US to Raise Quotas for Refugees in FY 2016
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States will resettle at least 85,000 refugees in fiscal 2016, which begins October 1, including a minimum of 10,000 Syrians. Kerry also warned Russia its military presence in Syria risks attracting more extremists and hinders the potential for a resolution to the nearly five-year conflict.
Speaking Sunday in Berlin, Kerry said the United States will significantly increase the numbers for refugee resettlement in the course of the next year, and the following year. Kerry said the number will go up from about 70,000 in the year ending September 30 to at least 85,000 in fiscal 2016, including a minimum of 10,000 from Syria, and to 100,000 in 2017, with the possibility of doing even more.
"One of the reasons it’s difficult is that, post-9/11, we have new laws and new requirements with respect to security background checks and vetting, so it takes longer than one would like and we cannot cut corners with respect to those security requirements. But, this step that I am announcing today, I believe, is in keeping with the best tradition of America as a land of second chances and a beacon of hope, and it will be accompanied by additional financial contributions to the humanitarian effort not only from our government, but from the American people. And, that will become more specific in the next days," said Kerry.
Last week more than 20 former senior U.S. officials, including some who served in the Obama Administration, urged the White House to accept 100,000 Syrian refugees in fiscal 2016, citing past U.S. efforts that allowed tens of thousands of Cubans and Vietnamese into the country. Kerry said the administration does not have the money allocated by Congress to hire the people necessary to do the job of expediting and expanding the process.
"Now, this will be a debate, obviously, a discussion in Congress in the next days. We’re doing what we know we can manage immediately, what we feel we can do by working within the system we have and within the challenges that we have budget-wise. But, as soon as we have an opportunity to try to up that, we’re welcome because America has always welcomed bringing more people in, in these kinds of circumstances. And, we want to live up to that. But it’s a very different place, different time, different set of challenges than what we faced bringing boat people in from Vietnam," he said.
Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton Sunday said on U.S. television the United States should allow 65,000 Syrians in, in fiscal 2016, calling the announced 10,000 a good start.
"Looking to really emphasize those who are the most vulnerable, a lot of the persecuted religious minorities, including Christians and some who have been brutalized, like the Yazidi women. But I also want the United States to lead the world, and I’ve recommended that at the upcoming U.N. General Assembly that there be an international meeting called by the Secretary-General and literally get people to commit to putting money in, helping the front-line states like Jordan and Turkey and Lebanon who have absorbed a lot of refugees working with the E.U. and the European countries, but getting everybody to make a contribution," said Clinton.
But, two influential Republican lawmakers, Senator Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Congressman Bob Goodlatte, House Judiciary Committee chairman, issued a statement Sunday warning that terrorist groups, like the Islamic State, “have made it abundantly clear that they will use the refugee crisis to try to enter the United States.”
“Now,” they say, “the Obama Administration wants to bring in an additional 10,000 Syrians without a concrete and foolproof plan to ensure that terrorists won’t be able to enter the country. The administration has essentially given the American people a ‘trust me.’ That isn’t good enough.”
In his Berlin remarks, Kerry said he and his German counterpart, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, were also determined to attack the root causes of the Syrian refugee crisis, and repeated that there is no military solution to the conflict. He said they agreed continued military support for the Syrian regime by Russia or any other country risks the possibility of attracting more extremists and entrenching President Bashar al-Assad, which would hinder the potential for a resolution to the nearly five-year conflict.
Source-VOA
UK AMBASSADOR FROM HAITI CHARGE D’AFFAIRES TO VISIT TCI
The British Ambassador to The Dominican Republic and Haiti, Mr Steven Fisher, and the UK's Charge D'Affaires in Port Au Prince, Mr Rick Shearn, visited Turks and Caicos Islands from 14-16 September. The purpose of their visit was to see the links between the DR, Haiti and TCI, and to consider ways to enhance relations. In addition to the Governor, Premier and Minister of Border Control, they met and visited representatives from the Haitian community and Haitian Consulate, the radar detection station, and the Department of Border Control.
The Governor said after the visit: "I'm pleased that the senior members of our team in Santo Domingo and Port au Prince have now seen for themselves the importance of the relationships between our three countries. A priority was to understand the difficulties created by irregular migration, and our Charge D'Affaires will be underlining again to the Haitian Government the need to do everything possible to prevent it. The Premier and I agreed that we should look to build upon recent discussions with Haiti on health exchanges by exploring other areas for cooperation which could benefit both countries."
The visitors also discussed with the Governor, Premier and Minister of Border Control a range of issues involving the DR, including illegal fishing and people trafficking. The British Ambassador, Steven Fisher, also updated the Minister of Border Control on the dispute over the TCI-DR maritime border. He said that the British Government continues to use diplomatic channels to reject the DR's position, and to request an explanation for it. The Ambassador agreed to raise some of these issues at official level with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the DR.
Commenting on his visit the Ambassador said: "There are understandable concerns in Turks and Caicos, which I heard very clearly, about illegal fishing, the maritime border dispute, and the exploitation of women. These are issues which it is appropriate to discuss with the Ministry, and I will commence a dialogue at official level – which subsequently the Governor and TCIG might take forward - which will underline some of the concerns I heard in Turks and Caicos. I hope too that, as a result of the visit, our Embassy might bear in mind tourism, agricultural and business investment from DR or Haiti to Turks and Caicos. It is evidently a country which has big opportunities for high end tourism."
TURKS AND CAICOS AUTHORITIES INTERCEPT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION ATTEMPT
A sloop carrying 44 would be illegal migrants (41 Males, 1 Minor and 2 Females) was intercepted by the marine division, Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) at 2:55pm, Sunday, 20th September 2015.
At 10:15am the Marine Police were alerted by immigration staff at the government's coastal radar station of a suspicious vessel being tracked, they deployed shortly after.
All Marine Branch assets and officers have since returned Safely to the Marine Base.
All 44 individuals have been processed by health and immigration officials and will be repatriated at the earliest opportunity. All appear to be of Haitian origin.
The Police can be contacted anonymously on 911 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1-800-8477. Tips can also be submitted anonymously in English, French or Spanish on either www.crimestoppers.tc or on Facebook as a fan of Crime Stoppers Turks & Caicos. Crime Stoppers tips are received in the USA.
CARICOM expresses sympathy to earthquake-hit Chile
CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has sent a message of condolence to the President of Chile, Her Excellency Michelle Bachelet for the loss of life and destruction of property from the earthquake which hit the country on 16 September.
The Secretary-General said the Caribbean Community is thankful that due in large measure to the level of preparedness, casualties were limited in number despite the strength of the earthquake.
The 8.3 magnitude quake left at least 11 people dead and forced more than a million people living along the coastline to evacuate their homes after the quake triggered a tsunami.
Chileans are a resolute and determined people who will rise and overcome this challenge and rebuild their lives, and the areas devastated by this natural disaster, the Secretary-General said.
"The Caribbean Community stands in support of the people of Chile at this time," he added.
PUBLIC FORECAST FOR TCI & THE BAHAMAS
GENERAL SITUATION: A SURFACE TROUGH IN THE VICINITY OF THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS CONTINUES TO ENHANCE SHOWER ACTIVITY OVER THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS, WHIILE RIDGING REMAINS OVER THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
TCI, NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS:
WEATHER: PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY AND HOT WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON, FAIR AND WARM TONIGHT WITH THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT SHOULD BE ALERT FOR GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS IN OR NEAR HEAVY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS
WINDS: NORTH TO NORTHEAST AT 10 KNOTS OR LESS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS AND EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 KNOTS OR LESS IN THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS
SEAS:3 FEET OR LESS OVER THE OCEAN
SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS:
WEATHER: SUNNY AND HOT WITH THE CHANCE OF AN ISOLATED SHOWER OR THUNDERSTORM THIS AFTERNOON, FAIR AND WARM TONIGHT
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT SHOULD BE ALERT FOR GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS IN OR NEAR HEAVY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET OVER THE OCEAN
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE: 92°F 33°C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE: 77°F 25°C
SUNSET: 07:08 PM MOONRISE: 01:57 PM HIGH TIDE: 02:12 PM
SUNRISE : 06:58 AM TUE MOONSET: 01:10 AM TUE LOW TIDE: 08:43 PM
HIGH TIDE: 02:36 AM TUE
EXTENDED FORECAST: SURFACE TROUGH WILL REMAIN OVER THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO GENERATE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK: SEE NEWS ITEM ON TROPICAL STORM IDA
PUBLIC FORECAST SEPT 21ST 2015
GENERAL SITUATION: TROUGHING ACROSS THE NORTHERN BAHAMAS WILL GENERATE SOME SHOWERS ANDTHUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS ATODAY WHILE WEAK HIGH PRESSURE DOMINATES THE SOUTHERN ISLANDS
FOR THE TCI, NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY WITH THE CHANCE OF A FEW SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. TURNING FAIR TONIGHT
ADVISORY: GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS CAN BE EXPECTED IN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
WINDS: NORTH TO NORTHEAST AT 10 KNOTS OR LESS
SEAS RUNNING: 3 FEET OR LESS OVER THE OCEAN
FOR THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
WEATHER: SUNNY AND HOT WITH THE CHANCE OF A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS TODAY. TURNING FAIR TONIGHT
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 KNOTS OR LESS
SEAS RUNNING: 3 FEET OR LESS OVER THE OCEAN
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE IN NASSAU 92F 33C
OVERNITE LOW TEMPERATURE IN NASSAU 79F 26C
SUNRISE AT 6.58 AM AND SUNSET AT 7.08 PM
MOONSET AT 12.17 AM AND MOONRISE AT 1.57 PM
LOW TIDE AT 7.45 AM AND HIGH TIDE AT 2.12 PM AND LOW AGAIN AT 8.43 PM AND HIGH AGAIN AT 2.36 AM TUESDAY
EXTENDED FORECAST: TROUGHING WILL REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY ACROSS THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS WHILE SUPPORTING SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE AREA.MEANWHILE WEAK HIGH PRESSURE WILL COVER THE SOUTHERN ISLANDS
FORECAST FOR TUESDAY
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY AND HOT WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE. MAINLY FAIR AT NIGHT
WINDS: NORTHEAST TO EAST AT 10 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS AND EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
SEAS RUNNING: 3 FEET OR LESS OVER THE OCEAN
FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY AND HOT WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE. MAINLY FAIR AT NIGHT
WINDS: NORTHEAST TO EAST AT 10 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS AND EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
SEAS RUNNING: 3 FEET OR LESS OVER THE OCEAN
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK:" SEE NEWS ITEM ON TROPICAL STORM IDA. ELSEWHERE THE TROPICS REMAIN QUIET AND TROPICAL STORM FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 5 DAYS
NOON NEWS ITEM ON TROPICAL STORM IDA
NEWS ITEM ON TROPICAL STORM IDA ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY FORECAST OFFICE SECTION, AT 12PM MONDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER 2015
... ...IDA EXPECTED TO SLOW DOWN LATER TODAY...
AT 11AM EDT, THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM IDA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 20.6°NORTH AND LONGITUDE 48.0° WEST OR ABOUT 995 MILES EAST-NORTHEAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS.
IDA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 7 MPH. A NORTH-NORTHWEST MOTION WITH A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED TODAY. A SLOW MEANDERING MOTION IS FORECAST TO OCCUR ON TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 50 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS, THEN LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS EXPECTED ON TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT.
67th Emmy Winners
At Sunday night's 67th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, history was made, with HBO's Game of Thrones setting a record for most wins ever for a series in a single year and How to Get Away with Murder star Viola Davis, becoming the first African-American actress to win the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama trophy.
Backstage, Davis told the assembled press about why it took so long for an African American woman to win a best actress Emmy. "When you go to acting school...you just think the sky is the limit in terms of how you can portray a human being. And it's only when you get out there in your profession that people say...'You're not cute enough to be a leading lady...You can only be what we define as black.' I don't know what that means." She explained that her character Analise Keating, "was not written as a black woman. I made her black, because I am black," and she implored writers and other creatives to think outside the box racially.
Her victory came as another African American actress Regina King -- winner for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Movie, Miniseries or Limited Series for her work in American Crime -- took to the podium backstage. "I wanna curse right now!" she said jubilantly. "What I really wanna say another word for 'Heck yeah!' Man, that's pretty awesome. Her performance...it felt like I was watching an actor's clinic. Just truly, truly special and moving."
After years of nominations and no wins, Jon Hamm finally took home the Emmy for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for playing Don Draper on Mad Men. He got a standing ovation, something he admitted backstage that he didn't realize until he'd comically squirmed up to the stage on his belly. "It was a very odd experience...I turned around and realized that people were clapping for me and I was mortified." Winning in his final year of eligibility for the role, was "It's been so nice, honestly all of it, over the many, many years we've been here, and this is sort of the culmination of that wonderful feeling."
Equally blown away was Amy Schumer, who saw her Inside Amy Schumer win for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series. "When I won, I thought, 'I just can't wait to hug my sister," she said of her sibling co-writer. "Which is exactly the first thing I did."
"I was sitting in a separate spot from the writers because I'm really famous," Schumer deadpanned, "so it was so exciting to see them on stage, and just be like, 'Oh my God, we're all such a bunch of dirtbags, it's really fun that we're here, and just being so proud of everybody."
Also backstage, Julia Louis-Dreyfus brought fellow Emmy winner Allison Janney along for support, with the Seinfeld alumna-turned Veep president admitting accepting the award was, "surprisingly nerve-wracking...I will admit it's not my favorite moment. I prefer playing a part as opposed to that thing."
Arguably the event's most emotional moment, however, came from Tracy Morgan. The SNL alum teared up in discussing his comeback from the June, 2014 accident that left him with a traumatic brain injury, and killed his friend James "Jimmy Mack" McNair.
When asked about if the thought of giving up ever crossed Morgan's mind, he exclaimed, "My wife wouldn't let me do that. My son wouldn't let me do that. I look in my little daughter's face, and they wouldn't let me do that...His voice raising, he said, "I don't give up. My father was drafted into Vietnam at 17 and I never seen him give up. So I wanted to be like my father! Even when he had AIDS, he never gave up! So we don't do that as Morgans!"
Here are the winners in the major categories at the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards, held at the Microsoft Theater L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles on Sunday night:
Drama Series
Game of Thrones
Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder
Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Comedy Series
Veep
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Tony Hale, Veep
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Allison Janney, Mom
Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie
Richard Jenkins, Olive Kitteridge
Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie
Frances McDormand, Olive Kitteridge
Limited Series
Olive Kitteridge
Reality-Competition Program
The Voice
Variety Talk Series
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Variety Sketch Series
Inside Amy Schumer
Source-ABC
POACHER VESSEL APPREHENDED NEAR SEAL CAY
A poacher vessel, with two poachers on board, was apprehended on Sunday, 13 September, after Enforcement Officers from the Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs (DEMA) and the Marine Police noted suspicious activities in TCI waters.
The men, Dominican Republic Nationals, were apprehended two miles off of Seal Cay, at around 10 am on Sunday morning. They were found to be in possession of an illegal speargun, breathing apparatus, as well as just 35 lbs of illegal catch, including Parrot Fish, and Lobster.
"The weather conditions were against us for an operation of this kind, but we are very grateful for the effort of both the Police and DEMA Officers that were involved. Although there were more poachers that we could not apprehend safely, the Officers were very professional in the way they handled the situation. This type of illegal fishing is the biggest threat to TCI fisheries and we need to continue sending a strong message to foreign poachers." Said DEMA Director, Dr John Claydon.
The Poachers will face charges for the following contraventions to the Fisheries Protection Ordinance:
• Taking marine product without a license;
• Taking marine product using breathing apparatus;
• Possession of a speargun;
• Taking marine product by use of a speargun;
• Use of an unlicensed vessel;
• Possession of egg-bearing lobster; and
• Possession of parrot fish.
The individuals will remain in custody until they are processed by the Court on Wednesday. DEMA would like to encourage the public to report any suspicious fishing activity observed in our waters and would like to remind all that if one is found to be in contravention of any of the regulations of the Fisheries Protection Ordinance, that one could face up to a $50,000 fine, 12 months' imprisonment, or both.
Small firms split over European Union referendum vote
Small UK firms are split over whether to stay in the European Union or not, according to a survey of thousands of businesses.
A Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) report found that 47% of members would vote "yes" and stay in, and around 41% would vote to leave.
There were geographical differences - about 60% in Scotland would vote "yes".
But a clear majority of firms felt they did not have access to unbiased information.
A slim majority of firms - 50.5% of FSB members - said the UK's existing EU membership was good for the economy as a whole.
However, only 34.9% thought it was good for their individual businesses.
Business owner Herbert Eppel, who runs a technical translation business, was firmly in favour of the UK staying in the EU.
"Leaving would have a significant impact [on businesses]," he told the BBC. "It would lead to additional bureaucracy, time, cost, effort and hassle. Everything is working pretty smoothly at the moment."
He added that withdrawal would affect firms that directly import and export goods to the EU, and also peripheral UK businesses that rely on those firms.
But Kelly Morris of Balgonie Castle Enterprises, an events firm, said business would be easier if the UK voted to leave.
"We see the hindrance of EU regulations... the red tape and bureaucracy," she said. "Now they're talking about having to have low-powered vacuum cleaners. That's ridiculous."
She added that the UK does not seem to get "value for money" from its contribution to the EU budget.
Less than half of firms said they felt they had a full grasp about the possible effects on business and the UK economy of a Brexit, and said there was "a need for clear unbiased information" from the media.
There were fairly large geographical variations in opinion on which would be the best way to vote. Almost 60% of firms in Scotland would vote "yes", and firms in Wales and Northern Ireland were also more likely to agree that there is a benefit from EU membership than those in England.
Source-BBC