Telecommunications Commission (TCTC) completes its Emergency Preparedness Agreement with stakeholders
The Turks and Caicos Islands Telecommunications Commission (TCTC) has successfully completed its Emergency Preparedness Agreement (EPA) between the Islands' network operators, Digicel and Flow, with support from Cenerva.
The EPA marks the final stage of the TCTC Telecommunications Emergency Preparedness and Response Policy (TEPRP), the aim of which is to mitigate the risk of disruption to communications networks and services in the event of a disaster or emergency.
TCI is located in the Caribbean region, which is frequently affected by hurricanes and has historically experienced significant damage to the telecommunications infrastructure. As a result, the Government of TCI and the Commission have spearheaded the creation of an effective policy that would safeguard the resilience of emergency and other priority calls during times of emergency.
The Emergency Preparedness Agreement (EPA) is a legal document that encompasses an emergency-activated telecommunications network capacity backup plan. It covers implementation measures that will be in place in times of national emergencies, including those resulting from severe weather events.
This Agreement provides a framework to formalize the role of all network operators, specifically, how they will work with other stakeholders and partners to maintain mobile and internet services for specific groups during a declared period of national emergency.
The provisions included in this Agreement are primarily to enable the TCI Government, emergency services, appointed third parties and relief agencies to coordinate appropriate disaster response and humanitarian efforts, disseminate emergency information messages, and manage logistics to help rebuild national infrastructure.
Cabinet approves the extension of the exemption for breadbasket Items
On the November 30th 2022 sitting of Cabinet, the Misick led Government approved the extension of the exemption for breadbasket Items which was first granted in August 2022 as a relief measure to assist in alleviation of cost of living.
The concession, which exempts certain food and cleaning products from Import Customs Duty (ICD) and Customs Processing Fee (CPF), came into effect on Friday, 1st December 2022 for a period of four (4) months to expire the 31st of March 2023.
The Customs ASYCUDA World declaration database is configured to calculate the reductions when the declaration is made. The Customs procedure code (CPC) remains the same which is C547.
The Government and the Ministry of Immigration and Border Services encourage businesses to ensure that the benefits of this exemption is passed on to the consumers.
List of Breadbasket Items Exempt from ICD and CPF
- Rice
- Flour
- Grits
- Bread
- Spaghetti/Instant noodles
- Macaroni and cheese
- Cornflakes/Cereal
- Chicken
- Canned sausage, Vienna
- Fresh and Canned meats
- Cheese
- Evaporated milk
- Eggs
- Cooking oil
- Fruits
- Sugar
- Instant baby food/juice
- Water
- Cleaning supplies (gloves, bleach, isopropyl alcohol (70%), detergent)
- Disinfectants (bleach, hand sanitiser, anti-bacterial soaps)
- Adult and baby diapers
- Protein nutritional shakes (such as Ensure, Boost of Glucerna)
- Tea and Coffee
Scotiabank Turks and Caicos (TCI) has been named Bank of the Year 2022
Scotiabank Turks and Caicos (TCI) has been named Bank of the Year 2022 by internationally recognized UK-based banking publication -The Banker.
The award celebrates the financial institution’s increased product innovation, digital transformation and the widespread recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and is contested by the leading financial institutions in the world.
The Bank of the Year 2022 award is the third major banking award that Scotiabank TCI has captured this year … Other awards received includes: Global Finance Magazine (New York) Best Bank 2022 that was awarded in July and Best Digital Bank 2022 by the same publication in September.
Across Scotiabank’s global operations, similar Bank of the Year 2022 accolades have also been secured in Canada, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.
The Banker is the world’s longest-running international banking magazine, providing economic and financial intelligence for the world’s financial sector.
The Banker selects one winning bank for each of the 120 countries judged and ranks them on their ability to deliver results, improve strategic positioning and enhance service to customers. Over 1,000 applications are collected each year and judges select winners based on which bank they believe has made the most progress over the past 12 months.
Brazil hoping to dance past Croatia into World Cup semis
Brazil head into Friday's World Cup quarter-final against Croatia brimming with confidence after Neymar's return inspired a performance laced with swagger and arrogance in the last 16.
Their eye-catching 4-1 victory against South Korea, which featured goals by Vinicius Junior, Richarlison and Lucas Paqueta as well as a Neymar penalty, sent out an ominous message to their rivals in Qatar.
The football, for 45 minutes at least, was free-flowing and full of joy, the players celebrating their goals by showing off their dance moves and even getting Tite, their 61-year-old coach, to join in.
So thrilling were the Selecao at Doha's Stadium 974 that their performance drew comparisons in some quarters with the very best and most entertaining Brazil sides, from the 1970 team of Pele to the 1982 vintage led by Socrates.
Yet it was just one game, and it came after the five-time champions scored just three goals in three group matches and also lost to Cameroon, their first defeat in the opening round at a World Cup since 1998.
Brazil will surely settle for a simple victory without the exhibition football when they take on 2018 runners-up Croatia at Education City Stadium, mindful of results at recent World Cups.
Since they won their fifth title in 2002, Brazil have gone out each time to European opponents, including a 7-1 humiliation at the hands of Germany on home soil in 2014 and a defeat by Belgium four years ago in Russia.
"We are dreaming of winning the title, that's obvious, but we have to go step by step," Neymar said after the victory over South Korea.
Source-
Argentinian Vice President Cristina Fernández was convicted and sentenced
Argentinian Vice President Cristina Fernández was convicted and sentenced on Tuesday to six years in prison and a lifetime ban from holding public office for a fraud scheme that embezzled $1 billion through public works projects during her presidency.
A three-judge panel found the leader guilty of fraud, but rejected a charge of running a criminal organization, for which the sentence could have been 12 years in prison. It’s the first time an Argentinian vice president has been convicted of a crime while in office.
The dominant leader this century, was accused of improperly granting public works contracts to a construction company closely tied to her family.
UK aims to double US gas imports under new deal
The UK has agreed to double imports of US gas over the next year as it tries to stabilise soaring energy prices.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the plan would "bring down prices for British consumers and help end Europe's dependence on Russian energy".
Russia has cut off the majority of its gas supplies to Europe over the past year after its invasion of Ukraine.
The UK does not import gas from Russia directly, but has been hit by rising wholesale prices on the Continent.
Under the agreement, the UK aims to double imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US to 9-10 billion cubic metres over the next year.
That is equivalent to about an eighth of the gas the UK uses every year.
The two countries will also boost collaboration over the development of new nuclear and green energy technologies.
The partnership will be steered by a new UK-US joint action group, led by senior officials from the British government and the White House, with the first meeting held virtually on Thursday.
Citing the war in Ukraine, Mr Sunak and Mr Biden said in a joint statement that it is "more important than ever" for allies to work together to build "resilient international systems".
"Our immediate shared goal to stabilise energy markets, reduce demand, and ensure short-term security of supply is underpinned by the longer-term objective of supporting a stable energy transition to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, which in itself will strengthen our energy security," they said.
Nathan Piper, an oil and gas analyst at Investec, said the deal would help to secure gas supplies across Europe, where Russian gas imports are down by more than 80% compared to last year.
The UK has limited gas storage capacity, so any excess gas is likely to be exported through interconnecting pipes to Holland and Belgium, he said.
However, he said the plan is unlikely to bring down wholesale prices significantly this winter as demand soars. He also said the deal was more or a statement of intent, adding "it's an ambition and not certain".
Overall, US exports of LNG have been restricted since a fire damaged the country's second largest LNG facility in June. The Freeport LNG facility in Texas is not expected to be fully operational again until March next year.
There are concerns that Europe's increasing reliance on LNG could hamper efforts to tackle global warming.
Sources-BBC
Germany arrests 25 accused of plotting coup
Twenty-five people have been arrested in raids across Germany on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government.
The group of far-right and ex-military figures are said to have prepared for a "Day X" to storm the Reichstag parliament building and seize power.
A minor aristocrat named as Prince Heinrich XIII, 71, is alleged to have been central to their plans.
According to federal prosecutors, he is one of two alleged ringleaders among those arrested across 11 German states.
The plotters are said to include members of the extremist Reichsbürger [Citizens of the Reich] movement, which has long been in the sights of German police over violent attacks and racist and antisemitic conspiracy theories. They also refuse to recognize the modern German state.
Other suspects came from the QAnon movement who believe their country is in the hands of a mythical "deep state" involving secret powers pulling the political strings.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser assured Germans that authorities would respond with the full force of the law "against the enemies of democracy".
Source-BBC
Raphael Warnock projected winnner in Georgia senate runoff
RTC's affiliate ABC News projects that Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock will win the Georgia Senate runoff, beating Republican Herschel Walker 50.4%-49.6% with 95% of the vote in.
The victory follows more than a year of campaigning, several controversies, and record-breaking turnout.
In November, Warnock had 49.4% of the vote and Walker had 48.5% of the vote.
With Warnock securing victory, he will serve a full term in Congress. This victory also gives Democrats a 51-50 majority in the Senate.
After declaring victory, Warnock thanked supporters Tuesday night for participating in *another* hard-fought campaign.
Walker, in his concession speech, told his supporters, "You never stop dreaming. I don't want any of you to stop dreaming. I don't want any of you to stop believing in America, I want you to believe in America and continue to believe in the Constitution and believe in our elected officials most of all."
Source-ABC
Tory Lanez charged with additional felony count in Megan Thee Stallion shooting
Tory Lanez has picked up another charge ahead of the Megan Thee Stallion assault trial. According to documents obtained by ABC News, the rapper, born Daystar Peterson, was hit with one felony count of discharging a firearm with gross negligence. He's pleaded not guilty to the charge.
As reported, Lanez was previously charged with one count each of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, to which he's also pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors say he "personally inflicted great bodily injury" upon Megan after an argument in an SUV, resulting in a foot injury for which she received medical treatment.
The trial starts Monday, December 22, with opening statements and testimony set to take place. Attorneys for Lanez say that Corey Gamble and Kylie Jenner, whose party he attended the night of the shooting, are on their list of possible witnesses. Lanez faces 22 years in prison if convicted.
Source-ABC
DECR advises locals & tourist during whale watching season
As the migrating Humpback whales begin to grace our shores once again, the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources would like to appeal to all whale watching enterprises to carefully consider best practices when enjoying and sharing encounters with these majestic animals.
Typically, the whales are migrating from the colder, nutrition-filled waters of the North Atlantic, to the warm waters of the West Indies. Along the way females will be accompanied by young, recently-calved juveniles, or may calve in warmer waters.
Males may be solitary or move in larger groups in search of an appropriate mate.
As such, we are to respect this age-old migratory passage and act as custodians and stewards, ensuring the animals do not incur stress through overcrowding, inappropriately close encounters, racing vessels or an overstayed welcome.