Dozens Killed in Nigeria Market Blast
Officials in Nigeria said more than 30 people have been killed in a bomb blast in Yola, the capital of Adamawa state, in Nigeria's northeast where the militant group Boko Haram is active.
Sa'ad Bello of the National Emergency Management Agency said the blast happened late Thursday in the busy Jimeta Market as buyers were doing last-minute shopping for the day. He said at least 31 people died and 38 others were being treated in area hospitals.
No one has yet claimed responsibility for the blast, although Boko Haram extremists have carried out similar attacks.
The group has stepped up its attacks in recent days, since new President Muhammadu Buhari announced he is moving the base of anti-Boko Haram operations from the capital, Abuja, to the northeastern city of Maiduguri, known as the birthplace of the Islamist militant group.
On Thursday, human rights group Amnesty International said more than 8,000 Nigerians have died as a result of the government's campaign to stamp out the insurgent group.
Amnesty said its researchers found more than 1,200 people have been executed since 2009 during raids by the Nigerian military. It also said at least 7,000 more have died in custody because of torture, thirst, hunger or severe overcrowding in jails.
The rights group said senior military officials had full knowledge of the detentions and high death rate, but took no action to halt the abuses.
Amnesty is calling for Nigeria's new government to launch an investigation.
Dozens of people have died in attacks in Nigeria's northeast since Buhari's inauguration a week ago.
Maiduguri is the largest city in restive northeastern Nigeria, with a population of two million, among them hundreds of thousands of displaced people from other parts of Borno state.
On Tuesday, Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou said in coming weeks, a multinational force to fight Boko Haram will become operational.
Troops from Niger, Chad and Cameroon have been helping Nigeria fight the militant group, which has staged attacks in all three neighboring countries.
More than 1.5 million Nigerians have been displaced by the nearly six-year-old Islamic uprising in Nigeria’s northeast. Amnesty International says the conflict has killed an estimated 17,000 people.
Tsipras tells lenders not to humiliate Greece over debt
Greece's prime minister has warned international creditors not to impose humiliating terms on his country as it seeks urgently needed bailout funds.
Alexis Tsipras said negotiations were at a "critical" stage, but that the lenders' proposals were "not realistic".
He was briefing parliament amid growing opposition in his leftist Syriza party to the creditors' proposals.
Earlier Greece delayed Friday's €300m (£216m) debt repayment to the IMF.
Mr Tsipras described the EU-IMF lenders' plan as a "bad moment for Europe" and a "bad negotiating trick".
He accused Greece's lenders of massively backtracking on measures agreed in recent months, and of failing to see the need for an end to austerity in their latest offer.
A call for debt relief was a key part of the Greek plan.
The lenders' proposals were put forward when Mr Tsipras met the head of the eurozone's finance ministers, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels this week.
Denouncing their offer on Friday, Mr Tsipras said: "The strangulation of a country is a matter of moral order which conflicts with the founding principles of Europe."
He said the aim of any deal should be "for a solution and not to... humiliate a whole people".
He said his own proposals were the only "realistic" option.
Many of his own MPs are expected to object to any concessions by Athens.
All four scheduled repayments to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in June will now be combined into a single payment at the end of the month.
'Empire' and 'Transparent' Lead 2015 TCA Awards
Nominees for this year's Television Critics Association annual awards are unearthed. FOX's hip-hop drama "Empire" and Amazon's comedy "Transparent" dominate the pack with four nods each, including a fierce battle for the coveted Program of the Year.
"Empire" leading lady Taraji P. Henson is nominated for Individual Achievement in Drama. She is joined by other contenders like Viola Davis ("How to Get Away with Murder"), Jon Hamm ("Mad Men"), Matthew Rhys ("The Americans", and Bob Odenkirk ("Better Call Saul").
Meanwhile, "Transparent" star Jeffrey Tambor is vying for Individual Achievement in Comedy along with Julia Louis-Dreyfus ("Veep"), Gina Rodriguez ("Jane The Virgin"), Amy Schumer ("Inside Amy Schumer"), and Constance Wu ("Fresh Off the Boat").
HBO leads the network count with 7 nominations including two for "Game of Thrones". ABC, CBS, AMC, and FX follow with 5 each, while Netflix manages to snatch one for the new show "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt". Winners will be announced August 8 as part of the summer TCA press tour.
Individual Achievement in Comedy:
Julia Louis-Dreyfus - "Veep" (HBO)
Gina Rodriguez - "Jane The Virgin" (The CW)
Amy Schumer - "Inside Amy Schumer" (Comedy Central)
Jeffrey Tambor - "Transparent" (Amazon)
Constance Wu - "Fresh Off the Boat" (ABC)
Individual Achievement in Drama:
Viola Davis - "How to Get Away with Murder" (ABC)
Jon Hamm - "Mad Men" (AMC)
Taraji P. Henson - "Empire" (FOX)
Matthew Rhys - "The Americans" (FX)
Bob Odenkirk - "Better Call Saul" (AMC)
Outstanding Achievement in News and Information:
"CBS Sunday Morning" (CBS)
"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" (Comedy Central)
"Frontline" (PBS)
"Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" (HBO)
"60 Minutes" (CBS)
Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming:
"The Amazing Race" (CBS)
"The Chair" (Starz)
"Dancing with the Stars" (ABC)
"RuPaul's Drag Race" (Logo)
"Shark Tank" (ABC)
Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming:
"Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood" (PBS)
"The Fosters" (ABC Family)
"The Legend of Korra" (Nickelodeon)
"Sesame Street" (PBS)
"Switched at Birth" (ABC Family)
Outstanding New Program:
"Better Call Saul" (AMC)
"Empire" (FOX)
"The Flash" (The CW)
"Jane the Virgin" (The CW)
"Transparent" (Amazon)
Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries, and Specials:
"Bessie" (HBO)
"The Honorable Woman" (SundanceTV)
"The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst" (HBO)
"Olive Kitteridge" (HBO)
"Wolf Hall" (PBS)
Outstanding Achievement in Comedy:
"The Big Bang Theory" (CBS)
"Inside Amy Schumer" (Comedy Central)
"Jane the Virgin" (The CW)
"Transparent" (Amazon)
"Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" (Netflix)
Outstanding Achievement in Drama:
"The Americans" (FX)
"Empire" (FOX)
"Game of Thrones" (HBO)
"Justified" (FX)
"Mad Men" (AMC)
Heritage Award:
"Friends" (NBC)
"Late Night/Late Show with David Letterman" (NBC/CBS)
"The Shield" (FX)
"Star Trek" (NBC)
"Twin Peaks" (ABC)
Program of the Year:
"The Americans" (FX)
"Empire" (FOX)
"Game of Thrones" (HBO)
"Mad Men" (AMC)
"Transparent" (Amazon)
Source- AceShowbiz
MINISTER’S RESPONSE TO THE TURKS AND CAICOS SUN NEWSPAPER
I refer to the swirling debate that is ongoing regarding statements made by me in the House of Assembly during its last sitting. My statements were made during a passionate debate in which I expressed my personal view. It is unfortunate that this stand taken for Turks and Caicos Islanders, in the Turks and Caicos Islands, was taken out of context. I have been painted in a light that is 100 degrees removed from all that I am and all that I have stood for and defended over the entirety of my professional life, my political life and my adult life generally. I can only call these tactics malicious and rife with intent to cause discord among the people living within our shores.
I refute any notion that I am a Xenophobe and, notwithstanding my utterances, wish to be judged by my record rather than by an impromptu bombast. I say without fear of contradiction that the Progressive National Party in and out of Government is among the most inclusive and tolerant and liberal in the region.
To put my passionate if not stately remarks in context, TCI is home to some 45 different nationalities none of whom have ever been restricted in the celebration of their national festivals. The Haitian and Jamaican in particular have been an integral part of the collage that is Turks and Caicos for as long as I can remember. Generations of them have assimilated into our society so that today there is not distinction between their children and mine.
We extend a warm and friendly welcome to all who come to our shores legally and with goodwill, in any category of activity required by our economy and social system, we extend a hand of cooperation and friendship, and even a pathway to citizenship for those who meet the criteria and who have a genuine respect for our people, our way of life and our laws.
I am passionate about my duty to this country both as a citizen and as a Member of Parliament and Cabinet, and I am passionate about my people, but to my immigrant friends, I have not turned my back on you; I have simply turned my face to the future; a future in which you are welcomed to share if you would stand with me to build this land, and so I stretch out my hand.
TURKS AND CAICOS GOVERNMENT CABINET STATEMENT
His Excellency the Governor, Peter Beckingham, chaired the 15th meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday 3rd June 2015 at the Hilly Ewing Building on Providenciales.
All Ministers were present except Hon. Minister of Education, Youth, Libraries and Sport, Hon. Minister Tourism, Environment, Culture and Heritage.
At this meeting Cabinet:
• Advised HE. the Governor to approve the grant of a long-term (99 years) lease over 0.46 acres (approx) of accreted land lying seaward of Parcels 60905/214 & 60906/227 to Desarrollos Turks and Caicos Limited and a license for use of the beach front jetty located adjacent to their development;
• Advised HE. the Governor to grant approval for the survey and mutation of the following Crown Land parcels for the purpose of creating road reserves and/or road easements; (a) The survey and mutation of Crown Land Parcel 60002/54 in order to create a road reserve/easement to provide access to Parcels 60002/374-381 in Providenciales; (b) The survey and mutation of Crown Land Parcels 10506/94 & 114 in order to create a road reserve and to provide an alternative road access to Parcel 10506/96 and other neighbouring parcels, situated in Block 10506, South Suburbs, Grand Turk; (c) The survey and mutation of Crown Land Parcel 10506/114 in order to create a road reserve as an extension to the existing road parcel (Parcel 10506/35), in order to provide direct access to the public road in the area to Parcels 10506/31-34 & 36, situated at South Suburbs, Grand Turk;
• Approved a report from the National Parks Committee setting out proposals for revisions to the National Parks Ordinance and revisions to protected areas. Cabinet requested that the proposals be released for public consultation in due course;
• Advised HE. the Governor to enter into a lease agreement for the former TCI Bank building in Providenciales. The building will provide centralised accommodation for the departments currently under the management of the Ministry of Finance, namely Customs, Revenue Control Unit and Treasury;
• Advised HE. the Governor to grant approval to negotiate a compensation settlement (subject to valuation) with the various proprietors, in respect of land acquired by TCIG for the development of a bypass from Kew Rural to Kew Township, following Tropical Storm Cristobal;
•. Advised HE. the Governor to approve the following appointments to the Telecommunications Commission: Telecommunications Commission for the period June 19, 2015 to March 31, 2016; Heather Allen, Chairman (Attorney-at-Law),Andre Garneau, Member (Attorney-at-Law), Shaveena Been, Member (Accountant), Terrance Robinson, Member (Business/Technical), Herbert Ingham, Deputy Chairman (Business/Technical), Pedro Ariza, Member (Business/Technical), Permanent Secretary (MHTC), Ex-officio Member, Director General, Secretary. The appointments are made In accordance with Part II, Section 3 (1-4) of the Telecommunications Ordinance;
• Advised HE. the Governor to approve the following appointments to the Prison Visiting Committee; Perry Missick, Chairman, Father Mark Kendall, Member, Jennifer Forbes, Member, Michael Robinson, Member, Leo Selver, Member, Belinda Lightbourne, Deputy Chairman, Jennifer R Lightbourne, Member. The appointments are made in accordance with section 44 (1) and (2) of the Prison Regulations;
• Advised HE. the Governor to approve the following appointments to the Parole Board; Montel Archibold, Chairperson, Bernadine Smith, Member, Carolyn Wilson, Member, Permanent Secretary (MHTC), Member, Prison Superintendent, Member, Director of Social Development, Member. The appointments are made in accordance with Section 3 (1) and (2) of the Parole of Prisoners Ordinance;
• Advised HE. the Governor to approve the following appointments to the Radio Turks and Caicos Board of Governors; Vaughn Hinds (Business / Technical), Chair, Cheryl Ann Foreman, Member; Tijuana Rasheida Ewing, Member (Attorney At Law), Jermaine Fulford, Member, (Business/Technical), Desiree James, Member (Accountant), Permanent Secretary, (MHTC), Member, Senior Government Press Officer, Member. The appointments are made in accordance with Section 3 of the Radio Turks and Caicos Ordinance;
Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.
TCI wins Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Student Colloquium
Minister of Tourism, Environment, Heritage and Culture, Hon. Porsha Stubbs-Smith recently traveled to New York City to attend CTO’s Caribbean Week; where the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College tourism team participated in the annual Student Colloquium.
The competition challenges students to present creative ideas for sustainable tourism projects or business initiatives in the Caribbean. Caribbean week is the largest and most effective event on the Caribbean calendar. It is a celebration of the sights, sounds and unique vacation experiences and business offerings that the region offers.
This year’s forum saw 4 countries battling for the championship with Turks and Caicos being victorious, bringing home the first place prize. St. Lucia came in at 2nd place, the Bahamas at 3rd and Jamaica with the 4th position. The team presented on the lionfish and its effects on the tourism industry, particularly the coral reefs. Students proposed that a lionfish festival would be an ideal event, to address the impact of these creatures.
Judges were very impressed with TCI’s performance stating “Whilst the presentation was an original, it is one that should garner the attention of the Caribbean Region.”
Minister Stubbs-Smith stated; “All teams were creative, passionate and represented their countries well, however, I must express a huge congratulations to team TCI, I am immensely proud of the job in which they’ve done and continue to look forward to our future participation in events such as these as we continue to bring recognition to the TCI.
“I’m also proud of the collaborative efforts between the Ministries of Tourism and Education, and the Tourist Board and the TCI Community College, when we all work together as a team anything can be accomplished.”
Minister Stubbs-Smith is accompanied by Permanent Secretary, Desiree Lewis, and Director of Tourism, Mr. Ralph Higgs. The delegation returns to TCI on Saturday, 6th June 2015.
Caribbean countries record growth in tourist arrivals
The Caribbean recorded a six per cent increase in tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period last year, chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Richard Sealy has said.
Sealy, who is also the Barbados Minister of Tourism, told a news conference here that the Caribbean had “bolted out of the gates” in 2015 as the region recorded its 17th straight quarter of growth with nearly eight million visitors coming to the region during the first four months of the year.
Sealy, who is attending the CTO sponsored Caribbean Tourism Week that ends here Friday, said that the Caribbean continues its rapid growth rate from 2014 when arrivals grew by 5.3 per cent to 26.3 million visitors
“We’ve bolted out of the gates with a six per cent rise in arrivals over the first quarter of 2014. Arrivals to the Caribbean estimated to be 7.9 million in the first three months. This is the fifth consecutive year in which arrivals grew during the first quarter and the 17th quarter of continuous growth,”” he said.
Sealy said that the United States market “continues to be our most productive,” with arrivals from that market showing an increase of 5.6 per cent.
The Canadian market grew an equally impressive 5.4 per cent with Cuba and Dominican Republic among the destinations recording higher levels of arrivals
In the accommodation sector, all leading hotel performance indicators were positive.
There was a modest increase of 1.3 per cent in the number of rooms available in the first quarter, the largest increase for this quarter in the last seven years
Historical first quarters highs were also recorded for Room Occupancy (77.8%), Average Daily Rate (US$239.84) and Revenue per Available Room (US188.25)
In cruise, passenger arrivals slowed in the first quarter with the Caribbean registering a 3.4 per cent rise, compared to a 4.3 per cent growth in 2014 over 2013
An estimated 8.6 million cruise passengers visited the region in the first quarter with the best performing destinations being the French island of Martinique (34.2%), Puerto Rico (26.2%), Antigua & Barbuda (18.6%) and Jamaica (15.9%).
Sealy said that the outlook for the remainder of the year is positive with growth expected to be moderate and uneven among member countries
“However, overall tourist arrivals are now anticipated to rise at least six per cent over 2014, In the cruise sector, the momentum gained in the first quarter could be reduced as cruise ships are repositioned away from the region,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sealy said that the region is not overly concerned about Cuba as a competitor, now that the United States is improving ties with the Communist island.
Seal said more tourists visiting Cuba will be a good thing for the Caribbean on a whole.
“Cuba is not a problem for the CTO or the Caribbean. We are not afraid of what is happening in Cuba. As a matter of fact Cuba is a member of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation and has been for some time,” Sealy told reporters.
“There was even an occasion when a Cuban minister of tourism attended Caribbean week…he was given a visa to come to this country because of Cuba’s membership with the CTO. So whereas this whole idea of visiting Cuba is new for Americans, it is not new at all for any of us.”
With only the US restricting travel, three million foreigners arrived in Cuba last year, according to the government, making it the second-most visited island in the Caribbean after the Dominican Republic, which attracted more than five million visitors.
Cuba’s largest source market (Canada), is also a major source market for other countries in the Caribbean.
“Canadians love Cuba and we are already trying to get business from Canada alongside of Cuba so the competition from Cuba is not new,” Sealy said.
“Where I’m from, in Barbados, the United Kingdom is our largest source market and so I have to compete against Cuba to get Brits because they are going to Cuba and that is the simple reality – 56,000 rooms and three million tourists a year, Cuba is already a player in tourism. And for us in the CTO and for those of us involved in tourism in the Caribbean Cuba is not new.
“More people coming to Cuba mean more people coming to the Caribbean and therefore the natural thinking of us at the Caribbean Tourism Organisation is that it can only auger well for us. Those persons who were not previously coming to the region that are now coming to the region via Cuba can only redounded to our benefit and we look forward therefore to seeing Cuba’s full integration into this whole system of offering tourism services,” the CTO Chairman added.
As part of improving ties between the countries, US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro said they would work first to restore diplomatic relations.
Source-
DIGICEL RE-LAUNCHES MY DIGICEL APP LOADED WITH EXTRAS AND A BRAND NEW LOOK AND FEEL
Digicel today unveiled its new look My Digicel App that boasts dozens of cool new features like managing your Digicel account, access to social media newsfeeds and a customer feedback portal – making it the go-to place for all things Digicel. In addition, the app is free to use meaning customers are not using a single MB of their data to access the information and content available on the app.
The newly-designed app introduces a user-friendly interface that comes with a whole host of new features such as allowing customers to send top up to any Digicel phone, locally or internationally, view account information, opt in and out of plans and see the latest promotions and offers – all of which is available 24-hours a day, free of charge to customers.
The app also includes social media feeds so that customers can connect with Digicel through Twitter and Facebook and take advantage of exclusive offers that are only available through the app.
Digicel Group Chief Commercial Officer, Claudio Hidalgo, said; “We are excited to be introducing our newly-designed My Digicel App that makes it easier for customers to access all of our services free of cost at any time using their smartphones. The new app boasts all the great features that customers have come to know and love, as well as a host of new ones such as sending credit to friends and family at home and abroad and accessing Digicel’s social media newsfeeds for the latest updates.”
“We wanted to create one place where our customers could access all things – from sending and receiving top up, to activating plans, accessing special offers and getting the latest news - the new My Digicel App does just that. The app also includes a feedback feature where customers can share their views on the app and its functionalities so that we can work to improve it on an ongoing basis,” concluded Hidalgo.
Jack Warner to tell all
Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has said in a dramatic TV address that he will reveal all he knows about corruption at the world football body.
Warner, who said he feared for his life, said he could also link FIFA officials to general elections in his native Trinidad and Tobago in 2010.
He is one of the 14 people charged by the US over corruption at FIFA.
Another top FIFA official and key witness, Chuck Blazer, had admitted accepting bribes.
The admissions came in a newly released transcript of Blazer's guilty plea from 2013, as part of a wide-ranging US criminal case that has engulfed FIFA and led President Sepp Blatter to resign.
The US justice department alleges the 14 people charged worldwide accepted bribes and kickbacks estimated at more than US$150 million (£97m) over a 24-year period.
Four others had already been charged, including Blazer.
Jack Warner, a key figure in the deepening scandal, said he had given lawyers documents outlining the links between FIFA, its funding, himself and the 2010 election in Trinidad and Tobago.
He said the transactions also included FIFA chief Sepp Blatter.
CARICOM Secretary-General mourns death of 'oustanding' son of Dominica
Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has extended deep sympathy to the Government and people of Dominica and the family of the late former President His Excellency the Honourable Dr. Nicholas J.O. Liverpool, DAH, OCC.
In a Message of Condolence to Dominica Prime Minister, the Hon Roosevelt Skerrit, the Secretary-General described the late President as a “man for all seasons”, “a national and Regional treasure”, and hailed his contribution to his country and CARICOM.
The text of the Message of Condolence reads:
I was truly saddened to learn of the death of His Excellency the Honourable Dr. Nicholas J.O. Liverpool, DAH, OCC, former President of the Commonwealth of Dominica, though I knew he was ailing.
I join with the Government and people of the Caribbean Community to express deep sympathy to the Government and People of Dominica, and the family of the late former President.
This outstanding son of Dominica rose to his country’s highest office and has earned the highest awards that could be bestowed by his country and by the Caribbean Community.
This was the measure of the man who served Dominica and the Region for more than 40 years.
His indelible contribution to the field of law is inscribed not only in his publications, but also in the hundreds of students who passed under his tutelage at the University of the West Indies as both Lecturer and Dean. It is also enshrined in his judgements during his time on the bench in several jurisdictions across the Caribbean Community. The University of Ghana also benefitted from his expertise as a lecturer.
This legal luminary did not confine his skills to that profession, as he also served as Dominica’s Ambassador to the United States. Dr. Liverpool also found time to indulge in his passion for the cultural aspects of Dominican life as well as farming.
Truly he was, as described in his citation read at his conferment with the Order of the Caribbean Community in 2008, ‘a man for all seasons’.
Prime Minister, Dominica and the Caribbean Community has lost a national and regional treasure who, through his deeds and service, left the world a better place than he found it.
May he rest in peace