Dozens of inmates flee after Haiti jailbreak
A jailbreak Sunday at a high-security prison near Haiti’s capital left dozens of inmates on the loose, police authorities said.
The escape came after a mutiny erupted in the jail, a spokesman for Haiti’s national police said.
“It was a spectacular escape. There was no battle. A hundred inmates fled the prison,” a lawmaker on the scene told reporters.
“We were able to catch 13 escapees,” said police spokesman Garry Desrosier, adding authorities were still searching for others, though he refused to give an exact number.
Among those on the loose, he said, is “Clifford Brandt, an influential businessman jailed since 2012 on allegations of kidnapping for ransom.”
Source-Associated Press
He said a million-gourde (US$40,000) reward was being offered for the recapture of Brandt, as authorities continued the search.
Haitian police said that measures had been taken to reinforce border controls and embassies had been warned.
Before the jail break, the prison in Croix-des-Bouquets, northeast of Port-au-Prince, held 897 inmates. The jail was built in 2012, at a cost of more than US$5.7 million, financed by Canada.
According to residents of the small town, several hundred people came out of the prison, running in every direction, just moments after intense gunfire broke out in the jail.
“It was a conspiracy carried out inside the prison that caused the escape. There was no attack from outside — contrary to what had been announced,” the police spokesman explained.
“What happened is shocking when we know that this prison is very secure and, in theory, well-controlled,” said Marie-Yolaine Gilles, head of a human rights group.
Anti-riot police were deployed to restore order, while Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe also came to the scene.
Source-Associated Free Press
St Lucians to pay more for bread
The St Lucia Bakers Association has announced an increase in the price of bread as of Monday.
On Tuesday the association said all packets of white rolls, hamburgers, hot dogs, butter bread, butter loaves and french bread will move from EC$2.00 (One EC dollar= US$0.37 cents) per packet to $2.50 per packet.
It said all packets of whole-wheat rolls, loaves, and sandwich bread will move from $2.50 per packet to $2.75 per packet.
“We have had to absorb the price increases of flour, sugar, water, electricity, value added tax (VAT) on salt, yeast, butter, margarine, shortening, packaging, as well as the increases in the wholesale price of gas and diesel,” the Association said in a statement.
It added that the increase in the price of bread has become necessary in an effort to try to mitigate the effects of the almost 25% increase in some items and other indirect costs associated with the production of bread and the operations of businesses.
Source-Caribbean Media Corporation
Dominican Republic looks to rid US$1.44B energy ‘leech
Dominican Republic’s State-owned Electric Utility (CDEEE) has hired a law firm aimed at canceling the contract with the San Pedro power company (CESPM), formerly Cogentrix, in a decision through which the authorities seek to put an end to paying at least US$4.8 million (RD$208 million) to that company each month regardless if operational or not.
Quoting Government sources, outlet elnacional.com.do said during the 12 year-and-4 months contract period Cogentrix has been paid US$1.44 billion, mostly when its generators are offline since they are too expensive to operate.
Citing figures to the end of July, CESPM had billed US$32.9 million to the CDEEE for just only 16 gigawatts, an average of US$ 2.06 per kilowatt. Since its incorporation into the interconnected grid in March 2002, Cogentrix became a headache for the CDEEE, due to its high cost to produce energy and the contract’s onerous conditions that binds the Dominican State for 20 years.”
The contract was signed during ex president Leonel Fernandez’s first term in office by then CDEEE -CEO Temistocles Montás, and Council president Celso Marranzini, and then Radhames Segura, who replaced Montás in the CDEEE.
Privileged contract
The original contract with the firms Cogentrix Energy and Scotia Energy was structured when Montás headed the CDE and Celso Marranzini was president of its Board of Directors, and César Sánchez, former head of the Utility during Hipolito Mejia’s Administration, signed for the power companies.
The former Cogentrix has been often labeled as the “leech” in the country’s electric utility, pillaged by companies such as the Canadian Hydro-Quebec-Sofati and Spain’s Union Fenosa.
Source-Dominican Today
Obama Praises Selection of Iraqi PM-designate
U.S. President Barack Obama praised Monday’s selection of Iraqi lawmaker Haider al-Abadi as the next prime minister, calling it "a promising step in this critical effort" to build an inclusive new government and to battle insurgents of the Islamic State that threaten the country’s stability.
Iraqi President Fouad Massoum picked Abadi, the deputy speaker of parliament, on Monday to lead the Baghdad government as it faces the onslaught of militants who have overrun much of its northern and western parts.
Obama, speaking from Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, said he and Vice President Joe Biden both had phoned Abadi to pledge U.S. support.
"This new Iraqi leadership has a difficult task," Obama said, citing the challenge of regaining the confidence of Iraqis and the international community.
"We stand ready to partner with Iraq" and its new government, Obama said, "and build on today's progress."
He urged those working to form a new administration to come together peacefully with a goal of eliminating the threat of Islamic State militants who have seized much of the country with little opposition.
The president noted recent U.S. airstrikes in support of Kurdish fighters and civilian refugees in northern Iraq. He said U.S. aircraft remain in position to strike at extremists seeking to carve out a caliphate in the vast regions now under their control.
Incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is resisting an end to his eight-year rule. Seeking a third term, he has defied calls from Sunnis, Kurds and some fellow Shi'ites to step aside for a less polarizing figure.
Obama, who had authorized airstrikes on the Islamic militants last week, said the U.S. had "stepped up" military advice to Iraqi and Kurdish forces.
The U.S. president noted the U.S. had continued airdrops of humanitarian supplies to the Iraqi religious minorities, especially Yazidis, trapped on Mount Sinjar. He also thanked the United Kingdom, France and other countries for providing aid.
Source-VOA
Israelis, Palestinians Begin New Truce
A new 72-hour truce between Israel and the ruling Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip is holding, clearing the way for negotiations aimed at ending a month of hostilities.
Palestinians fired rocket barrages at Israel right before the cease-fire went into effect at midnight. But then the guns fell silent.
The truce cleared the way for an Israeli delegation to return to Cairo for indirect talks with Hamas on a long-term cease-fire. The negotiations, which are mediated by Egypt, broke down last week after a previous 72-hour truce expired with a new round of fighting.
Both sides remain entrenched in their positions and the gaps are wide: Israel wants the demilitarization of Gaza while Hamas is insisting that Israel and Egypt lift a crippling blockade on the territory.
While Israel is willing to ease the blockade, it will not allow the free flow of goods that Hamas could use for military purposes.
Israeli Cabinet Minister Tzipi Livni said any import of cement to rebuild Gaza must be under international supervision to prevent Hamas from rebuilding a network of tunnels that can be used for terrorist infiltrations into Israel. She said money and material entering Gaza must benefit the Palestinian people and not Hamas.
Livni told Israel Radio that Hamas must lose this war, and it will not be allowed to turn terrorist aggression into a victory.
Hamas, on the other hand, needs an achievement to show its people for all the death and destruction wreaked on Gaza. And lifting the blockade would provide just that.
Hamas says the seven-year “siege” is illegal and immoral and there will be no agreement unless it is removed.
Senior Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk said it is impossible to return to the situation before the conflict, in which Gaza was a big, open-air prison.
One emerging compromise is that the internationally backed Palestinian Authority, which rules the West Bank, will supervise the Gaza border crossings along with European officials.
Source-Reuters
Ukraine Warns Civilians as Troops Close In on Rebels in East
The Ukrainian military says troops are continuing to close in on remaining separatist regions in the east, and are warning civilians to evacuate the areas to avoid being caught in the crossfire. Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine continue to be at odds over a possible humanitarian mission to bring supplies to besieged residents.
Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko told reporters in Kyiv Monday “anti-terror” forces are attacking separatist strongholds from four directions, closing in on the main rebel-held city of Donetsk.
Lysenko warned civilians to leave the areas around Donetsk and neighboring Luhansk province - near the border with Russia - to avoid the coming assault.
"We are once again addressing civilians,” he said. “If you can, leave these areas temporarily because there will be liberating operations and attacks on terrorists.”
He added that the armed forces will do what they can to provide transportation for citizens wishing to flee. The United Nations says more than 100,000 people have been internally displaced from the two eastern regions in Ukraine since the conflict began in May.
Military spokesman Lysenko said 568 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and more than 2,000 injured in fighting with Russian-backed separatists.
Lysenko said the military plans to maintain pressure on rebels who still control substantial swaths of territory in the east.
"If we pause,” Lysenko said, “the terrorists will have time to regroup, to get more supplies, more civilians and military will be killed; that's why we are moving forward, we are not stopping."
In another development, a prison in Donetsk was reportedly shelled late Sunday, killing one inmate and allowing others to escape.
It is not clear who fired the shots, though Ukraine's military denies responsibility.
Russia, meantime, has asked for a humanitarian mission in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross to provide relief to distressed citizens in the eastern regions.
Ukrainian, U.S. and European officials have said any unauthorized Russian intervention would be a violation of international law.
A statement from the office of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said he discussed with German Chancellor Angela Merkel over the weekend the possibility of a Ukrainian-led humanitarian mission in Luhansk in coordination with the ICRC.
FINAL ALERT ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA-ALERT#19
…All TROPICAL STORM WATCHES AND WARNINGS HAVE WAS BEEN DISCONTINUED FOR THE BAHAMAS AND THE TURKS AND CACIOS ISLANDS…
AT 5:00 PM EDT THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 23.3 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE 73.2 DEGREES WEST OR 32 MILES EAST-NORTHEAST OF SAMANA CAY, 61 MILES NORTH OF MAYAGUANA, , 95 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF SAN SALVADOR, 285 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NASSAU, AND 121 MILES NORTH-NORTHWEST OF GRAND TURK IN THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS.
BERTHA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 18 MILES PER HOUR. A GRADUAL TURN TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST, NORTH, AND NORTH-NORTHEAST IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.
ON THE FORECAST TRACK BERTHA WILL BE PASSING EAST OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS TONIGHT.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 45 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 160 MILES MAINLY TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER.
THIS IS THE LAST ALERT ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA THAT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY.
Bertha aims for Dominican Republic
Tropical Storm Bertha swirled over the eastern Dominican Republic late yesterday after it whipped Puerto Rico with heavy rains and strong winds that knocked out power in parts of the region.
The storm's maximum sustained winds dropped slightly to 45 mph (75 kph), but slow strengthening was expected by Monday. Bertha was centred about 60 miles (95 kilometres) east-northeast of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and was moving west-northwest at 22 mph (35 kph) yesterday evening.
The storm passed just southwest of Puerto Rico yesterday afternoon, dropping between three and five inches (8-13 centimetres) of rain, with isolated amounts of up to eight inches (20 centimetres).
Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla warned of flooding, landslides and swollen rivers, which he urged people not to try and cross.
"It's something that sounds obvious but it happens so often," he said. "It's not the time to take risks."
Authorities reported several downed trees in Puerto Rico's eastern region and two downed electrical posts. Nearly 39,000 households were without power and more than 3,000 without water. The lights also had gone out at the island's emergency management agency during a press conference yesterday morning.
Officials said most of the power outages occurred in the island's central mountainous region following more than 1,200 lightning strikes that occurred in the area during afternoon hours alone.
Tropical storm warnings were in effect for the eastern Dominican Republic, southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos islands. A tropical storm watch was in effect for central Bahamas.
As the storm approached the Dominican Republic, authorities banned vessels from operating along the country's east coast, which is popular with tourists. Rescue crews also travelled to the country's eastern and northeast regions to help with evacuations if needed.
Source-AP
ALERT #18 ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA ISSUED BY THE MET OFFICE AT 3:00 PM EDT
…TROPICAL STORM WATCH WAS BEEN DISCONTINUED FOR THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS …
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES ACKLINS AND CROOKED ISLAND, LONG CAY, RAGGED ISLAND, MAYAGUANA AND INAGUA.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE MENTIONED ISLANDS, IN THIS CASE, WITHIN THE NEXT 12 HOURS.
AT 2:00 PM EDT THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 22.7 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE 72.6 DEGREES WEST OR 27 MILES NORTHEAST OF MAYAGUANA, 75 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SAMANA CAY, 150 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SAN SALVADOR, 340 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NASSAU, AND 65 MILES NORTHWEST OF GRAND TURK IN THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS.
BERTHA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 18 MILES PER HOUR. A GRADUAL TURN TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST, NORTH AND NORTH-NORTHEAST IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.
ON THE FORECAST TRACK BERTHA WILL BE MOVING AWAY FROM THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS LATER TODAY, AND PASS EAST OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS TONIGHT.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 45 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 160 MILES MAINLY TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER.
ON THE FORECASTED TRACK AND SPEED BERTHA WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND MAYAGUANA THIS AFTERNOON. THEREFORE RESIDENTS IN THESE ISLANDS SHOULD HAVE COMPLETED ALL PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTIES AND SHOULD REMAIN
INDOORS DURING HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WINDS.
BOATERS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT. BERTHA IS EXPECTED TO PASS TO THE EAST OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS TONIGHT. HOWEVER RESIDENTS IN THESE ISLANDS SHOULD REMAIN VIGILENT AND BE PREPARED IN THE EVENT THERE IS A CHANGE IN THE FORECASTED TRACK.
BERTHA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS UP TO 5 INCHES OVER MAYAGUANA AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS THROUGH MONDAY WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING.
THE NEXT ALERT ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WILL BE ISSUED AT 6:00 PM EDT SUNDAY.
Airstrike Kills 10 at UN-run School
A United Nations school sheltering displaced people in the southern Gaza Strip was hit Sunday by what a U.N. official said appeared to be an Israeli airstrike, an attack that killed 10 people as Israel signaled a possible scaling back in the ongoing war.
At least 10 people were killed and another 35 injured at the Rafah school, which housed 3,000 displaced Palestinians, U.N. officials said.
Witnesses said the explosion at the school occurred as people were waiting in line for food. In the chaotic aftermath, several bodies, including those of children, were strewn across the ground in pools of blood.
The Israeli military said it was looking into the reported attack, the second to hit a school in less than a week, and the third strike in 10 days on a U.N. school used for refugees.
The latest attack drew a strong rebuke from U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon, who called it "a moral outrage and a criminal act."
In his most strongly worded statement yet on an attack against a U.N. facility in Gaza, Ban called it “yet another gross violation of international humanitarian law, which clearly requires protection by both parties of Palestinian civilians, U.N. staff and U.N. premises, among other civilian facilities.”
“This attack, along with other breaches of international law, must be swiftly investigated and those responsible held accountable. It is a moral outrage and a criminal act,” Ban said.
Source-VOA News