'Baby Doc' Duvalier returns to Haiti from exile
The former president of Haiti, Jean-Claude Duvalier, has returned to the country, 25 years after he was overthrown by a popular revolt.
Mr Duvalier - also known as "Baby Doc" - arrived on a flight from France, where he has been living in exile.
It is not clear why he has returned to Haiti, where he is accused of massive corruption.
Haiti is in the midst of a political crisis over disputed presidential elections.
US eases travel restrictions to Cuba
The Obama administration on Friday eased restrictions on Americans’ travel to Cuba in what it says is an effort to encourage more contact between nationals of both countries.
“The president has directed that changes be made to regulations and policies governing purposeful travel, non-family remittances and US airports supporting licensed charter flights to and from Cuba,” the White House said in a statement.
“These measures will increase people-to-people contact; support civil society in Cuba; enhance the free flow of information to, from, and among the Cuban people; and help promote their independence from Cuban authorities.
“The president believes these actions, combined with the continuation of the embargo, are important steps in reaching the widely shared goal of a Cuba that respects the basic rights of all its citizens,” the statement said.
The administration said these steps build on Obama’s April 2009 actions in helping to reunite “divided Cuban families; to facilitate greater telecommunications with the Cuban people; and to increase humanitarian flows to Cuba”.
The White House said the directed changes will be enacted through modifications to existing Cuban Assets Control and Customs and Border Protection regulations and policies and will take effect upon publication of modified regulations in the Federal Register within two weeks.
To enhance contact with the Cuban people and support civil society through “purposeful travel,” including religious, cultural, and educational travel, the president has directed that regulations and policies be modified to allow religious organisations to sponsor religious travel to Cuba under a general license.
The regulations and policies would also facilitate educational exchanges by allowing accredited institutions of higher education to sponsor travel to Cuba for course work for academic credit under a general license and allow students to participate through academic institutions other than their own.
In addition, the regulations would, among other things, restore specific licensing of educational exchanges not involving academic study pursuant to a degree programme under the auspices of an organisation that sponsors and organises people-to-people programmes, the White House said.
To help expand the economic independence of the Cuban people and to support a “more vibrant Cuban civil society”, the president has also directed the regulations governing non-family remittances be modified to restore a general license category for any US person to send remittances, up to US$500 per quarter, to non-family members in Cuba to support.
Obama said the remittances cannot be provided to senior Cuban government officials or senior members of the Cuban Communist Party.
“The modifications will not change the designation of airports in Cuba that are eligible to send or receive licensed charter flights to and from the United States,” the statement said.
The administration said it had expected to announce the measures months ago, but they were delayed because of concerns about their possible impact on the 2010 midterm elections.
The announcement also comes as the Cuban government is carrying out a sweeping economic overhaul, including layoffs of hundreds of thousands of state workers.
Source:CMC
CARICOM Community Council meets tomorrow
Preparations for the Twenty-Second Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government is among the agenda items for the Twenty-Seventh Meeting of the Community Council of Ministers, which will be held in Georgetown tomorrow.
The Council is the second highest body in CARICOM. At tomorrow’s meeting, the Council will also examine arrangements for the Inter-Sessional Meeting to be held in Grenada, in February 2011.
Ministers on the Council will consider and approve the work programme and budget of the CARICOM Secretariat and the Caribbean Knowledge and Learning Network Agency (CKLNA).
The Community Council is expected to engage in a follow-up discussion to the Special Meeting of the Conference on Governance, which was held in Grenada, August last.
In this context, it will examine the establishment of a Permanent Committee of CARICOM Ambassadors (PCCA) within the structure of the Caribbean Community, and review the operations of the CARICOM Secretariat.
Further, the Council will be considering matters currently engaging the attention of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD), and the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED). Among the COHSOD issues are: the establishment of the Regional Tertiary Education System; the Regional Tertiary Education Council; and the Caribbean Public Health Agency.
With regard to COTED, the Council has been asked to approve the 2011 Work Programme and Budget of the CARICOM Competition Commission (CCC) and a non-reciprocal trading arrangement agreed for Haiti over a three-year period.
At the meeting at the CARICOM Secretariat Headquarters at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, the Council will also receive an update on the preparation of a Strategic Plan for Regional Development, as well as the schedule of other major meetings within the Community in the first quarter of 2011
PNP ready for 'Dudus' enquiry
The People’s National Party says it is now ready to fully participate in the enquiry.
PNP Deputy General Secretary, Julian Robinson says the party’s concerns have been addressed by the Government.
The PNP had said it was not consulted by the Government during the establishment of the Commission. The party had also raised questions about the appointments of Emil George, who chairs the enquiry and Donald Scharchmidt.
The enquiry will probe events which led to the extradition of Christopher Coke to the United States on June 24, ten months after a request was made for him to face drug and gun-running charges by the US.
The delay in his extradition involved the hiring of the law firm Manatt, Phelps and Phillips which claimed it was representing the Government in treaty matters.
More than 70 people were killed in fierce gunfights between members of the security forces and gunmen loyal to Mr. Coke, in the attempt to enter Tivoli Gardens and arrest him.
IMF approves US$49 million disbursement to Jamaica
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday completed the third review of Jamaica’s economic performance under the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA).
Completion of the review enables the immediate disbursement of an amount equivalent to SDR 31.9 million (about US$49.3 million), bringing total disbursements under the arrangement to SDR 541.8million (about US$838.2 million).
Jamaica’s performance under the program has been positive overall and all end-September quantitative performance criteria were met, the IMF said.
The Executive Board approved modifications of certain performance criteria, including a small relaxation of some fiscal targets to accommodate spending related to Tropical Storm Nicole and an increase in the floor on net international reserves.
The IMF’s Executive Board approved a 27-month SBA in an amount equivalent to SDR 820.5 million (about US$1.27 billion) on February 4,.
Following the Executive Board discussion on Jamaica, Murilo Portugal, deputy managing director and acting chair, said, “Overall performance under the Stand-By Arrangement has been satisfactory. Signs of recovery have emerged, with net job creation for the first time in four quarters, and inflationary pressures remain subdued, allowing an accommodative monetary policy. The authorities’ macroeconomic program continues to focus on restoring fiscal sustainability and increasing the economy’s resilience to external shocks. Further progress is necessary on the fiscal and structural reform agenda. Enhancing competitiveness and the overall investment climate is key to boosting potential growth.”
Jay Cutler accounts for 4 TDs as Bears throttle Seahawks
Football's oldest rivalry has a grand new prize: a spot in the Super Bowl.
The Bears' 35-24 dismantling of overmatched Seattle on Sunday sets up the biggest game in their 90-year series with the Packers. Chicago and Green Bay will play for the 182nd time next Sunday, but their first meeting for the NFC title.
Jay Cutler ran for two touchdowns and threw for two as Chicago (12-5) pounded the Seahawks (8-10) from the outset, gliding through the snowflakes to score 21 first-half points. The defense was monstrous enough when it mattered, shutting down an offense that scored 41 points against New Orleans last week, but that gained only 111 through three periods at Soldier Field, where Seattle managed a 23-20 victory in October.
Although it got closer at the end, this was the result many projected the first division winner with a losing record would sustain, making it difficult to measure how good the Bears are. The NFL will find out next week against the Packers, who have beaten third-seeded Philadelphia and top-seeded Atlanta on the road this month. But to compare these Bears with the "Super Bowl Shuffle" bunch that won Chicago's only Super Bowl 25 years ago is a stretch.
"Now that we have beaten the Seahawks, it just doesn't get any better, as I see it, than for the NFC championship coming down to the Packers coming down on our turf this time," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "The Packers and Bears to finish it up."
Cutler, in his first postseason game, showed none of the wild swings that often have marked his five-year career. He did show some shifty moves on a 6-yard run that made it 21-0, essentially turning everyone's attention to next weekend.
"We're both familiar with each other, so nothing's going to be new," Cutler said. "We have our hands full."
Not much was expected of the Bears when the season began, but they've improved mightily since falling to 4-3 heading into their bye week. They clinched a playoff berth with two games remaining, grabbing their first NFC North championship since 2006 -- when they lost to Indianapolis in the Super Bowl.
Unlike Atlanta and Pittsburgh on Saturday, they showed no rust from having a bye in dominating Seattle. Then again, the Seahawks showed none of the surging emotions or big-play abilities they sprung on the Saints at home. It was merely a one-week reprieve, and they went even flatter after tight end John Carlson was carted off with a head injury in the first quarter following a nasty spill; Carlson landed on the side of his helmet and his shoulder, but had movement in his extremities.
Seattle lost cornerback Marcus Trufant to a head injury in the third quarter when he collided with Kellen Davis' knee while trying to make a tackle. Trufant also was carted off, but he also had feeling in his extremities.
Chicago put away the game with touchdowns on three of its first four possessions, by which time Brian Urlacher, Julius Peppers and the rest of the defense had taken charge.
"Now we're back, playing together, hopefully peaking at the right time," Urlacher said.
Greg Olsen, showing impressive speed for a tight end, streaked past safety Lawyer Milloy for a 58-yard TD reception on Chicago's third offensive play. Chester Taylor added a 1-yard TD run and Cutler's 6-yarder built an insurmountable lead.
Cutler liked using his feet so much he added a 9-yard sprint in the third quarter to make it 28-0. He even threw in a 21-yard scramble in the fourth quarter and finished with 43 yards rushing, 9 more than the Seahawks.
"It was fun," Cutler said of his own shuffling. "That first one was called, second one was kind of improv."
Olindo Mare's 30-yard field goal got the first points for Seattle, which will get mixed reviews in Pete Carroll's first season as coach. The Seahawks went 7-9, hardly what they had in mind when they hired Carroll away from Southern Cal. Still, they won the weak NFC West, and they eliminated the defending Super Bowl champions in the wild-card round.
"It took a long time for them to ... fight and compete and do the things we want them to do," Carroll said. "I would have loved to have got this game today that so many people didn't think we could. I see where we're going and I'm proud of that."
But the prospect of a .500 team playing for a berth in the Super Bowl is gone, even though Matt Hasselbeck threw for three fourth-quarter touchdowns.
So bring on the Packers, who lost to the Bears 33-14 at Wrigley Field on Dec. 14, 1941 in their only previous playoff meeting. Green Bay beat Chicago 10-3 in the season finale to clinch a playoff spot earlier this month. The Packers haven't been to the Super Bowl since the 1997 season, when they lost to Denver.
Source:AP
Dwyane Wade: LeBron James all ears
LeBron James apparently needed some help with his latest decision.
Before he missed his second consecutive game with a sprained left ankle Saturday, James sought some advice from Miami Heat teammate Dwyane Wade on whether he should attempt to play.
James has missed the Heat's past two games, including Saturday's 99-96 loss to the Chicago Bulls, which ended Miami's five-game road trip with three consecutive defeats.
James went through an extended workout at the United Center about an hour before Saturday's game in hopes of returning to the lineup but was held out after he met with the team's medical staff.
Wade also spoke with James and advised him not to rush back from the injury. James has not played since he sprained the ankle in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
"He came to me and asked me, 'What should I do?' " Wade said of the conversation he had with James before Saturday's game. "We've got a good enough team to make sure that before you get back on the court that you're healthy [enough] to be who you are."
James could return to action as soon as Tuesday against visiting Atlanta, as the Heat (30-12) look to avoid their first four-game losing streak of the season. Miami is also dealing with the potential loss of forward Chris Bosh, who sprained his left ankle Saturday early in the fourth quarter and did not return.
The Heat did not practice Sunday, although injured players typically receive extensive treatment during off days. James and Bosh are listed as day to day and will be re-evaluated before Tuesday's game. Miami plays just two games in a span of 11 days after returning from its longest trip of the season.
James, the Heat's leader in scoring average (25.4 points) and assists per game (7.2), hoped to play against the Bulls. He appeared to move well on the court as he shot jumpers and drove to the basket for layups during his pregame workout. But James then came up short on a dunk attempt as he pushed off his left foot. The 20-minute session ended soon after the missed dunk.
"The last 48 hours, there's been tremendous progress," coach Erik Spoelstra said of James. "We'll see where things go before Tuesday's game. Get rest and get healthy. That's what we need most of all."
If James or Bosh are unable to play Tuesday, it would mean the return to a familiar role for Wade, who was the Heat's lone catalyst before his two high-profile teammates arrived in free agency last summer. Amid the minor injury concerns, Wade said it's important to maintain big-picture perspective.
"It's not the playoffs," Wade said. "We don't need guys sucking it up to that extent to where it's going to hurt them in the long run. We want Chris to get healthy. We want LeBron to get healthy. And if they don't, we'll plan around it and move forward."
Source:ESPN
Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal win
Manchester City clung on to beat Wolverhampton 4-3 and provisionally topple Manchester United from the Premier League summit yesterday, while struggling champions Chelsea returned to winning against Blackburn and Arsenal compounded West Ham's woes.
After Kolo Toure cancelled out Nenad Milijas' opener for Wolves, City went 4-1 ahead in the second half through Carlos Tevez's double and Yaya Toure's strike.
But Kevin Doyle and Ronald Zubar gave City a scare by reducing the deficit.
While City went a point ahead of United, their neighbours play the first of three games in hand at Tottenham today.
Tottenham were dislodged from fourth place -- temporarily at least -- by Chelsea beating Blackburn 2-0 to halt a two-match winless streak.
Arsenal remain third after a 3-0 victory at West Ham, whose manager Avram Grant was facing an uncertain future with the team rock bottom in the standings.
In Manchester, Wolves looked set to spoil Edin Dzeko's debut when Milijas was denied by Joe Hart's save but he stabbed home the rebound.
But after Dzeko's shot was deflected behind for a corner, Vincent Kompany headed Adam Johnson's corner toward the far post where Kolo Toure controlled the ball and struck through a crowd of players through David Jones' legs and eventually over the line.
After the break, Dzeko — a £27-million ($42-million) signing from Wolfsburg — was truly upstaged by Tevez, who had been shunted from his favoured central berth to a spot on the left.
Within four minutes of the restart, Tevez burst past Christophe Berra and Stephen Hunt, then weaved inside Richard Stearman before slotting the ball into the net.
In the 54th, Dzeko sent Yaya Toure clean through and the midfielder followed his brother by scoring.
Tevez was on target again in the 66th when a header from fellow Argentine Pablo Zabaleta's cross bounced in via the underside of the crossbar.
But within two minutes Wolves pulled one back, with Doyle scoring from the penalty spot after he was bundled over by substitute Joleon Lescott. Zubar added another on an 86th-minute header, but Wolves couldn't produce a late leveller.
Chelsea secured only their second win in their last 10 league games after Branislav Ivanovic scored and then set up Nicolas Anelka.
Morten Gamst Pedersen flicked John Terry's header straight at the far post to Ivanovic, who squeezed a shot past goalkeeper Paul Robinson.
More poor defending in the 76th allowed Ivanovic to head to Anelka, who netted from close range.
The gap between Chelsea and Arsenal alone is five points after the Gunners ripped apart West Ham.
Also, West Bromwich moved four points clear of the drop zone by beating Blackpool 3-2 to end a run of six successive defeats, Bolton were consigned to their fifth consecutive away defeat as Stoke won 2-0 and Andrew Johnson's late goal salvaged a 1-1 draw for Fulham at Wigan.
Source:AP
Taylor stars again for WI
West Indies snatched a surprise 2-1 lead in their five-match One-Day International series against India when they beat the World's third-ranked side by three wickets here yesterday.
Prolific, teenaged opener Stafanie Taylor stroked 46 as West Indies, chasing 157 for victory, reached 159 for seven with four balls to spare at the Reliance Stadium.
Earlier, off-spinners Anisa Mohammed (2-20) and Stafanie Taylor (2-21) and left-arm pacer Shanel Daley (2-22), all took two wickets apiece as they once again restricted the hosts to a modest total.
Tail-ender Amita Sharma cracked a cameo 35 to top score for the Indians who had earlier got an ultra patient 33 from opener Poonam Raut.
Good start
The 19-year-old Taylor, who failed in the last match when West Indies lost by 10 runs, took matters into her own hands with a measured innings to ensure the visitors got off to a good start.
She hit seven fours off 72 balls and posted 45 for the first wicket with Juliana Nero whose 22 was a breezy knock off 31 balls, decorated with five fours.
Nero's departure triggered a slide that saw Windies struggle to 74 for three at the end of the 22nd over but Stacey-Ann King (20) and captain Merissa Aguilleira (17) added 24 for the fourth wicket to deny India further immediate success.
Both batsmen fell in the space of 13 balls, paving the way for an important 27-run, sixth wicket stand between Deandra Dottin (12) and Daley (13) which steered the Windies to within sight of victory.
WICB, CMC seal rights deal
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) have announced a major television distribution rights deal for the Digicel Series for the next two years.
CMC will have the rights for live broadcast of the upcoming Digicel Series 2011 between West Indies and world Test champions India along with Pakistan, and in 2012 when the West Indies host Australia and New Zealand.
In addition, CMC has also acquired the Caribbean rights for the highlights of the Caribbean Twenty20 tournament for 2011, 2012 and 2013, plus the highlights for the semi-finals and final of the WICB Regional 50 Over Championship for the same period.
CMC will sublicense these rights to television stations in each of the regional countries to ensure that West Indies international and regional tournaments are viewed by the widest possible Caribbean audience.
"CMC is pleased to have secured these rights for the benefit of Caribbean broadcasters and Caribbean viewers," said CMC's CEO Patrick Cozier.
WICB CEO Dr Ernest Hilaire said the partnership with CMC was a crucial one.