Marvel and the Avengers Congratulate 'Jurassic World' for Being New Box Office King
"Jurassic World" breaks the all-time best opening weekend record after grossing $208.8 million at the U.S. box office, surpassing Joss Whedon's "The Avengers" which grossed $207.4 million. On Tuesday, June 16, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige took to Twitter to congratulate the dinosaur flick.
Feige posted an artwork on Twitter with a congratulatory message while mentioning Stephen Spielberg, Legendary and Universal studios, producer Frank Marshall, and his "Guardians of the Galaxy" star Chris Pratt. "Marvel Studios congratulate Jurassic World on being the new opening weekend king!" reads a tagline in the artwork.
The artwork shows the leading character, Owen (Pratt), riding a roaring T-Rex while holding a gun. Meanwhile, the Avengers including Thor, Iron Man, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Captain America and the Hulk look up to the dinosaur which is seen holding Thor's mighty hammer, Mjolnir.
The artwork was created by Andy Park, the world famous artist from Marvel Studios' visual development team who has been in charge to create the awesome look of the Marvel films. This is not the first time filmmakers have congratulated other films by making an artwork. In 1977, Spielberg congratulated "Star Wars" after it overtook "Jaws" box office record. George Lucas returned the favor when "E.T." overtook "Star Wars" in domestic video rentals. And in 1998, when "Titanic" beat "Star Wars" for the highest grossing movie of all time, Lucas also gave a congratulatory artwork for James Cameron.
Meek Mill and Ne-Yo Lined Up to Perform at BET Awards
Meek Mill and Ne-Yo are the latest additions to the line-up of performers for the 2015 BET Awards. Joining Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown and Kendrick Lamar, the two are set to hit the stage at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles later this month.
It's still unclear which song Mill will perform at the annual awards event, which this year will air live on Sunday, June 28 at 08:00 P.M. As for Ne-Yo, he's expected to treat the crowd to a track off his latest album "Non-Fiction".
Brown is leading the nominees of this year's BET Awards with six. He ties with Minaj who also scores six nods in various categories. Trailing behind them are Beyonce Knowles and Lil Wayne who score four each.
The upcoming event is hosted by Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross. "Orange Is the New Black" actress Laverne Cox is the latest to be added to the list of presenters, joining Michael B. Jordan and Zendaya Coleman.
Source- AceShowbiz
World Bank proposes new directions to boost trade in the region
A new World Bank report says there is considerable potential for boosting trade and accelerating growth in the region.
The report, ‘Trade matters: New opportunities for the Caribbean’ which was released yesterday at the Third Regional Caribbean Growth Forum, highlights that trade plays an important role in job creation.
“Continued efforts to improve trade facilitation and step up investments in research and innovation, as well as quality education, will help improve skills and generate well-paid jobs in the Caribbean,” said Jorge Familiar, the World Bank vice president for Latin America and the Caribbean.
The report also highlights that the region’s trade performance is limited by lack of diversity and limited innovation. The number of patent applications in the Caribbean has been lower than in other region of the world.
Looking at emerging trade opportunities, the report shows that Caribbean Community (CARICOM) agreements have driven a rapid increase in intra-regional trade and that a common market would lead to a substantial rise in exports in the region.
The Caribbean share in global trade fell from three per cent in the 1970s to nearly a quarter per cent in 2012.
With the exception of the Bahamas, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Belize and Haiti, exports from Caribbean countries to growing emerging markets remain small.
The report suggests three main opportunities to boost trade and generate a positive cycle of shared prosperity in the region:
It said deepening trade integration with North America would boost trade and accelerate growth in the region.
“The gains for the Caribbean of entry to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) would be six times the size of the gains for implementing a Caribbean common market. The negotiations toward a Canada-CARICOM free trade agreement launched in 2007 should also be pursued,” it said.
Additionally, the World Bank noted, improving the trade facilitation environment through modernized custom systems and better connectivity would have a major impact on trade. It said efforts across the region to modernize customs administrations and border management should be accelerated.
It noted that with the expansion of the Panama Canal and the expected increase in transshipment, recent initiatives to modernize ports infrastructures and regulation are being carried out in Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Bahamas and Haiti.
Improving the business environment and investment climate would be essential to enhance productivity and competitiveness, the report further noted.
“While Caribbean economies recently adopted a record number of reforms improving the local business regulatory climate, exporting firms remain affected by the limited access to electricity, telecommunication and transport services, and the need for policies to further promote technology capability and innovation. More efforts are needed to improve skills and access to infrastructure and finance,” the World Bank said.
Some of the proposed policy recommendations are being discussed at the Caribbean Growth Forum in view of identifying new strategies and tools to stimulate competitiveness, productivity and entrepreneurship.
Source- Caribbean360
Millions without essential health services in the C’bean – WHO
A new report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Bank shows that millions of people in the Caribbean and the Americas do not have access to essential health services.
The report says six per cent of 400 million people, who do not have access to these services, are “tipped into or pushed further into extreme poverty because of health spending.”
“This report is a wakeup call: It shows that we’re a long way from achieving universal health coverage. We must expand access to health and protect the poorest from health expenses that are causing them severe financial hardship,” said Dr Tim Evans, Senior Director of Health, Nutrition and Population at the World Bank Group.
The report, “Tracking Universal Health Coverage,” is the first of its kind to measure health service coverage and financial protection to assess countries’ progress towards universal health coverage, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
The report looks at global access to essential health services – including family planning, antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, child immunization, antiretroviral therapy, tuberculosis treatment, and access to clean water and sanitation – in 2013, and found that at least 400 million people lacked access to at least one of these services.
“The world’s most disadvantaged people are missing out on even the most basic services,” said Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, Assistant Director-General, Health Systems and Innovation, at the WHO.
“A commitment to equity is at the heart of universal health coverage,” she added. “Health policies and programmes should focus on providing quality health services for the poorest people, women and children, people living in rural areas and those from minority groups.”
The report also finds that, across 37 countries, six per cent of the population was tipped or pushed further into extreme poverty (US$1.25/day) because they had to pay for health services out of their own pockets.
When the study factors in a poverty measure of US$2/day, 17 per cent of people in these countries were impoverished, or further impoverished, by health expenses, according to PAHO.
WHO and the World Bank Group recommend that countries pursuing universal health coverage should aim to achieve a minimum of 80 per cent population coverage of essential health services, and that everyone everywhere should be protected from catastrophic and impoverishing health payments.
This is the first in a series of annual reports that WHO and the World Bank Group will produce on tracking progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) across countries.
The New York-based Rockefeller Foundation and the Japanese Ministry of Health supported the report, which was released six months before the second annual Universal Health Coverage Day on December 12.
Source-CMC
Root & Morgan lead record run chase for England
England smashed the record for their highest ever one-day run chase to beat New Zealand by seven wickets at Trent Bridge and level the series at 2-2.
By reaching their target of 350 in only 44 overs, England beat their previous best of 306-5 against Pakistan in 2000.
Eoin Morgan and Joe Root both made centuries and shared a stand of 198, while Alex Hales crashed a 37-ball 68.
New Zealand posted 349-7 thanks to Kane Williamson's 90 and Mitchell Santner taking 28 from an Adil Rashid over.
In conceding four sixes and a four, Rashid sent down the second most expensive over ever by an England bowler in ODI cricket, behind Steven Finn's 29 against the same opponents at the World Cup earlier this year.
That, another high-class Williamson knock and yet more dropped catches, had the potential to send Morgan's men to the defeat that would have sealed a New Zealand victory in a thrilling five-match series.
But a further show of batting positivity in front of a raucous Trent Bridge crowd led England to the joint fourth highest chase of all time and a decider at Chester-le-Street on Saturday.
Although Morgan (113) and Root (106 not out) did the bulk of the work, their task was made easier by Hales' explosive start.
As New Zealand bowled too short on a flat pitch, Hales, on his home ground, repeatedly blazed through the leg side, clearing the boundary on four occasions.
He was supported by Jason Roy, who made 38 in an opening stand of 100 that was ended when Hales was bowled heaving at Matt Henry.
The same bowler had a blistering Roy drive held by Williamson at short cover 11 runs later, but England had no thoughts of consolidation, with Root and Morgan continuing a free-scoring charge with remarkable control.
Captain Morgan played the aggressor, dancing to play a glittering array of straight drives and huge lofts down the ground.
Striking the ball cleanly, the left-hander hit five sixes in the arc between long-off and deep mid-wicket, the last of which brought up his eighth ODI hundred from 73 balls.
Root, dropped at slip by Ross Taylor off Mitchell McClenaghan on nine, was busy in support, also driving straight and nudging on the leg side.
Their partnership, England's highest in an ODI against New Zealand, ended when Morgan hooked Tim Southee to long leg.
Root remained, went to a 94-ball hundred when a diving Santner failed to hold a top edge and, in the next over, pulled the boundary that completed victory.
That seemed unlikely when Santner launched his assault on Rashid, undoing England's good work in halting New Zealand's progress.
As England bowled too full early on the visitors' openers, Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill, shared 88, with Williamson and Ross Taylor then adding 101 for the third wicket.
But when Taylor was pinned lbw by Finn at the start of the batting powerplay, England began to fight back.
The impressive pair of Finn and Mark Wood registered 1-51 and 1-49 respectively but had bowled all their allocation well before the end of the New Zealand innings, leaving Rashid exposed.
In a show of character, he recovered to go for only four runs and a leg bye in the 50th over and, from then on, it was all England.
Source-BBC
Root & Morgan lead record run chase for England
England smashed the record for their highest ever one-day run chase to beat New Zealand by seven wickets at Trent Bridge and level the series at 2-2.
By reaching their target of 350 in only 44 overs, England beat their previous best of 306-5 against Pakistan in 2000.
Eoin Morgan and Joe Root both made centuries and shared a stand of 198, while Alex Hales crashed a 37-ball 68.
New Zealand posted 349-7 thanks to Kane Williamson's 90 and Mitchell Santner taking 28 from an Adil Rashid over.
In conceding four sixes and a four, Rashid sent down the second most expensive over ever by an England bowler in ODI cricket, behind Steven Finn's 29 against the same opponents at the World Cup earlier this year.
That, another high-class Williamson knock and yet more dropped catches, had the potential to send Morgan's men to the defeat that would have sealed a New Zealand victory in a thrilling five-match series.
But a further show of batting positivity in front of a raucous Trent Bridge crowd led England to the joint fourth highest chase of all time and a decider at Chester-le-Street on Saturday.
Although Morgan (113) and Root (106 not out) did the bulk of the work, their task was made easier by Hales' explosive start.
As New Zealand bowled too short on a flat pitch, Hales, on his home ground, repeatedly blazed through the leg side, clearing the boundary on four occasions.
He was supported by Jason Roy, who made 38 in an opening stand of 100 that was ended when Hales was bowled heaving at Matt Henry.
The same bowler had a blistering Roy drive held by Williamson at short cover 11 runs later, but England had no thoughts of consolidation, with Root and Morgan continuing a free-scoring charge with remarkable control.
Captain Morgan played the aggressor, dancing to play a glittering array of straight drives and huge lofts down the ground.
Striking the ball cleanly, the left-hander hit five sixes in the arc between long-off and deep mid-wicket, the last of which brought up his eighth ODI hundred from 73 balls.
Root, dropped at slip by Ross Taylor off Mitchell McClenaghan on nine, was busy in support, also driving straight and nudging on the leg side.
Their partnership, England's highest in an ODI against New Zealand, ended when Morgan hooked Tim Southee to long leg.
Root remained, went to a 94-ball hundred when a diving Santner failed to hold a top edge and, in the next over, pulled the boundary that completed victory.
That seemed unlikely when Santner launched his assault on Rashid, undoing England's good work in halting New Zealand's progress.
As England bowled too full early on the visitors' openers, Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill, shared 88, with Williamson and Ross Taylor then adding 101 for the third wicket.
But when Taylor was pinned lbw by Finn at the start of the batting powerplay, England began to fight back.
The impressive pair of Finn and Mark Wood registered 1-51 and 1-49 respectively but had bowled all their allocation well before the end of the New Zealand innings, leaving Rashid exposed.
In a show of character, he recovered to go for only four runs and a leg bye in the 50th over and, from then on, it was all England.
Source-BBC
Stronger Iraq Critical to IS Fight
U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter told a House panel Wednesday that the most critical line of defense against Islamic State militants is in building a stronger, more inclusive Iraqi government.
Carter said the U.S. is seeking a “greater commitment” from Iraq, especially in recruiting enough soldiers for training to assist in the fight against the Islamic State group.
He told the House Armed Services Committee the U.S.-led air campaign against Islamic State positions in Iraq requires "capable, motivated, legitimate local ground troops to seize, clear and hold" land.
Carter called last month's fall of Ramadi, the Anbar provincial capital, to Islamic State fighters "deeply disappointing."
"As I've told Iraqi leaders, while the United States is open to supporting Iraq more than we already are, we must see a greater commitment from all parts of the Iraqi government," he said Wednesday.
He said a lasting defeat for the Islamic State group will require local forces to fight and prevail on the ground.
The U.S. role "is to be an enabler or motivator – not a substitute for a capable ground force," Carter said. "That's where we'd like to get to."
Carter also told lawmakers the U.S. would not meet its goal to train 24,000 Iraqi troops by this fall. "We simply haven't received enough recruits," he said.
The U.S. has only enough recruits to train about 7,000 – in addition to about 2,000 counterterrorism service personnel, he said.
The Defense Secretary said U.S.-led coalition airstrikes against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria have produced some clear results in limiting the militants’ freedom of movement and impeding its efforts to reinforce fighters.
However, the ground campaign “is a work in progress, Carter said. The Iraq Security Forces' performance has been mixed, he added, with some units fighting "admirably and relentlessly" and others dissolving, such as in Mosul last year.
Carter said other U.S. efforts to fight the Islamic State group include denying Islamist militants safe haven in the Middle East region, enhancing intelligence collection on the terrorist group, and to counter the militants’ message and flow of foreign fighters into the region.
Source-VOA
EDUCATION MINISTRY REVEALS GSAT TOP PERFORMERS
- Vincent Zamora, Precious Treasures Primary - 1st Place
- Shawn Gardiner, Precious Treasures Primary - 1st Place
- Alex Swaby, Oseta Jolly Primary - 3rd Place
- Oksana Daley, Richmond Hill Prep - 4th Place
- Ovancia Gardiner, Shining Stars Primary - 5th Place
- Amanda Ingham, Eliza Simons Primary - 6th Place
- Jason Bennett, Wesley Methodist Primary - 7th Place
- Xaria Johnson, CH James Primary - 8th Place
- D'Anne Tennant, Precious Treasures Primary - 9th Place
- Alexis Anara, Precious Treasures Primary - 9th Place
Swiss banks 'reported possible money laundering'
Swiss prosecutors are investigating 53 cases of possible money laundering in their inquiry into bidding for the 2018 and 2022 Fifa World Cups.
Attorney General Michael Lauber said the incidents had been reported by Swiss banks.
He said his office was analysing a "huge amount" of seized Fifa data in its inquiry.
The Swiss investigation is running in parallel to one being carried out by the US.
Separately, Fifa's chief ethics investigator said on Wednesday that the organisation was also looking into alleged breaches by officials relating to bidding for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
"Should new evidence come to light, the investigatory chamber will widen the group of suspects," Carl Borbely said in a statement, adding that Fifa investigators were prepared to increase staff numbers "at any time if needed".
The 2018 and 2022 World Cups were awarded to Russia and Qatar respectively. But senior Fifa official Domenico Scala has said the awards could be cancelled if evidence emerges of bribery.
Both countries deny any wrongdoing.
Source-BBC
Nato condemns Putin's nuclear 'sabre-rattling'
US Secretary of State John Kerry also expressed concern over President Putin's announcement, saying the decision was in contravention of the Start agreement designed to destroy nuclear weapons in the former territories of the Soviet Union.
"It could well be posturing with respect to negotiations because of their concerns about military moves being made by Nato itself," he said.
But "nobody should hear that kind of announcement from the leader of a powerful country and not be concerned about what the implications are," he added.
Following Mr Stoltenberg's comments, Mr Putin said that Russia would be forced to aim its armed forces at any countries that might threaten it.
Earlier, Mr Putin said the weapons would be able to overcome even the most technically advanced anti-missile defence systems.
Nato and Western leaders accuse Russia of sending soldiers and heavy weapons, including tanks and missiles, to the pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Russia has repeatedly denied this, insisting that any Russians fighting there are "volunteers".
Russia has increased its defence spending substantially under Vladimir Putin, and is in the midst of a massive modernisation programme, says the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Moscow.
The missiles are hi-tech replacements, not additions to Russia's nuclear arsenal, but the nod to the US is clear, our correspondent says.
-Military stockpile of approximately 4,500 nuclear warheads
-These include nearly 1,800 strategic warheads deployed on missiles and at bomber bases
-Another 700 strategic warheads are in storage along with roughly 2,700 non-strategic warheads
- A large number - perhaps 3,500 - of retired, but still largely intact warheads await dismantlement
All numbers are approximate estimates
Source: Federation of American Scientists