Ariana Grande & One Direction win big at MTV EMAs
Numerous icons in music officially lit up the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards in Glasgow, Scotland on Sunday, November 9. Hosted by Nicki Minaj, the event saw both Ariana Grande and One Direction walking away with multiple nods.
Grande picked up the night's Best Song trophy for her Iggy Azalea collaboration "Problem". The opening act said upon accepting the accolade, "I was just onstage one second ago! Thank you so much, this means so much to me. This has been a really crazy year, last year I was presenting to Iggy and this year I'm nominated for a bunch of things and I got to open the show and I can't thank everybody who's been supporting me this past year enough. I can't tell you how grateful I am."
She continued, "I also want to thank MTV for having me again because last year, when I met Iggy, I feel like that's part of the reason 'Problem' happened, which is why everything happened this year, so thank you." She also won the Best Female vote.
One Direction was not present to accept their trophies as they were in London to prepare for their performance at "The X Factor". But all of them, except for Zayn Malik who was sick, appeared in a video to thank Directioners for voting them in the category of Biggest Fans. "Thank you so much for everything. We really wanted to be there tonight, but we can't be. Thank you," the band said in a recorded tape. The boys also won Best Pop and Best Live trophies later that night.
It was also a big night for pop-punk boy band 5 Seconds of Summer who walked away with Best New, Best Australian Act, and Best Push. Fifth Harmony won for the Best U.S. Act category while Chinese singer Bibi Zhou won Best Worldwide.
Justin Bieber won Best Male for the fifth year in a row but he was not there to accept the award. He sent his love via Twitter, writing, "Just won Best Male at the #EMAs. Thank you all so much. Big things coming. Love you."
Full Winners List:
Best Song: "Problem" - Ariana Grande feat. Iggy Azalea
Best Video: "Dark Horse" - Katy Perry feat. Juicy J
Best Song with a Message: "Pretty Hurts" - Beyonce Knowles
Best Female: Ariana Grande
Best Male: Justin Bieber
Best Pop: One Direction
Best Push: 5 Seconds of Summer
Best Hip-Hop: Nicki Minaj
Best Rock: Linkin Park
Best Alternative: 30 Seconds to Mars
Best Electronic: Afrojack
Best New: 5 Seconds of Summer
Breakout Rock Group: Royal Blood
Best Live: One Direction
Best Worldwide Act: Bibi Zhou
Best World Stage: Enrique Iglesias
Best Australian: 5 Seconds of Summer
Global Icon: Ozzy Osbourne
Best Look: Katy Perry
Biggest Fans: One Direction
ICC says West Indies' withdrawal from India tour 'sad chapter'
The International Cricket Council has called West Indies' withdrawal from the tour of India "unacceptable".
West Indies players abandoned their tour last month after a dispute with their own board over pay.
The ICC indicated that repeat behaviour would jeopardise players' chances of competing in lucrative tournaments such as the Indian Premier League.
"It was undoubtedly a sad chapter in our sport," said ICC chairman Narayanaswami Srinivasan.
The pay dispute between West Indies players and administrators saw the squad withdraw after the fourth one-day international, with one ODI, a Twenty20 international and three Test matches still to be played.
The West Indies Cricket Board has asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for a "mutually agreeable solution" over its compensation demand for £26.2m.
Cricket's world governing body, currently meeting in Dubai, said in a statement on Sunday that players abandoning tours had the potential to cause "irrevocable damage" and could "adversely affect the financial viability of the sport itself".
"All member boards collectively expressed the view that they consider such player action to be extremely disruptive, damaging and unacceptable," added the statement.
"Players who behave in a similar manner in the future will not only risk breaching the disciplinary rules of the relevant member board and being sanctioned accordingly, but may also put in jeopardy their ability to conclude future contractual arrangements with domestic franchises or clubs in other jurisdictions."
The two-day ICC meeting ended on Monday with the announcement that the World Cup trophy will be shared by the finalists in 2015 if there is a tie, or no result.
It follows a decision to scrap the use of a super over for the final, semi-finals and quarter-finals.
The 2015 World Cup, to be held in Australia and New Zealand, takes place between 14 February and 29 March.
Source-BBC Sports
Reagan's apology to Thatcher over Grenada revealed
A recorded conversation between an apologetic Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher over the invasion of Grenada has been published for the first time.
"We regret very much the embarrassment that's been caused to you," the US leader said during the call.
Baroness Thatcher was angered that she was not consulted before the Americans invaded a Commonwealth state.
United States troops were sent to Grenada in 1983 to topple the Caribbean island's Marxist regime.
While US forces were still in action, the president phoned Lady Thatcher to explain the action he had taken.
"If I were there, Margaret," he said, "I'd throw my hat in the door before I came in."
The saying refers to an Civil War-era practice in which a visitor might throw his hat in to a room before entering - if he was unwelcome, it might be thrown out again or even shot at.
"There's no need for that," Lady Thatcher replied.
Reagan continued: "We regret very much the embarrassment that's been caused to you, and I would like to tell you what the story is from our end."
He explained that military commanders only had "a matter of hours" to mobilise the troops and that he was prevented from discussing it with her sooner because of security fears.
"We were greatly concerned because of a problem here - and not at your end at all - but here. We've had a nagging problem of a loose source, a leak," he told her.
Lady Thatcher went on to suggest she understood why he had not been more open with her, saying she had been subject to similar restrictions at the time of the Falklands invasion.
"The action [in Grenada] is under way now and we just hope it will be successful. There is a lot of work to do yet, Ron," she said.
The pair discussed the situation in Grenada further before she ended the call by saying she had to return to a "tricky" debate in the House of Commons.
Reagan then pitched in with some advice for her: "All right. Go get 'em, eat 'em alive."
A box of 20 tapes was released to the public in October at the Reagan Library in Los Angeles, following several Freedom of Information Act requests.
Source-BBC
'Too big to fail' bank rules unveiled by global regulators
The rules, created by the Financial Stability Board (FSB), a global regulator, will require big banks to hold much more money against losses.
Mark Carney, FSB chairman and governor of the Bank of England, said the plans were a "watershed" moment.
He said it had been "totally unfair" for taxpayers to bail out banks after the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009.
"The banks and their shareholders and their creditors got the benefit when things went well," he told the BBC.
"But when they went wrong the British public and subsequent generations picked up the bill - and that's going to end".
Mr Carney explained that the new system would ensure that bank shareholders, and lenders to banks such as bondholders, would become first in line to bear the brunt of future losses if banks could not pay out of their own resources.
"Instead of having the public, governments, [and] the taxpayer rescue banks when things go wrong; the creditors of banks, the big institutions that hold the banks' debt - not the depositors - will become the new shareholders of banks if banks make mistakes."
"Let's face it, the system we've had up until now has been totally unfair," he added.
Governments around the world spent hundreds of billions of pounds bailing out stricken banks during the financial crisis of 2007-08.
At its peak in the UK alone, taxpayers' direct subsidy to banks stood at more than £1 trillion according to a recent report from the National Audit Office.
In the wake of the financial crisis, world leaders asked the FSB to come up with proposals to prevent similar bailouts from happening in the future.
The proposed new rules, which are up for consultation and should take effect in 2019, require "global systemically important banks" to hold a minimum amount of cash to ensure they will be able to survive big losses without turning to governments for help.
The capital set aside should be worth 15-20% of the bank's assets, the FSB said. That is a far bigger cushion against losses than is required by current banking rules.
The FSB hopes this stronger policy will prevent taxpayers from being forced to pay billions of pounds again to stop big banks from collapsing, in the event of another financial crisis.
Anthony Browne of the British Bankers' Association welcomed the proposals.
"The banking industry strongly supports this work, which is a really important step in ending 'too big to fail' and ensuring that never again will taxpayers have to step in to bail out banks," he said.
"We agree with the aims and objectives of the proposals for total loss absorbing capacity ('TLAC'), that there should be sufficient resources available to absorb losses in the event of bank failure and provide new capital to ensure critical economic functions can continue to be provided," he added.
"Agreement on proposals for a common international standard on total loss-absorbing capacity for [big banks] is a watershed in ending 'too big to fail' for banks," said Mr Carney.
"Once implemented, these agreements will play important roles in enabling globally systemic banks to be resolved without recourse to public subsidy and without disruption to the wider financial system."
According to the BBC's business editor Kamal Ahmed, analysts estimate the new capital requirements could cost €200bn (£157bn) for Europe's banks alone, with the cost for globally significant banks in the US, Japan and China likely to be much higher.
The FSB has published a list of 30 banks it regards as "systemically important", meaning their collapse could have a wider impact on global financial systems.
In the UK, the banks are Barclays, Standard Chartered, HSBC and the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Lloyds Banking Group has been removed from the list as its potential impact on financial systems has declined in recent years.
The UK government spent around £65bn directly bailing out RBS and Lloyds during the crisis. The government still owns an 80% stake in RBS and 25% of Lloyds.
Source-BBC
Despite Tensions, China Gives Obama Warm Welcome
President Barack Obama has a received a warm welcome in China, despite tensions on issues like trade, human rights, and China’s territorial claims in the East and South China Seas.
Relations between the two countries have been strained, in large part, because of Chinese suspicions that the United States wants to contain China’s growth.
But both sides appeared wanting to accentuate the positive aspects of their relationship.
Chinese leaders welcomed Obama at Beijing airport Monday with an honor guard and red carpet.
Later, Obama addressed business leaders at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Dispelling Chinese suspicions topped his agenda.
“The United States welcomes the rise of a prosperous, peaceful, and stable China. I want to repeat that," the president said. " We welcome the rise of a prosperous, peaceful and stable China. In fact, over recent decades, the United States has worked to help integrate China into the global economy. Not only because it’s in China’s best interests, but because it’s in America’s best interests and the world’s best interests. We want China to do well."
Deepening relations with China, Obama said, will mean more jobs and opportunity for the American and Chinese people. The U.S. leader announced a new agreement to extend the validity of visas for students, businesspeople and tourists.
“Under the current arrangement, visas between our two countries last for only one year. Under the new arrangement, student and exchange visas will be extended to five years. Business and tourist visas will be extended to 10 years,” said Obama.
But the U.S. and China are far from agreeing on thorny issues like human rights, cyberspace, and trade.
Washington and Beijing are pursuing rival trade deals.
Source-VOA
Drug charges against Brazilian footballer Adriano rejected
A judge in Rio de Janeiro has rejected charges of drug trafficking against Brazilian footballer Adriano.
Prosecutors said on Tuesday he had allegedly bought a motorbike and given it as a gift to a known drug dealer in the Rio shanty town where he grew up.
But the judge, Maria Tereza Donatti, said the case was dismissed because there was not enough evidence to uphold the accusations.
Adriano, 32, could have faced a lengthy prison sentence if convicted.
He had denied the allegations, which first emerged in 2010.
Brazilian police said he had bought the motorbike in 2007 and registered it in the name of the mother of drug dealer Paulo Rogerio de Souza Paz, known as Mica.
The bike was used for drug trafficking in one of Rio's shanty towns, or favelas, then controlled by Comando Vermelho (Red Command), a powerful criminal gang.
But the judge said "there was not enough evidence as to the authorship of this crime".
The Brazilian striker had a successful career in Italy, winning titles with Inter Milan. But off-field problems and injuries cut his career short.
He has reportedly been negotiating a comeback with second division French club Le Havre.
No drugs in Robin Williams suicide
Robin Williams was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of his suicide, authorities in California have revealed.
The actor, 63, was found dead in his California home on 11 August in what authorities soon ruled a suicide.
A Marin County coroner's report released on Friday found Williams died from asphyxia due to hanging.
Williams, famed for roles in such films as Mrs Doubtfire and Good Will Hunting, had been treated for depression.
The entertainer was last seen alive by his wife on 10 August, and was found dead the following day.
On the morning he was found, the actor's personal assistant became concerned when he did not respond to knocks on the door, authorities say. The assistant entered the room and found Williams dead.
Williams won an Academy Award for his role in Good Will Hunting and starred in films including Good Morning Vietnam and Jumanji.
In the past Williams had talked, and even joked, about his struggles with alcohol and drugs. After his death, his representative said he had also been "battling severe depression".
He had earlier returned to a rehabilitation centre to "fine-tune" his sobriety, the Los Angeles Times reported in July.
In a statement following his death, Williams' wife Susan Schneider said she was "utterly heartbroken" and asked for privacy for the family.
"As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin's death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions," she said.
US President Barack Obama paid tribute to Williams, saying he "made us laugh. He made us cry."
"He gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most - from our troops stationed abroad to the marginalised on our own streets."
Obama, Republicans Seek Common Ground
Citing the need to get work done in Washington, U.S. President Barack Obama sat down with Republican congressional leaders after their party’s sweep of midterm elections earlier this week.
Going into Friday’s lunch at the executive mansion, the president and Republican congressional leaders stood firm and on opposite sides of at least on one issue, immigration.
With Obama on Wednesday vowing to use his executive authority to reform the system…
“What I am not going to do is just wait. I think it is fair to say that I have shown a lot of patience," said President Obama.
Republican House Speaker John Boehner warned the president not to take such action.
“I have made clear to the president that if he acts unilaterally on his own, outside of his authority, he will poison the well, and there will be no chance for immigration reform moving in this Congress," said Boehner.
In a statement, Boehner repeated that sentiment during Friday’s lunch with President Obama, fellow Republican and likely Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic leaders.
To begin the meeting, President Obama struck a conciliatory tone and emphasized the need to work together.
“I think they are frustrated by the gridlock. They would like to see more cooperation. And I think all of us have the responsibility, me in particular, to try to make that happen," said Obama.
The president noted he is interested in good ideas, regardless of what party they come from, to build on the country’s economic momentum. He cited an unemployment rate that has dropped to 5.8 percent - the lowest in six years.
In a statement issued after the lunch, Boehner also named jobs and the economy as a top priority of the American people.
Earlier, Obama repeated possible areas of common ground with congressional leaders including on infrastructure and trade.
“…whether that is putting people back to work through stronger manufacturing here in the United States, and selling more to countries around the world, one of the major topics that we are going to be discussing during my Asia trip next week," said Obama.
But after the more than two-hour meeting, there were no public remarks from the president or congressional leaders.
Lawmakers heard from top U.S. military commanders - who briefed them on the fight against the Islamic State militant group in Iraq and Syria.
President Obama on Friday authorized the deployment of an additional 1,500 non-combat troops to Iraq to help train local forces. In a statement issued after the lunch, the White House said the president requested another $5.6 billion to support the strategy against the Islamic State.
The president also called for Congress to approve emergency funding for another fight - this one against Ebola in West Africa. Both issues, along with passing a budget, remain top priorities in the coming weeks, as Obama and a new Congress try to forge a new way forward.
Source-VOA
Dead baby left inside woman’s womb at Trinidad hospital
Pain and anguish have again visited the doorsteps of a Tobago family, with the death of a baby in her mother’s womb.
The full-term baby would have been given the name of Harmony Hope.
Twenty-five-year-old Kai Duncan said the dead baby was left inside her overnight, and she was given an injection to sleep. The family intends to take legal action.
Duncan said she arrived at the Scarborough General Hospital carrying a healthy baby last week Monday at 7:00 pm, but was told by doctors at 10:00 pm she and her baby had a 50/50 chance at survival.
“I find he taking a little too long to deal with the baby and deal with me, so I say ‘doctor what do you mean a 50/50 chance’. He said yes, a 50/50 chance, you will have to fly down in Trinidad and your kidney could come out, and the baby could either live or die,” Duncan said.
The distraught woman added that she waited for hours in pain for the delivery of her baby, but it was too late.
“He carry me to do a next ultrasound again. When I did the ultrasound again the baby was never moving.”
She said all medical personnel left her in the operating theatre alone, she was later moved back to the maternity ward with the dead baby still inside her.
“They take me from the theatre and carry me after two hours. I stay in the theatre, they take me from the theatre and carry me back in the room where I was with the baby, a dead baby inside of me, and inject me with a needle and telling me this injection is an injection to put you to sleep.”
Last week Tuesday morning, another doctor approached her on the ward, questioning her about the whereabouts of her baby.
“In the morning time a next doctor come in, he say you lost the baby? I said yes, and he ask me where the baby is, and I said the baby is in me still.” She said it was only then she was rushed to the emergency room where she delivered her stillborn child.
The family said when they visited the Scarborough mortuary on Monday to have an autopsy performed on the child they were told the autopsy was already performed. In addition, the family’s medical file could not be found.
“My personal doctor told us that he could not answer the questions we were asking him, because he don’t have the file and there is no file.”
When asked to comment on the matter, Medical Chief of Staff Dr Nathaniel Duke said an investigation into the matter has been launched by the Quality Department of the Tobago Regional Health Authority. He insisted the medical records for the family were not lost, but sent to be copied for the investigation to commence.
Source-Trinidad Express
Scotiabank to close several branches in the Caribbean
Canada’s Scotiabank has announced plans to shut or shrink 120 branches, largely in Mexico and the Caribbean, in a bid to save CAN$120 million (One Canadian dollar =US$0.87 cents) annually.
The bank said it would close down 35 of its 200 branches in the Caribbean and would sever 1, 500 full-time employees, including 500 from its international operations.
“In some of these (Caribbean) countries, we are just over-branched and we have to size it to the economic realities of these economies,” said Scotiabank chief executive officer, Brian Porter.
Porter said that the bank’s revenue growth has been encouraging outside Canada, but profit has not jumped as much he would like.
“The frustration for us across the international footprint is we’ve had very solid asset growth over the last three or four years, and not all of that has dropped to the bottom line,” he said, adding that the bank still has plans to grow in the region
Scotiabank said the closure of the Caribbean branches were due “to the prolonged economic recovery and continued uncertain outlook” and that it had started restructuring initiatives “in order to improve the speed and quality of service it provides its customers, to reduce costs in a sustainable manner, and to achieve greater operational efficiencies.
“The bank intends to record a restructuring provision of approximately CAN$148 million in the fourth quarter. The majority of the restructuring provision relates to employee severance charges in the bank’s Canadian banking and international banking divisions and will affect people at all levels of the organisation.”
The statement said “in international banking, the charges are primarily for closing or downsizing approximately 120 branches, which will allow us to focus on high-growth markets, minimise branch overlap, and realise synergies resulting from recent acquisitions.”
Scotiabank made a record CAN$6.7-billion net income in 2013.