Mideast Peace Deal Closest in Years
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says he believes Israel and the Palestinians are closer to a peace agreement than they have been in years at the end of a three-day trip to the region.
Kerry told reporters Friday before leaving Israel that despite the obstacles he was encouraged by the commitment of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to the pursuit of peace.
"Together there is no doubt in my mind we can reach an agreement that will support the peaceful and promising Palestine that the Palestinian people deserve alongside a prosperous and a more secure Israel," said Kerry.
Kerry's visit came amid reports that the talks were faltering over Israeli concerns about security in the West Bank and Palestinian anger over the continued construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
The talks resumed four months ago after a three-year suspension. They are to continue for another five months.
Kerry dismissed media speculation of a breakdown in the talks saying the two sides have maintained regular discussions.
He also declined to provide details on reports that U.S. mediators have made proposals regarding security in the Palestinian territories but indicated that such an effort was underway.
"If Israel's security cannot be increased through this agreement it's very difficult to make an agreement," said Kerry. "So we are making certain that we are addressing each and every one of those questions."
Kerry also sought to ease Israeli alarm over the recently concluded interim agreement on Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program.
Under the accord, Iran agreed to freeze any work on this program in exchange for a partial lifting of international economic sanctions that have hurt its economy.
Netanyahu has repeatedly called it a bad agreement. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.
Kerry said he was convinced that Israel is safer as a result of the accord.
"Israel and the United States are absolutely in synch (agreement), not an ounce of daylight between us, with respect to the need to make sure that Iran cannot achieve a nuclear weapon, will not in the future be able to achieve it and certainly cannot move towards it without the United States of America and Israel knowing that, and therefore being able to take steps to deal with that," Kerry said.
World Leaders Remember Nelson Mandela
World leaders, past and present, are remembering anti-apartheid leader and former South African President Nelson Mandela.
At the White House, a solemn President Barack Obama called Mandela an influential, courageous, and profoundly good human being.
"I am one of the countless millions who drew inspiration from Nelson Mandela's life. My very first political action, the first thing I ever did that involved an issue, or a policy, or politics, was a protest against apartheid. I would study his words and his writings. The day he was released from prison gave me a sense of what human beings can do when they're guided by their hopes and not by their fears," said Obama.
Obama said flags at the White House and other public buildings will fly at half staff through Monday, in a rare gesture toward a foreign leader.
F.W. de Klerk, South Africa's last apartheid leader, said Mandela's greatest legacy is his emphasis on reconciliation. De Klerk won a Nobel Peace Prize alongside Mandela, whom he freed from prison in 1990. He said their relationship was "often stormy," but that they were "always able to come together at critical moments."
Many African leaders, who were in Paris for a security summit Friday, vowed to live up to the example Mandela set.
South African Archbishop and anti-apartheid activist Desmond Tutu called his friend a "precious diamond" who emerged from prison "virtually flawless." Tutu said instead of "calling for his pound of flesh, he proclaimed the message of forgiveness and reconciliation."
Ex-U.N. chief Kofi Annan, who along with Tutu and Mandela formed a group of statesmen known as The Elders, said South Africa was fortunate to have a leader that inspired forgiveness so that the country "did not go up in flames."
Fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi paid tribute to Mandela as a "great human being who raised the standard of humanity."
"He made us all understand that nobody should be penalized for the color of his skin, for the circumstances into which he is born. He also made us understand that we can change the world. We can change the world by changing attitudes, by changing perceptions," Suu Kyi said.
The Dalai Lama, another Nobel Peace laureate, said he will "personally miss a dear friend" he had hoped to meet again. He said that although Mandela has physically departed, his "spirit will go on."
India's Prime Minister Manmohan Signh called Mandela "a giant among men," and compared him to India's own icon of freedom and reconciliation, Mahatma Gandhi.
Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on people to be inspired by Mandela to keep working for a better and more just world. "Nelson Mandela showed what is possible for our world and within each one of us - if we believe, dream and work together for justice and humanity. His moral force was decisive in dismantling the system of apartheid," said Ban.
Former U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush also praised Mandela as a champion of freedom, human dignity, and equality.
Another ex-U.S. president, George H. W. Bush, called Mandela, "a man of tremendous moral courage, who changed the course of history in his country."
British Prime Minister David Cameron emerged from 10 Downing Street to call Mandela a true global hero, saying a great light has gone out in the world.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called him a man of vision who rejected violence and was one of "the most honorable figures of our time."
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, meanwhile, hailed Mandela as a "symbol of freedom from colonialism and occupation," calling his death "a great loss."
Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed "deep grief" at the death of what he called a "world-renowned statesman." He said Mandela, who visited China twice, will always be remembered for his contributions to China-South African ties "and the cause of human progress."
Haitian President Michel Martelly said Mandela remains a "symbol of democracy" whose courage and "faith in the true struggle for equality" continue to guide mankind.
Pope Francis also expressed condolences, and said he prays that Mandela's example will inspire generations of South Africans.
Mandela Hometown Burial Set for Dec. 15
South Africa says Nelson Mandela will be buried Sunday, December 15, in his hometown of Qunu.
President Jacob Zuma gave details on the official services and memorials for Mandela on Friday as South Africans mourned the loss of their former president.
President Zuma declared this Sunday to be a day of prayer and reflection in South Africa, and urged the country's people to gather in "churches, mosques, temples, synagogues and their homes" to pray and reflect on Mandela's life.
He said an official memorial service will be held Tuesday at Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium, site of the final for the 2010 World Cup.
Mandela's body will then lie in state for three days at South Africa's seat of government, the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
Mandela died late Thursday at the age of 95 following a long period of illness.
Samsung and Philips among tech firms raided by EU
Samsung and Philips have revealed that they were among several consumer electronics companies raided recently by European Commission inspectors.
Thursday's raid focused on companies making and selling consumer electronics products and small domestic appliances.
The Commission said it was concerned these firms had colluded in restricting online availability of some products in a bid to restrict competition.
Media-Saturn, the European consumer electronics retailer, was also raided.
Both Samsung and Philips said they were co-operating with the authorities.
"The Commission has concerns that the companies concerned may have violated EU antitrust rules that prohibit anticompetitive agreements or concerted practices," it said in a statement.
Restricting supply "may lead to higher consumer prices or the unavailability of products through certain online sales channels", it said.
The Commission did not give details of the companies it had visited.
If found guilty, the companies could face fines equivalent to 10% of global annual turnover.
In Samsung's case, this could amount to £17bn, although a fine of this size would be unprecedented and extremely unlikely.
Luxury goods brands, for example, often want to restrict the supply and distribution of their products to safeguard their exclusive appeal.
Whether such a defence would apply to low-cost electronic products is for the lawyers to decide.
"The fact that the Commission carries out such inspections does not mean that the companies are guilty of anticompetitive behaviour," the Commission said, "nor does it prejudge the outcome of the investigation itself."
EU competition commissioner Joaquin Almunia has been stepping up antitrust investigations under his watch.
This week the Commission fined eight banks - including Royal Bank of Scotland - a total of 1.7bn euros (£1.4bn) for forming illegal cartels to rig interest rates in the financial derivatives markets.
And in May, Commission inspectors raided several oil companies suspected of price-fixing.
Deadly storm and tidal surge batter northern Europe
Hurricane-force winds and tidal surges have killed at least seven people in northern Europe, flooded parts of Hamburg and left thousands of homes without electricity.
The storm, called Xaver, blew a tree on to a car in Poraj, northern Poland, killing three people inside.
The storm also caused two deaths in the UK, one in Sweden and one in Denmark.
Dozens of flights have been cancelled, hitting travellers at Berlin Tegel, Copenhagen and smaller airports.
Many rail and ferry services were also cut in Germany and Scandinavia.
There is severe disruption in southern Sweden, with all rail services cancelled in the Skane region. Planes have been grounded at Sturup airport and Gothenburg's Landvetter airport, Radio Sweden reports.
Fallen trees have blocked many roads in southern Sweden and heavy snow is adding to the chaos.
More than 1,000 people spent the night at Copenhagen airport.
In eastern England about 10,000 homes were evacuated in Norfolk and Suffolk. Several homes collapsed into the sea at Hemsby when the storm battered the clifftop.
The Thames Barrier was closed for a second day to protect London from the surge.
Many schools have been closed across the north of Poland and Germany. Winds gusted at nearly 150km/h (93mph) in northern Germany.
In Poland at least 400,000 homes are without electricity because of severed power lines.
Thousands of homes were also left without power in Sweden and Norway on Friday, the Associated Press news agency reports.
The port of Hamburg, which handles a huge amount of European trade, was shut overnight, but has now reopened.
Hundreds dead' in CAR violence
At least 300 people have been killed in two days of violence in the capital of the Central African Republic capital, says the Red Cross.
The organisation said its staff stopped collecting bodies in Bangui as night fell but would resume over the weekend, and expected the toll to rise.
Violence in CAR has raised fears of mass killings along sectarian lines.
Hundreds of French troops are arriving in the city as part of a UN effort to restore law and order.
A contingent of 650 troops there will be "doubled within a few days, if not a few hours," French President Francois Hollande said on Friday.
It followed a UN Security Council vote to allow French troops to join an African peacekeeping force in the CAR.
Bangui was attacked on Thursday, reportedly by militias loyal to Francois Bozize, who was ousted as president by rebels in March, plunging the country into chaos.
The Red Cross' president in the CAR, Pastor Antoine Mbao Bogo, said his staff had collected 281 bodies as of Friday night and expected the number to rise significantly when they resume their work.
"Tomorrow is going to be a monster of a day. We're going to work tomorrow and I think we're going to need a fourth day too," he told Reuters news agency.
42-year-old McAllen Bright of Kew Town, Providenciales charged
After an in-depth investigation by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF), the charges of Burglary, Theft and Handling Stolen Goods have been laid against 42-year-old McAllen Bright of Kew Town, Providenciales.
The charges are relating to an incident, which is alleged to have taken place on Saturday November 30, 2013 at a home in Kew Town, Providenciales.
Bright appeared before the Chief Magistrate Clifton Warner in the Magistrate’s Court Number One in Providenciales yesterday (Tuesday December 03, 2013) where he entered a not guilty plea to all charges.
Bright was later released on one thousand five hundred dollars bail and is scheduled to appear in the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday March 20, 2014.
Police Report for December 3rd & 4th,2013
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are investigating a number of incidents reported between Tuesday December 03, 2013 and Wednesday December 04, 2013 within the districts of Providenciales, including:
• (1) Theft: Early investigations revealed that during the commission of this theft, a green 24 inch bicycle was stolen.
• (1) Burglary: Initial investigations revealed that during the commission of this Burglary, a sofa, microwave, passport, television receiver, a quantity of meat and one black Toshiba flat screen television were stolen from a home in Glass Shack. Investigations are continuing.
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are investigating a number of incidents reported between Tuesday December 03, 2013 and Wednesday December 04, 2013 within the districts of Grand Turk, including:
• (2) Burglary: Early investigations revealed that a Breezy Brae home was broken into. A black 32 inch LG television and a red colored queen size comforter set were reported stolen. An educational institution was also broken into and a sum of cash was reported stolen. Investigations continue into these matters.
If you have any information about any criminal activity, please call 911 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1-800-8477. Tips can also be submitted anonymously in English, French or Spanish on either www.crimestoppers.tc or on Facebook as a fan of Crime Stoppers Turks & Caicos. Crime Stoppers tips are received in the USA.
DDME launches Community Volunteer Programme on Volunteers Day Dec 5
This Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) is observing this year’s International Volunteers Day, December 5, 2013 with the launch of the department’s “Communities United in Response to Emergencies” (CURE) a Volunteer Programme aimed at introducing professionalism and international standards to the local volunteer community.
December 5 is commemorated by the United Nations each year in observance day of the power and potential of volunteerism. CURE is a first in the Department’s efforts to professionalise, standardise and coordinate highly trained disaster volunteers island-wide. This programme is aimed at harnessing the power and passion of residents to ensure our communities are safer, stronger and more resilient. CURE Volunteers will be registered by the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies locally under the Disaster Volunteer Programme.
The objectives of CURE are:
· To provide emergency services to communities in the event of a disaster.
· To train volunteers in order that they can provide emergency shelters and rescue when responding during a disaster.
· To build the infrastructure to efficiently place volunteers in the right place at the right time.
· Represent a mutual aid resource that can be utilised island wide.
The role of the volunteers will be more than just responding to incidents or disasters; they will participate in training opportunities, exercises, and group meetings. They will also play a vital role in the safety of people, properties and communities in times of emergency and disaster.
DDME is inviting individuals who are interested in volunteering to sign up as a CURE Volunteer on December 5 at the following locations: Grand Turk the Anglican Dillon Hall and on Providenciales at Graceway IGA between 10:00am and 2:00pm. If you are unable to sign up on that date visit one of our offices in Grand Turk or Providenciales or your local District Commissioner’s office in one of the sister islands.
Volunteerism is generally considered a humane activity and is intended to promote good or improve the human quality of life. In return, this activity can produce a feeling of self-worth and respect. Many volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work, such as medicine, education or emergency rescue. Others serve on an as needed basis. When you volunteer, you are offering your time and resources, without pay, to help a person or cause.
GRACE BAY BEACH IS BEST IN THE WORLD
Grace Bay Beach retaining its position as second to none, has once again copped the most prestigious and fiercely vied for title as World’s Best Beach.
This was the announcement amongst roars of applause at the World Travel Awards Grand Final Gala, held at the magnificent La Cigale Hotel in Doha Qatar last evening, which brings to an end the 2013 World Tour in honour of the 20th Anniversary for the World Travel Awards.
As a nominee in the World’s Leading Beach Destination Category, the world-reknown beaches of Grace Bay was one of nine hopefuls for the coveted title in the October 2013 voting season of the World Travel Awards. Among them were the romantic shores of Cancun, Mexico, the DECO allure of South Beach in Florida and the azure waters along the coastline of Zanzibar, Tanzania in East Africa. However, it was the crystal turquoise waters and pristine white sandy shores of our multi-award-winning Grace Bay Beach that rose to be the best of the best.
Not to be outdone, and also walking away as one of the world’s best, was The Regent Palms Resort, which brought home the title of World’s Leading Hotel Spa 2013, and ending a three year-long record for Mardan Spa in Antalya, Turkey, and it was no surprise when Beaches Resort and Spa received World’s leading All Inclusive Family Resort Brand, a title they have held for fourteen years since 1998, with the exception of 2009 and 2010.
Premier and Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing remarked, “I am indeed proud as the Premier and Minister of Tourism with the awards that our spectacular Grace Bay Beach has received over the years. We as a people and as a country have done a lot to promote the Tourism product that we have to offer here in the Turks and Caicos Islands and it is fitting, and indeed rewarding, that the accolades received are from the very agencies that we are dependent upon to sell our destination to the world.
As we continue push our product as a world class high-end luxury tourist destination, my government has begun the development of policies and legislation to also diversify our tourism industry towards medical tourism as well as eco-tourism. Our state of the art medical facilities and the unspoilt beauty of the marsh lands and cave systems make this a very real possibility. So we are really excited about things to come and I must recognize and congratulate The Regent Palms, Beaches Resort and Spa, and all other nominees who were winners in the different categories throughout 2013, for their contribution in building and maintaining our hospitality sector and thus ensuring that Turks and Caicos is Beautiful by Nature, not just to us, but to the world.”
The World Travel Awards, dubbed the “Oscars of the Travel Industry”, recently held voting for the nominees in the World’s Best categories for the crème de la crème of airlines, resorts, beaches and all other sectors of the Tourism industry.
The Turks and Caicos Islands took home the title in the WTA World’s Leading Beach category in 2012 and held its position this year, making it the seventh win in this category. The country also boasts five distinctions in the Caribbean’s Leading Beach category, the most recent being awarded at a Gala event in September 2013 at Sandals Grande Resort and Spa in Antigua.
Recognition of the Turks and Caicos Islands as a world-class luxury tourism destination was also received, with some of our top Resort and Spa Brands being nominated in other major World Leading categories. The Grace Bay Club was nominated in four major categories, World’s Leading All Suite Hotel, World’s Leading Luxury All Suite Hotel and World’s Leading Hotel Residences. In addition to The Regent Palms vying for the title won, it also received nominations for World’s Leading Luxury Resort and World’s Leading Spa Resort.
Other nominees were Parrot Cay Resort and Beach Villa 2 at Amanyara for World’s Leading Spa and World’s Leading Villa, respectively.