Gov’t undaunted by St Kitts/Nevis Visa regulations
Government’s Chief of Staff, Lionel “Max” Hurst, said Antigua & Barbuda is unlikely to go down the same road as St Kitts & Nevis with regards to a recently imposed Canadian Visa requirements.
As of noon on November 22, 2014, the Canadian government implemented a Visa requirement for citizens of St Kitts & Nevis, who are travelling to Canada.
According to a report in the Toronto Sun, Canadian authorities believe people with ties to terrorist organisations and organised crime are using St Kitts & Nevis passports obtained via that country’s Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) to avoid immigration screening.
But, in an interview with OBSERVER media, Hurst said the due diligence clause included in Antigua & Barbuda’s CIP agreement, would filter out any unsavoury characters attempting to get an Antiguan and Barbudan passport.
“We believe that the due diligence undertaking by our agencies abroad is sufficiently well done that the likelihood that someone who is a criminal becoming a citizen of Antigua & Barbuda is negligible or zero,” he said.
The chief of staff said that, so far, the agencies commissioned to perform due diligence checks, which he said are stationed in nearly every country, have been extremely accurate, and government expects that trend to continue.
“Those people (who are) not Antiguan by birth who become Antiguan by one mean or the other, there’s every possibility that something could go wrong, but we have done our due diligence, and therefore, we believe that not much will go wrong, if anything at all,” he said.
Hurst suggested that those who gain Antiguan and Barbudan citizenship via the CIP are hardly any different from naturalised Caricom nationals.
Antigua’s CIP was first introduced in 2012 and was initially opposed by the then Antigua & Barbuda Labour Party opposition. The party has since made amendments to the arrangement, reportedly in order to strengthen it, since taking office in June.
Source-Observer
Jimmy Ruffin, Motown singer, dies aged 78
Jimmy Ruffin, the Motown performer who scored his biggest hit with 1966's What Becomes of the Broken Hearted, has died at the age of 78.
News of his death follows reports last month that he was seriously ill and in intensive care at a Las Vegas hospital.
Born in Mississippi, Ruffin moved to Detroit in the early 1960s and was signed to Motown's Miracle label.
He moved to the UK in the 1980s, where he recorded songs with Paul Weller and Heaven 17.
Ruffin's other hits included I've Passed This Way Before, Gonna Give Her All the Love I Got and Hold On To My Love, a top 10 hit in 1980.
His younger brother David, one of the early members of the Temptations, died in 1991 of a drug overdose, prompting his sibling to become an anti-drug campaigner.
A family statement said that Ruffin was "a rare type of man who left his mark on the music industry".
"We will treasure the many fond and wonderful memories we all have of him" the statement said.
Motown Records founder Berry Gordy said he was a "phenomenal singer".
Source-BBC
Serani Seeks Billboard Return with new single
IT has been six years since singer Serani scored big on the Billboard charts with the hit single No Games.
He is hoping to replicate that success with his latest single In My Arms.
Released this week on iTunes, the single was co-produced by Serani and Matthew 'Esco' Thompson.
"The song is straightforward, to the point, about me making an attempt to woo a lady into falling for me and believing that she belongs in my arms," the 32-year-old told the Jamaica Observer.
The singer -- who is currently on an American promotional tour -- said that while he is busy in the studios, an album is not yet on the cards.
"I'm not currently working on an album, but I have many unreleased songs that are fit for an album of this quality," he noted.
Serani, whose given name is Craig Marsh, said his Billboard foray opened several doors for him.
"I have been blessed with a song like No Games because it has allowed me to tour consistently since its release, so I can't complain. No Games has opened a considerable amount of doors internationally to the ears of many industry players. It's just up to me to continue releasing good quality music to blow their minds away," he said.
The single No Games, produced by Linton 'TJ' White, peaked at number 53 on Billboard's R&B Hip Hop Singles chart. The album of the same name reached number 74 on Billboard's R&B Hip Hop album chart and number three on the reggae album tally. It has sold more than 400,000 copies in the United States.
Serani established himself as a producer with the Daseca Unit before embarking on a solo music career. He made his debut as a guest vocalist on Mavado's single Dying, from the album Gangsta for Life: The Symphony of David Brooks.
He is known for songs including Mama Still Hungry, Doh (featuring Bugle), Romance, Stinking Rich, and Study People.
Contributor: Kevin Jackson of Jamaica Observer
Britain to help five Eastern Caribbean countries
Britain is providing assistance to five Eastern Caribbean countries “to help them return to economic growth while managing the risks from external shocks”.
The Department for International Development (DFID) Caribbean says it will work closely with Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica under the new programme that runs until 2020.
“The United Kingdom is committed to the long-term development of the Caribbean,” said DFID head, Caribbean, Hugh Walker, who signed a joint letter of intent with St Vincent and the Grenadines on behalf of Desmond Swayne, Britain’s Minister for International Development.
Walker said the DFID has “listened carefully” to what Eastern Caribbean countries have been saying are the key challenges for the region.
“Our projects will focus on supporting economic growth and job creation, increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy usage, and reducing the risks posed by climate change and natural disasters,” Walker said.
Britain has already committed to spend up to £75 million (One British pound =US$1.56 cents) in the Caribbean from 2011 to 2015 and DFID will now invest a similar amount in the Caribbean from 2016 to 2020 to achieve shared development objectives.
DFID will work closely with Eastern Caribbean countries to build programmes better tailored to their individual needs.
The DFID said that it is anticipated that the new programme will build on the successes of DFID’s current regional support.
“The strong personal, cultural and institutional links between the UK and the Caribbean will help deliver results for the people of the Caribbean”.
“DFID will continue to work regionally to support Caribbean integration and tackle regional issues which are essential to the Caribbean’s long-term development”.
“It will continue to play an important role through other institutions such as the EU and Caribbean Development Bank (to which the UK is a significant contributor),”the DFID said.
Source-CMC
IMF monitoring impact of PetroCaribe
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it is monitoring the potential impact any changes to PetroCaribe, Venezuela’s oil alliance with several Caribbean islands will have on regional economies.
Analysts say the initiative, which allows countries to pay for part of their oil import from Caracas over a 20-year period at low interest rates, will have to be modified or discontinued amidst a worsening economic situation in the South American country.
Several Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries including Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Jamaica, Belize, St Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), Guyana, and Suriname are members of PetroCaribe.
St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves said that Caracas has invited PetroCaribe member countries to a meeting on Thursday about “reaffirmation” of the commitment to the initiative, the brainchild of the former Venezuelan President, the late Hugo Chavez.
Gonsalves said that the notification regarding Thursday’s meeting said the talks were about “reaffirming the commitment to PetroCaribe and to give that reaffirmation, and, secondly, to look at ways and means where we can deepen the integration process within the framework of PetroCaribe.”
IMF advisor, Western Hemisphere, Elie Canetti, told reporters that the IMF’s main concern “is that we know Venezuela is going through increasing financial stress, and oil prices have dropped from around US120 dollars a barrel to mid 70s a barrel and Venezuela is hugely dependent on selling oils.
“So, we are mindful and concerned about the feasibility of PetroCaribe continuing, certainly at the level it has been, and we are looking into what will be the impact on Caribbean countries,” Cantelli said.
He said the IMF has been monitoring the situation for quite some time, “but the urgency in trying to understand that is much higher now because of the financial situation in Venezuela does seem to be deteriorating much more quickly now with the drop in oil prices”.
Source-CMC
Northern US braced for more snowstorms after seven die
Another 3ft (1m) of snow is expected to hit parts of north-eastern US after a massive snowstorm left at least seven dead in New York state on Wednesday.
Weather-related deaths were also reported in New Hampshire and Michigan.
Parts of the city of Buffalo are already under 5ft of snow. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called the snowstorm a "historic event".
Freezing temperatures have continued in many parts of the US, with heavy disruption to travel.
John Jiloty of East Aurora near Buffalo told the BBC that some people had been stuck in their cars for a day and a half.
"I'm lucky to not be in some of the worst of it where there's six feet of snow literally 15 minutes away from where I am," he said.
"We have maybe four feet of snow so a couple more coming tonight and we'll see how we do".
Some parts of New York State have had about 5ft of snow, and there is more to come, perhaps as much as another 2ft in some places.
The situation is not unheard of for this time of year, but it is a little unusual. Cold air has pushed south and moved over the relatively warm Great Lakes area - this increases the temperature contrast between the water and the air, which leads to vast and persistent snow showers.
More than 100 National Guard members were deployed in New York to assist in clearing roads and removing abandoned vehicles.
Source-BBC
North Korea Threatens Nuclear Test Over UN Vote
North Korea is threatening to conduct a fresh nuclear test in response to a U.N. committee's condemnation of Pyongyang's alleged human rights abuses.
In a statement Thursday, the North's foreign ministry said Pyongyang will be "unable to refrain any longer" from conducting a fourth nuclear test after the U.N. General Assembly's Third Committee passed a resolution on the Communist state's rights situation.
The resolution recommends the Security Council refer North Korea to the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity. It was based on a U.N. Commission of Inquiry that found Pyongyang was committing abuses on a scale "unparalleled" in the modern world.
In its statement, North Korea said the resolution was "filled with vicious slanders and calumnies" and said its passage represents a "grave political provocation." It accused the United States of leading efforts to humiliate Pyongyang and overthrow its leadership.
North Korea has conducted three nuclear tests in recent years, the latest of which was in February 2013. There are signs that it may be preparing to back up its threats to conduct a fourth test.
In a report Wednesday, the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University said the North appears to be restarting a facility for processing weapons-grade plutonium. The report relied on satellite photos that show steam coming from the Yongbyon plant.
In addition to the nuclear test, the North said its "military deterrence will be beefed up limitlessly to guard against U.S. military intervention." The North has repeatedly made such threats in recent years, ostensibly because it is concerned about a U.S. invasion.
The foreign ministry's comments were similar to those made earlier this week by a North Korean envoy, who also threatened a nuclear test if the U.N. approved the resolution.
Ferry Operator Gets 10 Years in Jail
A South Korean court has given a ten-year jail sentence to the head of the company that operated the ferry that capsized in April, killing over 300 people.
Chonghaejin Marine CEO Kim Han-sik was found guilty Thursday of negligence for allowing the Sewol ferry to be overloaded with improperly stored cargo.
The 6,800-ton ferry, which officials say was top-heavy, capsized while making a routine turn, killing 304 people, mostly students on a school outing.
The 71-year-old Kim denied the charges, saying the responsibility for the disaster lies with his boss, whose decomposed body was found in June.
Investigators could not determine the cause of death of Chonghaejin Marine owner Yoo Byung-eun, who was the subject of a weeks-long manhunt.
The court found Kim guilty of diverting $2.6 million over the past four years to Yoo. Several other employees were also found guilty of embezzlement.
The disaster, South Korea's worst in decades, prompted public outrage at the owners, as well as the government for lax safety standards and an unsuccessful rescue operation.
Last week, the court in Gwangju sentenced the Sewol's captain and 15 other crew from five to 36 years in prison for abandoning the vessel.
Source-VOA News
Marine Forecast for Wednesday through to Friday.
WINDS: SOUTHWEST TO WEST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS AHEAD OF THE FRONT BECOMING NORTH TO NORTHEAST AT 15 TO 25 KNOTS BEHIND THE FRONT OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET AHEAD OF THE FRONT BUILDING 5 TO 8 FEET BEHIND THE FRONT OVER THE OCEAN.
WEATHER: SCATTERED SHOWERS AND POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS.
SMALL CRAFT CAUTION IS IN EFFECT
WINDS: EASTERLY AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS OVER OPEN WATERS
SEAS: 4 TO 6 FEET OVER THE OCEAN
WEATHER: A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS
MOONSET: 3:31PM MOONRISE: 4:36AM THUR.
LOW TIDE: 11:26AM HIGH TIDE: 5:17PM
LOW TIDE: 11:28PM HIGH TIDE: 5:48AM THUR.
EXTENDED FORECAST: REMNANTS OF THE FRONT WILL DRIFT WEST ON THURSDAY AND DISSIPATE FRIDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS EASTWARD NORTH OF THE BAHAMAS. MODERATE TO FRESH WINDS OVER MUCH OF THE AREA THROUGH FRIDAY AND WILL BECOME FRESH TO STRONG OVER THE WEEKEND.
FORECAST FOR THURSDAY
SMALL CRAFT CAUTION IN EFFECT FOR THE TCI & NORTHWEST AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
WINDS: NORTH TO NORTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS, NORTHEAST TO EAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS AND EASTERLY AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 4 TO 6 FEET IN THE NORTHWEST AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS AND 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS OVER THE OCEAN.
WEATHER: WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS.
FORECAST FOR FRIDAY
SMALL CRAFT CAUTION IN EFFECT FOR THE TCI & NORTHWEST AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
WINDS: NORTHEAST TO EAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS, NORTHEAST TO EAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS AND EASTERLY AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS OVER OPEN WATERS
SEAS: 4 TO 6 FEET IN THE NORTHWEST AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS AND 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS OVER THE OCEAN
WEATHER: WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK: TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT FIVE DAYS.
Honda shows off new hydrogen fuel cell car
Honda is planning to release a hydrogen-powered car in March 2016 that, in an emergency, could even power your house.
The clean-energy car called the FCV, which emits only water as a waste product, will have a range of 300 miles (480km) and seating for up to five people
But problems with hydrogen fuel, such as a lack of infrastructure to support a nationwide fleet of cars, will need to be solved before the technology is adopted.
Hydrogen fuel has been heralded as the future of automobiles, and possibly leading to a ‘hydrogen economy’ where many things run on the element, as it is a zero-emission fuel.
Cars employing the fuel use electrochemical cells or combustion to turn it into heat, with the only by-product being water.
Many car manufacturers have been toying with the idea of hydrogen cars including Toyota and BMW.
And now Honda’s latest effort, the successor to their FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel car, will soon be on its way.
There is no news yet on the price of the car or what its top speed will be, but the release date of March 2016 in Japan is known.
Honda says a release in the US and Europe will then follow.
The car has a power output of more than 100kW and an increased ‘power density’ of 60 per cent over its predecessor.
This gives the car its impressive range of 300 miles (480km).
The FCV also apparently has an external power feeder than, during an emergency, could be used to power an entire home.
Source-Mail Online