Radisson suspends Minnesota Vikings sponsorship
The Radisson hotel chain says it is suspending its sponsorship of Minnesota Vikings, an American football team.
It comes after one of the team's players, Adrian Peterson, was charged with child abuse in Texas after hitting his son with part of a branch.
The Minneapolis team have reinstated the player after dropping him.
"Radisson is suspending its limited sponsorship of the Minnesota Vikings while we evaluate the facts and circumstances," the company said.
It added it "takes this matter very seriously, particularly in light of our long-standing commitment to the protection of children".
Radisson's sponsorship includes a banner visible to viewers watching Vikings' news conferences.
The Minnesota Vikings said it had "respectfully honoured Radisson's request", a team spokesman said.
Discipline or abuse?
Mr Peterson stands accused of using part of a tree branch to spank his four-year-old son. The player says he was using a form of discipline his father used on him as a boy.
"I am not a perfect son. I am not a perfect husband. I am not a perfect parent, but I am, without a doubt, not a child abuser," Mr Peterson said in a statement.
"I am someone that disciplined his child and did not intend to cause him any injury."
The Vikings dropped the player for Sunday's game but then reinstated him on Monday.
The team's general manager, Rick Spielman, said: "I understand that this is a very difficult thing to handle. But we also feel strongly as an organisation that this is disciplining a child.
"Whether it's an abusive situation or not, or whether he went too far disciplining, we feel very strongly that that is the court's decision to make, but we also understand the seriousness of abusing children as well.''
The charges against Mr Peterson come just days after another NFL star, Ray Rice, had his contract terminated after a video emerged in which he appeared to punch his wife.
Source-BBC
Heineken rejects takeover offer from SABMiller
Dutch brewing giant Heineken has rejected a takeover offer from London brewer SABMiller saying the proposal is "non-actionable".
Heineken said it had "consulted with its majority shareholder" before rejecting the approach.
It said the Heineken family, the founding family which still owns half of the firm, wanted to preserve the firm as "an independent company".
Heineken said it was confident it would continue to grow.
"The Heineken family and Heineken N.V.'s management are confident that the company will continue to deliver growth and shareholder value," it added.
The founding Heineken family owns just over 50% of the brewer via Heineken Holding. A further 12% is owned by Mexico's FEMSA.
Brewing speculation
Heineken's statement was prompted by a Bloomberg story suggesting SABMiller had approached the Dutch firm to protect itself from a potential takeover.
There has been speculation within the brewing industry, for months, that SABMiller has been targeted by the world's number one brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev.
Heineken is the world's third largest beer producer behind AB Inbev and SABMiller, based on volume.
"Should AB Inbev choose to make a bid, which we think is likely, the chance of success has increased," said Eddy Hargreaves, an analyst at Canaccord Genuity in London.
"SABMiller's approach may cause some short term share price excitement, but we think Heineken's decision is final," he said.
SABMiller gained 5.3% to £35.855 per share in London, while Heineken rose 1.5%.
Apart from the namesake beer - Heineken, the company also produces Sol and Strongbow Apple ciders.
Miller time
When contacted by the BBC, SABMiller declined to comment. The company is the second-largest beer maker in the world, selling about 21 billion litres of lager worldwide.
SABMiller's beer brands include Miller Genuine Draft, Grolsch and Peroni Nastro Azzurro. The company also produces soft drinks, and it is one of the world's largest bottlers of Coca-Cola drinks.
For the full financial year to March 2014, SABMiller earned $27bn (£17bn) in revenues.
SABMiller's shares are traded on the London stock exchange. The company also has a secondary listing on the Johannesburg stock exchange.
Source-BBC
UK inflation rate down to 1.5% as food and petrol costs fall
The annual rate of UK inflation fell in August as the cost of petrol, food and non-alcoholic drinks declined.
Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation fell to 1.5% from 1.6% in August, the Office for National Statistics said.
It means the Bank of England remains under little pressure to raise interest rates in order to keep CPI inflation at or below its target rate of 2%.
Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation also saw a reduction, to 2.4%, from 2.5% the previous month.
Prices of food and non-alcoholic drinks fell by 1.1%, marking their steepest fall for more than a decade.
An ONS spokesman said competition between rival supermarket chains was a factor. Food prices had also been pushed up by cold weather a year earlier.
Bucking the downward trend, clothing, transport services and alcohol all rose in price faster than the headline inflation rate.
And core inflation, which strips out food, alcohol, tobacco and energy, notched up a 1.9% rate rise.
Source-BBC
UN calls for $1bn to fight Ebola virus
More than $1bn (£618m) is needed to fight the West Africa Ebola outbreak - a tenfold increase in the past month, the UN's Ebola co-ordinator has said.
David Nabarro made the announcement as the World Health Organization (WHO) described the health crisis as "unparalleled in modern times".
It has killed 2,461 people this year, half of the 4,985 infected by the virus, the global health body said.
There has been criticism of the slow international response to the epidemic.
Later, the US president is to announce plans to send 3,000 troops to Liberia, one of countries worst-affected by the outbreak, to help fight the virus.
More Than 30 Militants Killed in Pakistan's Northwest
Pakistan's military says it has killed more than 30 militants in fighting and air strikes targeting militant hideouts in the country's restive northwest.
The military says the air strikes killed 20 militants and destroyed three hideouts in the Tirah Valley of the Khyber tribal district.
In a separate incident, it says 11 militants were killed after they launched a cross-border attack on a security post in North Waziristan.
A statement says the troops repulsed the early morning attack and captured one militant. Three Pakistani soldiers were killed.
Pakistan's army says it has killed more than 900 militants since launching a major offensive in the northwest tribal region in June.
The area is off limits to journalists, making it impossible to independently confirm military figures.
Montego Bay To Host “Soul in the Sun” 2014
Montego Bay, Jamaica’s tourism capital, long known as a destination for huge music festivals, will host an event from October 10-12, at the Aqueduct in Rose Hall.
Dubbed “Soul in the Sun,” the two-day music festival and a beach party on the Sunday will feature a number of US based R&B icons. Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill, and 90s boy groups Dru Hill and Silk will perform on the first night, Friday, October 10. On the second night, the featured acts will be Peabo Bryson, Regina Bell, Jeffrey Osborne, Freddie Jackson and Howard Hewitt.
According to Junior Taylor, Managing Director of Complete Entertainment Services, organizers of the event, the format of the festival was adopted from existing events but tweaked to suit a local audience.
“We saw how successful the Sinbad Soul Music Festival has been over the years; it was staged in Jamaica once during the 1990s and has been taken to a number of islands in the region, and we decided to stage such a festival here to offer this level of entertainment to persons who love this kind of music.”
The acts: Regarding the choice of artistes, he explained that the organizers “really wanted to bring acts that were Jamaican favorites from the 80s and 90s.”
Accordingly, he said “we went for Freddie Jackson who has the hits like You Are My Lady. Jeffrey Obsorne is so loved here in Jamaica that we just had to bring him here for tracks such as On The Wings of Love, Shine On and more. Then we had to include Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle. Then once we spoke to Keith Sweat he suggested some of the other acts with whom he tours with as part of a Men of Soul aggregation.”
The Venue: The choice of Montego Bay and The Aqueduct were obvious for this festival, he added: “Montego Bay just has a vibe. It offers Jamaicans a chance to escape to the north coast and enjoy themselves while giving visitors that taste of Jamaican hospitality with a healthy dose of great entertainment thrown in for added value. The Aqueduct offers an intimate venue in a picturesque setting with the blue seas on one side, green hills on the other, and the old sugar ruins forming an impressive backdrop.”
US Secretary of State Recognizes International Day of Democracy
Monday was International Day of Democracy and the theme this year was "Engaging Young People in Democracy."
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that "powerfully underscores the importance of youth in building and preserving democracy."
He added that "Democratic societies are strong societies, because people are free to speak out against injustices and to discuss, debate and work together to drive positive change."
Kerry called these ideas the inspiration from the Egyptians who took to Tahrir Square, to democracy activists in Burma, to the brave Ukrainians who took to the ballot box earlier this year.
He concluded by saying, “As the United States works to strengthen our democracy at home, we will continue to support those around the world fighting for their voices to be heard.”
Source-VOA
Ebola Outbreak Tests Human Rights
West African governments are being urged to ensure human rights are respected as they battle the ongoing Ebola outbreak. Human Rights Watch says the response to the crisis has been slowed by ignorance, fear, denial and mistrust.
Human Rights Watch says protecting rights is “a crucial element in controlling the unprecedented Ebola epidemic ravaging the region.”
Corinne Dufka, senior West Africa researcher, said, “We do call on these governments to adopt a human rights framework in addressing this illness, which is creating an incredible strain on these countries, which are recovering from armed conflict in the case of Sierra Leone and Liberia – and then decades of authoritarian rule in Guinea.”
She says Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone have histories of corruption, abuses by security forces and media restrictions.
Dufka said the protection of health care workers is a top priority. At least 140 have died in the outbreak. She said many have raised concerns about a lack of protective suits and equipment needed when treating patients.
“We are asking that the governments step up to the plate – that [the] international community help them do that to ensure that the right they have for protection during epidemics is respected.”
Besides health professionals, Human Rights Watch said better protection is also needed for janitors, cleaning staff, drivers and burial staff.
Recently, tension filled the West Pointe neighborhood of Liberia’s capital Monrovia when it was placed under quarantine. Dufka agreed that quarantines are needed at times, but said they’re often more effective in isolated communities.
“Because quarantines necessarily address liberty and freedom of movement – as well as freedom to make livelihood – we’re asking that other measures that involve public education, working with the community, cooperative measures be used instead. These measures are really the least intrusive and restrictive available to be able to reach the same objective,” she said.
HRW said quarantines must be based on scientific evidence. And when they are imposed governments have an obligation to provide food, water and health care. It said that “quarantines imposed during this epidemic have frequently not met these standards…and have been applied arbitrarily and been overly broad in implementation.”
There’s a gender dimension to the Ebola crisis, too. UNICEF reported that women account for 55 to 60 percent of the deaths. HRW’s Dufka said it has to due with the role women play.
“Women are disproportionately represented among nurses and cleaning staff at hospitals and so on. They also care for the sick and then prepare the dead for burial. They’re also more likely to be cross-border traders. So, all of these professions and occupations leave them more vulnerable to infection.”
Dufka said governments must take steps to bridge the information gap about Ebola, which has led to fear and mistrust. This includes public education campaigns and community involvement in prevention strategies. She says that’s an obligation defined under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
“Now, the local human rights community, local radios, local NGOs are doing a fantastic job at trying to educate the public. They’re using community radio. They’re using local, traditional and religious leaders. And so we’re calling on the governments to work directly with them. They already are in many places to really systematize that relationship, as well as for the international community to support these groups,” she said.
Dufka said security forces “are playing a central role” in the epidemic and are charged with enforcing quarantines. She said since the end of regional conflicts in the 1990s and early 2000s they have received much training and are more accountable for their actions.
“That said -- we have been receiving reports of particularly extortion and bribe taking during periods and places of quarantine.”
Human Rights Watch called on the governments of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone to adopt a zero tolerance policy when it comes to abuse by security forces.
Also, HRW said the international community must do much more to help African governments deal with the health crisis – and ensure transparency into how donor funds are being spent.
Source-VOA
UN Condemns Deadly Attack on Mali Peacekeepers
The United Nations has condemned an attack in northern Mali that killed a Chadian soldier and wounded four more of its peacekeepers.
A vehicle carrying the group struck a landmine Sunday near Aguelhoc, in the Kidal region of Mali. A similar attack in the area killed four U.N. peacekeepers earlier this month.
In a statement late Sunday, the U.N. Security Council urged Mali to investigate the attack and said those responsible shall be held accountable.
The Council reiterated its support for the peacekeepers in their efforts to bring "lasting peace and stability" to the people of Mali.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was deeply saddened by the Chadian soldier's death and said the attacks will not affect the U.N.'s support for Mali.
Northern Mali fell under control of Tuareg separatists and then al-Qaida-linked Islamic extremists following a 2012 military coup. A French-led intervention last year scattered the extremists, but some remain active and there have been continued bursts of violence.
Jamaica gets EU funding for justice reform programme
A euro 46-million agreement between Jamaica and the European Union (EU), signed at the recent third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), will assist the justice reform efforts, says Minister of Justice Senator Mark Golding.
Senator Golding told the Senate on Friday that money would help to improve the use of technology in the justice system; for example, in terms of the electronic reporting of evidence, using audio-visual links between remote locations, correctional facilities and the courts.
"... So we can have pre-trial administrative hearings without having to move prisoners, and a variety of things around technology and other efforts to improve the flow of cases, and so on," Golding stated.
He was responding to queries from Opposition Senator Alexander Williams on how the portion of the package for the justice system would be used, following confirmation of the signing by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator A J Nicholson.
Senator Golding said the EU had committed "a fairly substantial envelope of funding" to Jamaica's justice system.
Nicholson told the Senate Friday that he had signed an agreement during the SIDS conference in Samoa, which was held September 1-4. Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Robert Pickersgill, also attended the meeting.
Senator Robert Montague (Opposition) asked that some of the funds be used to mitigate the effect of climate change on the fisheries sector, Senator Kavan Gayle (Opposition) suggested that the partnership of public and private sector institutions be included in making decisions on the use of the funds.
Senator Nicholson explained that the agreement was part of the National Indicative Programme, under the 11th European Development Fund. He said that it will be used to fund projects in climate change and the environment, as well the justice sector. He described it as another tangible contribution from the EU to Jamaica's sustainable development, and an example of the value of international partnerships.
He said that during the conference he also had bilateral meetings with representatives from Canada, Germany, Israel, Singapore, Sweden and Switzerland, and joined five other Caricom officials on a visit to New Zealand, which is seeking a seat on the United Nations Security Council in 2014.