caicos, just three months after the horrific accident and is now back playing his favourite sport.
Diovanni will be cutting a special birthday cake at Cheshire Hall during a programme of celebrations that includes entertainment by pupils from Clement Howell High School.
Meanwhile, doing the honours simultaneously in Grand Turk will be Juliet Arthur and her partner Derron Thelwell.
Juliet gave birth to twins, Derron Jnr and Derronique, at the Cockburn Town Medical Centre, in December.
Unfortunately they were born two months premature and spent the first few weeks of their lives fighting for survival.
But thanks to the expertise of both doctors and nurses Derron Jnr and Derronique pulled through.
InterHealth Canada TC CEO, Roger Cheesman, explained: “It’s incredible to think we are about to celebrate our one year anniversary. The time has flown by and we have achieved so much.
“We have seen, treated, and continue to work with, some very special patients whose lives we have been able to either save or greatly improve.
“Diovanni and the Thelwell twins are fantastic examples of the wonderful service we provide the people of the TCI and we are honoured that they will be helping us celebrate this very special occasion.”
The Ona Glinton Junior School choir will be entertaining guests in Grand Turk.
Satyam and PwC are fined in US for accounting fraud
Satyam Computer Services and its former auditor PricewaterCoopers (PwC) have agreed to pay a combined $17.5m (£10.7m) in fines in the US after one of India's biggest corporate scandals.
Satyam, an outsourcing company, will pay $10m for falsely reporting more than $1bn in profits over five years.
The company's chairman Ramalinga Raju admitted to the fraud in 2009.
Satyam's shares were indirectly traded on the New York Stock Exchange as well as in India.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said it had fined the Indian affiliate of PwC $7.5m, describing it as the largest American penalty against a foreign firm.
The SEC said the auditor failed to independently verify cash balances in Satyam bank accounts.
Celtics blast Sixers, move into tie for 2nd in East
The Celtics point guard had 16 points and 13 assists to lead Boston to a 99-82 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night and help the defending conference champions reclaim the second-best playoff position in the East.
"He's getting himself ready," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "You can see what they're all doing, they're sharpening their tools. ... They know where they're at."
With the win, the Celtics and Heat were tied at 54-23 with four games left in the regular season - including one head-to-head matchup in Miami on Sunday. The Celtics would win the tiebreaker because they beat Miami in their first three meetings this season.
"We want all these games," said Kevin Garnett, who scored 14 points. "Playoffs is like the main course. This will definitely be an appetizer."
Reserve Evan Turner scored 21 - two points short of his career high - for the Sixers, who clinched a playoff berth on Friday but could still finish anywhere from fifth to seventh in the East. They ended the night in sixth, four games behind the Atlanta Hawks and one-half game ahead of the New York Knicks .
"When we play a team like this, I told our guys we want to keep growing every single game," Sixers coach Doug Collins said. "That's why coming down this stretch these games give us a blueprint on what we have to do to beat these teams."
Rondo started the season on a torrid passing pace, averaging 15 assists over Boston's first 10 games - including a season-high 24 in the third game of the year. He failed to reach 10 assists only 11 times heading into March, not counting injuries; he matched that in the past month alone - including eight games in a row.
From March 6 to March 27, when he sat out to rest a strained right pinky, Rondo also shot 34 percent from the field, averaged seven points and 7.4 assists, and the Celtics went 5-6.
But Rondo is back on track, reaching double digits in assists or rebounds in four straight games after failing to do so a dozen times in the 14 games before that.
"I wouldn't say I'm feeling 100 percent, but I'm doing OK," Rondo said. "Tonight was a good test for us. That might be a first-round (opponent) and we did a good job of making a little statement that it's going to be hard to beat us in a seven-game series."
Rondo added four rebounds, shot 6 for 14 from the floor and even made all four of his free throw attempts on Tuesday. Paul Pierce scored 18 points, Kevin Garnett had 14 and Ray Allen had 13 for Boston, which is 8-8 in the past month.
"Rondo is once again leading their team," Collins said. "When they play like that, it should make Doc smile because they're one of the best teams in the league.
Nenad Krstic scored eight points in 18 minutes after missing two games with a bruised right knee, and Jermaine O'Neal had nine points in 12 minutes as the Celtics try to find big men to fill in for Shaquille O'Neal. The 15-time All-Star returned on Sunday after missing 27 games but lasted just 5 minutes, 29 seconds before leaving the game with a strained right calf muscle.
The Celtics do not have a timetable for his return, Rivers said, and getting Krstic and O'Neal healthy would be crucial if they're going to have a chance to return to the NBA finals.
Philadelphia led 49-47 with just over a minute left in the half before the Celtics scored seven of the last eight points heading into the break. Boston then scored the first nine points of the third quarter to complete a 16-1 run and turn a two-point deficit into a 63-50 lead.