Haiti appoints Interim Prime Minister
Health Minister Florence Duperval Guillaume was named as Haiti's interim prime minister on Sunday following the resignation of her predecessor a week ago amid a stalemate over delayed legislative elections.
Duperval Guillaume will hold the post for a maximum of 30 days, as established by the constitution, before a permanent choice is presented to parliament by President Michel Martelly, according to Enex Jean Charles, secretary general of Haiti's council of ministers.
The former prime minister, Laurent Lamothe, resigned a week ago amid the bitter political standoff over legislative elections.
Martelly was supposed to call elections in 2011 for a majority of Senate seats, the entire Chamber of Deputies and local offices.
However, several opposition senators have used parliamentary procedure to prevent a vote authorising the election while orchestrating a series of large protests in the capital to call for the president to resign.
An independent commission formed to resolve the crisis had recommended that Lamothe resign, which he did following days of violent protests.
Its recommendations also include renewing the membership of the electoral council and freeing several people the opposition considers political prisoners.
On January 12, the terms of the current Senate will expire and the president can sign a decree that will enable the country to hold the elections in the first half of the year.
Ukraine's Parliament Drops Non-aligned Status
Ukraine took a further step toward seeking NATO membership Tuesday, when the country's parliament passed a law abolishing Kyiv's neutral, non-aligned status.
Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly scrap the non-aligned status, which was adopted in 2010 under Russian pressure and had prevented Kyiv from entering into any military alliances.
The amendment passed easily, receiving 303 votes, 77 more than the minimum required to pass into law.
“Aggression against Ukraine on the part of the Russian Federation, the illegal annexation of [Crimea], the waging of a so-called ‘hybrid war’ against our state, [Russia’s] military intervention in eastern Ukraine, permanent military, political, economic and informational pressure on the part of Russia, have forced Ukraine to seek better safeguards of its independence, sovereignty, security and territorial integrity,” some of the bill’s language reads.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said he will seek membership in NATO, the Western military alliance, as Kyiv fights Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said the move underscored the country's determination to pivot towards Europe and the West. "This will lead to integration in the European and the Euro-Atlantic space,” he said.
Digicel/Claro merger in order, court rules
The Court of Appeal has ruled that the merger of telecoms providers Digicel and Claro was in keeping with provisions of the Telecommunications Act and does not fall within the Fair Competition Act (FCA).
The Fair Trading Commission (FTC) had, in December 2011, challenged the merger, contending that it would result in a lessening of competition in the telecoms market and adversely affect customers.
Telecoms company LIME also joined in the matter on the side of the FTC.
But before the Supreme Court could hear the suit scheduled for January 2012, Digicel, through the law firm Henlin Gibson Henlin, filed a counter action challenging the FTC's jurisdiction to bring the claim.
The matter was taken to Court of Appeal after the Supreme Court ruled that the FTC in fact had the legal standing to challenge the merger, which was first approved by then Prime Minister Bruce Golding in August 2011 and took effect on March 1, 2012 when Claro ceased operating in Jamaica.
The appellate court reserved judgement in May 2013 after hearing arguments from attorneys in the matter.
The court, which delivered its ruling on Friday, said the FCA does not apply to the agreement entered into by Digicel and Claro. Section 17 of the Act, the court ruled, is aimed at agreements involving collusive conduct and that there was no collusion between the parties.
The court also ruled that agreements that comply with Section 17 of the Telecommunications Act and approved by the minister upon compliance with section 11 of the Telecommunications Act do not fall within the purview of section 17(3) of the FCA.
Contributor- Paul Henry
Source-Jamaica Observer
Fed Pledges 'Patience' Before Raising Interest Rates
Top officials of the U.S. central bank (Federal Reserve ) say they will keep their key interest rate at its current ultra-low level and be "patient" in assessing economic data before they raise rates.
Interest rates were cut to nearly zero during the financial crisis in a bid to boost U.S. economic growth. With the world's largest economy recovering, such help is no longer needed and most economists expect interest rates to begin rising in the middle of 2015.
Investors watch Federal Reserve statements with great care for hints about how soon and how much rates will go up. The Dow, a key U.S. stock index, rose sharply late Wednesday as traders apparently concluded the Fed's economic stimulus efforts will continue for a while.
Some economists say the Fed's efforts to bolster the economy helped fuel a strong stock market rally. But others warn keeping rates too low for too long could overshoot and spark inflation that could harm the economy.
Fed Chair Janet Yellen and her colleagues got a new look at U.S. inflation. New data show falling oil prices cut prices in the overall economy by three-tenths of a percent in November. Outside the volatile areas of food and energy, prices in the overall economy rose a very modest one-tenth of a percent.
Sony Scraps NY Premiere of Comedy About North Korea
The New York premiere of a film about a fictional plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been canceled following threats by a shadowy hacker group.
The so-called Guardians of Peace on Tuesday released a statement promising a "bitter fate" to those who see "The Interview," which is set to be released nationwide on Christmas Day.
In broken English, the brief statement invoked the September 11, 2001, attacks against the U.S. and warned potential movie-goers to "keep yourself distant" from theaters that show the film.
It also included another round of leaked e-mails that appear to be from Sony Pictures CEO Michael Lynton.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said it is analyzing the message, but insisted "there is no credible intelligence to indicate an active plot against movie theaters."
Sony Pictures says it will release the film as planned, but that it will not object if theaters decide to cancel screenings. At least one U.S. theater chain, Carmike Cinemas, has already done so.
Late Tuesday night, Landmark Cinemas, another major U.S. movie theater chain, announced it, too, was canceling Thursday's premiere of "The Interview" at its New York City location.
Source-VOA
Bill Cosby won't be charged over 1974 molestation claim
Charges will not be filed against comedian Bill Cosby over allegations that he sexually assaulted a teenage girl in 1974, US prosecutors say.
They cited the statute of limitations which restricts the length of time in which legal action can be taken after an alleged crime has been committed.
Judy Huth alleges that Mr Cosby molested her when she was 15 years old.
She is one of at least 15 women who since early November have alleged that Mr Cosby sexually assaulted them.
The comedian's lawyers have denied most of the allegations while dismissing others as either being discredited or decades old.
Most of the women concerned say that the comedian drugged them before assaulting them.
Ms Huth claimed that she was forced by Mr Cosby to perform a sex act on him at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles.
Mr Cosby's lawyer has accused her of trying to extort $250,000 from the star before she decided to sue - he also accused her of trying to sell her story to a tabloid a decade ago.
The actor has never been charged with a crime but the accusations have led to his stand-up tour being called off and the cancellation of a number of TV projects.
Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Cosby's wife Camille spoke for the first time to defend her "wonderful husband" against claims of sexual assault.
"He is the man you thought you knew," Mrs Cosby said in a statement.
Mrs Cosby, who has been married to the comedian for 50 years, said she continued to love the man she "fell in love with".
She suggested the media's portrayal of Cosby was a "portrait" of a man she "didn't know".
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!