Snowden: "Mission Accomplished"
Former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden says his mission is "already accomplished," after revealing details of the NSA's surveillance programs.
Snowden, who is living under temporary asylum in Moscow, told the Washington Post said he is satisfied with what he has accomplished in leaking the information because members of the public now have access to it and and use it as they choose.
Snowden's disclosures, which first appeared in the Post and Guardian newspapers after he fled to Hong Kong, have revealed government secrets, such as the NSA's secret collection of telephone records from millions of Americans. A U.S. judge ruled December 16 that the program is likely unconstitutional.
In his ruling, Judge Richard Leon said he "cannot imagine a more indiscriminate and arbitrary invasion" of peoples' privacy than the government's collection of such information without prior judicial approval. Leon did not immediately enforce his ruling, giving the government a chance to appeal the decision to a higher court.
U.S. officials have sought Snowden's extradition to stand trial on espionage charges, but Russia has refused.
Source-Voice Of America
Syrian Airstrikes HIt Aleppo for 10th Day
Syrian government air strikes on rebel-held areas of Aleppo continued for a tenth straight day, leaving at least 15 people dead.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Syrian aircraft dropped so called "barrel bombs" on the Sukkari neighborhood of Aleppo Tuesday.
The group says more than 300 people have been killed since the start of the bombing campaign in and around the northern city.
Human rights groups have condemned the use of "barrel bombs" which are made up of metal drums filled with explosives and metal fragments.
The White House on Monday condemned the "indiscriminate" attacks in and around Aleppo. It said the Syrian government must respect its obligation to protect the civilian population and do more to facilitate the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need.
International diplomats are preparing a United Nations-sponsored peace conference in Switzerland next month.
The opposition Syrian National Coalition has threatened to pull out of talks if the bombing in Aleppo continues.
Aaron Rodgers out vs. Steelers
The Green Bay Packers' ultra-cautious approach with quarterback Aaron Rodgers will continue for at least another week.
Rodgers did not receive medical clearance to return from his broken collarbone and has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lambeau Field.
In announcing the news, coach Mike McCarthy stressed that it was a collective decision by what he called the team's decision-makers, which likely was headed up by general manager Ted Thompson and team physician Dr. Pat McKenzie. Nine different times during a five-minute news conference on Friday, McCarthy used some of the word "organization" to describe who made the decision.
"He's not medically cleared," McCarthy said Friday. "That's still the case today. But as an organization, we don't feel that this is the right time for him to play."
Matt Flynn will make his fourth straight start. The Packers (7-6-1) can win the NFC North by beating the Steelers on Sunday and the Chicago Bears in Week 17. McCarthy would not say whether Rodgers has a chance to return against the Bears.
"Just as I've stated all along, we've got two different circumstances here," McCarthy said. "We've got Aaron Rodgers' health, and obviously where are as a football team. Until we feel good about where Aaron is medically, that will not be part of the second circumstance. So as an organization, we are not ready for him to play."
A day after he said Rodgers looked ready to play, McCarthy said he agreed with the decision.
"I thought Aaron Rodgers did everything that he can possibly do," McCarthy said. "What you look for in all your players. The man attacked the rehab aspect of it, has done more in the weight room, did some really good things at practice. But obviously this is an organizational decision. The conversation involved, and this is the decision. So this is where we are."
Thompson was not available for comment, a team spokesman said.
It became evident on Thursday that Rodgers probably wouldn't play. After splitting reps in practice with Flynn on Wednesday, Rodgers did not take many snaps on Thursday.
"I have a good sense of what's going to happen," Rodgers said after Thursday's practice.
Rodgers did not speak to reporters on Friday.
"I think Aaron clearly wants to play," McCarthy said. "I mean, he's a very competitive man. He's done everything he possibly can from his end of it. But he understands how the organization feels. And everything was laid out on the table and the organization is not ready for him to play."
Said receiver Jordy Nelson: "I don't think anyone in this locker room is surprised. It's what we have. We'll go out and play well and hopefully get our third straight win."
Rodgers is nearing the end of his seventh week of recovery. He said early in the process that doctors told him a fractured collarbone typically heals in six to eight weeks.
Last week, Rodgers thought he was ready to play and said this week that he was even sharper in practice.
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"I've completed just about every pass in practice," Rodgers said Thursday. "Last week., I had a couple bad ones."
Source-ESPN
Wavell Hinds elected new chairman of national selection panel
Former West Indies batsman, Wavell Hinds, has been appointed chairman of a new-look national senior selection panel for cricket.
Hinds, who is also a director of Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) makes the move up from the national Under-19 selection panel of which he has been chairman for the past two years.
The former middle-order batsman is joined on the selection team by fast-bowling great Courtney Walsh and former national players Delroy Morgan, Wayne Lewis and Cleveland Davidson.
It will be the first time Walsh, the recently elected JCA second vice-president, and Lewis will be serving as national selectors.
However, for Morgan, it will be his third time after serving on the two previous panels with outgoing chairman Courtnay Daley and West Indies Under-19 assistant coach Robert Samuels.
The panel, in the meanwhile, which will be complemented by the addition of two co-opted members – national senior team coach Junior Bennett and a to-be-named national captain – is set to select two national squads over the next few weeks.
The first will be a 14-man squad for the West Indies Cricket Board Super50 Tournament, which will be held in Trinidad and Tobago, beginning on January 30.
This will then be followed by a squad for the West Indies Cricket Board Four-Day Tournament, which is set to start in late February.
Kobe Bryant expected to miss six weeks play
Kobe Bryant will be out for six weeks after suffering a fractured lateral tibial plateau in his left knee.
If Bryant misses exactly six weeks, he will be sidelined for Los Angeles Lakers’ next 21 games with an expected return date in the last week of January.
The 35-year-old Bryant has appeared in only six games this season after rehabilitating from a torn left Achilles tendon that ended his 2012-2013 season in mid-April.
He made his season debut on December 8 against the Raptors, just 11 days ago.
The 15-time All-Star guard is averaging 13.8 points, 6.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 5.7 turnovers in 29.5 minutes this season.
The injury occurred during the Laker’s 96-92 victory over Memphis on Tuesday.
New Zealand fighting for the advantage against Windies
West Indies frustrated New Zealand with bat and ball but Ross Taylor’s unbeaten half-century helped to steer the Black Caps to safety on the second day of the third Test at Seddon Park Hamilton, here on Friday.
Taylor is undefeated on 56 and Kane Williamson was bowled by Sunil Narine for 58 as New Zealand closed the day on 156 for three, in reply to West Indies 367 all out, highlighted by centuries from Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Denesh Ramdin.
Taylor and Williamson added 95 to ease some of New Zealand’s pressure after their openers went cheaply on a slow wicket.
The Black Caps needed the stand after West Indies captain Darren Sammy celebrated his 30th birthday by pulling off two brilliant catches to reduce them to 43-2.
Opening the bowling, he stooped on his follow-through to pick up a low return catch to remove Hamish Rutherford and then used his sharp reflexes at leg slip to dispose of Peter Fulton.
Narine posed the biggest threat, occasionally bamboozling both Williamson and Taylor with his variations including the use of the carrom ball across the right-handers from round the wicket.
He trapped Williamson lbw for 58 before stumps after review upheld the decision by umpire Nigel Llong.
Taylor himself survived an early lbw shout that was referred to the third umpire and Brendon McCullum was with him on 11 at the end.
Earlier, the tourists added 60 runs for the final two wickets after Chanderpaul scored his 29th test century and later took their score beyond 350.
Suarez signs new contract with Liverpool
Luis Suarez has signed a new long-term contract with top English Premier League team Liverpool.
The 26-year-old Uruguayan is the top scorer in the League this season with 17 goals in 11 starts.
Suarez says he believes he "can achieve the ambitions of winning trophies and playing at the very highest level with Liverpool. My aim is to help get us there as quickly as possible."
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says "Luis is a world-class talent and securing his services is crucial for what we are trying to achieve here."
Liverpool is second in the Premier League, two points behind Arsenal.
In April, Suarez received a 10-match ban for biting an opponent on the arm.
Blackberry and Foxconn agree a five-year deal
Struggling smartphone maker Blackberry has agreed a five-year deal with Foxconn, the big Taiwan-based maker of electronic products and components.
The two companies will initially work on the development of a new smartphone.
Blackberry also announced on Friday a third-quarter loss of $4.4bn (£2.7bn), including a big write-down of assets.
The firm once dominated the smartphone market, but has seen its fortunes fall in recent years and last month abandoned an attempt to find a buyer.
Blackberry recently appointed an interim chief executive, John Chen, following the collapse of a planned sale to its biggest shareholder, Fairfax Financial Holdings.
"It's an absolutely essential deal for Blackberry," Ben Wood, mobile analyst at research firm CCS Insight, told the BBC.
"Foxconn gives them the scale they need to be competitive, particularly in the Far Eastern markets, such as Indonesia - Blackberry's biggest market."
Blackberry has been hit by the success and popularity of smartphones launched by rivals such as Apple and Samsun Its attempts to boost its market share have not yielded the desired results.
"This partnership demonstrates BlackBerry's commitment to the device market for the long-term and our determination to remain the innovation leader in secure end-to-end mobile solutions," said Mr Chen.
"Partnering with Foxconn allows BlackBerry to focus on what we do best - iconic design, world-class security, software development and enterprise mobility management - while simultaneously addressing fast-growing markets leveraging Foxconn's scale and efficiency that will allow us to compete more effectively."
Foxconn is the world's largest manufacturer of electronic products and components, and already has extensive links with Apple as the maker of the iPad and iPhone.
Meanwhile, Blackberry's quarterly results continue to underline the company's struggle to regain financial stability. Excluding the one-time items and write downs, the loss was $354m.
Revenue fell to $1.19bn from $2.73bn as increased uncertainty about the company's fate led to further sales erosion.
A new line of devices that run on BlackBerry 10 software has failed to win back market share.
France takes Bermuda off tax blacklist
France has removed Bermuda from its tax blacklist, Finance Minister Bob Richards said today.
The move came after high-level talks between French officials and Finance Ministry staff.
Mr Richards said: “I was impressed by the goodwill shown by French officials in working with Bermuda officials to resolve the matter before the end of the year.
“We were confident that any entry on France’s list would be very short-lived as Bermuda is globally recognised as complying with the highest international standards on tax transparency and compliance.”
And he thanked Governor George Fergusson and UK Treasury staff, including Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, for their backing for Bermuda’s bid to be delisted by the French.
Bermuda — alongside Jersey and the British Virgin Islands — were added to the French hit list of jurisdictions labelled as uncooperative by the French authorities in August.
The move meant that the French could impose a 75 percent withholding tax on French money coming to Bermuda.
Jersey has also been removed from the French blacklist for 2014.
The French Ministry of Finance said “jersey and Bermuda have been informed that they will be removed from the list for 2014, which means that the retaliation measures provided for by law will not be applied.”
Source-Royal Gazette
Trade between the DR & Haiti: US$1.1B formal; US$900.0M informal
Dominican Republic’s and trade with Haiti of around US$2.0 billion per year is split nearly evenly at US$1.1 billion formal and US$900.0 million informal, Industry and Commerce minister Jose del Castillo revealed Thursday.
Speaking at a luncheon for journalists and media executives, the official said the country’s capacity-building efforts continued throughout 2013, for its successful foray into markets abroad, through training for the various local industries, both big and small.
Accompanying del Castillo in the holiday luncheon were Deputy minister for MSEs Ignacio Méndez, and Yahaira Sosa, Deputy minister for Foreign Trade, among others.