EU court takes Hamas off terrorist organisations list
A top court of the European Union has annulled the bloc's decision to keep the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on a list of terrorist groups.
The decision had been based not on an examination of Hamas' actions, but on "factual imputations derived from the press and the internet", judges found.
The court said the move was technical and was not a reassessment of Hamas' classification as a terrorist group.
It said a funding freeze on the group would continue for the time being.
Hamas dominates Gaza and fought a 50-day war with Israel earlier this year. Under its charter, the movement is committed to Israel's destruction.
Responding to the ruling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas was a "murderous terrorist organisation" which should be put back on the list immediately.
Israel, the United States and several other nations have designated Hamas a terrorist organisation due to its long record of attacks and its refusal to renounce violence.
Hamas, which was founded in 1987, won Palestinian parliamentary elections in 2006 and reinforced its power in Gaza the following year after ousting its Fatah rivals.
Its supporters see it as a legitimate resistance movement against Israel, with whom it has fought for years.
Source-BBC
Fifa investigator resigns in World Cup report row
Fifa's independent ethics investigator Michael Garcia has quit in protest over the handling of his report into bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
The American lawyer cited a "lack of leadership" at the top of football's world governing body.
Garcia said he lost confidence in the independence of judge Hans-Joachim Eckert, an ethics committee colleague.
Uefa president Michel Platini said: "We wanted all transparency but this is a new failure for Fifa."
The head of European football spoke out as Garcia resigned a day after Fifa's appeals panel rejected his challenge of Eckert's summary of his report.
Garcia said: "It is the lack of leadership on these issues within Fifa that leads me to conclude that my role in this process is at an end."
Fifa president Sepp Blatter said: "I am surprised by Mr Garcia's decision. The work of the ethics committee will nonetheless continue."
The association said in a statement that an acting chairman of the committee would be appointed, pending the election of a successor to Garcia.
Qatar whistleblower Phaedra Al Majid said Fifa's rules are a "farce".
She added: "Not even an extensive, purportedly independent, two-year investigation and report could affect its culture."
Russia won the right to host the 2018 World Cup, while Qatar was awarded the 2022 tournament. Fifa cleared both of corruption despite a series of allegations.
Source-BBC Sports
Obama Announces Historic Revamp of US-Cuba Relations
U.S. President Barack Obama announced a major shift in U.S. relations with Cuba, after the country’s communist leaders released Alan Gross, an American who had been imprisoned there for five years.
In addition to the release of Gross, three Cubans were freed from a U.S. jail.
In explaining plans to begin normalizing relations with Cuba, Obama said, "Isolation has not worked. It's time for a new approach.
"I believe this contact will do more to empower the Cuban people," said the president, who had spoken with Cuban President Raul Castro on Tuesday.
Castro, who spoke to his nation at the same time Wednesday, said, "We have decided to re-establish diplomatic relations" with the U.S.
He said, "This decision by President Barack Obama deserves respect and recognition by our people," but he also called for a complete end to the U.S. economic blockade.
Talks for Gross' release lasted for about a year, with the Vatican playing a significant role, Senior Democratic Senator Dick Durbin said Wednesday. Both Obama and Castro thanked Pope Francis for the Vatican's role in starting a dialogue between the two countries.
Source-Voa
iNTER-Caribbean Introduces Cacique Rewards
interCaribbean Airways is pleased to introduce Cacique rewards, a new rewards program designed for the frequent and infrequent flyers. Each flight flown on interCaribbean Airways will earn points that can be redeemed for rewards travel both domestic and international flights.
Informing RTC News about Cacique Rewards: "We choose the name of "Cacique" Rewards in honour of our historical Caribbean roots. The Cacique were the Chiefs or the Leaders of the many Islands of the Caribbean. The title of Cacique was passed from father to son, and eldest daughter when the line of sons were broken, so the Cacique were great men and women of all the islands. The Cacique were leaders of their communities, and the inspiration to dedicate this new program, to the great people of the Caribbean – You," said Mr. Trevor Sadler.
He told our news room that starting today, you'll become a Cacique member when you sign up, to begin to earn points for flights and for other rewards as we develop the program. You will earn points for each flight leg you fly on interCaribbean Airways (JY flight numbers), and before long on your way to enjoying the fruits of your flying.
Signing up today will allow frequent fliers to begin earning points as of the date you sign up. He informed RTC News that we can visit interCaribbean.com, clicking on the Cacique Rewards banner. You will receive an email confirmation confirming your Cacique Rewards member number, and password.
The system will be accessible for booking your flights from Mid-January 2015, but every flight you fly starting from today, keep a record of those flights and save the boarding cards, said Mr. Sadler.
We look forward to welcoming you aboard again and again. To great people come great rewards!
Shocking baggage rates by InterCaribbean
A new baggage policy at InterCaribbean Airways is drawing criticism as residents say there was no warning of the charges which now tax second and third bags automatically, even for domestic travel.
Lots of questions flying across the counter at the domestic curb side check in at the Provo International on Monday when politicians and others of the traveling public were apprised of the new fees. There was no traditional warning about the changes… the information, well it was tweeted and posted to Facebook by InterCaribbean.
RTC can confirm that no radio was received or TV announcements; paid or otherwise… no media release and no direct email to customers that we spoke to about the new move by the indigenous airline company.
As for what the new baggage policy is… well if you are traveling within the TCI or within Jamaica; your first checked bag is free, your second checked bag up to 50lbs or 62 inches draws an automatic $25 charge; if the bag goes over the specifications there is more money to pay, $20. The third bag is charged $50 and overage on weight of your baggage will also cost you. When it comes to the international flights you will pay as much as $100 for a third bag; $75 for that second bag – these, again are automatic.
BAGGAGE POLICY AS TWEETED BY ICA:
BAG ALLOWANCE - Effective December 7, 2014
DOMESTIC FLIGHTS
Turks & Caicos + Jamaica
Free Bag Allowance - 1 Bag up to 50lbs plus 1 carry-on bag of no more
than 10lbs
Bag Over 50 lbs up to 70lbs - an excess charge of $20
2nd checked Bag - $25
3rd checked Bag - $50
Any bag over 62 inches or 157 CM will incur oversize charge of $20.
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
Turks & Caicos to Haiti / Dominican Republic / Jamaica / Bahamas
Free Bag Allowance - 1 Bag up to 44lbs plus 1 carry-on bag of no more
than 10lbs
Over 44 lbs and up to 70lbs - an excess charge of $50
2nd checked Bag - $75
3rd checked Bag - $100
Any bag over 62 inches or 157 CM will incur oversize charge of $50.
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
To and from Puerto Rico to Dominican Republic or Turks & Caicos
(and through all other checked flights to/from Puerto Rico)
Free Bag Allowance - 1 Bag up to 50lbs plus 1 carry-on bag of no more
than 10lbs
Over 50 lbs and up to 70lbs - an excess charge of $50
2nd checked Bag - $75
3rd checked Bag - $100
Any bag over 62 inches or 157 CM will incur oversize charge of $50
Source: MM TV
Theft of TCIG’s Stray Dog Traps
The Department of Agriculture is again appealing to members of the public to immediately cease and desist from the practice of theft and deliberate destruction of the equipment used to humanely trap the stray dogs.
The Ministry of Environment and Human Affairs is disappointed that this behavior has not abated. The recent thefts and destruction of traps have temporarily halted the progress of the trapping programme on Providenciales. The most recent thefts are of the new traps, bought to replace those that were stolen.
The trapping programme is designed to reduce the number of stray and feral dogs on the Islands thereby reducing the risk to life and property as a result of accidents or public health issues resulting from disease or bites.
Chief Veterinarian, Dr. Mark Butler noted; “This type of vandalism is unacceptable. The Department uses these traps to affect the stray dog population. Without these traps we cannot remove these dogs from our communities.
“Such practice, if continued, will curtail the gains we have made to reduce the stray dog population in Providenciales, as well as the financial applications associated with purchasing replacement traps. ”
The Ministry advises members of the public that engaging in the theft of government property constitutes a crime. Perpetrators of all such acts, if caught, will be charged and put before the courts.
The Department urges all persons to report these acts of theft and those who are responsible to the Department of Agriculture and or the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force.
The Department also takes this opportunity to remind residents to become responsible animal owners by ensuring that their dogs are spay or neutered, licensed and kept on their property.
Brent oil price falls below $59 a barrel
The price of Brent crude oil has fallen below $59 a barrel for the first time since May 2009.
After dropping below $60, the Brent price then fell to $58.50 a barrel, before recovering slightly to $59.01.
Oil prices have now nearly halved since June as a result of waning demand and increased supplies.
The latest fall was triggered by news of a fall in industrial activity in China, the world's second largest consumer of oil.
The price of US crude fell by $1.86 to $54.05 a barrel.
The drop came as members of oil cartel Opec reiterated that they would not try to shore up plunging oil prices by reducing production.
"We need to watch the market closely, but it will settle eventually," Qatar's oil minister, Mohammed al-Sada, said.
Russian energy minister Alexander Novak had the same message.
"If we cut, the importer countries will increase their production and this will mean a loss of our niche market," he said.
The comments came a couple of days after the world energy watchdog, the International Energy Agency, cut its oil demand forecast for 2015.
Meanwhile, credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's lowered its oil price assumptions to $70 a barrel for Brent in 2015 and $75 a barrel in 2016.
It blamed "relatively unconstrained supply and weaker demand" for the downgraded forecast.
Apple defeats $1bn court case alleging anti-competition
Apple has been found not guilty of engaging in anti-competitive behaviour by a jury in California.
The long-running suit focused on Apple's 2006 update to its iTunes software which meant only iPods could play music purchased from the store.
Consumers alleged this violated US antitrust laws, and sued for $350m (£222m) in damages.
The trial had featured emails sent by Apple founder Steve Jobs before his death in 2012.
The class action suit represented as many as 8 million iPod customers and 500 resellers, and could have cost Apple as much as $1bn, as anti-competition damage rewards are automatically tripled under US law.
Lawyers representing consumers and electronics retailers argued that Apple used its iTunes software to force buyers to use iPods instead of rival devices between 2006 and 2009. (The software was updated in 2009 to remove the restrictions.)
The lawyers argued this shut out other devices artificially inflated the price of iPods and used the emails from Mr Jobs to buttress this argument.
In one, sent in 2003, Mr Jobs worried about competition from Musicmatch, a software company, opening its own music store.
"We need to make sure that when Music Match launches their download music store they cannot use iPod," he wrote.
"Is this going to be an issue?"
However, the jurors sided with Apple, who argued the upgrade to its iTunes 7.0 software substantially improved the user experience, and thus was not subject to anti-competitive violations.
Earlier this year, Apple announced it would cease manufacturing iPods, one of the signature products that led Apple's revival under Mr Jobs.
Source-BBC
N. Korea Calls on UN to Focus on US Rights Abuses
North Korea has requested the U.N. Security Council not probe alleged human rights violations by Pyongyang, but instead investigate what it called "brutal" and "medieval" abuses by the U.S.
In a letter late Monday, North Korean U.N. Ambassador Ja Song Nam said rights accusations against the North are "fabricated" and "not at all relevant" to regional or international peace and security.
On the contrary, he said "CIA torture crimes" need to be addressed urgently by the Security Council in order to prevent what he called a "destabilizing impact" on international peace.
Ja was referring to a U.S. Senate report released last week that detailed brutal interrogation methods used by the CIA in the days after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the U.S.
Pyongyang, which is considered one of the world's worst human rights abusers, has jumped on the report to argue that the U.S. is not qualified to make judgments about other countries' rights situations.
The Security Council on Monday voted to place the North Korean human rights situation on its agenda. Official say the issue will likely be discussed next Monday or Tuesday.
A General Assembly committee last month recommended the Security Council refer Pyongyang to the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity.
GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES REVIEW OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMISSION
HE The Governor, Peter Beckingham, announced at the Financial Service Commission (FSC) AGM on Friday 12 December that he has finalised arrangements for a review of the body to be undertaken in January 2015.
The review will explore the Financial Services Commission’s value for money in delivering effective regulation, meeting international standards, and securing for TCI the competitive advantage derived from being a well-regulated jurisdiction. It will focus on the direction given to the organisation by the Board and the senior management of the FSC, the number and experience of staff employed, especially compared to other Caribbean Overseas Territories, the structure of the FSC including the companies' registry function, fees charged to the financial services sector, an assessment of the FSC reserve position/provisions, external relations with financial services organisations in TCI and relations with regional or global financial compliance bodies.
“A good financial regulator is key to the growth and sound operation of the financial services industry in any jurisdiction, and we have commissioned this review to ensure the Turks and Caicos Islands FSC is as well-equipped as possible to deliver its objectives,” commented the Governor. “These types of reviews are commonplace throughout the world, and this exercise is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure the effective operation of the bodies charged with upholding good governance in the TCI.
“There has been background noise from within the financial services sector of criticism and carping about the FSC,” the Governor added. “The aim of this review, which has been agreed with its Chair Sir Erroll Allen and will be shared with his Board, is to provide a brief but incisive analysis of how the Commission is performing, and possible areas to consider strengthening.”
The review will be conducted by Mr Steve Johnson, who is an independent consultant and a former UK Treasury official who has spent more than twenty years working with the financial services industry and regulators. Mr Johnson was Secretary to the Independent Review of British offshore financial services centres ( “The Foot Review”) and has continued to work with the sector in the UK and in Caribbean Overseas Territories since publication of the Review in 2009.