US official says ending Cuba embargo will take time
US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker wrapped up her visit to Cuba on Wednesday by saying both sides need to learn more about each other as they work to improve relations.
She also reiterated the President Barack Obama wants to see an end to the US trade embargo against the communist-ruled island, but cautioned that won’t happen quickly.
“The president wants to see the embargo lifted, but the president realizes it will take time,” she said, alluding to the fact that many Republican lawmakers and some Democrats oppose lifting the embargo at this stage.
Pritzker said that the delegation she led to Havana came to begin a dialogue about economic regulation so both sides “can learn from one another.”
She said Cuba’s dual currency system is a challenge for outside business interests and the island’s regulatory system isn’t adequate to attract large investment.
Earlier in the day, Pritzker urged the Cuban government to let private enterprise thrive and to give its citizens greater access to the Internet.
“We urge President Castro and his government to make it easier for Cuban citizens to trade and travel more freely, to enjoy the fruits of their labor, to access the Internet and to (be) hired directly by foreign companies,” she said.
Pritzker, who brought a delegation of officials from the US Treasury, Commerce and State departments, opened her visit Tuesday with a stop at the Mariel free trade zone outside the capital of Havana.
She is the most senior US official to travel to Cuba since Secretary of State John Kerry visited August 14 for a flag-raising ceremony outside the US diplomatic mission in Havana, which is now upgraded to a full embassy following restoration of relations in July.
Cuba’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the goal of the meetings with Pritzker’s group was an “exchange over the reach and limitations of the measures recently taken by the US government to modify some aspects of the application of the embargo against Cuba.”
Since the December 17 announcement that the former Cold War foes would work toward normalization of relations, the Obama administration has eased some economic restrictions on Cuba. While the trade embargo remains in place under US law, Obama is allowing US firms to send supplies to private Cuban businesses and export telephones, computers and Internet technology.
The US government has also eliminated the previous limit on remittances that people can send to relatives on the island, among other measures.
Source-AP
US Abandons Efforts to Train Syrian Rebels
The Obama administration is abandoning efforts to train Syrian rebel forces to fight Islamic State militants, and switching to a strategy of "equipping and enabling" a select group of "vetted" opposition leaders and units.
"We will monitor the progress these groups make and provide them with air support as they take the fight to ISIL," a Pentagon statement said. "This focus on equipping and enabling will allow us to reinforce the progress already made in countering ISIL in Syria."
The statement acknowledged "challenges" in the original $500 million program to train and arm moderate Syrian forces in Syria. The program has produced only a handful of rebels who joined the fight against IS.
“I wasn’t happy with the early efforts of the program," Carter said Friday. “So we have devised a number of different approaches."
Carter said the work the United States has done with Kurdish forces in northern Syria is one example of an effective approach.
"That's exactly the kind of example that we would like to pursue with other groups in other parts of Syria going forward,'' Carter said.
Source-VOA
TURKS AND CAICOS POST CABINET MEETING STATEMENT
His Excellency the Governor, Peter Beckingham, chaired the 25th meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday, 7 October 2015, at the Hon. Hilly Ewing Building on Providenciales.
All Ministers were present except the Hon. Premier.
At this meeting Cabinet:
• Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve the Protection of Historic Wrecks Regulations 2015, subject to agreed amendments being made, for forwarding to the House of Assembly;
• Approved a draft TCI Country Strategy Paper produced by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) following its Policy Reform Mission to TCI in August 2015 which will be considered at the next meeting of the CDB Board of Directors;
• Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve an amendment to Section 26 (1) (A) of the Hotel and Tourism (Taxation) Ordinance to expand the criteria for the designation of restaurants for tax purposes which will be covered under a new Order;
• Received a presentation by the Public Works Department (PWD) on damage caused by the effects of Hurricane Joaquin to the seawall and road on Front Street on Grand Turk and approved the release of contingency funds to carry out emergency works to repair and stabilise the damaged Front Street area of Grand Turk as well as to enable clean up works in other areas of TCI which were most badly affected as a result of the effects of the storm. Cabinet also noted that further damage assessments across TCI will be carried out by PWD;
· Approved the recommendations of the Department of Planning to establish designated zones on Providenciales for the construction of new developments up to 12 storeys on specified tourism-related coastal parcels on Grace Bay, the Bight and Turtle Cove starting from Emerald Point to Third Turtle, and instructed the Department of Planning to amend the TCI Development Manual accordingly. Ministers further instructed the Department of Planning to prepare zoning proposals for North West Point East on Providenciales to be considered at the next meeting of Cabinet;
• Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve the draft Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Bill (2015) for forwarding to the House of Assembly;
Other information will follow shortly by Ministers.
ADAM STEWART, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SANDALS RESORTS INTERNATIONAL, NAMED 'CARIBBEAN HOTELIER OF THE YEAR'
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) presented the "Caribbean Hotelier of the Year" award to Adam Stewart, Chief Executive Officer, Sandals Resorts International, during the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF), which took place Oct. 2 - 4, 2015 at El Conquistador Resort, A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Puerto Rico.
Stewart is the 35th recipient of this prestigious award, which is sponsored by MMGY Global, and is the highest professional honor bestowed in hotel and resort operations in the Caribbean. The award recognizes excellence in all areas of operations, as well as a commitment to the training and development of staff, contributions to the community and a demonstrated commitment to sound environmental practices. The award also acknowledges each recipient's active role in both national and regional issues affecting Caribbean tourism.
Stewart is at the helm of the world-leading resort company, Sandals Resorts International and The ATL Group in Jamaica. He is also President of the Sandals Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports the Caribbean community through investment in sustainable projects in education, community and environment to help improve people's lives and preserve the region's natural surroundings.
He was born in the same year that his father, Gordon 'Butch' Stewart - who received the Hotelier of the Year in 1992 - purchased his first hotel and launched the Sandals Resorts chain. Adam Stewart was raised in Jamaica and graduated from Florida International University's acclaimed Hospitality Management Program in Miami, FL, before undertaking a fast track immersion through the Caribbean empire which today comprises 20 resort properties across three brands and seven islands.
In the nine years of Adam Stewart's stewardship, Sandals has experienced a period of unprecedented growth, innovation and development transforming the all-inclusive concept to Luxury Included® resorts that offer guests levels of exclusivity never seen before.
With Stewart as the pioneer, the company has introduced "game-changing" developments such as the addition of the Italian and Key West Villages at the company's flagship Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa, the launch of Sandals Emerald Bay in the Bahamas, a 245-room resort with a 150-slip marina and Greg Norman golf course, and the company's first resorts in Grenada and Barbados, the hugely-anticipated Sandals LaSource Grenada and, most recently, Sandals Barbados.
Stewart continued the company's expansion by launching Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts value brand in Jamaica and Antigua, as well as the introduction of boutique villa properties such as the 52-acre private island, Fowl Cay Resort, in the Bahamas. It is this pioneering spirit which has brought him numerous accolades including being named the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association's Hotelier of the Year for 2014, World Travel Award's Rising Star, recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Torch Award from FIU, Caribbean World's Travel and Tourism Personality of the Year and The Gleaner's Jamaica 50 Under 50 Award.
Though one of the most prominent young businesspeople in the world, Stewart remains a proud Jamaican and citizen of the Caribbean, dedicating much of his time to elevate the region he calls home.
In 2009, Stewart founded the Sandals Foundation with the aim of uniting the region under one common goal: to lift its people through education and protect its delicate ecosystem. The Sandals Foundation harnesses the resources, talents, partnerships and awareness behind the Sandals Resorts brand to tackle a myriad of issues affecting the Caribbean. Stewart also founded and sits as Chairman of the We Care Foundation, a local non-profit organization that brings together Montego Bay-based individuals to raise funds and improve the facilities of the nearby Cornwall Regional Hospital.
Underlining his reputation as a staunch advocate of education, Stewart established an internationally-accredited private sector educational institute, Sandals Corporate University. The Sandals Corporate University launched in early 2012 and pushes the boundaries of distance learning in the Caribbean with thousands of team members ready to benefit within the first year alone and the resorts themselves reaching new levels of excellence. Within the local community, Stewart plays a role as ambassador to the University of the West Indies, helping to promote further education in the region.
The Martian Arrives in First Place at Weekend Box Office
The Martian has landed in first place at the box office.
The sci-fi drama, starring Matt Damon as a stranded astronaut on Mars, opened in the top spot by earning an estimated 55 million dollars over the weekend.
The previous box office champ, the animated film Hotel Transylvania 2, slipped to second place, collecting 33 million dollars.
Sicario rounded out the top three, with 12.1 million. The drug-war drama, starring Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin, was in its first weekend in wide release.
Here are the top 10 movies from Friday through Sunday, with estimated ticket sales, according to Rentrak:
1. The Martian, $55 million.
2. Hotel Transylvania 2, $33 million.
3. Sicario, $12.1 million.
4. The Intern, $11.6 million.
5. Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, $7.7 million.
6. Black Mass, $5.9 million.
7. Everest, $5.5 million.
8. The Visit, $3.9 million.
9. War Room, $2.8 million.
10. The Perfect Guy, $2.4 million.
Source-ABC
Germany faces 1.5 million asylum claims this year
The number of people seeking asylum in Germany this year will be as high as 1.5 million - almost double the previous estimate, German media report.
The German government has not confirmed the new estimate, which comes from an internal official report cited by popular daily Bild.
The report warns that services helping refugees will not be able to cope.
Separately, a centre-right regional minister put the expected total at 1.2-1.5 million for this year.
The German government previously estimated the number of asylum claims this year to reach 800,000 to one million in total.
Many are refugees fleeing the wars in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, but there are also many economic migrants from the Balkans, Asia and Africa.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres has warned that Europe, in dealing with the migration crisis, is engaged in a "battle of compassion versus fear, and of tolerance versus xenophobia".
Speaking in Geneva, he said the world was facing the highest levels of forced displacement in recorded history and the principle of asylum must remain sacrosanct.
He urged Europe to defend "its founding values of tolerance and openness by welcoming refugees of all religions".
The leaders of Hungary and Slovakia have said the influx of Muslims is a challenge to Europe's "Christian" identity.
Source-BBC
Lloyd praises Simmons but knocks comments
Chairman of selectors Clive Lloyd has praised suspended West Indies head coach Phil Simmons for his role in helping to build the regional side, but says his controversial comments were ill-advised.
The legendary former captain said that differences of opinion on the selection panel should be dealt with through dialogue.
"It must be noted that in the short time that Phil has been involved as head coach, he has done a good job in building team unity and morale, and the players have warmed to his coaching methods," Lloyd said.
"Phil has apologised to all for his recent public statements and how strongly he would have felt on certain selection matters of the team."
He continued: "We agreed -- at times -- that we will have a difference of opinion, but we cannot condone such outbursts.
"Therefore, we will always seek discussion and dialogue at every stage of the selection process and work towards the best interest of West Indies cricket."
Last Friday, Simmons courted controversy when he claimed that "interference from outside" was behind the continued non-selection of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard on the one-day team.
Simmons told media in Barbados that he and Lloyd were in favour of the Trinidadian duo being selected but had been out-voted by fellow selectors Courtney Walsh, Eldine Baptiste and Courtney Browne.
However, the 52-year-old Trinidadian contended that it was "disappointing for me to know that in any aspect of life ... [people would use] their position to get people into a squad or in this case, get people left out of a squad".
Simmons has been suspended over the comments and will face a WICB disciplinary panel shortly.
Source-CMC
VW takes 4,000 cars off the UK market
Volkswagen is suspending the sale of 4,000 vehicles in the UK in the wake of the emissions scandal.
The company said the vehicles may be equipped with the device that cheated emissions tests in the US.
The move will involve vehicles across the VW group including the VW, Audi, Skoda and Seat brands.
VW said it was a temporary measure and that it intended to return the vehicles for sale once a fix is identified for the cars.
Despite the scandal that began almost two weeks ago, VW customers could still buy vehicles that had the rogue software.
The cars taken off the market represent 3% of VW's stock in the UK.
The company will continue to sell new vehicles, with the latest, cleanest engine technology.
From last month all new diesel cars sold in Europe must be fitted with the latest Euro 6 engines, designed to significantly reduce the levels of pollutants emitted.
EU rules also allow manufacturers such as VW to continue to sell cars with the older, more polluting, Euro 5 engines to clear stock. These models will continue to be on the market well into next year.
Source-BBC
Hackers steal T-Mobile data on 15 million US customers
Hackers have stolen personal information on about 15 million T-Mobile US customers and applicants.
The breach was at a unit of the credit agency Experian, which T-Mobile uses to process information on subscribers.
Names, birth dates and social security numbers are among data stolen, but not financial details, the firms said.
Chief executive John Legere said his company would review its link with Experian. "Obviously I am incredibly angry about this data breach," he said.
Subscribers who were credit-checked between 1 September 2013 and 16 September 2015 are most at risk.
In a statement, Mr Legere said: "I take our customer and prospective customer privacy very seriously. This is no small issue for us.
"I do want to assure our customers that neither T-Mobile's systems nor network were part of this intrusion and this did not involve any payment card numbers or bank account information.
"Experian has assured us that they have taken aggressive steps to improve the protection of their system and of our data."
Experian North America chief executive Craig Boundy said in his own statement, "We sincerely apologise for the concern and stress that this event may cause."
It was unclear when the breach was discovered, but Experian said the matter was reported to the authorities immediately it learned of the hack.
The company said in a statement: "We continue to investigate the theft, closely monitor our systems, and work with domestic and international law enforcement. Investigation of the incident is ongoing.
"Experian is notifying the individuals who may have been affected and is offering free credit monitoring and identity resolution services for two years. In addition, government agencies are being notified as required by law."
The firm said there "is no evidence that the data has been used inappropriately".
There have been a string of high-profile hacks of businesses and other organisations in recent years affecting millions of people, including adultery website Ashley Madison, Sony Pictures, and retailers such as Home Depot, Target, and eBay.
T-Mobile is now the third biggest mobile firm in the US, having surpassed Sprint this year.
Source-BBC
At least 11 dead in Afghanistan Hercules crash
At least 11 people have died after a US Hercules aircraft crashed at an airport in Afghanistan, the US military says.
The C-130 plane crashed at around midnight local time (19:30 GMT Thursday) in Jalalabad airport.
US Army Colonel Brian Tribus told AFP that six of those killed worked for the US military, while the others were civilian contractors.
The C-130 is a military aircraft primarily used to carry troops and heavy cargo.
Close to 10,000 US troops are still stationed in Afghanistan after plans for a gradual withdrawal were changed earlier this year.
President Obama has promised to leave only a small force in Afghanistan, based in the US embassy, by the end of 2016.
Some 1,000 foreign troops are based in eastern Afghanistan, where the crash occurred, according to Nato. They are working alongside 40,000 Afghan troops.
In July, a Hercules plane owned by Indonesia's military crashed in a residential part of Medan, in northern Indonesia.
More than 140 people were killed, and it later emerged a number of civilians were being transported in the plane.
Source-BBC