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
Donald Trump to run for president in 2016
Property billionaire Donald Trump has announced he will run for the White House in the 2016 election.
Mr Trump, a Republican, has never run for the party's nomination before, but has often talked about it.
"I am officially running for president of the United States and we are going to make our country great again," he told supporters at New York's Trump Towers on Fifth Avenue.
He said his fortune would allow him to be an effective president.
"Our country is in serious trouble. We don't have victories anymore," he said.
"When was the last time anyone saw us beating, let's say, China in a trade deal?
"They kill us. I beat China all the time."
Donald Trump is actually running for president. Few people expected it to happen - he's gone through the motions many times before - and his political rants up until now have been roundly derided as a joke. But this time he actually said the words, and he seems like he means it.
With campaign staff in key early voting states and a net worth he puts at more than $8.5bn, he has the resources to roil the Republican presidential field.
Mr Trump is polling high enough to get a spot on the stage in the forthcoming Republican debates, and he's already proven a willingness to take swings at his opponents. Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio "don't have a clue", he said in his announcement speech. "How are these people going to lead us?" he asked.
If he says that enough times during a debate - or in a multi-million dollar television advertising spree - a lot of people are going to stop laughing and take notice. And that's probably just what Mr Trump wants.
Mr Trump expressed support for gun rights and said he would protect US government programmes like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
And he said he would "immediately terminate" President Barack Obama's executive order on immigration, which would save undocumented migrants from deportation.
"Sadly, the American Dream is dead", Mr Trump said.
"If I get elected president I will bring it back bigger and better and strong than ever before. We will make America great again."
He becomes the 12th Republican to declare, with Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and Florida's former governor Jeb Bush among the early frontrunners.
Pakistan Troops Cross Border to Rescue Wounded Afghan Soldier
In a demonstration of increased security cooperation, Pakistan's military says its troops crossed the border Tuesday and went 600 meters inside Afghanistan to rescue an Afghan soldier who was critically wounded in a firefight with “terrorists”.
The Pakistan military’s media wing says “Afghan authorities requested for evacuation and treatment of [a] soldier, Pakistani troops quickly responding to [the] Afghan request evacuated injured soldier to a hospital” on the Pakistani side of the border. "
The cross-border action took place in eastern Afghanistan opposite to the Pakistan tribal territory of Bajur and the Afghan solider is under treatment in hospital in Khar, the region’s administrative center, the statement reads.
Afghan authorities have not yet commented on the incident.
Taliban insurgents have recently increased attacks on Afghan security forces.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have increased border security cooperation in recent months while political relations have expanded. The two countries share 2400-kilometer mostly porous border.
Fake goods worth US$60m seized operations across C’bean
The international police organisation (INTERPOL) says car parts, fuel, food, detergent, cigars, shampoo, and steel were among fake goods worth nearly US$60 million seized in a two-week operation across the Americas and the Caribbean.
Code-named Maya II, INTERPOL said more than 2,000 interventions by police, customs, investigators and Intellectual Property (IP) units were carried out at key locations including markets, border control points and shops across 19 countries and territories.
INTERPOL said the operation was coordinated by its Trafficking in Illicit Goods and Counterfeiting unit.
Investigations carried out by national authorities led to the identification and dismantling of several organised crime networks, as well as entire businesses selling counterfeit goods, INTERPOL said.
In the Dominican Republic, where deforestation is an increasing problem, INTERPOL said authorities seized more than 100 bags of charcoal at the Haitian border, in addition to identifying and closing down two illegal factories manufacturing laundry detergent.
A shopping centre in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic capital, was also found selling fake goods along with genuine brands after their supply chain had been infiltrated by organised crime networks.
A bootleg distillery was also shut down, and tests on the illegal alcohol seized during the raids showed it to contain potentially lethal additives.
“The Dominican Republic’s involvement in Operation Maya II through NCB Santo Domingo underlines our commitment to combat all forms of transnational crime, to protect citizens and society for a safer world,” said Major General Manuel Elpidio Castro Castillo, head of the Dominican Republic National Police.
In Cuba, the police, in their first operation targeting counterfeit goods, seized hundreds of fake boxes ready to be filled with fake brand-name cigars.
It said other examples of seizures include counterfeit rifle scopes in Canada; fake electrical goods in Trinidad and Tobago; video game controllers in Mexico; and jeans and T-shirts in Curaçao.
“The success of this operation is a result of the dedication and commitment of the involved countries, particularly those who took part in these specifically targeted actions for the first time,” said Michael Ellis, head of INTERPOL’s Trafficking in Illicit Goods and Counterfeiting unit.
“The results show the extent of the challenge faced by every country in combating the spread of fake and illicit goods, and INTERPOL will continue to support their efforts in dismantling these networks and bringing those involved to justice,” Ellis added.
INTERPOL said the operation was supported by the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council (CCLEC).
It said countries and territories which took part in Operation Maya II included Antigua and Barbuda; Aruba; Canada; Colombia; Costa Rica; Cuba; Curaçao; Dominican Republic; El Salvador; Honduras; Jamaica; Mexico; Nicaragua; Panama; Puerto Rico; St. Lucia; Trinidad and Tobago; United States and Venezuela.
Cuba and Trinidad sign bilateral investment agreement
A bilateral cooperation accord has been signed between the chambers of commerce of Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago to exchange information on investment opportunities.
President the Cuban Chamber of Commerce Celia Labora and her Trinidadian counterpart Catherine Kumar signed the documents on Thursday.
The accord will allow Trinidadian business people to access all the information related to the Cuban market and its new prospects for foreign investment.
The agreement will also give access to details about the Special Development Zone in the Cuban western Mariel Harbor and the portfolio that contains over 200 investment projects valued at over US$8-billion.
Source -CMC
Selena Gomez Gets $3 Million From Pantene Endorsement Deal
Selena Gomez is more than happy to be the new face of Pantene hair care. Not only is the "Hotel Transylvania 2" voice actress stoked because she is a fan of the brand, but also due to the amount of money she gets for her endorsement. An industry source told E! News that Selena got paid around $3 million a year for being the new face of Pantene.
The brand of hair care products took to Instagram on Monday, June 15 to announce that the 22-year-old actress became its new spokesmodel. Pantene posted a picture of Selena smiling ear to ear while flaunting her flawless brunette hair. A caption for the picture read, "Proud to work with this strong, beautiful woman. We'll do gorgeous things together. #SelenaXPantene #StrongIsBeautiful @selenagomez."
Selena also posted a picture of her flaunting her flawless tresses on Instagram. Sitting on a big block of T letter, the "Behaving Badly" actress looked gorgeous in a white tube dress while making over-the-shoulder gaze. She captioned it, "I am so happy to announce my new partnership with Pantene! #SelenaxPantene #strongisbeautiful @pantenehair.
Selena admitted that she had been a fan of Pantene. "I've always loved using Pantene, so it's a dream come true to be the brand's newest ambassador. Not only because Pantene stands for strong, healthy hair but also because it encourages women to be their best selves," the "Love You Like a Love Song" songtress said in a press release. "My style is constantly evolving and I love to take risks, so I'm always changing my hair style. I rely on Pantene to keep my hair strong and healthy so I can take on each day with confidence."
On the previous day, Selena shared a sneak-peek video of her photo shoot on Instagram. She didn't give much information about the photo shoot but wrote, "Another BIG announcement tomorrow..... stay tuned!" in a caption for the video. It came to be known that her photo shoot was for Pantene.
Source-AceShowbiz
DIGICEL BUSINESS WINS AVAYA’S BEST PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARD
Digicel, the region’s leading Business Solutions provider, recently won the highly coveted, Avaya Caribbean-wide Project of the Year award thanks to its ICT and Unified Communication platform deployed at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in Barbados.
Digicel Business’ winning project involved upgrading the entire network at the hospital utilising Avaya’s solution which ensured a faultless migration from the hospital’s legacy network to the state-of-the-art Avaya platform. The product has greatly improved communications at the hospital, provided a high level of redundancy and reducing the hospital’s costs. In addition, the new system provides doctors with the ability to access the hospital’s PACS (Patient Archiving and Communication System) for patient information so that they can make critical decisions in a more timely manner.
Digicel Barbados Business Solutions Director, Martin Keogh, said; “We are thrilled to have been acknowledged with the award for Best Project of the Year for our ICT solution deployed in QEH in Barbados. QEH now has one of the most advanced, scalable, durable and highly available systems in the Caribbean – fitting for an institution of its calibre. The team worked really hard to deliver a state of the art telephony product that delivered greater efficiencies and reduced costs. This project is a benchmark in terms of the significant benefits to be made from deploying tailored solutions from Digicel Business. Furthermore, it was indeed a pleasure to work with the QEH team and we look forward to working with them on future projects.”
Dr. Dexter James, CEO of the QEH, said; “We want to thank Digicel Business and Avaya for providing us with a high quality product that will ultimately meet all of our needs. The switch from our old system to the new Digicel Business solution was seamless with zero downtime. We expect to see a continuous and marked improvement in our communications across the hospital among medical and administrative staff as a result. The solution delivers reliability and peace of mind, ensuring that we can continue to focus on providing the best medical care for our patients.”
“Our ICT plan is more robust and issues associated with redundancy, back-up and storage are being addressed and resolved as the hospital moves toward Cloud services. General speed of connectivity to the website and email access is unsurpassed – with images being transmitted instantly. I am also looking forward to expanding our new technology to the polyclinics for image access, studies and lab reports and all on a real time basis,” concluded James.
Santiago Aguirre, Channel Director Avaya Latin America and the Caribbean, said; “Congratulations are due to all of our 2014 Avaya Connect Partners of the Year. We are excited our channel partners not only see the value of Avaya’s technology but are highly effective at communicating that value to their end customers. We celebrate our Partners of the Year for being true ambassadors of our technology and harnessing the power of engagement.”