Mexico's Congress approves measure to open oil resources
Mexico's Congress has approved a measure to open the state-run oil fields to foreign investment for the first time in 75 years, following a vote by the Senate earlier this week.
The programme would let private firms explore and extract oil and gas with state-run firm Pemex, and take a share of the profits.
The measure must now be approved by 17 of the country's 32 federal entities.
Mexico nationalised its energy industry in 1938.
Thursday's vote to approve the measure lasted hours and was reported to be heated.
Mexico's President President Enrique Pena Nieto has said the move is necessary to modernise Mexico's energy sector and increase oil production, which has dropped from 3.4 million barrels per day in 2004 to the current rate of 2.5 million barrels per day.
Most observers expected that the signature reform of Mr Pena Nieto's presidency would pass.
However, the left-wing Democratic Revolution Party said it was a submission to US oil companies, and protest camps were set up outside the Senate.
They said the move strikes at the heart of Mexico's identity.
In 1938, then-president Lazaro Cardenas nationalised the oil industry, which had been operated by foreigners up to that point, asserting that Mexico had a right to its mineral wealth.
Japan's Cabinet Approves $53 Billion Stimulus
Japan's Cabinet has approved a $53 billion stimulus package to help offset the effects of an upcoming national sales tax hike.
The stimulus spending measure passed Thursday is part of a supplementary budget for Japan's current fiscal year.
The package, which must be approved by parliament, is intended to create 250,000 jobs. It includes steps to boost construction spending and help low income households.
In April, Japan will raise its consumer sales tax from 5 percent to 8 percent to help pay for rising social security costs and deal with one of the industrial world's largest national debts.
But while the controversial tax increase will raise an estimated $81 billion a year, some fear the plan will hurt consumer demand and damage Japan's fragile economic growth.
Massive stimulus spending is a key part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic plan, known as Abenomics. Abe's plan also involves aggressive efforts to increase the amount of money circulating in Japan's economy to help fight lowering consumer prices, and other reforms to the country's economic system.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
Iceland jails former Kaupthing bank bosses
Four former bosses from the Icelandic bank Kaupthing have been sentenced to between three and five years in prison.
They are the former chief executive, the chairman of the board, one of the majority owners and the chief executive of the Luxembourg branch.
They were accused of hiding the fact that a Qatari investor bought a stake in the firm with money lent - illegally - by the bank itself.
Kaupthing collapsed in 2008 under the weight of huge debts.
For years, Kaupthing and other Icelandic banks had aggressively pursued overseas expansion plans, but when they went into administration, they brought the country's economy to its knees.
Just a few weeks before the collapse, Kaupthing announced that Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Bin Hamad al-Thani had bought a 5.1% stake during the financial crisis in 2008.
The move was seen as a confidence boost for the bank.
Hreidar Mar Sigurdsson, the former chief executive, received five and a half years, while Sigurdur Einarsson, former chairman of the board, was sentenced to five years in jail.
These are the heaviest sentences for financial fraud in Iceland's history.
The court gave Olafur Olafsson, one of the majority owners three years and Magnus Gudmundsson the former chief executive of the Luxembourg branch, three and a half years.
None of them were in court for the decision but it is expected that they will appeal.
The four were also made to pay their own legal costs for the case, which amount to millions of pounds.
Source-BBC
S Africa investigates 'fake signer' security checks
South Africa's deputy disability minister says the government is investigating how a man who faked sign language at the Mandela memorial was given security clearance.
Thamsanqa Jantjie, who stood alongside world leaders at the event, has denied being a fraud, and said he panicked when he began hallucinating.
He said he had schizophrenia, which had in the past made him act violently.
The agency that employed him, SA Interpreters, has reportedly vanished.
The African National Congress (ANC) said it had used Mr Jantjie as an interpreter several times before, and "had not been aware of any of complaints regarding the quality of services, qualifications or reported illnesses" of the interpreter.
But it said Tuesday's memorial at a stadium in Johannesburg was organised by the state, not the ANC, so the ruling party could not comment on security arrangements.
The South African Translators' Institute said earlier there had been complaints over Mr Jantjie's work before, but that the ANC had taken no action.
The ANC said it would "follow up the reported correspondence that has supposedly been sent to us in this regard and where necessary act on it".
Mr Mandela died last week at the age of 95, and will be buried on Sunday.
His body is currently lying in state in Pretoria, with thousands queuing to pay their respects.
During the memorial, Mr Jantjie (also spelt Dyantyi) stood on the stage next to key speakers including US President Barack Obama, South African President Jacob Zuma and Mr Mandela's grandchildren, translating their eulogies.
Opposition Leader Hanged for War Crimes in Bangladesh
Bangladesh on Thursday executed an opposition leader convicted of war crimes hours after the Supreme Court rejected his last-minute appeal.
Bangladeshi officials confirmed that Abdul Qader Mollah was hanged to death at 10:01 p.m. local time.
A VOA reporter in the capital city Dhaka said there is heavy security in the city as the situation remains tense. According to The Associated Press, Mollah's party Jamaat-e-Islami has called for a nationwide general strike for Sunday.
Mollah was convicted of committing war crimes during the nation's war of independence against Pakistan in 1971. Critics fear his execution could begin a fresh wave of political violence before national elections set for next month.
Earlier, Jamaat-e-Islami had issued a statement warning of "dire consequences" if he were executed.
The court turned down a request for a review of the death penalty by Mollah's legal team. He was set to be hanged late Tuesday before his lawyers secured a postponement.
New York based Human Rights Watch warned that by executing Mollah without reviewing the death sentence, Bangladesh could be breaking international law.
Jamaat-e-Islami sided with the Pakistan army during a bloody civil war that led to the creation of Bangladesh in 1971. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League party says three million people died in the war. Independent researchers put the death toll between 300,000 to 500,000.
Source-VOA
Yemen wedding hit by deadly air strike
At least 13 people have been killed by an air strike on a wedding convoy in southern Yemen, say officials.
The attack happened near the town of Radda in al-Bayda province, a known stronghold of al-Qaeda.
It was unclear what aircraft carried out the attack, though local people said it was a drone.
The US has acknowledged using drones as part of its support for Yemen's efforts to tackle militant extremists, but does not comment on individual strikes.
Human rights groups say US drone attacks in Yemen constitute unlawful killings.
Despite the counter-operations, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) remains active in Yemen.
Last week it said it had carried out an attack on Yemen's defence ministry in the capital, Sanaa, because the unmanned aircraft were being operated from there
That attack left at least 52 people dead, including soldiers, civilians and foreigners.
It was the deadliest attack in Sanaa since May 2012, when a suicide bomber blew himself up during a rehearsal for a military parade.
'American Hustle', '12 Years a Slave' Lead Golden Globes
The 71st Golden Globe Award nominations are here, with historical drama 12 Years a Slave and the 1970s con-artist caper American Hustle leading with seven nominations each.
The nominations were announced in California by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The awards give insight into what films could be this year's Oscar favorites.
Other films that received Golden Globe nods include the space odyssey Gravity and the Somali pirate thriller Captain Phillips, starring Tom Hanks, who received a best actor nomination.
Many of the American Hustle cast received acting nominations, including Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence. Star Sandra Bullock received a best actress nomination for her role in Gravity.
In the television categories, HBO led with nine Golden Globe nominations. Netflix, which did not offer original programming until early this year, snagged six nominations, including the series House of Cards.
The 71st annual Golden Globes will air on January 12.
Somali President Taps Economist for PM
Somalia's president has nominated a Somali-Canadian economist, Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, to be the country's next prime minister.
In a statement Thursday, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Ahmed is the man "best equipped" to lead Somalia through the next stage of its "recovery and reform program."
Ahmed, who has never held political office, is currently a senior economist at the Islamic Development Bank in Saudi Arabia. He previously held positions with the World Bank, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the European Union.
According to his resume, he has lived and worked in over 11 countries and speaks five languages.
At the president's urging, lawmakers recently ousted prime minister Abdi Farah Shirdon after just 13 months in office, in a blow to the country's fragile political stability.
Mohamud said Thursday the Somali government needs to "redouble" efforts to solidify reforms and work towards creating a new constitution and holding national elections in 2016.
The president came to power in August 2012 as part of a U.N.-backed process to give Somalia a stable central government. The country has endured more than two decades of chaos and conflict.
Some information has been provided by Reuters and AFP.
Cabinet Statement 11th December 2013
His Excellency the Governor, Peter Beckingham, chaired the 26th meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday 11th December 2013 at the House of Assembly Building on Grand Turk.
All Ministers were present.
At this meeting Cabinet:
• Considered a proposal from IBC Airways to provide a bi-weekly passenger service from Grand Turk to Fort Lauderdale, Fl. Cabinet welcomed the proposal on the basis that it would assist greatly in expanding and diversifying airlift into the Turks and Caicos Islands and agreed to enter into discussions with IBC Airlines to further the proposal;
• Approved a revised comprehensive Travel Policy for official travel by Ministers, Members of Parliament and Government Officials. The policy will be published in the Gazette;
• Received a presentation from the Senior Management Team of Fortis TCI setting out the company’s integrated strategic training and development approach. Cabinet welcomed the company’s approach to employment and training of local people and committed to work in partnership with them on this and matters such as renewable energy;
• Received a report from the Premier and Minister of Tourism regarding an application to the University of the West Indies for Contributing Country Status and granted approval in principle for the Ministry of Education to submit an application. This will enable students on Government scholarships as well as self-funded students from the Turks and Caicos Islands to benefit from discounted rates. The matter will move forward for debate in the House of Assembly in due course;
• Agreed that HE. the Governor appoint the Permanent Secretary for Environment and Home Affairs, the Permanent Secretary, Premiers Office and Mr Mathew Timothy Stubbs as members of the National Trust Council in accordance with section 6 of the National Trust Ordinance;
• Approved a number of contract awards as follows; L&L Construction in the amount of $28,000 for the relocation and repair works to the MBHS Trailer on South Caicos, Tropical Auto Rentals in the amount of $38,000 for the Purchase of vehicles for the Revenue Control Unit, MPL Enterprises Ltd in the amount of $48,803 for the supply of engines for patrol vessels in the Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs, Emerson Development Company in the amount of $3,340 for the installation of hurricane shelter shutters on Grand Turk, Carib Construction Company Ltd in the amount of $28,115 for installation of hurricane shelter shutters on Providenciales, Boxco in the amount of $11,287 for the installation of a generator at the Wellness Centre on South Caicos, Carib Construction Company Ltd in the amount of $11,385 for the installation of a generator in the SPPU, Grand Turk and Boxco in the amount of $7,237 for the installation of a generator at Blue Hills Clinic Providenciales. All contracts were subject to open tendering in accordance with the Procurement Ordinance 2012;
• Approved amendments to the Customs (Post Clearance) Order 2013, and Customs (Amendment) Bill 2013. The amendments make provision for the introduction of a post clearance audit function;
• Approved recommendations from the Minister of Education, Youth, Sport, Culture and Library Services on the implementation of an Early Childhood Minimum Service Standards Handbook. The handbook sets out the minimum standards that will govern and guide the delivery of early childhood education in the Turks and Caicos Islands;
• Approved a proposal from the Minister of Education, Youth, Sports, Culture and Library Services to establish a working committee to explore the potential for a Student Loan Scheme in the Turks and Caicos Islands;
• Received a report from the Minister of Health and Human Services outlining preliminary plans to reform the organisation structure, systems and processes of the Ministry to achieve improvements in the quality of care provided at primary, secondary and tertiary levels, contain costs and increase revenue. Cabinet approved commencement of a programme of reform and agreed to establish a senior level steering committee;
Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.
RESIDENTS ENCOURAGED TO BE PART OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTION
On Saturday, December 07, 2013 volunteers proved that "Clean is Cool" when they participated in the TCHTA's 5th annual TCI Shines clean-up campaign.
Collecting approximately 180 bags of garbage volunteers not only played their part to ensure that TCI's beauty and natural resources are protected to be enjoyed for generations to come but they also truly lived the Tourism Environmental Awareness Month message of "Tourism is Key - Clean is Cool." Taking on a more focused approached this year the clean-up initiative saw persons assembling at Tropicana Plaza and working Westward along Leeward Highway. DEMA also spearheaded the beach clean-up, beginning at the Bight Children's Park and extending 200 yards on both sides and Mills Institute cleaned up the Juba Sound area.
TCHTA's Executive Director Stacy Cox thanked all volunteers for their dedication and commitment year after year and stated "Protecting the environment is the message we have been advocating since TCI Shines' inception 5 years ago. We are once again pleading with government to enforce penalties for littering but we as a nation need to save the planet through the actions we take as individuals. We can all be a part of an environmental solution and that's why TCHTA is so thrilled that this year's message for Tourism Awareness Month focused on the importance of keeping our surroundings clean in order to have a profitable and long-lasting tourism product. Tourism is indeed key to our livelihoods and we encourage as many people as possible to prevent unsightly litter by always disposing of it correctly and recycling where possible. Let us come together as a community to raise awareness to achieve a healthy environment."
TCHTA would like to thank all volunteers who participated in the initiative: Beaches, DEMA, Gansevoort, Grace Bay Club, Graceway IGA, Quality Supermarket, Hartling Group, Ocean Club Resorts, Regent Palms, Seven Stars, The Sands at Grace Bay, Villa del Mar, West Bay Club, Windsong Resort, Hayes Elevators, Mills Institute,T & C Sotheby's International, TCI Waste Disposal Services, The Wine Cellar, Trail Enterprises and those members of the community who participated by cleaning up their immediate surroundings.