West Indies beat South Africa by four wickets
West Indies defeated South Africa by four wickets in the opening Twenty20 International of the three-match series at Newlands here Friday.
Scores:
SOUTH AFRICA 165 for four off 20 overs (Rilee Rossouw 51 not out, Faf du Plessis 38, David Miller 24; Sheldon Cottrell 2-33)
WEST INDIES 168 for six off 19.2 overs (Chris Gayle 77, Marlon Samuels 41,Dwayne Smith 20; Imran Tahir 3-28, Wayne Parnell 2-39)
CARICOM issues message of condolence to the Government and people of France
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has extended its deepest condolences to the Government and people of France following the ‘despicable attack’ on the French newspaper Charlie Hebdo which resulted in the deaths of journalists and policemen.
CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, in his message, said the savage attack on one of the pillars of democracy, freedom of expression, is a blatant attempt to intimidate and silence a free press. He said the 12 people slaughtered will have laid down their lives in defence of a basic tenet of a free society.
Masked men armed with assault rifles stormed the Charlie Hebdo offices on Wednesday killing twelve persons, including two policemen, and wounding eleven others.
The full text of the message reads:
“The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is horrified at the despicable attack on the French newspaper Charlie Hebdo resulting in the deaths of both journalists and policemen.
This savage attack on one of the pillars of democracy, freedom of expression, is a blatant attempt to intimidate and silence a free press. The 12 people slaughtered will have laid down their lives in defence of a basic tenet of a free society.
The Community extends its deepest condolences to the Government and people of France, the proprietors of the publication and especially the families of those tragically cut down in this senseless act of cowardice.”
Source-CMC
France 'faced down' attacks but still under threat says Hollande
France "faced down" Islamists who were behind the deaths of 17 people in three days of attacks but still remains threatened, the country's president and prime minister said Friday.
Speaking in a televised address shortly after commandos killed the three gunmen responsible for the wave of terror, Hollande hailed the "courage" of French security forces -- but said France "has not finished with the threats targeting it".
Prime Minister Manuel Valls, speaking separately to TF1 television, said: "We are confronting an unprecedented terrorist challenge."
Valls said of this week's violence: "There will be a before and an after of what happened."
Paris has been on its highest state of alert since Wednesday when two of the gunmen stormed the offices of the Charlie Hebdo satirical newspaper, killing 12 people.
Fears of a jihadist campaign took hold the next day when a policewoman in a southern Paris district was murdered in the street by a third gunmen.
On Friday, events came to a climax with two hostage-takings, in Paris and in a town to the northeast by the Islamist gunmen. French commandos simultaneously stormed both sites, killing the men.
Hollande said "these fanatics have nothing to do with the Muslim religion" -- a message aimed at preventing a backlash against France's Muslim community, Europe's biggest, which is estimated at over four million.
He called the hostage-taking in Paris, which took place in a Jewish supermarket in the capital's east, "an appalling anti-Semitic act". More than a dozen people held by the gunman were freed after the commando raid, but four others died.
He also called for public vigilance and unity.
The horrific wave of violence elicited statements of sympathy and support for France from around the world. On Sunday, a mass rally to honour the dead and condemn the week's violence is planned in Paris. Hollande said he would attend the rally, together with several foreign leaders, including the leaders of Germany, Britain, Spain and Italy.
Valls, meanwhile, vowed the government would investigate the events of the week to answer several "legitimate" questions. Among them how the gunmen -- who were known to the police, and two of whom were on a US no-fly list -- could mount such operations.
"We owe a duty of truth to the victims, to their families, and to our compatriots," he said.
Source-AFP
OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM WEST INDIES CRICKETER KIERAN POWELL
Following recent media and public speculation regarding my absence from regional and international cricket, I would like to make known the following:
During the conclusion of the first West Indies vs New Zealand Test match in Jamaica in June of last year (2014), I requested a meeting with West Indies Team Manager Richie Richardson and the then-Coach, Otis Gibson, in the Team Room we had been allocated at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.
At this meeting I advised them that I would be needing to take a break from international cricket to deal with a personal issue. The conversation concluded with Mr. Richardson and Mr. Gibson conveying their understanding and stating that they hoped that I would return to the West Indies squad as soon as I was available to do so. I had then relayed a detailed account of that same conversation, in writing, to my own Management, so as to have made them aware of my actions.
Mr. Richardson and Mr. Gibson went onto assure me that their next steps would include advising West Indies Board officials, including West Indies Director of Cricket, Richard Pybus, Head of Cricket Operations, Roland Holder and the West Indies Selection Panel at the time, that I had made myself unavailable and that they would be advising the Team Media Manager to put out a Press Release to announce my forthcoming absence from the team.
I then went back to my hotel room and received a phone call around 20-30 minutes later from the then-Chairman of Selectors, Clyde Butts, requesting that I come to his room. I duly did so and Mr. Butts proceeded to advise me during our meeting, that he had been informed of my
decision and wished me the best of luck but hoped that I resolved my personal issues quickly so that I could re-join the team as soon as possible. I had built a very good rapport with Mr. Butts over the years and his support meant a lot to me. I left his room feeling that my situation at the time was made clear to the primary parties within the immediate Team Management structure.
On Friday the 13th of June, 2014, the day after I had advised the Team Manager and Coach of my unavailability, I was asked to complete a Performance Review by Mr. Richardson and Mr. Gibson, which took place in Mr. Richardson's room that morning.
Following the above meetings, I was not given any further steps nor indications that anyone else would be attempting to contact me. I assumed, even if anyone did wish to contact me, that there were several modes available for them to contact me by, including via my Manager, who also represents Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin and Richie Richardson; or via my father, who, himself, is a former West Indies Cricket Board Director and is a close associate of several Board officials, including West Indies Cricket Board President, Dave Cameron.
The next actions I saw in relation to my request for leave of absence from the team, was when a Media Release from the West Indies Cricket Board stated that myself and Marlon Samuels had been "axed," despite the fact that I had asked for time off for a personal reason days before any such Release had gone to press.
The next contact I received from anyone within the West Indies Management structure, thereafter, was from Mr. Gibson in the first week of July, to check on my well-being. He then contacted me again in the last week of July - again, to check on my well-being. No mention of my return to cricket was discussed in either phone call. Mr. Richardson had also contacted my father and my Manager on several occasions regarding me.
Furthermore, Mr. Cameron, had inquired from my father about my return to international cricket, on more than one occasion, particularly during the period of the 2014 Caribbean Premier League. Mr. Cameron had gone so far as to ask my father to request that I contact him, which I did immediately.
During my initial conversation with Mr. Cameron, he stated that he had not been made aware by anyone in the Board or Team Management, of the circumstances surrounding my leave of absence from the West Indies team. This obviously bewildered me as I knew that not only had I had a meeting with the Manager and the then-Coach of the West Indies team on the 12th of June, but I had also had a chat with the Chairman of Selectors that same evening, following the announcement of my decision.
Mr. Cameron went onto agree that the Board had a duty of care towards me as a player and that he did not feel due process had been followed. During my conversation with Mr. Cameron, I made it clear that not only had I had a meeting with Mr. Richardson and Mr. Gibson on the 12th of June outlining my circumstances and my request for leave of absence, but that I had also seemingly received their support on the matter at the time.
Mr. Cameron then went onto re-iterate that he felt I remained a strong contender for the role of future Captain of the West Indies team; a statement which he had made in public and in the media, and a statement which I was humbled by.
Given the mis-communication and mis-management following my meeting with Mr. Richardson and Mr. Gibson, I ensured that my Management was in the room when I had the (phone) conversation with Mr Cameron, on this occasion.
By this time, because I was frequently being inquired about and contacted by Board officials and Team Management, I revisited my position and made the decision to make myself available for the West Indies' tour of India in September.
I spoke with current Coach, Stuart Williams, on the 11th of September regarding returning to the international team. The conversation was positive and Mr Williams asked that I take the relevant measures to ensure my re-admission into the team. I then contacted the now Chairman of Selectors, Mr. Clive Lloyd, as well as Mr. Cameron and Mr. Pybus.
During my conversation with Mr. Cameron, I communicated my wishes to make myself available for international cricketing duties again. This time there was an awkward hesitancy throughout the conversation - less than four weeks after our initial conversation where he had been extremely encouraging about my return to international duty. He stated during our conversation that I had not been practicing, which was assumed on his part. He then asked me to contact Mr. Pybus, which I immediately did.
During my conversation with Mr. Pybus, he stated that he had made numerous attempts to contact me but had been unsuccessful. I responded that various people from both the Board and Team Management, had by then, contacted me several times, including the President of the Board and the Coaches and Manager of the West Indies team, therefore, I was baffled as to why Mr. Pybus would have been unable to contact me. Furthermore, he claimed that I had simply "walked off the job" when this was utterly untrue. I had explicitly made my unavailability known to both the Team Manager and the then-Coach. In fact, the Media Release put out by the West Indies Cricket Board announcing the team for the second Test against New Zealand back in June 2014, went so far as to say that I had been "axed", when I had already made myself unavailable.
Mr. Pybus insisted that I write a letter to him outlining my plans to return to cricket. He also pressed me to divulge details of my personal issue which I did not wish to discuss. He then went onto imply, in my opinion, that my future position in the squad would be compromised if I was not willing to disclose this information, which I felt was coercive, intrusive and unjust. He went onto suggest that I return to grass-roots level cricket, in my bid to make a comeback. In my mind, I immediately compared this to other situations in the recent past, in which senior players in the West Indies team, had not been expected to follow same protocol and I wondered: why me?
Following this conversation, I felt confused and flabbergasted as I had been contacted numerous times by Board officials and Team Management regarding my return to international cricket. Having made myself available, I felt I was now being made an example of.
On the 26th and 27th of September, I was sent several messages requesting that I contact West Indies selector Courtney Browne as a matter of extreme urgency. I spoke with Mr Browne who conferenced called in Chairman of Selectors, Mr. Lloyd. The reason for the call, they advised, was simply to inform me that they had not forgotten me. Mr. Lloyd went onto say that he felt that I was a future leader for the West Indies team. The call ended shortly after this. The episode left me astonished and befuddled as it seemed completely nonsensical that senior officials would contact me so vehemently and with such urgency, simply to advise me that they had not forgotten me.
However, determined to seal my position back in the West Indies squad, I called both selectors back separately and advised them both of my immediate availability. I specifically asked whether there was a possibility of being selected for the West Indies' tour of India. I was not provided with a firm answer by the selectors, but I persisted and asked whether I may be considered for the West Indies A team tour of Sri Lanka, so as to prove my match fitness, because there was no domestic cricket on in the Caribbean region at the time. Again, I was not provided with a firm answer. Feeling deflated and confused by several months of roller coaster events, I made a firm decision to take a step away from the game in its entirety, to reflect and refresh.
There have been numerous reports in the media and in the public domain about my absence from the game of cricket, ranging from alleged struggles with "acute fatigue syndrome" to apparently being "in exile." My Management has also been unfairly condemned for not speaking out about my absence from cricket. I would like to categorically, state on record that I am doing well and remain focused but that I am taking time away from the game. While I appreciate the support and loyalty I have received from people around the world, I would like to use this opportunity to ask that the media and the public respect my right to privacy and I look forward to returning to international cricket and to the game I love so dearly, in the near future.
Major Cabinet Reshuffle in the TCI by Premier Ewing
The New Year brought with it new changes for the elected Government Ministers of the Turks and Caicos Islands, when Premier, Dr. the Hon. Rufus Ewing successfully sought immediate changes to ministerial portfolios and responsibilities.
These changes which will take effect within coming weeks were announced during a Media Briefing held earlier today at the Office of the Premier in Providenciales, where the Premier and Ministers explained a two-phased approach to the Cabinet Shuffle. The first phase, which comes into effect as early as January 19, 2015, will see the main swap in portfolios between Premier Ewing and Minister Porsha Stubbs-Smith and Ministers Amanda Missick and George Lightbourne. The second phase slated for April 1, 2015 will see more intricate departmental changes as well as the renaming of actual Ministries.
Premier Ewing, in gaining the approval of His Excellency the Governor, Peter Beckingham last evening to move forward with the proposed changes, made this comment:
“This shuffle is a very positive restructuring of the Ministerial Government and comes at a critical time in our term in office. In the two years already past there have been tremendous wins in each of the Ministries and the efforts of each Minister should be applauded, as their contributions have been impactful and commendable. By swapping ministerial responsibility, we are able to capture a fresh wave of ideas and energy and it is on that momentum that we seek to maintain the pendulum of success.”
Commencing January 19, 2015, the Ministerial portfolios will be as follows:
Office of the Premier and Ministry of Health- Dr. the Hon. Rufus W. Ewing
Deputy Premier and Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Library Services-Hon. Akierra M. D. Missick
Ministry of Finance, Investment and Trade- Hon. C. Washington Misick
Ministry of Government Support Services- Hon. Amanda Missick
Ministry of Border Control and Labour-Hon. Ricardo D. Gardiner
Ministry of Environment and Home Affairs- Hon. George Lightbourne
Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Heritage- Hon. Porsha Stubbs-Smith
In anticipation of the upcoming 2015/2016 Budget, the following changes are to take effect on April 1st, 2015.
Office of the Premier, Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Human Services
Minister: Dr. Honourable Rufus Ewing
Permanent Secretary: Wesley Clerveaux
Deputy Secretary: Tamera Robinson
• District Administration
• Agriculture Department
• Dental Department
• Primary Health Care Unit
• National HIV Prevention Unit
• Drug & Mental Health Unit
• National Public Health Laboratory
• Emergency Medical Service (Ambulance)
• Environmental Health Department
Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Library Services
Minister: Honourable Akierra Missick
Permanent Secretary: Cheryl Ann Jones
Deputy Secretary: Russell Cox
• Education Administration – Zone 1
• Education Department – Zone 1
• Education Department – Zone 2
• Education Administration – Zone 2
• Tertiary and Further Education
• Helena J Robinson High School
• Clement Howell High School
• Raymond Gardiner High School
• Marjorie Basden High School
• Youth Department
• Sports Department
• Library Department
Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Heritage and Culture
Minister: Honourable Porsha Stubbs-Smith
Permanent Secretary: Desiree Lewis
• Gaming Department
• Culture Department
• Protected Areas Department
• DECR & Maritime Department
• Tourist Board
• Turks and Caicos National Trust
Ministry of Home Affairs, Transportation and Communication
Minister: Honourable George Lightbourne
Permanent Secretary: Ian Astwood
Deputy Secretary: Porsha Clarke
• Road Safety Department
• Prison Service
• Domestic Fire Department
• Social Development & Gender Affairs
• Central Purchasing Unit
• TCIG Publishing Department
• Postal Services
• Radio Turks and Caicos
• Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies
Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning
Minister: Honourable Amanda Missick
Permanent Secretary: Susan Malcolm
Deputy Secretary: Desmond Wilson
• Planning Department
• Public Works Department
• Engineering and Maintenance Services
• Water Undertaking
• Mechanical Services Division
• Project Management Division
• Maintenance Division
• Energy & Utility Department
Ministry of Finance, Trade and Investment
Minister: Honourable Washington Misick
Permanent Secretary (Actg.): Shonia Astwood
Deputy Secretary: Arthur Been
• Budget Office
• Strategic Policy & Planning Unit
• Customs Department
• Revenue Control Unit
• Computer Unit
• Exchange of Information Unit
• Investment Unit
• Port Authority
• TCI Airport Authority
• Financial Services Commission
Ministry of Border Control and Employment
Minister: Honourable R. Donhue Gardiner
Permanent Secretary: Clara Gardiner
Deputy Secretary: Sharon Taylor
• Immigration Department
• Employment Services Department
• Registration and Citizenship
• Labour Tribunal
Cabinet was informed that the National Money Laundering Assessment will be completed in June
Her Excellency the Acting Governor, Hon. Anya Williams, chaired the 1st meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday 7th January 2015 at the NJS Francis Building on Grand Turk.
All Ministers were present.
At this meeting Cabinet:
• Noted the draft legislative agenda for the first quarter of 2015 and the time-table for the sitting of the House of Assembly;
• Advised HE. the Governor to approve the commencement of discussions with Hyundai Engineering and Construction Ltd (on a without prejudice basis) following their expression of interest, on the potential for the development of a best-in-class container transhipment port within the Turks and Caicos Islands;
• Received an update from the Attorney General on progress with the Turks and Caicos Islands National Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment (NRA). Work on this project commenced in October 2014 with the initial workshop. Recommendations will be presented to policy makers in a further workshop facilitated by World Bank representatives and the final report will be completed by the end of June 2015;
• Confirmed its earlier decision to introduce containerised scanning at seaports in the Turks and Caicos Islands using new technology and requested that the Ports Authority prepare a technical specification to enable publication of an invitation to tender in accordance with the Public Procurement Ordinance 2012;
• Noted the reduction in fuel prices globally and that a corresponding reduction in prices at the fuel pumps across TCI has not been forthcoming. Cabinet requested that the matter be investigated further by the Energy Commissioner;
• Approved a request made by the developers of the Cooper Jack Development to waive royalties associated with the sand mining for maintenance dredging to be carried out in the first phase of dredging in the development. Approval was granted on the basis that it will kick start the development resulting in new employment, new recurring revenue for the Government and other related social and economic benefits and subject to the dredging being carried out within 12 months from the Planning approval for that dredging;
• Congratulated the Attorney General Hon. Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles who was named as the 2014 recipient of the Person of the Year award by the TCI Weekly News;
Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.
CIBC FirstCaribbean reports $95-million loss
LOAN loss impairments led CIBC FirstCaribbean Bank Jamaica Ltd to record a $95-million net loss for its year ending October 2014, according to just released data.
However, it comes within the context of wider losses from the bank's regional parent.
Despite the loss, the local bank continued to reduce its year-end losses which are now roughly one-tenth that of the $927.4-million loss recorded in October 2013. In fact, Chief Executive Rik Parkhill told the Jamaica Observer in a December interview that the bank was returning to profitability on a quarter by quarter basis.
"Jamaica was profitable in the fourth quarter," he said at the New Kingston head office in Jamaica. "We have overcome some of the problems we have had in Jamaica with non-performing loans and are now expanding our retail and corporate business."
Parkhill made the comments following a board meeting but did not disclose the local financials at the time. The financials were subsequently published late December.
The local bank made $4.4 billion in total income compared to $4.2 billion a year earlier while cutting operational expenses by roughly 10 per cent year on year to $4.3 billion. But the bank recorded a $235-million ($870 million in 2013) loan impairment which contributed to its loss.
"Jamaica, for us, is of huge strategic importance because I do not think you can be a successful regional bank without having a significant presence in Jamaica," he added.
The local bank's segment results show that its retail banking recorded a $1.18-billion loss before taxation or flat year-on-year; wholesale banking made a $671-million profit compared with a $436.2-million loss a year earlier; and administration made a $436.5-million profit or 51 per cent more than a year earlier.
Retail banking entails a full range of branch, ABM and Internet banking services for clients. Wholesale banking entails corporate banking, investment banking and client solutions group.
Concurrently, the bank updated its over decade-long legal suit in which a former customer counterclaimed $2 billion. The Business Observer noted that that case was documented and updated annually from at least the 2002 annual report.
Parkhill previously told the Business Observer that CIBC FirstCaribbean Jamaica will spend upwards of US$2 million ($228 million) to build two new branches -- one in Fairview in Montego Bay, and the other in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth.
The move is aimed at increasing the bank's branch network to 15 by summer 2015. The bank will also set up its wealth management arm in Jamaica, which follows steps taken recently in the Cayman Islands and The Bahamas. The new initiatives are aimed at expanding CIBC's retail and corporate customer base.
The overall CIBC FirstCaribbean group, which operates throughout the region, posted a loss of US$151 million for its year ending October 2014. This is based largely on retail non-performing mortgages in The Bahamas and the bank's steps to limit its future impact. As such, the bank made an impairment of US$206 million, its highest in at least five years, in addition to a one-off US$116 million loss of intangible assets.
Source- Jamaica Observer
The charger that boosts cellphone batteries in seconds
A Samsung smartphone has just been recharged from being nearly out-of-juice to full capacity in less time than it takes to boil a kettle.
The Israeli start-up behind the demo, Storedot, has shown off a similar feat before.
But a previous demo posted online eight months ago involved a battery many times thicker than the handset itself as well as an outsized charger - making the tech impractical for real-world use.
This time round the phone involved is no bigger than normal, and the charging dock is pretty slim-line as well.
There's a couple of trade-offs involved, but being able to recharge devices about 100 times faster than at present has the potential to revolutionise the way we use mobile phones, tablets, laptops and wearable tech.
The BBC is the first to have been shown the new kit, apart from tech industry executives who had to sign non-disclosure agreements.
Leo Kelion Technology desk editor, Las Vegas
Source-BBC
Brent Crude oil price dips below $50 a barrel
The price of Brent crude oil has fallen below $50 a barrel for the first time since May 2009.
It fell more than a dollar to $49.92 a barrel in early trading on Wednesday before edging back above the $50 mark.
Slowing global growth and increased supply of oil and gas have pushed prices sharply lower in recent weeks.
The price of oil traded in the United States, known as West Texas Intermediate crude, has already fallen below $50.
Many observers expect the price of oil to fall further as North American shale producers continue to supply increasing quantities of oil and gas, and the oil-producing group Opec resists calls for cuts in production to support prices.
"With no sign that Opec will do anything about over-production, it seems likely that we could well see further declines towards $40 in the coming weeks," said CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson.
Oil industry insiders tell me they think it will be a year or two until prices return to around $80 - $90 per barrel.
A senior oil executive thinks Brent crude will drop to $45 per barrel, while an engineer suggested it could drop further.
Despite this, the Saudi King used a speech, delivered by the Crown Prince on Tuesday, to again insist the oil giant will not cut production, despite themselves having to decrease discounts to Asian customers as the low prices bite.
There are other signs Saudi Arabia may be feeling the pinch a little too hard, despite its large foreign reserves and cheap production costs.
The Kingdom's main oil company has suspended a major clean fuels plant and several new rigs.
Gulf economies are now budgeting for an assumed oil price of around $60 a barrel this year but insist that they will continue spending regardless, to build and diversify their economies, incurring a deficit if needs be.
Iraq however is suffering badly. With major security challenges there, they are already budgeting for a huge deficit.
Analysis by Mark Lobel, BBC business reporter, Dubai
Source-BBC
Barcelona president says striker Lionel Messi is 'happy'
Lionel Messi is happy at Barcelona and will stay with the club until at least the end of his contract in 2018, says president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
Reports in Spain suggest that La Liga's all-time record goalscorer, 27, is unhappy under coach Luis Enrique.
But Bartomeu said: "Messi has a contract until 2018, he is happy with the club and wants to win more titles.
"There is nothing to panic about in that regard. Messi is the central figure. The team is built around him."
He added: "The whole footballing world knows that Barca don't want to sell Messi. For me he is the best player in the world."
Messi started on the bench as Barcelona lost to Real Sociedad at the weekend.
The defeat meant they remained second in the La Liga table, a point behind fierce rivals Real Madrid.
In November, Enrique insisted Messi was "delighted" to be at Barca after reports linked the Argentine with a move away from the Nou Camp.
Talk of a transfer has resurfaced in recent days, with rumours Messi could be interested in a move to English Premier League side Chelsea.
Catalan radio has claimed that the London club has contacted Messi's father and agent Jorge.
But Bartomeu told a news conference: "These news stories are created to try to damage FC Barcelona. They are written with the intention of creating conflicts where conflict does not exist.